Collated by Peter Hulm
November 2025
Russia shut out of IMO Council for third straight year as vote count drops to 47 — far below the 113 needed for election (LINK) 28 November 2025
— Breakbulk News: Its absence from the Council strips it of voting rights on high-stakes decisions — including implementation of the revised 2025 IMO GHG Strategy, which commits member states to net-zero emissions "by or around 2050", and upcoming amendments to SOLAS and MARPOL covering cyber-risk management and autonomous vessel operations.
Global measles cases surge as 30 million children miss vaccines, WHO warns (LINK) 28 November 2025
— Measles deaths have dropped by 88 per cent since 2000 — yet an estimated 95,000 people, mostly children, still died from the virus last year, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday. Dr. Kate O’Brien, WHO’s Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, said: "One person can infect up to 18 others. Many people think measles is not serious — but it is, and it can be deadly. One in five infected children ends up in the hospital." Last year, around 11 million people worldwide were infected, nearly 800,000 more than in the pre-pandemic period. Most of the deaths occurred in children under five, with about 80 per cent in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. "But no child needs to suffer the consequences of measles," Dr. O’Brien stressed. "Two doses of vaccine provide 95 per cent protection. The tragedy is that children are unprotected because the system is not reaching them."
Guardian: Beyond the negative headlines, some truly good things came out of Cop30 (LINK) 28 November 2025
— An attempt to insert plans for a route to the phaseout of fossil fuels into the legal text was stymied, consideration of how to improve countries' emissions-cutting plans was put off till next year, and although developing countries got the tripling of finance for adaptation that they were seeking, it will not be delivered in full until 2035 — and will come out of already promised funds.
— But "a nonbinding process that allows countries to decide their own pathways, policies and timetables toward the eventual phaseout of oil, gas and coal has far more chance of succeeding than anything that is seen as an outside imposition. If enough countries display their intent to move away from fossil fuels, money will follow. Today, global investment in renewables is twice that of fossil fuels; a quarter of all new vehicles sold worldwide are electric; and half of the power-generating capacity of China and India is low-carbon."
Nation: UN Security Council's Resolution on Gaza makes Trump its new overlord (LINK) 26 November 2025
— "The United Nations Security Council resolution passed on November 17 may be in complete violation of the UN's own rules. And it may do as much damage to the Palestinian struggle for justice and freedom as the Oslo accords did more than 30 years ago."
Trump-era global funding cuts devastate HIV prevention programmes, UNAIDS says (LINK) — ground.news: 45 media reports (LINK) 25 November 2025
— "Persistent funding shortfalls and the perilous risks facing the global HIV response are having profound, lasting effects on the health and wellbeing of millions of people throughout the world," the UNAIDS agency said on Tuesday in a report titled "Overcoming Disruption".
High-level dialogue on AI governance convened in Geneva with China as leading co-host (LINK) 25 November 2025
— In his opening remarks, Chen Xu, Permanent Representative of China in Geneva, stated that the Global Governance Initiative and the Global AI Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping charted the way forward for global AI governance. Over 150 participants attended the event held on Tuesday, including Permanent Representatives of member states, senior officials of international organizations, and academics. Tatiana Valovaya, director-general of the United Nations Office at Geneva, shook hands with a robot before the high-level dialogue opened.
Jakarta now the world's largest city (41.9m), Tokyo falls to third: UN DESA — Bangladesh's Dhaka projected to be largest by 2050 (LINK) 26 November 2025
— Asia is home to 19 of the world's 33 megacities, and nine out of the top 10. In addition to Jakarta, Dhaka and Tokyo, the other Asian cities in the top 10 are: New Delhi, India (30.2 million); Shanghai, China (29.6 million); Guangzhou, China (27.6 million); Manila, Philippines (24.7 million); Kolkata, India (22.5 million); and Seoul, South Korea (22.5 million).
Guardian: 'Fossil fuel giants finally in the crosshairs': Cop30 avoided total failure with last-ditch deal (LINK) 25 November 2025
— Rather than explicitly namecheck fossil fuels, the agreement refers to "the UAE consensus", the name given to the Cop28 deal to 'transition away from fossil fuels'. To great surprise, the wording was accepted.
UN climate chief warns world losing battle but fragile COP30 deal keeps up the fight (LINK) 22 November 2025
— Simon Stiell, the UN’s climate chief: "Denial, division and geopolitics has dealt international cooperation some heavy blows this year." But Cop30 showed that "climate cooperation is alive and kicking. ’m not saying we're winning the climate fight. But we are undeniably still in it, and we are fighting back. Here in Belém, nations chose unity, science and economic common sense. This year there has been a lot of attention on one country stepping back. But amid the gale-force political headwinds, 194 countries stood firm in solidarity — rock solid in support of climate cooperation. The global transition towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development is irreversible and the trend of the future. This is a political and market signal that cannot be ignored."
UN climate talks fail to secure new fossil fuel promises (LINK) 22 November 2025
— The talks over-ran by almost 24 hours with delegates working all night. The final deal, called the Mutirão, calls on countries to "voluntarily" accelerate their action to reduce their use of fossil fuels. The two weeks of talks were at times chaotic. Toilets ran out of water, torrential thunderstorms flooded the venue, and delegates struggled to cope in hot, humid rooms. The COP's around 50,000 registered delegates were evacuated twice. A group of about 150 protestors broke into the venue, breaching security lines, and carrying placards reading "our forests are not for sale". On Thursday 20 November a large fire broke out, scorching a hole into the roof and forcing participants to rush outside.
France 24 on the issues — (LINK)
— France's ecological transition minister, Monique Barbut, told AFP that oil-rich Russia and Saudi Arabia, along with coal producer India and "many" emerging countries, were blocking a deal on fossil fuels. South Asia envoy defended the exclusion of the fossil fuel phaseout roadmap, arguing developing countries needed to ensure energy security for their countries and a transition for workers dependent on the sector.
BBC: Five key takeaways from a deeply divisive climate summit — (LINK)
- The climate 'ship' is still afloat but there was frustration with the way Brazil ran this meeting.
- European Union was cornered on tripling money for climate adaptation.
- Future of COP in question: How barmy is it to fly thousands of people half-way around the world to sit in giant air-conditioned tents to argue about commas, and interpretations of convoluted words?
- For the first time global trade became one of the key issues at these talks.
- Trump gains by staying away, China gains by staying quiet.
COP30 climate talks: roundup (LINK) 22 November 2025
Food supply improving in Gaza since truce but long way to go, says WFP (LINK) — ground.news: 10 media reports (LINK) 21 November 2025
— WFP officials say they have met only 30% of the parcel target, reaching around 530,000 out of 1.6 million people due to logistical issues. Hundreds of thousands remain in urgent need, and at least half a million people were said to be experiencing famine in parts of the enclave. Though Gaza’s markets are reviving, food prices remain high for Palestinians, many of whom lost their income during the war, with a chicken costing $25, meaning many are reliant on food aid, the WFP said.
Fundraisers warn of 'catastrophic' drop in donations to Gaza since ceasefire (LINK) 21 November 2025
UN climate conference: reforming agriculture (LINK) 21 November 2025
36 nations and environmental groups slam proposals at UN climate talks, calling them too weak (LINK) — ground.news: 8 media reports (LINK) 21 November 2025
UN climate summit drops mention of fossil fuels from draft deal (LINK) 21 November 2025
India's delayed action plan raises eyebrows at UN climate summit (LINK) 21 November 2025
— BBC: Indian officials, like many negotiators from the developing world, argue that their updated climate plans with more ambitious carbon reduction targets will mean nothing if they do not receive financial and technological support from developed countries. India says it shouldn't be pressed for a more ambitious climate plan as it has already met a key pledge — to have 50% of its installed eletricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources — years ahead of the 2030 deadline.
— The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that by 2035, annual emissions will have to be reduced by 35% and 55%, compared with 2019, to align with the goals of the Paris agreement. But emissions have continued to rise almost every year since then, and the climate plans submitted to the UNFCCC until 10 November show that there will be emissions reduction of only around 12% by 2035 – that too if countries fully implement their policies.
Turkey set to host COP31 after reaching compromise with Australia (LINK) 20 November 2025
UN human rights rapporteur calls on United States to lift sanctions on Cuba (LINK) 21 November 2025
— says they are impacting the island’s entire population, hitting sectors including health care, nutrition and education.
Germany pledges €1 billion to Brazil's rainforest fund (LINK) 19 November 2025
Fire prompts evacuations at U.N. climate talks in Brazil; 13 suffer smoke inhalation: fire started near the China Pavilion (LINK) 20 November 2025
Cholera cases in Africa surge to 3 times higher than reported in 2022 — Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (LINK) — ground.news: 11 media reports (LINK) 20 November 2025
— Five countries account for almost 90 per cent of the more than 300,000 cases reported so far this year, it said, with more than 7,000 people dying from the disease. Last week, the body said the continent was experiencing the worst cholera outbreak in 25 years.
Europe is using AI in health care without enough guardrails, WHO warns: just four out of 50 surveyed countries have national strategies for AI in health care (LINK) 19 November 2025
UNRWA: As of 14 November, over 79,000 displaced people were estimated to be living in 85 shelters managed by UNRWA staff and the surrounding areas: 381 workers killed (LINK) 18 November 2025
— Around 12,000 Palestinian UNRWA personnel in Gaza continue to provide services and assistance. All UNRWA international staff are prevented from entering the occupied Palestinian territory (the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem). This follows the implementation by Israel of laws passed by the Israeli parliament (the Knesset) on 28 October 2024[4] that purport to prohibit UNRWA’s operations in areas that Israel considers its sovereign territory, including occupied East Jerusalem, and seek to bar any contact by Israeli officials with UNRWA. The Israeli authorities have not granted the Agency’s international staff visas or permits to enter the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza, since the end of January 2025.
Mongabay: Indonesia labeled 'Fossil of the Day' on 15 November for echoing industry talking points at COP30 (LINK) 18 November 2025
— Indonesia was publicly called out for the first time in the history of the U.N. climate talks, receiving the "Fossil of the Day" award on Nov. 15 for allegedly allowing fossil fuel lobbyists to shape its official negotiating stance. The award, handed out daily by the Climate Action Network (CAN) International, a coalition of more than 1,900 civil society groups, accused Indonesia of echoing talking points from industry groups during negotiations on Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement, the U.N.'s new carbon market mechanism.
Ministers from global north and south unite in call for a roadmap away from fossil fuels (LINK) 18 November 2025
Cities now home to nearly half of humanity: UNDESA report (LINK) 18 November 2025
Ethiopia confirms 3 Marburg virus deaths, 3 more under investigation, and 9 cases in new outbreak at Jinka town, Southern Ethiopia (LINK) — ground.news: 105 media reports (LINK) 17 November 2025
— Health Ministry sadi 129 people who were in contact with the confirmed cases had been isolated and are being monitored. The World Health Organization is deploying a team to Ethiopia to support disease surveillance, testing, infection control, clinical care, and community engagement. Marburg virus disease, part of the same family as Ebola, is transmitted to humans through fruit bats and spreads rapidly between people through bodily fluids. Previous outbreaks in Africa have resulted in fatality rates as high as 80% or more, typically within eight to nine days of symptom onset.
Methane pollution still rises, but UN reports hope for near future reductions (LINK) 17 November 2025
— If countries do what they say in their climate-fighting plans, global methane emissions in 2030 will be 8% below 2020 levels. That would be an improvement, because with no effort at all, those emissions are expected to actually rise by 13%. But the goal of the 2021 U.N. global methane pledge is a 30% cut.
UN peacekeepers say Israeli forces fire on them in southern Lebanon (LINK) — ground.news: 42 media reports (LINK) 16 November 2025
— Israel blamed "poor weather conditions" for a situation in which Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired at UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Sunday, saying that blue-helmeted UNIFIL peacekeepers had been mistaken for "suspects" and that IDF troops had fired "warning shots".
Al Jazeera: Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,360: United Nations chief Antonio Guterres "strongly" condemned Russia’s "large-scale missile and drone strikes" on Ukraine, the secretary-general’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said. (LINK) 15 November 2025
— Italy signed off on a 12th package of military support for Kyiv and pledged to help Ukraine overcome its energy crisis this winter by sending generators. Germany said it will raise military aid to Ukraine to 11.5 billion euros ($13.4bn) in 2026.
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: Occupied West Bank: Increased Israeli violence against Palestinians must stop (LINK) 14 November 2025
— "We reiterate that the Israeli Government’s assertion of sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and its annexation of parts of it are in breach of international law, as the International Court of Justice has confirmed. They also violate the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
— "More settler attacks were recorded in October than in any month since 2006 – over 260 attacks. Since 7 October 2023, and up until 13 November 2025, Israeli security forces and settlers have killed at least 1,017 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Among the victims were 221 children. This does not include Palestinians who have died in Israeli detention. During the same period, 59 Israelis were killed in Palestinian attacks or alleged attacks or armed clashes."
UN: Protecting lives in a warming world: Health takes centre stage at COP30 (LINK) 13 November 2025
— "Hailed by Brazil as 'a crucial moment to demonstrate the strength of the health sector in global climate action,' a blueprint for global health systems to adapt to rising temperatures and extreme weather has been launched at the COP30 UN climate conference.
UN report reveals revolutionary shift in global energy: 'We stand at a unique and defining moment in history': solar and battery projects will be more than sufficient to hit the 2030 climate goal of tripling renewable capacity (LINK) 14 November 2025
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, Climate Action Tracker report finds: "a world at 2.6C means global disaster” (LINK) 13 November 2025
Paris Agreement 10 years on: More wins than you may realize (LINK) 12 November 2025
Former UN rapporteur Richard Falk, 95, who investigated Israeli abuses, interrogated for 4 hours in Canada at Toronto Pearson international airport on "national security" grounds as he travelled to Canada this week to attend a Gaza-related event: "It was my first experience of this sort — ever — in my life" (LINK) 13 November 2025 2025
EUR 1 million Dutch contribution strengthens IOM's Resilience Fund for migrants worldwide (LINK) 12 November 2025
— In addition, the Netherlands has provided EUR 3 million in flexible funding to IOM in 2025. The Netherlands also continues to support key IOM initiatives, including the COMPASS programme on protection and safe migration and the Afghanistan response, which provides life-saving assistance and reintegration support to vulnerable returnees. The Resilience Fund is a global campaign to mobilize USD 100 million in flexible funding.
UN's Internal Courts: the 17 November vote (LINK) 12 November 2025
Existential Politics: Why Global Climate Institutions Are Failing and How to Fix Them by Jessica F. Green: A new way to tackle the real politics of climate change through asset revaluation (LINK) 12 November 2025
— "Governments have misdiagnosed the political problem of climate change, focusing relentlessly on measuring, reporting, and trading emissions. Green proposes using international tax, finance, and trade institutions to create new green asset owners and constrain fossil asset owners, reducing their clout."
India asks UN wildlife body [CITES] not to curb its animal imports amid Ambani zoo furore at Vantara, large private zoo run by Asia's richest family: accused by non-profits of irregular imports, Indian investigators have cleared Vantara of any wrongdoing (LINK) 12 November 2025
Women in Darfur report rape "used intentionally and systematically" and lost children amid Sudan violence, UN Women says (LINK) — ground.news: 10 media reports (LINK) 11 November 2025
UN rights chief calls for a probe into killings in Tanzania and allegations of concealing evidence (LINK) — ground.news: 16 media reports (LINK) 11 November 2025
Dozens of indigenous protesters breach COP30 summit venue in Brazil: minor injuries reported (LINK) — ground.news: 165 media reports (LINK) 11 November 2025
Climate Change News: Not another COP-out: We must rewrite the rules of the UN climate talks (LINK) 11 November 2025
— "The world doesn't just need stronger climate targets. It needs a fairer, faster and more accountable multilateral system to deliver climate action."
UNEP: In the run-up to the first session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP P1), the ISP-CWP Secretariat, in collaboration with the Geneva Environment Network, is organizing a series of events to prepare governments, non-government stakeholders and other interested parties for the session, to be held from 2 February to 6 February 2026 at CICG (LINK) 11 November 2025
— Established on 20 June 2025 under the mandate of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution 5/8, the Panel addresses one of the most critical but under-supported pillars of the global environmental agenda: pollution.
COP30: Green Digital Action Hub to accelerate innovation for a sustainable future: New global nerve centre will harness digital technology for climate action and sustainable development for all (LINK) 10 November 2025
— The hub, anchored in Brazil as a legacy of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference, COP30. is set to become the nerve centre of Green Digital Action, a partnership kicked off by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with leading tech organizations at COP28 in 2023. The GDA Hub will provide tools, expertise, and data to help nations scale up green technologies, reduce the environmental footprint of technology and ensure access to sustainable digital solutions for all. The new hub builds on the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action, endorsed by 82 countries and nearly 1,800 companies and organizations last year.
— Organizations shaping discussions and engagement at the hub will include the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the World Bank Group, the European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC), Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH?, the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES), and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), as well as ITU. In parallel, an International Advisory Board led by Brazil will oversee progress to ensure inclusive and impactful outcomes.
WEF: What does a successful COP30 look like? 5 climate leaders share their calls to action (LINK) 10 November 2025
Fight fake news and climate deniers, Brazil's Lula tells UN talks (LINK) 10 November 2025
Rich countries have lost enthusiasm for tackling climate crisis, says Cop30 chief (LINK) 10 November 2025
COP 30 press office: Switzerland calls on all countries, particularly major emitters, to submit ambitious new greenhouse gas reduction targets (LINK) 8 November 2025
— Switzerland submitted its revised targets in January, committing to cut emissions by at least 65% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, mainly through domestic measures.
COP30 climate summit hears from countries suffering global warming harms (LINK) 7 November 2025
ICC issues arrest warrant for ally of Philippine ex-President Duterte over drug war, ombudsman says (LINK) — ground.news: 26 media reports (LINK) 8 November 2025
Guardian: Thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists got access to UN climate talks — and then kept drilling (LINK) 7 November 2025
UN chief: Failure to contain global heating amounts to "moral failure and deadly negligence" (LINK) 6 November 2025
Triple-whammy of hottest ever years risks 'irreversible damage', says UN chief. WMO: The past 11 years, back to 2015, will also be the 11 warmest years on record (LINK) 6 November 2025
2017 Minamata Convention COP-6 opens in Geneva to strengthen global action on mercury pollution: 3-7 November (LINK) 3 November 2025
— COP-6 will consider measures to curb the illegal trade of mercury and strengthen control of its supply and compounds; review progress on artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), which remains the largest source of global mercury emissions, and assess the enforcement of the ban on mercury-added skin-lightening products. Parties will also discuss a proposal to phase out dental amalgam, evaluate feasible mercury-free alternatives in vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production, and examine updates to the Convention's financial mechanism, including guidance to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Specific International Programme (SIP).
Bangladesh Government and UNDP collaborate in GEF-funded project to advance low-carbon urban development in major cities (LINK) 2 November 2025
White House says it will not send any high-level officials to COP30 climate talks (LINK) 1 November 2025
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