United Nations

UN Observers: Death Penalty Is Prohibited Discrimination

December 05, 2017

A group of UN human rights mandate holders has condemned the death penalty, due to their view that it is "a penalty reserved for people from lower socio-economic groups," as a class-based form of discrimination and therefore an "arbitrary killing" in violation of international human rights law.
WHO Publishes Guidelines on Preventing Obesity

December 05, 2017

Reflecting the growing focus at the UN agency on noncommunicable diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) published in October a set of "obesity guidelines" that describe how "trained professionals" can promote healthy diets and physical activity among children to prevent obesity.
UN Report Calls for Global Governance of Pollution

December 05, 2017

In a September report, the UN Environment Programme called for people around the world to adopt "a healthier, more sustainable way of living" and pushed for the development of a "global compact on pollution" and a broad expansion of global governance of environmental policy.
UN Promotes County Climate Funds in Africa

December 04, 2017

The Chinese news agency Xinhua reports that, according to an official of the UN Environment Programme, the UN will assist with the establishment in Africa of county-level "climate change funds" in 40 countries to help provide the $50 billion per year he says is needed by the Continent to counter the impacts of global warming.
Critics Assail EU Official for Proposing US Flexibility on Climate Pledges

December 04, 2017

Climate Home News reports that EU Commissioner for climate action and energy Miguel Arias Cañete is facing sustained criticism from diplomats and environmental activist groups over his suggestion that signatories to the UN's Paris climate deal might allow the US to "downgrade" its commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions without having to leave the pact.
US States Grapple with Implementing UN Climate Deal

December 01, 2017

The New York Times reports that a group of US state governments calling themselves the US Climate Alliance is facing challenges in implementing the carbon emissions cuts required under the UN's Paris climate deal without the support of the Trump Administration, which has withdrawn from the agreement.
UN, World Bank Agree to Ramp up Climate Finance

December 01, 2017

In September, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim announced a new Invest4Climate platform that would ramp up public and private financing for "transformational climate action in line with" the UN's Paris climate deal agreed in 2015.
EU, UN Agency Cooperate on Food Waste

November 30, 2017

The European Commission and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization have signed a letter of intent to strengthen their cooperation on cracking down on food loss and waste and developing policies on antimicrobial resistance on farms to contribute to the fulfillment of environmental targets under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN Agents Warn France on Counter-terror Plans

November 30, 2017

The Guardian reports that a September letter from UN human rights mandate holders warned the French government that its plan to exit its "state of emergency" while providing for stronger counter-terrorism measures could violate the country's international human rights obligations through a vague definition of "terrorism" and by encouraging religion-based discrimination.
UN Chief Supports Global Pact on Environment

November 30, 2017

At an event on the margins of the annual leaders' summit at the UN General Assembly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres offered his support for a French proposal seeking an "international legally binding document on the environment" that would consolidate national environmental laws into a single "pact."