Switzerland, as a major hub for the commodities trade, could use its position to influence this sector and steer it towards greater sustainability, according to a recent academic report. Commodity trading offers economic opportunities but also harms the environment, highlights the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). International trade alone affects nearly a third of threatened animal and plant species and accounts for around a quarter of water consumption. Switzerland plays a significant role in this trade. It is home to some of the world’s leading trading companies. It serves as a hub for the global trade in copper, aluminium, ore, vegetable oils and even crude oil. Given its position, Switzerland can play “a catalytic role in promoting a more coordinated approach among trading centres”, notes the SCNAT press release. In recent years, the commodities trade has undergone a massive transformation. It has become excessively financialised, according to the report. Extract from our …