Climate and Environment

The UN-75 Declaration, a Daring Commitment for a More Perfect World

June 23, 2020

On the heels of the 1930s Great Depression and in the midst of global turmoil — World War II — leaders from the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the United States and the United Kingdom gathered in 1944 at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C., to consider a new postwar international architecture to succeed …

Climate and Environment, Governance, Secretary-General, UN75

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COVID-19

Where the Pandemic, the Environment and Gender Equality Meet: In Inger Andersen’s Home Office

April 22, 2020

by Nate Bernard

Inger Andersen is closing in on her first year as executive director of the United Nations Environment Program just as the Covid-19 crisis upends her agency’s work while also underscoring its critical need. “Never before have the mandate, mission and objectives of UNEP been more in focus,” she said in a recent interview, adding, …

Climate and Environment, Covid-19

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The UN Moves Toward ‘Climate Neutrality,’ but Is It Fast Enough?

February 18, 2020

by Fiona Shukri

The United Nations system has instituted some important changes toward becoming what it calls climate neutral. Some employees and former employees, however, think the UN could be doing much more to reduce the organization’s carbon footprint globally and to be a stronger role model in mitigating climate change. After all, Secretary-General António Guterres recently …

Climate and Environment, Secretary-General

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The only talk show of its kind in the world

Why US Voters Shy Away From Global Topics: New Surveys Emerge

December 15, 2019

by Barbara Crossette

If people beyond North America are puzzled if public-opinion polls in the world’s most powerful country draw blanks from voters when asked about international affairs, two new surveys offer explanations. Schools and the Internet are prime suspects, many voters reveal when they say they don’t know enough to make informed opinions. Such an admission …

Climate and Environment, US Foreign Relations

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Airlines Counter Flight Shaming By Lobbying for More Outside Investments

October 30, 2019

by Sonah Lee

Before the teenage activist Greta Thunberg made headlines with her scathing speech at this year’s United Nations Climate Action Summit, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean by sailboat and entered New York Harbor in lower Manhattan. “I have, since a few years, stopped flying because of the enormous impact aviation has on the climate,” she …

Climate and Environment

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At the UN’s Major Climate Event, Greta Thunberg Asks, ‘How Dare You?’

September 23, 2019

by Sonah Lee

The United Nations Climate Action Summit kicked off in New York with powerfully direct statements by Secretary-General António Guterres and several youths invited to speak in a panel set up in the vast General Assembly Hall. They faced an audience of national leaders gathered from across the world at a conference that was not …

Climate and Environment

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By Using an Overseas Territory, France Tries to Save the Amazon

September 23, 2019

by Stéphanie Fillion

President Emmanuel Macron of France is using one of its overseas territory and a former colony, French Guyana, to reinforce France’s intervention in the region to save the world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon. The move by France reflects its increasing efforts to expand its influence internationally in highly visible ways. That includes trying to …

Climate and Environment

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TOPIC: WOMEN

Women Leaders to Watch at the UN’s Big Meet

September 15, 2019

by Laura E. Kirkpatrick

Men will dominate the podium during much of the United Nations General Assembly but, as Abigail Adams urged her husband and other founding fathers of the United States in 1776, “remember the ladies.” This is advice that the UN needs to be reminded of — just as the opening session begins, on Sept. 17. Women …

Climate and Environment, General Assembly, Women

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TOPIC: WOMEN

The UN Headquarters Says Adiós to Single-Use Plastic

August 27, 2019

by Kacie Candela

People who regularly work or visit the United Nations headquarters in New York have surely noticed something new in the cafeteria this summer: no more single-use plastic, not even for takeout. The change also means that only metal cutlery is available at the condiment stations and the straws are now paper (plastic ones are …

Climate and Environment

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Strongmen to Kick Off the UN General Assembly Session in September

August 14, 2019

by Stéphanie Fillion

Donald Trump will shake hands with Emmanuel Macron, Jair Bolsonaro and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. But will Benjamin Netanyahu; Boris Johnson and Angela Merkel be there, too? The 74th opening debate of the United Nations General Assembly, which starts on Sept.17 and ends on Sept. 30; the general debate begins on Sept. 24. With most …

Climate and Environment, General Assembly, US-UN Relations

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The Climate Is on the Loose, Especially in Rotterdam

August 12, 2019

by Jeroen Spangenberg

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands — Record heat waves have crippled a number of cities this summer, one most visibly the Netherlands’ second largest, Rotterdam. Experts point to climate change. According to new data widely reported from the World Meteorological Organization and Copernicus Climate Change Program, July equaled if not surpassed the hottest month in recorded …

Cities, Climate and Environment

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As the SDGs Falter, the UN Turns to the Rich and Famous

July 23, 2019

by Barbara Crossette

The Sustainable Development Goals are in trouble. United Nations officials are concerned and say so publicly. Secretary-General António Guterres joined in raising an alarm in mid-July when he introduced the most recent official UN report. “It is abundantly clear that a much deeper, faster and more ambitious response is needed to unleash the social …

Climate and Environment, Development, Poverty, Sustainable Development Goals

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At Norway’s New Mission to the UN, a Love for Nature Revealed

July 9, 2019

by Sonah Lee

Moments after entering the Norwegian consulate and mission to the United Nations in New York, you may be surprised to hear a hum of varying tones. It’s the sound of a hanging textile piece that a Norwegian artist, Pearla Pigao, wove with conductive copper thread and connected to an oscillator that detects electric currents. …

Climate and Environment, UN Diplomats

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WORLDVIEWS

Climate Change and Risk of Conflict: The Links Grow Clearer

May 7, 2019

by Adriana Erthal Abdenur

There is growing evidence that climate change can increase the risks of conflict and violence. When government authorities are unable or unwilling to mitigate and adapt to climate shocks such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and droughts, these extreme weather events are more likely to be followed by surges in crime, including homicide, robbery and sexual …

Climate and Environment, WORLDVIEWS

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Together, the Caribbean Confronts a Major Problem: Climate Threats

March 11, 2019

by Barbara Crossette

GOSIER, Guadeloupe — The Caribbean islands, though culturally and linguistically diverse and differing government systems, are coming together to confront the climate changes that threaten their rich tropical environment and the livelihoods of their people. Seas are warming and acidifying, reducing fish catches, while on land water shortages are being recorded in recent droughts. …

Caribbean, Climate and Environment

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Climate and Environment

The UN-75 Declaration, a Daring Commitment for a More Perfect World

Where the Pandemic, the Environment and Gender Equality Meet: In Inger Andersen’s Home Office

The UN Moves Toward ‘Climate Neutrality,’ but Is It Fast Enough?

Why US Voters Shy Away From Global Topics: New Surveys Emerge

Airlines Counter Flight Shaming By Lobbying for More Outside Investments

At the UN’s Major Climate Event, Greta Thunberg Asks, ‘How Dare You?’

By Using an Overseas Territory, France Tries to Save the Amazon

Women Leaders to Watch at the UN’s Big Meet

The UN Headquarters Says Adiós to Single-Use Plastic

Strongmen to Kick Off the UN General Assembly Session in September

The Climate Is on the Loose, Especially in Rotterdam

As the SDGs Falter, the UN Turns to the Rich and Famous

At Norway’s New Mission to the UN, a Love for Nature Revealed

Climate Change and Risk of Conflict: The Links Grow Clearer

Together, the Caribbean Confronts a Major Problem: Climate Threats

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