Negotiators clinch historic deal for high seas biodiversity
The treaty is intended to strengthen marine protections on international waters beyond the 200 nautical mile jurisdiction of coastal nations.
Climate & Health
Melting glaciers. Rising sea levels. Wildfires. Food shortages. Widespread species extinctions. Global pandemics. Every other issue is secondary. The climate crisis is a health crisis — a reality highlighted by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who points to the links between extreme weather, disease, and noncommunicable diseases. Science, politics, and economics are all at the heart of this urgent global issue.
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Nations work to update draft of WHO's proposed pandemic treaty
The treaty takes aim at the huge inequalities in health care and access to products that the COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus.
WHO's COVID origins investigation in China has become 'very difficult'
The U.N. health agency says it updated its plans based on China's response but there's been "no quiet shelving of any plans" for investigating.
Malta elevates sea level rise on the world's peace and security agenda
The tiny island nation made the case that more attention must be focused on the threat of rising sea levels and gaps in international law about loss of land.
Pollution and climate change feeding drug-resistant 'superbugs'
Strains of bacteria immune to all known antibiotics may become a major cause of death by mid-century.
Keywords for the next pandemic: accountability, equity, solidarity
Chief among the questions over a proposed pandemic treaty is an 'accountability gap' that undermines the proposed treaty's potential.
Pandemic treaty 'zero draft' gives WHO 20% share of responsibility
The rationale for the WHO's proposed pandemic treaty is to erase "gross inequities" between rich and poor that's a scourge of the pandemic.
We're still living in a pandemic, U.N. health agency chief and panel agree
WHO leaders agree the pandemic may be approaching "an inflection point" of higher immunity resulting in fewer deaths.
U.N. health agency urges nations to update preparations for nuke risks
Almost half of WHO's `94 member nations said they "still lacked essential elements of preparedness for radiation emergencies."
WHO's chief wants the pandemic declared over. Not all experts agree.
Despite the temptation to end the pandemic, some leading health experts say it would be better to keep up the pressure.
Asia-Pacific rocked by growing hunger, nutrition and health crisis
A lack of feed, fertilizer, financing, food and fuel is blamed for hunger, lack of nutrition and medical issues from conflicts, climate and other factors.
Protesters at Davos target climate inaction and carbon-intensive rich
Mounting frustration and anger over inaction on climate change is compounded by outrage over rising inequalities between rich and poor.
The Davos gathering, driving up private jet traffic in a climate crisis
The number of private jet flights serving Davos during the 2022 meeting caused CO2 emissions equivalent to about 350,000 average cars.
Outrage over UAE appointing oil exec to lead next U.N. climate talks
Sultan Al Jaber also is UAE minister of industry and advanced technology and head of renewable energy company Masdar in Abu Dhabi.
World's aging dams lose storage capacity at alarming rate
Storage loss by 2050 will equal the combined yearly water use of Canada, China, France, a U.N. University report shows.
Study shows efforts to restore Earth's depleted ozone layer are 'on track'
The ozone layer is expected to recover to 1980 values by around 2066 over the Antarctic and by 2045 over the Arctic.