Nations agree to cut shipping emissions to net zero by 2050
If accomplished, the goals are significant because the industry accounts for 2.9% of global carbon emissions. Diesel powers most of the world's 100,000 cargo ships.
Global Issues
Global issues are complex challenges that require international cooperation, from mitigating climate change to addressing global poverty and geopolitical conflicts. Of the U.N.'s 169 targets for sustainable development, only 35% are on track or making moderate progress toward their 2030 deadline.
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Central bankers urge tax raises or spending cuts to tackle infation
The Bank for International Settlements' general manager said the key policy challenge remains fully taming inflation.
U.N. adopts pioneering treaty to protect high seas biodiversity
Its aim is to protect and sustainably use marine life in high seas covering almost half of Earth's surface.
Just 1-in-5 countries keeping up with U.N. human rights reporting duties
The treaty body that gets the worst cooperation is the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Negotiators say it will 'take time' but are optimistic for a pandemic treaty
The co-chairs of a negotiating panel said there's been a healthy exchange of ideas and concerns among 194 nations.
In plea for clean energy, U.N. chief says Big Oil + fossil fuels = extinction
"Let's face facts. The problem is not simply fossil fuel emissions. It's fossil fuels – period," he said.
Record 110 million worldwide uprooted by conflict and climate
Some 52% of all refugees and others who needed international protection came from Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine.
U.N. chief backs creation of a new international AI watchdog agency
A new organization to supervise artificial intelligence could be modeled after the U.N. atomic watchdog agency.
Nuclear diplomacy suffers major setback in Russia’s war on Ukraine
The total number of nuclear warheads fell worldwide, but the amount of operational nuclear weapons started to rise.
Net zero targets on rise to achieve U.N. goals, but won't get the job done
Some 1,475 out of 4,000+ governments and businesses had net zero emissions targets, but "integrity" measures are lacking.
For many of the world's poorest nations, economic outlook is bleak
As interest rates soar and the economy slows, the World Bank sees an 'enduring setback' for many developing economies.
Low-income countries 'far behind' in pandemic recovery from job losses
High debt, inflation and interest rates are blamed for "a significant divergence" in labor markets around the world.
Budget and broader access top assembly's global health agenda
The 76th World Health Assembly ended after moving to strengthen its budget and broaden access to health care.
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.
More than 100 armed conflicts, most lasting for more than 30 years
A Swiss-led U.N. Security Council session called on all countries and armed groups to fulfill their obligations for protecting civilians under international humanitarian law.
WHO chief opens assembly with push for 'historic' pandemic treaty
The COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus many of the world's glaring inequalities between rich and poorer nations.