Consumer confusion exacerbates the issue. In the US, 6 per cent of waste – 3 billion pounds worth $7 billion – stems from misreading labels like “Sell by” (for retailers) or “Best if used by” (peak quality), prompting premature discards of safe food.
Climate researchers warn that Pakistan has little time left. Without decisive action, disasters of the magnitude seen in 2022 and 2025 could become regular events.
It demands not just emergency medical resources, but long-term planning – from urban infrastructure to water governance – to break the cycle of mosquito-borne disease.
In 2025, global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels are projected to reach an unprecedented level, underscoring the widening gap between climate ambition and reality.
While the gathering in Belém sets the tone for two weeks of negotiations, the key test will be whether developed countries step up to match rhetoric with financial, technological and capacity-building support. India and its partners argue that ambition without means is hollow.
The return to the negotiating table after nearly two decades underscores the particular challenges faced by small, environmentally vulnerable economies.
The return to the negotiating table after nearly two decades underscores the particular challenges faced by small, environmentally vulnerable economies.