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.
Rwanda
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Global aid cuts pose 'threat of major backsliding' with maternal deaths
The loss of funding could unravel major progress since 2000 in reducing women's deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.
New A.U.-E.U. Innovation Agenda puts science diplomacy into practice
Adopted in 2023, the policy agreement is a major boost for multilateral science diplomacy between Africa and Europe.
Debate over plastic production limits scuttles global treaty talks
Nations for plastic production limits and oil-rich producers deadlocked in the hours before the talks were set to expire.
Nations head into final round of global talks to curb plastic pollution
Negotiators are meeting in Busan, South Korea to conclude the world's first legally binding plastic waste treaty.
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.'
WHO declares spread of mpox in Africa a global health emergency
Alarmed at the spread of a new variant, the U.N. health agency's move follows an previous one that ended last year.
Africa CDC declares mpox surge its first continental health emergency
WHO will convene an emergency panel to determine if the mpox outbreak in Africa is a global public health emergency.
AfDB boosts capital as African leaders target climate-tied debt
Calls for more debt relief and climate finance dominated the multilateral development bank's annual meeting.
WHO warns of gaps, bias in research on climate and vector-borne disease
Most research has focused on wealthier countries that have relatively low disease rates and access to quality heath care.
U.N. creates an international day marking 1995 Srebrenica genocide
The resolution sponsored by Germany and Rwanda reflects an effort to remember the lessons of 20th century genocides.
Science will prevail over profits for a planet of plastic eaters
Some pointed to a recent landmark human rights ruling on climate change as a potential use for a Global Plastics Treaty.
Progress is 'slow and mixed' for women joining national parliaments
IPU's chief Martin Chungong says its statistics show that 'women bear the brunt of the hate in the political space.'
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.
Reprisals against human rights defenders cited among 42 nations
A new report's evidence of threats and retaliation extends to 12 of the U.N. Human Rights Council's 47 member nations.