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

News

SMEP helps Kenyan farmers transform discarded pineapple leaves into textile-grade fibres, nutrient-rich compost and soil-enhancing products.

How cleaner production bolsters economic resilience in developing countries

From protecting the environment to empowering bottom-up innovation and improving livelihoods, efforts are underway to connect the dots and accelerate progress towards prosperity for all.

Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Climate-smart trade facilitation: From efficiency to climate solutions

A new project sets out to cut carbon emissions from cross-border trade while enhancing efficiency, sustainability, economic and climate resilience in Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Industrial effluent discharge from a textile factory in Lahore, Pakistan.

Liquid asset: Rethinking water use in global manufacturing powerhouses

Projects are demonstrating early potential for water-intensive sectors to transition to eco-friendly production while sustaining trade-driven growth.

Graph showing developing countries increasingly drive the growth of the ocean economy

Developing countries increasingly drive ocean economy but must diversify for resilience

Many developing economies rely heavily on a single ocean sector, leaving them vulnerable to sudden shifts in tariffs, market access or demand.

Recent publications

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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

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The role of the G20 in promoting green and just transitions

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Trade and investment policies to advance national climate plans: Draft guides for policymakers

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The Least Developed Countries Report 2024

More publications

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UN Trade and Development at the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference

Featured Podcast

Powering trade: Why renewable energy needs a push from positive policies

This week, after the COP29 global climate summit, The Weekly Tradecast is looking at renewable energy and why trade, aid and investment policies need a rethink.

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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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

UNCTAD at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference

9 – 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

2nd training workshop for communicators on circular economy

10 – 14 March 2025

Stonetown, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania

Marine-based Products and Services Expo

3 – 5 March 2025

Geneva, Switzerland

Documents and publications

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

The Role of the G20 in Promoting Green and Just Transitions

14 Nov 2024

English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/548e71cd-en

Synergistic linkages between green trade and sustainable development in Papua New Guinea

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

UNCTAD/TCS/DITC/INF/2024/8 - 04 Oct 2024

English

Contact

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