Statement
AOSIS Statement for the Climate and Trade Dialogue (12 June 2026, 4pm)
AOSIS welcomes the convening of this first Dialogue on Trade and Climate Change and thanks the participating institutions for creating the reflections.
As we work to accelerate implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement, conversations on the relationship between trade and climate policies are gaining importance: trade policies are shaping access to technologies, finance, markets and supply chains that are essential for climate action while climate policies are influencing trade flows and investment decisions.
From the perspective of Small Island Developing States, trade can play an important role in supporting the achievement of the objectives of the Convention and the Paris Agreement: it can facilitate access to technologies needed for mitigation, adaptation and resilience-building, support sustainable development and economic diversification, and strengthen our ability to respond to the growing impacts of climate change; all of which are central to ensuring a just transition.
At the same time, as the relationship between trade and climate evolves, it is important that trade related climate measures are developed and implemented in a manner that is consistent with the principles and objectives of the Convention and Paris Agreement, including equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and the right of developing countries to pursue sustainable development.
AOSIS therefore welcomes this dialogue as a space to exchange views, share experiences and deepen understanding of both the opportunities and challenges arising at the intersection of trade and climate policy. We hope these discussions can contribute to improved coordination, mutual learning and international cooperation in support of effective, equitable and resilient implementation of the Convention and Paris Agreement.
When discussing the trade and climate policies nexus, we need to pay particular attention to the special circumstances of SIDS. As island economies, we depend heavily on maritime transport and international supply chains for access to essential goods, technologies and services. We already face disproportionately high transport and logistics costs due to our remoteness, small market size and limited cargo volumes.
Understanding these impacts is the first step to designing trade related climate measures that are truly aligned with the principles of the Convention.
In that sense, we need to consider the support developing countries need in meeting emerging requirements through finance, technology transfer, capacity-building and relevant associated technical assistance. Climate ambition must be strengthened in a manner that does not shift transition costs onto those countries that have contributed least to climate change and possess the fewest resources to respond.
In terms of the value added to the UNFCCC of these discussions, AOSIS is of the view that the role of this process is not to duplicate discussions taking place in other forums, nor to address trade disputes. Rather, its value lies in examining how trade and climate interactions affect implementation of the Convention and Paris Agreement, including mitigation, adaptation, building resilience and sustainable development outcomes, as well as providing an opportunity to analyze how trade-related climate measures interact internationally, and identify ways to promote interoperability that can reduce barriers and costs for developing countries.
This dialogue can help identify opportunities for trade to support the implementation of NDCs, National Adaptation Plans and long-term resilience strategies. It can also contribute to identifying support needs related to finance, technology transfer, capacity- building and the deployment of technical assistance, while elevating the perspectives of particularly vulnerable developing countries, including SIDS and LDCs.
AOSIS looks forward to engaging constructively in this dialogue and to continuing discussions on how trade can support the effective, equitable and resilient implementation of the Convention and Paris Agreement.
Thank you.
