Exclusive to Insiders: Chair of UN Plastics Treaty Steps Down, Throwing Negotiations Into Crisis
UNITED NATIONS, October 7 — The global effort to end plastic pollution was thrown into disarray today after the chair of the United Nations plastics treaty negotiations, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, announced his resignation, citing “personal and professional reasons.” The surprise decision comes amid deep divisions between nations and growing criticism of the process’s transparency, raising fears […]
Exclusive to Insiders: Europe Challenges Washington Over Climate Finance Leadership
BRUSSELS — The European Union is preparing to confront the United States over the future of global development finance. As ministers gather for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings this month, a widening divide between Brussels and Washington is emerging over how multilateral banks should respond to the climate crisis. At the heart of […]
Exclusive to Insiders: Egyptian Scholar Poised to Lead UNESCO Amid Financial and Political Turbulence
PARIS — In a decision that blends symbolism with strategic urgency, the executive board of UNESCO has nominated Egyptian Egyptologist and former minister Khaled el-Enany to serve as its next Director-General. If confirmed by the organization’s full membership next month, he will become the first Arab leader to helm the UN’s premier cultural and educational body. […]
INSIDERS EDITION: Trump Administration Escalates Pressure on Global Climate Governance
With the world already confronting accelerating climate disasters, the Trump Administration has intensified its campaign to roll back multilateral environmental agreements. The strategy is unsettling allies, emboldening oil producers, and leaving fragile negotiations in disarray just weeks before the United Nations General Assembly. Oil Politics and Trade Coercion The administration’s latest moves highlight a strategy […]
Top 100 Chief Sustainability Officers in North America to Be Honored in New York on September 22
Key Takeaways About the Awards The CSO Awards North America 2025, organized by Futur/io Institute, celebrate the top 100 Chief Sustainability Officers shaping corporate sustainability in the U.S. and Canada. These leaders drive strategies that align business operations with climate goals, social responsibility, and planetary boundaries. The recognition underscores how sustainability has moved from the […]
Astrid Schomaker: Steering Global Action to Protect Life on Earth
Astrid Schomaker was appointed Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in April 2024 by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. In this role, she leads global efforts to address one of humanity’s greatest challenges: the loss of biodiversity. A Career in Diplomacy and Environmental Leadership Before joining the CBD, Astrid Schomaker served at […]
U.N. Warns Extreme Heat Is Putting Workers’ Lives and Livelihoods at Risk
22 AUGUST 2025 – The United Nations is warning that rising global temperatures are already taking a serious toll on workers’ health and productivity, and is urging governments to act before conditions worsen. A new report from the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization shows that billions of workers are exposed to unsafe […]
EU Backs €116 Million Wave of Ocean and River Restoration Projects
The European Union has approved funding for 13 projects under its Mission Ocean and Waters initiative, committing €116 million to efforts ranging from fish-friendly river pathways to a digital twin of the ocean. The aim: to restore Europe’s waters and the livelihoods they sustain. The new projects will span the continent’s major sea basins — […]
SDG News Spotlight: H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf – Steering Africa’s Economic Renaissance
ADDIS ABABA — In a year when the global economy is searching for new engines of growth, H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf is betting on Africa. As Chairperson of the African Union Commission, he has made it his mission to ensure the continent is no longer seen solely through the lens of aid and humanitarian need, […]
UN Summit in Turkmenistan Adopts Awaza Declaration to Accelerate Development in Landlocked Nations
Key Impact Points: The Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) concluded Friday in Awaza, Turkmenistan, with the adoption of the Awaza Declaration—a political commitment to accelerate sustainable development and resilience in the world’s 32 LLDCs. Held under the theme Driving Progress Through Partnerships, the four-day summit gathered heads of state, senior UN officials, […]
