Environment | WPN World People News

Elephant poaching levels are the worst in a decade and recorded ivory seizures are at their highest levels since 1989, according to a report published today by the United Nations-backed convention on endangered species.

Angola has recently been impacted by drought in portions of the country due to a significant decrease in rainfall, which has adversely affected the food security of vulnerable households and malnutrition levels. According to Government assessments, an estimated 366,780 households, or some 1.8 million people are affected by drought in 11 provinces. A nutrition survey conducted in 10 provinces in April and March 2012 revealed that more than 533,000 children under age 5 in surveyed areas are affected by malnutrition. Of this, more than 105,000 are suffering from severe malnutrition.

Elephants in the Trinational de la Sangha region.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Speaking at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced that more than one hundred commitments and actions have been already mobilized in support of the UN’s global sustainable energy initiative.

High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres (right) addresses the Rio+20 conference on the issue of urban refugees and displaced.

Smoke from the High Park fire rises is the distance at the Incident Command Post at the Colorado National Guard Readiness Center near Fort Collins, Colo.

As the leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) leading economies meet in Mexico, the United Nations food and agriculture agencies have called on them to redouble their efforts to fight hunger.

Cheicknè Bah, a farmer in Yelimané in the Kayes region of south western Mali, with his sorghum crop that has been damaged by the drought.

As part of the Obama Administration's commitments to reducing America's reliance on imported oil and protecting our nation's air and water, the U.S. Energy Department and the National Park Service announced that five national parks around the country will deploy fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles as part of an expanded partnership, helping to protect some of America's most prized natural environments.