Trade and environment | UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)15

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

Green export strategies

Climate Change

Circular economy

Oceans Economy and Fisheries

BioTrade

News

Copper supply crunch threatens energy and digital transitions

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warns a looming copper shortfall could stall the world’s shift to clean energy and digital technologies.

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.

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.

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.

Recent publications

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

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

Fostering environmentally sustainable electronic commerce

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

The role of the G20 in promoting green and just transitions

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

More publications

Featured event

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

Greening the AfCFTA : Building climate-resilient green value chains across the Africa

National Green Export Reviews

Global BioTrade Facilitation Programme

Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies

Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Green Trade Project

Trade and Agricultural Policies to Support Small-scale Farmers and Enhance Food Security

Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP)

Oceans Economy and Blue BioTrade in the Caribbean region

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

Global Trade Update (May 2025)

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

UNCTAD/DITC/INF/2025/3 - 08 Apr 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

The Role of the G20 in Promoting Green and Just Transitions

14 Nov 2024

English

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

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