Goal 14 Life Below Water

Nature abounds in sustainable alternatives to plastics, but companies and countries must work across borders to boost their production and tackle barriers.

Funding from the United Kingdom extends to the region UNCTAD’s work on sustainable manufacturing and plastic substitutes.

The country is striving to unlock more resources for sustainable development by tracking and tackling illicit financial flows.

UNCTAD, UNODC and their partners have developed tools and methods that are supporting 22 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America track selected illicit financial flows.

The world loses more than $2 trillion annually due to illicit trade, which drains countries of valuable resources and impedes sustainable development.

A new UNCTAD database provides insight into the ocean economy’s sectors, main players and export opportunities for developing countries as they try to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Paul Akiwumi, Director for Africa and Least Developed Countries, UNCTAD

UN Oceans Forum identifies ways to sustainably change course for the benefit of marine resources and the people who depend on them.

The ocean is a source of opportunities to sustain livelihoods, trade and mitigate climate change. But the health of the ocean is deteriotrating and the economies it supports are under threat.

UNCTAD and UN regional commissions are piloting new methods for tallying the cross-border movement of money that is illicit in origin, transfer or use.