Trade and environment

We work with governments to build green and blue economies and ensure trade is part of the solution to the climate crisis.

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BioTrade

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Circular Economy

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Climate Change

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Oceans Economy and Fisheries

News

A farmer in India spreads wheat.

Stark disparities persist on path to global goals. Here’s what the data tell us

From UN Trade and Development, a statistical breakdown of the world’s uneven progress towards achieving shared prosperity on a sustainable planet by 2030.

Transforming the Digital Economy with Sustainable and Equitable Strategies

UN Trade and Development calls for sustainable and equitable strategies to mitigate digital economy’s growing environmental impact

A global shift towards circularity focusing on responsible production and consumption is crucial to making the digital economy an empowering force for people and the planet.

Group photo after MoU signing with UWI

UN Trade and Development deepens collaboration with University of West Indies

The two organizations signed an agreement to bolster joint research related to trade, and better engage with students from the Caribbean region.

A seaweed farmer in Indonesia

Making trade work better for the planet

Trade is an underutilized tool in climate action. Better aligning trade policies with environmental and climate goals is key to creating better opportunities for all.

Recent publications

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Subregional action plan for green trade promotion

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Beyond plastics: A review of trade-related policy measures on non-plastic substitutes

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An ocean of opportunities: The potential of seaweed to advance food, environmental and gender dimensions of the SDGs

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Energy transition of fishing fleets: Opportunities and challenges for developing countries

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A Voluntary Sustainability Standards Guidebook for Vanilla in Papua New Guinea

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Mapping trade-related measures in Nationally Determined Contributions

More publications

Featured Podcast

Super seaweed: From food to pharmaceuticals, how the marine plant can transform our lives

The Weekly Tradecast dives into the benefits and potential of seaweed with UN Trade and Development lawyer David Vivas.

View all podcasts

Projects

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Greening the AfCFTA : Building climate-resilient green value chains across the Africa

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National Green Export Reviews

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Global BioTrade Facilitation Programme

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Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies

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Green trade for sustainable development in Pacific small island developing States

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Trade and Agricultural Policies to Support Small-scale Farmers and Enhance Food Security

Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP)

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Oceans Economy and Blue BioTrade in the Caribbean region

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Fostering Green Exports through Voluntary Sustainability Standards in Developing Countries

Events and meetings

Trade Day at Convention on Biological Diversity COP16

26 Oct 2024 - 26 Oct 2024

Workshop on policies and standards for plastic reduction and management in East and West Africa: Diving into compostability and biodegradability standards

30 Sep 2024 - 1 Oct 2024

Seaweed dialogue: Current status of the industry, markets, demand, emerging trends, and technological advancement for seaweed products

19 Sep 2024 - 19 Sep 2024

WTO Public Forum 2024 session: Trade as a catalyst for circular and inclusive textile value chains

13 Sep 2024 - 13 Sep 2024

World Trade Organization, Switzerland

Workshop: Advancing private-public partnerships to mainstream biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in Voluntary Sustainability Standards

19 Aug 2024 - 20 Aug 2024

Pretoria, South Africa

Documents and publications

Subregional action plan for green trade promotion

Green trade for sustainable development in Pacific small island developing States of the Melanesian Spearhead Group

UNCTAD/TCS/DITC/INF/2024/5 - 22 Aug 2024

English

Beyond plastics: A review of trade-related policy measures on non-plastic substitutes

UNCTAD/TCS/DITC/INF/2024/4 - 01 Jul 2024

English

An ocean of opportunities: The potential of seaweed to advance food, environmental and gender dimensions of the SDGs

UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2024/1 - 26 Mar 2024

English

Energy transition of fishing fleets: Opportunities and challenges for developing countries

UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2023/5 - 22 Jan 2024

English