With the increasing
linkage between trade and the environment, and their impact on each other, this
inextricable nexus needs to be reflected in international agreements. The
Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) is the first
international agreement that seeks to combine both trade and climate change and
place binding obligations on Member States. In this context, the broad
objective of this paper is to critically analyse the provisions of the ACCTS,
in comparison with existing trade laws and policies, as well as ongoing
discussions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international
forums. This paper also seeks to analyse the lessons that can be learned from
the ACCTS approach and how this may influence future climate and trade-related
agreements.