Shark-fishing gear banned across much of Pacific in conservation ‘win’
The measure adopted by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission is seen as a major and potentially precedent-setting win for conservationists.
International community
This archive collects stories in which the international community — nations, multilateral bodies, and coalitions acting collectively — plays a central role in driving positive change. Coverage spans diplomacy, global agreements, humanitarian efforts, and cross-border cooperation that produce measurable progress.
Heat pump sales are soaring around the world
Sales of the climate-friendly heating technology are set to hit record levels, especially in Europe where some countries are seeing sales double in the first half of 2022 compared with the same period last year.
Indonesia seals $20 billion deal with G7 to speed up clean energy transition
Under the partnership, Indonesia will aim to cap its emissions from the power sector by 2030, faster than the initial target of 2037, and to generate 34% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Ozone layer hits a “significant milestone” as concentrations of harmful chemicals drop 50%
In 1987, just seven years after ozone depletion from chemicals was made most obvious, every country on Earth ratified a treaty, known as the Montreal Protocol, to regulate the chemicals to protect Earth.
U.N. General Assembly declares access to clean and healthy environment a universal human right
The resolution, based on a similar text adopted last year by the Human Rights Council, calls upon States, international organizations, and business enterprises to scale up efforts to ensure a healthy environment for all.
In comeback moment, up to 150 fin whales spotted feeding off Antarctica
The recovery of a large whale population is not only a glimpse of hope; it is also likely to have a stimulating effect on primary production in the Southern Ocean, enhancing CO2 uptake and carbon sink capacities.
Wind and solar generated a record 10% of the world’s power in 2021
Wind and solar power together generated 10.3% of the world’s electricity in 2021, crossing double digits for the first time in history. That’s a remarkable leap considering these two sources were barely a blip on the global grid just twenty years ago. Fifty countries now pull more than 10% of their power from wind and sun, with Denmark leading the pack at 52%. Even China, the world’s largest electricity market, quietly joined the 10% club that same year. The milestone matters because it shows the clean energy transition isn’t a far-off hope but a measurable, accelerating shift — one that, if its current pace holds, could keep the power sector aligned with the 1.5°C climate goal.
Nearly 200 countries pass historic resolutions linking animal welfare and the environmental crisis
The crucial resolution will help develop a better understanding of the relationship between improving animal welfare and tackling the drivers of wildlife loss, climate change, pollution and pandemic diseases.
U.N. adopts landmark resolution that aims to end plastic pollution
The measure calls for an international negotiating committee to set the terms of a treaty on plastic pollution by the end of 2024.
Global investment in low-carbon energy transition hits record $755 billion in 2021
Clean energy investment hit a record $755 billion globally in 2021, climbing 27% in a single year. What made it remarkable wasn’t just the total — it was the breadth. Automakers retooled factories for EVs, private capital poured into battery storage, and governments tied clean energy conditions to COVID recovery packages, pulling fresh money off the sidelines. China led the way, but the U.S., Germany, the U.K., and several emerging economies all posted real gains, suggesting the transition is spreading rather than clustering in one place. The harder truth: most of this money still bypasses the regions facing the steepest climate risks, and closing that gap is the work ahead.