The Weekly Tradecast by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

54. How green is green? Why we need more scrutiny to ensure sustainable investment really helps our planet

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. 

53. World Investment Report 2023: Weak FDI threatens clean energy transition and development goals

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.

52. Greener getaways: Why sustainability is the ticket for tourists, countries and the travel industry

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.

51. Credit crunch: Why we need an effective global system to deal with debt

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.

50. The rise of the machines: What does AI mean for our jobs, privacy and humanity?

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.

49. Global energy crisis: Prices may be cooling but more volatility is in the pipeline

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.

48. Pollution solution: How plastic substitutes can help economies and the planet

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.

47. History of hunger: How the war in Ukraine is making food crises even worse in Africa and least developed 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.