All publications and documents

United Nations resolution on greening plastics is a positive step. As negotiations begin, they must be evidence-based.On 2 March, world leaders and environment ministers agreed to start negotiations on the world’s first legally binding international treaty to eliminate one of humanity’s most devastating sources of pollution: plastics. This hugely positive step has the power to attack the problem…

The ‘Portal on Standards for SDGs’ has been expanded to include 20,000 standards addressing all 17 SDGs. The portal also includes 40 case studies and 10 commentary pieces from experts in standards, aiming to demonstrate how standards can help achieve the SDGs. The initiative targets standards-developing organizations, encouraging them to see their standards as…

The UN Economic Commission for Africa held its 2022 regional forum on sustainable development. The meeting outcome called for the Glasgow Climate Pact to establish an ambitious and reasonable price for carbon, aligned with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The African forum was the first in a series of five regional gatherings for each group of UN Member States, in…

Europe’s Mediterranean countries produce a significant portion of the world’s wines, olives, nuts and tomatoes. But research shows that the region’s farms and orchards are the most susceptible in Europe to soil degradation and desertification. In an analysis of agriculture research and data from the dozen European countries that line the Mediterranean coast, researchers from KTH…

How forests can contribute to strengthening the resilience of societies and economies. On March 21, 2022, we celebrate International Forest Day for the 10th year in a row to raise awareness of the importance of forests. Our lives are just as dependent on the land as on the sea regarding both food and livelihood. Moreover, forests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on land and…

Tackling climate change and plastic pollution requires decisive measures at all levels, from international policy coordination to innovation in industry and changes to unsustainable practices in our everyday lives. As one example, the rise of online shopping and food delivery services allows us to order anything to our door, but with low costs and convenience comes significant negative impacts,…