COP28: Over 60 countries pledge to slash cooling emissions amid rising temperatures

COP28: Over 60 countries pledge to slash cooling emissions amid rising temperatures

Over 60 countries signed up to a so called ‘cooling pledge’ with commitments to reduce the climate impact of the cooling sector, that could also provide “universal access to life-saving cooling, take the pressure off energy grids and save trillions of dollars by 2050.”  The cost of keeping cool The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates…

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World News in Brief: South Sudan aid plan, rising cost of healthy eating, Europe’s diabetes burden

World News in Brief: South Sudan aid plan, rising cost of healthy eating, Europe’s diabetes burden

The conflict in neighbouring Sudan has had an impact on the country’s economy, increasing the prices of food and the number of vulnerable people who need assistance. It is estimated that 7.1 million people in South Sudan will continue to be food insecure during the lean season, which runs from April to July, while roughly…

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‘No end in sight’ to rising greenhouse gas emissions: World Meteorological Organization

‘No end in sight’ to rising greenhouse gas emissions: World Meteorological Organization

The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin comes ahead of the UN climate change conference COP28 which opens in Dubai in two weeks. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – account for most greenhouse gas emissions, which trap the sun’s heat, leading to global warming and climate change. Last year, global averaged concentrations of the most important greenhouse gas – carbon dioxide…

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Israel-Palestine crisis: Gaza’s north cut off from aid; death toll rising

Israel-Palestine crisis: Gaza’s north cut off from aid; death toll rising

According to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, 8,805 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October, including at least 3,648 children and 2,187 women, and some 22,240 have been injured, UN humanitarian coordination affairs office OCHA said. Strikes on Jabalia Refugee Camp OCHA stressed that as Israeli ground operations and bombardments in northern Gaza continued, “among…

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Haiti: UN envoy upholds critical role of elections amid rising gang violence

Haiti: UN envoy upholds critical role of elections amid rising gang violence

“Elections are the only path and the only imperative to restore democratic institutions in Haiti. Only democracy and the rule of law can form the basis from which Haiti can progress towards development and growth,” she said. The envoy, who also heads the UN Office in Haiti, BINUH, underlined the “enormous significance” of the Council’s…

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Africa: Great Lakes envoy urges international support amid rising hostilities

Africa: Great Lakes envoy urges international support amid rising hostilities

Speaking before the Security Council, Huang Xia expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation and potential for a direct conflict between the DRC and Rwanda, who have accused each other of supporting armed groups within each other’s territory. Mr. Xia highlighted the resurgence of large-scale hostilities in the restive eastern DRC alongside the worsening…

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