UN Climate Change Conference

Collaboration between developing countries, or south-south cooperation as it’s known, has been hailed as “a powerful way” to support vulnerable nations.

That viewpoint has been expressed by the senior UN official who is galvanizing global action to bring about a more sustainable future for all.

Dr David Nabarro is the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which has been described as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.

Approximately 300 million children, or one in seven youngsters globally, are living in areas of the world with the most toxic levels of outdoor air pollution, according to a report by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Air pollution is linked to pneumonia and other respiratory diseases that can kill children or affect their development, with poor children being most affected.

“What once seemed impossible” in terms of bringing a global climate change agreement into force, “is now inevitable” according to the UN Secretary General.

Ban Ki-moon was speaking at a High Level event on the entry into force of the Paris Agreement, which was agreed to by more than 190 states last December.

Countries have pledged to develop national plans which will limit global temperature rises due to carbon emissions to less than 2 degrees Celsius.

Duration: 2'53"

Climate change is the “biggest threat” to people’s access to water according to the president of the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

President Ameenah Gurib is one of ten Heads of State and Government, who have been appointed to the UN’s High-Level Panel on Water.

It aims to mobilize the international community to ensure access to water and sanitation for all people, one of the key targets of the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs.

The international community needs to turn the “aspirations” of the Paris Climate Change Agreement “into action”.

That’s according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as more than 165 countries sat down to sign the historic agreement at UN headquarters on Friday.

More than 190 countries came together last December and agreed to limit global temperature rises to less than 2 degrees Celsius.

Matthew Wells reports.

Duration: 3’10”

In December, the international community took a big step towards addressing climate change at UN-led talks in Paris; now, less than eight weeks remain until the agreement opens for signing by member states.

For Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22 April, we’re taking the opportunity to revisit the COP 21 Conference through the eyes of a keen observer, none other than chief UN interpreter Georges Dupuy.

Inspiration and motivational spirituality is as important as action in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs; that’s according to UN artist in residence Yann Toma.

Mr Toma attended the high-level meeting on the SDGs at UN headquarters on Thursday where he drew a series of sketches of people participating in the event.

More work needs to be done to ensure people around the world know about the new global climate change agreement.

The universal deal was agreed by world leaders in December in Paris, France.

Yet, the outgoing Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change, Janos Pasztor says more must be done to get the word out about how the agreement impacts each and every one of us.

The New Year brings new focus on ensuring that people everywhere have access to clean and affordable energy sources.

That’s the hope expressed by Rachel Kyte, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All.

Last year, world leaders adopted the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a climate change deal aimed at reducing the impact of global warming.

“Everyone is responsible” for moving the climate change agenda forward following last month’s historic agreement in Paris.

That’s the view of Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, widely accepted to be the author of the whole “sustainable development” concept.

More than 190 countries agreed to limit global temperature rises due to emissions to less than 2 degrees Celsius.

The first female Prime Minster of Norway is now UN Foundation Board Vice Chair, and she was awarded the Zayed Future Energy Prize 2016 on Tuesday.