‘Unprecedented’ climate change impact puts global food security at risk: new UN report
The “unprecedented” impact of climate change is increasingly putting the world’s food security at risk, a new UN study revealed on Thursday.
The special report on climate change and land, from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), warned that more than 500 million people are living in areas affected by desertification, and are being negatively affected by the climate crisis.
One way to cope with the changing climate, the report suggests, is to improve the way we produce and consume food, noting that almost a third of all food produced, is simply lost or wasted.
Another proposal from the authors of the study, is a switch to diets that require less land and water – featuring grains, fruit and vegetables – and sustainably produced meat.
UN Mission in Libya calls for investigation into ‘brutal abduction’
The UN Mission in Libya, UNSMIL, has called for the authorities to thoroughly investigate the “brutal abduction” of national politician Siham Sergawa, from her home in Benghazi.
Ms. Sergawa was taken by a group of armed men, who injured her husband and a relative, on July 17.
The Mission’s statement expressed its deep concern at Ms. Sergawa’s “continued enforced disappearance”, and complained that the reaction of the authorities provided little hope that she would be found.
UNSMIL stressed that silencing the voices of women in decision-making positions will not be tolerated and reiterated its strong commitment to support their full participation in the country’s political life.
Middle East and North Africa set to miss Sustainable Development Goals for young people
Unless governments in the Middle East and North Africa prioritize peace and stability, the region will fail to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has said, launching a report focusing on the goals related to children and young people.
The UN agency stated that, without improved education and meaningful work opportunities, the region - which has the highest youth unemployment rate in the world - faces the “critical risk” of a record increase of five million out-of-school children, and a rise in youth unemployment of more than 10 per cent.
Many young people feel that things are getting worse, says the report, with a deterioration in their quality of life over the last decade, and only half of them have confidence in their own governments.
UNICEF is calling for an urgent boost in expenditure for early childhood care, quality education, gender equality and youth employment, in a bid to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.
