Global plastics treaty 'drama' on a knife-edge over production caps
European officials say they will not accept a deal 'at any cost' but maintain the bloc is ready to 'build bridges' to succeed.
U.N. Environment (UNEP)
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U.N. plastic treaty talks face deep divisions as deadline nears
Ecuadoran diplomat Luis Vayas Valdivieso, who chairs the proceedings, said 'progress made has not been sufficient.'
Plastic treaty talks open with longshot bid for consensus deal
The negotiations in Geneva are the sixth round of talks since 175 nations agreed in 2022 to create a legally binding treaty.
Geneva's plastic treaty talks at make-or-break moment for ocean health
The 10-day session at the U.N.'s European headquarters is widely seen as the definitive moment for a global accord.
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.
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.
U.N.'s worst fiscal crisis forces restructuring bid to stay relevant
The U.N. could mark its 80th anniversary by streamlining and reassuring donors taxpayer money reaches people in need.
E.U.'s €20B plan calls for AI gigafactories with 'green computing'
Europe's 'AI continent' would offer up to five large-scale but power-hungry facilities drawing Big Tech with simpler rules.
Israel follows U.S. retreat from U.N. as Gaza faces 'ethnic cleansing' plans
Israel's brutal military campaign in Gaza has drawn direct criticism from all corners of the U.N. and its top officials.
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.
Organizations in times of crisis must navigate 'agenda-setting' stress
The ability to keep an important issue on the public agenda can depend on how an organization frames the debate.
Atmospheric CO2 is accumulating faster than any time we've known
In 1958, climatologist Charles David Keeling pioneered CO2 measurement in the atmosphere on a Hawaiian volcano.
New U.N. climate report warns 'quantum leap in ambition' needed
When nations update their pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions next year, only a massive improvement will work.
Global talks on Earth's eco-crisis hinge on Indigenous communities
A report found a 73% drop in wildlife populations since 1970 and said nations must tackle the climate and nature crises.
WHO's new global guidance takes aim at antimicrobial resistance
The guidance comes weeks before the U.N. General Assembly takes up the issue of AMR at its high-level meeting this month.