Environmental issues and sustainable development

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Satellite Centre, today:

A new report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals that Governments and detaining authorities in at least 84 countries have released more than 45,000 children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Some 261,000 children in conflict with the law are still being held in detention worldwide.

Following is Secretary-General António Guterres’ statement on the conclusion of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), today:

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore voiced deep concern over reports that child marriage in Afghanistan is on the rise, with families offering daughters as young as 20 days old for future marriage in return for a dowry.  Some 28 per cent of Afghan women aged 15–49 were married before 18.

Following are UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ remarks to the Global Climate Action High‑Level event, in Glasgow, United Kingdom, today:

Mahamat Annadif, the Secretary‑General’s Special Representative for West Africa, and Foreign Minister of Guinea, Morissanda Kouyaté, launched a new initiative to facilitate an inclusive transition in Guinea by fostering reconciliation at national and community levels and increasing participation of women and all communities.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Caring for Climate high-level meeting, held today:

UNICEF released a report today showing there are nearly 240 million children with disabilities around the world, a new global approximation higher than previous estimates which considers symptoms of anxiety and depression, among other difficulties across several domains of functioning.

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the Reykjavik Global Forum, today:

The World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that the number of people teetering on the edge of famine in 43 countries has risen from 42 to 45 million people, as acute hunger spikes around the world.  The agency said needs are vastly surpassing available resources at a time when traditional funding streams are overstretched.