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Dump fuel-hungry AC units to cut years of emissions and save trillions: UN report
A wholesale switch to efficient, “climate-friendly” appliances could make a huge dent in environmentally harmful emissions, says a new UN report released on Friday.
World’s poorest being pushed ‘closer to the abyss’ of famine, warns WFP chief
Hunger threatens to soar to devastating levels in 25 countries in the coming months due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are warning.
COVID-19 highlights need for renewed, inclusive multilateralism: UN chief
With the COVID-19 pandemic putting development gains at risk, exposing vulnerabilities and inequalities both within and among nations, the UN Secretary-General is urging governments to reexamine how they work together to solve global challenges.
COVID-19: UN relief chief urges G20 to step up to avert ‘cascading crises’ in fragile countries
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession are set to trigger the first increase in global poverty in three decades, pushing 265 million people to the point of starvation by the end of the year, the UN’s top humanitarian official warned on Frid
World off track in meeting 2030 Agenda, UN deputy chief warns, calls for solidarity in COVID-19 recovery
The world was off track in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, even before the COVID-19 crisis erupted, but can get back on course by increasing investment in public services, showing solidarity on financing, and “reshaping
Yemen oil tanker wreck: Time running out to avert ‘looming environmental, economic and humanitarian catastrophe’
Time is fast running out for getting a UN team of experts aboard the Yemeni oil storage vessel Safer, before it spills its cargo of 1.148 million barrels of light crude oil into the Red Sea, triggering what would likely be a massive environmental
‘Country-driven’ approach needed to limit COVID-19 damage to food security
A ‘business as usual' approach is no longer an option, the head of the UN agriculture agency said on Tuesday, launching a new plan to move past the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Turn the tide’ across a turbulent world, UN chief urges key development forum
“Concrete, bold and implementable solutions” are needed to turn the tide on the many challenges the world is facing, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, on the biggest day so far for the UN’s key in
In Yemen, thousands of Ethiopian migrants stranded, COVID-19 likely widespread
Tens of thousands of Ethiopian migrants have been stranded in war-ravaged Yemen where they continue to be subjected to arbitrary detention and exposure to COVID-19 infection, forcible relocation and abuse, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
Cities and local government must focus on well-being of people in developing countries
While the scale and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt in developing and developed countries alike, the President of the UN General Assembly maintained on Monday that the response must focus on “the two-thirds of the world’s populatio
UN report sends ‘sobering message’ of deeply entrenched hunger globally
In much of the world, “hunger remains deeply entrenched and is rising”, the UN chief said on Monday, launching this year’s major UN food security update, highlighting that over the past five years, tens of millions of people have joined the ranks
Women and girls deserve more protection in emergencies, UN rights council hears
The collective impact of climate change, COVID-19 and conflict mean that well over 200 million people will likely need humanitarian assistance by 2022, the UN’s deputy rights chief said on Monday.
A taxing problem: how to ensure the poor and vulnerable don’t shoulder the cost of the COVID-19 crisis
In the wake of the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, tax systems should be reformed, and tax avoidance and evasion reduced, to ensure an economic recovery in which everyone pays their share, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Syria: Authorization to continue lifesaving cross-border aid remains in limbo
With the deadline just hours away, the Security Council has failed on its third attempt this week to extend its authorization for lifesaving food, medicine and shelter to cross into northwest Syria from Turkey.
Lebanon ‘fast spiralling out of control’ leaving many destitute and facing starvation, warns Bachelet
Sounding the alarm over the crippling impact of “growing economic shocks, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic” in Lebanon, the UN human rights chief called on Friday for a unified response by politicians and the people to overcome the worsening soc
Finding hope in calamity: how UN humanitarians cope on the frontline
What does it take to help the world’s most vulnerable people, often in dangerous and unstable situations, and at considerable personal risk?
Waiting to declare famine ‘will be too late for Yemenis on brink of starvation’
In Yemen, fears of famine have resurfaced as UN humanitarians also warned on Friday that 360,000 severely malnourished children could die unless they continue to get treatment and aid is stepped up.
Global Acceleration Framework to speed up water and sanitation access for all
A new mechanism launched on Thursday aims to speed up action so that people everywhere will have access to water and sanitation by the end of the decade, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Latin America and the Caribbean: ‘Hotspot of the pandemic’
As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world, Latin America and the Caribbean have become a “hotspot of the pandemic”, the UN chief said on Thursday, releasing a new policy initiative on how best to recover in a region already embroiled in
Refugees in Africa ‘even more vulnerable than ever’ amid COVID crisis
Millions of refugees across Africa face even greater food insecurity because of aid disruption and rising food prices linked to the COVID-19 crisis, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.
Rising global temperature shows ‘enormous challenge’ of meeting climate goal
Annual global temperature is likely to be at least 1°C warmer than pre-industrial levels in each of the coming five years, putting globally agreed climate change targets in jeopardy, new data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reveal
Reggae classic ‘One Love’ re-issued to help children upended by COVID crisis
The iconic Bob Marley song One Love is to be re-released with the blessing of the musician’s family to support children whose lives have been upended by COVID-19, the UN said on Thursday.
UN chief highlights need for decent jobs to fuel COVID-19 recovery
More than 50 Heads of State and government, alongside global employers’ and trade union leaders, have been taking part in an online discussion on Wednesday looking at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world of work.
Identify and address ‘real needs’ to recover from COVID-19, UN rights expert urges
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in “a serious setback” for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an independent UN human rights expert said on Wednesday, urging a high-level meeting to “take a hard look” at implementat
‘New dynamic’ needed to overcome negative impacts of COVID-19 worldwide
The dramatic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, have laid bare “weaknesses in our systems and societies”, a top official told the UN’s key international forum on sustainable development which began on Tuesday, warning that “a new dynamic” is needed
A sustainable future for all depends on ‘resolve to act together in solidarity’
The United Nations vision for a sustainable future for all “will depend on our policy choices today, and our resolve to act together in solidarity”, a senior UN official told delegates on Monday at a meeting to discuss post-pandemic recovery.
‘Stay the course together to emerge stronger’ from COVID-19 crisis: UN chief’s message to major sustainability forum
As a major United Nations forum prepares to assess progress towards a fairer future for people and the planet, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that each of the Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is being impacte
Business sector still far from reaching sustainability goals, UN report shows, 20 years on from landmark summit
A new UN report on tbe private sector, release by UN Global Compact, shows that progress on bringing about about a sustainable future for people and the planet is patchy, and the majority of companies involved in the Compact, are not doing enough
Helping young enterprise take off will bring sustainable returns, say UN economists
Young entrepreneurs who want their work to have a positive impact on their communities, urgently need more help from governments if they’re to succeed and resist the COVID-19-fuelled economic downturn, UN economists said on Thursday.
Helping young enterprise take off will bring sustainable returns, say UN economists
Young entrepreneurs who want their work to have a positive impact on their communities, urgently need more help from governments if they’re to succeed and resist the COVID-19-fuelled economic downturn, UN economists said on Thursday.