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International Mountain Day: new UN study reveals disturbing hunger trends in highland areas
While global hunger figures are declining, the number of food insecure people in mountain areas rose 30 per cent over 12 years to nearly 330 million, according to a study released today by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and a partner agency on International Mountain Day.
“That means that one in three mountain people, both urban and rural, in developing countries faced hunger and malnutrition, compared to one out of nine people globally,” FAO said.
COP21: efforts advance on reaching climate change agreement, says top UN official
A new stage in the development of a final agreement on climate change to limit global temperature rise to below two degrees Celsius or less has been reached today, according to the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General on Climate Change.
“All the delegations have received the documents, they’re reading them, they will be discussing the paper in their groups, and then there will be feedback provided to a new plenary organized this evening,” said Janos Pasztor in an interview with the UN News Service on the sidelines of the United Nations climate change conference (COP21).
COP21: Ban announces 'Climate Action 2016' partnership to maintain momentum after UN climate conference
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today at the UN climate change conference (COP21) that a broad group of organizations will partner in 2016 to maintain momentum for multi-stakeholder climate implementation.
“I am heartened by the significant and growing coalitions that are emerging to tackle the challenges of climate change and realize new opportunities,” Mr. Ban underlined at the global event taking place in Paris, on a day dubbed “Action Day.”
COP21: Ban tells world leaders ‘a political moment like this may not come again’
Speaking at the opening of the United Nations climate change conference (COP21) which seeks to reach a new universal agreement to protect people and planet, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said a political moment like this may not come again.
“You are here today to write the script for a new future,” Mr. Ban told around 150 world leaders attending the kick-off of the much-anticipated conference in Paris, France.
Ban tells world why he cares 'so deeply' about climate change
Reminding the world that the sooner action is taken to tackle climate change, the greater the benefits for all, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that for the nearly nine years, he has been at the head of the Organization, he has travelled the world to the front-lines of climate change, and spoken repeatedly with world leaders, business people and citizens about the need for an urgent global response.
“Why do I care so much about this issue?” Mr. Ban asked in an opinion piece published today in some 70 countries' media outlets ahead of the UN climate change conference, known as COP21.
Member States reaffirm importance of UNESCO at 70th anniversary session of General Conference
The 38th session of the UNESCO General Conference closed on 18 November, reaffirming the Organization’s role in the fight against violent extremism and in taking forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The General Conference is the governing body of the Organization.
These priorities were highlighted by the unprecedented number of Heads of State and Government at UNESCO for the session. Marking UNESCO’s 70th anniversary, the Leaders’ Forum (16-17 November) saw a resounding reaffirmation of solidarity with France after the terrorist attacks on 13 November and the importance of UNESCO’s mandate.
New UN report cites huge positive policy potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions
A new report packed with best practice climate policies from across the world was released today by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), revealing a wealth of existing opportunities to immediately scale up reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while powering up ambition to keep the global average temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius.
“Science tells us that there is one path for us to be able to have a stable planet and a safe stable economy, and that is to get onto a below 2 degree path – that is fundamental – and policy is actually following science as it should,” said Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, speaking to reporters in Bonn, Germany.
UN calls on countries to protect health from impacts of climate change
With the United Nations climate conference (COP21) starting in Paris in less than two weeks away, the World Health Organization (WHO) today underlined that climate change is already causing tens of thousands of deaths every year, and called on countries to take strong actions to address the issue.
The UN health agency is attributing these deaths to shifting patterns of disease from extreme weather events – such as heat-waves and floods – and from the degradation of air quality, food and water supplies, and sanitation.
