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United Nations University Archive
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‘Water Security’: Experts propose a UN definition on which much depends
Posted on March 22, 2013 | No CommentsUnited Nations University, Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH, Hamilton, Canada) / UN-Water 22-Mar-2013, World Water Day / International Year of Water Cooperation Amid changing weather and water patterns... -
Preserve the services of mangroves — Earth’s invaluable coastal forests, experts urge
Posted on November 14, 2012 | No CommentsUnited Nations University, Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Canada 14 Nov 2012 Loss of mangroves to fish farms, other development, a poor economic trade-off risking human and environmental well-being... -
UN, other experts warn of ‘water bankruptcy’ for many regions after reviewing 200 major global projects
Posted on September 23, 2012 | No CommentsUnited Nations University, Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Canada 23 Sep 2012 Study highlights horizon issues for world’s freshwater and marine systems A study of almost 200 major international... -
Former world leaders call on UN Security Council to recognize water as a top concern
Posted on September 10, 2012 | No CommentsUnited Nations University, Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Canada InterAction Council, Tokyo Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, Canada 10-Sep-2012 World confronts serious water crisis, former heads of government and... -
E-waste: Annual gold, silver ‘deposits’ in new high-tech goods worth $21 billion; less than 15% recovered
Posted on July 6, 2012 | No Comments6-Jul-2012 United Nations University ‘Urban mining’ deposits are 40 to 60 times richer than mined ore, experts tell 1st GeSI and StEP e-Waste Academy in Africa; New PCs, cell phones,... -
Beyond GDP: Experts preview ‘Inclusive Wealth’ index at Planet under Pressure conference
Posted on March 28, 2012 | No CommentsEarth System Science Partnership, Paris 28-Mar-2012 Brazil and India pay a high price for rapid economic growth, according to experts speaking at a major international meeting in London, Planet Under... -
Cities forecast to expand by area equal to France, Germany and Spain combined in less than 20 years
Posted on March 27, 2012 | No CommentsEarth System Science Partnership, Paris 27-Mar-2012 Unless development patterns change, by 2030 humanity’s urban footprint will occupy an additional 1.5 million square kilometres – comparable to the combined territories of... -
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... -
Study quantifies impact of unsafe water and poor sanitation on child and maternal mortality
Posted on February 12, 2012 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton, Canada 14-Feb-2012 The impact of unsafe water and sanitation on the death rates of children under five and mothers in... -
Environmental troubles growing in Mid-East Gulf region due to rapid coastal development
Posted on November 16, 2011 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton, Canada 16-Nov-2011 Sustainable coastal management, regional coordination and long-term, holistic viewpoint needed to protect fragile ecosystems The rapid, large scale... -
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... -
Ongoing global biodiversity loss unstoppable with protected areas alone: Study
Posted on July 28, 2011 | No CommentsUnited Nations University – Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton, Canada 28 Jul 11 Continued reliance on a strategy of setting aside land and marine territories as “protected areas”... -
Data revealing migrations of larval reef fish vital for designing networks of marine protected areas
Posted on July 11, 2011 | No CommentsUnited Nations University – Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton, Canada 11 Jul 2011 Networks of biologically-connected marine protected areas need to be carefully planned, taking into account the... -
US EPA joins alliance to curb global e-waste
Posted on May 22, 2011 | No CommentsUnited Nations University – Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP) 1 May 2011 The US Environmental Protection Agency is stepping up international efforts to help curb rising pollution, the waste of... -
Former national leaders: Water a global security issue
Posted on May 22, 2011 | No CommentsInterAction Council / United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health 20 March 2011 Water as an “urgent security issue” tops the agenda this year for a council of... -
Canada’s role grows amid looming world water shortages in some places, more flooding in others
Posted on March 3, 2011 | No CommentsCanadian Water Network Waterloo, Ontario 27-Feb-2011 $1 trillion global water market forecast for 2020; Global freshwater demand expected to exceed supply by 40 percent by 2030 Famed especially for the... -
Pollutants in aquifers may threaten future of Mexico’s fast-growing ‘Riviera Maya’
Posted on February 7, 2011 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health Hamilton, Canada Pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, shampoo, toothpaste, pesticides, chemical run-off from highways and many other pollutants infiltrate the giant aquifer under... -
Greater access to cell phones than toilets in India: UN
Posted on May 7, 2010 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 14-Apr-2010 UNU-INWEH report offers 9-point prescription for achieving Millennium Development Goal for sanitation Far more people in India have access to a cell phone than to a... -
Urgent need to prepare developing countries for surge in e-wastes: UN
Posted on February 23, 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... -
Water experts of 26 UN agencies meet in Canada, plan coordinated response to looming crisis
Posted on February 6, 2010 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 1-Feb-2010 More than two dozen leading United Nations water experts will convene in Hamilton, Canada Feb. 2-4 to plan fresh strategy for a coordinated approach to the... -
Traditional indigenous fire management techniques deployed against climate change
Posted on November 30, 2009 | No Comments29-Nov-2009 United Nations University Tokyo / Darwin Carbon credits bring millions for new jobs in indigenous communities; Australian project a model of opportunity, especially for Africa A landmark Australian project... -
Set world standards for electronics recycling, reuse to curb e-waste exports to developing countries
Posted on September 15, 2009 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 15 September 2009 Sold in 2006: 230 million computers, 1 billion cell phones, 45.5 million TVs; many destined for uncontrolled disposal without change in policies, consumer practices... -
Indigenous peoples at world summit to share climate change observations, coping techniques
Posted on April 20, 2009 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Tokyo, Japan 19-Apr-2009 With the first climate change-related relocation of an Inuit village already underway, some 400 Indigenous People and observers from 80 nations are convening in... -
Biotech Scientists Team with Curators to Stem Decay of World’s Art, Cultural Heritage
Posted on February 18, 2009 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Programme for Biotechnology for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNU-BIOLAC), Caracas, Venezuela 8-Feb-2009 The growing relationship between scientists and curators is the focus of a... -
‘Arid aquaculture’ among livelihoods promoted to relieve worsening pressure on world’s drylands
Posted on November 11, 2008 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 11-Nov-2008 “Arid aquaculture” using ponds filled with salty, undrinkable water for fish production is one of several options experts have proven to be an effective potential alternative... -
Providing toilets, safe water is top route to reducing world poverty: UN University
Posted on October 20, 2008 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Tokyo Japan / Hamilton, Canada 19-Oct-2008 Simply installing toilets where needed throughout the world and ensuring safe water supplies would do more to end crippling poverty... -
Environmental migrants: UN meeting aims to build consensus on definitions, support, protection
Posted on October 9, 2008 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Tokyo, Japan 8-Oct-2008 A growing international consensus to formally recognize and protect people uprooted by environmental problems is expected to accelerate at a major conference in Bonn,... -
Experts meet on need for new rules to govern world’s fragile polar regions
Posted on October 9, 2008 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Tokyo 7-Sep-2008 A new co-ordinated international set of rules to govern commercial and research activities in both of Earth’s polar regions is urgently needed to reflect new... -
Rising energy, food prices major threats to wetlands as farmers eye new areas for crops
Posted on August 7, 2008 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 25-Jul-2008 Critical food shortages and growing demand for bio-fuels and hydro-electricity due to high fossil fuel prices rank among the greatest threats today to the preservation of... -
Massive greenhouse gases may be released as destruction, drying of world wetlands worsens: UN
Posted on August 7, 2008 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 20-Jul-2008 700 leading experts convene at edge of Brazil’s vast Pantanal to take stock, offer policy prescription to remedy wetlands crisis Leading world scientists convene in Brazil... -
Indigenous peoples hardest hit by climate change describe impacts
Posted on May 17, 2008 | No CommentsUnited Nations University – Institute of Advance Studies Yokohama 2-Apr-2008 Biofuel production, renewable energy expansion, other mitigation measures uprooting indigenous peoples in many regions Indigenous peoples have contributed the least... -
Sanitation investment in poor countries would yield $9-to-1 benefits in productivity, health: UN
Posted on May 17, 2008 | No CommentsUnited Nations University / International Year of Sanitation 20-Mar-2008 Experts estimate that $9 in productivity, health and other benefits are returned for every dollar invested installing toilets for people in... -
Great potential to improve collection, recycling of Europe’s electronic waste, says UN report
Posted on November 15, 2007 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 15-Nov-2007 Low collection rates and consumer awareness, rising need to harmonize regulations, UNU advises European Commission Only about 25% of Europe’s medium sized household appliances and 40%... -
Human clones: New U.N. analysis lays out world’s choices
Posted on November 15, 2007 | No CommentsUnited Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, Yokohama, Japan 10-Nov-2007 Report says ban on human reproductive cloning, coupled with restricted therapeutic research, is global compromise most likely to succeed The... -
Restoring soils vital to feed world, forestall climate change: experts
Posted on September 27, 2007 | No CommentsSoil Conservation Service of Iceland, Reykjavik, and United Nations University 30 Aug 07 Protecting soils claimed as an immediate fix to counter climate change; 150 world experts meet in Iceland... -
Desertification: UN experts prescribe global policy overhaul to avoid looming mass migrations
Posted on July 4, 2007 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 27 Jun 07 Desertification, exacerbated by climate change, represents “the greatest environmental challenge of our times” and governments must overhaul policy approaches to the issue or face... -
Gene hunters, patent prospectors leave indigenous communities in Pacific feeling besieged, betrayed
Posted on March 21, 2007 | No Comments19-Mar-2007 United Nations University Book catalogues unethical research, gene theft in Pacific countries The Pacific region has experienced some of the world’s worst examples of unethical bio-research and patenting... -
UN, industry, others partner to create world standards for e-scrap recycling, harvesting components
Posted on March 7, 2007 | No Comments6-Mar-2007 United Nations University Growing need for elements in high-tech scrap –- often incinerated in poor countries Standardizing recycling processes globally to harvest valuable components in electrical and electronic scrap... -
Landslides: Asia has Most; Americas, the Deadliest; Europe, the Costliest; Experts Seek Ways to Mitigate Losses; Danger Said Growing Due to Climate Change, Other Causes
Posted on March 7, 2007 | No Comments17 Jan 06 United Nations University Asia suffered 220 landslides in the past century – by far the most of any world region – but those in North, Central and... -
Scientists pioneer biotech techniques to halt infestation of history, art treasures in tropics
Posted on March 7, 2007 | No Comments03 Nov 04 United Nations University The use of biotechnologies originally intended to remedy crop infestations and other problems is being pioneered in the protection of priceless art and historical... -
Experts advise world policies to cope with causes, rising consequences of creeping desertification
Posted on December 14, 2006 | No Comments14-Dec-2006 United Nations University Joint International Conference Algiers, Dec. 17-19 About 200 experts from 25 countries are convening in Algiers Dec. 17-19 to advise shifts in world policies needed to... -
Pioneering study shows richest 2 percent own half world wealth
Posted on December 5, 2006 | No Comments5-Dec-2006 United Nations University The richest 2% of adults in the world own more than half of global household wealth according to a path-breaking study released today by the Helsinki-based... -
Child soldiers: If children are not prosecuted for war crimes, are they more likely chosen by warlords to perform the worst atrocities?
Posted on October 24, 2006 | No Comments24 Oct 06 United Nations University Some 300,000 combatants under age 18 – some as young as six and 40% of them girls – are illegal recruits in more than... -
Ranks of ‘environmental refugees’ swell, calls grow for better definition, recognition, support
Posted on November 5, 2005 | No Comments11 Nov 05 United Nations University Amid predictions that by 2010 the world will need to cope with as many as 50 million people escaping the effects of creeping environmental... -
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Many of 2 billion dryland dwellers at risk as land degrades
Posted on June 16, 2005 | No Comments16 Jun 05 United Nations University Growing desertification worldwide threatens to swell by millions the number of poor forced to seek new homes and livelihoods. And a rising number of... -
Clear rules needed to govern deep sea bioprospecting: UNU
Posted on June 8, 2005 | No Comments08 Jun 05 United Nations University Vast genetic resources – “blue gold” on the international deep sea floor – need protection from unfettered commercial exploitation, warns a new report from... -
Bridging the digital divide by making computers for kids as common as pencils
Posted on May 15, 2005 | No Comments15 May 05 United Nations University A global education system in which a fully portable personal computer is as common as a pencil or textbook to school children even in... -
United Nations University calls for world help to repair Iraqi higher education system
Posted on May 1, 2005 | No Comments01 May 05 United Nations University Since the start of the war of 2003 some 84% of Iraq’s higher education institutions have been burnt, looted or destroyed while four dozen... -
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: New Report Warns Ecosystem Changes Will Continue to Worsen, Hampering Global Development Goals
Posted on March 30, 2005 | No CommentsMillennium Ecosystem Assessment / United Nations University March 30, 2005 A landmark study released today reveals that approximately 60 percent (15 out of 24) of the ecosystem services that support... -
South America’s vast Pantanal wetland may become next Everglades, UNU experts warn
Posted on March 21, 2005 | No Comments21 Mar 05 United Nations University South America’s giant Pantanal wetlands, one of the world’s most bio-diverse ecosystems, is at growing risk from intensive peripheral agricultural, industrial and urban development... -
The hidden vulnerability of mega-cities to natural disasters: underground spaces
Posted on January 14, 2005 | No Comments14 Jan 05 United Nations University The rapid and extensive underground expansion of mega-cities – for subways, malls, parking and public utilities – takes place often with too little knowledge... -
Two billion vulnerable to floods by 2050; number expected to double or more in two generations
Posted on June 13, 2004 | No Comments13 Jun 04 United Nations University The number of people worldwide vulnerable to a devastating flood is expected to mushroom to 2 billion by 2050 due to climate change, deforestation,... -
Estimated one in five people worldwide lack enough zinc in diet
Posted on March 23, 2004 | No Comments23 Mar 04 United Nations University Up to one-fifth of the world’s people lack sufficient zinc in their diet, while an estimated one-third live in countries considered at high risk... -
UN study shows environmental consequences from ongoing boom in personal computer sales
Posted on March 4, 2004 | No Comments07 Mar 04 United Nations University Government incentives are quickly needed worldwide to extend the life of personal computers and slow the growth of high-tech trash, according to a new... -
UNU Report: End Catch-22 for Indigenous People
Posted on February 19, 2004 | No CommentsUnited Nations University 19 Feb 2004 To decide whether a new product seeking patent protection is novel or based upon traditional knowledge, officials require free access to indigenous secrets. Several... -
Money talks: Concern for biodiversity pressed on boardrooms by new breed of fund managers
Posted on February 4, 2004 | No Comments10 Feb 04 United Nations University A new breed of fund managers looking to pressure businesses to improve social, environmental and ethical performance, a phenomenon started in 1999, now wield... -
UN report: Accelerate global agreement to oversee exploitation of South Pole ‘extremophiles’
Posted on February 1, 2004 | No Comments01 Feb 04 United Nations University Work should be stepped up on international agreements to oversee prospecting efforts in Antarctica by research institutions, universities and pharmaceutical companies to discover and... -
First-ever UN University diploma offered to grads of online water-management course
Posted on November 30, 2003 | No Comments30 Nov 03 United Nations University In an effort to help raise the quality of water management expertise worldwide, the United Nations University has authorized for the first time in...