Break free from pollution, climate chaos and ‘biodiversity decimation’, UN chief urges

Break free from pollution, climate chaos and ‘biodiversity decimation’, UN chief urges

In a message marking Wednesday’s World Environment Day, António Guterres emphasized that countries “must deliver” on all their commitments to restore degraded ecosystems and land, and on Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, the global agreement to protect biodiversity. “They must use their new national climate action plans to set out how they will halt and reverse deforestation…

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World News in Brief, Bangladesh democracy call, accountability for Israeli victims of sexual violence, plastic pollution in the Antarctic, powering Ukraine

World News in Brief, Bangladesh democracy call, accountability for Israeli victims of sexual violence, plastic pollution in the Antarctic, powering Ukraine

High Commissioner Volker Türk voiced his concern that Sunday’s poll which saw Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secure a fifth term in office, was “marred by violence and repression of opposition candidates and supporters”, according to a press release from rights office OHCHR. “In the months leading up to the vote, thousands of opposition supporters have…

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New round of plastics pollution treaty talks underway in Nairobi

New round of plastics pollution treaty talks underway in Nairobi

The urgency of this effort is underscored by the ongoing global plastic pollution crisis, where approximately 430 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually.  Around two-thirds of it is just thrown away, harming both the environment and the food chain. Convening for its third session, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) will focus on the so-called zero draft…

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Protest against Indian company in Holland for spreading environmental pollution

Protest against Indian company in Holland for spreading environmental pollution

Courtesy: Reuters. Hundreds of environmental activists protested on land and at sea outside the Indian Steel Company in Holland (Netherlands). The environmental activists on the boats were holding a protest banner against Tata Steel. Environmental activists said that the Indian company is responsible for spreading environmental pollution in the city. Hundreds of environmental activists protesting…

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‘Toxic tidal wave’ of plastic pollution putting human rights at risk

‘Toxic tidal wave’ of plastic pollution putting human rights at risk

The appeal comes as countries continue negotiations towards an international treaty on plastic pollution, and ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June. “Plastic production has increased exponentially over recent decades and today the world is generating 400 million tonnes of plastic waste yearly,” said David R. Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and…

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New UN ‘roadmap’ shows how to drastically slash plastic pollution

New UN ‘roadmap’ shows how to drastically slash plastic pollution

“The way we produce, use, and dispose of plastics is polluting ecosystems, creating risks for human health and destabilizing the climate,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. ‘Roadmap’ to slash plastic pollution “This UNEP report lays out a roadmap to dramatically reduce these risks through adopting a circular approach that keeps plastics out of ecosystems,…

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