Environmental issues and sustainable development

Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating socioeconomic consequences must not leave anyone behind, speakers told the high-level political forum on sustainable development as it opened its 2021 session today.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Austria World Summit, held today:

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the fifth United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters:  “Building Back Better towards a More Resilient and Sustainable Post-COVID-19 World”, in Brussels today:

The Ministerial Forums for the High-Level Dialogue on Energy ended today, with commitments announced by India’s major power supplier, NTPC; Power Africa pledging to the electrification of more health centres; and Student Energy aiming to mobilize $150 million to train 35,000 young energy leaders in 100 countries.

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the side event on climate change and green growth at the fifty-sixth annual meeting of the African Development Bank today:

In Myanmar, the United Nations team remains very concerned about the humanitarian situation.  Some 230,000 people have been forced to flee their home due to clashes between the military and ethnic armed groups, or among ethnic armed groups, since the military takeover of the Government on 1 February.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the opening of the Ministerial Thematic Forums of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy, today:

The United Nations learned with deep sadness that Edward Mortimer, Head Speechwriter and Director of Communications for Secretary-General Kofi Annan, died at the weekend.  During a tumultuous period in world affairs, Mr. Mortimer made an imprint on many of the Secretary-General’s signature achievements and initiatives.

Humanitarian officials say the security and access situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray region remains complex and extremely fluid, with active hostilities impeding people’s access to assistance and the movement of aid workers.  They say more than 500 cases of gender-based violence, including rape, were reported in May.

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the Coimbra Group Conference on Sustainable Universities in the Twenty-First Century, in Prague today: