Trade and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Implications for developing countries

Climate change mitigation and adaptation policies have taken on many forms, including net-zero commitments, green new deals, and circular economy plans. Each of these policies combine more abstract carbon reduction objectives with a more or less comprehensive set of policy and market interventions needed to reach those goals. While these policy interventions are both necessary and welcome, their impact on developing countries has not yet been a central issue of discussion.

In this webinar, we present two new papers that aim to kickstart this dialogue. A first presentation looks at the impact of such commitments on developing country exports of goods, particularly metals and minerals needed for the energy transition and fossil fuels. A second presentation assesses how to leverage trade to support climate change adaptation strategies in developing countries.

This is the second of two online sessions organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development on the topic of Trade and Climate Change. The first session took place on 22 July from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CEST.

Agenda

Introductory Remarks

Representative of the UK mission to the WTO

Discussion

Impact of Net-Zero and Climate Commitments on Developing Country Exports of Goods
Tom Moerenhout, Senior Associate, IISD

Henrique Pacini, Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development: Discussant

Leveraging Trade to Support Climate Change Adaptation in Developing Countries
David Hoffmann, Policy Analyst, IISD

Amb. Mere Falemaka, Permanent Representative of the Pacific Islands Forum to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, and Other International Organisations in Geneva

Q&A