‘Dramatic’ boost needed in climate adaptation: UN environment agency
Nov 05, 2021, at 07:28 pm
Although policies and planning for climate change adaptation are increasing, financing and implementation lag behind, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a new report launched on Thursday.
Oct 27, 2021, at 02:30 am
New York: New and updated commitments made ahead of the pivotal climate conference COP26 in the past months are a positive step forward, but the world remains on track for a dangerous global temperature rise of at least 2.7°C this century even if fully met, a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned.
UN chief calls for China commitment to ‘ambitious’ climate goals
Oct 26, 2021, at 10:31 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General on Monday called on China to present an “ambitious” Nationally Determined Contribution in the run-up to the UN Climate Conference, COP26, starting in Glasgow at the end of this week.
Restore sexual, reproductive health rights lost during COVID, rights expert urges
Oct 22, 2021, at 09:16 pm
New York: Sexual and reproductive health rights, are human rights, the independent UN expert on the right to health reminded Member States in the General Assembly on Wednesday, saying that it was essential to restore services in the field, that have been eroded during the COVID-19 pandemic
Sustainable transport key to green energy shift: UN Secretary-General
Oct 15, 2021, at 07:29 pm
New York: With global transport at a crossroads, government leaders, industry experts, and civil society groups are meeting in Beijing, China, for a UN conference to chart the way forward to a more sustainable future for the sector, and greater climate action overall.
UN honours Henrietta Lacks, whose cells transformed medical research worldwide
Oct 15, 2021, at 07:11 pm
New York: For the past seven decades, the cells of Henrietta Lacks, a Black American woman who died of cervical cancer, have saved countless lives, and made numerous scientific breakthroughs possible, such as the human papillomavirus and polio vaccines, drugs for HIV treatment, together with cancer and COVID-19 research.
Access to a healthy environment, declared a human right by UN rights council
Oct 09, 2021, at 10:01 pm
New York: The Human Rights Council recognised this Friday, for the first time, that having a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a human right.
UN chief promotes ‘enormous’ benefits of greener cities
Oct 04, 2021, at 11:03 pm
New York: For the UN Secretary-General, the benefits of making cities more environmentally friendly are “enormous”, and include reduced climate risk, more jobs, and better health and well-being.
Keep raising your voices, UN chief tells young climate leaders
Oct 01, 2021, at 09:16 pm
New York: With the climate crisis already devastating lives and incomes, young people will be critical to driving global action forward, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told participants attending the Pre-COP Youth Event in Milan, Italy, on Thursday.
‘We can end the pandemic’, UN chief says in new call for global vaccine plan
Sep 23, 2021, at 11:10 pm
New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday repeated his call for a global COVID-19 vaccination plan to boost production and reach millions over the coming months, in line with recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Innovation continued despite COVID-19: New UN report
Sep 21, 2021, at 06:14 pm
New York:Despite the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19, the new technology sector continued to thrive and prosper last year, the UN’s intellectual property agency said in a new report published on Monday.
WHO asks for commitments on maternal and newborn health
Sep 18, 2021, at 04:02 pm
New York: Every day, approximately 800 women and 6,700 babies lose their lives around the time of childbirth. In addition, nearly 5,400 babies are stillborn daily, with 40% of these deaths occurring in relation to labour and childbirth.
UN Women’s feminist roadmap tackles triple crises of jobs, care and climate
Sep 17, 2021, at 09:47 pm
New York: The UN’s gender equality and empowerment organization on Thursday published a flagship feminist plan for economic recovery and transformation, which aims to learn the lessons of the past, and seize the opportunity to handle COVID-related crises better.
Most agricultural funding distorts prices, harms environment: UN report
Sep 15, 2021, at 03:53 pm
New York: Around 87% of the $540 billion in total annual government support given worldwide to agricultural producers includes measures that are price distorting and that can be harmful to nature and health.
UN weather agency seeks to confirm 48.8°C ‘record’ heat spike in Sicily
Aug 13, 2021, at 07:25 pm
New York: UN weather experts said on Thursday that they’re “actively looking” into a possible record temperature for Continental Europe of 48.8 Celsius (119.8 Fahrenheit) near the town of Syracuse in Sicily, amid devastating wildfires in Mediterranean countries and Russia.
Climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying, says IPCC
Aug 09, 2021, at 11:36 pm
Scientists are observing changes in the Earth’s climate in every region and across the whole climate system, according to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, released on Monday.
Science, evidence-based facts, key to help end scourge of drug abuse: UN chief
Jun 26, 2021, at 04:02 pm
New York: The world’s drug problem remains an urgent challenge that threatens to exacerbate COVID-19 pandemic impacts and hinder a healthy and inclusive recovery, warned the UN Secretary General ahead of The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Global push needed to ensure ‘clean, affordable and sustainable electricity’ for all
Jun 08, 2021, at 10:02 pm
New York: During the last decade, more people around the world have gained access to electricity than ever before. However, the number still not connected has grown in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia, according to a new UN report on universal access to energy, launched on Monday.
UN launches Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to counter ‘triple environmental emergency’
Jun 05, 2021, at 04:26 pm
New York: Heads of Government, religious leaders, activists and artists joined the United Nations on Friday in a rallying cry to heal the planet, launching the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Report reveals progress on environmentally protected areas, but quality must improve
May 21, 2021, at 07:33 pm
New York: Although the world has made major progress toward a decade-long target for environmental protection areas, it has fallen far short on commitments regarding their quality, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners said in a report published on Wednesday.
UN development system responds with ‘solid score’ in face of COVID-19 test
May 19, 2021, at 07:15 pm
New York: As the world continues to tackle the multiple impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, from pushing some 131 million people into extreme poverty to reversing years of development progress, the UN chief said on Tuesday that a more coordinated approach is key to moving forward.
Vaccine inequity posing ‘significant risk’ to global economic recovery: UN report
May 12, 2021, at 05:51 pm
New York: Although the outlook for global growth has improved, the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as inadequate progress on vaccination in poorer countries, are putting recovery at risk, according to the latest UN economic forecast, published on Tuesday.
Cut methane emissions to avert global temperature rise, UN-backed study urges
May 07, 2021, at 07:39 pm
New York: Methane emissions caused by human activity can be reduced by up to 45 per cent this decade, thus helping to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, according to a UN-backed report published on Thursday.
Guterres renews zero-emissions appeal to avoid falling into climate abyss
May 07, 2021, at 06:53 pm
New York: All countries should commit to zero carbon emissions by 2050 if the world is to avoid a disastrous 2.4 degree Celsius temperature rise by the end of this century, UN Secretary General António Guterres said on Thursday.
New UN-led global immunization push aims to save more than 50 million lives
Apr 27, 2021, at 05:50 pm
New York: A UN-led global immunization strategy was unveiled on Monday to reach more than 50 million children who have missed lifesaving jabs against diseases such as measles, yellow fever and diptheria, in large part because of COVID-19 disruption.
Prioritize people and planet, UN chief urges Asian and Pacific nations
Apr 27, 2021, at 05:47 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General on Monday called on Asian and Pacific countries not to base their pandemic recovery strategies on “outdated and unsustainable economic models”, and to ensure that the world’s most populous region protects its environment and provides opportunities for all.
Commit to restoring the planet, UN chief says in message for International Mother Earth Day
Apr 22, 2021, at 11:01 pm
New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for commitment to restoring the planet, and to making peace with nature, in his message to mark International Mother Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22 April.
Renewable energy access key to climate adaptation in Africa: UN chief
Apr 07, 2021, at 10:14 pm
New York: Support for climate adaptation in Africa is crucial, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday in appealing for greater action to provide renewable energy to hundreds of millions who still lack access to reliable and affordable electricity.
$29 billion a year by 2025 needed to get back on track to tackle AIDS, say UNAIDS
Mar 30, 2021, at 05:56 pm
New York: A new report from the UN agency dedicated to ending HIV and AIDS ( UNAIDS) has shown that investing $29 billion a year to HIV response in low and middle income countries by 2025, will put the world back on track to eradicate the virus as a public health threat by 2030.
Biodiversity at risk, threatens human survival, UN forum hears
Mar 26, 2021, at 10:43 pm
New York: As the living tissue of the earth, biodiversity is “intimately linked to human health” the head of the UN’s scientific agency told a global forum on Wednesday, noting that “we are part of that living tissue”.