Environmental issues and sustainable development

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today released its annual Adaptation Gap Report, which finds that progress on climate adaptation is slowing on all fronts. The adaptation finance needs of developing countries are 10 to 18 times as big as international public finance flows.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Nepalese Parliament, in Kathmandu today:

In Ukraine, an Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs official, briefing the Security Council today, said that more than 9,900 civilians have been killed since the start of the invasion and damage to infrastructure continues to impact civilians’ access to electricity, heating, water and telecommunications.

In Haiti, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports that since mid-August, violence in Port-au-Prince has forced about 40,000 people to flee from their homes. These recent movements bring the total number of displaced people across the country to 200,000.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on the glaciers from the Mount Everest region, in Nepal today:

The text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the Three Basins Summit is not available in English.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s keynote remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the EU Global Gateway Forum, in Brussels today:

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) — by far the largest humanitarian provider in Gaza — warned that, unless fuel is allowed into Gaza immediately, it will be forced to halt its operations tonight.

In Libya, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that, five weeks after Storm Daniel brought catastrophic flooding to the country’s north-east, more than 43,000 people are still displaced.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Andrea Cook of the United Kingdom as the first Executive Director of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group System-Wide Evaluation Office.  The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation to Matthew Varghese, who served as Acting Executive Director.