The relationship between climate change and international trade
Government action to address climate change is increasingly affecting international trade which risks trade tension and conflict. For example, subsides for electric vehicles under the the US Inflation Reduction Act has raised concerns in the EU, Japan, South Korea and China, about what this means for their domestic battery and EV industries. Progress in the EU towards  a border carbon tax to address carbon leakage - where emissions-intensive production moves to jurisdictions with laxer climate regulation - have raised the prospect of retaliatory trade restrictions by China and India. These developments  at the intersection of climate and trade are going to become more acute as countries ratchet-up their efforts to address climate change, increasing risk of economic tensions and even trade wars. The existing international trading system, including the World Trade Organization, isn’t prepared or able to deal with these challenges. Moreover, many of the government-government discussions about climate and trade issues has moved to bilateral and regional forum such as the TTC and the Indo Pacific Economic Framework, yet these forum lack key players such as China and India and Brazil, limiting their ability to effectively respond to these global trade and climate challenges will be limited.  

Dr. Emily Lydgate
University of Sussex

Here Is What You Will Learn
How trade policies intersect with climate change policies
 Explore how the flow of goods, services, and capital influence the scale and distribution of carbon emissions.
How trade policies are developing to support climate change goals
Understand how climate change policies interact with the core legal frameworks governing international trade, including the WTO and free trade agreements  
What climate change initiatives imply for global trade cooperation 
Learn about emerging tensions on climate change policies between the US, EU and China, and implications for global supply chains.
What are the implications for policy reform agendas around trade and climate change  
Understand the implications of the Paris Agreement for trade flows and trade patterns, and learn about the key policy reforms being considered aimed at using trade to support and align with climate policies.
Who will benefit from this Deep Dive?
Officials in government and international organizations

Government officials whose work involves (i) decarbonization pathways, climate and energy policy; (ii) the WTO and/or regional trade cooperation; (iii) international diplomacy and geopolitical trends, in particular involving China, the US and the EU; (iv) international development, in particular climate finance; and (v) multilateral climate cooperation.


 Private sector public policy teams
People in companies or involved in, or advising on, trade and investment issues; working on ESG and mandatory or voluntary compliance with climate-related requirements; or responsible for tracking and advising on geo-political trends.
Non-government organizations and non-profits
People involved in developing and advocating policy solutions involving climate policy, international trade, international investment, climate policy, international development, climate finance.  
Deep Dive Dates, Structure and Outcomes
Dates and Length
18 Sept - 6 Oct, 2023 
A mix of video and live lectures
This Deep Dive will have approximately 4 hours of video and 4 hours of live/synchronous lectures with Emily Lydgate and Lauge Paulsen. Content is spread over the 3 weeks so you dont have to take time off from work.
A CPD Policyware Certificate
Upon completing the Deep Dive you will receive a CPD Certified Policyware Certificate that you can display on LinkedIn.

How to get reimbursed for this Deep Dive

This Deep Dive is CPD certified.  CPD is the world-leading certifier of continuing professional development courses (CPD).  Many of the people who have taken our deep dives are reimbursed by their employers.  Please click on the below button or go to the Reimburse Me tab where we provided a template letter you can use to seek reimbursement from your employer.

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Meet Your Expert
Dr Emily Lydgate is a Reader (Senior Associate Professor) in Law and Deputy Director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory, a partnership between University of Sussex and Chatham House. Her research focuses at the intersection of environmental regulation and economic integration. She is a Specialist Advisor to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs  Committee of the UK Parliament and has provided expert testimony for a number of Parliamentary Committees. Emily is also an instructor for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Advanced Diplomatic Academy.   Emily holds a PhD from King's College London and an MSc (with distinction) from Oxford University. She was a Marie Curie Researcher at Bocconi University and has consulted at the United Nations Environment Programme's Economics and Trade Branch, where she acted as a WTO liaison. Emily has been awarded major research grants on trade, climate change and sustainable development from the EU Horizon 2020 programme and UK Research and Innovation. She is on the management team of the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy. Her research and commentary have been featured in a wide array of media outlets.