The State of Mental Health Globally in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Progress on the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (2019-2023)
Although major advancements in our understanding of what causes mental health conditions and how to treat them have been made in the last 20 years, very few improvements in service coverage and quality have been made.
The Growing Effects of Light Pollution on Migratory Birds
Light pollution is the theme of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day (8 October 2022), a global campaign to raise awareness about migratory birds and major threats.
Overcoming Babel: Why Translation Is Key to Lasting Peace and Development
As globalization flows into every corner of the virtual and physical worlds, and geopolitical and cultural tensions rise, accurate, professional translation mediates the potential cultural and language barriers in politics, national security and diplomacy, as well as between communities.
We Are Running Out of Time
This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference—COP 27—will arguably be the most important climate conference of the decade. From 6 to 18 November 2022, world leaders gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt must put words into action to hold the increase in global temperature to 1.5°C.
We Can All Help Reduce Food Loss and Waste
Food loss and waste (FLW) implies unnecessary pressure on the environment and the natural resources used to produce it in the first place. It essentially means that land and water resources have been wasted, pollution created and greenhouse gases emitted to no purpose.
Let’s Recommit to Protecting Students, Educators and Schools from Attack
Education is fundamental, even during war. Access to learning can give children and young people the knowledge and abilities needed to contribute to their communities and economies—and the skills to resolve disputes and rebuild after conflict.
The Other Victims of Enforced Disappearance
Aside from the legal debate on the concept of the victim in an enforced disappearance and the lack of political will in many situations to fulfil victims’ rights, it is indisputable that the next of kin of the disappeared suffer as much and sometimes more than those who are no longer present.
Ending Nuclear Testing to Advance Global Peace and Security
While the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has already helped advance the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament agenda, we must remain vigilant. The proliferation of nuclear weapons and the threat of their use continue to pose unacceptable risks to humanity.
World Water Week 2022: Revealing the Importance of Unseen Water
This year’s conference will place particular focus on what can be described as “invisible water”—groundwater, soil moisture and atmospheric water. These occurrences of water are often forgotten, even by experts in the water community, and their potential is therefore not fully explored.
To Continue Delivering for the Children of Ukraine, We Must Look to Partnerships
This World Humanitarian Day, aid workers in Ukraine and around the world are facing challenges on a level never seen before, with key issues being access to those in need.
Future-Proof Skills Can Help Balance Individual and Societal Progress
Conceptual and strategic thinking, creativity, problem-solving, empathy, optimism, ethics, emotional intelligence and judgment are the future-proof skills and attributes that machines will not be able to replicate with the same standards and agility as qualified human beings.
All Stakeholders Have a Role to Play in Ridding the World of Chemical Weapons
The process of destroying chemical arsenals declared to OPCW will soon be completed. However, current global events have underscored that preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons is on an agenda that will remain open forever.
The Global Population Will Soon Reach 8 Billion—Then What?
Meeting the needs and lifting the living standards of a large and growing world population will require higher levels of production and result in greater consumption. Without green reforms in energy, manufacturing and transport, as well as changes in human behaviour, this will place mounting pressures on the natural environment.
Collaboration and Capacity-Building to End Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
With fish stocks and marine ecosystems under ever-increasing pressure from human activity, clamping down on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has never been more important.
Navigating Our Way Towards a Plastic-Free Ocean
Plastic pollution doesn’t know political or cultural borders. We all share one planet, and global problems transcend all boundaries, which means the solutions need to as well.