The Weekly Tradecast by UNCTAD: Recent Episodes
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This series by the UN trade and development body explores how major economic events are affecting developing countries and the lives of billions of people.
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 global energy transition. She discusses its benefits, including reliability and efficiency, as well as its risks – radioactive waste, safety concerns and geopolitical challenges.
Tune in to learn whether nuclear power has a place in the energy mix of the future.
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 activist – to explore the high environmental and human toll of fast fashion.
With insight into everything from synthetic fibres and forever chemicals to global supply chains and discarded clothes in developing countries, Runa challenges us to think before we buy.
Join us to discuss what it takes to stitch together a sustainable fashion future.
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 Development’s (UNCTAD) division on investment and enterprise. With decades of experience across the public and private sectors, she unpacks the global investment landscape – what’s working, what’s broken and what needs to change.
Join us to discuss how smarter, fairer investment can help build a sustainable future for all. To explore the topic further, see UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2025: International investment in the digital economy.
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 untapped riches, he shares expert insight into why we may not be ready for this new frontier.
Is this truly the key to clean energy, or just another environmental risk? Listen now.
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 of The Weekly Tradecast, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) economist Marco Fugazza explores how hemp can support sustainable growth in developing countries and contribute to a greener future.
Tune in for insights into how hemp could help shape a greener and more sustainable future for global trade.
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 Tradecast, we speak with Professor Daniel Franks, Director of the Global Centre for Mineral Security at the University of Queensland. Listen now to learn about the global race for critical minerals, the environmental and social costs of extraction, and the urgent need for inclusive reforms in how we power our future.
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 chains.
Join us to discuss UNCTAD’s findings on antibiotic shortages in East Africa and the urgent need for action.
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 scrutiny.
But is trade the culprit or a catalyst for solutions?
Drawing from decades of experience in international negotiations, she explores how trade can remain a force for good – one that fuels inclusive growth, empowers small businesses, supports the green and digital transitions, and offers hope to communities worldwide. Listen now to discover why, even in turbulent times, trade still holds the potential to drive sustainable development – if we get it right.
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, countries are threatening to slap huge tariffs on major trading partners.
In the current climate, there are fears that escalating tariffs could lead to trade wars - a scenario with grim prospects for many developing countries. For more on the ins and outs of tariffs, tune in to Emily Blanchard from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
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 is dominated by a few huge companies that shape policies, trade and development.
Listen in to Jennifer Clapp, Professor at the University of Waterloo, to see how the Global South can play a bigger role in supply chains and a sustainable food future.
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 struggles to get ahead due to repeated exposure to external shocks.
Its economies are particularly vulnerable because they rely heavily on commodity exports, carry high levels of debt and have limited technology infrastructure.
According to the new Economic Development in Africa report, key steps forward include wider diversification of economies, greater regional trade and more robust rules across the continent of 1.4 billion people. For more on the report and its recommendations, tune in to Mona Farid Mohmed Badran and Habiba Barka.
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 patterns of market power have been shifting within Asia, Latin America and Africa – with profound implications for the global economy and development.
The latest UN Trade and Development report says that South-South trade has more than doubled since 2007.
In 2023, that trade within the Global South was worth $5.6 trillion.
But against this backdrop Donald Trump, the new US president, takes office with talk of tariffs and protectionism.
For more on what lies ahead for the Global South and where the risks are, tune in to Giselle Datz, Associate Professor in the Government and International Affairs Program at Virginia Tech.
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 major shifts in geopolitics are transforming the way we live and reshaping the future of the planet.
With so much to deal with, what are the priorities so that developing countries can be resilient and prosperous?
Tune in to James Galbraith from the University of Texas at Austin to find out how we can get on the right track to a more sustainable and inclusive future.
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 the world to places where they pay the lowest taxes.
To ensure that multinationals pay their fair share, around 140 countries are working on global reforms to the tax architecture – including an agreed minimum rate of tax on big companies.
For a deeper look at these reforms and how they could help developing countries, tune in to professor and prolific author Lorraine Eden.
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 opening new frontiers for technology, creating new opportunities for business and redrawing the map for the resources we use and the products we make.
So how does that big picture connect and affect daily life in our work and in our communities?
For more on the macro to micro aspects of the green transition, listen in to Vanessa Erogbogbo, chief of the ITC’s green and inclusive value chains section.
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 Forum and the UN Summit of the Future, the need for innovative solutions has never been greater.
Tune in to see how trade can drive sustainable development, transforming the world’s challenges into opportunities and shaping a better future for everyone.
The Weekly Tradecast returns in early January with more insights on the world of trade and development. We wish you happy holidays and a new year filled with possibilities.
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 this year to chart a new course for development in a changing world.
For a deeper look at the forum and how the private sector can support inclusive development, listen in to global business leader and advisor John Denton from the ICC.
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 grows, fossil fuels run out and our planet gets hotter.
A new report by UN Trade and Development says trade in solar and wind technologies is booming but that the expansion must be faster, smoother, cheaper and more universal. Without investment and support from rich countries, developing nations may be sidelined.
Tune in to Francesco La Camera and Carlos Razo for a deeper look at how to better support development and a greener future with renewable energy.
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 farfetched but these eco-materials could help offset the environmental damage from fast fashion.
Listen in to UN Trade and Development’s Henrique Pacini to find out how these innovative fibres not only promise to reduce plastic and other synthetics but are also creating new jobs and economic opportunities.
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 met and just a small amount of the funding is flowing.
Listen in to special guest Sony Kapoor to follow the money and find out how we can finance the green transition and really make a difference.
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 climate change.
Tune in to senior agricultural and environmental economist Chantal Line Carpentier to hear how economic growth and development, lower emissions and a zero-carbon future are all possible – with the right policies and actions.
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. To help them, UNCTAD's latest report on LDCs looks at how the trading of carbon to mitigate climate change can also open up extra funds for development.
Carbon trading seeks to limit emissions by allowing production in one place, such as a factory, to be offset against reductions in another place. But critics say it gives rich countries a licence to pollute and that many developing countries see few benefits.
How can carbon trading help support sustainable and inclusive growth? Tune in to Paul Akiwumi and Jean-Paul Adam to find out.
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 crises, low global growth and weak investment are worsening economic divides and fueling discontent. But the disruption also opens the way for the Global South to reshape trade, development and the green transition.
Tune in to Anastasia Nesvetailova, director of UNCTAD's macroeconomic and development policies branch, for more from the report on how we can adjust our thinking, investments and actions to best support inclusive development.
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, investment and trade.
Tune in for more on these big shifts from Richard Baldwin, who the Financial Times calls "one of the most important thinkers in this era of global disruption".
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 leaders, top economists and other experts convened in Geneva to chart a new course for development in a changing world.
For a deeper look from the forum, tune in to special guest economist, author and former World Bank official Célestin Monga.
With the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund happening this month, the Weekly Tradecast is looking at Bretton Woods with special guest Danny Quah, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.
The Bretton Woods agreement of July 1944 – about a year before the end of World War Two – aimed to create an efficient foreign exchange system and promote trade and economic growth.
All of the countries in the system agreed to a fixed peg of their currencies against the U.S. dollar, which in turn was pegged to the price of gold.
The currency peg and the system collapsed in the early 1970s. But out of the Bretton Woods system came various multilateral organisations that remain as fixtures of trade, development and the global financial architecture.
Today, there are calls for new approaches as climate change threatens the planet, a series of crises hit the global economy and many countries suffer from debt distress that is stunting their growth.
Tune in to special guest Danny Quah from the National University of Singapore to learn more about the 80-year legacy of Bretton Woods and how the global financial system could better support development.
The Weekly Tradecast talks about a potential energy source that could play a vital role in the fight against climate change with economist and atmospheric physicist Robert Hamwey, who formerly worked at UN Trade and Development.
Hydrogen is clean, green and abundant. But there are challenges -- not least that it's expensive to make and often uses natural gas in the production process.
It is also very flammable. To liquefy it for shipping, it must be chilled to just shy of absolute zero. Energy companies already make most of the world’s hydrogen fuel, leaving critics to complain about vested interests.
Is hydrogen really an answer to our energy needs or just an expensive diversion? Listen in to Robert Hamwey to find out.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at how the global economy is evolving in a more fragmented world with special guest Isabella Weber, assistant professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Since 1964, when UN Trade and Development was created, the world has changed profoundly in response to many challenges and opportunities.
Now, technology and climate change are major forces transforming our work, lives and futures. At the same time, a series of crises and conflicts are creating a greater sense of fragmentation.
In June, we marked the 60th birthday of UN Trade and Development with the Global Leaders Forum. Heads of government, leading economists and other experts convened in Geneva to chart a new development course in a changing world.
Listen in to special guest Isabella Weber for her perspective from the Global Leaders Forum on how we can better support trade and development while building global resilience in the midst of disruptions and difficulties.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the UN’s Summit of the Future and how any hopes for sustainable and inclusive development depend on us making fundamental changes in how we think and act.
Since 1964, when UN Trade and Development was created, the world has seen huge transformations of economies, technologies and societies. To meet our new realities, world leaders at this week’s Summit of the Future will be shaping how we recover from multiple crises now and create greener, more inclusive progress for generations to come.
At the summit – an initiative by UN Secretary General António Guterres – leaders are expected to agree on new measures and reforms covering the multilateral system, climate change, the digital world, the Sustainable Development Goals and more.
In the face of crises and complexities, listen to the voices of eminent economists, young people, the private sector and UN Trade and Development Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan on how we can work collectively to build a better world.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the devastating impact of the Israel-Gaza war on the Palestinian economy with Rami Alazzeh, an expert in conflict and development economics at UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
On October 7 last year, Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.
Since then, the response by Israel's military has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Much of the tiny territory has been reduced to rubble and most of its 2 million people have been displaced in a humanitarian crisis. A new report by UN Trade and Development says the economy in Gaza has collapsed and few people have any work.
Beyond Gaza, Palestinians in the West Bank are increasingly feeling the effects of the war on trade, tourism and jobs.
Tune in to UN Trade and Development’s Rami Alazzeh to hear more about the economic impact and what it will take to help the Palestinian economy recover and rebuild.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at international aid and how more is needed to boost economies and people with Julia Gruebler from the technical team of the UN Global Crisis Response Group.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) is more than just cash. The grants, loans and technical assistance from various governments can support societies with access to electricity, clean water, healthcare and education. Along with remittances and foreign direct investment, ODA is one of the most stable kinds of external financing for developing countries, especially in times of crisis.
The good news is ODA jumped to record levels in 2022, even during a pandemic. But developing regions actually saw ODA shrink by 2 percent – affecting more than 70 countries and nearly 3 billion people.
As conflict, geopolitics and financial pressures reshape priorities, the aid landscape is undergoing huge shifts that could undermine development in many countries.
Listen in to UN Trade and Development’s Julia Gruebler for more on aid under pressure and the future of ODA.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the economic power and potential of creativity with our special guest, John Howkins, who coined the term "creative economy".
Countries, companies and universities around the world are eager to embrace innovation and people with fresh ideas.
The creative economy – ranging from art, film and theatre to advertising, fashion, music and video games – is already worth at least $1.5 trillion and it's growing fast.
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says the industry and its creative solutions can support sustainable development, promote diversity and help overcome global challenges.
So how do we make money from ideas and how can that power a brighter future for everyone?
To find out listen in to John Howkins visiting professor at the University of Lincoln and vice dean and visiting professor at the Shanghai School of Creativity.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at cocoa and the impact of climate change with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) senior economist Rodrigo Cárcamo-Díaz.
Cocoa beans are the key ingredient of chocolate and also an important part of health supplements, cosmetics, fragrances and more.
But cocoa prices have risen sharply this year, driven up by poor harvests in West Africa, which produces the bulk of global supplies and the El Niño weather phenomenon earlier this year. Hotter temperatures and shifts in rainfall caused by climate change also have an impact on harvests.
Soaring prices are squeezing chocolate makers and hitting consumers. But the higher prices are not translating into gains for farmers – who are struggling with higher production costs and lower crop yields.
Tune in to UN Trade and Development's Rodrigo Cárcamo-Díaz to find out if we’re in a cocoa crisis?
The Weekly Tradecast looks at lead-acid batteries and why they remain so popular despite the world moving towards greener energy with UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Henrique Pacini.
Invented more than 160 years ago, lead-acid batteries are still the most widely used rechargeable batteries. Reliable and relatively cheap, they're found in everything from cars and trucks to electric wheelchairs and backup power supplies.
But they carry significant costs for the environment and our health. Making the batteries creates greenhouse gases, and lead is a toxic metal that is especially harmful to children and pregnant women.
In developing countries, economic need often outweighs safety as people melt down the valuable lead to repair and reuse old batteries.
Listen in to UN Trade and Development’s Henrique Pacini to see how we can make recyclable batteries that are affordable – and also safer for our health and our environment.
As we celebrate International Youth day, The Weekly Tradecast looks at the importance of investing in the skills and opportunities of the young with Chidinma Udeogu and Arlette Verploegh.
Chidinma Udeogu is part of the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) youth network, and Arlette Verploegh created and coordinates the global group of 18- to 30-year-olds to share their ideas, experiences and voices to shape trade and development.
In many countries, there are too many young people chasing too few jobs. That's bad for the economy and can also fuel tensions in society.
At the same time, there are not enough workers with the skills needed for the economy of the future.
Tune in to Chidinma Udeogu at the Nigeria Economic Zones Association and UN Trade and Development’s Arlette Verploegh to find out how we can help young people get ready for work, encourage entrepreneurs and support trade and development in the future.
As 2024 is UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) 60th birthday, The Weekly Tradecast takes a step back in time with Danielle Hughes, chief of the records management unit.
The United Nations was created after the Second World War to preserve peace as the forum for countries to work together towards common goals.
But it was not until 1964 that UNCTAD was set up in Geneva as its own agency to promote the interests of developing countries in world trade.
Tune in to Danielle Hughes for stories from the formation of UN Trade and Development and our evolution over the last 60 years to keep improving the lives of billions of people around the world.
With the summer holidays starting, The Weekly Tradecast looks at travel and consumer protection rights with Alicia Gomez, Legal Counsel at the UN World Tourism Organization.
With millions of people on the move this summer, many holiday makers have no idea of their rights or the protections in place when something goes wrong.
During the pandemic, millions of flights were cancelled and many tourists stranded abroad. The crisis exposed the disparities of consumer rights, highlighting the need for an international legal framework to help tourists in distress.
Tourism is worth nearly 10 trillion US dollars and provides one in 10 jobs, so there's an economic urgency to keeping the industry moving and consumers confident, especially in Developing countries where tourism can make up a major part of the economy.
Listen in to Alicia Gomez for more on how an international code to protect tourists - created by the UN - offers better legal support in a world with new risks from technology and the rise of online tourism.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the Sustainable Development Goals with a special guest - Marina Ponti, Director of the UN SDGs Action Campaign.
In 2015, UN members signed up to 17 SDGs that range from ending extreme poverty to tackling the climate crisis. The goals are supposed to be met by 2030 to fulfil the promise of a better future for people and the planet.
But trillions of dollars are needed to meet the targets - and efforts are faltering at a time of turmoil and tensions.
Since 1964, when UN Trade and Development was created to promote a fairer economic system, the world has seen many sets of challenges and opportunities. Now - and into the future - the SDGs are vital ways to improve people's lives by addressing inequality, sustainability and climate change.
Tune in to the UN's Marina Ponti to find out how can we get back on track.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the Digital Economy Report from UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) with Torbjorn Fredriksson.
Around the world, greater access to technology has revolutionised the way we live and work. While the changes are delivering many benefits, the new report says how we manage the digital transformation will have a major influence on the future of humanity and the health of our planet.
With technology and digitalisation evolving quickly, the environmental footprint is also growing - from the rising demand for minerals, water and energy to the creation of more pollution and waste.
For many developing countries, they are seeing only limited benefits from the digital economy but are highly exposed to the environmental impact.
Listen in to Torbjorn Fredriksson, Head of the E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch, to hear how new business models, policies and strategies can help maximise the positive aspects of digitalisation and minimise the negative effects.
The Weekly Tradecast dives into the benefits and potential of seaweed with UN Trade and Development lawyer David Vivas.
Climate change is affecting harvests around the globe. But seaweed is one of the few food crops that have a positive effect on the environment.
It’s also high in protein, making it a promising substitute for meat and an even more sustainable alternative than soya.
Seaweed also has potential in pharmaceuticals and as a substitute for some plastics, reducing the use of fossil fuels that are a main cause of climate change.
To find out more, listen in to UN Trade and Development’s David Vivas for how this versatile plant could transform many parts of our lives.
BBC credit
The Weekly Tradecast looks at why we need to chart a new course for development – with insights from our Global Leaders Forum.
UN Trade and Development is celebrating our 60th year of promoting a fairer economic system and access to the benefits of global trade. As we mark this milestone of transforming people’s lives, we're also evolving to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.
"Charting a new development course in a changing world" was the focus of our recent anniversary event in Geneva with hundreds of senior officials and leading thinkers.
In the face of crises and complexities, tune in to this week’s episode to find out how we can build a better future.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the World Investment Report 2024 and the latest trends with UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Richard Bolwijn.
Global flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) declined by 2% to $1.3 trillion dollars last year.
The headline number included big swings in a small number of conduit economies – which often act as intermediaries for FDI destined for other countries. Without those drivers, FDI globally would have been even lower.
This year should be better but risks and uncertainties persist – especially for developing countries that need investment to grow now and adapt in the future.
Tune in to Richard Bolwijn, Head of Investment Research, to hear how investment policies and decisions are being shaped by technology, sustainability and geopolitical tensions.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at today's challenges and the opportunities of tomorrow with special guest UN Trade and Development Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan.
We’ll be talking about her vision for UN Trade and Development, how to address new challenges and why we must move forward together to create an inclusive and sustainable future.
Founded in 1964 as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development – or UNCTAD – our organization promotes a fairer economic system and helps developing countries to access the benefits of global trade.
Now UN Trade and Development is building on six decades of success as our work evolves to keep improving the lives of billions of people around the world.
Tune in to Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan to find out what it takes to lead this global organization and get her perspective on the course of development in a changing world.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the evolution of science and technology with one of the most influential women in UK tech, special guest Sana Khareghani.
Since 1964, when UN Trade and Development was created, the world has seen a series of new realities, challenges and opportunities.
These days, advances in artificial intelligence and other technologies are racing ahead, transforming education, finance, medicine and many other fields at a lightning pace.
The benefits are enormous but so are the risks. As some countries, sectors and workers see great gains, others may lose out.
With technology such a driving force, listen to Sana Khareghani, professor of practice in AI at King’s College London, to find out how to get on track to a better future for all.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the need for rules to balance the benefits and risks with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) legal expert Arnau Izaguerri Vila.
Innovations in AI are racing ahead as machines get better and faster at analysing information on a vast scale. Already, the advances are transforming many fields of work and also reshaping our social interactions.
The potential benefits are enormous but so too are the risks. As some countries, sectors and workers see great gains, others may lose out. And as AI blurs the boundaries of reality, it creates worrying new tools for disinformation.
To keep up with these astonishing advances, tune in to Arnau Vila and find out why the United Nations says we need bold strategies and broad cooperation to develop shared standards around AI.
As the United Nation’s first Global Supply Chain Forum gets underway, The Weekly Tradecast gets an update on shipping disruptions that are adding to the global challenges with UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Jan Hoffmann.
Ships carry about 80% of goods globally – from production to consumption. With tensions high in the Middle East, attacks by Houthi rebels on vessels in the Red Sea have diverted large amounts of traffic from one of the world’s most important shipping shortcuts.
Another shortcut – the Panama Canal – is suffering its own disruptions as low water levels reduce the number and size of ships that can pass through.
Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development, and Jan Hoffmann, head of the organization’s trade logistics branch, have just been on the ground in Panama.
Tune in to Jan Hoffmann to get an overview on the disruptions and how countries, businesses and consumers are coping.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at low-lying coastal countries and the unique threats they face from climate change with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) senior economist Mussie Delelegn.
The resilience and prosperity of these countries is the focus of the UN’s fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in late May.
Known as SIDS, these dozens of small island states are the most vulnerable to extreme weather, rising seas and coastal erosion brought on by climate change.
The human and economic costs are enormous. If climate trends continue, some of the islands could soon disappear under the waves.
Listen in to Mussie Delelegn to learn how the SIDS can build their economies, protect their people and mitigate the impact of climate change.
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the importance of science, technology and innovation for global development – and our future – with Virginia Dignum, Director of the AI Policy Lab at Umea University.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is very much in the news but it’s just one of many emerging technologies with huge implications for our economies, our societies and the environment.
How do we create benefits that are inclusive and sustainable? How do we plan for a future that’s evolving so rapidly?
Tune in to Virginia Dignum, a member of the UN’s AI Advisory Board, to explore the disruptions, opportunities and innovations that are transforming our world and our lives.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at a new report by the United Nations on trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) with Bruno Casella, a senior economist at UN Trade and Development.
By tracking 20 years of FDI, the report says global flows are slowing down in the long term. Services are still growing quickly but manufacturing activity has suffered the most.
The stagnation was already happening but the report says recent shocks – ranging from the pandemic to geopolitical tensions – have highlighted how the global economy is becoming more fractured.
All of these factors, it says, will reshape investment decisions, international production and global value chains.
Tune in to Bruno Casella, who led the new FDI report, to find out the implications for developing countries industrializing their economies.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the rare metals and minerals used in mobile phones, laptops and electric car batteries with Clovis Freire, chief of the commodity research and analysis section at UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Electric vehicles are seen as clean because they don’t belch out exhaust fumes that fuel climate change. But some of the materials that go into them – especially the minerals and rare elements in their batteries – have large carbon footprints.
The environmental impact of extracting materials like cobalt, copper, lithium and graphite is a major concern.
In countries where much of the mining is done, there can be issues over human rights and the benefits to communities. With demand high and supplies limited, these materials also drive concerns about market domination by just a few producers.
Tune in to UN Trade and Development’s Clovis Freire to find out more about these rare metals and minerals and how to make them greener.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the update to the UN’s Trade and Development Report with UNCTAD director Richard Kozul-Wright.
On the positive side – despite high inflation, high interest rates and gloomy forecasts – the global economy grew 2.7% last year.
The bad news – the update says – is that the positive momentum is going to waste and that growth looks set to be slower this year at 2.6%.
Tune in to UN Trade and Development’s Richard Kozul-Wright to find out how we address not only rising interest rates and inflation but also the urgent challenges of climate change, underinvestment and inequality before it’s too late.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the connection between food, health and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals with Bojan Nastav, a statistician with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
UN Trade and Development has teamed up with the World Health Organization to study the global trade of healthy and less healthy food.
At least 10% of the world’s people live in hunger. At the same time, more than 40% of all adults are overweight.
So, it’s not just a matter of quantity – or getting enough to eat. It’s also about quality by ensuring people have access to safe and nutritious food to help them stay healthy.
Greater insights into the trade flows of food offer new ways for the WHO and others to analyse and address diseases that are linked to nutrition.
Tune in to Bojan Nastav, one of the authors of the report, to find out how this research can help governments better understand food markets and develop nutrition-related trade policies.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at Bhutan, the Himalayan kingdom that measures its success in "Gross National Happiness" with UNCTAD director Paul Akiwumi.
Bhutan and its 800,000 people now have an extra reason to be happy – after graduating from the UN list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) into full developing country status. It's only the seventh nation in 50 years to make that jump.
Bhutan was included in the first group of LDCs in 1971. Over the last few decades, it has made remarkable progress on various social and economic metrics, including big improvements in poverty levels, education and life expectancy.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Paul Akiwumi to find out how Bhutan achieved this feat and what the 45 countries still classified as LDCs can learn from its development path.
Just ahead of Zero Waste Day, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks trash with UNCTAD economist Henrique Silva Pacini Costa.
From plastic packaging to fast fashion to car batteries, we have been creating mountains of waste for decades. It’s everywhere – in landfills, in the air, in plants and animals and in our oceans – and it can take decades or even centuries to degrade.
We’ve recycled just nine percent of the plastic we started making 70 years ago, so that’s not going to solve the problem.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Henrique Silva Pacini Costa to find out what we must do to reduce our rubbish and why we must do it quickly.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at K-pop and other lessons for success from the creative economy of the Republic of Korea with UNCTAD economist Katalin Bokor.
Whether we've danced Gagnam style, listened to the songs of BTS and Blackpink, played video games or watched Korean TV shows and movies, the country's cultural impact is hard to ignore.
That catchy creativity is also paying big financial dividends. Around the world, the creative economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors and is already worth at least $1.5 trillion. Few places do it better than the Republic of Korea, more commonly known as South Korea.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Katalin Bokor to find out how other countries can emulate that success and build up their creative economies.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at how we can fight climate change by cutting the carbon emissions of our fisheries with David Vivas, an UNCTAD legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.
The fishing industry is a vital source of food. And it provides work – directly or indirectly – for one in every 13 people on the planet.
But there's a deep downside for the environment from the emissions spewed out by the sector's ships and processing plants. One recent study shows that bottom trawling – a common fishing practice – emits as much carbon dioxide every year as airplanes.
How do we make fisheries greener while also keeping people in their jobs?
Listen in to UNCTAD’s David Vivas to find out how we can stay in line with global climate goals and cut down the carbon emissions of our fisheries.
As we mark International Women's Day on 8 March, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the importance of investing in women with special guest Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, the UN’s trade and development body.
Overall, the outlook for gender equality is not as bright as it should be.
Women and girls make up nearly half of humanity but still lack equal opportunities in societies and economies. That means they often get less access to education and healthcare, are paid less than men and are more likely to leave work to care for families.
Projections now show that closing the global gender gap will take almost 132 years – about 30 years more than estimated in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tune in to UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan to find out how inclusion, investment and opportunities for women support sustainable development, build economies and strengthen societies.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the importance of remittances with UNCTAD economist Bruno Antunes.
Around the world, migrants send home more than $830 billion in remittances, of which about $650 billion go to developing countries, according to estimates from the World Bank.
That money helps to reduce poverty, improve nutrition and broaden access to education.
Listen in to Bruno Antunes to find out how policies and reforms can help us better use remittances and the opportunities they offer.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the impact on shipping, supply chains and trade from insecurity in the Red Sea with Jan Hoffman, head of UNCTAD's trade logistics branch.
About 80% of the world’s goods move by sea. But escalating attacks by Houthi rebels on ships passing through the narrow waters towards the Suez Canal have disrupted shipping routes and raised geopolitical tensions.
Red Sea shipping lanes carry around 15% of global trade but many ships have been diverted. UNCTAD estimates the trade volume going through the Suez Canal fell 42% over the last two months.
Without the Red Sea shortcut, longer routes between Asia and Europe add significant time and cost to shipments. That's fuelling fears of more shocks to the economy – with inflation still high and supply chains still shaky after disruptions during the pandemic.
Tune in to UNCTAD's Jan Hoffmann to find out more about the Red Sea disruptions and other threats to maritime trade from clogged shipping lanes and climate change.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at UNCTAD’s tool to measure sustainable growth and some of the signs of progress with Anu Peltola, who is in charge of the organization’s statistics unit.
For nearly 80 years, gross domestic product (GDP) has been the headline number to measure a country’s prosperity.
To get a more detailed picture, UNCTAD's Inclusive Growth Index goes further by combining GDP with other data on living conditions, equality and environmental sustainability. Launched in 2022 and expanded last year, the index now covers 93% of the world’s people and 96% of the global economy.
On average, developed countries score nearly twice as high as developing countries for inclusive growth. But some gaps are getting smaller.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Anu Peltola to find out where and why.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the impact of the Israel-Gaza crisis on the Palestinian economy with UNCTAD economist Rami Alazzeh.
Since the deadly assault by Hamas militants on October 7, Israel's military response has destroyed more than 37,000 buildings – about 18% of the Gaza Strip’s total structures – and displaced most of the 2.3 million people in the tiny enclave.
With so much damaged or destroyed, UNCTAD says in a new report that rebuilding Gaza will take decades, a concerted international effort and many billions of dollars. That rebuilding will be all the more difficult given the already dire state of the economy from Israel’s decades-long blockade.
When the war ends and investment is needed, recovery priorities for Gaza’s economy include supporting the workforce, restoring the airport, building a seaport and developing natural gas fields.
Tune in to UNCTAD's Rami Alazzeh to learn more about Gaza's path to recovery and longer-term development.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the global financial architecture with UNCTAD senior economist Penelope Hawkins.
The war in Ukraine, a global cost of living crisis and the lingering pandemic have disrupted economies and piled on debt pressure with higher interest rates. For many countries, the debt distress presents stark choices between repaying loans, investing in development and coping with climate change.
So how can vulnerable countries manage their debt burdens and free up financing for a high-value and low-carbon future?
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Penelope Hawkins to find out why financial systems and rules need to evolve to help investment and trade flow smoothly and more sustainably.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how much it will cost to achieve them with Nour Barnat, chief of methodology at UNCTAD Statistics.
In 2015, UN members signed up to 17 SDGs that range from ending extreme poverty to tackling the climate crisis. The goals are supposed to be met by 2030 but most are off track because of the pandemic, economic turmoil and geopolitical tensions.
It's estimated that the investment needed to hit the targets is around $6 trillion every year for the next seven years. That's equal to at least $750 per year for each person on the planet.
Can we salvage the Sustainable Development Goals and where will the money come from?
Tune in to UNCTAD's Nour Barnat to find out how we can meet the targets and fulfil the promise of a better future for people and the planet.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast talks about fertilizer and how harvests could wilt without more supply at cheaper prices with UNCTAD’s Sangram Rane, who is part of the UN task team focused on tackling global food insecurity.
Before the war, The Russian Federation and Ukraine together accounted for almost a third of global wheat exports. Russia is also a major exporter of fertilizers and of key ingredients – such as ammonia – that are used to make them.
Earlier UN-led deals with Ukraine and Russia on grain and fertilizer exports helped to reduce food prices and lessen the impact of the global cost-of-living crisis. But fertilizer remains expensive and in short supply as high energy prices raise production costs.
Without enough fertilizer this year, the UN is warning there may not be enough food.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Sangram Rane to find out why.
In this special episode of the Weekly Tradecast, we’re looking back at some of our most popular podcasts over 2023 and the many challenges they address.
And what a year it’s been. Economic recovery is shaky as conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere fuel tensions and uncertainty. A cost-of-living crisis persisted throughout the year, with developing countries in particular feeling the pain of a sharp rise in interest rates.
Another big issue of 2023 was extreme weather and the impact of global warming. We looked at investing in the green transition and how trade can make a big difference in protecting the planet.
As technology transforms every aspect of our lives, we explored the risks and opportunities of e-commerce and the digital economy.
With UNCTAD celebrating its 60th birthday in 2024, we also took a tour of the archives and some of the more unusual aspects of our history.
The Weekly Tradecast returns in early January with new episodes and more insights on the world of trade and development. Happy holidays!
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the importance of the right kind of investment in tourism with UNCTAD’s Christiane Stepanek-Allen, chief of UNCTAD's investment partnership section.
Before the Covid pandemic, the tourism industry accounted for about 4% of the global economy. Tourism is bouncing back – helped by a busy summer – but it's having to make up for massive losses during the pandemic and still faces challenges.
Awareness is also growing that travel can have huge costs for the environment. As extreme heat and wildfires in many places showed this summer, the sector is also vulnerable to climate change.
Listen in to UNCTAD legal expert Christiane Stepanek-Allen to find out why investment is key to a greener kind of tourism that helps the industry and also the planet.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at investing in sustainable development to help save our planet with UNCTAD economists Joseph Clements and Anthony Miller.
Calls are growing more urgent for more spending on a clean-energy future and more support for developing countries bearing the brunt of climate change. The energy crisis is raising fears that many countries will postpone plans to shift from fossil fuels into cleaner renewable energy.
The link between investment, development and the environment is now a driving theme – not least at the ongoing COP28 global climate conference. But trillions of dollars are needed to meet climate and development goals and just a small part of that money is now flowing.
So how can we step up the investment we need for a sustainable future? Listen in to UNCTAD’s Anthony Miller and Joseph Clements to find out.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the role that trade has to play in the clean energy transition with senior UNCTAD economist Chantal Line Carpentier.
Next week, the UN climate summit – COP28 – is dedicating a day to trade and how it can help fight climate change.
The global production and distribution of goods and services accounts for around a quarter of all emissions.
But to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, scientists say we must reach net zero for greenhouse gases by 2050.
That means cutting those emissions to as close to zero as possible – with any remaining ones absorbed from the atmosphere by oceans and forests.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Chantal Line Carpentier to find out why trade is vital to achieving the climate targets and how it can help cut global emissions.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at digitalization and its future with Torbjörn Fredriksson, head of UNCTAD’s e-commerce and digital economy branch.
Technology is transforming every aspect of our lives – how we work, eat, shop, travel and interact.
If done right and governed well, e-commerce and the digital economy can drive growth, innovation, development and better use of our resources.
But the growing digital divides threaten to worsen inequality. Many developing countries are already falling behind.
With such heavy reliance on technology, what are the implications for our privacy, our safety and our rights?
Tune into Torbjörn Fredriksson to find out why the way we shape digitalization is so important for development and our future.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the challenges of sustainable fishing with UNCTAD legal expert David Vivas.
From farmed prawns to wild-caught mackerel, the fishing industry is a vital source of food – and livelihoods – all over the world. If the seas can sustain it, fisheries output is expected to top 200 million tonnes by 2030 as the global population grows.
But the industry also faces concerns about labour rights and environmental damage – including overfishing and high carbon emissions from trawlers and factories.
Can fishing ever be sustainable in an ever-hungrier world? Listen in to UNCTAD’s David Vivas to find out what we can do.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast is looking at the UN’s Least Developed Countries Report 2023 with one of the authors, UNCTAD economist Matfobhi Riba.
The world is facing soaring costs of food, energy and financing – along with extreme weather and geopolitical upheaval. Most vulnerable are the 46 nations classified as the least developed countries (LDCs).
After some years of progress, the pandemic hit the LDCs hard, cutting economic growth sharply and pushing an extra 15 million people into extreme poverty.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Matfobhi Riba to find out why these nations need urgent help to address inequalities and how they can get back on track for the Sustainable Development Goals.
In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we’re talking about women and investment and why a lack of financing is undermining development with UNCTAD economist Stephania Bonilla.
For developing countries, having more female entrepreneurs offers the benefits of more jobs, new skills and growth for communities and economies.
But gender inequalities in society mean women who are running or starting a business often face daunting challenges securing loans or investment.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Stephania Bonilla to find out how we can increase investment in women and unlock their full potential.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the urgent need to invest much more in healthcare with UNCTAD economist Bruno Casella.
Hundreds of millions of people around the world have little or no access to essential health services. Improving their well-being is vital to support economic growth and to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
But for many countries, there is just not enough money to build up the medical facilities, supplies and staff that their people need. UNCTAD’s World Investment Report says at least 100 billion dollars in extra healthcare investment is needed every year in developing countries alone.
Where will money come from? Tune in to UNCTAD’s Bruno Casella to find out how we can succeed in ensuring greater and fairer access to healthcare.
In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we’re looking at small businesses and ways to help them flourish despite economic turmoil with Arlette Verploegh, chief of UNCTAD’s entrepreneurship development section.
First with the COVID-19 pandemic and now the war in Ukraine, many businesses are fighting for survival as costs of goods, energy and financing stay high and consumers tighten their belts.
For countries already struggling, the tough times threaten to undo any limited gains for trade, investment, gender equality and sustainable development.
So how can we help smaller businesses to survive and thrive? Tune into UNCTAD’s Arlette Verploegh to find out how they can prepare for an uncertain future.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the influence big trading companies have on food supplies and prices with Anastasia Nesvetailova, head of UNCTAD’s macroeconomic and development policies branch.
Food costs have soared due to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and extreme weather – pushing vulnerable countries and people to the brink. But as many households and businesses struggle, the largest food trading companies are making big profits.
New research in UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Report 2023 highlights how fragmented rules for the food trading industry have played a key role in enabling speculation and profiteering.
Tune in to Anastasia Nesvetailova, the author of the research, to find out why volatility threatens our food security and how we could make commodities trading more transparent.
In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we’re looking at the UN’s Trade and Development Report 2023 with Richard Kozul-Wright, director of UNCTAD’s globalization and development strategies division.
The good news: The global economy is growing. But the recovery looks weak as many risks remain and many big economies struggle to get back to pre-COVID-19 growth levels.
The report warns of major challenges from inflation, debt burdens and food and energy insecurity. All of that stress is compounded by climate change and a retreat in public spending.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Richard Kozul-Wright for highlights of the report and insights on how the financial system can adapt to the risks to support developing countries and global resilience.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2023 with two of the report’s authors, Jan Hoffmann and Luisa Rodriguez.
The report says the volume of trade moving by ship fell slightly in 2022 during the pandemic but is expected to grow by 2.4% this year. That’s good news for the shipping industry and the global economy as more than 80% of traded goods move by sea.
But geopolitical tensions are high with the war in Ukraine, and trade patterns are shifting. The UNCTAD review also says the shipping industry must cut its sizeable carbon emissions, modernize fleets and become more sustainable and digital.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Jan Hoffmann and Luisa Rodriguez to find out about the green revolution in shipping and how the sector can be transformed.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at commodities and the challenges for developing countries in adding value to exports with UNCTAD economist Clovis Freire.
Commodities cover everything from oranges to oil and timber to gold. And every economy needs them to run and grow.
But countries that rely very heavily on exporting commodities can face fickle swings in markets. Many developing countries are especially vulnerable because they ship raw materials for others to process, rather than adding value themselves.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Clovis Freire to find out what developing countries can do to make the most of their commodities while diversifying their economies in sustainable ways.
In the second of a two-part series, this episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at inflation with UNCTAD economist Jeronim Capaldo to see the steps being taken to contain it and how new ways of thinking might work better.
When food, fuel and almost everything else gets rapidly more expensive, we see our paychecks buying less and our savings eroded. But a bit of inflation is good for economies, workers and equality.
How can we keep inflation as a positive force rather than a damaging one? Tune in to UNCTAD’s Jeronim Capaldo to find out.
In the first of a two-part series, this episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at what inflation is, why we need it and when it becomes too much – with UNCTAD economist Jeronim Capaldo.
These days, inflation is high as disruptions from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine drive a global cost of living crisis.
Everyone is feeling the pinch, but for governments and people in developing countries, even basic goods can become unaffordable.
Will inflation start to ease or are we in for more pain? Listen in to UNCTAD’s Jeronim Capaldo to find out why rising prices can be good, bad and ugly.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the role multilateral lenders play with UNCTAD senior economist Penelope Hawkins.
In early September, leaders from the world’s wealthiest countries meet in India for the G20 summit. With inflation and borrowing costs running high, debt and development are high on the agenda.
Multilateral development banks provide vital funding to countries in need. But critics say financial conditions imposed by the lenders can keep debt burdens heavy and cut into spending on development.
Should these multilateral lenders be reformed? Is there enough money and urgency to help countries drowning in debt?
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Penelope Hawkins to find out how multilateral banks can make funding more available and more sustainable.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the illegal wildlife trade with David Vivas, an UNCTAD legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.
Every year, huge numbers of animals and plants are bought and sold illicitly as food, medicine, clothing, furniture and even musical instruments.
Wildlife is big business. The illegal trade is estimated to be worth at least $7 billion but it could be much larger.
Trafficking is driving some species – especially rhinos, elephants, tigers, lions and pangolins – towards extinction. Many others are at risk.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s David Vivas to find out how we can crack down on the illegal trade.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at how Africa can deepen global supply chains and develop its own economies at the same time, with UNCTAD director Paul Akiwumi.
Geopolitical and economic disruptions have everyone from manufacturers and shippers to investors and governments looking at ways to strengthen and diversify global supply chains.
The UN's latest Economic Development in Africa Report sets out a roadmap for how the continent of 1.4 billion people could turn these disruptions into opportunities.
Africa has vast resources of materials needed by the electronics, renewable energy and other high-tech sectors – along with potentially huge consumer markets.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Paul Akiwumi to find out how African countries can seize the moment by adding value to raw materials and enhancing supply chain connections.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at rice, its importance for development and its impact on the environment with UNCTAD senior economist Miho Shirotori.
Rice is a vital crop as the main source of nutrition for more than half of people around the world.
Demand is only expected to soar as populations grow in Asia and Africa. Some estimates suggest the world will need almost one third more rice by 2050.
But production is faltering. At the same time, excessive use of pesticides, fertilizer and irrigation is depleting and polluting soil and ground water.
How we can boost rice output without putting more strain on our environment? Tune into UNCTAD’s Miho Shirotori to find out.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the unique challenges for landlocked countries that impede their trade and development with UNCTAD senior economist Mussie Delelegn.
There are 32 developing countries without access to the sea, leaving them with far higher bills to import and export goods by road and rail. In many places, poor infrastructure and border bureaucracy add time, cost and complication.
These extra demands put even more pressure on vulnerable economies being hit by higher costs of food, energy and debt.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Mussie Delelegn to find the key to unlocking better prospects for trade and development in landlocked countries.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at some cheap and easy ways for all of us to be greener with UNCTAD economist Henrique Pacini.
Protecting our environment is a vital task and everyone can play a part. The three Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – are a good starting point.
We can cut down on plastic by using cloth shopping bags. We can take our own mugs to the coffee shop. Buying things second-hand and repairing rather than replacing are other ways to cut down on pollution and our carbon footprint.
Tune into UNCTAD’s Henrique Paccini for some simple changes we can all make to help protect our planet.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the growing global population and its implications for a sustainable future with Anu Peltola, who leads UNCTAD’s statistics work.
The United Nations estimates there are now eight billion people on Earth, meaning the number of human beings has doubled in less than 50 years.
People are living longer because of better medicine and nutrition. But a rising population presents many challenges around having enough food, water, energy, living space and public infrastructure for everyone.
The strains on societies, resources and the environment will only grow, especially for developing countries.
Listen to UNCTAD’s Anu Peltola to learn what our future holds in a more crowded world.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the popularity and the pitfalls of green investing with UNCTAD economist Joseph Clements.
To help protect our planet, many people want to put their money into companies that meet certain environmental, social and governance standards.
These ESG credentials are big business, attracting trillions of dollars in investment and the creation of new funds and bonds to capitalize on the trend. But not all companies are genuine in their fight against climate change.
What can we do to ensure that our investments are actually benefitting the planet and society? Listen in to UNCTAD’s Joseph Clements to find out.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the UN’s latest World Investment Report with Richard Bolwijn, in charge of UNCTAD’s investment research branch.
Last year, global flows of foreign direct investment fell – after nosediving in 2020 and recovering in 2021.
Developing countries did better than most as their FDI flows grew in 2022. But the heavy pressures on all economies remain from the war in Ukraine, high food and energy prices, financial turmoil and debt difficulties.
With a massive $4 trillion annual funding gap threatening the Sustainable Development Goals in developing countries, the report calls for greater investment in clean energy.
Tune into UNCTAD’s Richard Bolwijn to find out how we can boost investment and ensure developing countries do not get left behind.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about greener and more sustainable travel, just ahead of the summer holidays, with UNCTAD economist Bruno Antunes
Tourism is one of the biggest employers in the world. Many developing nations rely on it, so there’s economic urgency to getting travellers back on the road and in the air as the industry recovers from the pandemic.
But there's also growing awareness that travel can have huge costs for the environment. Beyond pollution from planes, ships and cars, experts are warning that many natural wonders and pristine areas risk being ruined by hoards of tourists.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Bruno Antunes to find out how we can protect the livelihoods of people in developing countries without harming local communities and the environment.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at debt – what it is, how it works and why it matters – with economist Daniel Munevar from UNCTAD’s debt and development finance branch.
Inflation is high, interest rates are rising and the war in Ukraine has hit the world with a cost-of-living crisis.
Every day, debt is in the news as countries, companies and ordinary people struggle to repay their loans or borrow at reasonable rates.
Right now, 3.3 billion people live in countries that are spending more on debt servicing than on health or education. That’s almost half the world’s population.
How can we cope with so much debt pressure and what needs to change? Tune in to UNCTAD’s Daniel Munevar to put the credit crunch in context.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at artificial intelligence and its growing presence in our lives with Angel Gonzalez, head of UNCTAD’s technology, innovation and knowledge development branch.
Already we have chatbots that can write essays and driverless cars and trains. Computers can beat world chess champions and nearly human robots emulate our expressions.
The real potential has not even been realized. Some believe AI can save the world. Others fear it will destroy us.
What are the opportunities and what are the threats? Tune in to UNCTAD’s Angel Gonzalez to find out.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at global energy prices with Janvier Nkurunziza, head of UNCTAD’s commodities branch.
The war in Ukraine and disruptions in the energy supply chain have sent prices soaring and accelerated a global cost-of-living crisis.
But unusually warm weather this winter and efforts by many countries to stockpile gas from other sources have brought some respite.
Still, the direction of energy prices this year is far from certain.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Janvier Nkurunziza to see how fears of a recession are weighing on the market and how this affects developing countries.
As the UN prepares to mark World Environment Day, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about replacing plastic with natural materials with David Vivas, an UNCTAD legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.
In 2021, the global trade in plastics was around 369 million tonnes. That’s enough to fill 18 million trucks, creating a traffic jam encircling the Earth 13 times.
Less than 10% of all plastic produced has been recycled. The rest ends up in landfills and oceans, taking years and decades to break down.
But many natural materials – like bamboo, sand and algae – could be used to make eco-friendly versions of the straws, bags, bottles and wrappers we use and discard every day.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s David Vivas to find out how the shift to plastic substitutes goes beyond helping the planet by offering economic opportunities, especially for developing countries.
As the UN marks Africa Day on 25 May, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the impact of the global food and energy shocks on some of the most vulnerable countries with Rolf Traeger, chief of UNCTAD’s least developed countries section.
The world is in one of the worst crises in modern history as the war in Ukraine hits food supplies just as many countries try to cope with extreme weather and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But even before the disruptions from the war, many least developed countries were feeling the strain.
Tune in to UNCTAD economist Rolf Traeger to find out why many resource-rich places have faced severe constraints with food production and access and what can be done.
As the UN marks World Bee Day on the 20th of May, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at why bees are so important to our environment and economies with UNCTAD agriculture and trade consultant Marisa Rodrigues.
Bees, along with butterflies and beetles, are vital to our ecosystems by pollinating plants and enriching soil.
It’s tough being a bee. They get swatted and sprayed by panicked people. Even worse, they’re increasingly under threat from pesticides and pollution.
But there is hope in honey – to help protect bees and the planet but also to create economic opportunities and sweet investments in developing countries.
Tune into Marisa Rodrigues to get the buzz on how it works.
Credit: BBC Sound Effects
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the future of energy with UNCTAD economist Claudia Contreras.
With the global population rising and supplies of fossil fuels running down, countries must harness other sources of energy to support their economies and people.
Energy sustainability and climate change are also major concerns as the burning of oil, gas and coal add to emissions that are heating our planet to dangerous levels.
Renewable sources – from the power of the sun, the wind and the ocean – can boost energy supplies in a cleaner way. There are also synthetic fuels like hydrogen and biofuels made from plant or animal waste.
So, what is the best mix to support energy security and protect the planet? Tune in to UNCTAD’s Claudia Contreras to find out if we have the technology and momentum to make a fast transition to a greener future.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the pros and cons of big data with Shamika N. Sirimanne, director of UNCTAD’s technology and logistics division.
Every time we send an email, tap on a social media ad or use our credit cards, we are creating digital data. The information travels around the world largely unregulated and it is the lifeblood of tech giants.
But that era may be ending as efforts to rein in big tech gain momentum. Scores of countries are accelerating efforts to control the flow of digital information – driven by security and privacy concerns, as well as economic interests.
Tune in to Shamika to hear about the challenges and opportunities and learn why the UN is calling for a balanced approach to data governance.
As many countries celebrate International Workers Day on Monday, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at jobs and work with UNCTAD economist Jeronim Capaldo.
With inflation and interest rates high, the risk of a global recession still looms, threatening development.
In a recession, workers are often let go as sales drop and companies face pressure to meet margins and repay debts.
The impact can depend on things like location, age and skills but there are still wide disparities in opportunities to find work. Even some big tech companies are already laying off staff.
What do tougher times really mean for the future of our jobs?
Listen in to Jeronim Capaldo to find out what kind of support workers need and where they can find a bright spot.
As the UN marks World Creativity and Innovation Day, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the creative economy with Marisa Henderson, chief of UNCTAD’s creative economy program.
Ranging from theatre, music and film to advertising, fashion and computer games, it's one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors.
UNCTAD says the industry – now worth at least $1.5 trillion – can power sustainable development at a time when creative solutions are needed to overcome global challenges.
Beyond creating jobs, attracting investment and supporting innovation, the creative economy also helps to promote cultural identity and diversity. But developing countries often lack the skills, infrastructure and data to capitalize on these dynamic opportunities.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Marisa Henderson to find out how more economies can unleash their creative potential.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at our banks and how safe they are with Anastasia Nesvetailova, head of UNCTAD’s macroeconomic and development policies branch.
In the United States, the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank sent shockwaves through global markets. Concerns grew after Credit Suisse was rescued from collapse by being sold to its Swiss rival UBS.
As anxiety swirls about another financial crisis, governments have been quick to talk up stability and show support for the banking system.
So how worried should we be?
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Anastasia Nesvetailova to find out what’s being done to contain the crisis.
This week, just before the World Bank and IMF meetings to discuss the global economy, The Weekly Tradecast is looking at women and debt with UNCTAD’s Penelope Hawkins.
Gender inequalities in society mean women are routinely paid less than men and often struggle to make ends meet. But now with countries facing higher borrowing costs and high prices for food and energy, there is an extra-damaging impact on women when governments resort to austerity measures.
Health and education are often the first places to be cut, depriving women of jobs in the public sector. They are more likely to leave work to care for children or elderly relatives. Girls are often the ones taken out of school when family budgets are tight.
How can women achieve more financial equality and avoid falling into debt?
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Penelope Hawkins to find out.
Credit: BBC sound effects
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast takes a step back in time with Danielle Hughes, chief of the Records Management Unit, by looking at the history of the United Nations and also how UNCTAD, the UN’s trade body, was formed.
After the First World War, the League of Nations was created in Geneva as the first intergovernmental organization set up to maintain world peace.
The Second World War was its undoing. But the ideals of the League of Nations remained as the United Nations evolved into the forum for countries to work together towards common goals.
As the European headquarters of the UN celebrates 100 years of multilateralism, all the documents from the League of Nations have been digitally archived and are now open to the public for the very first time.
Listen in to Danielle Hughes for a virtual tour of the UN’s and UNCTAD’S fascinating history.
Credit: BBC sound effects
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at disasters and how to get aid into countries as quickly as possible, with UNCTAD's Jayvee Santos.
International relief has rushed to Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of huge earthquakes that killed at least 50,000 people and displaced many millions.
Blocked roads and other damage have hampered the aid efforts. But the deliveries have also been held up by bureaucracy and border restrictions.
How can we cut red tape during emergencies and get countries to put the right measures in place before disaster strikes?
Tune into UNCTAD’s Jayvee Santos to find out the best ways to get aid where it’s needed, when it's needed.
Credit: BBC sound effects
As the United Nations releases a major report on climate change, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the critical importance of biodiversity with UNCTAD economist Lorena Jaramillo.
From animals and plants to fungi and bacteria, everything works together in ecosystems to maintain balance and support life. But humans are disrupting biodiversity and vital ecosystems by overfishing oceans, clearing forests, polluting the water and burning fossil fuels.
Many species have already gone extinct. The UN says another 1 million species are now threatened.
To support the fight against biodiversity loss, UNCTAD has a new online tool that tracks trade in products ranging from natural foods and cosmetics to handicrafts, natural medicines and ecotourism.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Lorena Jaramillo to find out more about the threats and solutions – and how the new tool can help.
Credit: BBC Sound Effects
This week, as UNCTAD releases its Technology and Innovation Report, The Weekly Tradecast talks to the report’s team leader, Clovis Freire, about why it’s so vital for developing countries to embrace green tech.
Around the world, countries are seeking solutions to protect the environment and keep economies growing. For developing countries, the report says, renewable energy and frontier technologies offer opportunities to build important industries and catch up economically while also addressing climate change.
The opportunities are vast, but developing countries need immediate support to gather the tools and skills they need for a sustainable future.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Clovis Freire to find out why the green transition must be made now.
To mark International Women's Day on 8 March, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about women in technology and why their success is so important for development with Shamika N. Sirimanne, director of UNCTAD’s technology and logistics division.
Many developing countries are seeking to close the digital divide and benefit from the online economy. Those benefits could be even bigger by also closing the gender divide.
The UN says the exclusion of women from the digital world has cost low- and middle-income countries at least $1 trillion in lost economic value in the last decade. Empowering all women and girls is the focus of the UN’s theme for this year’s International Women’s Day – “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.
How can we ensure women have the skills, funding and opportunities to build tech businesses and support economic growth? Tune in to UNCTAD’S Shamika N. Sirimanne to find out.
Just ahead of the UN’s fifth conference on the least developed countries, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about why these 46 nations need urgent help to address inequalities, attract investment and deliver the Sustainable Development Goals with UNCTAD economist Rolf Traeger.
The world’s least developed countries (LDCs) are home to more than one billion people. They account for just 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions but bear the brunt of climate change with more destructive storms, floods and heatwaves.
LDCs are also being hit hard by shortages, soaring food and energy prices and crippling debt that imperil their economic development. That presents them with a stark choice between adapting to climate change and exploiting their natural resources.
Listen in to UNCTAD’s Rolf Traeger to find out where the balance lies and how the LDCs can get there.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at inequalities in technology for least developed countries with Torbjörn Fredriksson, head of UNCTAD’s e-commerce and digital economy branch.
During COVID-19, technology helped us to combat the virus and ride out the crisis. With pandemic restrictions in place, much of the world went online to stay in touch and to work, study and shop from home.
Many of those habits are here to stay. But not all countries and economies are equally prepared to go digital.
As the online economy grows, the technology gap is also growing for least developed countries. Tune in to UNCTAD’s Torbjörn Fredriksson to find out what they must do to close the gap and benefit from the digital economy.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast talks about African countries trying to balance their use of natural resources for growth and the vital need to cope with climate change with UNCTAD economist Giovanni Valensisi.
Many of the places most vulnerable to climate change are in Africa, even though they emit only small amounts of greenhouse gases themselves.
As momentum moves to greener energy and economies, many in Africa ask why they should be criticized for exploiting natural resources that powered the growth of wealthy nations. At the same time, the continent needs help as climate change brings worse storms, floods and drought.
Where does the balance lie? Listen in to UNCTAD’S Giovanni Valensisi to find out.
As the United Nations marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about bridging the gender divide with two young researchers from Egypt and the Philippines.
The STEM areas – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – offer enormous opportunities for women. But attitudes persist that these are fields mainly for men, often leaving women under-represented or excluded.
Menatallah Elserafy and Fresthel Climacosa just completed a one-month fellowship doing cutting-edge health research in Japan. Started in 2020, the Young Female Scientist Program is run by UNCTAD and Okayama University to support women in developing countries by sharing skills, knowledge and inspiration.
Listen in to the two young scientists to hear more about their time in Japan, their research work and their plans for the future.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at how the behaviour of multinational companies affects development with Anastasia Nesvetailova, head of UNCTAD’s macroeconomic and development policies branch.
Over the past few decades, the globalization of production has brought many benefits. But there’s a dramatic contrast in the way foreign direct investment is organized between the Global North and the Global South.
New UNCTAD analysis looks at how big corporations take advantage of different rules in different countries to avoid regulation and scrutiny. For developing countries, that can mean lower revenues and fewer opportunities.
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Anastasia Nesvetailova to hear how countries can keep investment flowing without losing out on long-term development.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the future of cryptocurrencies with UNCTAD economist Marina Zucker.
Regulators in various countries are now investigating after FTX – one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges – filed for bankruptcy protection in late 2022.
As claims swirl, the high-profile company could owe repayments to as many as one million people. Whether they get the money is another question.
After other big bankruptcies before and after FTX’s unexpected collapse, digital currencies are facing tougher questions around volatility, security, safety and trust. With the impact hitting investors and other crypto companies, calls are also growing louder for tougher rules.
Tune in to this episode to find out what could happen and should happen with digital assets.
In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast we talk about illicit financial flows with UNCTAD’s officer in charge of statistics, Anu Peltola.
Dirty money from terrorists and criminal groups fuels violence and instability, while the Panama Papers have exposed how secretive offshore companies allow corrupt politicians and the wealthy to stash away huge amounts.
Apart from being illegal, the murky transactions deprive governments of revenues to invest in hospitals, education and services.
Tune in to Anu to find out why illicit financial flows are so damaging and how we can fix the problem.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast is talking about greenwashing with lawyer Arnau Izaguerri Vila from UNCTAD’s competition and consumer policies branch.
As concerns keep growing about damage to the environment, it's good for businesses to be seen as green. But what happens when companies go too far by exaggerating the “eco-friendly” and “sustainable” credentials of their products and services?
That's greenwashing – and it comes at a cost to consumers, investors and our planet.
Listen to Arnau to find out what to do about misleading green claims to help make real progress on protecting the environment.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast talks about how climate change endangers our food supplies across the globe with Janvier Nkurunziza, head of UNCTAD's commodities branch.
The Horn of Africa is on the verge of famine. We’ve had devastating floods in China and Pakistan and heat waves across much of Europe this year.
As global warming increases, so does the likelihood of extreme weather, withering crops and depleted livestock. It affects the one thing we can’t do without – food – and the problems will only get worse unless we really tackle carbon emissions.
In just 30 years, the world will have 2 billion more people to feed. How can we ensure there is enough for all to eat and that food can be produced in a climate friendly way? Listen to UNCTAD’s Janvier Nkurunziza to find out.
In this special episode of the Weekly Tradecast, we’re talking to UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan – and looking back at the many challenges of this year and ahead to 2023.
This year has been unprecedented. The recovery from COVID-19 is still shaky. The war in Ukraine has ramped up the costs of food and energy. Inflation is high, interest rates are rising, and many countries face distress over their debts.
The impact is worst for developing countries, but many developed economies are also feeling the strain.
One bright spot was the renewed flow of vital food supplies from Ukraine and Russia in deals brokered by the UN and Türkiye.
Can the world resolve the multiple crises in 2023? What will it take to make progress on development and climate goals?
Tune in to UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan to find out her priorities – and hopes – for the new year.
In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we talk to two “eTrade for Women advocates” helping to bridge the gender and digital divide.
Birame Sock from Senegal and Damilola Olokesusi from Nigeria tell us about the massive opportunities for women in Africa’s emerging technology sector.
But the stigma persists that tech is a "male industry", leaving women under-represented and often excluded.
How can Africa better support women to set up viable tech businesses that create decent jobs and economic growth? Tune in to this episode to find out.
As people start thinking about taking off for the holidays, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at tourism in a post-pandemic world with UNCTAD economist Claudia Roethlisberger.
In 2019 – the year before the Covid outbreak – the tourism industry was worth around $3.5 trillion. The United Nations says it lost about that much during the pandemic.
Tourism provides work for one in 10 people around the world, so there’s an economic urgency to getting travellers back on the road and in the air.
But after two years of Covid restrictions, many parts of the travel industry – especially airlines – were just not ready for the surge in demand. And journeys may not be much smoother for the many millions of people travelling over the year-end holidays.
Will the travel industry return to its pre-pandemic heights, or will it be a turbulent ride ahead? Tune in to UNCTAD’S Claudia Roethlisberger to find out.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the impact of higher interest rates, rising inflation and a strong dollar on developing countries with Miho Shirotori, head of UNCTAD’s trading systems, services and creative economy branch.
As countries emerged from COVID-19 lockdowns, the soaring demand for goods overwhelmed supply chains and transportation. The war in Ukraine brought fresh turmoil, along with even more expensive food and energy.
With inflation running high, central banks have raised interest rates sharply and rapidly. The US dollar has also strengthened against other currencies as investors seek a safe place in times of trouble.
For developing countries, this combination is a disaster. With crisis after crisis, what can be done to help them cope?
Tune in to UNCTAD’s Miho Shirotori to find out how we can protect developing countries and the global development goals.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast talks to UNCTAD senior economist Penelope Hawkins about the sharp rise of the US dollar – and its effects on economies and people.
With inflation soaring, the rapid rises in United States interest rates and a healthy US economy have prompted investors to flood to the dollar as a safe place in times of trouble. As the dollar surges in value, other currencies are being pushed to weaker lows.
Many developing countries are even worse off as they find it harder to borrow and struggle with mountains of debt. With uncertainty running high, weaker currencies make food and other imports even more expensive during the global cost-of-living crisis.
Will this raise the risk of investors pulling money and what does it mean for countries that rely on funding for development? Tune in to UNCTAD’s Penelope Hawkins to find out.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at who should pay to fix the damage from climate change with Katie Gallogly-Swan from UNCTAD’s globalization and development strategies division.
At the recent COP 27 climate summit, world leaders agreed to set up a "loss and damage" fund to support developing countries hit the worst by storms and drought as the planet heats up.
But the big question about who should pay was left unanswered. Money has long been a sticking point – along with making good on existing commitments.
A decade ago, the world’s most industrialized countries pledged to mobilize $100 billion every year by 2020 to help developing countries move to cleaner energy and protect themselves against more intense heat waves and floods as the planet warms.
So far, those promises have not been met. Is the advanced world failing to meet its climate finance commitments? Tune in to UNCTAD’s Katie Gallogly-Swan to find out.
This episode of the Weekly Tradecast talks about central banks raising interest rates to tackle soaring inflation with Anastasia Nesvetailova, head of UNCTAD's macroeconomic and development policies branch.
Prices of food, energy and most other things have been rising sharply. Part of that is the impact of the war in Ukraine and part is a rise in consumer spending as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
By raising rates, central banks seek to control inflation by making it more expensive to borrow money. But it's a tough balancing act – especially in a tough economy. Higher rates on mortgages and loans tend to hurt consumers and businesses, raising the risks of slower economic growth and recession.
How high will rates go and how bad could the impact be? Listen to UNCTAD’s Anastasia Nesvetailova to find out.
In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, as the COP27 global climate summit gets underway, we look at plastic pollution and how the world is drowning in it with David Vivas, an UNCTAD legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.
At least 10 million tonnes of plastic end up in our ocean every year. The bags, bottles and food wrappers that we use for just a short time can take many decades to break down.
In the meantime, millions of animals are killed by plastic pollution each year as they get entangled or strangled. And microplastics have been found in many marine creatures – including ones that we eat.
Listen to the episode to find out.
Just ahead of the COP27 climate summit, UNCTAD's Weekly Tradecast looks at why developing nations suffer the most from climate change and need the most help to adapt, with Paul Akiwumi, UNCTAD’s director for Africa and least developed countries.
The world’s 46 least developed countries, or LDCs, are home to more than one billion people but account for just 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet they bear the brunt of climate change with more destructive storms, floods and heatwaves.
This week, UNCTAD released its annual report on LDCs, focusing this year on the low-carbon transition. These countries are the litmus test, it says, for international climate efforts.
With support from advanced countries falling short, tune in to find out why a reboot is needed to ensure a just low-carbon transition for the world’s most vulnerable countries.
In the run-up to the COP 27 global climate summit, The Weekly Tradecast looks at why ships and ports must drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions with Jan Hoffmann, head of trade logistics at UNCTAD.
The shipping industry is vital to the global economy – over 80% of all traded goods move by sea – but there's a big downside for the environment.
As their massive engines churn, cargo ships produce as much carbon dioxide every year as the whole of Japan. That has to change to stay in line with the Paris climate agreement’s 1.5C global heating target.
Tune in to find out how the shipping sector can transform to reduce emissions and help protect the planet.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the energy crisis and alternatives to get beyond it with Henrique Pacini, an UNCTAD economist specializing in trade, energy and the environment.
The war in Ukraine has tightened supplies of oil and gas, driving up prices and uncertainty just as demand recovers with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Western nations are phasing out Russian fuel but scrambling to secure energy from elsewhere to keep factories running and prepare for winter.
Will the energy crisis push countries into postponing climate goals and investments in cleaner renewable energy? Tune in to Henrique to find out.
Ahead of World Food Day, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the right to food with senior economist Miho Shirotori of UNCTAD’s international trade and commodities division.
Many countries have long struggled with food insecurity. But COVID-19, conflict and climate change are making hunger problems worse and forcing some nations to the brink of famine.
The war in Ukraine has put a major strain on supplies as both Russia and Ukraine are "breadbaskets" for countries in the Middle East and Africa.
With at least 345 million people facing acute food insecurity and many more going hungry, listen to Miho to find out how we can overcome shortages and achieve the right to food.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the Trade and Development Report 2022 with economist and author Richard Kozul-Wright, director of UNCTAD’s globalization and development strategies division.
UNCTAD’S new report warns of tough times ahead if rich countries persist with current policies to fight inflation. Rapid tightening of monetary policy in advanced economies and inadequate multilateral support for developing countries are pushing the world towards recession and stagnation.
The damage, the report says, could be even worse than the financial crisis in 2008 and the COVID-19 shock in 2020.
Can the world change course to avert a new crisis? Listen to Richard to find out what UNCTAD’s report calls for.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about economic growth and how we measure it with Anu Peltola, officer-in-charge of statistics at UNCTAD.
For nearly 80 years, data on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been the barometer of a country’s success and prosperity. Growing economies tend to have higher standards of living, while shrinking economies usually mean job cuts, financial pressure and hard times.
But the benefits of growth are not universal, and the impact of climate change raises serious questions about the links between growth and carbon emissions.
Listen to Anu to find out if it’s time to rethink how we measure our economic success.
This episode of UNCTAD’s Weekly Tradecast looks at recessions past and possibly present with Anastasia Nesvetailova, head of UNCTAD's macroeconomic and development policies branch.
High energy prices, rising interest rates and volatile financial markets – it’s starting to look a lot like 2007, the start of the Great Recession that led to millions of people losing their homes, jobs and savings. It was the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Warnings of impending financial doom are widespread right now. Listen in to Anastasia to find out if history really is repeating itself.
In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we’re talking about the global debt crisis with economist Penelope Hawkins, a senior economic affairs officer in UNCTAD’s debt and development finance branch.
Many developing countries were already struggling to stay afloat after taking on more debt during the pandemic.
Now, with the war in Ukraine, the economic waters are more turbulent.
Interest rates are rising and the burden of borrowing is even heavier.
When the costs get too severe, governments must divert spending from health, education and other public services essential for development.
Will they get a lifeline to keep them from drowning in debt? Listen to this episode of The Weekly Tradecast to find out.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about why multinational companies need to pay their fair share of tax, with Bruno Casella, a senior economist in UNCTAD’S investment and enterprise division.
Nobody likes to pay taxes, but giant corporations are adept at moving profits to places where they pay the lowest rates.
To counter that, 140 nations and jurisdictions are working on a deal to enforce a corporate tax rate of at least 15%.
That could bring in extra tax revenue of $150 billion a year.
Tune into the discussion with Mr. Casella to find out what this money would mean for economies hit by the war in Ukraine as they try to recover from COVID-19.
The ninth episode of UNCTAD’s Weekly Tradecast talks about protecting consumers in an increasingly online world with Teresa Moreira, head of UNCTAD’s competition and consumer policies branch.
The COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionized the way we shop. During lockdowns, huge numbers of us went online to buy food, clothes, household goods and entertainment.
That convenience is now part of our lives and in how we spend as more people use credit cards and "buy now, pay later" options at checkout.
But consumers face many risks as online shopping grows – not least as the world struggles with a cost-of-living crisis. Listen in to Teresa to find out what to do if you’ve been scammed and how to tell whether an online marketplace is safe.
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast explores how blue diplomacy can help protect our ocean with David Vivas, an UNCTAD legal officer working on trade and environment issues.
The ocean and its ability to sustain life are in grave danger due to human activities, such as pollution and overfishing.
This year’s United Nations Ocean Conference held in Lisbon worked to chart a course for a Blue Deal to safeguard the economic and environmental sustainability of the seas.
As Mr. Vivas says, with at least 3 billion people depending on marine resources for their livelihoods, it’s crucial that we create a sustainable and resilient ocean economy that benefits us all.
In the seventh episode of The Weekly Tradecast we’re talking about inflation with Jeronim Capaldo, an economist in UNCTAD’s globalization and development strategies division.
Every day in the news, we’re hearing about a global slowdown and how the war in Ukraine is driving up prices at a pace not seen in decades.
Other forces are also fuelling inflation – including supply disruptions hanging over from the COVID-19 pandemic and severe weather that has ruined harvests.
High inflation causes damage by eating up more of people’s pay and eroding their savings. It can even bring an economy to its knees – like in Germany after World War One and in Zimbabwe not that long ago.
Jeronim says developing countries, where people already spend much of their money on the basic necessities of life, are the ones who suffer most as prices soar.
In our sixth episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we're talking about cryptocurrencies with economist Marina Zucker of UNCTAD's debt and development finance branch.
After some incredible gains over two years, the prices of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have been plunging in recent months. More turbulence is likely.
Some people have made a lot of money from crypto but many have not been so lucky with the volatile and unregulated digital asset. Scams, collapsing funds, stolen credentials and forgotten passwords have cost investors millions.
Are cryptocurrencies here to stay? Is it time for governments to regulate them? Tune in to hear Marina spell out the risks and share her ideas about solutions.
Downloads:
- All that glitters is not gold: The high cost of leaving cryptocurrencies unregulated
- Public payment systems in the digital era: Responding to the financial stability and security-related risks of cryptocurrencies
- The cost of doing too little too late: How cryptocurrencies can undermine domestic resource mobilization in developing countries
Website: unctad.org
In our fifth episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we talk to economist and author Richard Kozul-Wright, UNCTAD's director of the globalization and development strategies division, about how we can reduce the negative effects of climate change.
Much of Europe has been seeing soaring temperatures and battling to control huge wildfires this summer. Scientists say the heatwave is consistent with the global impact of our changing environment.
Hundreds of millions of people around the world -- many in developing countries -- are suffering as extreme weather destroys crops, threatens development and makes entire areas unliveable.
Tune in to hear Richard on why climate change is not going away and why we must support developing countries with adaptation and mitigation to stop it from getting worse.
Download: UNCTAD's report on how to scale up climate action
Website: unctad.org
In this week's episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we talk to James Zhan, UNCTAD's director of investment and enterprise, about trends in foreign investment.
The UN's recent World Investment Report says the good news for development is that foreign direct investment recovered to pre-pandemic levels last year and generally benefited all regions.
But this year is not looking as promising, with food and fuel prices high and financing getting tighter.
James, who leads the team that produced the report, says everyone is feeling the pinch but we must help the poorest who are being hit the hardest.
Website: unctad.org/wir
In the third episode of the Weekly Tradecast, Jan Hoffman, head of UNCTAD's trade logistics branch, talks about how the war in Ukraine has compounded severe strains on global supply chains from the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 80% of goods move by sea. Space on ships is tight and the cost to transport a container has soared. Now, with the war in Ukraine, prices are rising for almost everything we consume. Jan helps us navigate the uncertainties around maritime trade and recommends some solutions.
In the second episode of the Weekly Tradecast, we talk to Paul Akiwumi, an UNCTAD director of the Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programme division.
We’ll be looking at Africa, where soaring food and energy prices are hitting especially hard as the region struggles with the impact of the pandemic and climate change.
The continent of 1.4 billion people relies heavily on grain and other essentials from Ukraine and Russia – exposing them to shortages and crippling costs that imperil their development.
Paul, who led the production of the UN’s latest Economic Development in Africa Report, says that to cope with this crisis and insulate itself for the future, Africa must rethink how it diversifies its economies to attract investment and narrow huge income gaps.
In the first episode of the Weekly Tradecast, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan talks about the global cost-of-living crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine and what can be done to help vulnerable countries and people who will suffer the most from rising food, energy and fertilizer prices.