Forum On Trade, Environment & The Sdgs (Tess)

TESS was created to respond to the growing interest in multilateral cooperation on trade, environment and the SDGs. It works to align trade and trade policy with the urgent need for global action on the intersecting crises of climate, nature and pollution, informed by the need for progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and implementation of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). TESS aims to serve the trade, environment and sustainable development communities through a versatile, nimble, needs-driven and outcome-focused set of activities designed to catalyse collaborative policy action. TESS works to add strategic value to existing efforts by supporting collaborations and coordination among existing actors and by drawing in the perspectives and expertise of a diversity of international stakeholders. In so doing, it actively supports the engagement of developing country governments and stakeholders and promotes interaction between the trade, environment and sustainable development policy communities. In 2021, a key focus of TESS is on supporting outcomes on environment and the SDGs at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference. TESS also aims to support the newly launched process of Structured Discussions on Trade and Environmental Sustainability at the WTO by enabling inclusive, well-informed, and action-oriented dialogue at the trade and sustainability interface in Geneva’s multilateral trade setting.