News

Our news page provides you with a round up of UN news related to economic development, humanitarian aid, climate change, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You will find the summary of news articles together with a link to the news source.

News

Climate change much deadlier than cancer in some places, UNDP data shows

04 Nov 2022

The impact of climate change on health if carbon emissions remain high, could be up to twice as deadly as cancer in some parts of the world, according to new data released on Friday by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Climate Impact Lab.

Iconic World Heritage glaciers to disappear by 2050, warns UNESCO

03 Nov 2022

Some of the world’s most iconic glaciers are set to disappear by 2050, according to a new study by UNESCO, which highlights the accelerated melting of glaciers in World Heritage sites.

South Sudan: Conflict and climate crisis drives rising hunger

03 Nov 2022

The number of people in South Sudan who are going hungry is at the highest level ever, UN agencies said in their latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, issued on Thursday.  

Ukraine grain deal, Ethiopia agreement, show ‘power of multilateralism in action’: Guterres

03 Nov 2022

Russia’s decision to rejoin the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Ethiopian agreement to end the war in Tigray demonstrate the power of multilateralism in action, said the UN chief on Thursday, in a call for countries to also rebuild trust between the North and South at the UN’s COP27 climate conference in Egypt.

More funding needed for climate adaptation, as risks mount

03 Nov 2022

Countries must urgently ramp up action to adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change, as efforts now are too little and too slow, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in its latest report, published on Thursday. 

Ethiopia: Peace agreement between Government and Tigray ‘a critical first step’: Guterres

02 Nov 2022

A peace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed on Wednesday in South Africa, represents “a critical first step” towards ending the brutal two year war, said the UN chief.

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Human rights belong at the heart of climate change debate, urges Türk

02 Nov 2022

Humanity’s basic right to life is being threatened by insufficient action in the face of the climate emergency, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Wednesday.

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Europe hotting up more than twice global average: WMO

02 Nov 2022

Temperatures in Europe have increased at more than twice the global average over the past 30 years – the highest of any continent in the world. As the warming trend continues, exceptional heat, wildfires, floods and other climate change impacts will affect society, economies and ecosystems, according to a report released Wednesday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

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UN chief warmly welcomes Russia decision to end suspension from Ukraine grain deal

02 Nov 2022

The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday issued a statement warmly welcoming Russia’s decision to resume its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has allowed nearly ten million metric tonnes of vital foodstuffs to be shipped from Ukraine.

The UN belongs to you, deputy chief tells youth advocates in Spain

01 Nov 2022

How the UN can better support young people pushing for a more sustainable future for all was among issues discussed during a dialogue between some of the Organization’s senior officials and youth leaders, held in Madrid, Spain, on Monday. 

In speech to Arab League, UN chief appeals for greater regional unity

01 Nov 2022

Amid growing geopolitical divides and deepening inequalities, cooperation is the only way forward, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in Algiers on Tuesday, addressing the Summit of the League of Arab States. 

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Security Council debates Russian withdrawal from crucial Ukraine grain deal

31 Oct 2022

The landmark agreement to export grain and related foodstuffs from Ukraine must be kept alive amid the ongoing war and the global cost of living crisis, two senior UN officials told the Security Council on Monday.

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Progress on methane emissions by energy companies, but numbers still don’t add up: UNEP

31 Oct 2022

Over 80 oil and gas companies across the world have committed to measuring and reducing their methane emissions, the second biggest driver of global warming, according to a new report by the UN environment agency (UNEP).

‘Act Local to Go Global’ provides universal theme for World Cities Day

31 Oct 2022

The actions cities take locally to create a sustainable world will reverberate globally, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday, underlining the need to ramp up progress towards a more just and equitable future for people and the planet. 

Global jobs market set to deteriorate amid Ukraine war shocks: ILO

31 Oct 2022

The outlook for global labour markets has worsened in recent months and if current trends continue, vacancies will grow more scarce while global jobs growth will deteriorate significantly during the rest of the year, according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ by stalled Black Sea Grain Initiative

30 Oct 2022

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern at Russia’s decision to suspend its involvement in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal set up to reintroduce vital food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine to the rest of the world.

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UN Resident Coordinators a key link in achieving development goals

28 Oct 2022

As governments grapple with cascading crises involving food, finance, energy, climate and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, UN staff on the ground have been stepping up to help them address these threats to sustainable development for all.

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Millions face flooding threat across west and central Africa

28 Oct 2022

In west and central Africa, some 3.4 million people need help after destructive flooding, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday.

COP27: What you need to know about this year’s big UN Climate Conference

28 Oct 2022

This year’s UN Climate Conference takes place in Sharm el-Sheikh, against a backdrop of extreme weather events worldwide, an energy crisis propelled by the war in Ukraine, and scientific data reiterating that the world is not doing enough to tackle carbon emissions and protect the future of our planet.

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Climate change: No ‘credible pathway’ to 1.5C limit, UNEP warns

27 Oct 2022

National pledges to reduce harmful emissions offer little hope of avoiding climate disaster, UN climate experts said on Thursday, in an urgent appeal for a radical transformation of the energy sector, before it’s too late.

Climate change: CO2 and methane in our atmosphere reach record levels

26 Oct 2022

Atmospheric levels of the three main greenhouse gases warming our planet - carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide- all reached new record highs in 2021, according to a new report from the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Countries’ climate promises still not enough to avoid catastrophic global warming: UN Report

26 Oct 2022

While plans submitted by most signatories of the Paris Agreement would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, they are still not ambitious enough to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, a new report by UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) warned on Wednesday.

UNDP to support refurbishment of damaged public buildings in Ukraine

25 Oct 2022

A €2 million agreement between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the UNDP Development Programme (UNDP), announced on Tuesday, will help restore damaged public buildings in Ukraine and contribute to recovery and reconstruction that is green, resilient, and inclusive.

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Political solution still the only path to peace in Syria: UN Special Envoy

25 Oct 2022

With peace in Syria still an elusive goal, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen appealed on Tuesday for the Security Council to support his efforts to move the parties closer towards a negotiated political solution to end the brutal 11-year conflict. 

Heatwaves to impact almost every child on earth by 2050: UNICEF report

25 Oct 2022

Heatwaves have become an unavoidable health hazard for many nations, but new data indicates that they are set to affect virtually every child on earth by 2050, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, warned on Tuesday.

‘Game changer’ ideas on water and sustainability, centre-stage ahead of major water conference

24 Oct 2022

Some 1,200 scientists, representatives of the private sector and civil society met at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday to discuss potentially game-changing ideas related to water and sustainability.

Step up investment to deliver safe drinking water to all

24 Oct 2022

Governments must invest more in building safe drinking water systems, both to ensure greater access to this resource and to mitigate the effects of climate change, according to a report published on Monday by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN children’s agency, UNICEF, and the World Bank. 

In visit to Viet Nam, UN chief stresses critical need for solidarity to overcome climate crisis

23 Oct 2022

UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the importance of global solidarity to combat the climate emergency during his visit to Viet Nam, which concluded on Saturday.

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Kenya: UN steps up protection for drought-hit women and girls

23 Oct 2022

Women and girls are bearing the brunt of the worst drought experienced in Kenya for 40 years, which is exacerbating the risk of sexual exploitation, violence, and abuse.

India's first solar-powered village promotes green energy, sustainability and self-reliance

22 Oct 2022

During his two-day visit to India this week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited a model project site in Gujarat state, which was declared as the country's first solar-powered village.  The Secretary-General commended the villagers on the shift towards renewable energy, which he said is not only changing the lives of the community, but such initiatives are also helpful in combating climate change.