WEF's top 5 global risks all environmental
WEF's annual compendium of the biggest risks on the planet, released to shape next week's gathering at Davos, overwhelmingly focuses on the climate crisis.
Americas
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HRW warns China attacking global rights
Human Rights Watch cautioned that China is using its economic muscle to silence critics at home and increasingly abroad through organizations and treaties.
U.N. proposes pact to fight mass extinction
U.N. officials unveiled a sweeping plan to avert Earth's sixth mass extinction, proposing a global wildlife treaty on the scale of the Paris climate accord.
Security Council vote squeezes aid to Syria
The U.N. Security Council renewed a humanitarian operation in Syria but gave in to Russia's demand that it reduce cross-border aid to two Turkish crossings.
Bond for financing development shows confidence in organizations
The World Bank's benchmark bond was set at its tightest spread to U.S. treasuries in the organization's history.
Enraged Iran abandons nuclear deal limits
Iran announced it will no longer comply with most of the limits under the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with world powers, angrily reacting to a U.S. airstrike.
New U.S. "Space Force" may test space law
America's "Space Force," the military's first new branch in more than 70 years, could breach space law and prompt a U.S. withdrawal from yet another treaty.
World Bank warns of $55 trillion debt
Developing nations ran up $55 trillion of debt in 2018 as part of an eight-year debt surge that is the largest in a half-century, the World Bank said.
Trade association seeks $5 billion fund to cut shipping emissions
London-based ICS proposed creating an organization to run a $5 billion fund for eliminating carbon from global shipping.
Poor nations focus of global refugee forum
Six countries and the U.N. opened the first Global Refugee Forum to help poor nations overwhelmed by taking in people fleeing for safety across borders.
Marathon U.N. climate summit falls short
The U.N. climate summit ended in Madrid without resolving how to put a price on carbon and only partial agreement on more ambition in cutting pollutants.
UNAIDS dismisses #MeToo whistleblower
A whistleblower whose sexual assault probe upended UNAIDS was fired over misconduct claims in what she believes is "a blatant act of retaliation."
Alpinism added to UNESCO heritage list
Alpinism, named for the range where it took root, won UNESCO recognition as a celebrated pursuit with an "intangible" cultural heritage worthy of protecting.
Europe unveils climate-neutral Green Deal
The E.U. plans to create "the first climate-neutral continent by 2050," a three-decade blueprint to sustainably overhaul Europe's trade, industry and politics.
U.S. forces WTO appeals court shutdown
The global commerce system suffered a serious blow when WTO's appellate body was brought to a halt by U.S. opposition to refilling judges on its bench.
Iran pressured to stick with nuclear deal
Britain, France and Germany demanded that Iran remain in the fraying 2015 nuclear deal, but did not press to reactivate U.N. sanctions against Iran.