About: Erik Solheim

UN environment chief resigns amid ‘CO2 hypocrisy’

The UN’s environment chief, Erik Solheim, has resigned following severe criticism of his global travels and internal rule-breaking which led some nations to withhold their funding. EURACTIV’s partner The Guardian reports.

Plastic pollution is solvable without global treaty, says UN environment boss

Plastic pollution and waste has moved more and more into the political and public spotlight over the past year, thanks to large-scale efforts by both the EU and UN. But doubts still remain about whether that is enough to make our economy truly circular.

Plastic bans among ‘most effective’ ways to beat pollution, says UN

A landmark report by UN environment experts on plastic pollution, published to coincide with World Environment Day (5 June), shows that governments across the world are starting to take action and that bans and levies are starting to take off.

EU prepares to say adieu to single-use plastics

The European Commission is gearing up to reveal how it plans to tackle single-use plastics as part of the much vaunted Plastics Strategy. But an initial draft of the legislation has already received mix reviews.

Better resource efficiency could be worth trillions, UN says

Almost €2 trillion would be poured into the annual global economy if resource efficiency was boosted, according to a report from the United Nations Environment Programme released today (16 March).

Dieselgate-style fraudsters should face prison, says UN boss

Dieselgate-style fraudsters should face tough punishments, including prison sentences, for cheating air pollution rules, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme said today (20 December).

World on track for 3C of warming under current global climate pledges, warns UN

The commitments made by governments on climate change will lead to dangerous levels of global warming because they are incommensurate with the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report.

Reform could see more aid money diverted to refugee crisis

Donor countries will adopt new rules on official development assistance on 18 and 19 February. The accounting of costs linked to security, refugees and the fight against extremism will be up for discussion. EURACTIV France reports.

France pushes for security spending to be recognised as development aid

France spent millions resolving conflicts in Mali and the Central African Republic in 2014. Now Paris is lobbying the OECD to include spending on security and peacekeeping operations in calculations of official development assistance. EURACTIV France reports.

OECD to redefine Official Development Assistance

Several European countries are trying to have new types of expenditure defined as Official Development Assistance (ODA), which already includes various forms of "phantom" aid, such as hosting foreign students or receiving refugees. EURACTIV France reports.