Our first Annual Conference on Trade, Climate, and Sustainable Development will bring together leading experts from around the world to discuss, identify, and forge pathways for effective, inclusive international action and cooperation on trade, climate, and sustainable development.

The inaugural edition of the TCSD conference will focus on three cross-cutting themes: climate action, resilience, and justice.

The conference will bring together in person a regionally diverse range of senior experts from research centres, think tanks, and academia, as well as stakeholder organizations, intergovernmental organizations, and government (see below for more details).

The conference will combine a number of public, live-cast panels with a series of thematic roundtables, workshops, debates, and brainstorming sessions, designed to deepen dialogue and generate practical outcomes. View the draft agenda.

TESS is reaching out to knowledge partners for a range of sessions and to support expert participation from developing countries.

Participation in the conference is by invitation only, with a limit in general of one person per organization to ensure diversity of participation. While the event is designed to be an in-person gathering, there will be some opportunities for online participation, such as in public panels and certain roundtables.

We invite you to register your interest in joining this event.

Thursday 23 October 2025

09:00–09:15 I Welcome

Introduction to the Conference

09:15–10:30 I Panel Discussion 1

Setting the Scene – Opportunities, challenges, and pathways for enhanced cooperation on trade, climate, and sustainable development

11:00–13:00 I Thematic Session 1A

Trade, climate, and sustainable agriculture

11:00–13:00 I Thematic Session 1B

Trade, industrial policies, and the drive for net-zero and climate-resilient development: What priorities and prospects for cooperation?

13:00–14:00 I Lunchtime Dive

The recent ICJ advisory opinion on climate and implications for trade

14:00–16:00 I Thematic Session 2A

Building resilience to the impacts of the climate crisis: What kinds of trade cooperation to support adaptation and promote climate-resilient development?

14:00–16:00 I Thematic Session 2B

Decarbonization of heavy industry: What priorities for a trade contribution?

16:30–18:00 I Panel Discussion 2

Getting a grip on political realities and prospects for cooperation: National and regional perspectives

18:00-20:00 I Reception

Friday 24 October 2025

09:00–09:15 I Morning Plenary

Review of the day ahead

09:15–10:30 I Panel Discussion 3

Navigating the climate crisis amidst trade uncertainty and challenges of multilateralism: Where are the opportunities and where should we invest effort?

11:00–13:00 I Thematic Session 3A

Trade-climate measures: Pathways for fostering cooperation

11:00–13:00 I Thematic Session 3B

Trade, critical minerals, and net zero: Navigating the complexity of climate, security, and development priorities

13:00–14:00 I Lunchtime Dive

Trade, climate, and sustainable development at COP30

14:00–16:00 I Thematic Session 4A

Climate, trade, debt, and finance nexus: How to foster an integrated approach and policy agendas?

14:00–16:00 I Thematic Session 4B

From fossil fuels to net-zero energy: Where to for trade cooperation that supports clean energy access, transitions, climate-resilient development, and climate action

16:30-18:00 I Closing Session

What have we learned on pathways forward for international cooperation trade, climate, and sustainable development?

We look forward to welcoming a stellar group of expert colleagues as speakers, discussion leaders, participants, and partners on different sessions from a diversity of organizations around the world.

International Organizations

Including: UNEP, UNCTAD, World Bank, FAO, OECD, WTO, UNFCCC, IRENA, ITC, WCO, ILO, and IFPRI, as well as regional UN organizations and secretariats, the African Development Bank, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Stakeholder Organizations

Including: Chatham House, IISD, African Future Policies Hub, African Trade Policy Centre, WRI, E3G, ODI Global, IDOS, IIED, LeadIT, WWF, ICC, WEF, WBCSD, IEEP, ECPDM, CIEL, CUTS International, Nature Positive Initiative, Regions Refocus, Geneva Platform for Resilient Value Chains, Trade Talk Mexico, Centre for Science and Technology Innovations, Stockholm Environment Institute, NatureFinance, European Roundtable on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition, China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, Global Renewables Alliance, Centre for Policy Development - Bangladesh, Climate Action Platform Africa, and Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Universities

Including: Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance (University of Cape Town), Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services (University of West Indies), Centre for Global Development Policy (University of Boston), Global Centre for Energy Policy (Columbia University), Maastricht University, Cambridge University, Oxford University, University of Geneva, World Trade Institute, University of Sao Paolo, Singapore Management Institute, Georgetown University, and University of the Philippines.