Nearly even odds of 1.5 degrees by 2026
Within the next five years the world has an almost 50-50 chance of temporarily surpassing the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold, WMO reported.
Global Issues
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UNOPS chief resigns over lost millions
The head of a U.N. agency that last year oversaw US$3.4 billion in projects resigned over questions into tens of millions of dollars in agency spending.
WHO dramatically raises coronavirus death figures
There have been almost 15 million deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic — more than twice the official death toll — according to new estimates.
Media group warns of 'fatal danger' to democracies
Polarization fueled by Fox News-like opinion media, disinformation and propaganda is battering democracies, Reporters Without Borders said.
Nations agree to new scrutiny of U.N. vetos
Prompted by its own paralysis over Syria and Ukraine, the U.N. moved to prevent abuse of power by Russia and other permanent Security Council members.
Global confirmed virus cases exceed 500 million
The global number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 500 million with nearly 6.2 million deaths as a highly contagious Omicron sub-variant surged.
Massive fund scales up on biodiversity
GEF drew US$5.25 billion in pledges for its work over the next four years on improving how the Earth's resources are managed in developing countries.
IPCC finds climate options dwindling
Nations have just a few years left to achieve the 2015 Paris Agreement's goals of limiting global warming to a rise of 1.5 or 2 degrees C., climate experts say.
ILO picks Togo's Houngbo as next chief
The ILO elected Togo's former prime minister, Gilbert Houngbo, to serve as its next director-general, making him the first African to hold the post.
Paris climate treaty goal on 'life support'
The world is "sleepwalking" towards ruin as the coronavirus and Russia's war in Ukraine put a 1.5 degrees C. limit further out of reach, the U.N. chief said.
After 2 years, pandemic 'far from over'
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO’s director-general says it is nowhere near the end as nations seek to lift restrictions.
Unbreaking the US$100 billion climate vow
A U.N. Security Council debate drew attention to the peace dividends of preparing for a warmer world and rich nations' broken climate promise.
Nations to draft plastic waste treaty
Delegates from 175 nations to the U.N. Environment Assembly voted unanimously to devise a treaty that tries to cleanse the world of plastic pollution.
Climate report reveals 'atlas of human suffering'
The world's top climate experts sounded the alarm over the consequences of inaction in an exhaustive new report that details the hell of a warming world.
UNEP urges rethink on wildfire policy
The incidence of extreme fires around the world is expected to increase by as much as 50% by the end of the century, environmental experts warned.
U.N. chief decries Russian 'violation'
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres described Russia's moves in Ukraine as a flagrant defiance of international law and the norms of peacekeeping.