News
FEATURE: Climate change and sustainability key to future development agenda, says former UN official
As United Nations Member States come together to launch the future sustainable development agenda, 2015 seems set to be a year of momentous change for the international community.
This year marks the end of implementation of the landmark UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which world leaders agreed on 15 years ago in an effort to tackle poverty and climate change and to pave the way towards a more gender equal global society. The new targets, to be known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are defining the way forward on the world’s most pressing issues until the next critical deadline in 2030.
2015 pivotal for finalizing universal climate change agreement, Ban tells Member States
This year is pivotal for global action on climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today in New York, emphasising that all the major advances of 2014 have set the stage for success in 2015.
“Our challenge now is clear: to finalize a meaningful, universal agreement on climate change,” Mr. Ban told Member States at a briefing on relevant progress as momentum builds towards a meeting to be held in Paris this December, when leaders are expected to reach a landmark treaty.
Biotechnology: effective solutions for sustainable development
A micro-symposium on the role of biotechnology in the post-2015 development agenda took place at UNESCO on 13 February 2015. It was an opportunity to discuss promising biotechnology applications that can contribute to sustainable development and poverty eradication, as well as the need to develop capacity in Science, Technology and Innovation, so that these solutions can reach their full portential.
UNESCO’s work in this field was presented, particularly through the Regional Centre for Biotechnology – an education, training and research Category 2 Centre established in India under the auspices of UNESCO.
21st century 'hottest' on record as global warming continues - UN
Devastating weather patterns and increasing temperatures will last into the foreseeable future as global warming is expected to continue, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed today as it explained that 2014's ranking as the “hottest year on record” is part of a larger climate trend.
“The overall warming trend is more important than the ranking of an individual year,” WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud clarified today in a press release. “Analysis of the datasets indicates that 2014 was nominally the warmest on record, although there is very little difference between the three hottest years.”
Biodiversity and climate change conference to be held at UNESCO
A conference on the links between biodiversity and climate change will be held at UNESCO Headquarters on 9 and 10 February (Room XI). It is one of the events held in preparation of the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) and is organized at the initiative of UNESCO and two French nongovernmental organizations, Association Humanité et biodiversité and the Institut Inspire.
The Assises du Vivant 2015 - Biodiversity and Climate Change in Interaction: Creating new life possibilities is the title of this 3rd edition of the “Assises” conferences.
“Let there be a Year of Light” – Launch of the International Year of Light 2015
Many people don't know that there’s more to scientist Isaac Newton than a certain apple falling from a tree. Holding a prism of glass in the path of sunlight, he showed that white light is actually made up of seven different colors – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Color comes from light – in fact, color is light.
Just as Newton revealed the spectrum of colors that makes up white light, we must reveal to the world the importance of light in building a more sustainable and peaceful future.
COP20: Ban Ki-moon hails delegates for paving way to 'meaningful' climate agreement
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has hailed the outcome of a United Nations-backed climate conference recently concluded in Lima, Peru, praising delegates for setting the groundwork for a more conclusive agreement to be reached in 2015, a spokesperson for the Organization today announced.
The UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC), known also as Conference of the Parties (COP 20), concluded its 12-day meeting last Friday having brought together the 196 Parties to the UNFCCC in an attempt to hammer out a new universal treaty which would enter force by 2020. The final agreement is expected to be hashed out in Paris at the end of next year.
UN report urges more funds for climate change adaptation, warns on temperature rise
“Debating the economics of our response to climate change must become more honest,” said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner in a press release on the challenges ahead, released as the first week of UN climate talks in Lima, Peru wrap up. That conference is set to conclude its work on 12 December.
“As world leaders meet in Lima to take the critical next step in realizing a global agreement on climate change, this report underlines the importance of including comprehensive adaptation plans in the agreement.”
