Shipping faces ‘stormy seas’ as trade slows and costs rise
Global maritime trade is entering a period of fragile growth, rising costs and mounting uncertainty, the UN trade and development body (UNCTAD) warned on Wednesday.
Today’s Highlights
Updated Oct 07, 09:59Dubai News
‘We’re just trying to adapt’: Coffee farmers face down climate change
For one of the world’s most important crops, a project supported by Conservation International is grounds for optimism.
Amid a vanishing savanna, new corridor a ‘big win’ for wildlife
Conservation International is helping recover a savanna habitat nearly twice the size of Manhattan.
Can tree farms save a forest? Brazil is about to find out
In Brazil's s Mato Grosso do Sul, native species are reclaiming thousands of acres once heavily grazed by cattle. A bold initiative aims to protect and restore nature to an area twice the size of Manhattan — and find new ways to pay for it.
Study: Protect these places — or face climate doom
To stop climate catastrophe, there are certain places on Earth that we simply cannot afford to destroy, according to new research by Conservation International scientists.
UAE News
Momentum builds towards marine biodiversity treaty, as experts convene in New York
Delegates from around the world met at UN Headquarters in New York this week to advance the long-awaited high seas biodiversity treaty, with discussions ranging from rules of procedure, to the creation of a clearing-house mechanism and the location of the tre…
UN forum affirms stronger commitment to achieve sustainable development
The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) has concluded at United Nations Headquarters in New York following a week-and-a-half of substantive discussion between Member States, civil society representatives and UN agencies.
Report: Coffee companies pledge to tackle the bitter consequences of climate change
Freshly brewed, a new report on the future of sustainable coffee offers grounds for optimism.
Latest Global
Living in Space: The UN celebrates innovation, cooperation and the final frontier
Humanity is looking up – and beyond. This Saturday, World Space Week lifts off, inviting the world to imagine what life might look like beyond planet Earth.
‘A profound loss’: Conservation world mourns Jane Goodall
“Jane Goodall forever changed how people think about, interact with and care for the natural world,” said Daniela Raik, interim CEO of Conservation International.
Sustainable Grids Are Powering a Cleaner, More Resilient Energy Future
Investments in modern grid technologies are driving decarbonization, protecting natural resources, and strengthening energy resilience against extreme weather.
Member States advance vital work in support of WHO Pandemic Agreement
WHO Member States are actively progressing with the development of the Pathogens Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, a key component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement aimed at ensuring equitable and timely sharing of pathogen materials and related benefits.…
‘Africa’s voice is not heard’: Leaders issue call for equity, justice and courage
On the third day of the General Assembly’s high-level debate, African leaders delivered a resounding and unified message: the United Nations must undergo meaningful reform, and the global order must be reshaped to ensure fairness, equity, and representation f…
UNGA hosts first ever development finance summit to boost SDGs
The words inclusivity, resilience, reforms – and many more coloured in green and blue – provided a bold, digital backdrop from artist Marsha Dunn for the first ever Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy.
Sinking islands, vanishing forests: World leaders call for urgent climate action
From the rainforests of Central America to low-lying atolls in the Pacific and drought-stricken plains in Africa, leaders came to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday with a common message: climate change is no longer a distant threat, but an imme…
New national climate plans unveiled at high-level summit ahead of COP30 conference
From accelerating the move to clean energy to planting acres of trees, leaders from nearly 100 countries announced or reiterated new national climate action plans during a meeting on Wednesday as part of the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.
Climate Summit 2025: The path to COP30
Floods in South Asia, wildfires across North America, and record-breaking heat in Europe have underscored what scientists have warned for years: climate change is escalating faster than the political response. Against this backdrop, the UN Secretary-General i…
UN’s Guterres to world leaders: Choose peace and cooperation over chaos
The UN Secretary-General opened the General Assembly high-level debate with a stark message: the world is awash with overlapping crises – from wars and humanitarian emergencies to climate breakdown – and leaders must decide now “what kind of world we choose t…
UN, AU and EU leaders pledge joint push for peace and development in Africa
The United Nations, African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to peace and sustainable development in Africa, pledging deeper cooperation to end conflicts, support stability and tackle global challenges from debt to climate c…
UN ‘high seas’ treaty clears ratification threshold, to enter into force in January
A landmark UN treaty to safeguard marine biodiversity on the high seas has now met the required 60 ratifications for entry into force, clearing the way for it to take effect in January 2026.
Guterres pushes leaders to ‘turn the tide’ on global crises during high-stakes UNGA week
Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark call to world leaders on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level week, warning that a “global crisis” of war, climate change, inequality and technological risk demands urgent, coordinat…
‘No end’ expected to floods and storms as global heating continues
The world’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies involving the life-giving resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
UN presses ahead with mission for a better world despite global headwinds
During a year of escalating global turmoil – from widening wars and economic hardship to the relentless advance of the climate crisis – the United Nations has held its ground, working to promote peace, drive sustainable development, and ease human suffering.
News spotlight: Deforestation linked to dramatic decline in Amazon rainfall
The Amazon rainforest, known for lush green canopies and an abundance of freshwater, is drying out — and deforestation is largely to blame.
Cholera kills more people for second consecutive year, while prevention and treatment available
The global cholera statistics for 2024, shows an increase in both the number of people who fell sick and died from the disease. Reported cholera cases rose by 5% and deaths by 50% in 2024 compared to 2023, with more than 6000 people dying from a disease that …
Afghanistan: Lifesaving services cut as Taliban bars women aid workers
The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body…
Afghanistan quake: ‘Communities are struggling with basic survival’
A senior UN aid coordination official in Afghanistan on Monday urged the international community to respond to earthquake victims’ urgent need for support “not only to survive today, but to have the strength to rebuild their lives tomorrow.”
Local leadership powers Indonesia’s climate ambitions
In the heart of Indonesia’s vast tropical landscapes, the province of Riau, known for its rich peatlands and biodiversity, is emerging as a beacon of climate leadership thanks to a new initiative that places local leadership and customary knowledge at the cen…
The night the mountains shook: A doctor on the front lines of Afghanistan’s earthquake
The first jolt threw Dr. Abdul Mateen Sahak out of bed. The second sent him to his phone. It was right before midnight, last Sunday, and the steep, mountainous valleys of eastern Afghanistan had just been hit by a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake, closely fo…
Dürr Builds CO₂-Efficient Paint Shop for Volkswagen in Mexico
Dürr has delivered a turnkey paint shop at Volkswagen’s Puebla plant featuring electrified drying systems, driverless transport, and advanced overspray separation to cut CO₂ emissions by 40 percent.
UN chief hails ‘remarkable example’ of Papua New Guinea as he concludes historic trip
Speaking to journalists in the capital of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Friday, UN chief António Guterres rounded off the first ever visit to the Pacific nation by a sitting Secretary-General, paying tribute to the country’s unbroken 50-year run as a multilingual…
Air pollution is on the rise – but not everywhere, says UN weather agency
As billions continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling halfway across the world.
Guterres hails Papua New Guinea as an example of diversity, dialogue and climate action
The Pacific Island nation of Papua New Guinea is proof that embracing differences can be the world’s greatest strength, the UN Secretary-General said in a speech to parliamentarians in the capital, Port Moresby, on Wednesday.
Cooling La Niña could be back, but global temperatures set to rise: WMO
The cooling climate phenomenon known as La Niña could return between now and November, but it won’t stop the trend for warmer global temperatures caused by human activity, UN weather experts said on Tuesday.
Off Mexico’s coast, divers nab biggest ‘ghost’ yet
In a grueling and delicate dance, a team led by Conservation International removes a massive undersea killer.
Latin America and Caribbean: Millions more children could face poverty due to climate change
Climate change could push at least 5.9 million more children and young people in Latin America and the Caribbean into poverty by 2030 unless governments act now.
Pakistan floods leave villages cut off as monsoon devastation continues
Relentless monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across Pakistan, leaving villages cut off, homes destroyed and families struggling to access food, clean water and medical care.
Putting water management at the centre of the climate change fight
Some 2.2 billion people worldwide still lack access to safely managed drinking water services, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) - an increasingly urgent challenge as demand for safer access to the vital resource grows.