Environmental aid and recovery in conflicts a highlight of U.N. summit
Armed conflicts and planetary crises were top concerns of the U.N. Environment Assembly, which adopted 15 resolutions.
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Armed conflicts and planetary crises were top concerns of the U.N. Environment Assembly, which adopted 15 resolutions.
A handful of fossil fuel producing countries and industries show no interest in a strong, restrictive and legally binding instrument.
This is the third round of talks to develop an international legally binding deal that includes plastic waste in the ocean.
The summit ended with support for creating a "zero draft" treaty ahead of the next negotiations at Nairobi in November.
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.
The estimated annual social and environmental costs of plastic pollution range from US$300 billion to $US1.5 trillion.
More than 150 nations committed to put science at the heart of renewed efforts to tackle the multiple human-caused crises threatening the ocean.
Delegates from 175 nations to the U.N. Environment Assembly voted unanimously to devise a treaty that tries to cleanse the world of plastic pollution.
In a new major report, the U.N. Environment Program recommended a "scientific blueprint" for governments to tackle three environmental crises at once.
The summit is held once every three years to examine protections for wild animals and plants traded internationally.
The aim is to establish better networks of support worldwide for advocates and raise the pressure for perpetrators of violence and intimidation to be held accountable.
U.N. Environment's global assessments are a touchstone among scientists, policy experts and decision makers.
The U.N. reported losing 21 staff who worked for its agencies; other international organizations reported losing 25 staff.