Trade Policy in Support of Climate Resilience

IISD is working with partners in Vietnam and the Pacific to explore how trade policy can support national adaptation goals, especially those outlined in national adaptation plans. By aligning trade and adaptation priorities, this project aims to unlock trade’s potential as a tool for building climate resilience.

The Indo-Pacific initiative

The Trade Policy for Climate Resilience in the Indo-Pacific project focuses on aligning trade and climate adaptation policies in low- and middle-income countries across the region.

Key activities include:

• In Vietnam, IISD collaborates with the Ministry for Agriculture and Environment (MAE) to develop concrete policy recommendations.
• In the Pacific, IISD works with the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) to integrate adaptation objectives into the region’s new Trade and Environment Strategy.
• Internationally, IISD brings these perspectives into multilateral trade and climate policy forums, advocating for adaptation as a priority alongside mitigation.

By identifying trade-related barriers and proposing policy solutions, this initiative helps ensure adaptation strategies are supported by the trade system, not hindered by it.

What we aim to achieve

Through research, dialogue, and policy engagement, the project seeks to

• identify key goods and services needed for climate adaptation in priority sectors,
• analyze trade barriers that restrict access to these resources, and
• build stronger links between trade and adaptation policy communities.

Our ultimate goal is to ensure that adaptation priorities are embedded in trade policies, enabling more effective climate resilience strategies and shifting global trade conversations toward a more inclusive and climate-responsive agenda.