"NEW YORK -- Recognizing that wild animals and plants are an “irreplaceable part of the natural systems of the Earth,' the UN General Assembly today urged its Member States to prevent, combat and eradicate the illegal trade in wildlife, 'on both the supply and demand sides.'"

"RIO DE JANEIRO — Athletes in next year's Summer Olympics here will be swimming and boating in waters so contaminated with human feces that they risk becoming violently ill and unable to compete in the games, an Associated Press investigation has found."

"The World Bank said coal was no cure for global poverty on Wednesday, rejecting a main industry argument for building new fossil fuel projects in developing countries."

"Renewable energy is an easier, quicker and cheaper method than burning coal to help lift people out of poverty through access to power, a new report says."

"Cecil, a 13-year-old lion, wandered out of his sanctuary in a national park in Zimbabwe this month, following the scent of a potential snack."

"From space, the fishing boats are just little white specks floating in a vast stretch of blue water off Papua New Guinea. But zoom in and there's the critical evidence: Two trawlers loading slave-caught seafood onto a massive refrigerated cargo ship."

"Chile's salmon farmers are using record levels of antibiotics to treat a virulent and pervasive bacteria, driving away some U.S. retailers including Costco Wholesale Corp, which is turning to antibiotic-free Norwegian salmon."

"France signalled a 'breakthrough' Tuesday at 46-nation talks in Paris tasked with paving the way for a highly-anticipated climate rescue pact to be inked in December."

"VATICAN CITY — About 60 mayors from around the world gathered here on Tuesday and pledged to combat global warming and help the poor deal with its effects, at a conference swiftly organized by the Vatican barely a month after Pope Francis’ sweeping encyclical on the environment."

"James Hansen has often been out ahead of his scientific colleagues."