Global Issues

VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 23 (IPS) - When the 11th Our Ocean Conference opens in Mombasa and Kilifi, Kenya, from June 16-18, 2026, it will mark the first time this influential meeting has been held on African soil. For coastal and island nations across the continent and the wider Indian Ocean – and for the Global South more broadly – the stakes could not be higher: the promises and commitments made there will help decide whether the ocean becomes a source of justice and resilience, or deepens existing inequalities. Read the full story, ““At Africa’s First Our Ocean Conference, a Test of Global Will on High Seas Protection and Deep-Sea Mining””, on globalissues.org →

PORTLAND, USA, March 23 (IPS) - On planet Earth, world population in 2026 is 8.3 billion people, which is four times larger than it was a hundred years ago.Despite this record number of humans living on the planet, world population is expected to continue increasing throughout the 21st century, significantly impacting planetary sustainability. Read the full story, “Planet Earth’s Increasing Population of 8 Billion”, on globalissues.org →

CIVICUS discusses Nepal’s upcoming election with youth activist Anusha Khanal of the Gen Z Movement Alliance, a youth-led civil society coalition mobilising for democratic accountability and governance reform in Nepal.Read the full story, “‘The Political System Only Moves When Threatened Directly’”, on globalissues.org →

SAO PAULO, Brazil, March 23 (IPS) - The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) (March 9-19), held at the United Nations headquarters, brought together governments, decision makers, civil society, and international organizations to address a central issue: access to justice for women and girls. Read the full story, “Gender Equality: A Global Priority or a Global Consensus?”, on globalissues.org →

GENEVA, Switzerland & SRINAGAR, India, March 23 (IPS) - The global climate system continued its alarming trajectory in 2025, with multiple indicators reaching record or near-record extremes, underscoring the accelerating pace of climate change and its cascading impacts on ecosystems and human societies, according to the latest State of the Global Climate 2025 report released by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Read the full story, “World Heating Faster Than Expected, Scientists Sound Alarm in latest UN Report”, on globalissues.org →

Since the outbreak of war on 28 February, several unique sites of cultural significance have been damaged in Iran, Israel and Lebanon, alongside immense suffering, displacement and death.Read the full story, “War in the Middle East: Cultural treasures damaged, with more at risk”, on globalissues.org →

Since the start of the Middle East conflict with Israeli and US strikes on Iran on 28 February, concerns have been growing over rising oil and commodity prices.Read the full story, “Dire fertiliser shortage a lurking threat due to Hormuz crisis”, on globalissues.org →

Nearly 70 years after South African police fired upon peaceful demonstrators in Sharpeville protesting apartheid-era laws, killing 69, the UN renewed the commitment to work for justice and equality on Monday, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Read the full story, “UN calls for solidarity and political will to stamp out racial discrimination”, on globalissues.org →

The Security Council is meeting for an open briefing on Ukraine, requested by European members following Kyiv’s 18 March letter citing a surge in Russian strikes. Inside the country, attacks continue to take a heavy toll: since 19 March, at least 25 civilians have reportedly been killed and more than 130 injured, including children, particularly in Donetsk, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia. We’ll have live coverage below, app users can follow here – and for all our key meetings coverage each day, go here. Read the full story, “SECURITY COUNCIL LIVE: Ukraine in spotlight as Russian strikes surge”, on globalissues.org →

More than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, “the violence is worse than ever” and far from abating, the head of UN political and peacebuilding affairs said on Monday in a briefing to the Security Council. Read the full story, “Ukraine violence ‘worse than ever’, Security Council hears”, on globalissues.org →