Morning Briefing

"Unchecked environmental destruction will halt -- or even reverse -- the huge improvements seen in the living conditions of the world's poorest people in recent decades," the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns in its 2011 Human Development report, which was released on Wednesday, the Guardian reports (Carrington, 11/2). "[T]he annual report, titled 'Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All,' said that environmental sustainability can be 'fairly' reached if disparities in health, education, income and gender are addressed," Xinhua writes (11/2). VOA News adds, "It says inaction on climate change and habitat destruction is jeopardizing health and the pursuit of higher income in developing countries" (Schlein, 11/2.)