2014 set to be hottest year on record, warns UN weather agency
Dec 04, 2014, at 03:32 pm
New York, Dec 4 (IBNS) The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Wednesday announced that 2014 is on track to becoming the hottest year ever recorded due to a combination of record-breaking global sea temperatures and record-high greenhouse gas emissions, amid wider warnings that the ravaging effects of climate change continue to impact the planet unabated.
Lima conference set to 'write history' ahead of 2015 climate deadline, UN official says
Dec 02, 2014, at 01:59 pm
New York, Dec 2 (IBNS) The international community "must write history" on climate action and build momentum towards a new universal agreement to be adopted in 2015, a senior United Nations official declared on Monday as she opened a two-week UN climate conference held in Lima, Peru.
UN official sees upcoming Lima climate talks as 'stepping stone' for universal treaty
Nov 29, 2014, at 03:18 pm
New York, Nov 29 (IBNS) As Governments prepare to meet for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru, starting on Monday, a top UN official has highlighted the session as an opportunity to raise immediate awareness on climate change and lay the foundation for a new universal agreement to be adopted in 2015.
Ebola: UN crisis response mission opens new office in Mali
Nov 27, 2014, at 02:51 pm
New York, Nov 27 (IBNS): The newest outpost of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) became operational on Wednesday, while a new head of its Guinea office was named and the World Health Organization reported that the number of cases had stabilized in Guinea, had stabilized or declined in Liberia but may still be on rise in Sierra Leone.
India has latest equipments needed to forecast natural calamities
Nov 26, 2014, at 11:47 pm
New Delhi, Nov 26 (IBNS): The Government has latest scientific techniques to forecast the natural calamities in the country as far as the Hydro-meteorological hazards (Cyclones; heat wave/cold wave; Heavy rainfall events; Thunderstorms) and Tsunami are concerned.
Bhopal survivors write to govt. to respond to US court
Nov 24, 2014, at 09:59 pm
Bhopal, Nov 24 (IBNS) The five organizations working for the rights of the survivors of the Bhopal gas disaster called upon the state and central governments to urgently respond to the juridical issues concerning the ongoing contamination of soil and groundwater.
UN warns Pacific islands of extreme weather risks during upcoming wet season
Nov 22, 2014, at 05:21 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Extreme weather conditions predicted for the Pacific Ocean pose a significant threat for island states' industry and infrastructure, warns a new advisory note from the United Nations, encouraging the establishment of a regional mechanism for better preparedness.
UN agency chief reports on Iran, DPR Korea nuclear files, measures to curb climate change
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:17 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS) The safe and limited use of nuclear energy can help reduce the impact global energy demand is having on our planet’s volatile climate, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Thursday as he launched his agency’s latest report on the issue and discussed the nuclear programmes of Iran and the Democratic republic of Korea (DPRK).
Ban welcomes $9 billion in pledges to Green Climate Fund at Berlin Conference
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:12 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed the pledges of more than $9.3 billion made by Governments towards the initial capitalisation of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) at the first pledging conference for the mechanism, being held in Berlin, Germany.
Indus Towers announces 35,000 green sites across 15 telecom circles
Nov 21, 2014, at 01:26 am
New Delhi, Nov 20 (IBNS): Telecom tower company Indus Towers on Thursday announced the expansion of its green initiatives to 35,000 green sites (diesel free) across 15 circles in the country.
Every dollar invested in water, sanitation brings four-fold return in costs-UN
Nov 20, 2014, at 09:41 pm
New York, Nov 20 (IBNS): For every dollar invested in water and sanitation, there is a $4.3 return in the form of reduced health care costs for individuals and society around the world, where 2.5 billion people still lack access to basic sanitation services, with 1 billion practicing open defection, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.
As cold weather approaches, UN agencies cross frontlines of Syrian conflict with critical aid
Nov 15, 2014, at 08:23 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS): As the United Nations moves to broker a “freeze†of the ongoing Syrian conflict, the world body’s humanitarian agencies are continuing with their deliveries of critical assistance to civilians in the Middle Eastern country’s besieged areas in anticipation of an expectedly harsh winter.
Green, energy efficient buildings are the need of the hour, say experts during Green Tour
Nov 12, 2014, at 06:24 am
New Delhi, Nov 11 (IBNS): The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and ADaRSH (Association for Development and Research of Sustainable Habitats) on Tuesday organized a Green Tour of the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, India’s first net zero energy building, which has been constructed through the adoption of solar passive design and energy efficient building material.
Greenpeace meets Javadekar on India's position on climate negotiations
Nov 11, 2014, at 01:44 am
New Delhi, Nov 10 (IBNS): Greenpeace International's Executive director, Kumi Naidoo and his Indian counterpart, Samit Aich met with Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change Prakash Javadekar on Monday to discuss the role civil society will play in the climate negotiations in Lima and Paris.
Activists slam MHA for targeting NGOs, blocking funds
Nov 07, 2014, at 11:55 pm
New Delhi, Nov 7 (IBNS): Civil society leaders on Friday joined environmental group Greenpeace India in calling on the Ministry of Home Affairs to end its "campaign of NGO intimidation."
On International Day, UN urges protection of environment from ravages of war
Nov 07, 2014, at 07:06 pm
New York, Nov 7 (IBNS) From the contamination of land to the plundering of natural resources, the environment has long been a “silent casualty†of war, United Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon affirmed on Thursday as he warned that the fast-changing dynamic of contemporary conflict required steadfast solutions for future peacebuilding and sustainable development.
Amplifying women's voices in climate change solutions focus of UN conference
Nov 06, 2014, at 07:17 pm
New York, Nov 6 (IBNS): Aiming to develop more gender-sensitive services, a United Nations-led conference kicking off in Geneva is spearheading a drive to ensure that weather and climate services reduce women’s vulnerability to disasters and climate change, and help them realize their potential as champions of community resilience.
In Vienna, Ban underscores sustainable industrial development as key to planet's future
Nov 05, 2014, at 03:18 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS)Advancing inclusive and sustainable industrial development, both on its own and as part of a broader campaign to protect the planet and all people in the future, is the moral and political responsibility of all governments, the private sector and financial institutions, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Tuesday.
Catastrophic consequences of inaction on limiting global warming: IPCC's Synthesis Report
Nov 04, 2014, at 03:27 am
New Delhi, Nov 3 (IBNS): The Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was released on Sunday in Copenhagen, warned of catastrophic impacts if decisive actions to limit global warming below 2oC are not taken quickly.
Nov 03, 2014, at 02:32 am
New York, Nov 2 (IBNS) Citing “clear and growing†human influence on the climate system, a United Nations report issued on Sunday has warned that if left unchecked, climate change will increase the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems.
Ebola: UN envoy says response must be sustained 'until every last case is contained and treated'
Nov 01, 2014, at 03:13 pm
New York, Nov 1 (IBNS) The Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Ebola, David Nabarro, appealed on Friday for the global response to the deadly virus to be sustained "until every last case is contained and treated," as the United Nations health agency recommended more protective measures for health workers battling the disease on the frontlines of the outbreak.
One year on, UN expert urges ratification of treaty to phase out mercury use
Nov 01, 2014, at 03:06 pm
New York, Nov 1 (IBNS) The new United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxic waste, Baskut Tuncak, urged governments around the world on Friday to expedite the ratification process of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of the toxic heavy metal.
Cyclone Nilofar likely to make landfall on Saturday
Oct 29, 2014, at 05:05 pm
Ahmedabad, Oct 29 (IBNS): Officials in Gujarat continued to evacuate villages in the coastal areas of Kutch district ahead of Cyclone Nilofar which is expected to make a landfall before noon on Saturday, media reports said.
NASA'S Chandra Observatory identifies impact of cosmic chaos on star birth
Oct 28, 2014, at 07:22 pm
Washington, Oct 27 (IBNS) The same phenomenon that causes a bumpy airplane ride, turbulence, may be the solution to a long-standing mystery about stars' birth, or the absence of it, according to a new study using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Indian farmers are ready to adapt to climate change: Prakash Javadekar
Oct 28, 2014, at 06:54 pm
New Delhi, Oct 27 (IBNS): Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has said adaptation, capacity building, and strengthening rural communities would be the top priority for the Government to address the challenges posed by climate change.
Nilofar: Cabinet Secretary reviews preparedness
Oct 28, 2014, at 06:52 pm
New Delhi, Oct 27 (IBNS) Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth chaired the meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) on Monday to review the precautionary relief and rescue measures in the Coastal Districts of Gujarat in the wake of impending cyclonic storm 'Nilofar' expected to make its landfall in the morning of Oct 31.
'Nilofar' intensifies into "very severe cyclone"
Oct 28, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New Delhi, Oct 27 (IBNS): The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said the cyclone 'Nilofar' has intensified into a "severe cyclonic storm" and will bring heavy rainfall in coastal Saurashtra and Kutch region of Gujarat on Oct 30 and 31.
Gujrat braces for cyclone Nilofar
Oct 28, 2014, at 05:11 pm
Ahmedabad, Oct 28 (IBNS): Officials in Gujrat made serious efforts on Tuesday to evacuate residents and stockpile food as they braced for another "very severe cyclonic storm" due to make a landfall on the west coast on Friday morning, media reports said.
Mediterranean, North Atlantic prepares for UN-backed tsunami warning system test
Oct 24, 2014, at 03:35 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS) Some 20 nations with coastlines on the North Atlantic, and Mediterranean and Black Seas are set to participate in a United Nations-supervised tsunami warning exercise to improve their ability to respond to an alert and enhance regional coordination in the event of a disaster.
In fight against hunger, UN launches initiative targeting threat of desertification
Oct 23, 2014, at 04:32 pm
New York, Oct 23 (IBNS) The growing menace of desertification poses a distinct threat to the world’s agriculture and eco-systems, the United Nations agriculture agency warned on Wednesday, as it announced a new initiative aimed at curbing the spread of land degradation and building resilience to climate change.