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The document outlines the need for sustainability science to integrate geopolitical realities, warning that the deconstruction of the multilateral trade system and the race for green technology could marginalize developing nations. It emphasizes that the EU must address cross-border climate risks, particularly within the food system, and ensure that the transition to a net-zero food system maintains food security and preparedness. Furthermore, it highlights the extreme vulnerability of the 46 least developed countries (LDCs), which suffer disproportionately from climate change despite minimal emissions, and urges careful design of trade mechanisms like Carbon Border Adjustment to avoid harming these nations.

The document analyzes the economic relationship between South Africa and the BRICS nations, noting that while trade has grown, it remains unbalanced and dominated by raw material exports to China. It identifies three primary 'enablers' for deepening these ties: the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the shift in global manufacturing due to US-China rivalry (including 'friend-shoring' and 'Chexit'), and the potential expansion of BRICS membership. The author recommends that South Africa use its 2023 BRICS chairship to promote Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and business-to-business engagements to attract diversified investment into Africa.

The document outlines a framework for international cooperation to support Latin America's climate commitments. It focuses on specific sectors such as agriculture, mining, and the circular economy, arguing for a bottom-up approach to ensure developing country perspectives are represented in global trade and climate dialogues, which are currently dominated by advanced economies.

The document analyzes ASEAN's climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in agriculture, energy, and forestry, arguing for a more inclusive international trade dialogue that prioritizes developing country perspectives over those of advanced economies.

The document advocates for Africa to mainstream climate change into its development strategy to build resilience and transform its economies. It identifies key pathways for this transition, including renewable energy, green industrialization, and food security. The paper emphasizes the need for Africa to assert its agency in multilateral forums like the WTO to ensure developing country perspectives are included in global trade and climate dialogues, which are currently dominated by advanced economies.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines transboundary climate risks to Sweden's international trade, arguing that traditional analysis overlooks hidden vulnerabilities in deeper supply chain tiers, specifically regarding inputs from Asia, Africa, and soy production in Brazil.

The report assesses Sweden's vulnerability to climate risks originating in other countries through its open economy and global trade links. Using three types of trade data—national toll logs, input-output tables, and resource footprints—the study finds that while direct trade partners (e.g., Germany and Nordic countries) are relatively resilient, deeper supply chain tiers reveal significant dependencies on climate-vulnerable emerging economies in Asia and Africa. A detailed case study on Brazilian soy demonstrates that while production risks in key sourcing areas like Mato Grosso are currently low, transport risks—specifically landslides and flash floods on long roads to ports—pose a higher threat. The authors argue that traditional risk management strategies like substitution are limited by the systemic nature of climate change and the 'stickiness' of trade relationships, recommending that Sweden integrate transboundary risk into its National Adaptation Strategy and lead global multilateral efforts for systemic resilience.

Cyprus currently relies heavily on fossil fuels and suffers from energy isolation and high electricity costs. The report proposes a 'green pivot' involving grid interconnectivity via projects like the EuroAsia Interconnector, the liberalisation of the electricity market through the 'Net Pool' model, and increased investment in solar power and energy storage. By comparing Cyprus to the successful Nordic model, the authors suggest that physical interconnectivity and market transparency could reduce CO2 emissions and lower annual electricity bills for the average consumer by approximately €200.

The document examines Russia's increasing diplomatic and military push into Africa, highlighted by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's July 2022 visits to Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Ethiopia. It notes that while Russia was the largest arms supplier to Africa in 2021 (44% of imports) and a critical wheat provider, African states remain divided in their response to the invasion of Ukraine, with 48% abstaining from a UN General Assembly resolution. The author contends that Africa's collective GDP of $2.7 trillion in 2021 exceeds Russia's $1.7 trillion, suggesting that a unified approach via the African Union's Partnership Management and Coordination Division and the African Continental Free Trade Area would increase the continent's agency and bargaining power.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is facing a critical need for reform across its negotiating function, dispute settlement system, committee transparency, and Secretariat role. While members generally agree on the need for change, they are divided on the approach: some advocate for 'coalitions of the willing' to modernize the agenda, while others, particularly developing countries, prioritize the Doha Development Agenda and the preservation of special and differential treatment (SDT). The dispute settlement system remains crippled by the United States' refusal to appoint new Appellate Body members since 2019. Divergent priorities exist between the EU, US, African Group, India, and LDCs, with disagreements extending to whether reform should proceed via working groups or General Council review processes.

The Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS) highlights the critical role of international trade in the global plastics economy, noting that trade in plastics exceeds USD 1 trillion. TESS argues that current trade policies are often disjointed and can undermine national efforts to curb pollution. The statement urges the INC to foster international cooperation to reduce trade in problematic plastics, end the trade of contaminated waste, and improve data transparency regarding 'hidden' plastic flows. It emphasizes the need for a just transition for developing countries and synergy with existing frameworks like the Basel Convention and WTO dialogues.

The author argues that for the WTO's efforts on trade and gender to be effective, members must adopt a comprehensive 'gender lens' that distinguishes between economic empowerment and broader gender equality. The proposed framework includes identifying women's multiple economic roles, analyzing the bidirectional relationship between trade and gender, recognizing domains of inequality (capabilities, resources, and security), and applying this analysis across all stages of trade policy from negotiation to implementation.

The report examines the erosion of socio-economic resilience in the Lake Chad Basin due to the Boko Haram conflict. It details the disruption of fishing, agriculture, and livestock trade, the negative impact of state-imposed trade bans and extortion, and the specific vulnerabilities of women. It argues that the lack of state development presence pushes communities toward 'perverse social contracts' with violent extremist groups for survival.

The AfCFTA has the potential to generate USD 3.4 trillion in GDP and lift over 100 million people out of poverty by 2040, with primary gains expected in manufacturing and services. However, significant disparities in factor markets—including labour skills, technology adoption, and financial capacity—exist across the continent, with Eastern and Southern Africa generally possessing higher capacities than Central and Western Africa. The document highlights risks associated with heavy reliance on non-African financing, such as the EU-funded Africa Trade Observatory, and urges member states to leverage domestic capital markets and sovereign wealth funds. It further emphasizes that political stability and the empowerment of regional bodies are essential to protect private sector investment in cross-border infrastructure, which the World Bank estimates requires USD 47.6 billion annually.

The research explores how climate impacts in countries of origin can cause subsequent impacts in the EU through international markets, migration, and capital flows. While the analysis finds significant uncertainty regarding the exact dynamics of these cross-border impacts, it identifies specific 'hotspots' of risk, such as regions producing materials for EU consumption or those holding EU financial investments. The paper emphasizes that the interaction between these domains creates complex risk exposure, complicating the development of effective policy responses.

The document highlights the critical and unrecognized nature of transboundary climate risks to the trade of maize, rice, wheat, soy, sugar cane, and coffee. It asserts that traditional risk management strategies like diversification are insufficient against accelerating climate impacts and warns of potential geopolitical tensions as producers struggle to maintain market shares. The authors call for a global systemic view and increased international coordination to implement fair adaptation, particularly to protect low-income, import-dependent countries.

The document argues that the disruption of world trade by COVID-19 necessitates a shift toward digital internationalisation support for green SMEs. It highlights the International Cleantech Network's (ICN) approach, which combines a reciprocal network of 18 clusters, a structured process for maturing business leads into actionable needs statements, and the 'Solved' virtual collaboration platform. Case studies from Helsinki and New York demonstrate how these tools facilitate co-creation and matchmaking when physical travel is restricted. The brief recommends investing in reciprocal partnerships, leveraging virtual tools to lower transaction costs, and using digital platforms to support long-term innovation and R&D collaboration.

The report examines the nexus between international trade and climate adaptation, arguing that trade can be a vehicle for developing countries to access necessary goods, services, and financing. It identifies three pathways for this: domestic trade policy measures, trade-related financing mechanisms, and international collaborative frameworks. Using case studies from Fiji, Kiribati, and Tonga, the report demonstrates how National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) can be used to identify specific adaptation needs—such as hydrometeorological equipment or rainwater harvesting systems—and map them to trade policy instruments like tariff reductions or Aid for Trade (A4T) funding.

The authors advocate for the transition from global to regional value chains in Africa, emphasizing that digital transformation—specifically through blockchain, AI, and IoT—is essential to overcome high trade costs, poor infrastructure, and inefficient customs procedures. The paper highlights the AfCFTA as a critical framework for this shift, noting that while Africa currently exports raw materials with little value addition (e.g., coffee and cocoa), digital tools can enable MSMEs and women-led businesses to scale and integrate into more productive regional networks.

The document analyzes the gap between the digital goals of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and the actual capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia. It argues that while paperless trade and 'single window' systems aim to increase efficiency, low literacy rates and language barriers (reliance on English) create 'SPS-Plus' burdens that exclude many small-scale traders. The author recommends integrating digital skills training and AI-powered translation of trade requirements into local languages to ensure SMEs can benefit from the energy and economic transition toward a digital economy.