COP 30: Key Issues on Trade and Climate Agenda
As the world prepares for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, international trade is emerging as a central theme. Experts from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)—Ieva Baršauskaitė, Antoine Bonnet, and Florencia Sarmiento—highlight that trade plays a crucial role in advancing and shaping global climate policy.
Trade at the Core of Climate Action
Trade and climate actions are deeply interconnected. Governments are increasingly using trade-related instruments, from border carbon adjustments to deforestation-free import standards, to pursue both environmental goals and fair economic competition. These steps aim to push forward decarbonization while protecting domestic industries.
Challenges and Tensions
These same policies are now stirring complex global debates. A central question lingers: can such mechanisms genuinely cut emissions without creating new economic divides between regions?
“Climate mitigation doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in an economy that trades.”
This observation reflects how every climate initiative, whether through carbon pricing or green subsidies, influences production channels, competitiveness, and international markets. The trade system acts as a conduit for these changes, spreading their effects across borders and supply chains.
Ensuring Fairness and Cooperation
For trade-based climate tools to succeed, they must remain transparent, equitable, and collaborative. The discussions at COP30 are expected to clarify how countries can align these goals—balancing environmental ambition with economic fairness.
Author’s Summary: The article explores how global trade mechanisms are shaping climate policy ahead of COP30, emphasizing fairness, transparency, and shared responsibility in emission reduction efforts.