Transport policy and legislation | UNCTAD

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As part of its mandate on trade logistics, UNCTAD carries out substantive research and analysis on a wide range of legal and policy issues affecting transport and trade.

Where appropriate, formal and informal meetings convened by UNCTAD also provide an important forum for discussion of relevant issues by member States, public and private sector stakeholders and other experts.

Advice and guidance on legal and policy issues is provided upon request.

For an historical overview of UNCTAD's activities in the field of shipping, see Beyond Conventional Wisdom in Development Policy: An intellectual history of UNCTAD 1964-2004 (at pp.73-80).

News

Volunteers clean the shoreline from oil after a tanker wreck off the coast of Mauritius

Mauritius oil spill puts spotlight on ship pollution

Small island nations face an existential and developmental threat from ship-source pollution endangering their vulnerable marine ecosystems and ocean economies. An effective international legal regime can help.

Japanese ship Wakashio wrecked off the coast of Mauritius

Mauritius oil spill highlights importance of adopting latest international legal instruments in the field

Written by Regina Asariotis and Anila Premti, UNCTAD
Article No. 58 of UNCTAD Transport and Trade Facilitation Newsletter N°87 - Third Quarter 2020

Seizing the opportunity of the climate action momentum

UNCTAD supports efforts to promote sustainability, adapt and build resilience against the climate emergency.

Global maritime trade suffers as US-China trade tensions and uncertainty take toll

The Review of Maritime Transport 2019, released today, shows a dip in maritime trade growth. Trade policy crosscurrents, geopolitics and sanctions, environmental concerns, fuel economics and tensions involving the Strait of Hormuz – a strategic maritime chokepoint – all contributed to decelerated growth in merchandise trade.

Events and meetings

Multi-year expert meeting on transport, trade logistics and trade facilitation, eighth session

27 - 28 Oct 2020

Virtual meeting

UNFCCC COP 25 Side Event: Climate resilient transport infrastructure for sustainable trade, tourism and development in SIDS

Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on Climate Change Adaptation for International Transport: Preparing for the Future

16 - 17 Apr 2019

Geneva, Switzerland

UNFCCC COP 24 Side Event: Sustainable maritime transport’s role in supporting global trade and development

Katowice, Poland

Documents and publications

Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Coastal Transport Infrastructure: A Compilation of Policies and Practices

UNCTAD/DTL/TLB/2019/1 - 29 Jan 2020

English

Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Framework for Caribbean Coastal Transport Infrastructure

UNCTAD/DTL/TLB/2018/1 - 30 Jul 2018

English

Port Industry Survey on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation

UNCTAD/SER.RP/2017/18 - 05 Jan 2018

English

Road Safety - Considerations In Support Of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

UNCTAD/DTL/TLB/2017/4 - 03 Jan 2018

English