The Weekly Tradecast by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
The Weekly Tradecast by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) examines how major economic events affect developing countries and the lives of billions of people. Each episode features interviews with experts and policymakers, covering topics such as trade, finance, and sustainable development. The podcast aims to make complex global economic issues accessible and highlight the challenges and opportunities for the Global South.
Episodes
141. The role of nuclear energy in a sustainable future
As the world moves toward a more sustainable future, nuclear energy is back in the spotlight. While wind and solar power are key to reducing carbon emissions, their intermittent nature presents challenges.
Could nuclear energy provide a stable, low-carbon alternative?
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) economist Claudia Contreras joins The Weekly Tradecast to explore nuclear energy’s role in the gl
140. Fast fashion’s hidden cost: Who really pays the price?
From microplastics polluting our oceans to carcinogenic chemicals and mountains of waste in landfills, the fashion industry’s environmental footprint is growing as quickly as the trends it churns out.
As shoppers chase ever-changing styles, can fashion ever be truly sustainable?
In the latest episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we’re joined by Runa Raay – fashion environmentalist, designer, and activ
139. Rethinking investment: Making money work for development
What is the real value of investment in today’s world? From green energy to public infrastructure, investment has the power to reshape economies and drive meaningful change.
But in a world facing climate crises, growing debt, and fragile growth, how can we make sure that capital is flowing where it’s truly needed?
In this Weekly Tradecast, we speak with Nan Li Collins, director of UN Trade and Dev
138. Deep sea mining: Necessary innovation or environmental risk?
As the race for critical minerals heats up, deep sea mining is being hailed by some as a path to a greener future – and condemned by others as a major threat to marine life.
In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) legal officer David Vivas explores the legal, environmental and economic sides of this controversial topic.
From marine jurisdictions to the seabed's u
137. Unlocking hemp's potential: A path to sustainable growth and development
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 o
136. Copper: Essential to our move to clean energy – but at what cost?
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
135. Antibiotic shortages: A looming health crisis
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
134. The future of trade: Finding balance in a fragmented world
In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, Luz María de la Mora, Director of UNCTAD’s Trade Division, looks into the complex realities behind today’s trade debates.
In a world shaped by disruption – from climate change and geopolitical tensions to digital transformations – the global trading system is at a crossroads. Free trade, once seen as a force for prosperity and integration, is now under scru
133. Bigger barriers: Emily Blanchard on tariffs and trade wars
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
132. The future of food: Jennifer Clapp on recipes for resilience and sustainability
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
131. UN report: Unlocking Africa’s trade potential
The Weekly Tradecast looks at Africa’s economies and ways to boost trade, reduce risk and unlock the continent’s potential with Mona Farid Mohmed Badran from Cairo University and also UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) chief of the Africa section, Habiba Barka.
From economic turbulence to the impact of climate change, UN Trade and Development’s latest report on Africa says much of the continent s
130. Southbound traffic: Giselle Datz on the shifts in global trade
The Weekly Tradecast looks at the trends in South-South trade – along with some challenges on the horizon – with Giselle Datz, an expert in the global political economy at Virginia Tech.
Throughout modern history, wealthy nations in the north have been consuming food, minerals and other goods from developing countries most often found in what’s called the Global South.
But in recent years, the pat
129. Mind the gap: James Galbraith on overcoming inequality
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
128. Taxing times: How fairer taxes can fund development
The Weekly Tradecast looks at tax with Lorraine Eden, professor emerita of management at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.
Nobody likes to pay tax, but collecting more of it is one way that countries can bring in billions of extra dollars each year to support economic and social development.
One big challenge is the way that giant corporations are able to move profits around th
127. Macro to micro: How the green transition is reshaping everything
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
126. From 2024 into 2025: Charting a new development course
The Weekly Tradecast closes the year with a special episode highlighting key moments and voices in global development in 2024 and the paths we’re forging for a more inclusive and resilient future.
It’s been a transformative year, marked by extraordinary challenges and opportunities. From rising economic uncertainties and shifting trade landscapes to the collaborative spirit of the Global Leaders F
125. Charting a new course: John Denton on how the private sector can support inclusive development
The Weekly Tradecast looks at trade, industrial policy and the role of the private sector in promoting the interests of developing countries with special guest John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
With a cascade of crises hitting the global economy, UN Trade and Development convened government leaders, top economists and other experts in Geneva earlier thi
124. Powering trade: Why renewable energy needs a push from positive policies
This week, after the COP29 global climate summit, The Weekly Tradecast is looking at renewable energy and why trade, aid and investment policies need a rethink.
Join Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, and Carlos Razo from the UN Global Crisis Response Group for insights on our urgent need to harness other kinds of energy as the global population gro
123. Fashion with a peel: How crop waste is making sustainable textiles and creating jobs
The Weekly Tradecast looks at how we can make sustainable fabrics and other materials recycled from agricultural waste with UN Trade and Development economist Henrique Pacini.
For every banana or pineapple we eat, much of the plant is discarded during harvesting or processing.
But this trash can be treasure. Transforming waste from bananas and pineapples into dresses and sneakers may seem farfetch
122. Dollars and change: Sony Kapoor on funding our greener future
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
121. COP29: Why trade and investment are key to a greener future
As the COP 29 global climate summit gets underway, The Weekly Tradecast looks at the role of trade and investment in getting to a greener future with UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Chantal Line Carpentier.
Making trade cleaner and greener is vital to achieving global climate targets. At the same time, large investments are needed to move to cleaner greener energy, cut emissions and adapt to c
120. Trading up: How carbon markets can help development and the planet
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.
119. UN report: Rethinking development in our age of discontent
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
118. Richard Baldwin: Why the shift to services opens new doors for 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, i
117. UNCTAD at 60: Célestin Monga on trade and transformation as the keys to development
The Weekly Tradecast looks at why trade, smart diversification and wider investment in development hold the keys to a more stable and sustainable future with special guest Célestin Monga, who teaches public policy at Harvard University.
In June, we marked the 60th birthday of UN Trade and Development with the Global Leaders Forum.
With a cascade of crises hitting the global economy, government lea
116. Bretton Woods at 80: Why the global financial system needs big changes to boost sustainable development
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 exchan
115: Turning water into fuel: The challenges of making green hydrogen cheaply
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 v
114. #UNCTAD60: Isabella Weber on the economy of the future in a fragmented world
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 transf
113. UN Summit of the Future: How to build a better world
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 w
112. Cost of war: Palestinian economy will need decades to recover and rebuild
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 kil
111. Aiming the aid: Why development funding needs refocusing
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 educati
110. Bright ideas: How creativity can power economies and development
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 le
109. Cocoa crisis: Why higher prices are bittersweet as climate change hits crops
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
108. Poisoned power: Why lead-acid batteries need a cleaner and greener alternative
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
107. Growth spurt: Why investing in youth fuels an inclusive, sustainable future
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 t
106. #UNCTAD60: Our history and future supporting trade and development
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 t
105. Safe travels: Why we all need the UN tourist protection code
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
104. #UNCTAD60: Why we need urgent action (now) to save the Sustainable Development Goals
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 t
103. Digital Economy Report: Why the future of humanity depends on how we manage technology
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
102. Super seaweed: From food to pharmaceuticals, how the marine plant can transform our lives
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 h
101. #UNCTAD60: Charting a new course for development at the Global Leaders Forum
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
100. World Investment Report 2024: Weaker global flows show much work ahead for a more inclusive 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. Wit
99. #UNCTAD60: Rebeca Grynspan on charting a new course for development
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 a
98. Digital decisions: Sana Khareghani on shaping our technology future for the benefit of all
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, fin
97. The future of AI: Why innovation and regulation must go hand-in-hand
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 soc
96. Rough seas ahead: How can global supply chains navigate shipping disruptions?
As the United Nations 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 diver
95. A matter of survival: Why small island states need resilience and prosperity
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 mos
94. Vital knowledge: Why science and technology are so important for our future
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 benefit
93. Fractured future: What shifting investment patterns mean for development
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
92. Pedal to the metal: Why electric car batteries need to be cleaner and greener
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 – espec
91. Growth going to waste: UN trade and development update sees multiple challenges slowing economic momentum
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
90. Healthy not hungry: Why good food is a key ingredient for development
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 ti
89. Moving up: Bhutan graduates to UN's developing country status but challenges remain for other LDCs
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 ju
88. That’s rubbish: How our waste is choking the planet and how we can clean it up
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 j
87. K-popification: Why South Korea’s creative economy is an inspiration for others
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
86. Fisherman's blues: Why the fisheries industry needs to get much greener
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 fr
85. Women’s Day: Why investing in women is the key to faster development for all
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 socie
84. Money on the move: How remittances and trade work together for development
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 Antu
83. Precarious passage: Red sea ship attacks strain supply chains
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.
82. Measuring what matters: Why inclusive growth means more than just GDP
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 combinin
81. Israel-Gaza crisis: Palestinian economy needs billions to rebuild and much more to grow
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 muc
80. Foundations for the future: Why the global financial system needs big changes to boost sustainable 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
79. SOS for the SDGs: Why saving the development goals needs trillions of dollars in investment
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 th
78. Bleak or bountiful future: Why fertilizer is vital to global food supplies
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 ke
77. Ring in the new: A look back at the big issues of 2023 and where we go from here with UNCTAD experts
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
76. All aboard the environment express: Global tourism needs more investment to reach greener heights
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 th
75. No time to waste: Why we need far more investment around climate change and sustainable development
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 shif
74. Green light: How trade can drive the clean energy transition and cut global emissions
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 limi
73. Shaping the future: Why the right digital path is key to sustainable and inclusive development
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
72. Food for thought: Can fish ever be sustainable as human hunger grows?
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 f
71. UN report: After years of lost growth, least developed countries need inclusive finance to meet development goals
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 pand
70. Investing in the female future: Why we need better financing for women entrepreneurs
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
69. A booster for the future: Why investment in healthcare needs to be bigger and broader
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 e
68. Back on track: How to help small businesses recover from turmoil and return to growth
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.
F
67. Prices and profits: Is commodity speculation making the global food crisis worse?
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 l
66. UN trade report: Global economy sees weak growth as many financial and development challenges remain
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 cha
65. Charting the course: Shipping industry must balance uncertainty, investment and the environment
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
64. Commodity conundrum: Why developing countries need to add value to their exports of raw materials
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 countr
63. Rising concerns: Solutions, strategies to keep the good face of inflation, not the bad and the ugly
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, work
62. Rising concerns: The good, the bad and the ugly faces of inflation
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
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