climate change

Climate change is a growing cause of displacement in Africa, where some areas have been devastated by drought.
UNHCR/B. Bannon

Ban welcomes outcome of UN climate change talks in Doha

8 December 2012
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday welcomed the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, saying it paves the way to a comprehensive, legally binding agreement by 2015.
UNEP launches new initiative to support climate change adaptation in Africa and enhance sustainable livelihoods and food security.
UNEP

UN environment agency launches initiative to help Africa adapt to impacts of climate change

6 December 2012
The United Nations today launched a new initiative to support communities across Africa in adapting to the impacts of climate change which, if left unaddressed, could have major consequences for lives and livelihoods on the continent.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the high-level segment of the 18th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
UNFCCC

Doha meeting must take decisive action to tackle growing crisis of climate change – Ban

4 December 2012
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged countries to act decisively to tackle the “growing crisis” of climate change, as United Nations negotiations kicked into high gear in Doha, Qatar.
The impact of climate change on icebergs and glaciers.
UN Photo/Mark Garten

2012 set to be ninth warmest year on record – UN report

28 November 2012
Temperatures this year are the ninth highest on record since 1850 despite the effect of La Niña, a meteorological phenomenon which is supposed to have a cooling influence on the Earth’s atmosphere, says a new United Nations report released today.
A scientist (bottom right) standing in front of an ice-rich permafrost exposure on the coast of Herschel Island in Yukon Territory, Canada.
Michael Fritz

Thawing of permafrost to be ‘major factor’ in global warming, warns UN report

27 November 2012
Massive stores of carbon trapped under the northern hemisphere’s frozen expanses risk being unleashed and significantly contributing to global warming should thawing of the region’s permafrost continue to accelerate, a United Nations report warned today.
Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Christiana Figueres.
UN Photo/UNFCCC/Jan Golinski

UN-led partnership set to push innovative investments against climate change

27 November 2012
A new United Nations-led partnership aimed at showcasing innovative models for financing climate change adaptation and mitigation activities was unveiled today.
President of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18), Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah address the UN Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar.
UNFCCC

UN climate change talks begin in Doha with call to build on existing agreements

26 November 2012
Thousands of government representatives, international organizations and civil society members have gathered in the Qatari capital of Doha for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which kicked off today with a call to build on and implement previously agreed decisions to curb global carbon emissions by the year 2020.
Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity Virginia Dandan.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Global solidarity a must in upcoming climate change talks, says UN rights expert

23 November 2012
Ahead of new climate change talks next week, an independent United Nations human rights expert today called on countries to rally behind the idea of helping those less able to deal with the impacts of this global problem.
Current pledges by governments indicate a 3-5° C temperature rise this century without fast action.
Shutterstock/Christian Kobierski/UNEP

Ahead of climate talks, UN report warns greenhouse gas emissions still increasing

21 November 2012
As countries prepare to meet next week at a major United Nations meeting on climate change, the world body today released a new report which finds that the concentration of warming gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) has increased by 20 per cent since 2000.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) with Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia.
UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Ban welcomes Australia’s decision to join second phase of Kyoto Protocol

9 November 2012
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed Australia’s announcement that it will sign up for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, his spokesperson said, referring to the legally binding treaty to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and for which the first period for emission reduction commitments is due to expire at the end of this year.