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March 17, 2026 Climate and environment

The disruption to global energy supplies is being felt around the world. The conflict in the Middle East has led to a sharp rise in oil and gas prices. This volatility highlights the strategic value of renewable energy, emphasized Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

"Renewable energy is a game-changer," Steele said at the Green Growth Summit 2026 in Brussels. The meeting brought together European climate and environment ministers, as well as business representatives and investors.

"Sunshine doesn't rely on narrow and vulnerable sea lanes, the wind blows without costly taxpayer-funded military escorts, and renewable energy allows countries to protect themselves from global shocks without being caught up in might-makes-right politics," Steele said.

According to him, renewable energy also meets the key needs of Europeans: security, well-paid jobs, reduced living costs, and improved public health.

Dependence on fossil fuels

"Dependence on fossil fuels undermines national security and sovereignty," Steele said.

"Renewable energy sources reduce costs and create significantly more jobs," he added.

Moreover, the head of the UNFCCC noted, by abandoning fossil fuels, the air becomes cleaner, public health and quality of life improve.

Crises will repeat themselves again and again.

Steele said it was "astonishing" that in response to the current crisis, some are proposing "to double down on the root cause of the problem and slow the transition to renewable energy, even though it is clearly cheaper, safer, and faster to deploy."

"These [proposals] are out of touch with reality because history shows that fossil fuel crises will happen again and again," Steele said.

His message to ministers gathered in Brussels was simple: passive dependence on fossil fuel imports, which will cost the EU more than €420 billion in 2024 alone, will condemn it to constant crises.

Enormous opportunities

Noting that renewables will overtake coal as the world's leading source of electricity in 2025, and that investment in clean energy will exceed $2 trillion (twice that of fossil fuels), Steele emphasized that "the opportunities are enormous."

Europe is actively promoting investment in innovation today, and European companies are at the forefront of cleantech and economic growth. Among them are Siemens, Schneider, and IPS, pioneers in wind energy, energy storage, and electrical services.

A gold mine for investment

"Europe can secure long-term multi-trillion dollar investment potential that is just beginning to unfold if it embraces green growth," Steele said.

He recalled that in the last century, when the continent, shaken by war, came together to create the foundations of integration, energy was paramount: countries understood that reliable and affordable supplies were the foundation of peace and prosperity.

“These principles are more important today than ever,” Steele concluded.

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March 16, 2026 UN

The main news of the day at the UN and around the world: the UN Secretary-General's visit to Brussels, the shelling of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, the delivery of humanitarian aid to frontline areas of Ukraine, and the extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Afghanistan.

The UN Secretary-General's visit to Brussels

The UN Secretary-General will arrive in Belgium on Tuesday for an informal discussion with members of the European Council. The visit will be part of a series of meetings focusing on the state of international relations, cooperation between the UN and the European Union, and prospects for strengthening multilateralism. The Secretary-General will hold separate bilateral meetings with European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. During the talks, the parties are expected to exchange assessments of the current global situation and discuss the role of the EU and the UN in responding to international crises.

UN peacekeepers attacked in Lebanon

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported on MondayOn March 15, peacekeeper patrols came under fire three times in the south of the country. Two patrols returned fire in self-defense and then resumed their mission. There were no casualties among the peacekeepers. The mission emphasized that the presence of weapons outside state control in its area of operations violates Security Council Resolution 1701, and attacks on peacekeepers are unacceptable and may constitute a war crime.

Delivery of humanitarian aid to frontline areas of Ukraine

UN humanitarian agencies in Kyiv report that numerous civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure have been recorded following a series of overnight and early morning drone and missile strikes in Ukraine over the weekend. National and international non-governmental organizations, the Ukrainian Red Cross, and UN agencies are working on the ground. They are providing first aid, psychological support, legal counseling, repair materials, and financial assistance to victims. On Friday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, together with partners, dispatched two humanitarian convoys to frontline areas. Electric generators, solar lamps, ready-to-eat food, feminine hygiene kits, blankets, and diapers were delivered to the Kupyansk area in the Kharkiv region and to Kherson.

Extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Afghanistan

On Monday, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for another three months. The decision was made amid growing humanitarian and human rights challenges in the country. The UN Secretariat emphasized that the Organization remains committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan through "principled and pragmatic engagement" within the political mission. The Secretary-General reiterated his call on the country's de facto authorities to lift restrictions imposed on women and girls. António Guterres also welcomed the Security Council's call to restore access for female UN staff to the Organization's premises in Afghanistan.

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March 16, 2026 Human rights

The UN Secretary-General on Monday called on countries to "work together" to eradicate the growing wave of hatred against Muslims. António Guterres emphasized the need to reject "narratives of fear and exclusion."

Amid ongoing conflict and instability, "millions of Muslims around the world are feeling this pain," he said. Antonio Guterres, speaking at an event dedicated to International Day Against Islamophobia"Let us reaffirm our commitment to equality, human rights and the dignity of every person, everywhere," he said.

The Secretary-General warned that many Muslims living in countries where they are a minority face various forms of institutional discrimination, socio-economic marginalization and unjustified surveillance in their daily lives.

Bias exacerbates division

Guterres called on governments to take responsibility and implement measures that "ensure equality rather than perpetuate prejudice." He also warned of "hidden forms of bias" that rarely make headlines but nonetheless "shape people's lives, undermine trust, and send a clear message about who is and is not included in society."

These could be issues of missed opportunities, prejudice, or suspicion. He says these phenomena are fueled—and dangerously amplified—by anti-Muslim rhetoric, disinformation, and outright hatred.

The rise of prejudice in the digital age

Speaking at the same event in New York, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock noted that such biases are amplified in the digital age: technologies that are meant to strengthen connections between people “are instead accelerating the spread of misinformation and bias at an unprecedented rate.”

Read also:

UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia: "We are seeing a dangerous rise in hatred – especially in Europe"

According to Guterres, the consequences of such phenomena are evident: harassment, intimidation, vandalism, threats, and attacks against individuals and mosques. Such actions constitute "an assault on the values that underpin peaceful and inclusive societies."

"Confronting Islamophobia isn't just about defending one religious community. It's about defending our shared humanity," Baerbock emphasized.

She called on governments, international organizations, technology companies, and civil society to follow the UN's lead and actively combat stereotypes while disseminating accurate information.

Hate speech

The UN Secretary-General noted that when discrimination is “supported by people in positions of power, prejudice becomes the norm.”

"When stereotypes are left unchallenge, they become the policy they follow. And decisions driven by fear lead to injustice," he said.

According to the UN chief, "governments have a clear responsibility" to take action, including through legislation, to combat Islamophobia and to create security mechanisms that protect people and respect human rights, "rather than stigmatize entire communities."

António Guterres also emphasized the responsibility of tech companies. "Online spaces should bring people together, not divide them," the Secretary-General noted, adding that platforms must do far more to identify, prevent, and combat hate speech.

Silence fuels hatred

“Silence in the face of hatred only allows it to spread,” the Secretary-General stressed, adding that everyone must stand up to intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination.

“As Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims around the world reaffirm the values that underpin the UN Charter… These universal principles must guide our global response to hatred and division,” he concluded.

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March 16, 2026 Human rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk presented an oral report on the situation in Venezuela to the Human Rights Council on Monday.

Türk emphasized that the Venezuelan people are currently experiencing conflicting feelings: hope, fear, and profound uncertainty. The main event of recent months has been US military intervention, following which the Venezuelan authorities declared a state of emergency. According to Türk, this led to the expansion of powers for security forces and armed groups, heightening the atmosphere of fear among the population. The High Commissioner called on the government to review the state of emergency decree and ensure its compliance with the principles of necessity and proportionality.

Correcting the mistakes of the past

At the same time, the authorities took steps that Türk described as an attempt to "correct the mistakes of the past." An amnesty was declared in mid-February, but, as the High Commissioner noted, the corresponding law was drafted without sufficient public consultation.

According to the government, under amnesty Around 7,700 people were detained. The Office of the High Commissioner requested an official list of those released and access to several places of detention, but has not yet received a response. Türk emphasized the need for greater transparency.

Since the previous update, the Office has confirmed the release of approximately 950 people, including human rights defenders, journalists, trade unionists, and political figures. Türk emphasized that these individuals should not have been detained. He expressed hope that the practice of arbitrary detention will be permanently ended and that the authorities will ensure the protection of freedom of expression and the work of human rights defenders. Around 60 prisoners were able to contact their families for the first time in a long time.

Systemic problems

Despite some positive steps, systemic problems in the field of human rights persist. The Office continues to receive reports of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners. Many people remain under arbitrary detention, including the elderly, people with disabilities, the seriously ill, and at least one child.

Civic space in Venezuela remains extremely limited: years of repression have left people afraid to openly express their opinions. The NGO oversight law continues to hinder the work of civil society and, according to Türk, should be repealed. He also expressed hope that a review of the "Anti-Hate Law" will lead to an end to its use to suppress dissent.

Socio-economic difficulties

Economic and social hardships continue to seriously impact the population. People face problems accessing healthcare, water, sanitation, and food. Protests against extremely low wages, which fail to cover basic needs, are taking place across the country.

Türk called on the authorities to ensure full respect for freedom of peaceful assembly. He paid particular attention to the situation of indigenous peoples, who face serious barriers to accessing healthcare and continue to suffer high mortality rates. There has been no progress in demarcating their territories.

The High Commissioner stressed that any economic reforms, including investments in the oil and gas sector and the extraction of critical minerals, must ensure the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people over their natural resources and serve the advancement of economic, social and cultural rights, as well as environmental protection.

The need for deep reforms

In his closing remarks, Türk outlined key areas of action that, he said, would shape the country's future. He called on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those remaining in arbitrary detention, expand civic space, and ensure the protection of journalists, human rights defenders, trade unions, and NGOs. The High Commissioner emphasized the need for deep reforms in the justice and security sectors, including the dismantling of legal mechanisms that allowed suppress political dissent.

Concluding his speech, Türk emphasized that Venezuela's future must be determined solely by its people. He called on the government, the opposition within and outside the country, and all political leaders to unite around human rights and put the interests of the people first.

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