The UN Environment Program's seventh Global Environment Outlook report warns that environmental crises -- climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and land degradation -- are accelerating and deeply interconnected. The assessment, authored by 287 scientists, presents stark evidence of the economic and social toll these crises are taking, including trillions of dollars in annual losses and millions of early deaths, and calls for coordinated action across governments, businesses and communities. Check out the Climate & Energy section below for more coverage of the GEO-7 assessment.

The UN Pact for the Future lays out ambitious goals for sustainable development, peace and global governance -- but translating its principles into meaningful outcomes remains challenging. A report by the International Communities Organisation highlights the Pact's role as a framework for uniting civil society, governments and international organizations and underscores the need for accountability, transparency and adaptive approaches -- especially in conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable regions -- to fulfill its promise of global solidarity and local impact.

Reflecting on the 2016 secretary-general selection, Vesna Pusic, then-candidate and former deputy prime minister of Croatia, criticizes the lack of progress on gender equality, merit and transparency despite initial optimism. Although several qualified women, particularly from Eastern Europe, ran for the position, geopolitical concerns and traditional power structures led to another male, Western leader being chosen, Pusic writes, warning that the 2026 selection is a critical moment for reform.

The EU is experiencing a worrying decline in fundamental human rights, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warns, citing a recent report that notes reduced civic space in about half of member states. Open civic space is essential for democracy, allowing for free expression, protest and association, Turk warns, cautioning against political discussions to restrict these freedoms, particularly on issues like the environment, climate and migration.