IISD reports climate cooperation in 58% of new trade agreements

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) released an analysis of more than 70 international trade agreements signed between January 2025 and June 2026. Using its new online platform, the Trade & Climate Tracker, the institute mapped the texts of 46 publicly available agreements. It found that 58 % of the accords explicitly include climate‑cooperation clauses, with 40 % stressing joint emission‑reduction efforts and over half addressing deforestation. Energy issues also feature prominently: 67 % contain provisions on energy efficiency, electricity grids and related infrastructure, while 36 % include renewable‑energy provisions. Critical‑minerals clauses appear in 53 % of the agreements, highlighting supply‑chain security concerns.

IISD’s Trade & Sustainable Development Director Alice Tipping said the tracker makes the “energy transition visible” and shows how governments are using trade deals to build future green markets. The analysis underscores a growing integration of climate and energy objectives into the fabric of global trade policy.