News

By David Vivas Eugui, Legal Officer, UNCTAD

The pandemic has led to a surge in pollution from disposable products like plastic face masks and hand sanitizer bottles. Effective trade rules can help limit the spread of coronavirus waste.

Growth in electric car sales is great news for the fight against climate change, but the mining of the minerals used in their batteries poses serious risks for the environment.

Written by Mukhisa Kituyi, UNCTAD Secretary-General, and Dona Bertarelli, UNCTAD Special Adviser for the Blue Economy

Surging need is driven by boom in electric cars, with 23 million passenger vehicles expected to be produced by 2030, says a new UNCTAD report.

The increasingly unsustainable use of marine resources for economic activities has hurt the health of our oceans, seas and coasts. Governments and businesses have the opportunity to turn the tide and make blue economy sectors more "green" in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

The Swiss sailor, ocean conservation advocate and philanthropist will help the UN trade and development body promote the responsible use of our ocean, seas and coasts for economic growth.

UNCTAD research shows that total commodity exports to China could fall dramatically as a result of the coronavirus crisis, but there may be a silver lining for some products.

The pandemic is inflicting economic and social harm on those working in fisheries sectors, but it opens a window to make seafood industries more sustainable.

Overdependence on oil has fuelled volatile and uneven growth. Coffee could help the country change course if it can revive production and add value to its beans.