Background
The 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) took place in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. Progress was achieved in several critical areas for developing countries, including the establishment of annual dialogues on trade and climate; a commitment to triple adaptation finance, alongside new work programmes on climate finance and aligning financial flows with low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development; and agreement to establish a new Just Transition Mechanism to enhance international cooperation. These outcomes set the stage for further advancements at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, in 2026, as well as other related intergovernmental forums throughout the year.
The Geneva Consensus agreed at the 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 16) highlights UNCTAD’s role in contributing to the implementation of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. It calls on UNCTAD to support developing countries in identifying relevant trade and investment policies that support implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and environmental goals of the 2030 Agenda; advance analytical work on the impact of trade-related environmental measures on developing countries' economies and their trade, investment flows, and current frameworks that facilitate access to technologies for sustainable development; and assist developing countries to leverage climate finance to contribute to the attainment of climate goals, address economic vulnerabilities and build sustainable productive capacities resilient to shocks caused by climate change and extreme weather events. This mandate uniquely positions UNCTAD to support member states to operationalize the COP30 outcomes and strengthen the achievement of both climate and development goals.
The event will examine key takeaways from COP30 and how these can be built upon in 2026 and beyond, with particular attention to UNCTAD’s role as the UN system’s focal point for the integrated treatment of trade, development, and interrelated issues in finance, technology, investment, and sustainable development. It is also the first opportunity to explore how the UNCTAD 16 mandate related to climate change can be operationalized in the context of multilateral climate discussions.
Objective
The objective of this event is to brief member States, international organizations, and UNCTAD staff on the key outcomes of COP30 that are most relevant to UNCTAD’s mandate, including direct mandates to UNCTAD for the first time. It will also be an opportunity to explore priority areas for UNCTAD’s future work, including preparations for major events in 2026 such as the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, new UNFCCC Trade and Climate dialogue in Bonn in June, the 17th CBD COP, the World Bank-IMF Spring and Annual Meetings, UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum 2026, and COP31.
Format
The event will consist of three thematic panels and an opening and closing session: the first three will focus on relevant outcomes at COP30, namely around trade and investment, climate finance, and international cooperation for just transitions; while the closing session will reflect on 2026’s key moments and COP31. The event will be held in person in the Palais des Nations, Geneva and an online connection will be established for virtual speakers.
Schedule
09h30 – 10h30 : Arrivals
10h00 – 10h30 : Opening
10h30 – 11h45 : Panel 1: trade and investment
11h45 – 13h00 : Panel 2: climate finance
13h00 – 15h00 : Lunch break
15h00 – 16h00 : Panel 3: international cooperation for just transitions
16h00 – 17h00 : Closing: Looking ahead
Panel 1: trade and investment
The first panel will delve into the trade discussions in the UNFCCC. What role did trade issues play at COP30? What do the new annual dialogues mean for bringing trade and climate issues together? What contribution can UNCTAD make to ensure trade and investment can serve climate and development in line with the principles of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement? What is the role of partnership in mobilizing investment for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Panel 2: climate finance
The second panel will focus on the main outcomes related to climate finance with particular attention to the new workstreams developed to strengthen implementation and scale climate finance. How were developed and developing countries’ needs accomodated in the final text? What are the key opportunities for developing countries emerging from these outcomes? How can implementation of climate finance-related commitments be further strengthened?
Panel 3: international cooperation for just transitions
The third panel will explore several elements across different UNFCCC workstreams which together have the potential to accelerate the capacity for countries to deliver just transitions, including the agreement to establish an institutional mechanism on just transition, a technology implementation programme, and a work programme that will explore cross-border impacts from climate-related measures. What are the next steps for these different outcomes? How can they best serve the needs and priorities of developing countries? How can synergies be sought across related intergovernmental processes to bring coherence to the pursuit of just transitions?
