UN disaster reduction chief hails 'major milestone' in earthquake risk assessment
Jan 22, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Jan 22 (IBNS) The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has welcomed the launch of a new web-based platform that will provide global access to critical information on earthquakes and enable ‘cutting-edge’ risk assessment aimed at limiting the hazard of these potentially devastating natural events.
Madagascar needs resources to continue battle against locust plague – UN agency
Jan 22, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, Jan 22 (IBNS) The battle against a plague of locusts in Madagascar is in danger of being lost, as funding to continue efforts against widespread infestations runs out, putting 13 million people at risk of food insecurity, the United Nations agricultural agency said on Wednesday.
UN agencies ramp up aid efforts to flood-hit Southern Africa countries
Jan 21, 2015, at 07:27 pm
New York, Jan 21 (IBNS) With Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar continuing to face torrential rains and worsening floods, United Nations agencies are scaling up relief efforts to assist those affected and displaced in the southern African countries.
Delhi HC unblocks 'frozen' funds to Greenpeace
Jan 21, 2015, at 03:23 am
New Delhi, Jan 20 (IBNS): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday unblocked the funds that were frozen by the Ministry of Home Affairs in June last year.
UN agency stresses need for genetic diversity in agriculture to combat climate change
Jan 20, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New Delhi, Jan 20 (IBNS) Knowledge of agricultural genetic resources needs to grow more quickly because of the critical role they have to play in feeding the world as climate change advances faster than expected, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
PM chairs meeting of the Council on climate change
Jan 20, 2015, at 04:02 am
New Delhi, Jan 19 (IBNS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for a paradigm shift in global attitudes towards climate change, from "carbon credit", towards "green credit".
Villagers in Mahan empowered as their voices are heard at global stage: Greenpeace
Jan 15, 2015, at 04:43 am
New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): Greenpeace India campaigner, Priya Pillai stuck to her commitment of taking the voices of struggle from Mahan to a global stage and addressed a gathering of British Parliamentarians at the Parliament in London on Wednesday.
Millions of children face 'untold misery' as powerful winter storm sweeps Middle East – UN
Jan 14, 2015, at 04:38 pm
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS)At least seven million internally displaced and refugee children are in desperate need of assistance as bitter winter snows and torrential rains continue to batter the Middle East, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urged on Tuesday.
Green building of Environment Ministry showcased to Ban Ki-moon
Jan 14, 2015, at 04:20 am
New Delhi, Jan 13 (IBNS): Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday met the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the New Paryavarn Bhavan Building.
Karnataka govt signs 5 GW renewable energy MoU with SunEdison
Jan 14, 2015, at 03:54 am
Bangalore, Jan 13 (IBNS): SunEdison, Inc., a leading renewable energy developer and technology provider, on Tuesday announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government of Karnataka to develop five gigawatts of renewable energy within the state over the next five years.
Five years on, Ban honours Haiti's earthquake victims, looks ahead to brighter future
Jan 13, 2015, at 07:07 pm
New York, Jan 13 (IBNS) Marking the anniversary of the massive earthquake that struck Haiti five years ago on Monday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has paid tribute to the more than 200,000 victims, including 102 United Nations personnel, who perished, and declared that in sorrow, there is the promise of hope that the progress achieved by the Haitian people in the wake of the tragic event could be built upon.
Greenpeace employee "offloaded" at Delhi Airport
Jan 11, 2015, at 08:12 pm
New Delhi, Jan 11 (IBNS): In yet another incident of government clampdown on Greenpeace India, Priya Pillai, Senior Campaigner with the organisation was stopped at the New Delhi airport on Sunday by the immigration office and denied to get onboard her flight to London.
Haiti: 5 years after earthquake, UN warns progress threatened by poverty, inequality
Jan 10, 2015, at 05:38 pm
New York, Jan 10 (IBNS) Five years after a massive earthquake killed 200,000 people in Haiti, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is appealing for funds to continue momentum towards building more resilient communities that will withstand future disasters.
TERI launches Prakriti School to focus on environment education
Jan 10, 2015, at 03:06 am
Gurgaon, Jan 9 (IBNS): The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on Friday launched TERI Prakriti School, a global school which will focus on sustainable learning and living practices.
Kolkata shivers at 11.6 degree celsius
Dec 29, 2014, at 04:07 am
Kolkata, Dec 28 (IBNS) With the city gearing up for new year celebration this week, the mercury in Kolkata dipped to 11.6 degree celsius on Sunday, officials said.
-1419695494.jpg "Kolkata continues to shiver")
Dec 28, 2014, at 02:51 am
Kolkata, Dec 27 (IBNS): Kolkata continued to feel the chill as the mercury dropped to 11.7 degree celsius on Saturday.
Marking 10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami, UN says world better prepared for natural disasters
Dec 27, 2014, at 04:08 pm
New York, Dec 27 (IBNS): It has been ten years since a massive tsunami swept across the Indian Ocean killing more than 200,000 people and devastating coastline communities from Indonesia to Somalia. On Friday, the world is much better prepared to mitigate such disasters, senior United Nations officials have declared.
-1419611844.jpg "Kolkata experiences coldest day of the season")
Kolkata experiences coldest day of the season
Dec 27, 2014, at 03:37 am
Kolkata, Dec 26 (IBNS) Kolkata experienced the coldest day of the season as the mercury dropped to 11.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, three notches below normal.
10 years after Indian Ocean tsunami, Asia-Pacific region better prepared: UN
Dec 23, 2014, at 02:00 pm
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) Ten years after the Indian Ocean tsunami hit South and Southeast Asia, countries in the region are better prepared to deal with tragedies, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday, while stressing that there is still room for improvement.
Kolkata hosts youth seminar at Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:49 am
Kolkata, Dec 19 (IBNS): Recognising the multi-dimensional potential of young minds in realising the sustainable development goals, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in collaboration with The Ministry of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports conducted an interactive youth seminar at the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management in Kolkata to sensitise young minds on issues pertaining to safe water access in the world, with a special focus on regional issues and finding sustainable solutions through innovation and collaboration with young minds.
Germany commits additional Rs 3900 crore for India's Green Energy Corridors
Dec 20, 2014, at 04:22 am
New Delhi, Dec 19 (IBNS) To support India in developing its Green Energy Corridors, Germany committed additional funding of Euros 500 million (INR 3900 Crore) under the Indo-German Bilateral Development Cooperation.
Flights delayed due to thick fog in Delhi
Dec 19, 2014, at 06:49 pm
New Delhi, Dec 19 (IBNS): As many as 40 flights were affected in Delhi for poor visibility owing to dense fog on Friday morning, media reports said.
Schneider Electric India declares Bangalore's 'Green Champion 2014'
Dec 19, 2014, at 04:07 am
Bangalore, Dec 18 (IBNS): Schneider Electric India Foundation (SEIF), the social commitment of Schneider Electric India, on Thursday organised the grand finale of 'Green Championship 2014' under its 'Conserve My Planet' program at Gangothri International Public School.
Dec 17, 2014, at 07:25 am
Mumbai, Dec 16 (IBNS) : Gujarat Pollution Control Board chairman KU Mistry said the state governments must be given the power to enact environmental laws and rules to strengthen them to control pollution and push for sustainable development.
Govt is committed to clean up the Ganga in three years: Uma
Dec 15, 2014, at 05:37 pm
Allahabad, Dec 15 (IBNS): Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said that the Centre was committed to cleaning up the Ganga within three years.
'Only by acting together' will world transform climate challenge into opportunity – Ban
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:21 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) Only by acting together will world leaders transform the climate challenge into an opportunity to fundamentally rethink how we grow our economies and create a safer, healthier, more liveable world, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
At Lima climate talks, UN launches new coalition to promote renewable energy
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:18 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) The launch of a new coalition spearheaded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and focused on boosting renewable energy usage around the world was announced on Wednesdayas Member States head into the final three-day stretch of a major UN climate conference in Lima, Peru aimed at tackling the imminent threat of climate change.
Ban urges Lima conference to agree draft text as basis for 2015 climate deal
Dec 10, 2014, at 03:18 pm
New York, Dec 10 (IBNS): Urging the 20th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to “act now,†UN officials in Lima, Peru stressed on Tuesday that fully tackling the impacts of man-made climate change requires a transformation – not mere "tinkering" with past agreements and pledges.
Indian Ocean: UN warns of uptick in clandestine migration despite 'horrific' dangers
Dec 06, 2014, at 02:23 pm
New York, Dec 6 (IBNS) More people are risking their lives to cross the Indian Ocean on smuggler's boats despite the great risks involved, including the prospect of "horrific violence," the United Nations refugee agency warned on Friday.
UN report urges more funds for climate change adaptation, warns on temperature rise
Dec 06, 2014, at 02:19 pm
New York, Dec 6 (IBNS) Despite public funding of climate change adaptation measures reaching as high as $26 billion in 2012-2013, a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report predicts a significant funding gap after 2020 unless new and additional finance for adaptation is made available.