Least-developed countries (LDCs), small and vulnerable economies (SVEs), and small island developing states (SIDS) are highly vulnerable to the physical impact of climate change, including droughts, floods, and hurricanes. These countries’ high levels of poverty and dependence on limited exports and sectors, as well as weak supply-side capacity, underline such vulnerability. Moreover, key economic sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism are among the most susceptible to the impact of climate change.
Adapting to climate change requires building economic resilience by enhancing supply-side capacities and promoting economic diversification to reduce the negative and augment the positive impact of climate change and achieve sustainable development. Indeed, enabling supply-side policies that facilitate the diversification of production and exports, technological upgrading, and the value added are instrumental to foster economic resilience in these countries. Trade policy can also play an important role in constructing and strengthening the supply-side and adaptive capacity of LDCs, SVEs, and SIDS.
ICTSD’s work on trade and climate change adaptation supports resilience building and adaptation in LDCs, SVEs and SIDS. Key research, analysis, and dialogues are conducted at the sectoral level (e.g., tourism, fisheries, energy, etc.) to foster low-carbon economic restructuring, supply-side capacity, and trade competitiveness in these countries. Moreover, our work promotes the concept that innovative financing mechanisms in the trade and climate change regimes reinforce and complement each regime.
Research and Analysis:
Resilience Amidst Rising Tides, An Issue Paper on Trade, Climate Change and Competitiveness in the Tourism Sector in the Caribbean, by Keron Niles, Issue Paper No. 9, February 2010
Trade, Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Key Issues for Small States, Least Developed Countries and Vulnerable Economies, by ICTSD and Commonwealth Secretariat, edited by Dr Moustapha Kamal Gueye, Malena Sell and Janet Strachan, 2009.
Climate Change and Fisheries: Policy, Trade and Sustainable Development Issues, ICTSD Programme on Competitiveness and Sustainable Development, Information Note No. 15, October 2009
Trade and Climate Change Adaptation: Sustainable Development Objectives for LDCs, SVEs, and SIDS, ICTSD Programme on Competitiveness and Sustainable Development, Information Note No. 13, October 2009
Economic Vulnerability and Resilience in Small Island Developing States, by Professor Robert Read, ICTSD Programme on Competitiveness and Sustainable Development, Issue Paper No. 11 (forthcoming)
Aid for Trade and Climate Change Financing Mechanisms: Best Practices and Lessons Learned for LDCs and SVEs in Africa, by Vinaye Dey Ancharaz and Akthar Riad, ICTSD Programme on Competitiveness and Sustainable Development, Issue Paper No. 10 (forthcoming)
Trade, Climate Change, and Competitiveness in the Tourism Sector in the Caribbean, by Keron Niles, ICTSD Programme on Competitiveness and Sustainable Development, Issue Paper No. 9 (forthcoming)
Policy Dialogues:
Roundtable on “Aid for Trade and Climate Change Financing: Key Implications for LDCs and SIDS”, at the ICTSD Trade and Climate Change Day alongside the UNFCCC COP 15 negotiations, 15 December 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark
Lunch Discussion on “Leveraging Trade Flows and Aid for Trade to Maximize Benefits for LDCs and SIDS”, alongside the UNFCCC COP 15 negotiations, 14 December 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark
UNFCCC Side Event on “Climate Change and Cooperation; LDCs, SIDS and SVEs”, co-organised with the Commonwealth Secretariat, side event alongside the UNFCCC COP 15 negotiations, 11 December 2009, Bella Center room 1, Copenhagen, Denmark
Side Event on Climate Change Finance and Aid for Trade. Maximizing Benefits for LDCs and SIDS, 2 November 2009
African Regional Dialogue on Trade and Climate Change, co-organised with the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), 6–7 May 2009, Johannesburg, South Africa
Climate Change Finance and Aid for Trade: Maximizing Benefits for LDCs and SIDS, side event alongside the UNFCCC negotiations, 2 November, Barcelona, Spain
Trade and Climate Change: Key Issues for LDCs, SVEs, and SIDS from a Competitiveness, Adaptation and Resilience Perspective, co-organised with Chatham House, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, 20-21 November 2008, Geneva
Regional Dialogue on Trade and Climate Change: Addressing Key Issues for LDCs, SVEs, and SIDS, co-organised with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development of Mauritius, 2-3 September 2008, Mauritius