UN pushes for universal health care on International Day
Dec 13, 2018, at 08:58 am
New York, Dec 13 (IBNS): Universal health care for all, leaving no one behind, by 2030: that’s the call going out on International Universal Health Coverage Day, which this year falls on Wednesday. Why 2030? Because that’s the target date for completion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of which (SDG3), calls for the promotion of healthy lives and well-being for all.
‘Going green’ is good business says private sector at UN’s COP24 climate conference
Dec 11, 2018, at 08:17 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS): Businesses across the world should no longer be viewed solely as greenhouse gas emissions culprits, but more as indispensable partners for climate action, who stand to increase profits from “going green”. That was the key message as the United Nations COP24 climate change conference went into its second week in Katowice, Poland.
Dec 05, 2018, at 09:01 am
New York, Dec 5 (IBNS): With thousands gathered in Katowice, Poland, for the ‘COP24’ meeting to chart the way forward for climate action, United Nations chief António Guterres presented his longer-term vision on Tuesday for the 2019 Climate Change Summit.
COP24: green, gender focus, as UN's crucial climate change conference gets underway
Dec 03, 2018, at 08:55 am
New York, Dec 3 (IBNS): COP24, the two-week 24th conference of the parties of the United Nations Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC), started on Sunday in Katowice, Poland, with a special focus on carbon neutrality and gender equality.
CO2 emissions on the rise for first time in four years, UN agency warns
Nov 28, 2018, at 08:49 am
New York, Nov 28 (IBNS): A new report released on Tuesday by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shows that global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rose again during 2017 after a three year hiatus, highlighting the imperative for countries to deliver on the historic Paris Agreement to keep global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Nov 24, 2018, at 08:48 am
New York, Nov 24 (IBNS): To bring the voice of the people to the upcoming Climate Change Conference in Poland (known by the shorthand 'COP 24', from 2 to 14 December), the United Nations has launched the ‘People’s Seat’ initiative, calling millions of change advocates worldwide to submit messages for an address that will be delivered to leaders attending the conference, by renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
Greenhouse gas levels in atmosphere break another record, UN report shows
Nov 23, 2018, at 08:52 am
New York, Nov 23 (IBNS): Levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached another new record high, according to a report issued on Thursday by the United Nations weather agency, which reveals that there is no sign of reversal of this trend, responsible for climate change, sea level rise, ocean acidification and extreme weather.
DR Congo violence puts Ebola humanitarian response at risk, UN food relief agency warns
Nov 21, 2018, at 09:16 am
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS): A spokesperson for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has condemned any violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that could slow down the humanitarian response to the Ebola outbreak in the vast country’s north-east, following an attack on a UN base and nearby hotels housing UN staff, in the city of Beni on Friday.
Government must ‘secure’ polls in key DR Congo vote due next month: UN envoy
Nov 14, 2018, at 09:59 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): With key national elections due next month in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), armed groups in the east of the country still threaten to derail the vote, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Antimicrobial resistance a 'global health emergency,' UN, ahead of awareness week
Nov 13, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): By 2050, some five million people could die each year in Asia alone due to resistance to antibiotic medicines or antimicrobials, according to UN agencies.
Oslo leads the way in ‘Breathe Life’ campaign for cleaner cities in climate change era
Oct 26, 2018, at 07:29 am
New York, Oct 26 (IBNS): Norway’s capital Oslo is paving a fossil-free, electrified, path in its push toward improving air quality, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced.
‘Essential step’ towards universal health care made at pivotal UN conference
Oct 26, 2018, at 07:24 am
New York, Oct 26 (IBNS): United Nations Member States have unanimously vowed to strengthen primary health care, as an “essential step” towards achieving universal health coverage for all.
With rapid, far-reaching changes, world can prevent climate change worst-case scenarios – UN chief
Oct 14, 2018, at 05:01 pm
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS): Checking global warming and preventing some of the worst-case scenarios of runaway climate change “is still possible,” the United Nations Secretary-General said on Saturday, urging greater action and ambitions.
Oct 12, 2018, at 09:25 am
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General António Guterres, has called for Governments across South-East Asia, to take a lead in the fight against global warming and the damaging impact of climate change.
Oct 11, 2018, at 08:16 am
New York, Oct 11 (IBNS): Gathered at a United Nations conference in Bangkok, countries from the Asia-Pacific region pledged to work together on Wednesday to leverage the power of space technology and boost sustainable development.
Start nurturing your mental health ‘at an early age’ urges UN chief
Oct 11, 2018, at 07:52 am
New York, Oct 11 (IBNS): Worldwide, it is estimated that one in five adolescents experience mental health challenges, though most remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. Marking Mental Health Day on Wednesday, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) is focusing on the psychological well-being of young people aged 10 to 14, to stave off conditions that can impact their lives deep into adulthood.
UN system mobilizing to support Indonesia, following earthquake and tsunami disaster
Oct 02, 2018, at 08:51 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Rescue workers are still trying to reach areas of Sulawesi in Indonesia affected by an earthquake and tsunami, UN humanitarians said on Monday, noting that more than 840 people have died and more than 600 have been severely injured in the disaster.
Massive earthquake in Indonesia leaves hundreds dead: UN chief ‘deeply saddened’
Sep 30, 2018, at 03:59 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): Following a major, 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province on Friday, the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement that he’s “deeply saddened” by the “terrible loss of life” and injuries from the disaster.
Violence and displacement in Ebola-hit DR Congo threatens humanitarian response
Sep 29, 2018, at 07:19 am
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): Increasing violence in Ebola-affected areas of north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) threatens the safety of tens of thousands of people there, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said on Friday.
Chronic illnesses: UN stands up to stop 41 million avoidable deaths per year
Sep 28, 2018, at 08:47 am
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): “Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, chronic Lyme disease, depression” – just some of the illnesses outlined by World Health Organization (WHO) chief Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, who drove home the danger by asking delegates to stand up, when they heard the name of an illness that had killed someone they loved: One by one, every single person in the room, got to their feet.
Fight against ‘vicious’ tuberculosis epidemic drastically underfunded: UN deputy chief
Sep 27, 2018, at 08:29 am
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS): The fight against tuberculosis (TB) is drastically under-funded, with a gap of around $13 billion per year, said Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed at the first-ever High-Level TB Meeting, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Sep 19, 2018, at 08:49 am
New York, Sept 19 (IBNS): Countries are not doing enough to end tuberculosis – the world’s deadliest infectious disease – by 2030, warned the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, at the release of the latest Global Tuberculosis Report.
UN chief concerned over havoc of Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines
Sep 18, 2018, at 08:35 am
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday that he was saddened by the “loss of life and extensive destruction” caused by Typhoon Mangkhut across the Philippines
Sep 17, 2018, at 10:00 am
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): New UN-backed commitments to take action against the damaging effects of climate change, could result in $26 trillion in economic benefits worldwide, and help create 65 million new “low-carbon jobs” by 2030 – the deadline for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
DR Congo: new cases of deadly Ebola virus, as UN steps up response
Sep 15, 2018, at 08:44 am
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN has stepped up community-based efforts to tackle Ebola disease, following confirmation that the virus has reached the city of Butembo, near the Ugandan border, where it has claimed three lives.
Artificial Intelligence: a danger to mankind, or the key to a better world?
Sep 13, 2018, at 08:18 am
New York, Sept 13 (IBNS): Siri, Alexa and Cortana are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Artificial Intelligence (or A.I.), which is playing an increasingly pervasive role in our lives.
Devastating storms like Hurricane Florence ‘unusual this far north’: UN weather agency
Sep 12, 2018, at 08:55 am
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): In another manifestation of extreme weather conditions, hurricanes as strong as the Category 4 storm Florence - barreling towards the coast of the Carolinas in the United States - are rarely seen so far north, the United Nation’s weather agency (WMO) confirmed on Tuesday.
Global Preparedness Monitoring Board convenes for the first time in Geneva
Sep 11, 2018, at 09:23 am
Geneva, Sept 11 (IBNS): WHO and the World Bank Group on Monday convened the first meeting of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), a new body set up to monitor the world’s readiness to respond to outbreaks and other health emergencies.
‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ clean-up project launches trial run: UN Environment
Sep 11, 2018, at 08:39 am
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): A trial run of an innovative system designed to clean up the world’s seas and oceans, founded by UN Environment Programme (UNEP) “Champion of the Earth” laureate Boyan Slat, has set off from San Francisco, in a bid to begin the removal of the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
‘Direct existential threat’ of climate change nears point of no return, warns UN chief
Sep 11, 2018, at 08:36 am
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): The world risks crossing the point of no return on climate change, with disastrous consequences for people across the planet and the natural systems that sustain them, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday, calling for more leadership and greater ambition for climate action, to reverse course.