© Shutterstock/Juice Flair | Factory workers lifting a new solar panel from the production line.
An UNCTAD study released at COP28 examines how 60 developing countries have integrated trade into their national pledges under the Paris Agreement, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The study, whose launch coincided with the summit’s inaugural “Trade Day” on 4 December, maps out how trade is systematically used in these national climate plans.
“The mapping exercise shows trade policies’ untapped potential in climate action,” said Miho Shirotori, head of UNCTAD’s international trade division.
“Trade could play a much bigger role in cutting emissions and preserving resources by facilitating access to low-carbon technologies and environmentally preferable goods and services.”
680 trade-related measures
The study identified 680 trade-related measures within the examined NDCs.
In general, the study shows that most of them focus on increasing renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency and promoting green value chains.
While direct trade policies like tariffs and technical regulations are less prominent, UNCTAD emphasizes their significance.
For example, UNCTAD estimates reveal significant market barriers for renewable energy systems and components. On average, tariffs on these products are about double those applied to fossil fuels in both developed and developing countries. For the full report Read
