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Countries urged to submit climate action plans ahead of UN conference in Paris
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is eager to get countries to submit as soon as possible their action plans that will form the basis of the new universal climate change agreement to be adopted in December in Paris, a senior United Nations official dealing with the issue said today.
Janos Pasztor, Assistant Secretary-General on Climate Change, told a press conference at United Nations Headquarters that, to date, 62 out of 194 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC).
Opening 70th UN General Assembly, President underscores urgent need for action
A major priority for the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly is to ensure that all actors move swiftly to deliver on the promises being made for sustainable development, the President of the 193-member body said today.
“In less than 10 days’ time, our leaders will gather in this hall to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Mogens Lykketoft said as he opened the session.
President highlights ‘historic opportunity’ to change the world, as 69th UN General Assembly concludes
The 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly presented countries with a “historic opportunity” to change the world for the better and was guided by the overarching principles of cooperation, compromise and solidarity, its President said today.
“Our shared vision of ‘putting people at the centre of everything we do’ has yielded many important outcomes that will improve the everyday lives of men, women and children around the world,” Sam Kutesa, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uganda, said in his closing address to the 193-member body.
CO2 emissions change with size of streams and rivers
All freshwater streams and rivers actually release carbon dioxide, but the source of those emissions has for years been unclear to scientists.
Now, researchers have shown that the greenhouse gas appears in streams by way of two different sources—either as a direct pipeline for groundwater and carbon-rich soils, or from aquatic organisms releasing the gas through respiration and natural decay.
UN chief welcomes climate change plan unveiled by President Obama
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the Clean Power Plan formally unveiled today by President Barack Obama, saying it shows the determination of the United States to address global warming while also saving money and growing the economy.
The Plan reportedly assigns each state a target for reducing its carbon pollution from power plants. States will be allowed to create their own plans to meet the requirements and will have to submit initial versions of their plans by 2016 and final versions by 2018.
