HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

WEDNESDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2019

Secretary-General at COP 25
The Secretary-General is back in Madrid at the UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP25. Today he spoke at the High-Level Event on Global Climate Action, where he called on the world’s biggest emitters to do much more on climate, warning that “if we do not reach carbon neutrality by 2050, all our current efforts to promote sustainable development will be undermined.”
The Secretary-General stressed that in 2020 “we must deliver what the scientific community has defined as a must, or we and every generation that follows will pay an unbearable price.”
He also laid out his 10 priorities to tackle the climate crisis which include: securing commitments from the main emitters of more ambitious national commitments by 2020; ensuring that all governments follow the example of the 75 countries that committed to coming forward by next year with net zero emissions strategies for 2050; and ensuring that national commitments include a just transition for people whose jobs and livelihoods are affected as we move from the grey to the green economy.
He urged the participants at COP 25 to stand firm, work together and refuse to relent in this fight for our lives.
The Secretary-General also spoke at the High-Level Event on Caring for Climate, organized by the Global Compact, where he called on businesses to unite behind the science by taking rapid and ambitious action to tackle the climate crisis. He also urged private sector leaders to challenge their Governments to enable businesses and the financial sector to invest decisively in a net-zero future.
And at that same event, it was announced that the size of the Business Ambition Alliance has increased from 90 businesses at the Climate Action Summit in September to 177 now. These businesses comprise almost 6 million employees.
In addition, there has been a major jump in investors in the Net-Zero Asset Owners Alliance, from $2.4 trillion at Climate Summit to nearly $4 trillion now.
And the Secretary-General has continued to meet with ministers at the COP and will continue to do so over the next few days.

Ukraine
Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo will visit Ukraine from 12 to 13 December 2019. In Kyiv, Ms. DiCarlo will hold talks with Ukrainian authorities, representatives of United Nations agencies and partner civil society organizations, including groups representing internally displaced persons, women and youth.
 
Normandy Four Summit  
The Secretary-General welcomes the outcomes of the meeting of the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine (Normandy Four) held on 9 December in Paris. He reaffirms the strong support of the United Nations for the lead role of the member countries of the Normandy Four, the OSCE Trilateral Contact Group, and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine in the framework of the Minsk Agreements.
The Secretary-General calls on all concerned to redouble their efforts to build on recent progress towards a resolution of the conflict. He reiterates his full support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
 
Occupied Palestinian Territory 
The Government of Palestine, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations today launched the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2020 in the occupied Palestinian territory, which seeks $348 million to provide assistance to 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.  
Humanitarian Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said that half of all Palestinians living in the area are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, and the plan for 2020 prioritizes aid to those in greatest need.
About 76 per cent of the requested funds target Gaza, where the situation remains extremely fragile - with almost half the population unemployed and an estimated 62 per cent of households facing food insecurity.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, settlement activity and related violence, loss of land, destruction of property and movement restrictions, impede access to basic services and livelihoods for Palestinians. 
 
Burkina Faso 
In Burkina Faso, the population is facing an unprecedented protection crisis, as a result of spiraling insecurity and the erosion of access to basic services in regions along the borders with Mali and Niger.
Currently, nearly one-third of the population is affected by the crisis.
Next year, some 2.2 million people will require life-saving humanitarian assistance, nearly double the 1.2 million people in need at the start of 2019.
Burkina Faso has become one of the fastest-growing displacement crises in Africa. From January to October, the number of internally displaced persons has increased by 934%, from 87,000 to 486,000 people.
Last week alone, some 7,000 people were displaced from one community in the eastern part of the country. The UN and humanitarian partners are supporting the response by providing emergency food to the displaced.
The 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan for Burkina Faso is requesting US$ 295 million to assist 1.8 million people.
 
Security Council
This morning, the Security Council held a debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
At 3:00 p.m. this afternoon, the Council will hold an open meeting on non-proliferation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
 
UNICEF
The number of children whose births are officially registered has increased significantly worldwide, yet 166 million children under-five, or 1 in 4, remain unregistered.
According to a new report released by UNICEF today, which analyses data from 174 countries, the proportion of children under-five registered globally is up around 20 per cent from 10 years ago, increasing from 63 per cent to 75 per cent.
Global progress is driven largely by great strides in South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
By contrast, the majority of countries in sub-Saharan Africa lag behind the rest of the world, with Ethiopia, Zambia and Chad recording the lowest levels of registered births globally.

International Mountain Day
And today is International Mountain Day.
This UN observance aims to highlight that mountains are home of the 15% of the world´s population and a quarter of the world’s land animals and plants, and providing freshwater for everyday life to half of humanity.
Their conservation is therefore a key factor for sustainable development and is part of Goal 15 of the Sustainable Development Goals.
However, mountains are under threat from climate change and overexploitation.
This year’s theme is Mountains Matter for Youth to highlight that for rural youth, living in the mountains can be hard. Migration from the mountains leads to abandoned agriculture, land degradation and a loss of ancient cultural traditions.
 
Financial contribution
Bangladesh has made a full payment to the UN’s regular budget. This payment takes the UN to 140 fully paid-up Member States.