The 2014 annual review of disaster figures based on the EM-DAT database outlines information about the EM-DAT International Disaster Database, its definitions, criteria and content; asks: What did 2014 bring? How different was 2014?; and provides regional analysis on Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

The climate targets so far submitted to the UN by governments collectively lead to global emissions far above the levels needed to hold warming to below 2°C, the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) said.

In 2015, global leaders aspire to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals, a financing framework to support them, and a framework agreement on climate change. Youth engagement throughout the design and implementation process is critical for success.

Inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs are key to identifying high-emitting vehicles and mitigating their impact on air quality and climate. This paper assesses best practices for I/M programs targeting heavy-duty vehicles and makes recommendations on how to improve HDV I/M programs in the future.

The Paris climate conference provides an important opportunity to advance global cooperation toward a low-carbon future that greatly mitigates climate risks and helps countries adapt to those risks already locked-in. This paper has highlighted the keys to successful international climate cooperation in Paris and beyond.

The Stockholm World Water Week’s focus on “Water for Development” comes at an opportune time. Water as a sector in world affairs is reaching a tipping point. Over the next two decades and more, the global push for food and energy security and for sustaining urbanization will place new and increasing demands on the water sector.

India, China and the US could see water stress increase by 40 to 70% by 2040 according to the global water stress rankings released by World Resource Institute. Click here to know which are the world’s most water-stressed countries and regions and how they would be hit by a deeper crisis in the coming decades.

Better methods to account for water’s value could improve corporate decision making, strengthen economic growth and ensure healthier ecosystems, according to a new report by WWF.