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The Sustainable Development Goals in I.R. Iran
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Iran:
Story
22 September 2021
Secretary-General’s Address to the General Assembly
Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies,
I am here to sound the alarm: The world must wake up.
We are on the edge of an abyss — and moving in the wrong direction.
Our world has never been more threatened.
Or more divided.
We face the greatest cascade of crises in our lifetimes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has supersized glaring inequalities.
The climate crisis is pummeling the planet.
Upheaval from Afghanistan to Ethiopia to Yemen and beyond has thwarted peace.
A surge of mistrust and misinformation is polarizing people and paralyzing societies.
Human rights are under fire.
Science is under assault.
And economic lifelines for the most vulnerable are coming too little and too late — if they come at all.
Solidarity is missing in action — just when we need it most.
Perhaps one image tells the tale of our times.
The picture we have seen from some parts of the world of COVID-19 vaccines … in the garbage.
Expired and unused.
On the one hand, we see the vaccines developed in record time — a victory of science and human ingenuity.
On the other hand, we see that triumph undone by the tragedy of a lack of political will, selfishness and mistrust.
A surplus in some countries. Empty shelves in others.
A majority of the wealthier world vaccinated. Over 90 percent of Africans still waiting for their first dose.
This is a moral indictment of the state of our world.
It is an obscenity.
We passed the science test.
But we are getting an F in Ethics.
Excellencies,
The climate alarm bells are also ringing at fever pitch.
The recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was a code red for humanity.
We see the warning signs in every continent and region.
Scorching temperatures. Shocking biodiversity loss. Polluted air, water and natural spaces.
And climate-related disasters at every turn.
As we saw recently, not even this city — the financial capital of the world — is immune.
Climate scientists tell us it’s not too late to keep alive the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Climate Agreement.
But the window is rapidly closing.
We need a 45 per cent cut in emissions by 2030. Yet a recent UN report made clear that with present national climate commitments, emissions will go up by 16% by 2030.
That would condemn us to a hellscape of temperature rises of at least 2.7 degrees above pre-industrial levels. A catastrophe.
Meanwhile, the OECD just reported a gap of at least $20 billion in essential and promised climate finance to developing countries.
We are weeks away from the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow, but seemingly light years away from reaching our targets.
We must get serious. And we must act fast.
Excellencies,
COVID and the climate crisis have exposed profound fragilities as societies and as a planet.
Yet instead of humility in the face of these epic challenges, we see hubris.
Instead of the path of solidarity, we are on a dead end to destruction.
At the same time, another disease is spreading in our world today: a malady of mistrust.
When people see promises of progress denied by the realities of their harsh daily lives…
When they see their fundamental rights and freedoms curtailed…
When they see petty — as well as grand — corruption around them…
When they see billionaires joyriding to space while millions go hungry on earth…
When parents see a future for their children that looks even bleaker than the struggles of today...
And when young people see no future at all…
The people we serve and represent may lose faith not only in their governments and institutions — but in the values that have animated the work of the United Nations for over 75 years.
Peace. Human rights. Dignity for all. Equality. Justice. Solidarity.
Like never before, core values are in the crosshairs.
A breakdown in trust is leading to a breakdown in values.
Promises, after all, are worthless if people do not see results in their daily lives.
Failure to deliver creates space for some of the darkest impulses of humanity.
It provides oxygen for easy fixes, pseudo-solutions and conspiracy theories.
It is kindling to stoke ancient grievances. Cultural supremacy. Ideological dominance. Violent misogyny. The targeting of the most vulnerable including refugees and migrants.
Excellencies,
We face a moment of truth.
Now is the time to deliver.
Now is the time to restore trust.
Now is the time to inspire hope.
And I do have hope.
The problems we have created are problems we can solve.
Humanity has shown that we are capable of great things when we work together.
That is the raison d’être of our United Nations. But let’s be frank. Today’s multilateral system is too limited in its instruments and capacities, in relation to what is needed for effective governance of managing global public goods. It is too fixed on the short-term. We need to strengthen global governance. We need to focus on the future. We need to renew the social contract. We need to ensure a United Nations fit for a new era. That is why I presented my report on Our Common Agenda in the way I did. It provides a 360 degree analysis of the state of our world, with 90 specific recommendations that take on the challenges of today and strengthen multilateralism for tomorrow. Our Common Agenda builds on the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Climate Agreement. It is in line with the mandate I was given by the UN75 Declaration to seek a pathway to a better world. But to reach that land of our promises, we must bridge Great Divides. Excellencies, I see 6 Great Divides — 6 Grand Canyons — that we must bridge now. First, we must bridge the peace divide. For far too many around the world, peace and stability remain a distant dream. In Afghanistan, where we must boost humanitarian assistance and defend human rights, especially of women and girls. In Ethiopia, where we call on parties to immediately cease hostilities, ensure humanitarian access and create the conditions for the start of an Ethiopian-led political dialogue. In Myanmar, where we reaffirm unwavering support to the people in their pursuit of democracy, peace, human rights and the rule of law. In the Sahel, where we are committed to mobilizing international assistance for regional security, development and governance. In places such as Yemen, Libya and Syria, where we must overcome stalemates and push for peace.
In Israel and Palestine, where we urge leaders to resume a meaningful dialogue, recognizing the two-State solution as the only pathway to a just and comprehensive peace. In Haiti and so many other places left behind, where we stand in solidarity through every step out of crisis. Excellencies, We are seeing an explosion in seizures of power by force. Military coups are back. The lack of unity among the international community does not help. Geopolitical divisions are undermining international cooperation and limiting the capacity of the Security Council to take the necessary decisions. A sense of impunity is taking hold. At the same time, it will be impossible to address dramatic economic and development challenges while the world’s two largest economies are at odds with each other. Yet I fear our world is creeping towards two different sets of economic, trade, financial, and technology rules, two divergent approaches in the development of artificial intelligence — and ultimately the risk of two different military and geo-political strategies. This is a recipe for trouble. It would be far less predictable than the Cold War. To restore trust and inspire hope, we need cooperation. We need dialogue. We need understanding. We need to invest in prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We need progress on nuclear disarmament and in our shared efforts to counter terrorism. We need actions anchored in respect for human rights. And we need a new comprehensive Agenda for Peace. Excellencies, Second, we must bridge the climate divide. This requires bridging trust between North and South. It starts by doing all we can now to create the conditions for success in Glasgow. We need more ambition from all countries in three key areas — mitigation, finance and adaptation. More ambition on mitigation — means countries committing to carbon neutrality by mid-century — and to concrete 2030 emissions reductions targets that will get us there, backed up with credible actions now. More ambition on finance — means developing nations finally seeing the promised $100 billion dollars a year for climate action, fully mobilizing the resources of both international financial institutions and the private sector, too. More ambition on adaptation — means developed countries living up to their promise of credible support to developing countries to build resilience to save lives and livelihoods. This means 50 per cent of all climate finance provided by developed countries and multilateral development banks should be dedicated to adaptation. The African Development Bank set the bar in 2019 by allocating half of its climate finance to adaptation. Some donor countries have followed their lead. All must do so. My message to every Member State is this: Don’t wait for others to make the first move. Do your part. Around the world, we see civil society — led by young people — fully mobilized to tackle the climate crisis. The private sector is increasingly stepping up. Governments must also summon the full force of their fiscal policymaking powers to make the shift to green economies. By taxing carbon and pollution instead of people’s income to more easily make the switch to sustainable green jobs. By ending subsidies to fossil fuels and freeing up resources to invest back into health care, education, renewable energy, sustainable food systems, and social protections for their people. By committing to no new coal plants. If all planned coal power plants become operational, we will not only be clearly above 1.5 degrees — we will be well above 2 degrees.
The Paris targets will go up in smoke. This is a planetary emergency. We need coalitions of solidarity -- between countries that still depend heavily on coal, and countries that have the financial and technical resources to support their transition.
We have the opportunity and the obligation to act. Excellencies, Third, we must bridge the gap between rich and poor, within and among countries. That starts by ending the pandemic for everyone, everywhere. We urgently need a global vaccination plan to at least double vaccine production and ensure that vaccines reach seventy percent of the world’s population in the first half of 2022. This plan could be implemented by an emergency Task Force made up of present and potential vaccine producers, the World Health Organization, ACT-Accelerator partners, and international financial institutions, working with pharmaceutical companies. We have no time to lose. A lopsided recovery is deepening inequalities. Richer countries could reach pre-pandemic growth rates by the end of this year while the impacts may last for years in low-income countries. Is it any wonder? Advanced economies are investing nearly 28 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product into economic recovery. For middle-income countries, that number falls to 6.5 per cent. And it plummets to 1.8 per cent for the least developed countries — a tiny percentage of a much smaller amount. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the International Monetary Fund projects that cumulative economic growth per capita over the next five years will be 75 percent less than the rest of the world. Many countries need an urgent injection of liquidity.
I welcome the issuance of $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights by the International Monetary Fund. But these SDRs are largely going to the countries that need them least. Advanced economies should reallocate their surplus SDRs to countries in need. SDRs are not a silver bullet. But they provide space for sustainable recovery and growth. I renew also my call for a reformed and more equitable international debt architecture. The Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended to 2022 and should be available to all highly indebted vulnerable and middle-income countries that request it. This would be solidarity in action. Countries shouldn’t have to choose between servicing debt and serving people. With effective international solidarity, it would be possible at the national level to forge a new social contract that includes universal health coverage and income protection, housing and decent work, quality education for all, and an end to discrimination and violence against women and girls. I call on countries to reform their tax systems and finally end tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows. And as we look ahead, we need a better system of prevention and preparedness for all major global risks. We must support the recommendations of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. I have put forward a number of other proposals in Our Common Agenda — including an emergency platform and a Futures Lab. Excellencies, Fourth, we must bridge the gender divide. COVID-19 exposed and amplified the world’s most enduring injustice: the power imbalance between men and women. When the pandemic hit, women were the majority of frontline workers, first to lose their jobs, and first to put their careers on hold to care for those close to them. Girls were disproportionately hit by school closures that limit their development and increase the risk of abuse, violence and child marriage. Bridging the gender divide is not only a matter of justice for women and girls. It’s a game-changer for humanity. Societies with more equal representation are more stable and peaceful. They have better health systems and more vibrant economies. Women’s equality is essentially a question of power. We must urgently transform our male-dominated world and shift the balance of power, to solve the most challenging problems of our age. That means more women leaders in parliaments, cabinets and board rooms. It means women fully represented and making their full contribution, everywhere. I urge governments, corporations and other institutions to take bold steps, including benchmarks and quotas, to create gender parity from the leadership down. At the United Nations, we have achieved this among the Senior Management and our country team leaders. We will keep going until we have parity at every level. At the same time, we need to push back against regressive laws that institutionalize gender discrimination. Women’s rights are human rights. Economic recovery plans should focus on women, including through large-scale investments in the care economy. And we need an emergency plan to fight gender-based violence in every country. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a better world, we can and we must bridge the gender divide. Excellencies, Fifth, restoring trust and inspiring hope means bridging the digital divide. Half of humanity has no access to the internet. We must connect everyone by 2030.
This is the vision of my Roadmap for Digital Co-operation — to embrace the promise of digital technology while protecting people from its perils. One of the greatest perils we face is the growing reach of digital platforms and the use and abuse of data. A vast library of information is being assembled about each of us. Yet we don’t even have the keys to that library. We don’t know how this information has been collected, by whom or for what purposes. But we do know our data is being used commercially — to boost corporate profits. Our behavior patterns are being commodified and sold like futures contracts. Our data is also being used to influence our perceptions and opinions. Governments and others can exploit it to control or manipulate people’s behaviour, violating human rights of individuals or groups, and undermining democracy. This is not science fiction. This is today’s reality. And it requires a serious discussion. So, too, do other dangers in the digital frontier. I am certain, for example, that any future major confrontation — and heaven forbid it should ever happen — will start with a massive cyberattack. Where are the legal frameworks to address this? Autonomous weapons can today choose targets and kill people without human interference. They should be banned. But there is no consensus on how to regulate those technologies. To restore trust and inspire hope, we need to place human rights at the centre of our efforts to ensure a safe, equitable and open digital future for all. Excellencies, Sixth, and finally, we need to bridge the divide among generations.
Young people will inherit the consequences of our decisions — good and bad.
At the same time, we expect 10.9 billion people to be born by century’s end.
We need their talents, ideas and energies.
Our Common Agenda proposes a Transforming Education Summit next year to address the learning crisis and expand opportunities for today’s 1.8 billion young people.
But young people need more than support.
They need a seat at the table.
For this, I will appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations and create the United Nations Youth Office.
And the contributions of young people will be central to the Summit of the Future, as set out in Our Common Agenda. Young people need a vision of hope for the future. Recent research showed the majority of young people across ten countries are suffering from high levels of anxiety and distress over the state of our planet. Some 60 percent of your future voters feel betrayed by their governments.
We must prove to children and young people that despite the seriousness of the situation, the world has a plan — and governments are committed to implementing it. We need to act now to bridge the Great Divides and save humanity and the planet. Excellencies, With real engagement, we can live up to the promise of a better, more peaceful world. That is the driving force of our Common Agenda.
The best way to advance the interests of one’s own citizens is by advancing the interests of our common future. Interdependence is the logic of the 21st century. And it is the lodestar of the United Nations. This is our time. A moment for transformation. An era to re-ignite multilateralism. An age of possibilities. Let us restore trust. Let us inspire hope. And let us start right now. Thank you.
That is the raison d’être of our United Nations. But let’s be frank. Today’s multilateral system is too limited in its instruments and capacities, in relation to what is needed for effective governance of managing global public goods. It is too fixed on the short-term. We need to strengthen global governance. We need to focus on the future. We need to renew the social contract. We need to ensure a United Nations fit for a new era. That is why I presented my report on Our Common Agenda in the way I did. It provides a 360 degree analysis of the state of our world, with 90 specific recommendations that take on the challenges of today and strengthen multilateralism for tomorrow. Our Common Agenda builds on the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Climate Agreement. It is in line with the mandate I was given by the UN75 Declaration to seek a pathway to a better world. But to reach that land of our promises, we must bridge Great Divides. Excellencies, I see 6 Great Divides — 6 Grand Canyons — that we must bridge now. First, we must bridge the peace divide. For far too many around the world, peace and stability remain a distant dream. In Afghanistan, where we must boost humanitarian assistance and defend human rights, especially of women and girls. In Ethiopia, where we call on parties to immediately cease hostilities, ensure humanitarian access and create the conditions for the start of an Ethiopian-led political dialogue. In Myanmar, where we reaffirm unwavering support to the people in their pursuit of democracy, peace, human rights and the rule of law. In the Sahel, where we are committed to mobilizing international assistance for regional security, development and governance. In places such as Yemen, Libya and Syria, where we must overcome stalemates and push for peace.
In Israel and Palestine, where we urge leaders to resume a meaningful dialogue, recognizing the two-State solution as the only pathway to a just and comprehensive peace. In Haiti and so many other places left behind, where we stand in solidarity through every step out of crisis. Excellencies, We are seeing an explosion in seizures of power by force. Military coups are back. The lack of unity among the international community does not help. Geopolitical divisions are undermining international cooperation and limiting the capacity of the Security Council to take the necessary decisions. A sense of impunity is taking hold. At the same time, it will be impossible to address dramatic economic and development challenges while the world’s two largest economies are at odds with each other. Yet I fear our world is creeping towards two different sets of economic, trade, financial, and technology rules, two divergent approaches in the development of artificial intelligence — and ultimately the risk of two different military and geo-political strategies. This is a recipe for trouble. It would be far less predictable than the Cold War. To restore trust and inspire hope, we need cooperation. We need dialogue. We need understanding. We need to invest in prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We need progress on nuclear disarmament and in our shared efforts to counter terrorism. We need actions anchored in respect for human rights. And we need a new comprehensive Agenda for Peace. Excellencies, Second, we must bridge the climate divide. This requires bridging trust between North and South. It starts by doing all we can now to create the conditions for success in Glasgow. We need more ambition from all countries in three key areas — mitigation, finance and adaptation. More ambition on mitigation — means countries committing to carbon neutrality by mid-century — and to concrete 2030 emissions reductions targets that will get us there, backed up with credible actions now. More ambition on finance — means developing nations finally seeing the promised $100 billion dollars a year for climate action, fully mobilizing the resources of both international financial institutions and the private sector, too. More ambition on adaptation — means developed countries living up to their promise of credible support to developing countries to build resilience to save lives and livelihoods. This means 50 per cent of all climate finance provided by developed countries and multilateral development banks should be dedicated to adaptation. The African Development Bank set the bar in 2019 by allocating half of its climate finance to adaptation. Some donor countries have followed their lead. All must do so. My message to every Member State is this: Don’t wait for others to make the first move. Do your part. Around the world, we see civil society — led by young people — fully mobilized to tackle the climate crisis. The private sector is increasingly stepping up. Governments must also summon the full force of their fiscal policymaking powers to make the shift to green economies. By taxing carbon and pollution instead of people’s income to more easily make the switch to sustainable green jobs. By ending subsidies to fossil fuels and freeing up resources to invest back into health care, education, renewable energy, sustainable food systems, and social protections for their people. By committing to no new coal plants. If all planned coal power plants become operational, we will not only be clearly above 1.5 degrees — we will be well above 2 degrees.
The Paris targets will go up in smoke. This is a planetary emergency. We need coalitions of solidarity -- between countries that still depend heavily on coal, and countries that have the financial and technical resources to support their transition.
We have the opportunity and the obligation to act. Excellencies, Third, we must bridge the gap between rich and poor, within and among countries. That starts by ending the pandemic for everyone, everywhere. We urgently need a global vaccination plan to at least double vaccine production and ensure that vaccines reach seventy percent of the world’s population in the first half of 2022. This plan could be implemented by an emergency Task Force made up of present and potential vaccine producers, the World Health Organization, ACT-Accelerator partners, and international financial institutions, working with pharmaceutical companies. We have no time to lose. A lopsided recovery is deepening inequalities. Richer countries could reach pre-pandemic growth rates by the end of this year while the impacts may last for years in low-income countries. Is it any wonder? Advanced economies are investing nearly 28 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product into economic recovery. For middle-income countries, that number falls to 6.5 per cent. And it plummets to 1.8 per cent for the least developed countries — a tiny percentage of a much smaller amount. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the International Monetary Fund projects that cumulative economic growth per capita over the next five years will be 75 percent less than the rest of the world. Many countries need an urgent injection of liquidity.
I welcome the issuance of $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights by the International Monetary Fund. But these SDRs are largely going to the countries that need them least. Advanced economies should reallocate their surplus SDRs to countries in need. SDRs are not a silver bullet. But they provide space for sustainable recovery and growth. I renew also my call for a reformed and more equitable international debt architecture. The Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended to 2022 and should be available to all highly indebted vulnerable and middle-income countries that request it. This would be solidarity in action. Countries shouldn’t have to choose between servicing debt and serving people. With effective international solidarity, it would be possible at the national level to forge a new social contract that includes universal health coverage and income protection, housing and decent work, quality education for all, and an end to discrimination and violence against women and girls. I call on countries to reform their tax systems and finally end tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows. And as we look ahead, we need a better system of prevention and preparedness for all major global risks. We must support the recommendations of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. I have put forward a number of other proposals in Our Common Agenda — including an emergency platform and a Futures Lab. Excellencies, Fourth, we must bridge the gender divide. COVID-19 exposed and amplified the world’s most enduring injustice: the power imbalance between men and women. When the pandemic hit, women were the majority of frontline workers, first to lose their jobs, and first to put their careers on hold to care for those close to them. Girls were disproportionately hit by school closures that limit their development and increase the risk of abuse, violence and child marriage. Bridging the gender divide is not only a matter of justice for women and girls. It’s a game-changer for humanity. Societies with more equal representation are more stable and peaceful. They have better health systems and more vibrant economies. Women’s equality is essentially a question of power. We must urgently transform our male-dominated world and shift the balance of power, to solve the most challenging problems of our age. That means more women leaders in parliaments, cabinets and board rooms. It means women fully represented and making their full contribution, everywhere. I urge governments, corporations and other institutions to take bold steps, including benchmarks and quotas, to create gender parity from the leadership down. At the United Nations, we have achieved this among the Senior Management and our country team leaders. We will keep going until we have parity at every level. At the same time, we need to push back against regressive laws that institutionalize gender discrimination. Women’s rights are human rights. Economic recovery plans should focus on women, including through large-scale investments in the care economy. And we need an emergency plan to fight gender-based violence in every country. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a better world, we can and we must bridge the gender divide. Excellencies, Fifth, restoring trust and inspiring hope means bridging the digital divide. Half of humanity has no access to the internet. We must connect everyone by 2030.
This is the vision of my Roadmap for Digital Co-operation — to embrace the promise of digital technology while protecting people from its perils. One of the greatest perils we face is the growing reach of digital platforms and the use and abuse of data. A vast library of information is being assembled about each of us. Yet we don’t even have the keys to that library. We don’t know how this information has been collected, by whom or for what purposes. But we do know our data is being used commercially — to boost corporate profits. Our behavior patterns are being commodified and sold like futures contracts. Our data is also being used to influence our perceptions and opinions. Governments and others can exploit it to control or manipulate people’s behaviour, violating human rights of individuals or groups, and undermining democracy. This is not science fiction. This is today’s reality. And it requires a serious discussion. So, too, do other dangers in the digital frontier. I am certain, for example, that any future major confrontation — and heaven forbid it should ever happen — will start with a massive cyberattack. Where are the legal frameworks to address this? Autonomous weapons can today choose targets and kill people without human interference. They should be banned. But there is no consensus on how to regulate those technologies. To restore trust and inspire hope, we need to place human rights at the centre of our efforts to ensure a safe, equitable and open digital future for all. Excellencies, Sixth, and finally, we need to bridge the divide among generations.
Young people will inherit the consequences of our decisions — good and bad.
At the same time, we expect 10.9 billion people to be born by century’s end.
We need their talents, ideas and energies.
Our Common Agenda proposes a Transforming Education Summit next year to address the learning crisis and expand opportunities for today’s 1.8 billion young people.
But young people need more than support.
They need a seat at the table.
For this, I will appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations and create the United Nations Youth Office.
And the contributions of young people will be central to the Summit of the Future, as set out in Our Common Agenda. Young people need a vision of hope for the future. Recent research showed the majority of young people across ten countries are suffering from high levels of anxiety and distress over the state of our planet. Some 60 percent of your future voters feel betrayed by their governments.
We must prove to children and young people that despite the seriousness of the situation, the world has a plan — and governments are committed to implementing it. We need to act now to bridge the Great Divides and save humanity and the planet. Excellencies, With real engagement, we can live up to the promise of a better, more peaceful world. That is the driving force of our Common Agenda.
The best way to advance the interests of one’s own citizens is by advancing the interests of our common future. Interdependence is the logic of the 21st century. And it is the lodestar of the United Nations. This is our time. A moment for transformation. An era to re-ignite multilateralism. An age of possibilities. Let us restore trust. Let us inspire hope. And let us start right now. Thank you.
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Story
08 June 2020
Fighting COVID-19 as one
During Ramadan, the United Nations in the Islamic Republic of Iran has continued efforts to assist the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I extend my warmest wishes Eid-al-Fitr and I am sure that for many observing Ramadan was very different this year. COVID-19 has claimed over 320,000 lives worldwide, left us with a virus we still do not fully understand, and thrown us into the worst socio-economic crisis in almost a century,” said Ugochi Daniels, the UN Resident Coordinator in Iran.
Since the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Iran in February, UN agencies in the country quickly mobilized to support the national struggle against the outbreak. But the pandemic has caused a world crisis that will only be contained through large scale cooperation and collaboration. The UN in Iran is maximizing our global initiatives to sustain the Government’s efforts to fight the virus.
UN response in Iran – brief overview: UN in Iran has provided technical guidance and in-kind assistance to the Government, including the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable. Assistance includes but is not limited to:
Test kits, arterial blood gas analyzers and other medical supplies to more than 100 laboratories and hospitals in Iran.
Medicines to enable Iran to contribute data to the Solidarity Trial , a global UN-led study to identify already approved medicines’ effect on Coronavirus patients.
Over 76 tons of personal protective equipment for front line workers as well as professionals across Iran taking care of the elderly, children with disabilities, and other groups with special needs.
As Iran is the 6th largest refugee-hosting country in the world, the UN has provided hygiene items and food assistance to 31,000 most vulnerable refugees living in settlements and protection items for humanitarian service workers. The UN continues to provide psycho-social counseling and legal advice through helplines, as well as targeted, one-off cash assistance when a helping hand is urgently needed.
Other UN initiatives are supporting government efforts to protect and assist women, girls, the elderly, people living disabilities, drug users, parents, teachers and others.
It is now clear that the long-term effects of the pandemic will negatively impact the world economy for many years to come. On May 14, the UN updated its plans on how to expand global efforts to mitigate the rampant effects of the pandemic. The UN, released the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, issuing a US $6.7 billion appeal to stem the spread of the virus, distribute medicines and equipment, and protect millions of lives from the disease and accompanying impacts. As Iran is the tenth most COVID-19 affected country globally, it has been included in this global plan for continuous support.
UN in Iran acknowledges the Government’s socio-economic initiatives which are already providing relief and support to vulnerable households and small businesses. The UN is currently reinforcing and scaling up programmes to sustain recovery efforts. Apart from immediate relief for the most vulnerable in COVID-19 affected families, we will focus on empowering local capacity as well as generating livelihood opportunities.
“Globally, we can see that poverty is on the rise for the first time in decades. The only way for us to get through this crisis and come out stronger on the other side, is by working together. The UN in Iran will partner with our extremely generous donors, to be able to support and contribute to the government’s efforts. We will focus on inclusive, resilient and sustainable solutions and work hard leaving no one behind”, added Ms. Daniels, the UN Resident Coordinator.
***
Further information/requests for interviews:
Maria Dotsenko in Tehran: dotsenko@un.org +98 912 116 9948
Mohammad Rajai-Moghadam in Tehran; rajai-moghadam@un.org +98 912 105 3220
1 of 3
Story
03 December 2021
UN facilitates Iran’s national vaccination plan – Resident Coordinator
“I am proud of the UN agencies accelerating its support – to date 15 million vaccines have landed in Tehran together with other medical supplies and much needed protection equipment through UN facilitation”, Priesner added.
Addressing a ceremony marking the 76th Anniversary of the United Nations at Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) on 1 December 2021, the Mr. Priesner charted the good cooperation with Government for now and the next five years and also stressed that the partnership goes back a long way when in 1950 the UN opened its first office.
“Today an impressive number of agencies - 18 – are testimony of our large scale cooperation,” he said.
Referring to Iran’s contributions to development and humanitarian sphere, he said hosting several million refugees and migrants as well as playing a significant role in stemming the flow of illicit drugs from Afghanistan to the world are just two examples.
A large number of foreign diplomats stationed in Tehran as well as government officials, NGO members and journalists attended the ceremony.
Deputy Foreign Minister and President of IPIS Dr. Hassan Sheykh al-Islami in his address said some 76 years ago the United Nations was created after a devastating war with the objectives of safeguarding international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and helping member states to solve international economic, social and cultural problems.
He said that the UN Day is the best framework for reminding us of the important role of the Organization in supporting the member states’ efforts for fulfilling the objectives of the UN Charter. The Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized that the United Nations as the most important manifestation of multilateralism, must pave the needed ways of all countries for solving their problems based on equal social, economic and cultural rights.
The ceremony continued by screening a video on UN achievements in Iran.
Then, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Representative Ms. Negar Gerami in her remarks said that the UN in Iran supported the government’s significant efforts to fight drug related crimes such as trafficking and abuse - addressing border control and investigation through training and improving prevention and treatment methods.
She said the UN has developed sustainable farming methods to avoid droughts and draining wetlands in Iran while promoting efficient water management and waste management, helping to reduce CO2 emissions.
“The UN also provided food assistance to thousands of refugee families and distributed hygiene- and dignity kits – always to those who needed it most,” Ms. Gerami said adding that last year the UN also covered the Universal Public Health Insurance for 120,000 refugees.
Gerami pointed out that through the UN efforts, over half a million refugee children were enrolled in national schools and we introduced “School Feeding” programmes for some of the most vulnerable of them benefitting both students and teachers.
Composer and university professor and setar player Mr. Keyvan Saket had kindly agreed to perform pro bono, and he received standing ovations after playing his beautiful piece for the audience.
The programme continued by a video message from President of Iranian Association for UN Studies (IAUNS) and University of Tehran Professor Dr. Nasrin Mosaffa.
She said for the past twenty years, IAUNS been spearheading research and scientific effort in both assessing the role of the UN in international politics and critical appraisal of the relationship between Islamic Republic of Iran and the UN.
“We are of the belief that both issues require diligent review and wise assessment in an expert and scientific way. We have benefited from active participations and cooperation of both the first UN and the second UN in our activities,” Dr. Mosaffa added.
She said that is the reason I am speaking to you with 20 years of experience in promoting activities to study the noble cause of United Nations from Iranian perspective, researching, training and leading awareness raising activities on the UN to provide expertise to our society in a scientific way. We believe that our aim in training next generation of researchers and experts to have a realistic assessment of global challenges while paying attention to inter-disciplinary and multidimensional nature of them alongside their history is a vital one.
Inspired by the UN charter and our national interest, Dr. Mosaffa said the Association provides a unique insight into dynamic research and training culture that creates a nexus between academia and policymakers.
“Its vital role has been recognised on international level through ECOSOC’s consultative status. It is on that basis that we believe Iran-UN relationship is important both regionally and globally. Insisting on adherence to the international law, the global pandemic, and refugee crises are examples of how this relationship could benefit from input by the third UN,” University of Tehran professor said.
UN Information Centre National Information Officer Mohammad Rajai-Moghadam briefed the participants on the preparation process of “United Nations and Iran Partnership” book.
Then, the UN Resident Coordinator, Stefan Priesner, Deputy Foreign Minister Sheykh al-Islami and Managing Director of Etella’at Institute Hojatoleslam Seyyed Mahmood Doaei launched “United Nations and Iran Partnership” bilingual book.
At the end of the ceremony, Mr. Nima Ilat from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) who represented generation of young UN staff members in his statement said I can fully guarantee that my generation is committed to keep the world and all its beauties for the future; we will all thank you for doing the same!
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Story
22 May 2022
UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures concludes visit to Iran
On May 18, Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on the Negative Impact of Coercive Measures on the Enjoyment of Human Rights, concluded a 12-day trip to Iran to examine the impact of UCMs on the country.
At a press conference held at Iran’s National Library on May 18, 2022, the independent expert underlined that the complex set of unilateral sanctions against Iran, coupled with secondary sanctions against third-parties, overcompliance and zero-risking policies by businesses and financial institutions, exacerbate existing humanitarian and economic challenges and negatively affect the lives of the people, in particular the most vulnerable.
The Special Rapporteur will present a final report to the Human Rights Council in September 2022.
For more information, visit OHCHR's website.
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Story
22 May 2022
History of immunization: How effective are vaccines?
Vaccinations save at least 4 to 5 million lives every year. This remarkable success story is the result of massive immunization campaigns that have swept round the world in recent decades. Smallpox, which killed hundreds of millions, was eradicated in 1980, and polio cases have been reduced by more than 99% since 1988.
Dr. Kate O’Brien, Immunization Director at the World Health Organization, takes us on a historical tour from the development of the first modern vaccine in the late 18th Century, to the new vaccines that are combatting today’s COVID pandemic. The United Nations, and its partners in the COVAX facility, are ensuring that vaccines reach every low-income country in the world.
Dr. O’Brien was moved to devote her life to immunization after working in a paediatric ward in Haiti, where she saw that a third of the children were dying from diseases that were completely vaccine-preventable.
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Story
29 April 2022
Pledging to build back better: UN agencies, Ministry of Health and international partners come together for a healthier tomorrow
The World Health Organization (WHO) in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, United Nations agencies active in the field of health and representatives from the international community came together to join forces in commemoration of World Health Day 2022 and reaffirm individual and bilateral commitments in a meeting held on Tuesday 26 April in Tehran.
The third of its kind in a bimonthly series held at the request of the Minister of Health and Medical Education Dr Bahram Eynollahi as an experience-sharing platform, the roundtable also welcomed ambassadors from Spain, Japan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Hungary.
The meeting was opened with a speech by the Minister, followed by an address by the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, in virtual attendance, who pointed to the importance of this year’s World Health Day theme ‘Our Planet, Our Health’. He expressed WHO's readiness to continue mutual collaboration with Islamic Republic of Iran for a healthier planet and a healthier future.
“COVID-19 has tested health systems across the globe and shown us that health inequity harms every member of the bigger community,” said Dr Eynollahi in his opening speech. “And so, collaborating with the international community and organizations and exchanging experiences and best practices are a priority for this Ministry under the slogan of ‘equity and excellence of the health system’.”
Underpinning bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the meeting mainly focused on creating a more resilient health system post COVID-19, working toward health equity for the people of Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as refugees and foreign nationals, by addressing social determinants of health with an emphasis on existing local competencies. Dr Al-Mandhari commended the Islamic Republic of Iran for their impressive efforts in operationalizing multisectoral collaboration on the ground, noting the recent accreditation of Sahand, the first Healthy City in the country, in 2021.
He also took note of this year’s World Health Day theme ‘Our Planet, Our Health’ and stressed the need to factor in all decision-making the intricate connection that exists between environmental risks and health. Noting the launch of the Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2021, Dr Eynollahi and WHO called for joint working groups to address the social determinants of health across sectors as a means of building a healthier country and a healthier region.
Reiterating the interface between political, social and economic decisions and health, WHO Representative to Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain underscored the country’s major achievement in sustaining a health system least affected by COVID-19 across the Region reflected in the continuation of efforts in immunization, noncommunicable diseases, elective surgeries, and access to health services.
“WHO works to help with how to convene and cooperate internationally and offers a collaborative advantage to bring Islamic Republic of Iran closer to other Member States in order to learn and exchange experiences, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19,” he said.
The impacts of international sanctions on health factors, upsurge in cases of long-fought viruses such as measles in the Region, supporting local production of non-COVID-19 vaccines, providing health services to the refugee population, and engaging in joint vaccine production were among the topics introduced and discussed by attending ambassadors. In addition to these topics, representatives of UN agencies collectively flagged the importance of intersectoral collaboration at national and regional level to tackle environmental risks, including climate change, sand and dust storms and air pollution, among others.
The forum also expressed appreciation for health care workers as frontline workers of the health crises, who had risked their lives protecting people throughout the past 2 years of the pandemic, and paid tribute to all the lives lost as attendees pledged to build back better through planning ahead, combining efforts and exchanging knowledge.
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Story
20 April 2022
UNHCR and WFP help refugee children stay in school and reach for their dreams
Nazanin, 11, lives with her mother and eight brothers in a small house in Saveh refugee settlement, in Iran’s central Markazi province. The family fled Afghanistan in 1985 and have been living in Iran since. Nazanin’s mother struggles to support her children’s education after the death of her husband, the family’s sole breadwinner, last year.
Born and raised in Iran, Nazanin is eager to continue her education. Despite the family’s dire financial situation, she attends school. She is a fourth-grade student at a primary school in Saveh settlement and is already very clear on her career aspirations. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up. “I don’t want anyone to be sick and I want to help my fellow citizens, I want other girls to learn and get educated as well.”
In many traditional Afghan families, boys are given more preference over girls to attend school. Poverty, early marriage, cultural and traditional barriers are amongst factors preventing many girls from acquiring an education. Despite challenges faced by Afghan refugee girls, many like Nazanin, are determined to continue their education and obtain professional qualifications.
Iran’s inclusive refugee policy not only allows refugee access to education, but the government has also exempted refugees from school fees. However, due to rising inflation, many families still struggle to afford other costs associated with education, including school supplies. Given the economic downturn sweeping through Iran, any additional cost increases the risks of children being taken out of school by their parents and send to work and contribute to the family income.
The World Food Programme’s school feeding programme and the UN refugee agency, UNHCR’s school construction programme in Iran help refugee children remain in school and aspire to fulfil their dreams.
Education incentive for young girls encourages families to send their girls to school in return for cash that every girl receives after each month of regular attendance, contributing to the household economy. This incentive can also dissuade parents from marrying girls off early.
“When you are hungry you have no energy – no energy to work, no energy to go to school and no desire to learn.” Says Bi Bi Shah, Nazanin’s mother.
To ensure refugee children meet their nutritional needs, WFP distributes about 50 MT of school snacks every month, containing biscuits, date bar, and milk amongst refugee boys and girls and their teachers, under strict hygiene protocols in schools or as take-home rations.
For Bi Bi Shah, the school feeding programme is essential for the future of her children because the snacks provided to them are the only nutritious meal they may receive in the day. Nazanin and four of her brothers receive their school feeding items every day. “I really appreciate this programme, because at least I’m sure my kids don’t go to school on an empty stomach.”
Saveh settlement is Iran’s second largest refugee settlement, established in 1988, the settlement is home to 4,936 Afghan refugees. Iran’s Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA) manages the settlement. UNHCR co-funded construction of a 12-classroom school, where Nazanin studies. The settlement has two primary and two secondary schools for refugee girls and boys.
WFP’s school feeding programme provides daily school snacks to 7,500 refugee boy and girl students in 20 settlements across Iran, an essential safeguard contributing to increased enrolment and encouraging parents to keep children in schools. Countrywide, UNHCR has supported the government with construction of 64 schools for refugees and Iranian children.
Iran is home to over 800,000 registered refugees and some 2.6 million undocumented Afghans. Today, more 500,000 Afghan children- including undocumented Afghans and those who have newly arrived in Iran following the Taliban-takeover-are benefitting from Iran’s inclusive education policies, one of the most progressive in the world.
Investing in refugees’ education and ensuring that refugee children and youth have a chance to flourish, will pay dividends for future peace and security. Education empowers them, builds their knowledge, resilience, and competencies, enabling them to learn about themselves and the world around them while striving to rebuild their lives and communities. Educated refugee youth are better placed to rebuild their lives anywhere – including in the country of asylum and at home once it’s safe to return.
By Neba Mobarra, WFP and Duniya Aslam Khan, UNHCR
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Story
22 March 2022
Climate action needed now
Global problems
The average temperature rise compared to pre-industrial levels is already 1.2 degrees, which is too close to the 1.5 degrees that the international scientific community warns us is the limit if we want to avoid catastrophic developments such as floods, wildfires, storms, and heatwaves.
The SG is urging those who are the worst CO2 emitters to urgently commit to net zero emissions by 2050 and -- most importantly -- to put in place policies and programmes that will get us there.
Iran
Like all other countries, Iran must contribute, too, as it is already affected by climate change. Geographically Iran is in the dry belt of the world with high temperatures and relatively limited rain and snow. This makes water resources as one of most important limiting factors in the development of the country.
Iran’s economy is affected in more ways by the consequences of the climate change. Global research shows that in a climate zone like Iran’s, every one-degree increase in temperature can reduce crop production by 10% which of course affects both economy and food security of Iran.
Globally, all production and development sectors need access to water resources which does put pressure on ecosystems and biodiversity.
Water
Environmental challenges affecting the world such as climate change-water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and pollution are compounded by the gap between development demands, poor incentives and the economic and development planning capacity at the national level in both developed and developing countries.
By 2050, cumulative damage from climate change and associated environmental degradation is projected to reach USD 8 trillion, reducing global GDP by 3 per cent, with disproportionate effects on the poorest regions.
The scale and pace of non ‘green’ growth has been greater and faster than the capacity and commitment to restore, renew, and replenish ecological resources. Sadly, this is a trend that is likely to accelerate in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery period.
Integrated solutions
There are no easy fixes. What must fundamentally change is the way these environmental threats are approached. They must be treated as highly interconnected phenomena, interacting with socioeconomic factors, notably widespread and worsening inequalities. Climate change and water scarcity do not impact food systems alone.
In the UN, the priority is a coherent and coordinated approach. The UN Team in Iran’s focus is on an inclusive green recovery and development in line with the National Development Plan and priorities. This means supporting transitions to sustainable energy, improved natural resource management while helping to diversify and build a resilient economy.
To read UN World Water Development Report, please visit this link: https://bit.ly/WaterDayReport
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Press Release
12 April 2022
World Health Day 2022 Commemorated in Islamic Republic of Iran
The event welcomed students in different fields of health and medicine at the university, as well as experts and specialists from a myriad of backgrounds and provided a platform for keynote speeches by WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Iran Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, University Chancellor Dr Alireza Zali, and Deputy Minister for Public Health Dr Kamal Heidari.
The World Health Day is seen each year as an opportunity by governments and organizations to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health including by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The joint commemoration of the global occasion, held to mark WHO's founding, will continue through a number of initiatives and events that officially commence on the 7th and run until the last week of April.
“We need to highlight operationalizing health in all policies, strengthening partnership of health and non-health sectors, focus of political, economic, and social drivers and their impact on health and well-being,” said Dr Hussain in his speech. “Our vision in the region is Health for all by all and this is not achievable without intersectoral collaboration of all sectors.”
Under the theme ‘Our Planet, Our Health’ for this year’s World Health Day, WHO is focusing global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being in the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet, increasing diseases like cancer, asthma, and heart disease.
WHO estimates that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes, which including climate change are responsible for 23% of the total burden of disease in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and as much as 30% of the disease burden for children. An estimated 1 million people die prematurely every year in our Region as a result of living and working in unhealthy environments.
“Countries can achieve health equity by changing policies to give everyone equal opportunity for being healthy, empowerment and engagement of communities, vulnerable and marginalized and affected population in decision making and implementation of solutions, to ensure timeliness and reliability of data to identify inequalities and evidence-based policy and decision making, having an inclusive vision and acting beyond borders,” Dr Hussain underlined.
Throughout the National Health Week (24-30 April), WHO will support the ministry of health in organizing coordinated meetings between UN agencies to discuss and consolidate ongoing efforts for climate and health, health promotion events on the sidelines, and encourage other plans and pledges by government and non-governmental organizations across the country to prompt political commitment for action and community engagement for impact.
WHO Regional Direction Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari has in turn stressed the critical need to tackle these challenges, by addressing the root causes of ill health. “Many aspects of environmental health go far beyond the health sector, so concerted action by many different actors across different sectors is required, focusing on upstream interventions to prevent, minimize or mitigate environmental risks,” he said in his message for the occasion.
Our political, social, and commercial decisions are driving the climate and health crisis. Environmental hazards such as polluted air, toxic chemicals, and lack of access to water and sanitation exacerbate the Region’s inherent vulnerability to infectious disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There is growing evidence of a direct connection between environmental change and the emergence or transmission of COVID-19, while on the other hand the pandemic has diverted resources from development efforts and placed additional stresses on ecosystems and health systems.
Through the ‘Our Planet, Our Health’ campaign, WHO urges governments and the public to share stories of steps they are taking to protect the planet and their health and prioritize well-being societies. Recovery from COVID-19 also presents a historic opportunity to rebuild better and create cleaner, healthier and fairer systems and societies. Tackling environmental risks is also an essential part of WHO’s vision of Health for All by All in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
On this World Health Day, WHO calls on everyone – governments, businesses, health professionals, civil society, communities, and individuals – to protect Our Planet and Our Health.
We must act now for a #HealthierTomorrow.
***
World Health Day 2022 campaign ‘Our Planet, Our Health’ is being run in Iran in collaboration with the ministry of health and its affiliate organizations across the country. To see campaign content in Farsi and get more information please visit WHO Iran Instagram page at: https://www.instagram.com/whoiran/
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Press Release
28 February 2022
Climate change: a threat to human wellbeing and health of the planet. Taking action now can secure our future
“This report is a dire warning about the consequences of inaction,” said Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC. “It shows that climate change is a grave and mounting threat to our wellbeing and a healthy planet. Our actions today will shape how people adapt and nature responds to increasing climate risks.”
The world faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the next two decades with global warming of 1.5°C (2.7°F). Even temporarily exceeding this warming level will result in additional severe impacts, some of which will be irreversible. Risks for society will increase, including to infrastructure and low-lying coastal settlements.
The Summary for Policymakers of the IPCC Working Group II report, Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability was approved on Sunday, February 27 2022, by 195 member governments of the IPCC, through a virtual approval session that was held over two weeks starting on February 14.
Urgent action required to deal with increasing risks
Increased heatwaves, droughts and floods are already exceeding plants’ and animals’ tolerance thresholds, driving mass mortalities in species such as trees and corals. These weather extremes are occurring simultaneously, causing cascading impacts that are increasingly difficult to manage. They have exposed millions of people to acute food and water insecurity, especially in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, on Small Islands and in the Arctic.
To avoid mounting loss of life, biodiversity and infrastructure, ambitious, accelerated action is required to adapt to climate change, at the same time as making rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. So far, progress on adaptation is uneven and there are increasing gaps between
action taken and what is needed to deal with the increasing risks, the new report finds. These gaps are largest among lower-income populations. The Working Group II report is the second installment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which will be completed this year. “This report recognizes the interdependence of climate, biodiversity and people and integrates natural, social and economic sciences more strongly than earlier IPCC assessments,” said Hoesung Lee. “It emphasizes the urgency of immediate and more ambitious action to address climate risks. Half measures are no longer an option.” Safeguarding and strengthening nature is key to securing a liveable future There are options to adapt to a changing climate. This report provides new insights into nature’s potential not only to reduce climate risks but also to improve people's lives. “Healthy ecosystems are more resilient to climate change and provide life-critical services such as food and clean water”, said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Pörtner. “By restoring degraded ecosystems and effectively and equitably conserving 30 to 50 per cent of Earth’s land, freshwater and ocean habitats, society can benefit from nature’s capacity to absorb and store carbon, and we can accelerate progress towards sustainable development, but adequate finance and political support are essential.” Scientists point out that climate change interacts with global trends such as unsustainable use of natural resources, growing urbanization, social inequalities, losses and damages from extreme events and a pandemic, jeopardizing future development. “Our assessment clearly shows that tackling all these different challenges involves everyone – governments, the private sector, civil society – working together to prioritize risk reduction, as well as equity and justice, in decision-making and investment,” said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Debra Roberts. “In this way, different interests, values and world views can be reconciled. By bringing together scientific and technological know-how as well as Indigenous and local knowledge, solutions will be more effective. Failure to achieve climate resilient and sustainable development will result in a suboptimal future for people and nature.” Cities: Hotspots of impacts and risks, but also a crucial part of the solution This report provides a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and adaptation in cities, where more than half the world’s population lives. People’s health, lives and livelihoods, as well as property and critical infrastructure, including energy and transportation systems, are being increasingly adversely affected by hazards from heatwaves, storms, drought and flooding as well as slow-onset changes, including sea level rise. “Together, growing urbanization and climate change create complex risks, especially for those cities that already experience poorly planned urban growth, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and a lack of basic services,” Debra Roberts said. “But cities also provide opportunities for climate action – green buildings, reliable supplies of clean water and renewable energy, and sustainable transport systems that connect urban and rural areas can all lead to a more inclusive, fairer society.” There is increasing evidence of adaptation that has caused unintended consequences, for example destroying nature, putting peoples’ lives at risk or increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This can be avoided by involving everyone in planning, attention to equity and justice, and drawing on Indigenous and local knowledge. A narrowing window for action Climate change is a global challenge that requires local solutions and that’s why the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) provides extensive regional information to enable Climate Resilient Development. The report clearly states Climate Resilient Development is already challenging at current warming levels. It will become more limited if global warming exceeds 1.5°C (2.7°F). In some regions it will be impossible if global warming exceeds 2°C (3.6°F). This key finding underlines the urgency for climate action, focusing on equity and justice. Adequate funding, technology transfer, political commitment and partnership lead to more effective climate change adaptation and emissions reductions. “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner. For more information, please contact:
IPCC Press Office, Email: ipcc-media@wmo.int
IPCC Working Group II:
Sina Löschke, Komila Nabiyeva: comms@ipcc-wg2.awi.de
action taken and what is needed to deal with the increasing risks, the new report finds. These gaps are largest among lower-income populations. The Working Group II report is the second installment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which will be completed this year. “This report recognizes the interdependence of climate, biodiversity and people and integrates natural, social and economic sciences more strongly than earlier IPCC assessments,” said Hoesung Lee. “It emphasizes the urgency of immediate and more ambitious action to address climate risks. Half measures are no longer an option.” Safeguarding and strengthening nature is key to securing a liveable future There are options to adapt to a changing climate. This report provides new insights into nature’s potential not only to reduce climate risks but also to improve people's lives. “Healthy ecosystems are more resilient to climate change and provide life-critical services such as food and clean water”, said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Pörtner. “By restoring degraded ecosystems and effectively and equitably conserving 30 to 50 per cent of Earth’s land, freshwater and ocean habitats, society can benefit from nature’s capacity to absorb and store carbon, and we can accelerate progress towards sustainable development, but adequate finance and political support are essential.” Scientists point out that climate change interacts with global trends such as unsustainable use of natural resources, growing urbanization, social inequalities, losses and damages from extreme events and a pandemic, jeopardizing future development. “Our assessment clearly shows that tackling all these different challenges involves everyone – governments, the private sector, civil society – working together to prioritize risk reduction, as well as equity and justice, in decision-making and investment,” said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Debra Roberts. “In this way, different interests, values and world views can be reconciled. By bringing together scientific and technological know-how as well as Indigenous and local knowledge, solutions will be more effective. Failure to achieve climate resilient and sustainable development will result in a suboptimal future for people and nature.” Cities: Hotspots of impacts and risks, but also a crucial part of the solution This report provides a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and adaptation in cities, where more than half the world’s population lives. People’s health, lives and livelihoods, as well as property and critical infrastructure, including energy and transportation systems, are being increasingly adversely affected by hazards from heatwaves, storms, drought and flooding as well as slow-onset changes, including sea level rise. “Together, growing urbanization and climate change create complex risks, especially for those cities that already experience poorly planned urban growth, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and a lack of basic services,” Debra Roberts said. “But cities also provide opportunities for climate action – green buildings, reliable supplies of clean water and renewable energy, and sustainable transport systems that connect urban and rural areas can all lead to a more inclusive, fairer society.” There is increasing evidence of adaptation that has caused unintended consequences, for example destroying nature, putting peoples’ lives at risk or increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This can be avoided by involving everyone in planning, attention to equity and justice, and drawing on Indigenous and local knowledge. A narrowing window for action Climate change is a global challenge that requires local solutions and that’s why the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) provides extensive regional information to enable Climate Resilient Development. The report clearly states Climate Resilient Development is already challenging at current warming levels. It will become more limited if global warming exceeds 1.5°C (2.7°F). In some regions it will be impossible if global warming exceeds 2°C (3.6°F). This key finding underlines the urgency for climate action, focusing on equity and justice. Adequate funding, technology transfer, political commitment and partnership lead to more effective climate change adaptation and emissions reductions. “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner. For more information, please contact:
IPCC Press Office, Email: ipcc-media@wmo.int
IPCC Working Group II:
Sina Löschke, Komila Nabiyeva: comms@ipcc-wg2.awi.de
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Press Release
17 January 2022
The United Kingdom contributes £1 million to support Afghan refugees in Iran
The £1 million contribution through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will allow WFP to preposition assistance for potential new arrivals from Afghanistan with ready-to eat meals and other rations. It also gives WFP the flexibility to channel part of the contribution towards supporting 31,000 refugees who have already been living in 20 settlements across the country, helping to stabilize their food security situation and avoid any further population movements.
This timely allocation will enhance WFP’s life-saving mission, allowing WFP to quickly respond to any increased additional needs through a combination of cash and direct food assistance.
“We’re extremely grateful to the FCDO for this generous contribution and its support to our operations in Iran,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Negar Gerami. “The harsh winter months, job losses, lack of cash and soaring prices have pushed the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan to new highs, with close to 23 million threatened by food insecurity. It is critical that WFP remains prepared to respond to any sudden onset refugee emergency.”
Simon Shercliff, the UK Ambassador to Iran said: “We are pleased to help Iran support the large numbers of Afghan refugees who have chosen to leave Afghanistan. This contribution enables WFP to provide these refugees with vital food assistance, including ready-to-eat meals and other rations. The UK stands with the people of Afghanistan and regional partners in pursuit of a stable, peaceful future for the country.”
The recent fast-paced turn of events in Afghanistan has the potential to create additional population movements; displacing families internally and potentially driving them to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran is host to one of the largest and most protracted urban refugee situations in the world and has provided asylum to refugees for over four decades.
Thanks to donors’ support, WFP has been providing assistance to refugees in Iran since the arrival of the first asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iraq in the late 1980s. The food agency remains committed to continue its support until a durable solution is found.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media and @WFPIran For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org): Dara Darbandi, WFP/ Iran, Tel. +98 21 2279 4060 (Ext. 526), Mob. +98 912 308 4147
The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media and @WFPIran For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org): Dara Darbandi, WFP/ Iran, Tel. +98 21 2279 4060 (Ext. 526), Mob. +98 912 308 4147
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Press Release
11 January 2022
UN and Partners Launch Plans to Help 28 Million People in Acute Need in Afghanistan and the Region
The humanitarian and refugee response plans combined require over US$5 billion in international funding in 2022.
People in Afghanistan face one of the world’s most rapidly growing humanitarian crises. Half of the population face acute hunger, over 9 million people are displaced, millions of children are out of school, the fundamental rights of women and girls are under attack, farmers and herders are struggling amid the worst drought in decades, and the economy is in free fall. Without support, tens of thousands of children are at risk of dying from malnutrition as basic health services have collapsed.
Conflict has subsided, but violence, fear and deprivation continue to drive Afghans to seek safety and asylum across borders, particularly in Iran and Pakistan. More than 2.2 million registered refugees and a further 4 million Afghans with different statuses are hosted in the neighbouring countries. This has stretched the capacity of the communities hosting them, and they also need support.
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said: “Events in Afghanistan over the past year have unfolded with dizzying speed and with profound consequences for the Afghan people. The world is perplexed and looking for the right way to react. Meanwhile, a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe looms.
“My message is urgent: don’t shut the door on the people of Afghanistan. Humanitarian partners are on the ground, and they are delivering, despite the challenges. Help us scale up and stave off wide-spread hunger, disease, malnutrition and ultimately death by supporting the humanitarian plans we are launching today.”
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said: “The international community must do everything it can to prevent a catastrophe in Afghanistan, which would not only compound suffering but would drive further displacement both within the country and throughout the region. At the same time, we must also urgently scale up the response in support of refugees and the communities that have hosted them for generations. The needs of refugees cannot be dismissed, nor can the generosity of host countries be taken for granted. They need support and they need it today.”
The Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan requires $4.44 billion, the largest humanitarian appeal ever launched. If funded, aid organizations can ramp up the delivery of life-saving food and agriculture support, health services, treatment for malnutrition, emergency shelter, access to water and sanitation, protection and emergency education.
The Afghanistan Situation Regional Refugee Response Plan requires $623 million in funding for 40 organizations working in protection, health and nutrition, food security, shelter and non-food items, water and sanitation, livelihoods and resilience, education, and logistics and telecoms.
Mr. Griffiths and Mr. Grandi will host today’s launch at a virtual event beginning at 11:30 a.m. CET.
The launch will be webcast on UN Web TV
Media resources with links
News edit for broadcasters is available from 6 a.m. CET, 11 January, on UNifeed
Photos from OCHA
Photos from UNHCR Media contacts
OCHA:
In Geneva, Jens Laerke, laerke@un.org, +41-79-472-9750
In New York/London, Zoe Paxton, zoe.paxton@un.org, +1-917-297-1542 In Kabul, Pierre Peron, peronp@un.org, +93 796000155
UNHCR:
In Geneva, Babar Baloch, baloch@unhcr.org, +41 79 513 9549
In Bangkok, Kasita Rochanakorn, rochanak@unhcr.org, +66 64 932 0803
In Islamabad, Qaiser Khan Afridi, afridiq@unhcr.org, +92 300 501 8696 In
In Tehran, Farha Bhoyroo, bhoyroo@unhcr.org, +98 912 132 7183
In New York, Kathryn Mahoney, mahoney@unhcr.org, +1 347 443 7646
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Press Release
29 December 2021
Guterres hopes 2022 to be a year of recovery from Covid pandemic
The full text of his message reads:
The world welcomes 2022 with our hopes for the future being tested.
By deepening poverty and worsening inequality.
By an unequal distribution of COVID vaccines.
By climate commitments that fall short.
And by ongoing conflict, division, and misinformation.
These are not just policy tests.
These are moral and real-life tests.
And they are tests that humanity can pass — if we commit to making 2022 a year of recovery for everyone.
Recovery from the pandemic — with a bold plan to vaccinate every person, everywhere.
Recovery for our economies — with wealthier countries supporting the developing world with financing, investment and debt relief.
Recovery from mistrust and division — with a new emphasis on science, facts and reason.
Recovery from conflicts — with a renewed spirit of dialogue, compromise and reconciliation.
And recovery for our planet — with climate commitments that match the scale and urgency of the crisis.
Moments of great difficulty are also moments of great opportunity.
To come together in solidarity.
To unite behind solutions that can benefit all people.
And to move forward — together — with hope in what our human family can accomplish.
Together, let’s make recovery our resolution for 2022.
For people, planet and prosperity.
I wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year.
***
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Latest Resources
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