United Nations published this video item, entitled “Moment for Nature, Heatwaves & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (19 July 2022)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Moment for Nature
– Heatwaves
– Global Food Crisis
– Security Council
– Ukraine
– Afghanistan
– Central African Republic
– Democratic Republic of the Congo/South Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– The Africa We Want
– Senior Personnel Appointment
MOMENT FOR NATURE
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke, in a pre-recorded video message, at the Moment for Nature High-level Thematic Debate of the General Assembly. He said that nature and its benefits are deteriorating worldwide due to our way of life based on producing, consuming, discarding and polluting. But he added that since human activities are at the root of this planetary emergency, that means we also hold a key to the solutions.
Above all, he said, we must limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees and he called for commitment at the COP27 climate conference in Egypt, we need commitments that will deliver a reduction of emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 so we can reach net zero emissions by mid-century.
He also called for countries to close the biodiversity finance gap of approximately $700 billion dollars a year by 2030.
Multilateralism can provide the answers we need, he said.
The Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also spoke at the event.
HEATWAVES
The World Health Organization (WHO) today said that although they are aware of current interest in developing heatwave ranking systems, they have no immediate plans to start naming heatwaves.
However, the World Meteorological Organization Services Commission is considering the advantages and disadvantages of naming heatwaves. WMO – in line with its priority to save lives through accurate forecasts and early warnings – is currently working with partners to support the development of heat early warning systems, including the update of extreme heat related guidance and associated extreme heat risk communication strategies.
GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS
Yesterday afternoon, the General Assembly held a high-level event on the global food crisis. In his video remarks, the Secretary-General warned that our world faces a host of challenges — climate change, COVID-19, conflicts and rising inflation. He added that against this backdrop, food, energy and fertilizer prices are skyrocketing, aggravated by the war in Ukraine.
Taken together, the Secretary-General said, this is a recipe for economic hardship, social turmoil, and record levels of hunger. He noted that we face a real risk of multiple famines this year and next year could be even worse, but we can avoid this catastrophe if we act now.
The Secretary-General highlighted the need for immediately reintegrating Ukraine’s food production, and Russia’s food and fertilizer, into world markets, and keeping global trade open, as well as tackling the finance crisis in the developing world.
For her part, the Deputy Secretary-General said that we must also look farther afield to the pathways that will take us to longer-term, sustainable food systems. She emphasized that now is indeed the time to act together to align these initiatives, and support national pathways and action areas emanating from the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, convened by the Secretary-General, to accelerate action.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=19%20July%202022
United Nations YouTube Channel
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