This COP 31 side event will bring together senior trade and climate voices from Indonesia, the Pacific, the United States, and the multilateral system. The panel discussion will explore carbon competitiveness, critical minerals and green value chains, market access for smaller and climate-vulnerable economies, and the interface between climate and trade rules.
Speakers
- Maria Elka Pangestu, Special Adviser to the President of Indonesia, Former Minister of Trade of Indonesia
- Dan Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law & Policy, Yale University
- Esterlina 'Alipate, Deputy CEO, Trade Division, Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, Kingdom of Tonga
- Christophe Bellmann, Head of Policy Analysis and Strategy, TESS
Moderated by: Harry Wardana, Institute for International Trade, Adelaide University
Guiding Questions
- What trade priorities should the Pacific region set for itself to support its environmental and development
goals and transition to cleaner energy? - How can trade policy support economic diversification and resilience to adapt to a changing climate?
- How can traditional and Indigenous knowledge be given greater recognition in trade and environment
policymaking? - What partnerships and cooperative pathways are needed to turn Pacific trade and environment priorities into
action?
Intended Outcomes
- A practical framing of the trade-climate-development nexus for the Pacific that supports Australia's trade and investment partnerships and can inform COP31 discussions.
- Strengthened networks between Australian, Pacific trade and climate policymakers, regional and international institutions and research partners.
- A short set of key forward-looking messages/recommendations on priorities at the nexus of trade, climate and sustainable development and cooperative avenues to advance these priorities for the Pacific Region
Background
Pacific Island countries are among the most vulnerable in the world to climate and environmental change, despite contributing minimally to the underlying causes. Rising sea levels, warmer ocean temperatures, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events are already affecting livelihoods, food systems, and infrastructure across the region. Trade is one of the policy tools available to address these challenges, whether by strengthening economic resilience, improving access to clean energy and environmentally sustainable technologies, or supporting communities and businesses in adapting to changing climatic conditions.
In a world characterized by increasingly complex trade dynamics and a rapidly changing climate, Pacific governments and regional institutions are placing greater emphasis on defining their own priorities for using trade to advance environmental and development objectives, rather than simply responding to standards and requirements established elsewhere. This includes considering how the region can secure improved market access for exporters amid evolving trade- and climate-related measures; how trade policy and regional cooperation can support a transition away from imported fossil fuels; and how traditional and community-based knowledge, alongside scientific evidence, can be incorporated into decision-making processes that support climate change adaptation and climate-resilient development.
Organizers
