Climate and Environment

Jorge Montt Glacier, Southern Patagonian Ice Field, Chile. Photo: NASA
NASA

Climate experts pledge to scale up high-altitude fight against mountain melt

31 October 2019
Global

The UN’s weather watchdog and partners committed on Thursday to a new initiative to ramp up observation and prediction technology that will help address the challenges of climate change, melting snow and ice, and water-related hazards.

Syria, Al-Hasakah Governorate, 12 October 2019, hostilities in north-eastern Syria are leading tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
WFP/Alan Ali

Wednesday’s Daily Brief: Iraq protests, ‘historic’ Syria talks, Chile pulls out of COP25, Guinea-Bissau, South Sudan, new nuclear watchdog chief

30 October 2019

A recap of Wednesday’s stories: new Syria talks begin in Geneva; Chile pulls out as host of major climate conference; UN calls for national talks to break cycle of violence in Iraq; UN chief voices ‘serious concern’ over Guinea-Bissau political crisis; IOM suspends South Sudan Ebola screening; UN atomic watchdog appoints new leader.

 

Shipping companies are working towards sustainable maritime transport as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
© MSC shipping

UN calls for shipping ‘propulsion revolution’ to avoid ‘environmental disaster’

30 October 2019
Global

If emissions from the maritime industry are not cut, we are headed for “an environmental disaster”, Isabelle Durant, the deputy head of the UN trade body, UNCTAD, told the Global Maritime Forum summit on Wednesday.

Cordillera Huayhuash in August 2019. The Andes contain 99% of the world's tropical glaciers and 71% are in Peru.
UN News/Daniela Gross

UN summit tackles climate change-induced threat to mountain water supplies

29 October 2019
Global

The world’s mountain and glacier regions are facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change, imposing a crippling effect on the people and economies that rely on them, the UN’s weather agency explained on Tuesday, ahead of a summit to address the world’s rapidly-changing water systems.  

A giant tortoise makes its way to the water's edge on a beach on Curieuse Island, a Seychelles National Park.
Seychelles Tourism Board/Ennio Maffei

FROM THE FIELD: ‘Blue’ finance flows in the Seychelles

28 October 2019
Africa

Protecting marine areas from over-exploitation and providing the people who have traditionally lived off the sea with a sustainable alternative livelihood does not come cheap, but in the Seychelles, a focus on financial instruments is making that task easier. 

Hurricane Florence photographed from the International Space Station on 12 September, 2018.
ESA/NASA–A. Gerst

Thursday's Daily Brief: Syria latest, tech needs threaten life-saving weather forecasts, #UN75 birthday conversation begins, polio virus nears eradication

24 October 2019
Global

A recap of Thurday's main stories: Wireless technology could block life-saving weather forecasts; UN gears up for 75th birthday dialogue; polio close to eradication; UN steps up northeast Syria aid; "unique opportunity" for end to Sudan-South Sudan border disputes.

Hurricane Dorian as seen from the International Space Station on 2 September 2019.
NASA

Lives at risk if wireless technology demands are not held in check: UN weather watchdog

24 October 2019
Global

Amid growing competition for radio wave space due to new wireless technologies, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Thursday called on governments to protect radio frequencies allocated to potentially life-saving weather forecasting services.

Zuhuir, 6, eats a hamburger in the Gulshan neighbourhood of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Fast food restaurants are a growing trend in Dhaka, not only for the middle and upper classes, but across income brackets.
© UNICEF/Bashir Sujan

Tuesday’s Daily Brief: UNICEF child health report, Peacekeeping operations end in Haiti, Syria-Turkey latest, Haitian migrants deported from Bahamas

15 October 2019
Global

A recap of Tuesday’s stories: Millions of children undernourished and overweight says landmark report; Security Council marks transition after 15 years of ‘blue helmets’ in Haiti; violence continues ‘on both sides’ of Syria-Turkey border; UN human rights office raises concerns over deportation of Haitian migrants from the Bahamas; UN migration agency helps migrants in Algeria return to Niger; rural women celebrated on International Day.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

UN chief praises Japanese climate resilience, as Typhoon Hagibis cleanup begins

13 October 2019
Asia Pacific

With Typhoon Hagibis causing destruction and loss of life in Japan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has praised the leadership role the country is playing in climate resilience, and its “extensive and efficient preparation for this latest extreme weather event”.

The view from the mayor's building of the desctruction caused by Cyclone Idai in Beira, Mozambiqu. (25 June 2019)
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Reducing disaster risk is a good investment, and ‘the right thing to do’, says Guterres

13 October 2019
Global

There is a strong economic case for climate resilience and reducing the risk of disasters, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, which falls on Sunday.