The inaugural edition of TCSD focused on pathways for cooperation on climate action, resilience, and justice. Thematic sessions covered a range of specific and critical topics for attention at the nexus of trade, climate, and sustainable development.

TCSD 2025 combined a number of live-cast public panels with a series of closed thematic brainstorming sessions and lunchtime dives designed to deepen dialogue and generate practical ideas for concrete outcomes, collaborations, and ways forward.

The conference brought together in person a regionally diverse range of senior experts from research centres, think tanks, and academia, as well as stakeholder organizations, intergovernmental organizations, and government.

Participation was by invitation only and TCSD was intended to be an in-person gathering. However, online participation in live-cast public panels was open to all and there were some opportunities for hybrid participation in thematic sessions. TESS supported expert participation from developing countries.