By the year 2030, an estimated 50 per cent of the world’s population will live in coastal areas which are exposed to flooding, storms and tsunamis.

About 22 months since the first cases of COVID-19 were reported, and almost a year since the first vaccines were approved, reported cases and deaths from the virus are increasing again.

It’s ‘Finance Day’ at COP26, and the spotlight is on a big announcement: nearly 500 global financial services firms agreed on Wednesday to align $130 trillion – some 40 per cent of the world’s financial assets – with the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement, including limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday approved an eighth vaccine against COVID-19.

New vaccines are urgently needed against a common bacterium which is a major cause of preterm births, disability and babies’ deaths globally.

With world leaders expressing hope that the goal of supplying $100 billion a year in climate finance support for developing countries is within reach, the UN Secretary-General warned on Tuesday that the target would likely not be met until 2023 and would require additional funding after that.

Effective action and strong leadership are essential to end child labour by 2025, the head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Tuesday.

People who use drugs should not be criminalized, the UN agency leading the global fight to stamp out HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) said on Monday.

As the World Leaders Summit opened on day two of COP26, UN chief António Guterres sent a stark message to the international community.

As the world on Monday passed yet another sombre pandemic milestone – five million lives lost to COVID-19 – Secretary-General António Guterres called on global leaders to back the UN strategy to make vaccine equity a reality by accelerating efforts and ensuring maximum vigilance to defeat the virus.