Environmental issues and sustainable development

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has started a joint operation with the Congolese Armed Forces to protect civilians in the Madombo and Itendey areas of Ituri Province, respectively controlled by the Zaire and CODECO armed groups.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the press on the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Report 2024, in New York today:

The World Food Programme (WFP) says its operations are being severely hindered by the escalation of fighting in south and central Gaza, as well as the limited flow of humanitarian assistance and the lack of public order and safety in the south. Despite this, WFP has reached more than 766,000 people in Gaza with food in June.

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

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Health Effects Institute, an independent United States-based nonprofit organization, today released a report that says air pollution is having an increasing impact on human health, becoming the second leading global risk factor for death.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the World Day to Combat Desertification, observed on 17 June:

A new report released today by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that almost 3 million refugees worldwide will need resettlement in 2025. This is mainly driven by the emergence of new conflicts and the impacts of climate change.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ special address on climate action, “A Moment of Truth”, to the American Museum of Natural History, in New York today:

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, today expressed serious concern at the recent rise in killings of civilians across Burkina Faso, with allegations of responsibility pointing to both armed groups and State actors.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Noura Hamladji of Algeria as Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.