This page contains the resources and evidence that were presented to participants over the course of the research.
This Welcome Pack was posted and emailed to all participants. It provides an overview of the project, the project team, and what particpants should expect from their involvement in the process.
CATC Welcome Pack [PDF 519KB]
The Welcome Pack also included three short readings providing introductory material on international trade and on the relationship between trade and climate. They were intended to familiarise participants with some of the technical language used in trade and some of the key issues:
CATC background reading pack [PDF 654KB]
These two short videos provided further background material on international trade. The first video is produced by the World Trade Organisation and explains arguments for why rules-based trade is important. The second video is produced by the Council on Foreign Relations and provides a more detailed overview on the principles, institutions and politics of international trade.
The readings and the videos were selected to enable participants to engage with the topic before they joined the assembly.
Session 1 provided an opportunity for participants to get to know each other and the Project Team, as well as running through the structure of the Assembly, what to expect and logistical issues.
Session 2 was designed to introduce participants to issues and approaches in international trade from practitioners, academics and advocacy organisations.
2.1 An Introduction to International Trade
This video contains presentations on: A basic introduction to international trade (including comparative advantage) by Professor Alan Winters, University of Sussex; A business perspective on International trade by Chris Southworth, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) UK; and Fairness in the international trade system by Ruth Bergan, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Transform Trade.
2.2 Winner and Losers of International Trade
This video contains presentations on: The winners and losers of international trade by Professor Alan Winters, University of Sussex and Chris Southworth, Secretary General, ICC UK; and How trade impacts workers by Rosa Crawford, Policy Officer, Trades Union Congress (TUC).
2.3 Wider Impacts of Trade and Trade Policy
This video looks at the wider issues in trade and trade policy such as development, well-being and digitisation, by Ruth Bergan (Transform Trade), Chris Southworth (ICC)
2.4. How are International Trade Rules Made?
In this video Emily Jones, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, sets out the principles of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and free trade agreements (FTAs).
3.1 Trade and Emissions: Part One
In this video, Kierra Box, Friends of the Earth, explains greenhouse gas emissions from trade and how they are measured
3.2 Trade and Emissions: Part Two
Here, Chris West, York Centre of the Stockholm Environment Institute, focuses on the environmental impacts of international trade, particularly concerning commodities that contribute to deforestation and land use change.
3.3 Introduction to Trade Policy and Climate Change
In this video, we hear a range of perspectives on the relationship between trade and action on climate change, including from George Riddell (EY), Rob Davies (former South African Minister for Trade and Industry), and Jennifer Hillman (Center on Inclusive Trade and Development, Georgetown University Law Center).
3.4 What are some of the trade policy options for fighting climate change?
Here, Jennifer Hillman and Rob Davies discuss some of the issues and tensions in current trade and climate policy actions across the world.
In this video, Dr Greg Messenger, University of Bristol sets out the trade policy making process in the UK, including summmarising the main government agencies involved:
Number 10 Downing Street
In charge of the work of the government
Department for Business and Trade
In charge of the government’s trade policy
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
In charge of trade policy around developing countries, the UK-EU trading relationship and the government’s diplomatic relationships
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
In charge of environmental and agricultural policy
The Treasury
Policies and laws around taxes, tariffs and subsidies
HMRC (His Majesty's Revenue and Customs)
In change of collecting tariffs and assessing the costs and benefits of trade
Devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Interested in the impact of trade on their national populations
This video was followed by a role play on trade policy where small groups of participants examined, presented and debated trade-offs in the international trade of electric vehicles from the perspectives of eight distinct stakeholders: UK consumers, the Climate Change Commission, future generations in the UK, the planet, UK trade unions, UK car-makers, Chinese car-makers, and communities in cobalt-mining areas of the Congo Basin.
Having heard from a range of views on the basics of international trade, the relationship between trade and climate change, and the context of UK trade policy making, sessions 5 to 7 provide evidence on and approaches to specific trade policy tools that can be used to combat climate change.
We break these trade policy tools into two groups: those ‘at the border’ such as tariffs and quotas and standards; and those ‘behind the border’ such as subsidies and government procurement. In what follows these tools as examined individually and in combination with each other. They are also looked at in unilateral, bilateral and multilateral policy settings.
5.1 Trade Policy Tools - Options For Combating Climate Change
In this video, Jennifer Hillman (Georgetown University Law Center) provides a snapshot of the four selected trade policy tools that can used to combat climate change: tariffs, standards, subsidies, and public procurement.
5.2 A Unilateral Trade Policy Measure: Core Environmental Standards
In this video Jack Simpson, Senior Trade Policy Advisor, WWF UK, advocates for a unilateral core environmental standards.
5.3 The Impact of Unilateral Policy Measures on Developing Countries
Ranja Sengupta, Senior Researcher, Third World Network, against the unfair impacts of unilateral standards imposed by rich countries on developing countries who are not the historical cause of global climate crisis.
5.4 What is a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)?
James Harrison, Professor of International Economic Law, University of Warwick, notes that the EU and UK are adopting carbon border adjustment mechanism and explains how they work.
5.5 Perspectives on the Impact of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
Faten Aggad, African Future Policies Hub, and Sarah Williams, Green Alliance, are in conversation on the prospect of a CBAM and its implications for decarbonisation and for developing countries.
6.1 Tariffs and the Trade in Green Goods
Dmitry Grozoubinski, Geneva Trade Platform, sets out tariffs as a tool to combat climate change and their tensions and trade-offs.
6.2 Tariffs and the UK auto industry
David Bailey, Professor of Business Economics, Birmingham Business School, explains the role of tariff systems in shaping ‘green goods’ trade using the case of auto assembly and auto-parts in post-Brexit UK.
6.3 Subsidies and 'Green Goods': Challenges for the UK and the transition to electric vehicles
David Bailey (Birmingham Business School) examines the role that subsidies can play to correct market failures and transition to buy lower-carbon ‘green goods’, as well as the dynamics of global competition in electric vehicle trade.
6.4 Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Trade Agreements
Jonny Peters, Chief of Staff, E3G, argues that fossil fuel subsidies are vast on a global scale and slow down the fight against climate change and the transition to cleaner energy.
6.5 Fossil Fuel Subsidies in the UK, and Reform Efforts at the WTO
Peter Wooders, senior sustainable energy expert, examines UK subsidies to fossil fuel production and consumption, and efforts at the World Trade Organisation to reduce fossil fuel subsidies.
7.1 Energy Subsidies and the Case For Subsidising Renewables
Katherine Quinn, Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge, argues that we should move away from fossil fuel subsidies and instead invest that money in renewable energy.
7.2 Subsidies to New Renewable Energy - An Industry View
Adam Berman, Deputy Policy Director at Energy UK focuses on the role of subsidies in promoting wind and solar power technologies.
7.3 Subsidies to New Renewable Energy Industries
Jake Molloy, RMT Offshore Energy Branch, advocates for a just transition for offshore energy workers based upon strategic state investment in UK renewable energy development.
7.4 Introduction to Procurement as a Trade Tool
Jennifer Hillman (Georgetown University Law Center) outlines government procurement as a trade tool for combating climate change, and David Symonds (WSP) sets out UK government considerations when using its procurement policies to effect carbon dioxide emissions.
7.5 Using Subsidies and Procurement to Green UK Homes
Juliet Phillips, Energy Lead at E3G, makes the case that subsidising the upgrading of UK homes is vital for ending fuel poverty and decarbonising the energy system.
7.6. What trade policies are the Biden Administration using to combat climate change?
Isabel Estevez, Deputy Director of Industrial Policy and Trade at the Roosevelt Institute, explains trade-climate polices in the USA, especially Inflation Reduction Act funding for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and decarbonisation of heavy industries.
7.7 How procurement works and options for greener choices
David Symonds (WSP) explains how government procurement can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental outcomes.
7.8 Circular Economy and the Trading System
Jack Barrie (Chatham House) presents the idea of ‘circular economy’ as a solution for reducing greenhouse emissions linked to the production of physical goods and materials.
7.9. Other international trade policy tools: ISDS
Tom Wills, Director of Trade Justice Movement, describes Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), which allows foreign investors to sue governments if policies negatively affect their business operations or profits.
The Assembly took their reflections and insights from the expert evidence on policy tools and context into the deliberation phase. To manage the complexity of their debates, the recorded Zoom transcripts were reviewed to capture areas of convergence and divergence and shared with the group as a reference tool. The learning in these documents were also represented through a team role play that replayed the key positions that the group held, and the tradeoffs they had identified
Each Assembly member selected the policy tool they were most interested in exploring further and focused on that for the day. There were at least two groups for each policy tool. At the end of the day, each group presented their draft recommendations. The following day, they collaborated with the other group to negotiate and merge their ideas, developing final recommendations for voting (link to final recommendations).
One key policy tool that was not originally included in the assembly structure was Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). Given the strong feelings within the assembly about this issue, a separate group worked on a specific recommendation to articulate this.
Before voting on the recommendations, the Assembly reviewed and refined the assessment criteria that emerged from their discussions during the learning phase. They required the government to adopt a SMART approach to targets, emphasising Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound criteria. However, they made an important adjustment to the "T" in SMART, stressing the urgency of addressing climate change. Instead of focusing solely on the timescale for project delivery, they emphasised the need for swift action to achieve tangible climate impact.
Additionally, they introduced a new criterion, "C" for Cost, to reflect the necessity of adequately resourcing the initiatives. This ensures that the financial aspects are considered, and that sufficient funding is allocated to achieve the desired outcomes.
The feedback on their draft recommendations was used to develop and strengthen the final recommendations in partnership with the other groups working on similar themes, ready to present for final voting stage. All but one recommendation passed the 80% threshold.
See a list of all recommendations on the landing page of this website.