Nations update health emergency laws, extend pandemic treaty talks
The World Health Assembly amended its International Health Regulations and prolonged treaty talks up to a year.
Climate & Health
Melting glaciers. Rising sea levels. Wildfires. Food shortages. Mass coral reef deaths and widespread species extinctions. Global pandemics. Every other issue is secondary. In a world of climate change, direct impacts on humanity are evident where we live and work and on the health and well-being of many populations. Climate change is a truly global issue; fighting it demands global cooperation and financing through summits, known as COPs, and landmark treaties like the Paris Agreement.
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World Health Assembly opens with push on health rules and pandemic
The U.N. health chief called the pandemic treaty 'a once-in-a-generation opportunity' to improve global health systems.
WHO pandemic treaty 'roller coaster ride' stalls but some are still hopeful
WHO leaders and diplomats signaled they'll push for next week's World Health Assembly to reauthorize another try.
WHO warns of gaps, bias in research on climate and vector-borne disease
Most research has focused on wealthier countries that have relatively low disease rates and access to quality heath care.
IUCN finds more than half of world's mangrove ecosystems could collapse
Mangrove ecosystems harbor fish and wildlife, protect against sea level rise, tides and storm surges, and store carbon.
Asia suffers under record 'additional heat' as the globe continues to warm
From Gaza to the Philippines, unseasonal temps in parts of Asia shut schools, hurt crops and challenged refugee camps.
Final round of pandemic treaty talks end without draft agreement
Negotiators had to juggle the promotion of health access and global equity with reaffirmation of nations' sovereignty.
Climate-impacted global bleaching of corals threatens marine fisheries
Climate scientists have warned for decades about bleaching of coral reefs, which are nurseries for commercial fisheries.
U.N. climate chief says next 2 years will be 'essential' to saving the planet
This year and next mark the countdown to a 2025 deadline for governments to strengthen their carbon-cutting plans.
European court links Swiss climate inaction to human rights violation
The France-based court was created to uphold the European Convention on Human Rights, which took effect in 1953.
Difficult pandemic treaty talks to be extended with extra spring session
Negotiators and officials aim to wrap up so that May's 77th World Health Assembly can consider a proposed text.
Most nations failed to meet WHO fine particle pollution standards
Ambient fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 is considered the world’s leading environmental health risk factor.
U.N. weather agency has ‘red alert’ warning as Earth grows ever hotter
WMO reports 2023 smashed climate records at previously unimaginable levels, bringing 'misery and mayhem.'
Pandemic treaty negotiators in final stretch ahead of May deadline
WHO's chief warned that 'a torrent of mis- and disinformation' affects pandemic treaty negotiations restarting this week.
Environmental aid and recovery in conflicts a highlight of U.N. summit
Armed conflicts and planetary crises were top concerns of the U.N. Environment Assembly, which adopted 15 resolutions.
Global climate change is pushing natural systems to the 'tipping point'
Warming threatens to upend ecosystems from Mongolia and the Amazon to crucial ocean currents in the North Atlantic.