United Nations in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

The United Nations Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean in collaboration with its partners is supporting implementation of the sustainable development goals across the 10 countries covered by our multi-country office (MCO). These 17 Global Goals are a roadmap to address the most pressing challenges facing Caribbean citizens and persons all over the world, to create a sustainable future for all. Kindly note that the data visualizations show an aggregate of the Caribbean. To view the disaggregated data per country, please click on the name of the country or territory you wish to explore.

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28 November 2023

Barbados Prioritizes Gender-Sensitive Early Warning Systems to Protect All from Natural Disasters

Bridgetown, Barbados, November 2023: Barbados earlier this month held a national consultation with key stakeholders to build on its public warning system recognising that the island faces various hazards that can pose risks to its population, infrastructure, environment and development progress. The context for Barbados’ hazard risk is explained that because of its unique location in the hurricane-prone Atlantic basin, Barbados is at risk of hurricanes and tropical storms which can bring strong winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, and flooding, leading to damage to homes, infrastructure, and agriculture. Urban areas, particularly in low-lying coastal regions, can be vulnerable to flooding, causing damage to homes, roads, and public utilities. The meeting reviewed the existing multi-hazard early warning gap analysis and implementation plan developed by the Department of Emergency Management through a stocktaking of existing actions, initiatives, existing gaps and challenges. The outcome of which was to develop a detailed and action-oriented implementation plan that would translate early warning systems into risk-informed early action. The meeting was in response to the UN Secretary General’s Early Warning for All Initiative (EW4ALL), calling for every person on Earth to be protected by early warning systems by 2027. Nadia Manning-Thomas, UN Women MCO Caribbean Planning and Coordination Specialist and thematic lead for Gender-responsive Climate Change and Disaster Risk Resilience, presented on the differential impact of disasters for women, girls, boys and men, and the importance of establishing a gender perspective in Early Warning Systems. She highlighted the findings of the UN Women and IISD reports on Gender Inequality and Differential Impact of Climate Change and Disaster Risk and Cost of Inaction for several Caribbean countries. The reports detail how natural hazards and climate change impact men and women differently because of a host of factors, including their different roles and individual and family responsibilities, and policy development and service delivery by mandating bodies. They were produced under the Global Affairs Canada and UKFCDO-funded EnGenDER Project. The UN Women Specialist also demonstrated how a gap analysis should be conducted as part of efforts towards achieving gender-transformative disaster risk management. The meeting was held under the leadership of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The UNDRR and WMO are coordinating national consultations in 30 at-risk countries globally, including four Caribbean states: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana and Haiti. The discussions took place in the context of the initiative’s four pillars; Pillar 1: Risk Knowledge and Management Pillar 2: Observation, Monitoring and Forecasting Pillar 3: Warning Dissemination and Communication Pillar 4: Preparedness to Respond Grainne Ahern, UN Women Programme Assistant for Gender-responsive Climate Change and Disaster Risk Resilience presented the gap analysis for warning dissemination and communication. This speaks to ensuring public warnings from official sources are easily recognised, and that relaying this information reaches all people at risk, especially the most vulnerable. UN Women MCO Caribbean will continue to actively engage in the upcoming regional consultations in Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) EW4ALL, launched the Early Warning Systems for All (EW4ALL) in Barbados by UN Special Representative Mami Mizutori in February 2023.

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17 November 2023

BCCI First Business Chamber in the Caribbean to sign UN Global Compact

The Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has become the first business chamber in the Caribbean to partner with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), with the recent signing of a partnership agreement.

Under this partnership agreement, the Barbados Chamber and the UNGC commit to advancing the Global Compact’s Multiplier Strategy in Barbados, primarily among the BCCI membership across the business sector. The two organizations will also collaborate on promoting the sector’s contribution towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and scaling up global collective actions aligned with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, aimed at upholding human rights, ensuring environmental responsibility, and fighting against corruption in all its forms.

This is a historic partnership as the UN Global Compact is uniquely positioned to support businesses in aligning their practices to be more sustainable as they build back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a partner of the Global Compact, the BCCI will play a pivotal role in encouraging greater involvement of the business sector in advancing the sustainability agenda in Barbados and in promoting the adoption of sustainable, socially, and environmentally responsible best practices among businesses. We are embarking on a journey that will undoubtedly leave a lasting and positive impact on our economy, our people, and our planet,” stated BCCI Executive Director Misha Lobban Clarke while addressing the Signing Ceremony.
Also addressing the gathering, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, underlined: “If we are to succeed in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, engagement and partnership with the private sector is imperative. Today’s signing is therefore a critical step in the right direction towards building sustainable businesses in the Caribbean. As Barbados’ oldest private sector association, one of our key partners and a trusted voice in the regional business community, it is quite fitting that the BCCI is leading the way among the business chambers in committing to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda." View the full photo album here. 🎞️

BCCI President, James “Jimmy” Clarke explained that: “our roadmap for the implementation of the UN Global Compact is robust. We will not only promote the Ten Principles within our membership but will also help build the capacity of our membership. Through the SME Journey with members, we will empower our members to embrace these principles, ensuring a widespread adoption of responsible business practices within our community.” Through the Global Compact, BCCI members will gain access to the UN network and platform where ideas are exchanged, and partnerships can be forged. It provides access to knowledge-sharing with other businesses in the global network, enabling BCCI members to develop environmental and social risk analyses, sustainable strategies, and responsible business practices. The Global Compact will also equip businesses with tools to address critical corporate sustainability challenges.
The partnership agreement was signed on October 26, by the UN Resident Coordinator; the BCCI President and Esther Corral, Global Compact’s Regional Head for Latin America and the Caribbean, during a Cocktail Reception. The event was attended by representatives from the business sector, the UN Resident Coordinator Office; UN Women, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other specially invited guests.

For further information contact:
Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI)
Email: bcci@barbadoschamber.com
Telephone: 434-4750

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a group of men and women stand together before banners holding a folder containing a signed agreement

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21 November 2023

Hundreds of Children Participate in Climate Walk and Rally on World Children's Day

20 November 2023, Bridgetown, Barbados Over 300 young people took to the streets of Bridgetown on World Children's Day calling for urgent action from leaders on climate change. The symbolic walk through Barbados' capital city concluded with a rally at Golden Square Freedom Park. Children carried placards calling for more green spaces, greater use of renewable energy and more deliberate efforts to reverse global warming. Young people also delivered a Declaration on Behalf of Children of Barbados for World Children's Day to Minister of the Environment, National Beautification and the Green and Blue Economy Adrian Forde. UNICEF/JBlackett The declaration called for greater inclusion of young people, including those from marginalised communities in decision-making around climate change. Young people also lamented that environmental issues like climate change continue to be inadequately taught in schools. "In the aftermath of the Barbados Youth Climate Action Summit, our survey revealed that 53% of students harbor anxiety about climate change, yet only 13% actively engage in climate action," the declaration noted. "Thus, we urgently call upon the global community and our Government to champion and defend these rights, understanding that our well-being today shapes the world of tomorrow." This year's World Children's Day rally featured activism in the form of poetry, dance and music from various groups including the Foundation School Steel Orchestra, Rhythm Tribe, and the Richard Stoute Teen Talent group. UNICEF/JBlackett Aiden Bruce presented a Rhythm Poetry piece, entitled 'Branded' before scores of students and teachers in the audience at the Golden Square Freedom Park. UNICEF/JBlackett Darren Rock and Jazariah Chandler delivered a musical rendition on the steel pan and saxophone. UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Pieter Bult and United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Eastern Caribbean Didier Trebucq also delivered remarks. UNICEF/JBlackett Pieter Bult, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean addressing World Children's Day rally. UNICEF/JBlackett UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq addressing World Children's Day rally. Below is the call-to-action section of the Declaration on Behalf of Children of Barbados for World Children's Day. 1. Increase youth engagement on environmental issues through the Ministry of Environment, National Beautification, Blue and Green Economy, expanding initiatives across schools and communities. 2. Enhance education and awareness on environmental issues, enforcing legislation to underscore the role and importance of sustainable development in our lives. 3. Implement regulatory frameworks and legislation to incentivize sustainable fishing practices, facilitating a transition from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy reliance. 4. Prioritize incorporating green spaces into urban planning and building designs, intensify recycling efforts, and repurpose state buildings that no longer serve their original purpose. 5. Increase funding and support for youth-led climate and environmental initiatives, fostering innovation and leadership in our community.

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two young girls and two young boys in school uniforms with artistic climate posters stand with a smiling young woman in sunglasses

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29 November 2023

Explainer: What’s COP28 and why is it important?

The last COP was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022. What is a ‘COP’? UN climate conferences are government-level large-scale annual gatherings focused on climate action. They are also referred to as COPs – Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC convention entered into force on 21 March 1994 to prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system. Today, ratified by 198 countries, it has near-universal membership. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, works as an extension of that convention. Over 60,000 people are expected to attend COP28, including delegates from member states of the UNFCCC, industry leaders, youth activists, representatives of indigenous communities, journalists, and other stakeholders. It is a critical moment for global climate action. COP28 will provide us with a reality check – a culmination of a process called ”Global Stocktake” – on how far the world has come in tackling the climate crisis and how much of a course correction is needed. © UNDP/Manuth Buth Students plant mangroves in an effort to mitigate damage to Cambodia's coastline. Why is the COP28 conference important? Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement on climate change at COP21 in 2015, subsequent conferences have revolved around implementing its key goal: halt global average temperature rise to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit the rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. If Paris gave us the agreement, Katowice (COP24) and Glasgow (COP26) showed us the plan. Sharm el-Sheikh (COP27) then shifted us to implementation. Now, COP28 is expected to be a turning point, where countries not only agree ‘WHAT’ stronger climate actions will be taken, but show ‘HOW’ to deliver them. Measuring the progress towards achieving the Paris goals on mitigation, adaptation and climate finance and adapting existing plans is a key part of the puzzle, and this is why COP28 assumes more significance. The first global stocktake, which began at COP26 in Glasgow, will conclude in Dubai. The process is designed to help identify what more still needs to be done and guide countries towards more ambitious and accelerated climate action plans. So, the decision adopted by the parties at COP28 could emerge as the most consequential outcome following the 2015 Paris conference. UN Photo/Mark Garten UN Secretary-General António Guterres (centre) visits the Frei Antarctica base. What is at stake? Quite literally, the health of our planet and humanity’s well-being. “Antarctica has been called the sleeping giant, but it is now being awoken by climate chaos,” UN Secretary General António Guterres warned during his visit there ahead of COP28. Antarctic sea ice is at an all-time low. New figures show that this September, it was 1.5 million square kilometers smaller than the average for the time of year – “an area roughly the size of Portugal, Spain, France and Germany combined”. “All of this spells catastrophe around the world,” he said. “What happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica. And what happens thousands of miles away has a direct impact right here.” Over a century of fossil fuels burning and unsustainable energy and land use has already led to a global warming of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. Every increment of warming is likely to exacerbate the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding, storms and irreversible climate changes. 2023 is on track to be the hottest year, while the past eight years were the eight warmest on record globally, fuelled by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and accumulated heat. Mr. Guterres has sounded the alarm on several occasions with the warning that if nothing changes, we are heading towards a 3°C temperature rise – towards a dangerous and unstable world. “Humanity has opened the gates of hell. Horrendous heat is having horrendous effect,” he said. Almost half of the world’s population lives in regions highly vulnerable to climate change. The least developed, landlocked and small island countries may have contributed little to this crisis, but they are the ones on the frontlines, having to deal with its deadly consequences. Kiara Worth Youth activists push for a positive agreement at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in 2022. What do we mean by stronger climate action? The UN Secretary-General has repeatedly sent stark reminders that the current urgency for climate action is dwarfed by the scale of the crisis, but the “future is not fixed”. The science is clear: it is still possible to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C and avoid the worst of climate change, “but only with dramatic, immediate climate action”, which includes: A 45 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2010 levels Achieving global net zero emissions by 2050 A “just and equitable transition” from fossil fuels (oil and gas) to renewable energy sources Increased investments in adaptation and resilience to the climate disruption But, there is more – such as fulfilling the financial commitments in support of developing countries, securing $100 billion in climate finance annually and operationalizing the loss and damage fund, which was agreed upon last year at COP27, delivering climate justice. However, the UNFCCC’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) synthesis report released in November shows that the world is failing to get a grip on the climate crisis. “Global ambition stagnated over the past year and national climate plans are strikingly misaligned with the science,” the UN chief said. © Unsplash/Lucy M Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is hosting COP28. What is the United Arab Emirates’ role, as host country of COP28? The UN climate conferences are hosted by a different country each year. This year, the United Arab Emirates is hosting the COP28 summit between 30 November and 12 December. The host also appoints a president who leads the climate negotiations and provide leadership and overall vision. Dr. Sultan al-Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology for the UAE, will preside over the negotiations at COP28. The incoming presidency has stated its main focus on changes in four key areas: Fast-tracking the energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030 Transforming climate finance, by delivering on old promises and setting framework for a new deal Putting nature, people, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action Mobilizing for the most inclusive COP ever © Unsplash/Arvind Vallabh An off-shore oil rig off the west coast of the United States. How will COP28 contribute to the global fight against climate change? Almost eight years after the Paris Agreement and half-way through the 2030 Agenda, COP28 is a timely opportunity to embark upon a new path towards effective climate action. As several UN reports show, the world is not on track to meeting the Paris Agreement’s goals, but the hope is that governments at COP28 will lay out a roadmap to accelerate climate action. In 2020, individual countries came up with national climate action plans aimed at reducing national emissions and adapting to climate change impacts. With the next round of these plans scheduled for 2025, the outcome of the global stocktake process could encourage countries to raise ambition and set new targets, exceeding existing policies and commitments. With so much at stake, the Dubai conference is a decisive moment to turn climate plans into ambitious action and turn the tide against the climate crisis. How can you follow COP28? Follow these links for the latest updates from COP28 in Dubai here: Main conference website: COP28 UAE The UN’s Climate Action portal: COP28: Climate action can’t wait UN News is available in ten languages: https://news.un.org/en/events/cop28

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dry cracked ground is cooling as the sun sets

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15 November 2023

UN Women MCO Caribbean hosts Spotlight Initiative Caribbean CSO Intergenerational South-South Exchange in Barbados

Bridgetown, Barbados, 7th November 2023: “We want to make sure this is a dialogue that leads to action. Many of us have been working in our corners but we must ask how we can learn from each other.” In making this call to action, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) - Caribbean Tonni Brodber, encouraged Civil Society Organisations (CSO) participants to harness their collective strength. Different age groups may have varying perspectives, experiences, and approaches to addressing gender-related issues. This is where intergenerational dialogue plays a pivotal role. It brings together individuals from various age groups, allowing them to exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from one another. This synergy can lead to more effective strategies and solutions to further strengthen regional and national feminist advocacy and movement building. The UN Women Representative was addressing a 3-day Regional Intergenerational South-South Exchange in Barbados with 39 civil society organisations from 11 Caribbean countries. She said: “Through Spotlight there has been a 500M dollar investment in eliminating violence against women and girls globally, and we have to give credit to the EU for their contribution. In the Caribbean we started this work in 2017, and over 100 CSOs in our region have been able to benefit from capacity strengthening programmes. Civil society is the engine that has continued to do this work whether there was money in it or not.” Ms Tonni Brodber, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) delivers a point during the Exchange. UN Resident Coordinator, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Didier Trebucq said: “This is a chance to highlight Spotlight’s achievements. We have a regional network of gender NGOs facilitating multi stakeholder dialogues, a CSO Regional reference group, formation of several joint statements, and we have close to 70 CSOs that have benefited from small grants.” Mr. Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean delivers opening remarks virtually The South-South exchange aims to provide a space for networking, alliance building and movement strategizing for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls feminist movement. At the end of the 3-day event, participants will develop a joint feminist statement outlining Caribbean CSO priorities for localising the Sustainable Development Goals in order to deliver on the 2023 Agenda. Programme Manager for Health, Social Protection and Gender at the EU Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Jeannie Blanchard, said: “We are here today because gender-based violence and family violence represent a pervasive issue in the region. It is essential to help victims of gender-based violence to reach their full potential. With this intergenerational dialogue we are working towards changing the culture in the region.” “South-South and triangular cooperation are increasingly recognized as primary accelerators in achieving the global SDGs. Knowledge exchange between countries and development partners has significant potential to define the most powerful gender equality strategies and policies. Key issues include ensuring the central role of civil society and reaching women and girls in marginalized positions.”

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Tonni Brodber, Representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) (Centre front) is joined by CSO participants that attended the Exchange.

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06 December 2023

UN Volunteers in the Caribbean joined counterparts around the world to observe International Volunteer Day

Bridgetown, December 7, 2023: International Volunteer Day, was observed in the Caribbean and around the world on December 5, with countries and communities celebrating the spirit of volunteerism under this year’s theme: “If everyone did…” More than a billion volunteers around the world act for solidarity and humanity for people and planet. International Volunteer Day recognizes the value of volunteerism in peace and development. In Barbados and across the Eastern Caribbean, under the UN Volunteers Programme (UNV), national and international UN Volunteers are supporting United Nations partners in critical work on climate action, gender equality and food security, among other global issues. At the UN Multi-Country Office in Barbados, UN Volunteers celebrated their special day by volunteering with the Slow Food Movement, a local organization dedicated to developing food security initiatives. The volunteers planted new trees, helped clean-up local community gardens, and helped to prepare raw ingredients for soups to be delivered to Barbadian families in need. Before departing UN House on the popular Bajan Open Bus, for the day’s activities, the UN Volunteers chatted with UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, and other UN Heads of Agencies. They were praised for their dedication, hard work, and passion. “We as the UN certainly benefit from your work and it’s always great to see the level of passion that you bring to the job. I also started as a volunteer with the Red Cross many years ago and it is important that you keep this experience with you. It always keeps you grounded throughout your career. I am happy to see that we have a growing group of volunteers in the region, and I hope that this continues. It’s your day today celebrate it and keep up the good work!” Mr. Trebucq advised. Carol Healy, an Irish UNV working with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) as an Assistant Gender Analyst, said the opportunity to engage with and work alongside fellow Volunteers was both inspiring and transformative. “The day left a lasting impression and left me feeling reenergized and filled with a renewed sense of optimism and enthusiasm for the future of the UNV programme and its contributions to the broader UN system. The experience also served as a reminder of the profound positive impact that volunteerism can have on the global stage and is a testament to the dedication and passion of individuals committed to making a meaningful difference,” she added. The IVD theme for 2023 centred on the power of collective action – if everyone did. The underlying message is that if everyone volunteers, the world would be a better place, and furthermore, if more than eight billion of us did, there would be limitless possibilities for sustainable development, inclusive and peaceful societies, and more. In his message to mark the occasion, Executive Coordinator for the global UNV Programme, Toily Kurbanov, stated: “Today I say to all volunteers around the globe: Thank you. For choosing to improve the world. For finding inspiration to act. For creating solutions. For keeping our hopes alive. And to the world our message is: Imagine what we could achieve if all joined in. And volunteered.” Volunteers dream not of lofty ambitions but of solutions to improve the lives of people around them.
The Barbados-based UN Volunteers are nationals of Barbados, Colombia, Canada, Germany, Grenada, and Ireland. For more inspiring stories about volunteerism in Barbados and beyond, visit https://unvolunteers.exposure.co/decide-to-join-the-united-nations and follow the social media campaign: #DecideToVolunteer #IfEveryoneDid #IVD2023 ---Ends--- Media Contacts: Nuala Lawlor
UNV Coordinator for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean
Email: nuala.lawlor@unv.org | Mobile: + 1 246 232 0867

Carol Gaskin
Communications and Advocacy Officer
UN Resident Coordinator Office
Email: carol-ann.gaskin@un.org | Mobile: + 1 (246) 832-6110

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A group of people posing for a photo in front of a school

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04 December 2023

COP28: Bring the vulnerable to ‘front of the line’ for climate funding

Advocates showcased the devastating impacts of climate upheaval on their communities at COP 28 on Monday as the focus of the world’s largest climate gathering turned to financial support for those most at risk – first and foremost youth and women in developing countries. Among them is young Senegalese singer and rapper Oumy Gueye, who goes by OMG and was triggered to embrace climate action when her grandparents’ home in Bargny east of the Senegalese capital Dakar was destroyed by rising seas. She has been collaborating with UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA to advocate for humanitarian causes in the Sahel – one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian emergencies. OMG is part of the ‘My Sahel’ project with five other major artists from the region. Together they released a track from which proceeds are split between the contributing artists and the OCHA-managed humanitarian fund for West and Central Africa. Speaking to UN News, she described the predicament in which her peers back home are increasingly finding themselves. Rising temperatures and, in the case of Senegal, sea levels are destroying livelihoods and homes, driving poverty, violence and fueling migration across perilous routes. “Young people take the risk to travel by sea for a better situation,” she said, and some lose their lives – a tragedy for communities and for the future of their countries. UN News/Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer New climate action account The humanitarian impact of the climate crisis is under the spotlight in Dubai. As part of the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), OCHA launched a Climate Action Account at COP28 to provide an additional avenue for financing humanitarian responses to climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts, storms and extreme heat, and building resilience. Each year, between a quarter and a third of CERF funding already goes to extreme weather-related disasters. UN Deputy emergency relief chief Joyce Msuya stressed the importance of ramping up this funding “as we move into a world in which climate change holds the sword of Damocles over an increasing number of people”. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), some 3.5 billion people, nearly half of humanity, live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change. COP28/Mahmoud Khaled Trillions in damages Extreme weather comes with a staggeringly high cost, as the UN weather agency WMO-led United in Science report published earlier this year showed. According to the report, between 1970 and 2021 some 12,000 reported disasters from weather, climate and water extremes caused $4.3 trillion in economic losses – most of them in developing countries. To support vulnerable countries in protecting themselves from the worst consequences of climate disruptions, the loss and damage fund agreed at COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh last year and operationalised on the opening day of COP 28 has been hailed as a key climate justice instrument and the first major outcome of the gathering. More than $650 million have reportedly been pledged so far and advocates for vulnerable communities present in Dubai have stressed the need to ensure that those most-affected benefit from the funding. © UNICEF/Tsiory Andriantsoarana Vulnerable people ‘at the back of the line’ An increasing proportion of the over 110 million forcibly displaced people around the world are pushed to flee their homes due to weather-related hazards. “The voice of those displaced by this emergency must be heard, and they must be included in plans and resource allocation,” UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi wrote on social platform X. OCHA climate team head Greg Puley told the conference’s participants on Monday that it was a “grave injustice” that people on the frontlines of the climate crisis who were least responsible for it, too often found themselves “at the back of the line” for climate funding. Women advocates from affected communities were in the spotlight at a COP28 event organised by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the UN migration agency (IOM) and partners on Monday. Joelle Hangi from civil society organisation Global Platform for Action described the challenges she experienced while living herself in Kakuma camp as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Living in the dark The lack of reliable, sustained access to electricity was among the most pressing, she said, a reality faced by more than 94 per cent of displaced people – and which could be alleviated by an increased use of renewables. “Darkness means you are not safe; you are exposed to a lot of things. I saw many people who could not seize opportunities that could change their lives only because there was no access to electricity,” she said. Ms. Hangi is currently working to change this reality for displaced people, help improve their internet connectivity and support transitions to clean cooking options. Invest in mitigation Speaking to UN News, COP28 participant Caroline Teti of aid organisation Give Directly based in Nairobi, which collaborates with UNHCR on refugees responses, highlighted the empowering nature of direct cash transfers to people suffering the impacts of the climate crisis. She gave the example of a project in Mozambique which enabled money to be sent to communities a week before Cyclone Freddy unleashed massive floods upon the east African nation earlier this year. “They could start preparing to move out, communicate with their relatives to prepare for floods, started reinforcing their structures so they don’t get washed away,” she said. She also described an ongoing project in Malawi where climate-vulnerable people received lump sum transfers of $800 dollars so that they could move out of at-risk areas to higher ground. “If investments are put into climate mitigation, we can put in place cheap, fast and simple solutions that can go a long way in responding to some of the climate challenges,” she insisted. ‘Innovative humanitarianism’ The climate advocates called for a shift to “more inclusive and innovative humanitarianism” which leverages the experience of displaced people in developing solutions and helps “end the circle of dependency”. Echoing this call, Bernhard Kowatsch, head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Accelerator, told UN News that “innovations can show a sign of hope also in the short term and prove that change is possible – even right now”. He said that much more investment is needed in high-impact innovations which can help mitigate the most dire consequences of climate change. WFP Innovation Accelerator projects which leverage private insurance to the benefit of smallholder farmers or enable them to make climate adaptation decisions based on satellite imagery and artificial intelligence are a case in point, along with microfinance loans to female farmers and entrepreneurs most affected by weather disasters and excluded from traditional funding.

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Nepal-based civil society group Digo Bikas Institute holds an action on loss and damage during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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04 December 2023

COP28: Methane pledge by the ‘giants behind the climate crisis’ falls short, says Guterres

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday sent a strong message to the oil and gas industry: the pledges made at COP28 in Dubai fall well short of what’s needed to meaningfully tackle the climate crisis.

As the fourth day of this year’s UN climate conference got underway, the UN chief stated: “The fossil fuel industry is finally starting to wake up, but the promises made clearly fall short of what is required.” Reacting to the pledge announced on Saturday by several major oil and gas companies to reduce methane leaks from their pipelines by 2030, Mr. Guterres said it is a “step in the right direction”, but the promise failed to address a core issue, namely, eliminating emissions from fossil fuel consumption. Methane (CH4) is a primary component of natural gas and is responsible for about a third of the planetary warming we see today. It is short-lived but is more powerful than carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas most responsible for climate change. Without serious action, global anthropogenic methane emissions are projected to rise by up to 13 per cent between now and 2030. UN agencies tell you here what you need to know about methane. Dubbing the oil and gas companies, the “giant behind the climate crisis”, the Secretary-General also pointed out that the pledge did not provide clarity on the pathway to reaching net-zero by 2050, which is “absolutely essential to ensure integrity.” “Science is clear: we need to phase out fossil fuels within a timeframe compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5 Celsius,” he reiterated, referring to one of the keystone targets set by the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. “There must be no room for greenwashing,” he said, referring to the dangers involved in promoting deceptive marketing and false claims of sustainability. Find out more here about the tactics of ‘greenwashing’. Early Warning for All The groundbreaking Early Warnings for All Initiative launched by the Secretary-General last year aims to protect everyone from hazardous weather, water or climate through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027. “This is an ambitious goal – but it is achievable. To make it a reality, we need all hands-on deck – collaborating and cooperating in a way that has not been done before,” he told delegates at Sunday’s main event on the issue.

Mr. Guterres also launched a new report prepared by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which shows that more lives are being protected from extreme weather and dangerous climate change impacts, but the pace of progress remains insufficient.

So far,101 countries reported having an early warning system, an increase of six countries compared to last year, doubling of coverage since 2015.

Yet, half of countries globally still do not have adequate multi-hazard early warning systems, the report finds. The head of UNDRR Mami Mizutori said: “The progress is encouraging but we must not be complacent ... with an 80 per cent increase in the number of people affected by disasters since 2015 and half the world still lacking access to early warnings.” “Early warnings are the low-hanging fruit of climate adaptation. They are not a luxury but a must,” added WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. UNDRR Basic tool to save lives The UN chief said Early Warnings for All systems are “the most basic tool for saving lives and securing livelihoods” in a world defined by “escalating climate injustices”. Worryingly, countries that are vulnerable to extreme weather, especially small island developing States and least developed countries, as well as the entire African continent, have a rate of protection is well below the global average. “And delayed action leads to more extreme weather events. More deaths. More destruction,” stated the Secretary-General. Progress so far Highlighting the progress made over the past year, Mr. Guterres shared examples from several countries: Maldives, Laos and Ethiopia now have dedicated national action plans; Benin has strengthened communications to reach communities at greatest risk; and Fiji’s flash flood warning has been expanded to benefit nearly one million people. He pointed out that in a world on a fast-track to temperature increase of 3 degrees Celsius, climate vulnerability is bound to escalate. Therefore, it is critical to cut carbon pollution at an accelerated pace and invest in protecting vulnerable communities from the impact of more frequent and severe climate-related events. The estimated cost of bringing everyone under the protection of early warning systems would be around $3 billion, “a tiny fraction of the hundreds of billions made by the fossil fuel industry last year.”

Mr. Guterres called for a windfall tax on these profits, and for the money to be used to protect those suffering the worst impacts, encouraging countries to be “bold and ambitious and to double the speed and scale of support in 2024”. Race to net-zero During a roundtable on the latest report from his High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero, the Secretary-General said COP28 is about turning things around, but national governments cannot do it alone. “Businesses, financial institutions, civil society, cities, states and regions are all critical in the race to net-zero,” he said. In simple terms, ‘net-zero’ means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible. In March 2022, the UN chief established the expert group to develop stronger and clearer standards for pledges by non-State entities and speed up their implementation. Ten recommendations in its report, as a 'how-to' guide for credible, accountable net-zero pledges. Reminding the room of his ‘Acceleration Agenda,’ Mr. Guterres called on governments and non-State actors to radically speed-up efforts to cut emissions, for which he highlighted five key elements: Genuine decarbonization effort to cover all activities, across every link of value chains; Detailed targets for 2025, 2030 and 2035, in line 1.5 degrees target of the Paris Agreement; Disclosure of all lobbying, policy engagements and communication campaigns; Information on efforts to change business models and internal operations to phase out fossil fuels; and Move towards a just, equitable and accelerated renewables transition.

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Story

01 December 2023

Statement on the passing of PAHO Director Emeritus, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne

It is with great sorrow that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) informs of the passing of Director Emeritus Dr. Carissa F. Etienne. Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, a native of Dominica, served as Director of PAHO and World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Americas from February 2013 to January 2023. “Carissa was a dear friend and colleague, and under her steadfast leadership and guidance, PAHO achieved significant milestones for the region of the Americas while facing one of our greatest public health challenges with COVID-19,” PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said. “I am very saddened by her passing, and my thoughts are with her family, friends and all of us at PAHO who cared deeply for her.” During Dr. Etienne’s tenure, PAHO led the response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic in the region of the Americas, as well as efforts to control Zika and chikungunya epidemics and cholera and yellow fever outbreaks in Haiti and Brazil, while significantly improving the Organization’s response to emergencies and disasters within 48 hours. Under her leadership, the Americas eliminated the endemic transmission of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome, and made considerable strides in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Legislative and regulatory mechanisms gained traction, as countries enacted legislation on the labelling of food products and introduced taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages. Advances were also made in strengthening national health systems and in progress toward universal health. In the last five years of Dr. Etienne’s mandate, deliveries by skilled birth attendants increased from 95% to nearly 100% and, for the first time, the Region of the Americas reached the recommended target of 25 physicians and nurses per 10,000 people. Prior to becoming PAHO Director, from March 2008 to November 2012, Dr. Etienne served as Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Services at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Before that, she served as Assistant Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau from July 2003 to February 2008, where she led five technical areas: Health Systems and Services; Technology, Health Care, and Research; Health Surveillance and Disease Management; Family and Community Health; and Sustainable Development and Environmental Health. During her tenure at both WHO and PAHO, Dr. Etienne directed efforts to renew and strengthen health systems based on primary health care. She has also spearheaded policies for reducing health inequalities, increasing people-centered care, and integrating health into broader public policies. “We have lost a great public health champion,” Dr. Barbosa said. “Dr. Etienne’s invaluable experience will be sorely missed in global health discussions to improve the lives of people and to ensure better preparedness for global health emergencies.” Dr. Etienne began her career in her native Dominica as a medical officer at the Princess Margaret Hospital and was later appointed as the Chief Medical Officer of that country. She has also served in other high-level posts in Dominica, including as Director of Primary Health Care Services, Coordinator of the National AIDS Program, Disaster Coordinator for the Ministry of Health, and Chair of the National Advisory Council for HIV/AIDS. Dr. Etienne received her medical degree (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery-MBBS) from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and her Master of Science Degree (MSc) in Community Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London.

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Story

02 December 2023

COP28: As ‘humanity’s fate hangs in the balance’, UN chief calls for urgent action to prevent planetary crash

Earth’s vital signs are failing and to prevent planetary crash and burn, “we need…cooperation and political will”, UN Secretary General António Guterres said on Friday, challenging world leaders gathered in Dubai for COP28 to show real global climate leadership. The UN chief delivered his impassioned appeal at the high-level opening of the Global Climate Action Summit, which will see world leaders and Heads of State and Government taking centre stage for the next two days in the Al Waha Theatre in Dubai’s iconic Expo City. Warning that “humanity’s fate is hanging in the balance”, the Secretary-General said world leaders must act now to end the climate catastrophe. “This is a sickness only you, global leaders, can cure,” he said, calling on the leaders to end the world’s dependence on fossil fuels and to fulfill the long overdue promise for climate justice. Mr. Guterres also welcomed the breakthrough achieved Thursday on the opening day of COP28 after delegates reached a deal on the operationalization afund for loss and damage to help the world’s most vulnerable countries pay for the devastating impacts of climate disaster. COP28/Anthony Fleyhan Buzz around the venue Expo City, the venue for the climate talks, is buzzing with activity amid the tight security on the second day of COP28, as world’s leaders started arriving for the Action Summit. Over the next two days, leaders from over 160 countries are expected to outline their vision for tackling the climate crisis, including from Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Turkiye and India. Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, is well-known for its extremely hot weather. While December is normally a relatively pleasant month, hundreds of reporters, photographers and civil society delegates have been jostling for space in Expo City’s shady spots to catch a break from the scorching sun. Indigenous peoples are on the frontline of climate change impacts and their representatives are very active – and vocal – at COP28. Earlier on Friday UN News ran into Jacob Johns, who says he’s working to inform climate policy with indigenous knowledge. “We are here to shift the hearts and minds of conference goers and the negotiating teams so that we live in solidarity with a healthy, livable future,” said Mr. Johns, who is Hopi and Akimel O’odham, and a member of the US-based Indigenous Wisdom Keepers delegation. “We want to see real climate action... We want to see funding going into climate justice and the loss and damage fund. We want all these funds to be available to indigenous people who are suffering at the impending climate collapse, with land loss and extreme weather events,” he told us. United in crisis In his remarks to the Action Summit, the Secretary-General recalled to his recent trips to Antarctica and Nepal, pointing out how he witnessed first-hand the scale and extent of melting ice and glaciers. “These two spots are far in distance, but united in crisis,” said Mr. Guterres. He cautioned though that this is just one symptom of the sickness bringing our climate to its knees. Painting a worrisome picture of ongoing climate chaos, the UN chief said global heating is busting budgets, ballooning food prices, upending energy markets, and feeding a cost-of-living crisis. “We are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement – and minutes to midnight for the 1.5-degree limit.” No more time to lose Mr. Guterres emphasized that the success of the Dubai conference will depends on the outcome of the so-named ‘Global Stocktake’ – where countries will for the first time assess progress on curbing global warming – which can get the world on track to achieve the temperature, finance, and adaptation goals. He underscored that the stocktake must prescribe a credible cure for our ailing planet in three key areas. First, a drastic cut in emissions since current policies are leading us to an earth-scorching three-degree temperature rise. “I urge countries to speed up their net zero timelines, to get there as close as possible to 2040 in developed countries and 2050 in emerging economies.” Second, acceleration towards a just, equitable transition to renewables, since a burning planet cannot be saved with a firehose of fossil fuels. “The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate. Phase out – with a clear timeframe aligned with 1.5 degrees.” Third, fulfillment of the long overdue promise of climate justice in an unequal and divided world – a surge in finance, including for adaptation and loss and damage. He urged developed countries to double adaptation finance to $40 billion a year by 2025 and provide details on how they plan to deliver on the $100 billion promise for financial support for developing countries. ‘People-first strategy’ “As a citizen of a small Island developing State myself, I am acutely aware that on our current trajectory those islands and the wealth of culture and history they represent are at peril of imminent disappearance,” said Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly, who is from Trinidad and Tobago, threatened by fast-advancing sea level rise. “A three-degree world is not science fiction but the path we are on,” he said, referring to the fact that if current trends continue the world may be facing a temperature increase of three degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial era, instead of the 1.5-degree target set in Paris. He focused on the need for “a just transition to sustainable energy systems” and for “more accessible, more available” financing for climate adaptation. Recalling that all countries are dealing with unique crises in their national contexts, Assembly President Francis urged delegations to draw on those experiences in your discussions at COP28. “I urge you to propose integrated and action-oriented solutions, that will guide other participants – to help them to re-imagine local, national, and regional policies and policy frameworks that anticipate risks, prioritize investments, and enable adaptive climate mobility; while embracing a people-first strategy.” The opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit also saw the representation of the indigenous communities whose survival is threatened by climate change.

Isabel Prestes da Fonseca is the co-founder and environmental director of Instituto Zág, an indigenous youth-led organisation whose key activity is the reforestation and preservation of traditional knowledge around the Araucaria tree, known as Zág.

“I stand here today, representing indigenous voices and the urgent need to address environmental crises. Join us in this fight for nature and biodiversity. Together, we can be the change,” she said. Another ‘turning point’ King Charles III recalled the time that he was invited to speak at the opening of the landmark COP21 in Paris eight years ago, “where nations put differences aside for common good”. “I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another turning point,” he said. He deplored the fact that progress towards climate goals has fallen off track, as the global stocktake shows, and asked, “How dangerous are we actually prepared to make our world?” “Dealing with this is a job for us all,” he insisted in his address to the Summit on behalf of the United Kingdom. King Charles went on to cite the impact of climate change globally, including devastating floods in India and Pakistan and severe wildfires in the United States, Canada and Greece. “Unless we rapidly repair and restore nature's unique economy, based on harmony and balance, which is our ultimate sustainer, our own economy and survivability will be imperiled,” he said. Want to know more? Check out our special events page, where you can find all our coverage of the COP28 climate conference, including stories and videos, explainers and our newsletter.

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Press Release

01 December 2023

On World AIDS Day, UNAIDS, the Council of the European Union and partners call for an end to HIV-related stigma and discrimination

Speaking at the event held at the European Parliament in Brussels, Spain’s Minister of Health, Mónica García, re-affirmed Spain’s commitment to achieve zero HIV-related stigma and discrimination. “We hope that this leadership of Spain for the elimination of all forms of stigma and discrimination associated with HIV will be maintained over the next 7 years to meet our goals by 2030,” said Ms Garcia. The elimination of HIV-related stigma and discrimination has been a political priority of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union since July 2023. This was reflected in a high-level meeting on "HIV and Human Rights: Political Action to Achieve Zero Stigma" hosted by the Spanish Ministry of Health in September 2023 in Seville. At the event, Spain took the important step to officially join the Global Partnership for action to eliminate all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination, becoming the second EU country to join after Luxembourg. At the event in Brussels, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Christine Stegling, thanked Spain for its leadership globally and in the European Union and said the world needed to act urgently to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination. “We’ve made impressive progress against HIV, but we have much work left to do,” said Ms Stegling, “Unless we succeed in ending AIDS-related stigma and discrimination, we will not be able to reach everyone in need. Stigma and discrimination against people most affected by HIV are the biggest barriers to accessing lifesaving HIV prevention and care. We look forward to working with European Union Member States, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, to take this agenda forward." As Spain steps down from its Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the end of December 2023 and as Belgium assumes the role, Ms. Stegling also expressed hope that Belgium will follow in Spain’s footsteps and continue to lead on this critical issue. She called on the whole of the European Union to join in global efforts to abolish AIDS-related stigma and discrimination to reach people who are currently being left behind in the response. Around the world, some 9.2 million people living with HIV still do not have access to life-saving medicines. Every minute, a life is lost to AIDS. In 2022, 1.3 million people became newly infected with HIV. Many people most affected by HIV are being left behind, including adolescent girls and young women, gay men and men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers and migrants. These are the people who must be reached for AIDS to be ended as a public health threat by 2030. Removing AIDS-related stigma, discrimination and criminalization will make it more possible to reach those currently being left behind. Political leadership in the European Union is key to achieving that goal. Also critical for removing AIDS-related stigma and discrimination is community leadership. Ms. Stegling highlighted UNAIDS’ 2023 World AIDS Day report “Let Communities Lead” citing the need for governments and donors to fully empower and fund community leadership in the response to HIV. Other speakers at the event included: Andrea Ammon, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; Peter Sands, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for Europe and Kathleen van Brempt, MEP of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament. The World AIDS Day event was co-hosted and moderated by Marc Angel, MEP from Luxembourg and vice-president of the European Parliament. He said, “Representing my country, I extend my deepest appreciation to Spain for joining the Global Partnership for action to eliminate all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. As a UNAIDS Red Ribbon Leader for the “10-10-10" targets on societal enablers, I look forward to working closely with Spain, my own country, Luxembourg and, ideally, other EU Member States to end all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the EU, across Europe and beyond.” The 10-10-10 targets are: Less than 10% of countries have punitive legal and policy environments that deny access to justice Less than 10% of people living with HIV and key populations experience stigma and discrimination Less than 10% of women, girls, people living with HIV and key populations experience gender inequality and violence. UNAIDS The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Press Release

01 December 2023

Ahead of World AIDS Day UNAIDS is calling for urgent support to Let Communities Lead in the fight to end AIDS

“Communities across the world have shown that they are ready, willing and able to lead the way. But they need the barriers obstructing their work to be pulled down, and they need to be properly resourced,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Too often, communities are treated by decision-makers as problems to be managed, instead of being recognised and supported as leaders. Communities are not in the way, they light the way to the end of AIDS.” The report, launched in London during a World AIDS Day event organized by the civil society organization STOPAIDS, shows how communities have been the driving force for progress. Community advocacy from the streets to the courtrooms to parliaments has secured groundbreaking changes in policy. Communities’ campaigning helped open up access to generic HIV medicines, leading to sharp, sustained reductions in the cost of treatment from US$ 25 000 per person per year in 1995 to less than US$ 70 in many countries most affected by HIV today. Let Communities Lead shows that investing in community-led HIV programmes delivers transformational benefits. It sets out how programmes delivered by community-based organizations in Nigeria were associated with a 64% increase in access to HIV treatment, a doubling of the likelihood of HIV prevention service utilization, and a four-fold increase in consistent condom use among people at risk of HIV. It also notes how, among sex workers reached by a package of peer-based services in the United Republic of Tanzania, the HIV incidence rate was reduced to below half (5% vs 10.4%). “We are the vehicle for change that can end systematic injustices that continue to fuel HIV transmission. We have seen groundbreaking developments with U=U, improved access to medicines, and have made great strides in decriminalisation," said Robbie Lawlor, Co-Founder of Access to Medicines Ireland. “Yet, we are expected to move mountains without being financially supported. We are supposed to fight for a more equitable world and are tasked with dismantling stigma yet are side-lined in crucial discussions. We are at a tipping point. Communities can no longer be relegated to the periphery. The time for leadership is now.” The report highlights how communities are at the forefront of innovation. In Windhoek, Namibia, a self-funded project by the youth Empowerment Group is using e-bikes to deliver HIV medicines, food and adherence support to young people who often cannot attend clinics due to their schooling hours. In China, community organizations developed smartphone apps that link people to self-testing which contributed to a more than four-fold increase in HIV tests across the country from 2009 to 2020. The report reveals how communities are also holding service providers to account. In South Africa five community networks of people living with HIV inspected 400 sites across 29 districts and conducted more than 33 000 interviews with people living with HIV. In the Free State province, these findings led provincial health officials to implement new appointment protocols to reduce clinic wait times and three- and six-month dispensing of antiretroviral medicines. “I am extremely concerned about the exclusion from health services of key populations like the LGBT+ community,” said Andrew Mitchell, Minister of State for Development and Africa. “The UK champions the rights of such communities, and we will continue to protect them, working closely with our partners in civil society. I thank UNAIDS for keeping us focused on the inequities driving the pandemic and I look forward to working with our partners to champion the voice of people living with HIV and end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.” Despite the clear evidence of community-led impact, community-led responses are unrecognized, under-resourced and in some places even under attack. Crackdowns on civil society and on the human rights of marginalized communities are obstructing communities from providing HIV prevention and treatment services. Underfunding of community-led initiatives is leaving them struggling to continue operating and holding them back from expansion. If these obstacles are removed, community-led organizations can add even greater impetus to end AIDS. In the 2021 Political Declaration on ending AIDS, United Nations member states recognized the critical role communities play in HIV service delivery, particularly to people most at risk of HIV. However, whereas in 2012, when over 31% of HIV funding was channelled through civil society organizations, ten years later, in 2021, only 20% of funding for HIV was available—an unprecedented backsliding in commitments which has cost and is continuing to cost lives. “At this time, community-led action is the most important countermeasure in the AIDS response,” said Solange Baptiste, Executive Director of the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition. “Yet, shockingly, it isn’t a cornerstone of global plans, agendas, strategies, or financing mechanisms for improving pandemic preparedness and health for all. It is time to change that.” Every minute, a life is lost to AIDS. Every week, 4000 girls and young women become infected with HIV, and out of the 39 million people living with HIV, 9.2 million do not have access to lifesaving treatment. There is a Path that Ends AIDS and AIDS can be ended by 2030, but only if communities lead. UNAIDS is calling for: Communities’ leadership roles to be made core in all HIV plans and programmes; Communities’ leadership roles to be fully and reliably funded; And for barriers to communities’ leadership roles to be removed. The report features nine guest essays from community leaders, in which they share their experience on the achievements they have secured, the barriers they face, and what the world needs to end AIDS as a public health threat. UNAIDS The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Press Release

22 November 2023

Climate change is an urgent threat to pregnant women and children

“Climate change poses an existential threat to all of us, but pregnant women, babies and children face some of the gravest consequences of all,” said Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director General for Universal Health Coverage, Life Course at the World Health Organization (WHO). “Children’s futures need to be consciously protected, which means taking climate action now for the sake of their health and survival, while ensuring their unique needs are recognized in the climate response.” The year 2023 has been marked by a series of devastating climate disasters. Wildfires, floods, heatwaves and droughts are displacing people, killing crops and livestock, and worsening air pollution. An over-heating world is increasing the spread of deadly diseases like cholera, malaria and dengue, with dire consequences for pregnant women and children for whom these infections can be especially severe. Research shows that harm can begin even in the womb, leading to pregnancy-related complications, preterm birth, low birthweight and stillbirth. For children, consequences can last a lifetime, affecting the development of their bodies and brains as they grow. “Action on climate change often ignores that children’s bodies and minds are uniquely vulnerable to pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Programmes, Omar Abdi. “We do this at our peril. The climate crisis is jeopardizing every child’s fundamental right to health and well-being. It is our collective responsibility to listen and put children at the centre of urgent climate action, beginning at COP28. This is the moment to finally put children on the climate change agenda.” The Call to Action highlights seven urgent actions to address these mounting risks. These include sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and action on climate finance, alongside the specific inclusion of the needs of pregnant women, babies and children within climate and disaster-related policies. The agencies also call for more research to better understand the impacts of climate change on maternal and child health. “To find climate solutions that acknowledge the distinct health needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls we must start by asking the right questions,” said Diene Keita, the Deputy Executive Director for Programmes at UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. “Global climate solutions must support - not sacrifice - gender equality.” The Call to Action was released by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA at an online launch event, alongside an advocacy brief by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH). The PMNCH advocacy brief reinforces the Call to Action by outlining specific recommendations for different stakeholders – including governments, global financing mechanisms, donors and foundations, private sector and civil society - for ensuring that the health needs of women, children and adolescents are better addressed in climate policies, financing, and programmes. "Climate change is a major intergenerational injustice of our times. Safeguarding the health and rights of women, children, and adolescents is non-negotiable in the face of the climate crisis’’, said Rt Hon Helen Clark, PMNCH Board Chair and former Prime Minister of New Zealand. ‘’Every stakeholder, from governments to the private sector and civil society, including health care professionals, holds a critical role in championing policies and actions which protect the most vulnerable. The urgency to integrate women, children and adolescent health needs into climate responses is not just a moral imperative, but an effective strategy with long-term benefits for resilient and healthy societies’’. During the COP28 meetings, delegates will mark the first ever Day of Health, noting the intractable linkages between the health of people and the planet. ##### For more information please contact: WHO: Laura Keenan - keenanl@who.int UNICEF: Tess Ingram tingram@unicef.org, +1 934 867 7867 UNFPA: Affan Chowdhry Chowdhry@unfpa.org PMNCH: Cathy Bartley moroneyc@who.int About WHO Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance at a safe and healthy life. For more information about WHO and its work, visit: www.who.int About UNICEF UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube About UNFPA UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education. About PMNCH PMNCH is the world’s largest alliance for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being, with over 1,400 partner organizations working together through 10 constituency groups. PMNCH is hosted by the World Health Organization, based in Geneva. For more information about PMNCH, visit: https://pmnch.who.int/

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Press Release

22 November 2023

The climate is changing our children: This is a child rights crisis | UNICEF World Children's Day Op Ed

World Children’s Day, celebrated every year around the globe on 20 November, is a time for children to take action, put themselves centre stage and demand that we listen. They are clear-sighted about their wants and needs and how to achieve them. They require this clarity of vision in a world where the climate crisis is emerging as the greatest threat to their collective future. Young people are on the front line of an ever-worsening climate that menaces their most fundamental rights: to safety, to equity, to health, to quality education, to freedom from violence and poverty. This crisis has not only become a child rights crisis; it is changing our children. From the moment they are born, a degraded environment is affecting them physically and psychologically, with bodies less able to cope with extremes of weather, pollution and disease. And if they also live in communities with the fewest resources, they suffer the most. This was acknowledged when a child’s right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment was affirmed for the first time in August this year by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Environmental hazards such as hurricanes, drought, heat waves and floods are affecting one billion children on the planet. Half of all young people live in 33 countries considered ‘extremely high risk’ due to climate change; countries which are collectively responsible for only 9 per cent of CO2 emissions. We can examine our own region of highly vulnerable Small Island Developing States to see how this resonates. There are, of course, vivid memories of the widespread loss, destruction and displacement caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, with all children in Barbuda evacuated and the majority of Dominica’s children displaced.

According to a recent report, children in Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands will, in relative terms, be most affected by disaster displacement in future.

UNICEF - Children displaced from their homes in Barbuda at a shelter in Antigua after the passage of Hurricane Irma in 2017 But our children remain undaunted. They are calling on their governments, leaders, influencers and policy makers to create room for them at the table. At UNICEF, we have been listening to them. We’ve been championing their rights, carving out spaces for them to convene and connect, training them in advocacy and building their capacity to use their voices in resonant and meaningful ways; to be true agents of change. Looking to the near future, as we approach COP28 – the UN climate change conference in Dubai – and the Small Island Developing States conference in Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024, let’s ensure that the rights of children are central. UNICEF/KSmith
UNICEF is advocating that leaders recognize these rights in final outcome documents in global forums such as COP28; that children’s needs are at the heart of the newly agreed Loss and Damage Fund (where funds are reallocated from richer countries to those most affected by climate change); that key multilateral climate funds allot more than 2.4 per cent to children’s needs; that child participation is a prerequisite in planning and implementing all climate policy action. Let’s mark this World Children’s Day as a collective moment when we listen to our children and follow their lead towards a future in which they will not only survive - but truly thrive.

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Press Release

15 November 2023

Beyond Fossil Fuels: A Path to Energy Security and Economic Prosperity - Op-ed from UN Climate Change Executive-Secretary, Simon Stiell

Over the last couple of years inflation has caused a cost-of-living crisis across large parts of the world. Some fear mongers have used the hardship this has caused billions of people to propagate rhetoric that climate change action is unaffordable and running against the interests of ordinary people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Propagating a Green vs. Poor narrative is divisive, and it is often used to mask short-term, profit-driven self-interest. The only stable, economically sustainable future is one of energy security, resilience to disasters, well-funded coordinated recovery from them, and ultimately a cap on temperature rise at 1.5 degrees centigrade. Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas are a major driver of the cost-of-living crisis, which is stretching billions of household budgets to breaking point. Prices have swung wildly, as they frequently do, driven higher by uncertainty and conflict. In turn, this pushes up the costs of transport, food, electricity, and basic household necessities. In some heavily fossil fuel-dependent countries, household bills rose as much as US$1000 in 2022 due to fossil fuel energy costs. Consumer costs will rise even further and economic growth will slow as climate impacts become more intense, according to economic authorities, such as the United States Treasury, the Reserve Bank of India and the European Central Bank. High energy prices also shrink profit margins for businesses and hurt economic growth. High energy prices also shrink profit margins for businesses, hurt economic growth, and impede the right to energy access across the world. Inflation hurts the poorest households the most. This comes as climate disasters are also getting worse in every country. This year will likely be the hottest for 125,000 years. More destructive storms, unpredictable rains and floods, heatwaves, and droughts are already causing massive economic damage and affecting hundreds of millions of people across the world, costing them their lives and livelihoods. The fossil fuel taps can’t be turned off overnight but there are a lot of opportunities for action not currently being taken. For example, in 2022, governments spent over $7 trillion in taxpayers’ money or borrowings on fossil fuel subsidies. Subsidies fail to protect the real incomes of the poorest households and divert money that are increasing developing country debt burdens, or could have been used to improve health care, build infrastructure – including renewable energy and grids – and expand social programs to alleviate poverty. Done responsibly, a phase-out of such subsidies would actually help the poorest and improve the economies of the countries now dependent on them. This year, at UN Climate Change, we conducted a Global Stocktake on climate action up to now. It has indicated clearly that progress is too slow. But it also revealed that there are many tools we have to speed up climate action now, which will simultaneously build stronger economies. We have the knowledge and tools to accelerate this transition while ensuring it is fair and just, leaves no one behind. Billions of people need their governments to pick up this toolbox and put it to work. That includes switching billions of dollars from investments in new fossil fuel production to renewable energy that will provide stable, reliable and lower-priced energy to propel economic growth. This is about both demand and supply. Those of us that demand energy to turn our lights on need to be provided with clean options to do it, and the fiscal space to invest in our communities and their ability to adapt to the changing world. There is cause for optimism, if governments come to this year’s climate change conference – COP28 – in Dubai with a spirit of cooperation and a laser-focus on solutions. At COP28 we can agree on tripling the world’s renewable energy capacity. We can double energy efficiency. We can show we are doubling finance to help countries adapt to climate impacts and center it in national planning. We can make the climate loss and damage fund a reality that helps deliver climate justice. And we can deliver old promises on financing the transition, and outline how we are going to fund the next steps. One moment, one meeting, won’t change everything. But we can capture the future in the directions that we set this year, and provide the plan for how national commitments can deliver in 2025. I refuse to let fear mongering pull a hood over my eyes, and you shouldn’t either.

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