Near the Issyk-Kul Lake in the eastern mountains of the Kyrgyz Republic lies Jyrgalan, a village of 1,000 inhabitants. The scenic village was once a hidden gem but is quickly gaining traction as a tourist destination, with biking and hiking trails having multiplied. But this is posing challenges such as increased waste generation, including plastics.
Ask any parent what the modern world's greatest invention is, and they will probably point to the disposable nappy. It freed parents from the time-sapping routine of constantly washing and drying cloth nappies and has had a transformative effect on family life.
Today is the sixth anniversary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a landmark global agreement to protect people and the environment from the toxic effects of mercury. To mark the occasion, UNEP is looking back at a story originally published in February about the campaign to end the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining.
When the gavel came down on the resolution to end plastic pollution at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) in Nairobi last March, there were hugs and tears among the delegates. The emotion reflected the importance of this historic milestone: a legally binding global instrument toward ending plastic pollution.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a semi-arid country with distinctive natural features including valleys, mountain ranges and desert plateaus. The country has a rich array of wildlife protected in several nature reserves. But the climate crisis has exacerbated Jordan’s already harsh desert landscapes, causing natural habitats to decline significantly.
Humans have introduced more than 37,000 invasive species, many harmful, into biomes around the world, threatening a range of plants and animals, finds a new study from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Along the southeastern coast of Uruguay lies Punta del Este, a city known for its beaches, woodlands and, now, as the site where historic negotiations to end global plastic pollution will begin.
New season, new styles, buy more, buy cheap, move on, throw away: the pollution, waste, and emissions of fast fashion are fueling the triple planetary crisis.
Antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics, have saved the lives of millions of people around the world. However, the very drugs that have contributed so much to human health and prosperity are at risk of becoming a global public health threat due to burgeoning antimicrobial resistance.
