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United Nations Environment Programme Archive
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Electronic waste generation rising 5 times faster than recycling: UN
Posted on March 20, 2024 | No CommentsUNITAR, Bonn, and International Telecommunication Union, Geneva A record 62 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste was produced in 2022, Up 82% from 2010; On track to rise another 32%, to […] -
UN Announces Satellite-Based Global Methane Detection System
Posted on November 11, 2022 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Paris / Nairobi As part of global efforts to slow climate change by tackling methane, the UN today announced a new satellite-based system to detect emissions […] -
50% more wildfires foreseen by 2100; Governments are not prepared: UN
Posted on February 23, 2022 | No CommentsUN Environment Programme Even the Arctic, previously all but immune, faces rising wildfire risk; Wildfires and climate change are “mutually exacerbating”; Governments are called to radically shift their investments to […] -
In the news, 2021: Our clients’ most noted science news releases of the year
Posted on January 1, 2022 | No CommentsTerry Collins & Assoc., Toronto Of the 18 science news releases produced in 2021, 16 were environment-themed: food waste, e-waste, oceans, biodiversity, dams, and floods. And one announced 14 living […] -
E-waste in former Soviet countries jumps ~50% in a decade; just 3.2% collected, treated
Posted on November 24, 2021 | No CommentsUN University / UNITAR, Bonn Electronic waste generated in the Commonwealth of Independent States + Georgia rose by 50% between 2010 and 2019, roughly the world average, but overall just […] -
IPBES/IPCC: Tackling the biodiversity and climate crises together, and their combined social impacts
Posted on June 10, 2021 | No CommentsIPBES, Bonn (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform On Biodiversity And Ecosystem Services) Unprecedented changes in climate and biodiversity, driven by human activities, have combined and increasingly threaten nature, human lives, livelihoods and […] -
UN: 17% of all food available at consumer levels is wasted
Posted on March 4, 2021 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Paris Wasted in 2019: 931 million tonnes of food sold to households, retailers, restaurants and other food services; Study finds food waste is a global, […] -
UNEP synthesis of scientific assessments provides blueprint to secure humanity’s future
Posted on February 18, 2021 | No CommentsUN Environment Programme, Nairobi Meeting ramped-up climate and biodiversity targets, cutting deadly pollution and achieving SDGs needs an all-society push for sustainability Shifting world views and putting nature at the […] -
Buildings-related CO2 emissions hit record high: UN
Posted on December 16, 2020 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Paris / Nairobi Including construction, building sector now accounts for 38% of CO2 emissions; Direct building CO2 emissions need to halve by 2030 to get on […] -
New oil & gas industry framework to monitor, report and reduce methane emissions
Posted on November 23, 2020 | No CommentsUN Environment Programme, Energy & Climate Branch In a move that will help tackle one of the biggest and most solvable contributors to the climate crisis, major players in the […] -
Escaping the ‘Era of Pandemics’: experts warn worse crises to come; offer options to reduce risk
Posted on October 29, 2020 | No CommentsIPBES, Bonn (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) Highlights: Intergovernmental council on pandemic prevention; risk drivers include deforestation, wildlife trade; tax high pandemic-risk activities; 540,000 – 850,000 unknown […] -
Nature: Humanity at a crossroads, UN warns in new Global Biodiversity Outlook report
Posted on September 15, 2020 | No CommentsUN Convention on Biodiversity, Montreal Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 report outlines 8 major transitions needed to slow, then halt nature’s accelerating decline Final report card on Aichi Biodiversity Targets, set […] -
Climate-friendly cooling could cut years of greenhouse emissions, save $ trillions: UN
Posted on July 17, 2020 | No CommentsUN Environment Programme / IEA, Paris As need for cooling rises in step with world temperatures, energy-efficient, climate-friendly appliances are critical to reaching Paris Agreement goals; 3.6 billion appliances in […] -
Falling clean energy costs an opportunity to boost climate action during COVID-19 recovery: UN
Posted on June 10, 2020 | No CommentsUNEP / Frankfurt School / BNEF As COVID-19 hits the fossil fuel industry, a new report shows that renewable energy is more cost-effective than ever, providing an opportunity to prioritize […] -
A decade of renewable energy investment, led by solar, tops US $2.5 trillion
Posted on September 5, 2019 | No CommentsUN Environment / Frankfurt School / Bloomberg New Energy Finance UN-backed report: Decade of investment (2010-2019) quadruples renewables capacity from 414 GW to about 1,650 GW; renewables generated 12.9 per […] -
United Nations, World Economic Forum and partners unite to address e-waste
Posted on January 24, 2019 | No CommentsUNU / World Economic Forum, Geneva Joint report: Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution show huge potential and could lead to “dematerialization”, better product tracking, take-back and recycling, and products […] -
World added far more solar than fossil fuel power generating capacity in 2017
Posted on April 5, 2018 | No CommentsUN Environment, Paris / Nairobi China leads with more than half of world’s new solar capacity; global solar investment jumps 18 percent to $160.8 billion; cumulative renewable energy investment since […] -
Worsening worldwide land degradation now ‘critical,’ undermining well-being of 3.2 billion people
Posted on March 26, 2018 | No CommentsIPBES, Bonn 26 March, 2018 Main cause of species loss; driver of the migration of millions of people by 2050 In landmark 3-year assessment report, 100+ experts outline costs, dangers […] -
IPBES: Biodiversity and nature’s contributions continue dangerous decline, scientists warn
Posted on March 23, 2018 | No CommentsIPBES, Bonn 23 March 2018 Human well-being at risk; Landmark reports highlight options to protect and restore nature and its vital contributions to people Biodiversity — the essential variety of life […] -
UN-backed report: Record new renewable power capacity added worldwide at lower cost
Posted on April 6, 2017 | No CommentsUN Environment, Paris / Nairobi Global investment of $241.6 billion (excluding large hydro), 23 percent less than 2015, brought 138.5GW of new renewable power capacity in 2016, up 8 percent […] -
Renewable energy investments: Major milestones reached, new world record set
Posted on March 24, 2016 | No CommentsUN Environment Programme, Paris / Nairobi 24 Mar 2016 For first time, developing world investments in renewables (up 19 percent in 2015) topped developed nations’ (down 8%); World record total […] -
Renewables re-energized: Green energy investments worldwide surge 17% to $270 billion in 2014
Posted on March 31, 2015 | No CommentsUN Environment Programme, Paris, Nairobi 31-Mar-2015 Driven by Solar and Wind, World Investments Reverse 2-year Dip, Brush Aside Challenge from Sharply Lower Oil Price; 103gw Capacity Added in 2014 is […] -
Inclusive Wealth Index shows more than half of countries ‘consuming beyond their means’
Posted on December 9, 2014 | No CommentsUnited Nations University – International Human Dimensions Programme, Bonn; UN Environment Programme, Nairobi; UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development 9-DEC-2014 New perspective on growth of […] -
World losing 2,000 hectares of farm soil daily to salt damage
Posted on October 28, 2014 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton CANADA 28-Oct-2014 Salt-spoiled soils worldwide: 20 percent of all irrigated lands — an area equal to France; Extensive costs include $27 […] -
Developing world policies help power global renewable energy generation to record
Posted on June 3, 2014 | No CommentsREN21, Paris (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) 03-Jun-2014 Now 95 emerging economies nurture renewable energy growth through supportive policies, up six-fold from just 15 countries in 2005 […] -
Renewable energy market share climbs despite 2013 dip in investments
Posted on April 7, 2014 | No CommentsU.N. Environment Programme, Paris / Nairobi 7-Apr-2014 Renewables account for 44 percent of 2013’s newly-installed electricity generating capacity despite global investment dropping for second year Frankfurt / New York, 7 […] -
Managing shared waters: Treasury of papers helps capture 20 years of lessons
Posted on July 25, 2013 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Institute for Water Environment and Health, Canada Global Environmental Facility IW:LEARN, Slovakia 25 July 2013 Sharing Nile’s vital flow through 11 nations, water in Arab region, spread of […] -
Renewable energy: World invests $244 billion in 2012; shift to developing countries underway
Posted on June 12, 2013 | No CommentsUN Environment Programme / REN21 12-Jun-2013 Installed capacity continues to grow as solar prices drop 30-40 percent New wind installations surge For only the second time since 2006, global investments […] -
Even farm animal diversity is declining as accelerating species loss threatens humanity
Posted on May 27, 2013 | No CommentsChair IPBES / Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, Malaysia / Malaysian Industry‑Government Group for High Technology 27-May-2013 Founding Chair of new world biodiversity body offers first public remarks The accelerating […] -
Global investment in renewable energy powers to record $257B
Posted on June 11, 2012 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi and REN21, Paris Installations up but manufacturer overcapacity drives down margins; Renewable energy sector maturation recalls early days of auto industry Solar generation surged past wind […] -
State of the Planet: Scientists describe humanity’s global impact as ‘The Great Acceleration’ and offer ominous outlook: An uncertain future on a much hotter world
Posted on March 26, 2012 | No CommentsEarth System Science Partnership, Paris 26-Mar-2012 Time is running out to minimize the risk of setting in motion irreversible and long-term climate change and other dramatic changes to Earth’s life […] -
Create effective new global environmental agency, ministers urged
Posted on February 21, 2012 | No CommentsOffice of the Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, Malaysia / Malaysian Industry‑Government Group for High Technology, Kuala Lumpur 21-Feb-2012 ‘Conditions right for important reform of environmental governance’ With environmental […] -
High toxic levels found at school, market neighboring informal e-waste salvage site in Africa
Posted on October 30, 2011 | No CommentsUnited Nations University, Solving the E-waste Problem initiative 30-Oct-2011 Tests at a school beside an informal electronic waste salvage site in Ghana’s capital Accra reveal contamination due to lead, cadmium and […] -
Global investments in green energy up nearly a third to $211 billion
Posted on July 7, 2011 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi / Paris 07 Jul 11 China, developing countries are now biggest investors in large-scale renewables while Germany surges ahead on rooftop solar Wind farms in China and […] -
Dramatically raising low metal recycling rates part of path to green economy: UNEP
Posted on May 26, 2011 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi / Paris 26-May-2011 Less than one-third of 60 metals studied have end-of-life recycling rate above 50 percent; 34 are under 1 percent Smarter product designs, […] -
Humanity can and must do more with less: UNEP
Posted on May 22, 2011 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi / Paris 12 May 2011 By 2050, humanity could consume an estimated 140 billion tons of minerals, ores, fossil fuels and biomass per year – […] -
Put Government Policy Options Through a Science Test First, Leading Biodiversity Experts Urge
Posted on February 17, 2011 | No CommentsDiversitas, Paris 17-Feb-2011 How should a new ‘IPCC for biodiversity’ work? Leading world scientists offer prescription In the journal Science this week, leading scientists say the new “IPCC for biodiversity” […] -
Reports detail global investment and other trends in green energy
Posted on July 16, 2010 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Division of Technology Industry and Economics Paris 15-Jul-2010 In 2009, for the second year in a row, both the US and Europe added more power […] -
Urgent need to prepare developing countries for surge in e-wastes: UN
Posted on February 22, 2010 | No Comments22-Feb-2010 United Nations University, Tokyo / United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi Rocketing sales of cell phones, gadgets, appliances forecast in China, India, elsewhere Sales of electronic products in countries like China […] -
What are Coral Reef Services Worth? $130,000 to $1.2 Million per Hectare, per Year: Experts
Posted on October 16, 2009 | No CommentsDiversitas, Paris Economists, assigning values to ‘ecosystem services,’ report staggering totals and rates of return on investment Experts concluding the global DIVERSITAS biodiversity conference today in Cape Town described preliminary […] -
UNEP report details surprising green energy investment trends worldwide
Posted on June 9, 2009 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme Nairobi / Paris 3-Jun-2009 Some $155 billion was invested in 2008 in clean energy companies and projects worldwide, not including large hydro, a new report launched […] -
UNEP: Clean energy investments charge forward despite financial market turmoil
Posted on July 3, 2008 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme Nairobi, Kenya 01 Jul 08 With end of cheap oil, renewables and energy efficiency attracts fast-growing interest; new investment surpasses $148 billion in 2007, a 60 […] -
Investors flock to renewable energy and efficiency technologies: UN study
Posted on June 20, 2007 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, Paris 20 Jun 07 Renewables shed fringe image — Transactions leap to record $100 billion in 2006, says UNEP study […] -
UN engages banks to light up rural India; Solar loans, energy access transform life for poor
Posted on June 6, 2007 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme Risoe Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development, Denmark 29-Apr-2007 UNEP-led project expands to other developing countries Life for an estimated 100,000 people in poverty-stricken rural […] -
How to cut energy waste in China, India, Brazil said crucial to forestalling climate change
Posted on May 29, 2006 | No Comments29 May 06 United Nations Environment Programme / World Bank Without significant gains from energy efficiency efforts, China, India and Brazil within a single human generation (by 2030) will more […] -
Mountain Ecosystems Endangered: War, exploitation and pollution threaten freshwater source for half of world’s population
Posted on January 27, 2002 | No CommentsUnited Nations University, Tokyo The degradation of mountain ecosystems – home to 600 million people and the source of water for more than half the world’s population – threatens to […] -
Lessons From the 1997-98 El Nino: Once Burned, Twice Shy?
Posted on October 27, 2000 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 27 Oct 2000 Thousands of human casualties and tens of billions of dollars in economic damage will continue to befall the world’s developing countries every two to […] -
Environmental Crisis As Seen By World Youth: “Don’t Treat Earth As Poorly As Parents Have”
Posted on October 26, 1999 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi Pachamama, Our Earth, Our Future, is launched as educational guide for youth to environmental problems, solutions The Earth’s condition is deteriorating in nearly every category, […] -
Global Biodiversity Outlook 2000: UNEP launches definitive study of global environmental crisis – concludes time is running out
Posted on September 15, 1999 | No CommentsUnited Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi Today, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launches Global Environment Outlook 2000 (GEO-2000) – the most authoritative assessment ever of the environmental crisis facing humanity […] -
Blueprint to Solve Global Forest Crisis Presented by Top World Leaders World Commission Proposes New Political Structure to Save World’s Forests
Posted on April 19, 1999 | No CommentsWorld Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development The world can satisfy its material needs from forests without jeopardizing their ecological services, says the World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development, […] -
Unsafe Water: 3.3 Billion Illnesses and 5.3 Million Deaths Yearly Price Tab for Safe Water $50 to $105 Per Person
Posted on March 18, 1999 | No CommentsUnited Nations University, Tokyo 18 March 1999 Clean, safe water can be brought to the 1.4 billion people around the world without it for as little as $50 per person, which […]