The Climate Leadership Council’s Center for Climate & Trade
Trade offers enormous untapped potential to leverage the global market economy towards greater international cooperation and climate ambition.
THE CHALLENGE
A quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions are embedded in goods that are traded internationally. Nearly all global greenhouse gas emissions growth is anticipated to come from developing countries. Capital investments of $275 trillion will be needed to meet global net zero. Yet the current trade system hinders climate progress by failing to reward efficient producers, maintain the competitiveness of industries in countries pursuing ambitious climate measures, or promote trade in lower-carbon alternatives.
THE WAY FORWARD
If we are to succeed in addressing this global challenge, we must increasingly marry climate and trade policy. Doing so has the potential to substantially lower global emissions, create worldwide incentives for cleaner manufacturing, and compel all countries to do their part.
WHAT WE DO
Meaningfully lowering global GHG emissions will require a variety of tools and ever-greater global collaboration. The Center brings together leading experts from government, industry, environment, labor, academia, and other fields to explore a range of opportunities at the climate-trade nexus. Participants have diverse viewpoints on specific policies but are united by their sincere interest in finding effective solutions to this global challenge.
The Center explores policies that leverage international trade to support global decarbonization. This includes approaches that would introduce accountability into the global economy at borders; establish international cooperative agreements; promote trade liberalization and the export of U.S.-made clean energy technologies; accelerate international investment in low-carbon infrastructure in the developing world; create more resilient supply chains for critical minerals and other vital materials; and more. Our work is advanced through:
- Research: The Center publishes pivotal new research and analysis exploring the environmental, economic, and political implications of climate and trade policies.
- Convenings: The Center holds regular meetings for contributors and invited experts, in addition to hosting events and working groups as new issues and policies emerge.
- Policy Recommendations: The Center, informed by its work with contributors, makes recommendations for effective and viable policies.
- Education: We partner with contributors to educate lawmakers on the real-world opportunities and impacts of climate and trade policies.
