The world’s addiction to coal “remains a major threat in relation to climate change and one of the messages in the summit will be very clearly that countries in these areas that are countries that are in one of the most vulnerable areas to climate change”, Mr. Guterres underscored.
The UN chief informed the press of a recently published report saying that climate change was causing ocean levels to rise much faster than previously forecasted. More
The Women Peace and Security agenda must continue to be “one of the top priorities of the United Nations”, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Tuesday, in an open debate on how best to accelerate change. More
United Nations Day highlights the enduring ideals of the Charter, adopted on this date 74 years ago.
Amid stormy global seas, the Charter remains our shared moral anchor. At this time of turbo-charged change, the United Nations remains focused on the real problems of real people.
We are working for a fair globalization and bold climate action. We are pushing for human rights and gender equality — and saying “no” to hatred of any kind. And we are striving to maintain peace – while bringing life-saving aid to millions caught up in armed conflict.
The United Nations itself is becoming ever more agile and accountable as we enhance support to countries. Next year marks the Organization’s 75th anniversary. This milestone is a critical moment to shape our future, together. I invite you to join the conversation. Together, let us advance the well-being of “we the peoples”.
World Food Day is a global call for Zero Hunger – for a world where nutritious food is available and affordable for everyone, everywhere.
But today, more than 820 million people do not have enough to eat.
And the climate emergency is an increasing threat to food security.
Meanwhile, two billion men, women and children are overweight or obese.
Unhealthy diets present an enormous risk of disease and death.
It is unacceptable that hunger is on the rise at a time when the world wastes more than 1 billion tonnes of food every year.
It is time to change how we produce and consume, including to reduce greenhouse emissions.
Transforming food systems is crucial for delivering all the Sustainable Development Goals.
That is why I hope to convene a Food Systems Summit in 2021 as part of the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.
As a human family, a world free of hunger is our imperative.
Joint Statement:
Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, and
Karen Smith, United Nations Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect,
on the situation in northeast Syrian Arab Republic
(New York, 15 October 2019) United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, and the United Nations Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, Karen Smith, expressed their alarm over the current situation in northeast Syria following the launch of a military operation by Turkey on 09 October.
The Special Advisers stated that “the civilians of Syria continue to live through one of the worst conflicts of our time, with repeated violations of their basic rights and protections guaranteed under international law. This latest escalation of the conflict again puts civilians at grave risk. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported on several civilian casualties, including allegations of summary executions, and humanitarian actors report that at least 160,000 civilians have been displaced in the six days since the start of the military operation.”
The Special Advisers stressed that Turkish authorities and all parties to the conflict in Syria need to ensure strict adherence to the legal obligation to protect civilians. This is the responsibility of all State and non-State actors. No civilian should be forced to leave their home against their will. In addition, any return of refugees needs to be voluntary and when conditions are safe for them to do so sustainably. The Special Advisers also urged the international community, and the Security Council in particular, to do more to uphold the responsibility to protect civilians in the Syrian conflict. The repeated failure of the Security Council to speak with a united voice and to take action to protect civilian populations at risk of serious violations goes against the responsibility to protect principle, a commitment made by all Member States.
The Special Advisers reiterated calls for de-escalation and for a political solution to the Syria crisis stating that “far too many civilians have already been victims of atrocity crimes in Syria since the start of the conflict in 2011 and millions of Syrians remain at risk of these crimes. Until there is a sustainable political solution to the crisis, one in which all communities in the country have a voice and their rights can be protected, the risk of atrocity crimes remains a reality”.
For media queries please contact:
Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect
Email: osapg@un.org
http://www.un.org/genocideprevention
In the coming decade, the number of persons aged 60 or over is projected to grow by 46 per cent, making the increase in those officially classified as elderly, one of the “most significant transformations of this century,” the United Nations declared on Tuesday, marking the International Day of Older Persons. More
UN Summit on Sustainable Development Goals kick starts ambitious action
to deliver for people and the planet
New York, 24 September 2019 – Four years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with efforts off track for meeting its objectives, world leaders today called for a decade of ambitious action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and announced actions they are taking to advance the agenda.
In the political declaration, “Gearing up for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development,” unanimously adopted at the opening of the UN Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals, UN Member States pledged to mobilize financing, enhance national implementation and strengthen institutions to achieve the sustainable development objectives by the target date and leave no one behind.
For more information and media contacts download full SDG Summit press release
Summit delivers major step up in national ambition and private sector action on pathway to key 2020 climate deadline
As recognition mounts that time is running out, youth leaders warn: ‘we will be watching’
New York, 23 September—Major announcements by government and private sector leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit boosted climate action momentum, and demonstrated growing recognition that the pace of climate action must be rapidly accelerated.
77 countries committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, while 70 countries announced they will either boost their national action plans by 2020 or have started the process of doing so.Over 100 business leaders delivered concrete actions to align with the Paris Agreement targets, and speed up the transition from the grey to green economy, including asset-owners holding over $2 trillion in assets and leading companies with combined value also over $2 trillion.
Many countries and over 100 cities – including many of the world’s largest – announced significant and concrete new steps to combat the climate crisis.
Students and young activists on Saturday threw down the gauntlet to world leaders heading to United Nations Headquarters next week for high-level climate talks, demanding that they “stop wasting time” and work harder to curb carbon emissions, “or we will vote you out.” More
The youth of the world are gathering at the United Nations to call for urgent climate action.
On Saturday 22 September, the UN Youth Climate Summit will be held in New-York as part of a weekend of events leading up to the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit on Monday, September 23.
Watch LIVE the Climate Action Summit 2019 Starting 21 September – 23 September on UN WebTV: http://webtv.un.org
The Youth Climate Summit will feature a full-day of programming that brings together young activists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers who are committed to combating climate change at the pace and scale needed to meet the challenge. It will be action oriented, intergenerational, and inclusive, with equal representation of young leaders from all walks of life.