UN chief urges ministers to provide ‘decisive leadership’ on climate action
New York: With nations striving to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impacts, efforts must focus on decarbonizing the global economy and building a more inclusive and resilient future, the UN Secretary-General said on Monday.
Ahead of biodiversity summit, UN officials call for action to preserve the natural world
New York: Top UN officials working to preserve the natural world are urging “action now” ahead of a crucial biodiversity summit this week, where world leaders will reaffirm their commitment to the cause.
UN chief and UK premier announce December climate summit
New York: With the COVID-19 pandemic having disrupted plans to hold the annual international UN climate meeting - known as the COP - this year, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom have announced that they will instead co-host a “landmark global event” on 12 December, the fifth anniversary of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
May confirmed as warmest on record, CO2 levels hit new high despite COVID economic slowdown
New York: Last month was the warmest May on record and carbon dioxide levels also hit a new high despite the economic slowdown from COVID-19, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday, in an urgent appeal for Member States to renew their efforts to tackle climate threats.
‘Dogged pragmatism’ needed to save Ocean: UN Special Envoy
New York:‘Dogged pragmatism’ is needed to save the Ocean as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, according to the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean.
New York/IBNS: Floods, extreme rainfall, droughts and melting glaciers…many of the major signs of climate change involve water. On this year’s World Meteorological Day, the UN weather agency (WMO) is reinforcing the message of World Water Day, by focusing on the links between climate and water, and calling for better water-related data.
Turn around deforestation in 2020, the ‘Nature Super Year’, says Guterres
New York/IBNS: On the International Day of Forests, which falls on Saturday, UN chief António Guterres is calling for 2020, which has been referred to as a “nature super year”, to be the year that the world turns the tide on deforestation and forestry loss.
World Wildlife Day: UN chief urges ‘more caring’ relationship with nature
New York/IBNS: People everywhere need to remember that we depend on Mother Earth to survive, the UN chief said in his message for World Wildlife Day marked on Tuesday, advocating for “a more caring, thoughtful and sustainable relationship with nature”.
New York/IBNS: Because the production of everything we eat transforms the environment, the United Nations agriculture chief told a high-level UN meeting on biodiversity that careful discussions are needed to decide on the scale of acceptable transformations.
Ten new migratory species protected under global wildlife agreement
New York/IBNS: Asian elephants, jaguars and great Indian bustards were among 10 new species added to a global wildlife agreement on Saturday.
Time Magazine names environment activist Greta Thunberg as Person of the Year 2019
New York/IBNS: Time magazine has named environment activist Greta Thunberg as Person of the Year 2019.
COP25: ‘Signals of hope’ multiplying in face of global climate crisis, insists UN chief Guterres
New York/IBNS: The UN Secretary-General has outlined the “increased ambition and commitment” that the world needs from governments during the coming days of the COP25 UN climate change conference which opens in Madrid on Monday, calling for “accountability, responsibility and leadership” to end the global climate crisis.
COP25: UN climate change conference, 5 things you need to know
New York/IBNS: Climate change is happening—the world is already 1.1°C warmer than it was at the onset of the industrial revolution, and it is already having a significant impact on the world, and on people’s lives. And if current trends persist, then global temperatures can be expected to rise by 3.4 to 3.9°C this century, which would bring wide-ranging and destructive climate impacts.
Deadly life at sea: UN partners spotlight depths of danger in fishing industry
New York/IBNS: There is a clear link between the seedy underbelly of the seafood industry, and fishers’ safety, now ranked as the second deadliest profession in the world; and more must be done to ensure people dependent on this type of labour are working in safe conditions, UN partners urged on Thursday.
Australia wildfires: communities must stay vigilant, urges UN weather agency
New York/IBNS: As Australia’s “catastrophic” and deadly wildfire emergency continues, UN weather experts on Tuesday echoed Government warnings for people to remain vigilant in the face of the fast-moving threat and tinderbox conditions.