Climate Change, the Natural Environment, and the Green Transition
IISD is driving change at the intersection of trade, climate change and the natural environment. From tackling urgent challenges like climate resilience or plastic pollution to fostering green market growth and ramping up the industrial decarbonization efforts, our research informs better policies for a sustainable future.
In a world grappling with the urgency of meeting the 1.5°C Paris targets and combatting environmental crises, the international trade community cannot afford to be passive. Better designed policies and closer integration of trade and environmental agendas can not only help mitigate climate change but also bolster resilience and foster the growth of a greener global market.
At IISD, we have a longstanding commitment to bridging the gap between trade policy and environmental imperatives. Our research delves into the role of trade policy and its instruments to deliver on broader sustainability goals like the energy transition and climate-resilient development. From driving decarbonization in industrial sectors to promoting circularity and sustainable production, our work aims to forge pathways toward a greener, more resilient future.
Current Focus Areas:
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Trade and decarbonization
As governments worldwide intensify efforts to address industrial decarbonization, we provide expert insights and technical assistance in areas such as border carbon adjustments (BCAs), green industrial policy, and fossil fuel subsidy reform at the WTO. Our longstanding engagement in these domains aims to inform policy discussions, foster international cooperation, and drive effective action toward a sustainable future.
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Climate resilience
Climate resilience is a pressing challenge for developing countries that have often contributed very little to the causes of such drastic changes. IISD aids governments by providing vital research and technical assistance that bridges trade policy and resilience efforts, enabling more integrated decision-making to address this long-overlooked intersection.
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Plastics
Governments globally are combating plastic pollution by curbing the use of plastics and promoting circularity. Yet, fragmented efforts fall short of effective action. IISD aids governments with evidence-based support, evaluating the impact of their plastic policies through international trade lens and providing support to those thinking of effective ways for global cooperation.
Research and publications
Is the World Trade Organization Up to the Challenge of Prioritizing the Environment at MC13?
Ieva Baršauskaitė tackles the complexities of revitalizing trade and environment discussions at the WTO to discern whether environmental issues will be a priority in the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference.
Border Carbon Adjustments: Pivotal design choices for policy-makers
This policy brief covers the pivotal choices in the design of border carbon adjustments, aiming to provide useful insights to policy-makers and set the ground for the broader discussions about the best practices.
Border Carbon Adjustments: Priorities for international cooperation
This IISD policy brief looks into border carbon adjustment design elements that are priorities for international cooperation, as well as the possible venues, formats, and shapes that such a discussion might take.
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Recent events
Climate Security and Trade in Times of Multiple Crises
IISD is co-organizing a session with Mistra as part of the Think2030 Dialogue Sweden 2023, where experts will explore regulatory frameworks that have a balance between protecting the environment, stimulating a sustainable transition of industries, and safeguarding global relationships and supply chains.
Fighting Plastic Pollution: Taking the First Step, Taking the Next Step
This event aims to look closer at the existing trade-related measures to reduce plastic pollution, targeted plastics, plastic products and materials, as well as to ask questions on possible immediate next steps that the WTO members could take.
IISD at the WTO's Trade and Environment Week 2022
IISD is participating in the 2022 edition of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade and Environment Week, taking place from October 17 to 21, 2022, both in-person in Geneva and online.
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Project team
Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder
Vice-President, Global Strategies and Managing Director, Europe
Alice Tipping
Director, Trade and Sustainable Development
Ieva Baršauskaitė
Lead, Trade and the Green Transition
Aaron Cosbey
Senior Associate
Darcie Doan
Senior Specialist, Trade and Climate
Tristan Irschlinger
Senior Policy Advisor I, Fisheries Subsidies
Rashmi Jose
Senior Policy Advisor
Rashid S. Kaukab
Senior Specialist, Trade and Sustainable Development
Florencia Sarmiento
Policy Advisor
Maria Barral
Communications Officer
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