View of Abu Dhabi skyline during the daytime
Statement

IISD Announces 2024 Edition of Trade and Sustainability Hub

The International Institute for Sustainable Development welcomes the news that the World Trade Organization’s Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13) will be held in early 2024 in the United Arab Emirates.

December 19, 2022

IISD is excited to share that it will be holding the next edition of its Trade and Sustainability Hub alongside the World Trade Organization’s Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13), which will take place in the United Arab Emirates in late February 2024.

The events of recent years—from extreme weather events to the current economic, energy, and hunger crises—have underscored the importance of a trading system that is resilient, inclusive, and driven by sustainability considerations. With precious little time remaining before the deadline to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, these policy conversations are even more important and urgent. 

Our multi-day Trade and Sustainability Hub is a public event focused on making these policy conversations possible. As in previous years, the Hub will feature a combination of high-level plenary sessions, working sessions, and conversations in other formats, along with possibilities for networking within and between sessions. We hope that our Hub can be a space for re-imagining the future of trade and trade policy at a time of converging crises, looking at how the trading system can provide lasting solutions. 

As long as public health conditions allow, our Hub will be held primarily in person but with a virtual component for session organizers and participants based abroad who are unable to travel. Should public health and travel conditions require, we are prepared to adapt and hold the event entirely by virtual means. In both instances, all interested viewers will be able to watch all sessions live online.

We look forward to sharing more event details about our Hub closer to MC13, including the exact dates and times, venue, theme, and sub-themes. We will also launch a formal call for session proposals in the coming weeks, and we welcome interest from prospective event partners. Watch this space for opportunities to host/co-host sessions, become event partners, learn more, or otherwise collaborate with us. We look forward to seeing you in Abu Dhabi in February 2024!

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