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.