Trade and environment | UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

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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Green export strategies

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Climate Change

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Circular economy

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Oceans Economy and Fisheries

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BioTrade

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UNCTAD chief Rebeca Grynspan speaks at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference

UN Trade and Development chief urges stronger ocean governance and investment at UN Ocean Conference

Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan underscored the ocean's central role in global trade, economic development, food security and climate regulation.

Women repair fishing nets in Bac Lieu City, Vietnam.

Ocean for sustainable development: What needs to happen next

The 2025 UN Ocean Conference offers a pivotal chance to shore up a more sustainable blue economy for ocean health and shared prosperity.

Aerial drone photo of large fish farming unit of sea bass

A rising tide, but growing risks: Ocean economy faces pressure and fragmentation

From food and energy to transport and innovation, the $2.2 trillion ocean economy anchors global prosperity. But climate shocks, policy fragmentation and shifting trade dynamics threaten its future.

Recent publications

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SDG Pulse 2025

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Global Trade Update (June 2025): Sustainable ocean economy

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Global Trade Update (May 2025): Focus on critical minerals – copper in the new green and digital economy

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Leaving the shore: Marine-based substitutes and alternatives to plastics

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Fostering environmentally sustainable electronic commerce

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A deep dive into ocean-related measures in the nationally determined contributions of small island developing States

More publications

Featured event

UN Trade and Development at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3)

UN Trade and Development at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3)

7 - 13 June 2025

Featured Podcast

Deep sea mining: Necessary innovation or environmental risk?

As the race for critical minerals heats up, deep sea mining is being hailed by some as a path to a greener future – and condemned by others as a major threat to marine life.

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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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Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Green Trade Project

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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

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Events and meetings

Side event at the HLPF 2025: Supporting seaweeds and their myriad contributions to advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and beyond

New York, United States of America

Side event at UNFCCC SB62: BICFIT as a catalyzer of investments, including via operationalization of Article 6, and one of the platforms contributing to the Baku–Belem roadmap to 1.3 T

UN Trade and Development at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3)

7 – 13 June 2025

Embedding the bioeconomy into national circular economy plans

FEA-USP, USP Campus, São Paulo, Brazil

Webinar – Understanding traceability and due diligence in the leather supply chain: Perspectives from Pakistan and Bangladesh

On the road to the Third United Nations Ocean Conference: briefing on the outcomes of the Fifth United Nations Ocean Forum

Online and New York, United States of America

Documents and publications

Global Trade Update (June 2025): Sustainable ocean economy

A key and fast-growing sector at risk

UNCTAD/DITC/INF/2025/4 - 04 Jun 2025

English

Global Trade Update (May 2025)

Focus on critical minerals: Copper in the new green and digital economy

UNCTAD/DITC/INF/2025/3 - 01 May 2025

English

Leaving the shore: Marine-based substitutes and alternatives to plastics

UNCTAD/TCS/DITC/INF/2025/4 - 04 Mar 2025

English

A deep dive into ocean-related measures in the nationally determined contributions of small island developing States

UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2024/2 - 02 Dec 2024

English

Contact

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