Humanity has just about run out of time to address climate change. Scientists have pointed out that a rise in temperature of 2ºC above pre-industrial levels will put the Earth in dangerous, uncharted territory. Yet we currently are on a path toward an increase of 4ºC or more this century. The last chance for action has arrived, writes Jeffrey D. Sachs.
Today is World Environment Day. With the theme of “Raise your voice, not the sea level”, this year’s campaign focuses on small island developing states and the danger they face from the effects of climate change. Visit the World Environment Day website and see what activities are happening near you.
World Oceans Day is celebrated every 8 June. Originally proposed in 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2009 it has been officially recognized by the United Nations. Since then it has been coordinated internationally by the Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network, with increasing success and global participation each year. In the busy run up to this Sunday’s event, Daily Development talks to World Oceans Day coordinator Alyssa Isakower.
Today, Sarah Marchildon briefs Daily Development about some of the activities that Momentum for Change is highlighting to raise awareness about concrete and scalable action being taken on the ground to address climate change. Launched in 2011 by the United Nations Climate Change secretariat, Momentum for Change showcases results-driven projects that help take us closer to a low-emission, more resilient world.
This week the world celebrates World Environment Day (on 5 June) and World Oceans Day (on 8 June). Combined with the opening of the latest round of negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is seeking to agree a new universal legal agreement to deal with climate change beyond 2020, this is an important week for the environment. Later this week Daily Development hears from Momentum for Change, an initiative of the United Nations Climate Change secretariat that shines a light on activities across the globe that are moving the world towards a low-carbon future, and learns more about World Oceans Day. But today we hear why WASH matters.
As people around the world expressed their solidarity for the safe return of the kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria and the protection of schools, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown met with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who pledged US$ 10 million to ensure that children are protected at school.
