22 May 2019 — The food people eat around the world is becoming “alarmingly homogenous” according to UN data, even though access to a wide variety of nutritious food has never been greater. That warning comes as the world marks the International Day for Biological Diversity on Wednesday, which this year highlights the impact of environmental neglect on food security and public health.
22 May 2019 — Businesses perform better – sometimes by as much as 20 per cent – when they employ more women in top positions, UN labour experts said on Wednesday, warning nonetheless that most still pay lip-service to the idea of gender equality in the boardroom.
21 May 2019 — With 24.2 million Africans forced from their homes in 2017 ̶ 4.6 million more than the previous year ̶ the UN is hosting a three-day event at UN headquarters, focusing on finding durable solutions to the problem, which is a growing burden on the continent’s economy, environment and communities which host those displaced.
21 May 2019 — The damage done to Libya will already take “years to mend” but unless fighting around the capital Tripoli stops, the country risks “descending into a civil war which could lead to the permanent division of the country”.
20 May 2019 — In recognition of his “brave and selfless” action under fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ̶ saving the life of a fellow ‘blue helmet’ and helping his colleagues repel an armed group ̶ the late Malawian soldier Chancy Chitete, will be honoured with the UN’s highest peacekeeping award this coming Friday, by the UN Secretary-General.
20 May 2019 — The UN emergency food relief agency said on Monday that without full access and “freedom to decide” who receives lifesaving aid, in Houthi rebel-controlled areas of Yemen, it could be forced to implement a “phased suspension”.
20 May 2019 — If you think you’re busy, then spare a thought for the world’s bees; for they, along with other insects and animals, are responsible for pollinating more than 75 per cent of the planet’s favourite food crops.
18 May 2019 — Concluding a week-long visit to the South Pacific, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the world’s decision-makers to make “enlightened” choices on climate action because “the whole planet” is at stake.
Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities. Pollinators allow many plants, including many food crops, to reproduce. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity - a cornerstone of the Sustainable Development Goals. They also serve as sentinels for emergent environmental risks, signaling the health of local ecosystems. To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.
Nowadays, we have access to a greater variety of food than our parents or your grandparents once did. But even as the offerings become more diverse, the global diet as a whole - what people actually eat - is becoming more homogenized, and this is a dangerous thing. This year’s International Day for Biological Diversity focuses on biodiversity as the foundation for our food and health and a key catalyst to transforming food systems and improving human health with the theme: Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health.
In the past 100 years, 58 tsunamis have killed more than 260,000 people, higher than any other natural hazard.They can’t be predicted, and often come with very little warning. More than 70 percent of all tsunamis ever recorded have been in the Pacific Ocean. Partnering with the Government of Japan, UNDP began working with 90 schools to assess their tsunami risks, design emergency procedures and evacuation plans, and carry out tsunami awareness and safety drills in the 18 Asia and the Pacific countries in 2017. More than 100 schools and 60,000 people took part.
Domnic Lokinyomo Lobalu won the Harmony Geneva Marathon by UNICEF and Paulo Amotun placed second. Both are refugees, hoping to compete at next year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. “I am very happy to have won today. I am going back to even more intense training when I return to Kenya,” said Lobalu, who is originally from South Sudan. Paulo Amotun competed at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, where the refugee Olympians achieved a high profile because of the hardships they have overcome. Following the ground-breaking debut of refugee athletes in Rio, the International Olympic Committee announced in October that a Refugee Olympic Team would compete in the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge is a celebration of the importance of health. A free event taking place in Geneva on 19 May 2019, for people of all physical abilities, it aims to raise awareness of the work and goals of WHO and other global health agencies based in Geneva, highlighting the city’s role as a global health capital in improving global health. The second annual event also engages World Health Assembly delegates, the UN family and the Geneva community in a global movement to promote health and particularly physical activity as part of a healthy sustainable future. Demonstrate what you do to promote health and well-being by posting on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtag #HealthForAll
Find out more about the Sustainable Development Goals
