United Nations

UN Chief Presents Report on SDG Progress

July 22, 2016

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has released his first annual report on global progress toward implementing the UN's comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals for the year 2030 and has noted that 22 countries have agreed to present "voluntary national reviews" of their SDG progress at this year's UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
UNHCR Criticizes Migration Restrictions in Hungary

July 22, 2016

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed concern that Hungarian regulations restricting the entry of migrants, including refugees, into the country violate international law and has criticized officials for pushing back migrants from the border into Serbia.
WHO Calls for Noncommunicable Disease "Surveillance"

July 22, 2016

A report from the UN's World Health Organization expresses concern over the lack of progress among countries on factors, such as tobacco and alcohol use and unhealthy diets, causing noncommunicable diseases and calls for action, including "surveillance systems," to meet health targets under the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
UN Meeting Pushes for Coordinated Climate Strategies

July 21, 2016

The UN Environment and Development Programmes recently hosted an intergovernmental workshop in Chisinau, Moldova, for national representatives to share their "national adaptation plans" to address climate change and to increase collaboration among countries on strategies to adapt to global warming.
UN Report Shows Impact of "Green Finance" Pressure

July 21, 2016

A UN Environment Programme report demonstrates the impact of the UN's "green finance" agenda on developing countries around the world, spotlighting numerous initiatives through which these countries are seeking to steer private financing toward climate-friendly projects.
UN Climate Study Predicts Mass Productivity Impacts

July 21, 2016

The Business Times reports that a study from the UN university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, predicts "searing" heat from future global warming will result in reduced work hours and dampened productivity in developing countries, reducing the economic output of countries such as China and Indonesia.
UN Envoy Criticizes UK, Germany on Climate

July 21, 2016

Citing new government subsidies in the UK and Germany for the oil, coal, and gas industries, former President of Ireland and UN special envoy on climate change, Mary Robinson, has criticized the countries for violating the "spirit" of their pledges under the UN climate deal agreed last year in Paris.
UNHRC Expands Calls on Rights in Climate Action

July 20, 2016

Sébastien Duyck writes that the latest UN Human Rights Council resolution on climate change featured expansive provisions calling on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to focus on human rights in its efforts to implement the UN's climate agenda.
World Bank Funds Climate-Focused Farming in China

July 20, 2016

The World Bank and the Government of China are co-funding a $313.14 million project on "Integrated Modern Agriculture Development" to boost "climate-smart" agriculture in China and improve farm resilience in the face of global warming.
US, Russia Criticize UN Report on Iran

July 20, 2016

Reuters reports that US and Russian officials have criticized UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for overstepping his mandate and including factual errors in a report on remaining economic sanctions and other restrictions on Iran.