Global droughts intensify threats to food security, trade, social stability
Experts call it a 'slow-moving global catastrophe' for food, energy, and trade that will require systematic monitoring.
Global Issues
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U.N. refugee agency warns 11.6 million at risk in dire funding cuts
Financial aid and emergency relief deliveries have dropped 60% globally, as shelter programs are critically diminished.
U.N. launches new nuclear war impact study, first since 1988
A prevous study on climatic and global effects of nuclear war raised awareness of the concept of "nuclear winter."
Moderate gains in some areas but only 18% of the SDGs are on-track
A critical U.N. summit opened to confront the sobering reality that only modest gains have been made in a select few areas.
U.N. conference gains pledges for climate finance, launches initiatives
Leaders pushed for better financial systems at only the fourth U.N. conference on development financing held since 2002.
New global science panel set for chemicals, waste, and pollution
UNEP says it began work in 2022 to create a panel that could fill a major gap in the global environmental architecture.
U.S. abandons financing conference, will 'no longer reaffirm' Global Goals
The U.S. will not attend the FfD4 conference in Spain later this month to fund the Sustainable Development Goals.
Influencers, creators, and AI chatbots increasing as 'news' sources
A report finds populist politicians increasingly can bypass traditional journalism for friendly partisan media.
UNHCR forced to make deep cuts amid global surge in refugee needs
The U.N. refugee agency's loss of thousands of staff mirrors other Geneva-based agencies heavily reliant on U.S. funding.
UN80: Seizing the opportunity for a more inclusive United Nations
If decision-makers can keep a long-term perspective on impacts, reforms can strengthen the U.N. despite budget cuts.
Nuclear weapons spending globally surpassed $100 billion last year
Nuclear-armed nations possess about 12,400 nuclear warheads, but nearly 90% belong to Russia and the U.S.
UNHCR estimates 122.1 million people forcibly displaced worldwide
The U.N. refugee agency says the people under its care more than doubled in a decade, reaching 36.8 million by last year.
People, wildlife, planet pay cost of convenience for single-use plastics
A plastic layer in Earth’s geological record may become our legacy, marking a moment we turned into a single-use planet.
Surveys show majority of public still trusts U.N. despite an overall decline
The U.N. appears to be more trusted than many governments, other multilateral institutions, and regional organizations.
World Health Assembly formally adopts hard-fought pandemic treaty
The head of the International Peace Institute praised the treaty negotiators for their 'amazing' critical problem-solving.
U.N. chief: Structural reform in the works, but members need to pay up
A major financial squeeze is hitting the embattled U.N., which is owed $5.1 billion for its regular and peacekeeping budgets.