NEWS AND MEDIA
At Bonn talks, UN climate change chief urges progress towards low-emissions future
At the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn , the top United Nations climate change official called on governments to make progress in the fight against global warming, building on commitments made last year. "Governments lit a beacon in Cancun towards a low-emission world which is resilient to climate change," UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres said . "Now, more than ever, it is critical that all efforts are mobilized towards living up to this commitment."
Spending more on forests could reap enormous benefits – UN report
Investing a relatively small amount each year in the forestry sector could halve deforestation, create millions of new jobs and help tackle the devastating effects of climate change, according to a United Nations report released to mark World Environment Day. The report, "Forests in a Green Economy: A Synthesis," finds that an additional $40 billion spent each year in the forestry sector –- or just 0.034 per cent of global gross domestic product -– could result in substantial environmental improvements.
Public-private partnerships can bring affordable clean energy to poor
The estimated 2.5 billion people across the world who do not have access to reliable electricity supplies can benefit from clean and renewable energy generated through partnerships between governments and the private sector, a report by UN-Energy, leading electricity companies and other partners said.
Renewable sources can meet most global energy demands
Renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind, biomass and hydropower could meet nearly 80 per cent of the world’s energy supplies by 2050 if governments pursue policies that harness their potential, a report by more than 120 researchers working with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates.
UN unveils report on size and scale of its carbon footprint
Activities by the United Nations in 2009 caused the emission of a total of 1.7 million tons of greenhouse gases, the Organization said in a new report, Moving Towards a Climate Neutral UN. The report details the greenhouse gas emissions of 52 UN institutions, covering 200,000 employees. It is published as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the UN's carbon footprint.
UN warns of climate change's potentially dire impact on food security
The effects of slow-onset climate change are expected to have a "potentially catastrophic" impact on food production in developing countries in the future, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned, calling for action to mitigate the adverse consequences.
New energy-efficient UN offices in Kenya
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon officially opened the new energy-efficient United Nations office complex in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, calling it a model for environmentally sustainable architecture in Africa and beyond.
Towards a Green Economy
Read the ground-breaking report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication, compiled by UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative in collaboration with economists and experts worldwide. It demonstrates that the greening of economies is not generally a drag on growth but rather a new engine of growth; that it is a net generator of decent jobs, and that it is also a vital strategy for the elimination of persistent poverty.
Cities and Climate Change
According to a new report by UN-HABITAT, cities are responsible for up to 70 per cent of the world's harmful greenhouse gases while occupying just 2 per cent of the its land. “Cities are responsible for the majority of our harmful greenhouse gases. But they are also places where the greatest efficiencies can be made. This makes it imperative that we understand the form and content of urbanization so that we can reduce our footprint,” said Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT.
