The 2nd edition of UNCTAD’s e-leaning course Harnessing Trade to Advance National Climate and Development Goals was held from 27 April to 8 June 2026. The course brought together 786 participants from 114 countries, with a vast majority of participants from Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.
This online course aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to leverage trade as a driver for low-carbon development, climate resilience and mitigation. Drawing on UNCTAD’s Guide for Policymakers on Trade Policies to Advance National Climate Plans and related technical cooperation experience, it guided participants in identifying climate-strategic sectors and designing relevant trade policies to contribute to the attainment of climate and other sustainable development goals, while promoting coherence and alignment with other national development strategies.
This second edition of the course also benefited from content provided by leading partner institutions, international experts and think tanks, including UN ECA, ISO, ITC, STDF, Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS), Curtin University, Chalmers University of Technology, the University of Gothenburg and Global South Nexus. It brought together equal shares of participants from government, academia, international organizations and the private sector, creating a global learning community that connected policy, research and practice.
The strong engagement generated by the course, reflected in close to 1,500 registration requests, points to growing awareness of trade’s potential contribution to climate action, with trade increasingly seen as a delivery tool for climate solutions and a way to mobilize public and private sector resources in support of climate action.
Participants highlighted how the course changed the way they understand and use trade in support of climate action, encouraging them to see it not only as a source of environmental pressures, but also as part of the solution. They valued its ability to turn complex policy questions into clear frameworks, practical tools and concrete examples grounded in developing countries perspectives. Participants saw direct applications in their professional work, from advising governments and contributing to national policy discussions to strengthening research and teaching, supporting climate-conscious businesses and developing more sustainable and resilient value chains.
Following the conclusion of the course, an alumni network bringing together certified participants from both editions was created to connect trade and climate professionals globally. This growing community of practice enables alumni to discover peers across countries, institutions and areas of expertise, exchange experience and explore opportunities for collaboration, extending the value of the course well beyond its completion.
“It is not just a course about trade and climate, it is about what those issues mean for economies like ours.” - Mawuko Gyan, Ghana.
“The most powerful course I have taken on the trade-climate nexus. It bridges two worlds that are often kept separate, and does so with clarity, evidence and practical tools that any policymaker or researcher can use from day one.” - Londiwe Mbanjwa, South Africa.
“The framework for aligning trade facilitation with climate resilience stood out most, and I am already applying it to design interventions that link agribusiness growth with national and regional NDC implementation.” - Alice Betty Angwech, Uganda.
