Trade and environment | UNCTAD

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

BioTrade

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Circular Economy

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Climate Change

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Oceans Economy and Fisheries

News

Two women fisherpeople

The blue economy is an ocean of opportunity to advance gender equality

By Dona Bertarelli, UNCTAD Special Adviser for the Blue Economy

Fishing boats

The developing world must get ready to adapt its trade to climate change

By Isabelle Durant, Acting Secretary-General of UNCTAD

Row of plastic bottles on the production line

Global plastic trade 40% bigger than previously thought, study finds

Drawing on a powerful new database that tracks and traces the plastic life cycle, UNCTAD shows where countries can apply trade policy pressure to reduce pollution.

Plastic waste

Success of circular economy hinges on better governance of ‘waste trade’

By Henrique Pacini, Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD, and Tze Ni Yeoh, Consultant, World Bank

Recent publications

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Towards a harmonized international trade classification for the development of sustainable ocean-based economies

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Trade and Environment Review 2021

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Global trade in plastics: insights from the first life-cycle trade database

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BioTrade Principles and Criteria for terrestrial, marine and other aquatic biodiversity-based products and services

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Fostering green exports through voluntary sustainability standards: The UNCTAD approach

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Oceans Economy and Trade Strategy: Belize marine fisheries and seafood processing sectors

Projects

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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 of the Melanesian Spearhead Group

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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

UN Trade Forum 2021: Towards a green and inclusive recovery

14 - 15 Jun 2021

Webinar on promoting substitutes and alternatives to plastics for clean waters and sustainable economic development in the Caribbean Basin

Environmental Leadership: Latin American Perspectives on the Climate Crisis

Webinar on fisheries subsidies and the current negotiations at the WTO

Documents and publications

Towards a harmonized international trade classification for the development of sustainable ocean-based economies

UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2020/4 - 16 Mar 2021

English

Trade and Environment Review 2021: Trade-climate readiness for developing countries

UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2020/3 - 17 Feb 2021

English

Global trade in plastics: insights from the first life-cycle trade database

UNCTAD Research Paper No. 53

UNCTAD/SER.RP/2020/12 - 04 Feb 2021

English

BioTrade Principles and Criteria for terrestrial, marine and other aquatic biodiversity-based products and services

UNCTD/DITC/TED/2020/2 - 14 Jan 2021

English