Environmental issues and sustainable development

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the United Nations Water Conference, in New York today:

Ensuring sustainable economic and urban development in times of worldwide and increasing water stress — as a result of climate change, pollution and unsustainable water management — is one of the most pressing issues facing the world, speakers underscored as the 2023 Water Conference held its second interactive dialogue.

A joint operation between the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and the country’s internal security forces has led to the arrest of Hussein Damboucha, regional commander of the armed group Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique and member of the Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the sixth United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters, in New York today:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the press conference to launch the Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, today:

A report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Somalia’s Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services suggests that an estimated 43,000 excess deaths may have occurred in the country in 2022 due to the deepening drought.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks at the Sustainable Development Goals Summit consultations, in New York today:

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime today released its first-ever Global Report on Cocaine, noting that the global supply of cocaine has reached record levels, with coca cultivation soaring 35 per cent from 2020 to 2021. Demand for cocaine has also swelled with many regions showing a steady rise in cocaine users.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Water Day, observed on 22 March:

Following the two cyclones that hit Vanuatu in March, the United Nations resident coordinator has met with Government ministers, the Disaster Management Office and Organization staff to understand challenges, needs and ways the United Nations can further support recovery.