General News

A digital mapping project created by the UN Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, is helping young people around the world identify climate issues in their communities and find ways to address them.

Called “Act now for tomorrow”, the tool is reportedly engaging 500 young people from 65 countries.

The project is one of many being presented at the UN climate change conference, known as COP21.

Climatic changes have put the world into what has been described as “unknown territory”.

That warning from the head of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as governments meet in Paris, France to try and reach a new universal climate change agreement.

Sandra Miller spoke to WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud, who told her that never before has the world witnessed such rapid and dramatic climatic changes.

Duration: 4’19”

Youth leaders from countries most at risk from the effects of climate change have rallied in Paris, France.

The young people were attending the UN climate change conference, COP 21, demanding that world leaders sign on to an ambitious agreement to tackle climate issues.

Alejandra Salas is from Costa Rica and is a youth delegate at COP21 from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Stephanie Coutrix spoke with her and began by asking why was important to her to be at the climate conference.

Industrial development, which is both sustainable and inclusive, will be crucial for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has said.

In September the international community agreed the agenda which is comprised of 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Goal nine focuses on industrialization and fostering innovation.

A new initiative designed to shed light on the proliferation of hate speech in the media has been launched by the UN.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) kicked off the new effort on Tuesday with a symposium at UN headquarters in New York.

The campaign is designed to bring greater attention to the prevalence of hate speech worldwide.

Veronica Reeves has the story.

Duration: 3'29"

An “incredible success” – that’s how a senior United Nations official has described bringing together 150 world leaders in Paris to discuss climate issues.

The heads of state and government have been attending the UN COP21 climate change conference at which the international community is expected to agree a universal deal to keep global temperature rises to below two degrees Celsius.

Janos Pasztor is the UN Assistant Secretary-General on climate change.

A former child soldier from Sierra Leone has said he wants to put a human face on the suffering of children who are forced to go to war.

Ishmael Beah was recruited into the West African country’s brutal civil war as a 13-year old but with the help of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) managed to escape from the front lines.

The development of countries in the Sahel region is slowing due to radicalization, youth unemployment and the lack of participation by women in politics and the economy.

That’s according to the UN Office for West Africa, UNOWA.

In 2014, a partnership was formed by the United Nations with Sahelian countries, called the G5, which aims to tackle these challenges.

Cristina Silveiro has been speaking to Kouider Zerrouk, a spokesperson for UNOWA.

Africa is hoping the international community will pursue a strong agreement at the climate change summit in Paris which help the continent adapt to changes in weather patterns; that’s what the head of the African Union is saying.

Around 150 heads of states and government have been meeting in the French capital at the UN COP21 summit.

It’s hoped world leaders will agree a universal deal which will keep global temperature rises to below two degree Celsius.

An online research tool which examines how climate change may increase hunger vulnerability across the globe has been launched by the World Food Programme (WFP).

The Food Insecurity and Climate Change Vulnerability map shows how strong adaptation and mitigation efforts will prevent the worst impacts of climatic variations on hunger across the world.

It should help make people less vulnerable to food insecurity.