Climate Action
(UN News) Tackling air pollution and climate change together can save millions of lives, reduce global warming and generate roughly $15 in economic benefits for every $1 spent, a new UN-backed report has revealed. The assessment by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) shows how coordinated action can improve public health, strengthen economies and accelerate progress on climate goals through 25 proven measures and policy reforms. These include using renewable energy, electric vehicles and clean fuel sources for cooking. It comes as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) also underlined the importance of coordinated action as increased pollution from wildfires and heatwaves threatens to undermine global efforts to improve air quality, – Coordinated action on clean air and climate change can net $15 for every dollar spent | UN News
Sudan
(Sudan) The ongoing war in Sudan took centre stage at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday where the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, led calls for an end to attacks on civilians in “markets, hospitals [and] fuel stations”. Key points: Türk calls for an immediate ceasefire and end to foreign involvement; civilians face growing attacks, including from long-range drones; SAF and RSF may have committed war crimes; Sudan’s healthcare system has suffered extensive damage. Now well into its fourth year, the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has created a massive humanitarian emergency, with more than six million people displaced internally and another 4.5 million forced to seek shelter across Sudan’s borders. In his appeal for an end to the violence, UN rights chief Mr. Türk warned about the deteriorating situation in Kordofan, Blue Nile, and North and West Darfur, stressing that civilians remain at “imminent” risk. – Human rights chief Türk renews call for end to spiralling Sudan war | UN News
Tech World, Cybersecurity, Surveillance
(DigWatch) On 4 September 2026, the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (GGE on LAWS) brought its three-year mandate to a successful conclusion with a consensus-based adoption of its draft final report. Under the Chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Robert in den Bosch of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Group formulated a set of elements to constitute an instrument, without prejudging its nature, along with other measures to address emerging technologies in the area of LAWS. The elements specifically address: the characterisation of LAWS, the applicability of international law in armed conflict, including the principles and requirements of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack, control and human judgment to ensure compliance with applicable international humanitarian law and the measures that follow from it, and human responsibility and accountability that cannot be transferred to machines. – GGE LAWS mandate ends | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Google DeepMind has selected 16 organisations across the Asia-Pacific region for a three-month accelerator focused on using artificial intelligence to address climate, biodiversity, agriculture, and carbon-related challenges. The selected projects span areas including biodiversity monitoring, environmental risk prediction, satellite-based crop and mangrove analysis, climate-resilient agriculture, energy optimisation, carbon measurement, and regenerative farming. Several combine AI with satellite data, remote sensing, bioacoustics, drones, or geospatial analysis. – Google backs 16 AI climate projects across Asia-Pacific | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has opened a public consultation on draft rules for the protection of personal information by large personal information processors on 7 August 2026, with comments accepted until 7 September 2026. The draft would apply to organisations assessed against criteria including processing the personal information of more than 10 million people, providing important network services involving personal information, and having processing activities that could significantly affect national security, economic activity, social stability, or public health and safety. – China closes consultation on stricter rules for large data processors | Digital Watch Observatory
(UN News) UN human rights chief Volker Türk added his voice on Monday to growing calls for greater AI controls, warning that the revolutionary technology could become an “existential risk to humanity” if left unchecked. Without binding rules, independent oversight and clear limits, the technology could become impossible to control, the High Commissioner told the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Mr. Türk raised the prospect of AI systems becoming so powerful that their developers could no longer control them. “AI that escapes its testing environment, or blackmails developers to prevent itself from being turned off, is AI that is too powerful,” he said. “I am calling here, today, for an all-out effort to put cast iron guarantees in place around the safety and security of AI, before it is too late.” – AI: Türk urges action before it becomes an ‘existential risk to humanity’ | UN News
The Global Eye is in partnership with SIOI – Società Italiana per l’Organizzazione Internazionale
