United Nations

Underwater life

Landmark high seas treaty protecting marine biodiversity becomes international law

By / / Good News For Humankind

A monumental achievement in conservation has been finalized: the High Seas Treaty has reached the 60 ratifications needed to become international law. This agreement, which covers two-thirds of the world’s ocean, creates a legally binding framework to establish marine protected areas and regulate human activities. This major victory for multilateralism ensures that discoveries from the deep sea benefit all nations. The treaty will officially enter into force in January 2026.

Sun shining with wind turbines rising above clouds

More than 90% of global new renewable energy capacity is now cheaper than fossil fuels

By / / Good News For Humankind

The global switch to renewable energy has passed a “positive tipping point,” according to two United Nations reports. Solar is now 41% cheaper than fossil fuels worldwide. Not long ago, it was four times the cost. Offshore wind is now also 53% cheaper and the most affordable source of new renewable energy. Even more, costs for renewables are expected to keep dropping as technology matures and supply chains strengthen.

Cargo ship

Countries reach historic deal to cut shipping emissions

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After years of negotiations, the international community has reached a landmark deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping, setting mandatory fuel standards and introducing a carbon pricing mechanism. The framework – agreed during a meeting of the U.N. International Maritime Organization – aims for net-zero emissions from the sector by 2050 and will come into force in 2027. It will apply to large ocean-going vessels over 5,000 gross tonnage, which account for 85% of carbon emissions from the marine shipping fleet.

World’s nations back $200 billion a year plan to protect nature

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Global negotiators concluded an extended session of the United Nations biodiversity conference, COP16, by agreeing on how they would contribute a massive $200 billion a year by 2030 to protect the world’s ecosystems. The money includes a plan to raise $20 billion in annual conservation financing for developing nations by 2025, with that number rising to $30 billion annually by 2030, and on details of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims at placing 30% of the planet and 30% of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030.

Aerial view of Gaza City

More than 350,000 Gazan children vaccinated against polio

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Thousands of families visited health centers to get doses from U.N. medical teams, UNRWA reported. In southern Gaza, more than 152,000 children were vaccinated in Khan Younis city, nearly 8,800 in Rafah, and another 1,000 elsewhere in the south. The promising development follows the successful completion of the first phase of the vaccination campaign in central Gaza earlier this week, which saw more than 187,000 children under 10 receive protection from polio. To date, combined coverage for central and southern Gaza now stands at 354,786 children.

Ocean water

Island states win historic climate case in world oceans court

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Nine small island states have won a historic climate change case at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which ruled that all signatories to a United Nations treaty on marine activities must do more to protect the world’s oceans from climate change. The tribunal found that signatories to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea’s responsibilities to prevent marine pollution extend to greenhouse gas emissions, which harm oceans by altering the earth’s atmosphere.

Intersex Pride flag

U.N. makes history with first-ever resolution supporting intersex rights

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The U.N. Human Rights Council has issued its first-ever resolution supporting the rights of intersex people. An estimated 1.7% of infants are born intersex — many are forced to undergo irreversible surgeries to “correct” their anatomy and are subject to stigma and discrimination. The resolution directs the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on the challenges intersex people face and the best ways to ensure intersex people’s “highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.”

U.N. building with national flags in foreground

U.N. General Assembly adopts landmark resolution on artificial intelligence

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The Assembly called on all Member States and stakeholders “to refrain from or cease the use of artificial intelligence systems that are impossible to operate in compliance with international human rights law or that pose undue risks to the enjoyment of human rights.” The text was “co-sponsored” or backed by more than 120 other Member States. It represents the first time the Assembly has adopted a resolution on regulating the emerging field.

African girl sleeping on mother's shoulder

‘Historic milestone’ as global child mortality hits record low of 4.9 million in 2022

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Figures newly released by the U.N. Interagency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) reveal the global under-five mortality rate has declined by 51% since 2000 reaching an all-time low. Some countries such as Cambodia, Malawi, Mongolia, and Rwanda reduced under-five mortality rate by over 75% over the time period. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell praised the dedicated efforts of midwives, health workers and community health workers, whose commitment has contributed to the remarkable decline.