World Oceans Day in photos
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked that we recommit to using the oceans' gifts "peacefully, equitably and sustainably."
On World Day, UN urges meaningful action to protect future health of oceans
On World Day, UN urges meaningful action to protect future health of oceans Healthy oceans are critical to sustaining life on Earth, by regulating the climate and providing a wide range of services, including natural resources, nutritious food and jobs that benefit billions of people, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared today, as the UN kicked off its celebrations to mark World Oceans Day.
Concern about marine ecosystems at center of World Oceans Day observances
Growing concern over the health of marine ecosystems is at the center of United Nations observances to mark World Oceans Day 2016 on 8 June.
With many plant and animal species ‘hanging on by a thread,’ UN urges action to tackle wildlife crime
The poaching and illegal trade of thousands of species across the globe present real environmental dangers and undermine the rule of law, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said today, urging shared responsibility among the international community in tackling wildlife and forest crime.
UN Environment Assembly opens in Nairobi aiming to ensure ‘healthy planet, with healthy people’
Hundreds of key global decision-makers are gathering in Kenya today for the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2), aiming to tackle some of the most critical issues facing our planet, from the air pollution that kills millions of people every year to an illegal trade in wildlife that is pushing species to the brink of extinction.
Rate of Environmental Damage Increasing Across Planet but Still Time to Reverse Worst Impacts
The environmental change sweeping the world is occurring at a faster pace than previously thought, making it imperative that governments act now to reverse the damage being done to the planet, says the most authoritative study that UNEP has ever published on the state of the global environment.
Ground-breaking illegal fishing accord soon to enter into force
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing is about to become much more difficult thanks to the imminent entry into force of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), a ground-breaking international accord championed by FAO.
Ban intends to appoint Erik Solheim new UNEP director
The Secretary-General informed the General Assembly of his intention to appoint Erik Solheim of Norway as the new Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.
Countries to begin negotiations on elements for a binding instrument to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity
The first negotiating session of a Preparatory Committee established by the General Assembly to discuss the elements of a draft text of a legally binding instrument to improve the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in the world’s oceans in areas beyond national jurisdiction will take place from 28 March-8 April 2016.
Threats to forests could imperil global freshwater supplies
Safeguarding forests is essential for sustainable management of global freshwater resources and avoiding water shortages, according to United Nations officials and forest experts at an event today marking the International Day of Forests.
Full text of ground-breaking assessment highlighting threats to world’s oceans from human activities made public
Report warns that a failure to quickly respond to problems poses greatest threat to oceans.
Ahead of Sustainable Development Summit, UN Secretariat building lights up to showcase sustainable development goals
Ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit from 25-27 September, and to mark the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, a 10-minute film introducing the sustainable development goals was projected onto the United Nations Headquarters last night.
Major assessment finds world is running out of time to sustainably manage its oceans
Delays in implementing solutions to the problems that have already been identified as threatening to degrade the world’s oceans will lead, unnecessarily, to incurring greater environmental, social and economic costs, according to a summary released this week of the most comprehensive scientific and socioeconomic assessment ever undertaken on the world’s oceans and which is to reinforce the science-policy interface for oceans.
Momentum gathers for international agreement to combat rogue fishing
Growing numbers of countries are ratifying an international agreement to combat illegal fishing, fueling interest in how best to implement the instrument.
Countries take steps towards international agreement to protect marine biodiversity
Member States at the United Nations have agreed to develop a legally-binding instrument to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity of areas beyond their national borders.
On World Oceans Day, UN urges global resolve to ‘appreciate, protect and restore’ Earth’s oceans
Although the world's oceans are vast, their capacity to withstand damage caused by human activity is limited, compromising their critical contribution to the future of sustainable development, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared today as the United Nations kicked-off its celebrations for the 2015 edition of World Oceans Day.
A “water secure future” is possible with changes to water management practices
A possible 40 per cent water shortfall in freshwater supplies by 2030 could be avoided if the international community takes recommended action, according to the 2015 World Water Development report.
New software may allow better protection of endangered shark species, says UN agency
The United Nations agricultural agency has today announced the launch [...]