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."
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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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.
WHO presses Chinese health officials for data on COVID-19 spike
The U.N. health agency sought information from Beijing about the COVID-19 surge as nations impose travel restrictions.
U.N. summit clinches 196-nation deal to halt biodiversity loss
Negotiators reached a 30% by 2030 or '30 by 30' deal just as the almost two-week U.N. Biodiversity Conference was ending.
IEA forecasts global coal use will peak before solar, wind overtake it
Governments and businesses increasingly look to solar and wind as reliable energy sources that will one day replace coal.
Small island nations ask U.N. tribunal for climate opinion
The request is based on "the fundamental importance of the oceans as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases and the direct relevance of the marine environment to the adverse effects of climate change on small island states."
Biodiversity summit poses call to act, decade of protections on line
UNEP's chief describes the summit as an opportunity to 'secure our life-support system, to make peace with nature.'
U.S. backs WTO deadline extension on patent waivers for COVID-19
WTO has long deadlocked over a proposed annual waiver of parts of a major intellectual property agreement.
WMO shows drier than normal conditions in large areas in 2021
Some 3.6 billion people face inadequate access to water at least one month per year, and this is expected to increase.
CITES delegates move to protect more than 500 wildlife species
CITES sets the rules for international trade in wild fauna and flora and serves as a tool to ensure sustainability.