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This research paper proposes 'transition compacts'—negotiated, sector-specific packages bundling trade disciplines, investment, technology transfer, and transition timelines—as a more equitable alternative to the current patchwork of unilateral green industrial policies and carbon border adjustments. The author argues that existing frameworks, including the WTO and Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), suffer from structural flaws or a lack of binding equity provisions, whereas transition compacts would link market access to verified emissions performance and binding support for developing nations.

The report argues that the convergence of trade and climate policy is creating systemic gaps that marginalize developing countries. It highlights the mismatch between WTO rules and climate objectives, the lack of a unified governance space between the WTO and UNFCCC, and a scarcity of granular data on distributional impacts. To ensure a just transition, the authors advocate for a multilateral agenda that prioritizes development, differentiation, and the treatment of green technologies as global public goods.

This statement from the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs urges WTO ministers attending the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to prioritize sustainable development and environmental action within the WTO reform agenda. The document argues that the WTO must move beyond geopolitical tensions to address climate change, nature loss, and pollution, leveraging existing member-led initiatives and the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to foster international cooperation.

The report analyzes the challenges and institutional developments facing Africa's green technology transition in 2025. It highlights the impact of tightening global trade rules, such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the uncertainty surrounding the US African Growth and Opportunity Act, alongside the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement. The document details continental efforts to mobilize climate finance, integrate regional power markets, and adopt AI for climate action, while emphasizing the need for affordable decarbonization finance to prevent the marginalization of smaller African firms.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the disconnect between trade policy and climate change adaptation, arguing that 'international technology transfer' remains an abstract concept rather than a practical reality. It proposes aligning trade negotiations with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) to ensure developing countries can access context-specific hardware, software, and orgware necessary for climate resilience.

This policy brief proposes a trade-aware Just Transition framework for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to manage the shift toward low-carbon, climate-resilient development. It argues that for the Caribbean, the transition is a structural regional transformation rather than a sector-specific phase-out of fossil fuels. The document outlines six guiding principles—social justice, effective governance, inclusive participation, economic resilience, alignment with climate goals, and green financing—and applies them to both at-risk sectors (energy, tourism, agriculture, forestry, transport) and growth sectors (blue economy, circular economy, orange economy).

This statement by Daudi Sumba of WWF International argues that international trade policy and cooperation are critical levers for addressing the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. It calls for a strategic rethink of the international trading system to prioritize nature and sustainable development, specifically highlighting the need to eliminate environmentally harmful subsidies and align trade strategies with net-zero and nature-positive goals.

This report, curated by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS), is a compilation of 34 expert views exploring how the international trading system can support the Paris Agreement and climate-resilient development. It identifies critical synergies and tensions at the nexus of trade, climate, and sustainable development, focusing on clean energy transitions, green industrial policies, and the specific vulnerabilities of developing nations.

This research paper examines the intersection of international trade regulations and Africa's ambitions for green technology and industrialisation. It specifically analyzes the potential impacts of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and US tariffs, arguing that while these measures could theoretically drive demand for renewables, they are more likely to create fiscal constraints and hinder the continent's ability to invest in green R&D. The author advocates for a coordinated African response through the UNFCCC, the WTO, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to secure technology transfer and affordable finance.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the intersection of international trade and climate policy ahead of COP 30. It focuses on the use of trade tools—such as border carbon adjustments, green subsidies, and deforestation-free import rules—to advance climate goals while highlighting the risks of market fragmentation and the potential for these measures to deepen inequities between developed and emerging economies.

Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President-Designate, announced the creation of the Integrated Forum on Climate Change and Trade during the WTO Public Forum on 17 September 2025. This flagship initiative aims to bridge the gap between climate and trade regimes by providing a non-binding, interdisciplinary space for government officials and experts to design solutions for a sustainable global economy.

This research paper examines the intersection of the evolving international trading system and the urgent need to address biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable development. It argues that while trade has historically contributed to environmental harm, it can be repurposed as a strategic tool for sustainability through new narratives, inclusive international cooperation, and coherent policy frameworks. The author identifies a shift from traditional trade liberalization toward 'multipurpose' approaches that balance security, resilience, and sustainability, and proposes a policy agenda to reorient trade rules, scale up sustainable technologies, and ensure equitable economic transformation for developing countries.

This report examines the intersection of climate and trade policy frameworks to enhance the transfer of adaptation technology to developing countries, specifically focusing on the roles of the UNFCCC and the WTO.

This statement argues that current global trade frameworks often hinder the ability of developing nations, particularly in Africa, to pursue low-carbon transitions and climate justice. It highlights the negative impacts of protectionist policies and the breakdown of multilateralism, while proposing that regional initiatives like the AfCFTA and strategic leadership during South Africa's G20 Presidency can create a new trade agenda focused on green industrialization, adaptation, and economic diversification.

This research paper argues that trade policies are essential for scaling the clean energy transition by expanding access to renewable technologies and energy-efficient goods. It highlights the role of reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, the importance of a global value chain approach for complex products like wind turbines and solar panels, and the necessity of liberalizing environmental services to support renewable energy deployment.

This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines the intersection of international trade and the sustainable bioeconomy. It provides a typology of trade-related policy instruments—including price-based measures, economic incentives, and regulatory requirements—that governments can use to promote nature-positive economic growth. The document emphasizes the need for international cooperation, particularly through the G20, to align these policies, avoid trade frictions, and support low- and middle-income countries in their transition to a sustainable bioeconomy.

This report by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines the environmental impacts of agricultural subsidies and proposes frameworks for identifying and reforming those that are environmentally harmful. It emphasizes the need for international cooperation to avoid market leakage and competitiveness losses while aligning agricultural support with global biodiversity and climate goals.

This report analyzes the potential impact of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on export-oriented producers in Guangdong province, China, and proposes policy pathways for both regional and EU policymakers to mitigate trade risks and accelerate decarbonization.

This options paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a framework for governments to develop international agreements to reform and reduce fossil fuel subsidies (FFS). It outlines six key building blocks for such agreements: objectives, scope, substantive disciplines, carve-outs and exceptions, special and differential treatment (SDT), and enforcement mechanisms.

This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines the intersection of agricultural trade, climate change, and net-zero pathways, focusing on the implications for developing countries. It analyzes how climate change disrupts production and trade flows, the sector's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, and the potential for international trade cooperation to foster climate-resilient food systems.