Noon briefing of 14 November 2022

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2022

SECRETARY-GENERAL/BALI
The Secretary-General spoke to the press in Bali, Indonesia, about the G20 Summit that is taking place there. He said that the Summit comes at a crucial time when our world is facing the most pivotal, precarious moment in generations.
On climate, he warned that the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees is slipping away. The Secretary-General proposed a historic pact between developed and emerging economies – a Climate Solidarity Pact that combines the capacities and resources of developed and emerging economies for the benefit of all. He noted that G20 countries are responsible for 80 per cent of global emissions, and G20 leaders can make or break the Climate Solidarity Pact.
The Secretary-General also urged G20 economies to adopt a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) stimulus package that will provide governments of the Global South with investments and liquidity and offer debt relief and restructuring.  
He added that the Black Sea Grain Initiative has already helped to stabilize markets and bring food prices down. Meanwhile, he said, we must do more to ease the global fertilizer crunch.
Mr. Guterres said that we urgently need global guardrails on technology, and that he would suggest a way forward based on a Global Digital Compact for an open, free, secure and inclusive internet.

TÜRKIYE
In a statement we issued this morning, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the deadly bombing in Istanbul yesterday. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, as well as to the Government and people of the Republic of Türkiye. The Secretary-General wishes a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.

ETHIOPIA
The Secretary-General welcomed the agreement reached on Saturday between senior commanders of the Ethiopian army and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front, establishing the modalities for the implementation of the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA).
The Secretary-General reiterates the United Nations’ readiness to support this critical process. He calls on the parties to move ahead as a matter of urgency in translating this agreement into concrete improvements for civilians on the ground, including accelerating the facilitation of humanitarian access and the restoration of essential services.

UKRAINE
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, was in the city of Kherson, where the UN delivered supplies for thousands of civilians, less than 72 hours after the Government of Ukraine regained control of the city. This is the first time that humanitarian workers have been able to enter Kherson with humanitarian aid since Russian forces took control of the city in the first weeks of the war, in early March 2022.
The supplies were provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

UN POLICE WEEK
Today marks the start of the 17th United Nations Police Week, which takes place virtually this year. The event brings together UN principals and Heads of Police components from 16 peace operations to engage in reinforcing the contribution of UN policing to the Action for Peacekeeping Priorities.
An emphasis will be placed on improving performance and accountability, strengthening conduct and discipline, and fostering greater strategic and operational integration, while advancing gender-responsive, environmentally-sensitive and tech-enabled policing.
This morning, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed the Security Council on this topic. He said this annual briefing to the Council is an opportunity to reaffirm the vital role that United Nations Police play across the conflict prevention spectrum, from peacebuilding to peacekeeping.
Mr. Lacroix called on the international community to work collectively to ensure that UN Police are properly prepared, equipped and resourced to address the greatest challenges to global peace, security and development we are seeing today. He said that Action for Peacekeeping continues to provide our strategic direction and he updated Council members on priorities in this regard.

UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACE OPERATIONS/TRIP
Over the weekend, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh wrapped up their visit to Abyei after a brief stop in Khartoum to discuss related-issues.
The two-day trip to Abyei took place in a context of renewed clashes and tensions that are putting pressure on communities and on UN peacekeepers, who are continuing to protect civilians, promote peace and facilitate humanitarian assistance. During the visit, Mr. Lacroix and Special Envoy Tetteh visited a ‘smart camp’ in Dukra that is harnessing technology and innovation to bring automation and efficiency to many of the Mission’s activities. The camp also hosts a pilot project of the Elsie Initiative, which is designed to help promote the participation of more women in peacekeeping.
Mr. Lacroix and Ms. Tetteh also visited the Gender Based Violence desk of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), which is helping survivors to report and get support as part of the Mission’s protection efforts. Speaking to peacekeepers, he said this initiative launched in June has led to an increase in reported cases, including from areas that are not easily accessible.
The delegation also interacted with people displaced and living in the Bokchop IDP camp, many of whom fled recent flooding and fighting. He pledged to increase UN assistance, amid difficult conditions such as impassable roads and broken bridges.
During the visit, Mr. Lacroix and Ms. Tetteh held discussions with local administrations, leaders of the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities and women’s groups as well as with UNISFA personnel and UN agencies, funds and programmes present in Abyei.

EXPLOSIVE WEAPONS IN POPULATED AREAS
The UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, the Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell, and ICRC Presidentm Mirjana Spoljaric, today jointly urged States to support a new political declaration to protect civilians from explosive weapons in populated areas. This new declaration will be launched on Friday in Dublin, Ireland, after three years of consultations.
Ms. Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, will represent the Secretary-General at the ceremony.
In conflicts around the world, civilians continue to endure the devastating consequences of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The use of these weapons claims countless lives and limbs, causes widespread destruction, and deprives people of essential civilian services, such as water and sanitation, electricity, health care and education.

GREENING ENTERPRISES
A report released today by the International Labour Organization (ILO) shows that enterprises can play a crucial role in protecting the environment and creating a just transition based on equity and the participation of all stakeholders. ILO research also finds that an increasing number of businesses are taking steps to reduce their carbon emissions, in response to the scarcity of resources, the frequency of natural disasters, and calls from consumers and clients to be more proactive on climate issues.
The report includes recommendations to help enterprises adopt good environmental practices and achieve a just transition.

STATE OF THE CLIMATE IN ASIA
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) today released a report showing that economic losses from drought, floods and landslides have rocketed in Asia. According to WMO, in 2021 alone, weather and water-related hazards caused total damage of $35.6 billion, affecting nearly 50 million people.
The State of the Climate in Asia 2021, presented during the COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, notes that in 2021, there were a total of more than 100 natural hazard events in Asia, of which 80 per cent were flood and storm events.
The report also painted a worrying scenario for future water stress. WMO notes that the High Mountain Asia, including the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau, contains the largest volume of ice outside of the polar region. According to the report, the rate of glacier retreat is accelerating, and many glaciers suffered from intense losses as the result of exceptionally warm and dry conditions in 2021.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has no role in establishing or modifying the notification regime; this is the sole purview of the Security Council. Since March 2008, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has not been subject to a Security Council arms embargo and has been able to import any weapons and ammunition.
According to the current notification regime established by the Security Council, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not limited from procuring weapons and ammunition. Only exporting States and arm suppliers are mandated to notify the Sanctions Committee of the provision of weapons and training in advance of the shipment of arms and the provision of training.

SUSTAINABLE FOOD COLD CHAINS/REPORT
And today, at the COP27, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report highlighting how lack of effective refrigeration directly results in the loss of 526 million tons of food production, or 12 per cent of the global total.
The report finds that food cold chains are critical to meeting the challenge of feeding an additional two billion people by 2050 and harnessing rural communities’ resilience, while avoiding increased greenhouse gas emissions.

WORLD DIABETES DAY
Today is World Diabetes Day, and this year’s theme, ‘Access to Diabetes Education’, underpins the larger multi-year theme of 'access to care'.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that 100 years after the discovery of insulin, millions of people with diabetes around the world cannot obtain the care they need.
According to WHO, between 2000 and 2019, there was a 3 per cent increase in age-standardized mortality rates from diabetes. In lower-middle-income countries, the mortality rate due to diabetes increased 13 per cent.

NOON BRIEFING GUESTS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, the guests at the noon briefing will be Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), along with Ib Petersen, Deputy Director for Management at the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and John Wilmoth, Director of the Population Division in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. And they will brief you on the Day of 8 Billion.
According to the World Population Prospects 2022, the world population will reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022, which is, in other words, tomorrow.