Climate change now 'a global emergency beyond any doubt'
An international team of scientists finds a growing number of the planet’s key climate indicators have reached record levels.
Energy & Environment
Energy and environment are centrally linked in the global effort to combat climate change and its devastating impacts. The most critical modern challenge is the rapid transition of the global energy system away from fossil fuels toward clean, renewable sources.
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Global water supplies stressed as rivers dry at highest rate in 30 years
The U.N. weather agency calls for urgent action to protect water supplies, the ‘canary in the coalmine of climate change.'
Nations urged to overhaul energy sector using COP28 goals for 2030
A new IEA report shows that tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency can be achieved with 'enabling' conditions.
Earth's protective ozone layer seen as 'on track to long-term recovery'
The U.N. chief calls on all nations to adopt a newer measure for phasing out powerful climate-warming chemicals.
Experts advise equity is needed to ensure global energy transition
A U.N.-led group says the world won't be able to get to net-zero emissions without first cleaning up the mining business.
U.N. seeks decade of cooperation to fight rise in sand and dust storms
A U.N. report says at least 25% of global dust emissions that scatter on land and ocean come from human activities.
Biodiversity summit to focus on profit sharing from DNA sequences
Negotiators released new U.N. proposals to share revenues from drugs, cosmetics, and agricultural biotechnology.
War may cause 'irreversible' damage to Gaza's environment and health
Building debris may take $647 million and 15 years to clean up. Around 800,000 tons might qualify as hazardous waste.
Nations disagree over cuts in production on road to plastics treaty
Environmentalists said they were disappointed the treaty talks did not address plastic production measures.
Negotiators meet in fourth round over global rules in plastics treaty
The chair of the talks called for optimism despite divisions among plastic-producing nations and those urging restraints.
Treaty to curb plastic pollution stalled as industry pushes back
Oil and plastic producing nations and lobbyists sought more emphasis on recycling instead of production cuts.
Plastic pollution treaty targets production or waste management
This is the third round of talks to develop an international legally binding deal that includes plastic waste in the ocean.
IEA forecasts renewables nearing 50% of global electricity mix by 2030
The International Energy Agency says it expects a far greater role for solar, wind, and other clean technologies this decade.
Paris summit approves drafting global plastic pollution treaty
The summit ended with support for creating a "zero draft" treaty ahead of the next negotiations at Nairobi in November.
Talks open on plastics treaty to defuse environmental 'time bomb'
About 69% of all the plastics produced, mainly through fossil fuel burning, are used just once or twice before they are thrown away. About 22% is mismanaged. Just 9% is recycled.
U.N. proposes global 'roadmap' to 80% cut in plastic pollution by 2040
The estimated annual social and environmental costs of plastic pollution range from $300 billion to $1.5 trillion.