Environmental issues and sustainable development

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the Vulnerable 20 Ministerial Dialogue, in New York on 21 April:

The United Nations Environment Programme today released a report saying sand, the world’s second most exploited resource, must be recognized as a strategic resource and its extraction from rivers and marine ecosystems and its use must rethought, as they can cause erosion and threaten livelihoods.  

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the SDG [Sustainable Development Goals] Investment Fair, in New York today:

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks at the second United Nations Round Table on Sustainable Floating Cities:  Meeting the Rising Seas with Floating Infrastructure, in New York, today:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the fourth Asia-Pacific Water Summit, held in Kumamoto, Japan, today:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Environment Programme expressed grave concern today over the arrest, detention and sentencing of four environmental human rights defenders in Viet Nam on charges of tax evasion and urged Vietnamese authorities to ensure environmental advocates can operate freely.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for International Mother Earth Day, observed on 22 April:

Over 1 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have received one or more doses of the world’s first malaria vaccine thanks to a pilot programme coordinated by the World Health Organization.  The agency estimates that, if widely deployed, the vaccine could save the lives of an additional 40,000 to 80,000 children annually.

United Nations staff in South Africa say they are working closely with national and local authorities to support regions impacted by last week’s devastating floods, including providing dignity packs, blankets, food and other necessities in Kwazulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Provinces, and working to restore access to services and Internet connectivity.

The Houthis movement — also known as Ansar Allah — have signed an action plan with the United Nations to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, the killing and maiming of boys and girls, attacks on schools and hospitals and other grave violations.  Virginia Gamba, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, signed the action plan as a witness in New York.