From low-earth orbit, ‘envoys’ of humanity join UN space forum
New York, June 21 (IBNS): Floating in near zero-gravity, 400 kilometres above the Pacific Ocean and flying at over 28,000 kilometres per hour, the six crew members onboard the International Space Station (ISS) joined the key United Nations forum on outer space affairs via video link on Wednesday, to discuss the importance of working together.
If we can build the International Space Station, ‘we can do anything’ – UN Champion for Space
New York, June 20 (IBNS): The sight of Earth, from hundreds of kilometers away in open space while you are tethered only to the International Space Station, is “absolutely amazing”, said Scott Kelly, the UN Champion for Space and former US astronaut, stressing that the world we live on “is our only planet.”
New York, June 20 (IBNS): On its opening day, a major United Nations forum on the peaceful uses of outer space, was issued a clear challenge to break through the so-called “glass ceiling” that prevents women and girls from achieving their full potential; especially in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
UN forum to explore use of outer space to improve lives, protect planet
New York, June 20 (IBNS): Marking 50 years since the world first came together to discuss the peaceful uses of outer space, government leaders, policy makers, civil society representatives and space experts will gather at a United Nations forum in Vienna from Monday to explore the future course of global space cooperation for the benefit of humankind.
The world is being ‘swamped’ by harmful plastic waste says UN chief, marking Environment Day
New York, June 6 (IBNS): The world must unite to “beat plastic pollution” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for World Environment Day on Tuesday, noting that microplastic particles in the ocean, “now outnumber stars in our galaxy”.
UN rights experts urge Kenya to protect activists testifying in lead pollution case
New York, May 31 (IBNS): Four United Nations human rights experts are calling for greater protection for Kenyan activists who have testified against a local lead-smelting plant accused of environmental pollution.
UN, Somali Government seek $80 million in immediate relief for flood-affected populations
New York, May 21 (JEN): The United Nations and the Somali Government on Sunday launched a joint appeal for $80 million to provide immediate help for the people affected by recent flooding in the country’s centre and south.
UN forum to coordinate global efforts to address worsening water shortages
New York, May 7 (IBNS): With extreme weather costing hundreds of billions a year and fears that by 2050, one in four people will be living in a country affected by severe water shortages, a global conference got underway on Monday convened by the United Nations meteorological agency to manage the precious resource more sustainably.
Hottest April day ever recorded - maybe: World Meteorological Organization
New York, May 5 (IBNS): Deadly storms in India and record temperatures in Pakistan are an indication that more extreme weather events are happening globally owing to climate change, United Nations weather experts said on Friday.
Disasters could cost Asia-Pacific region $160 billion per year by 2030, UN warns
New York, Apr 25 (IBNS): Economic losses to disasters in Asia and the Pacific could exceed $160 billion annually by 2030, the United Nations development arm in the region warned on Tuesday, urging greater innovation in disaster risk financing.
UN-sponsored group tightens controls on spread of crop-attacking pests
New York, Apr 19 (IBNS): With an estimated $220 billion of the global harvest lost to plant pests each year, the agency charged with fighting this scourge has adopted new standards and measures to safeguard internationally traded agricultural and forestry products.
Climate chaos to continue in 2018, UN chief warns; Will the world rise to challenge?
New York, Mar 30 (JEN): Climate change “is still moving much faster than we are,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Thursday, calling for the political will, innovation and financing to cut global emissions by at least 25 per cent over the next two years.
Earth Hour: UN joins iconic landmarks ‘going dark’ globally with a call to protect environment
New York, Mar 25 (JEN): The United Nations this evening turned off the lights at its iconic Headquarters in New York as well as at other facilities around the world in observance of “Earth Hour” – a global event highlighting the need for climate action and sustainable energy consumption.
-1520073123.jpg "On World Wildlife Day, UN joins call for protection of planet’s big cats")
Near-record warm temperatures fuel deadly, costly weather events in 2017 – UN
New York, Jan 19 (JEN): The upward trend in global temperatures marked by record-shattering warmth in 2015 and 2016 kept pace last year, with the United Nations weather agency warning Thursday that continued pressure on the Arctic in 2017 will have “profound and long-lasting repercussions on sea levels, and on weather patterns in other parts of the world.”