Addressing the Climate Crisis and Supporting Climate-Resilient Development: Where Can the Trading System Contribute?

Recognizing the urgent need to forge collaboration and solutions at the nexus of trade, climate, and sustainable development, TESS commissioned a series of expert views to spur discussion on a proactive, forward-looking, and inclusive agenda on where the trading system can contribute to addressing the climate crisis and supporting climate-resilient development. 

The articles in this compilation were published online from November 2024 to December 2025 in Synergies, our online platform dedicated to promoting inclusive policy dialogue at the intersection of trade, environment, and sustainable development.

The compilation includes 34 articles authored by a broad diversity of leading experts from around the world, including from academia, business, civil society organizations, senior current and former government officials, and thought leaders from the climate and trade policy communities.

The experts contributing to the series were invited to address the following questions: 

• Where does progress on the global climate agenda most require enhanced trade cooperation?
• Where are the greatest opportunities and priorities for trade cooperation to make a difference?
• What kinds of options and concrete outcomes can be envisaged at the WTO and/or in other fora?
• What is required to make this happen?

In answering these questions, the authors were asked to explore how international trade cooperation can be enhanced to drive urgent action on the Paris climate goals in ways that support climate-resilient development and just transitions.

We see this compilation as one instalment in an ongoing effort with partners to build and sustain momentum on positive agendas for international cooperation on a range of critical issues at the nexus of trade, climate, and sustainable development. We hope that these efforts will help translate into action the vision of an international trading system that effectively addresses the climate crisis and advances climate-resilient development.