The annual Trade and Environment Week offers a platform for WTO members and stakeholders to engage on a range of critical issues at the nexus of trade and environment. Many of these issues have taken on greater salience in recent years as there is growing expectation for the multilateral trading system to proactively respond to global environmental challenges and wider sustainable development priorities.

Topics for discussion this year include trade’s role on meeting global climate ambitions, the green transition in developing countries, fossil fuel subsidy reform, carbon accounting and carbon border measures, the role of trade in supporting circular economy principles, climate-resilient development and just transitions in vulnerable economies, trade solutions in the fight against plastic pollution, and decarbonizing value chains among others. You can consult the full programme and access a live webcast of all the public sessions.

Trade's Role in Meeting Our Climate Ambitions

Organized by Australia & PIF Secretariat I 30 June 16:30–18:00 I Room D

TESS Executive Director Carolyn Deere Birkbeck spoke at this panel, which brought together experts from national governments and international bodies to explore how the WTO can act as a platform for aligning open trade with both climate mitigation and adaptation goals. With a focus on the Pacific region, panellists examined how cooperation can support countries in achieving both climate and development objectives. View recording.

Pathways to Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform

Organized by New Zealand, FFSR Coordinator I 01 July 13:30 – 14:30 I Room D

TESS Head of Policy Analysis and Strategy Christophe Bellmann will moderate this session, which will present recent findings, insights. and experiences on approaches to fossil fuel subsidy reform in support of the energy transition.

Trade, Climate Resilience and Development

Organized by Barbados and Pakistan I 02 July 11:46 – 13:15 I Room D

This session will explore how international trade cooperation can support climate-resilient development and just transitions. The panel will provide an opportunity to hear from a diverse group of climate vulnerable developing countries on priorities for international cooperation on trade and climate-resilient development. TESS is supporting the co-hosts with the organization of the event.

Following is a selection of recent TESS publications of relevance to the discussions taking place at the WTO during Trade and Environment Week.

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

A Synergies series curated by TESS

Offering perspectives from a range of experts from around the world, this series provides a space for discussion on a proactive and inclusive agenda on where the trading system can contribute to addressing the climate crisis in ways that support sustainable and climate-resilient development.

Identifying Environmentally Harmful Agricultural Subsidies at the International Level

Report of an International Expert Group on Environmentally Harmful Agricultural Subsidies

This report by an international expert group convened by TESS seeks to contribute to building shared understandings of what constitutes environmentally harmful agricultural subsidies to inform ongoing discussions at the international level in the WTO, OECD, FAO, UNEP, and World Bank and in the context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Trade, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development: Guidance on Approaches and Good Practices for the Design of Trade-Related Circular Economy Policies and Measures

Report of International Expert Group on Trade, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development

This report by an international expert group convened by TESS aims to offer guidance on good practices and approaches to trade-related circular economy policies and measures, with the overarching goal of advancing sustainable development in its environmental, social, and economic dimensions.