As part of WTO Trade and Environment Week 2026, the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the WTO and the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS) are co-organizing a session to explore how developing countries can better align climate and trade strategies to advance their resilience, competitiveness, and sustainable development.
Session Objectives
Drawing on emerging national experiences, the session aims to:
- examine how countries can use trade policies as proactive instruments for domestic transformation;
- highlight options for integrating trade elements in climate planning, including support for green goods and services, climate-resilient value chains, renewable energy deployment, MSME readiness, traceability systems, and access to finance and technology;
- explore how international cooperation can help developing countries strengthen policy coherence, manage new market requirements, and identify sectors where trade can support both mitigation and adaptation objectives; and
- generate actionable insights on how national trade-climate strategies can be designed and implemented in ways that are development-sensitive, internationally connected, and responsive to real economy needs.
Speakers
- H.E. Manuel Teehankee, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the WTO
- Julian Clarke, Senior Regional Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Vicente Yu, Independent Expert
- Dawn Cabigon, Campaign Manager of Race to Net Zero Philippines, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
- Stefanie Beitien, Managing Director, PCX Solutions
- Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, Executive Director, TESS
Co-organized with
