Japanese pullout from organization marks return to commercial whaling
Japan will leave the International Whaling Commission, which will drop to 88 members, and resume whaling in April.
Sustainable Development Goals
Many businesses, governments and organizations are committed to sustainable goals like reducing their environmental footprints and conserving resources. Sustainable finance includes environmental, social and governance considerations in investment decisions. In 2015, the U.N.'s 193 member nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Despite some progress, the U.N. says 83% of the agenda is off-track from the pandemic, climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and conflict.
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Global patent filings show steady rise, but at slowing growth rate
China is responsible for much of the growth as innovation becomes the main intellectual property battleground.
Global trading rules galvanize G-20 leaders amid U.S.-China tensions
The Group of 20's final communiqué expressed concern about the future direction of the World Trade Organization, which U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to leave.
Trade policy organization shuttered amid controversy after 22 years
The Geneva-based International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development, or ICTSD, which was founded in 1996, said it was closing down immediately.
Leaders from Canada, Mexico and U.S. send 'NAFTA 2.0' to lawmakers
The trade deal fulfills U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.
Global financial regulator presses for more U.S. engagement
The Financial Stability Board monitors and recommends ways of strengthening the world's financial architecture.
International Finance Corporation case is a challenge to immunity rules
Justices are deciding if the World Bank's financial lending arm has the same immunity as nations, which could alter the amount of protection — and independence from courts — that staff are given at organizations operating under U.S. laws.
U.N. environment chief resigns after audit finds excessive plane flights
Aside from the money and time, the image of a jet-setting executive director in charge of an agency that sets environmental and climate agendas made for poor optics.
Nations agree to fishing ban allowing Arctic marine protections
Concerns about climate change's rapid rate of advance in the far north drove three years of talks on commercial fishing.
Clean energy investment lagging behind global decarbonization goals
Investment in renewable power, accounting for two-thirds of all power generation spending, dropped 7% last year and "there is a risk" that it will slow more this year, IEA said.
Faster eco-improvement urged on multiple fronts despite financial cuts
The world's foremost international organization for financing projects on environmental change sent up smoke signals warning that 'incremental change will not suffice.'
Food and fish waste challenge import-dependent poorer nations
A third of the world’s fish stocks are overfished, FAO said, and 35% of what's caught never makes it one someone's plate.
Trump trade war erodes the U.N.'s global anti-poverty goals for 2030
International organizations said the tit-for-tat tariffs will undercut a broad array of global development efforts.
An 'alphabet soup' of high seas rules stands in way of sustainability
Ocean areas and deep seabeds beyond national jurisdictions fall within a patchwork of rules for the global commons.
Global foreign investment reaches 3-year low as economic recovery lags
A report shows continued but slowing recovery from the crisis that began in 2008 and almost toppled the financial system.
Case made for top-down U.N. reforms in staff management
Overhauling the U.N. bureaucracy is a more urgent topic as the U.S. ratchets up pressure under the Trump administration.