Category: Sustainable Development

One Planet Summit: Finance commitments fire-up higher momentum for Paris Agreement

One Planet Summit: Finance commitments fire-up higher momentum for Paris Agreement

Today at the One Planet Summit, on the second anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, world leaders gathered once again in the French capital to underscore how financial flows are shifting billions and trillions towards a low-carbon future that will benefit peoples and livelihoods. Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, said: “Today has marked another extraordinary moment in the world-wide efforts to turn the promise of the Paris Agreement into a global reality—in other words delivering a climate secure future to all corners of the Earth and contributing to the sustainable future of every man, woman and child”....

Secretary-General’s remarks at the One Planet Summit

Secretary-General’s remarks at the One Planet Summit

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL REMARKS AT ONE PLANET SUMMIT Paris, 12 December 2017 [as delivered] President Macron, Excellencies, World Bank President Jim Kim, Ladies and gentlemen, We are not yet winning the war on climate change — the defining challenge of our times. The Paris Agreement lays the basis for ambitious action. But we know that current commitments will not get us there. Every day, in every region, the front pages are dominated by weather-related disasters – storms, floods, droughts, fires. My recent visit to Barbuda and Dominica was truly heart-breaking and eye-opening. Climate change is moving much faster than we are. Atmospheric...

Professor Jeffrey Sachs delivers address on sustaining peace

Professor Jeffrey Sachs delivers address on sustaining peace

On 8 December 2017, SDG Advocate Professor Jeffrey Sachs gave opening remarks at the event, ‘Sustaining Peace: Partnerships for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding’. This event was hosted by the President of the 72nd General Assembly (PGA) of the United Nations, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the UN Global Compact, the United Nations Foundation, the New York University Center on International Cooperation, and the Quaker United Nations Office. Professor Sachs spoke of the timely issue of sustaining peace and how SDG 16 is one of the utmost priorities for not only governments, but civil society, academia, and the private sector. Sachs...

UN to recognize public services’ innovation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

UN to recognize public services’ innovation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

By Dan Shepard and Sharon Birch United Nations calls for nominations for the 2018 Public Service Awards  New York, 19 December –  To recognize innovation and excellence in public service that supports the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations is calling for nominations for the 2018 UN Public Service Awards. Established in 2003, the UN Public Service Awards are a prestigious international programme that recognizes exceptional public service innovation. Since 2003, the UN has received over 3000 nominations from around the globe in such areas as health, education, accountability, and gender equality. “Public service is a...

 United States: ‘Global Magnitsky’ Targets 52 Individuals, Businesses

 United States: ‘Global Magnitsky’ Targets 52 Individuals, Businesses

  Washington  –  December 21, 2017 —  In response to the Trump administration decision to impose financial and travel sanctions on more than a dozen individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses and corruption – sanctions created by the Global Magnitsky Act passed by Congress in 2016 – Freedom House issued the following statement: “This first use of a groundbreaking law gives the United States a powerful tool to target perpetrators of the most serious human rights abuses and corruption,” said Michael J. Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “The individuals who will face stringent sanctions range from an arms dealer in the...

UNICEF airlifts six million doses of vaccines to children in Yemen

UNICEF airlifts six million doses of vaccines to children in Yemen

By Via UN News Centre A plane charted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) landed in Sana’a, Yemen, on Thursday, delivering nearly 6 million doses of essential vaccines to protect millions of children at risk of preventable diseases, including the current diphtheria outbreak that has reportedly infected over 300 people and killed 35. “Vaccinating children in Yemen now is critical to protect them from preventable diseases and death. It is vital that vaccines and other lifesaving supplies for children continue to flow into Yemen and across the country unimpeded. They are a lifeline for millions of children,” said Meritxell Relaño, UNICEF Representative in...

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) sign First-ever Line of Financing agreement

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) sign First-ever Line of Financing agreement

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) sign First-ever Line of Financing agreement The USD 100-million line of financing facility will be utilized by Afreximbank to provide Shariah-compliant financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in its member countries in Africa JEDDAH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, December 24, 2017/ — The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private sector (ICD) (www.ICD-ps.org) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) signed a Line of financing agreement for a USD 100-million facility. The USD 100-million line of financing facility will be utilized by...

ITFC, Afreximbank join Efforts to Support African Trade with $100 Million and €50 Million Murabaha Partnership Agreements

ITFC, Afreximbank join Efforts to Support African Trade with $100 Million and €50 Million Murabaha Partnership Agreements

By Fleur Tchibota On the sidelines of the Afro-Arab Trade Finance Forum DUBAI, UAE, December 24, 2017/ — The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), a multilateral financial institution established by African governments and institutional investors, have signed a US$100-Million agreement and a EUR 50-Million Murabaha agreement with the aim of facilitating and financing exports amongst African countries and between Africa and the rest of the world. The agreements were signed by Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, the CEO of ITFC, and Mr. Amr Kamel, Executive Vice...

Migration, UN reform and sustainable development among 2018 priorities, says Assembly President

Migration, UN reform and sustainable development among 2018 priorities, says Assembly President

By Via UN News Centre  SAFE MIGRATION , conflict prevention, sustainable development and United Nations reform will be the priorities of the 72nd UN General Assembly over the coming year, the 193-member body’s President, Miroslav Lajčák, said on Wednesday. “We will continue our work on the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration,” Mr. Lajčák told a press conference at UN Headquarters, welcoming constructive debates and a positive atmosphere during the consultation and preparatory phases on the initiative. “The next steps will be the intergovernmental negotiations, which will start in February with the aim of concluding them before July,” he explained, noting that...

Justice delayed is denied fairness, President Lungu frets

Justice delayed is denied fairness, President Lungu frets

By Favourite Jenala Kalando and Derrick Sinjela President Edgar Chagwa Lungu recently congratulated four judges appointed to ‘The Constitutional Court’, ‘The Court of Appeal’ and ‘The High Court’ following recommendation by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). Vowing to uphold the separation of powers doctrine, President Lungu believes the Zambian Judicial Service Commission made the best judicious decision in recommending the appointment of four judges, read a State House Media Statement by Special Assistant to the President Press and Public Relations, Mr. Amos Chanda,  circulated by Cecilia Lubumbashi Mulenga (Mrs) Chief Analyst-Press and Public Relations. President Lungu equally applauded the involvement...

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