Global forum launched on climate-trade 

November 17, 2025

The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has launched the Integrated Forum on Climate Change and Trade (IFCCT) to create a permanent platform where countries can address the growing intersection of trade policies and climate action. The forum aims to provide a politically supported, non-negotiating space for governments to discuss how trade measures, climate goals, and development priorities interact.

COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago opened the launch, emphasizing that climate and trade can no longer be treated separately and urging countries to build structures that enable meaningful change. The forum will begin with an open-ended consultation process through 2026, inviting countries to define discussion topics and its scope. The first consultations are scheduled in Geneva from December 15-19, highlighting the integration of climate-trade dialogue into the multilateral trading system.

Countries presented varied perspectives but agreed on one key point: trade policy significantly affects the ability to meet climate targets. China warned that unilateral measures, such as tariffs and border carbon adjustments, disproportionately impact developing countries, urging discussions rooted in “common but differentiated responsibilities.” Australia raised concerns over global overproduction and supply-chain distortions, while New Zealand and the United Kingdom stressed the importance of open, rules-based trade to support emissions reductions and clean technology transitions. Despite differences, all participants expressed support for the consultation phase.

Civil society, business associations, and international initiatives joined the launch, including the WTO, International Chamber of Commerce, Energy Foundation China, the Climate Club, European Climate Foundation, and Open Society Foundations. WTO Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard noted that the expanding patchwork of climate-related trade measures could undermine predictability in global trade if countries fail to coordinate. Experts such as Daouda Sembene and Alfonso Medinilla highlighted the forum’s potential to amplify developing countries’ voices and create interoperability rather than fragmentation in trade rules.

Several participants noted the absence of the European Union, signaling the importance of re-engaging the EU delegation ahead of Geneva consultations. With climate ambition now closely linked to trade disputes, industrial policies, and supply-chain challenges, the IFCCT represents a strategic effort to prevent trade from becoming a major obstacle to global climate efforts. The forum’s success will depend on whether major economies engage meaningfully and commit to a coherent, climate-aligned trade framework.