The Weekly Tradecast by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

As the world moves toward a more sustainable future, nuclear energy is back in the spotlight. While wind and solar power are key to reducing carbon emissions, their intermittent nature presents challenges. Could nuclear energy provide a stable, low-carbon alternative? UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) economist Claudia Contreras joins The Weekly Tradecast to explore nuclear energy’s role in the gl...

From microplastics polluting our oceans to carcinogenic chemicals and mountains of waste in landfills, the fashion industry’s environmental footprint is growing as quickly as the trends it churns out. As shoppers chase ever-changing styles, can fashion ever be truly sustainable? In the latest episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we’re joined by Runa Raay – fashion environmentalist, designer, and activ...

What is the real value of investment in today’s world? From green energy to public infrastructure, investment has the power to reshape economies and drive meaningful change. But in a world facing climate crises, growing debt, and fragile growth, how can we make sure that capital is flowing where it’s truly needed? In this Weekly Tradecast, we speak with Nan Li Collins, director of UN Trade and Dev...

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. In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) legal officer David Vivas explores the legal, environmental and economic sides of this controversial topic. From marine jurisdictions to the seabed's u...

Hemp is an environmentally friendly and versatile plant used in various industries , from textiles and ropes to medicine and construction. Yet, this wonder plant has not reached its full potential, partly because it belongs to the cannabis family. While industrial hemp is not an intoxicating plant, perceptions that hemp is a drug have kept it controversial in many countries. In the latest episode...

It’s more than just a metal. It’s in our phones, our homes, our cars – quietly powering our daily lives. As demand increases for clean technologies, like solar panels and electric vehicles, copper is increasingly in the spotlight. But what are the costs and consequences of mining it – and who really benefits? Can we meet these demands without repeating past mistakes? In this episode of The Weekly...

Antibiotics save lives. But when the supplies run low or bacteria become resistant, the risks grow — especially in developing countries. On this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) economist Bruno Casella explores the challenges of securing essential antibiotics, the impact of limited local production, and how better investment and coordination can strengthen supply...

In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, Luz María de la Mora, Director of UNCTAD’s Trade Division, looks into the complex realities behind today’s trade debates. In a world shaped by disruption – from climate change and geopolitical tensions to digital transformations – the global trading system is at a crossroads. Free trade, once seen as a force for prosperity and integration, is now under scru...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at tariffs with Emily Blanchard, a former Chief Economist at the U.S. State Department. Not long ago, we were deep in a cost-of-living crisis. Inflation has now eased a bit but geopolitics remain tense and the global economy is still struggling to recover. But rather than moving towards more open trade, many countries are becoming more protectionist. Adding to the unease...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at the global trade in food and why developing countries must move up the value chain to help drive the sustainability of what we eat with Jennifer Clapp, Canada Research Chair in Global Food Security and Sustainability. Crises, conflicts and climate change are all affecting how and where our food is grown, processed and shipped. At the same time, the global food system...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at Africa’s economies and ways to boost trade, reduce risk and unlock the continent’s potential with Mona Farid Mohmed Badran from Cairo University and also UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) chief of the Africa section, Habiba Barka. From economic turbulence to the impact of climate change, UN Trade and Development’s latest report on Africa says much of the continent s...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at the trends in South-South trade – along with some challenges on the horizon – with Giselle Datz, an expert in the global political economy at Virginia Tech. Throughout modern history, wealthy nations in the north have been consuming food, minerals and other goods from developing countries most often found in what’s called the Global South. But in recent years, the pat...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at how we can bridge inequality in the global economy and create a fairer system with economist, academic and author James Galbraith. In recent decades, the economic centre of gravity has been shifting with the growing presence of big developing countries on the world stage. But many gaps and inequalities persist – just as climate change, rapid changes in technology and...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at tax with Lorraine Eden, professor emerita of management at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. Nobody likes to pay tax, but collecting more of it is one way that countries can bring in billions of extra dollars each year to support economic and social development. One big challenge is the way that giant corporations are able to move profits around th...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at how the green transition is transforming the global economy, national policies and almost every aspect of our lives with the International Trade Centre’s Vanessa Erogbogbo. As the impact of climate change gets worse, the focus is on finding solutions that make a difference. Much more needs to be done but steps to cut emissions and use more renewable energy are already...

The Weekly Tradecast closes the year with a special episode highlighting key moments and voices in global development in 2024 and the paths we’re forging for a more inclusive and resilient future. It’s been a transformative year, marked by extraordinary challenges and opportunities. From rising economic uncertainties and shifting trade landscapes to the collaborative spirit of the Global Leaders F...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at trade, industrial policy and the role of the private sector in promoting the interests of developing countries with special guest John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). With a cascade of crises hitting the global economy, UN Trade and Development convened government leaders, top economists and other experts in Geneva earlier thi...

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. Join Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, and Carlos Razo from the UN Global Crisis Response Group for insights on our urgent need to harness other kinds of energy as the global population gro...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at how we can make sustainable fabrics and other materials recycled from agricultural waste with UN Trade and Development economist Henrique Pacini. For every banana or pineapple we eat, much of the plant is discarded during harvesting or processing. But this trash can be treasure. Transforming waste from bananas and pineapples into dresses and sneakers may seem farfetch...

With the COP29 global climate summit underway, The Weekly Tradecast looks at how to get the money we need for the green transition with economist, finance expert and sustainability advisor Sony Kapoor. It will take trillions of dollars to meet climate and development goals. The world’s advanced economies have pledged billions to help developing countries but, so far, few of the promises have been...

As the COP 29 global climate summit gets underway, The Weekly Tradecast looks at the role of trade and investment in getting to a greener future with UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Chantal Line Carpentier. Making trade cleaner and greener is vital to achieving global climate targets. At the same time, large investments are needed to move to cleaner greener energy, cut emissions and adapt to c...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at how carbon markets can help the most vulnerable countries address inequalities and protect the planet with UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Paul Akiwumi and Jean-Paul Adam from the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa. Least developed countries (LDCs) suffer much of the human and economic toll of climate change – even though they do little damage themselves....

The Weekly Tradecast looks at why we must rethink development strategies as growth slows and social discontent rises. Anastasia Nesvetailova, a senior economist at UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), shares her insights from the latest report showing that stagnating economic growth is not strong enough for developing countries to tackle their many challenges.  On top of climate change and multiple...

The Weekly Tradecast talks to Richard Baldwin – professor at IMD Business School and an expert on globalization – for his insights on the big economic shifts from manufacturing to services and what they mean for developing countries. Services have proven to be resilient to crises in recent years and are growing rapidly — offering opportunities to developing countries for growth in jobs, incomes, i...

The Weekly Tradecast looks at why trade, smart diversification and wider investment in development hold the keys to a more stable and sustainable future with special guest Célestin Monga, who teaches public policy at Harvard University. In June, we marked the 60th birthday of UN Trade and Development with the Global Leaders Forum. With a cascade of crises hitting the global economy, government lea...