By James Alix MichelVICTORIA, Seychelles, Mar 23 2026 – 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...

By CIVICUSMar 23 2026 –   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. Anusha Khanal Following Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s resignation in response to mass Gen Z-led protests, Nepal goes to the polls on 5 March....

Opening of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)   Shaped by ongoing dialogue, the CSW70 highlighted progress and diverse perspectives on gender and justice. By Fernanda LagoeiroSAO PAULO, Brazil, Mar 23 2026 – 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...

Cracked earth, from lack of water and baked from the heat of the sun, forms a pattern in the Nature Reserve of Popenguine, Senegal. Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider By Umar Manzoor ShahGENEVA, Switzerland & SRINAGAR, India, Mar 23 2026 – The global climate system continued its alarming trajectory in 2025, with multiple indicators reaching record or near-record extremes, underscoring the...

The world’s population is currently at a record high of 8.3 billion and is expected to continue growing throughout the 21st century, significantly impacting planetary sustainability. Credit: Shutterstock By Joseph ChamiePORTLAND, USA, Mar 23 2026 – 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...