Environmental issues and sustainable development

As Ramadan begins, the soaring cost of food staples in import-dependent Middle Eastern and North African countries is creating ever greater challenges for millions of families already struggling to keep hunger at bay, the World Food Programme said, warning that millions will struggle to buy even basic foods.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the launch of the High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of non-State entities, in New York today:

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today launched his Expert Group to develop stronger and clearer standards for net-zero emissions pledges by non-State entities — including businesses, investors, cities and regions — and speed up their implementation.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, today:

Humanity continues to do more harm than good to nature, with the planet facing multiple existential threats requiring urgent corrective action, speakers and panellists today told the Preparatory Committee for “Stockholm+50:  a healthy planet for the prosperity of all — our responsibility, our opportunity”, the international environmental conference scheduled for 2 and 3 June 2022 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the preparatory meeting for the international meeting “Stockholm+50:  A healthy planet for the prosperity of all — our responsibility, our opportunity”, in New York today:

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the Global Solutions Summit 2022 in Berlin today:

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the African Union Continental Workshop, in Abuja today:

On the heels of International Water Day, which was yesterday, humanitarian staff in the Horn of Africa say millions of people face severe water shortages and are going hungry due to the devastating drought in that region, which risks becoming one of the Horn’s worst climate-induced emergencies in the last 40 years.

Stephanie Williams, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya, welcomed in Tunis today members of the High Council of State, who will participate in determining the constitutional basis for national elections.  It is extremely important to respect the will of 2.8 million registered Libyan voters, she said.