Nearly 15 per cent of all cars sold globally in 2022 were electric vehicles (EVs), as sales passed 10 million for the first time. The rise of the EV has been rapid – just five years ago they made up only about two per cent of global car sales, according to data from the International Energy Agency. And in perhaps even better news, the overall sales of cars fell in 2022, particularly in the US and Europe.
United Nations members have reached a historic agreement that aims to protect biodiversity in the so-called ‘high seas’, areas of the ocean that lie beyond any national jurisdiction. Climate change has warmed oceans and threatens marine life and ocean ecosystems, while overfishing and plastic pollution have also had a detrimental impact on ecosystems. The treaty, which the UN chief has described as a ‘victory for multilateralism’, will establish a new body to oversee efforts in tackling these various threats, through international co-operation to safeguard ecosystems in the largely unregulated oceans.
