In the margins of the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference, the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate convened their second annual ministerial meeting on 25 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi. The meeting marked a pivotal moment as it brought together all Coalition Ministers for the first time since its launch.
At the meeting, the Coalition co-leads— Ecuador, European Union, Kenya, and New Zealand—reported on the Coalition’s activities over its first year, reflecting on the groundwork the Coalition Ministers laid for cooperation. Ministers engaged in discussions aimed at sharing perspectives on potential opportunities, next steps for future cooperation, and potential actions.
A key outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of a communiqué, accompanied by a Menu of Voluntary Actions, with a clear message for the WTO to pursue ambitious commitments in support of the global response to the climate crisis. It also calls upon all WTO members to accept the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, underscoring the critical role of sustainable practices in trade.
In addition, the Coalition welcomed new members, Morocco, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea, reaffirming its core principle of ensuring inclusive cooperation on the nexus of climate, trade, and sustainable development.
The Coalition's communiqué is available here.
The Coalition's Menu of Voluntary Actions is available here.
Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate
TESS hosts the Secretariat of the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate.
