Ban stresses role of business in advancing sustainable development agenda

Discussions begin on Rio+20 outcome document

Delegates from United Nations Member States gathered in New York today to begin discussions on inputs, the structure and format of the outcome document to be finalized by world leaders at next year’s UN conference on sustainable development in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

Canada’s withdrawal from Kyoto Protocol regrettable – UN climate official

Canada’s decision to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol is surprising and regrettable, the United Nations climate change chief Christiana Figueres said today, calling on developed countries to meet the commitments they recently made at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa.

UN mobile app lets users calculate size of carbon footprint

A new United Nations mobile telephone application released today lets users calculate their carbon footprint, visualize its equivalent in a particular ecosystem, and learn new ways in which they can reduce their emissions through specific actions.

Durban climate conference delivers breakthrough

Countries meeting in Durban, South Africa, have delivered a breakthrough on the future of the international community’s response to climate change, whilst recognizing the urgent need to raise their collective level of ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep the average global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius.

Ban welcomes climate change deal reached at UN conference in Durban

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today the set of decisions reached by countries at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, saying they represent a significant agreement that will define how the international community will address climate change in the coming years.

UN-led campaign that planted 12 billion trees worldwide starts new phase

United Nations campaign that has overseen the planting of more than 12 billion trees around the world has been handed over to a youth-led environmental organization based in Germany that will build on the initiative’s achievements over the past four years.

Climate funding for poor countries should not add to their debt burden – UN expert

Financing received through the proposed Green Climate Fund should not exacerbate developing countries’ debt burdens, an independent United Nations human rights expert said today, calling for international banking institutions not to have too great an influence on the fund.

UN agency, Italian energy company partner to combat hunger and climate change

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Italian energy company Enel announced today a new partnership to combat hunger and malnutrition while also reducing carbon emissions through the use of ‘green’ stoves and solar panels.

Ban presses for support for UN initiative to combat deforestation

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called today for increased support from Member States for a United Nations initiative to slow, halt and reverse deforestation, and help developing countries manage their forests in a sustainable manner.