Childhood immunization at 85% but some coverage gaps fuel outbreaks
The world is off track to meet its 2030 goal of halving the number of 'zero-dose' children who never received a vaccine.
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.
Enjoy our Free+ stories and our weekly newsletter
Start your free accessAlready have an account? Log in
World off-track to meet most Sustainable Development Goals
Only 35% of 169 targets are on track or show "adequate progress," according to the U.N.'s new SDGs report.
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.
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.
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.
System-wide funding cuts bring aid disruptions and U.N. staff protests
With the loss of billions in financial support, the U.N. must weigh potential widespread downsizing and consolidation.
World's largest coral bleaching event affects over four-fifths of reefs
The bleaching event began at the start of 2023 and continues today, affecting 82 nations, territories and economies.
A papal messenger of climate action and 'hope, humility and humanity'
U.N. leaders hailed Pope Francis as a champion of the environment and tireless advocate of refugees and migrants.
U.N. panel's major powers urged to seek accountability for aid attacks
Officials updated the 2024 death toll for humanitarian workers to 377 people across 20 countries, the worst year on record.