By Felipe de Carvalho
Negotiators in Belém, Brazil, opened COP30 with a stark warning: the race to avert catastrophic global heating is being sabotaged by a surge of climate disinformation. The falsehoods, spreading faster than ever online, threaten to derail fragile progress on climate action.Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva set the tone at the opening session, declaring that the battle for truth has become just as critical as the fight to cut emissions. COP30 must mark “a new defeat for climate denialists,” he said. On Wednesday, 12 nations – including Brazil, Canada, France, Germany and Spain – signed onto the first-ever Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, pledging to fight back against the flood of false content and protect those on the frontlines of truth: environmental journalists, scientists and researchers.The declaration, unveiled under the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, calls for concrete steps to dismantle networks of climate lies and shield evidence-based voices from harassment and attacks.João Brant, Brazil’s Secretary for Digital Policies, said the goal is simple but urgent: to “create a wave of truth.”The initiative, launched in June, is a partnership between Brazil, the UN Department of Global Communications and UNESCO.Disinformation: a direct threat to COP30 Frederico Assis, COP30’s Special Envoy for Information Integrity, warned that the stakes could not be higher. “Disinformation, driven by obscurantist worldviews, fuels political extremism and puts lives at risk,” he told UN News, adding that there is a real danger of interference in climate negotiations.“There is broad recognition that disinformation can affect and compromise every part of the COP process – process diplomatic negotiations, the action agenda, or mobilization and summits. All our efforts will be at risk if we fail to tackle disinformation properly, which stems from denialism,” Mr. Assis said.He flagged the role of algorithms amplifying “conspiratorial and manipulative” content, often using “sophisticated tactics to spread false messages.” His mandate: keep the issue in the public eye and mobilize political, religious and social leaders, civil society and the media to push back. Cracking the code behind climate lies For the first time, information integrity has made it onto the official COP agenda – a milestone UNESCO’s Guilherme Canela says is long overdue.Speaking to UN News, Mr. Canela stressed that the global initiative aims to expose the machinery driving climate disinformation.“We still know very little about what’s behind this. For example, who funds these posts, and why do they spread faster than other types of content? How does that happen? If we don’t understand these mechanisms, it’s very difficult to design effective strategies to combat this phenomenon. The core of this global initiative is precisely to finance, especially in the Global South, investigative journalism and research projects to uncover what’s really happening,” he said.The Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change, created under the initiative, has already attracted 447 proposals from nearly 100 countries. Backed by an initial $1 million from Brazil, the fund is supporting its first round of projects – almost two-thirds from developing nations.Mr. Canela called it “very rewarding” to see the issue “embraced so strongly at COP30.” Disinformation’s shape-shifting tactics Maria Clara Moraes, a UN Verified Champion and co-founder of the Marias Verdes platform, knows the battle well. With over half a million TikTok followers, she says the fight against climate disinformation is “completely possible, but also extremely challenging.”She warns that these campaigns are highly organized and “backed by powerful forces, particularly the fossil fuel industry.” Their narratives, she says, “change their disguise” over time.“There are several types of disinformation. One of the most powerful is saying that it’s too late – that nothing can be done, or that these events like COP30 don’t make a difference. That’s also disinformation. Saying, ‘This isn’t working, it’s too slow, too complex, too frustrating.’ But yes – it’s important. We must constantly reaffirm the value of multilateralism and the importance of spaces like this one,” she said. A generation that refuses to give up Despite the challenges, Ms. Moraes told us that she sees hope in younger generations. By producing content rooted in science and sustainability, she says awareness of the climate emergency is growing fast.According to her, young people are “a great source of hope and optimism.” She urges everyone to play their part in creating “micro-revolutions” through everyday choices that support climate action and drive systemic change. 

Alexandria, Egypt - 30 June 2025 - Representatives from 15 Arab states, regional organizations, and international partners convened from 28 to 30 June at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Abu Qir for the First Coordination Meeting of the Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters.Organized under the auspices of the League of Arab States, hosted by AASTMT, and with active participation and facilitation by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Regional Office for the Arab States (UNDRR ROAS), the three-day meeting marked a significant step towards operationalizing the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction by establishing a coordinated regional programme to address marine disaster risks and by finalizing the draft concept note for the Arab Programme for Marine DRR.Strengthening regional capacities and coordination
The meeting opened with remarks from H.E. Prof. Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar, President of AASTMT, who emphasized:"This meeting reflects the Academy's commitment to its role as an Arab centre of excellence in maritime transport and logistics. Marine disaster risk reduction is at the top of our priorities, recognizing its importance amid growing environmental and navigational challenges facing Arab countries."He added:"We seek to be an active partner in implementing the Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters by strengthening cooperation with international and regional organizations, exchanging expertise, and building specialized technical capacities."H.E. Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Mahmoud Reda Fathallah, Director at the League of Arab States, stated:"The League attaches increasing importance to disaster risk reduction and works through its specialized bodies to coordinate Arab efforts to enhance member states' capacities to deal with natural and man-made risks."He highlighted:"This meeting is an important step towards building an effective Arab roadmap to reduce marine disasters in cooperation with development partners and relevant organizations."The opening session was also addressed by H.E. Ambassador Ali Abdi, Ambassador of Somalia in Egypt and Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, alongside senior officials from ministries of foreign affairs, interior, and transport.Key outcomes
Participants engaged in four thematic sessions, including:Development and finalization of the Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters Concept and the 2025-2027 Action Plan, defining the programme's strategic vision, objectives, and priority actions to build safer coastal communities.
Presentations on global and regional marine disaster risk reduction efforts, covering policies, technologies, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to strengthen preparedness and response.
Sharing of national experiences and lessons learned from Arab states to enhance mutual learning and identify scalable solutions.
Identification of regional priorities, capacity-building needs, and coordination mechanisms to advance joint action under the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Participants also conducted technical field visits to AASTMT's Integrated Simulation Complex, Planetarium, Maritime Safety Institute, and College of Maritime Transport and Technology simulators, gaining insights into cutting-edge technologies that strengthen preparedness, response, and maritime safety training capacities.Towards a safer marine environment
The Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters (2025-2030) aims to:Establish a joint operational framework for preparedness, response, and recovery.
Enhance early warning systems and preventive measures aligned with international standards.
Strengthen emergency response capacities at national and regional levels.
Promote protection of marine environments and biodiversity.
Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building among Arab states.
Advance regional and international cooperation to build marine disaster resilience.
Editors' recommendations
Nature-based solutions for comprehensive disaster and climate risk management: Toolkit for integrated planning and implementation of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
Water risks and resilience
Facing the heat: how the Arab Region is tackling rising temperatures
Returning to our roots: the value of ancestral knowledge in facing future challenges

BEIRUT (ILO News) – A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) projects that digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) will have an overall positive impact on jobs and growth in the Arab States region if supported by effective investments and policy measures. The report also highlights the need for countries to adopt inclusive policies that leave no one behind in the transition to a digital economy.
The report, Navigating the digital and artificial intelligence revolution in Arab labour markets: Trends, challenges and opportunities, highlights that nearly 14.6 per cent of jobs (almost 8 million) could benefit from AI-driven augmentation, where technology enhances rather than replaces human work. By contrast, around 2.2 per cent of jobs (around 1.2 million) across the region are potentially at risk of being automatable with generative AI.
The report finds that by 2035, AI integration could generate US$14.1 billion in additional GDP and lead to a net creation of 118,000 additional jobs across the region. But digitalization and AI will affect sectors unevenly. Sectors such as construction, transport and storage, teaching, personal services and engineering are expected to see net gains, while jobs in public services, basic manufacturing, retail and routine clerical work may decline.
“Digitalization and AI adoption in the labour market do not have to imply job destruction in the Arab States region,” said ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat. “While some jobs will be lost, others will be augmented or newly created. The real benefits of AI and digitalization, however, can only be realized if governments, employers and workers take deliberate steps to make the transition inclusive and fair. This report is an important resource for policymakers, providing evidence, data and recommendations that can help the region prepare for the digital future of work and ensure that technological progress translates into more and better jobs and opportunities for all.”
The study highlights sharp disparities across demographic groups. Women hold more than three times the share of jobs at risk of automation due to generative AI (5.3 per cent) compared to men (1.6 per cent), reflecting women’s concentration in routine clerical roles. Yet they also stand to benefit the most from augmentation, with 22.7 per cent of female-held jobs potentially enhanced by generative AI technologies compared to 13 per cent of male-held jobs. Importantly, even after accounting for the job creation potential of AI and digital technologies, women are projected to face fewer job opportunities by 2035 unless policies are deliberately designed to address gender inequalities and actively promote women’s employment. 
Youth aged 15–24 are more likely to benefit from AI adoption, particularly in new tech-driven occupations, while older workers aged over 55 face greater risks of exclusion due to reskilling challenges. Other groups such as low-skilled workers, migrants, refugees and persons with disabilities also risk being left behind without targeted support.
The report stresses that the outcome of digital transformation will depend heavily on policy choices. Governments must invest in digital infrastructure and narrow the digital divide, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas. At the same time, they need to build a digitally skilled workforce by embedding digital literacy and lifelong learning, as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects into education and training systems.
Robust social protection and employment services are also critical to help workers adapt to technological disruption, while micro, small and medium-sized enterprises must be supported to adopt digital tools and benefit from AI. The report also urges countries to update labour laws and regulations to protect workers in the digital economy, including platform and gig workers, while ensuring that strategies are developed through social dialogue among governments, employers and workers. Finally, the ILO calls for stronger regional and international cooperation to reduce disparities in digital readiness and align national strategies with global standards.
The report’s findings will guide ILO support to governments and social partners in navigating the digital transformation of work. They will serve as a foundation for developing and implementing regional, national and sectoral strategies that translate into tangible labour market and employment outcomes.
 The report covers the Arab States of the Gulf and the Levant: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the State of Palestine, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. It provides an in-depth regional view that underpins the ILO’s global work on the world-of-work dimensions of AI and the digital economy through its Observatory on AI and Work in the Digital Economy.

يقود الفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي التابع للفريق القطري للأمم المتحدة في البحرين منذ تأسيسه في عام 2023 الجهود الرامية إلى تعزيز تعميم مراعاة منظور النوع الاجتماعي في جميع أعمال الأمم المتحدة في البحرين. والتزاماً بتحقيق نتائج ملموسة للنساء والفتيات، عقد الفريق مؤخراً معتكفاً استراتيجياً لمدة يومين لمراجعة الإنجازات وتحديد الأولويات الطموحة لعام 2025.وقد قادت هيئة الأمم المتحدة للمرأة وصندوق الأمم المتحدة للسكان، بصفتهما الرئيسين المشاركين للفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي، المعتكف بمشاركة برنامج الأمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية، ومفوضية الأمم المتحدة لحقوق الإنسان، والمنظمة الدولية للهجرة، ومركز الأمم المتحدة للإعلام، ومنظمة الصحة العالمية، وبدعم من مكتب المنسق المقيم للأمم المتحدة في البحرين.وبدأ المعتكف باستعراض تنفيذ خطة عمل الفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي لعام 2024 والتقدم المحرز في سجل أداء خطة العمل على نطاق فريق الأمم المتحدة القطري بشأن المساواة بين الجنسين. وقامت المجموعة بتقييم خطة العمل السنوية لتحديد التقدم المحرز في إدماج منظور النوع الاجتماعي في العمل المشترك لفريق الأمم المتحدة القطري. واستناداً إلى هذا التقدم، صاغ الفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي التقرير السنوي لبطاقة الأداء، واختار خمسة مؤشرات أداء لإظهار التحسينات في الجهود الجماعية لفريق الأمم المتحدة القطري في مجال المساواة بين الجنسين. وخلال المعتكف، قدمت هيئة الأمم المتحدة للمرأة دراسة الفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي التي أجريت هذا العام لحساب مساهمة وقت الموظفين الأعضاء في الفريق، والتي قدمت توصيات رئيسية لتعزيز قدرة الفريق على تحقيق نتائج في مجال النوع الاجتماعي في العمل المشترك لفريق الأمم المتحدة القطري. وبالاعتماد على نتائج الدراسة وغيرها من الرؤى، وضع الفريق القطري المعني للنوع الاجتماعي إجراءات رئيسية لإدراجها في خطة عمل الفريق لعام 2025.وفي اليوم الثاني، قامت هيئة الأمم المتحدة للمرأة بتيسير جلسات بناء القدرات لدعم الفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي في تنفيذ خطة عمله بما يتماشى مع المعايير والإجراءات العالمية للمجموعات المعنية بالنوع الاجتماعي. وشمل التدريب تجديد المعلومات حول مؤشر المساواة بين الجنسين، وهي أداة لتقييم تخصيص الموارد في الأنشطة في خطة العمل المشتركة لفريق الأمم المتحدة القطري التي تعزز المساواة بين الجنسين. وأعقبت ذلك جلسة تمهيدية حول تعميم مراعاة المنظور الجنساني، حيث قدمت إرشادات حول كيفية قيام وكالات الأمم المتحدة بإدماج منظور المساواة بين الجنسين بشكل أكثر فعالية في برامجها. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، عُقدت جلسة حول رصد النتائج القائمة على النوع الاجتماعي والإبلاغ عنها لدراسة هيكل الرصد المراعي لمنظور النوع الاجتماعي واستكشاف الأساليب العملية لإدراج قياس التغييرات المتعلقة بالنوع الاجتماعي في المؤشرات.وعزز هذا المعتكف دور الفريق المعني بالمساواة بين الجنسين في تعزيز المساءلة وبناء القدرات للبرمجة المستجيبة للنوع الاجتماعي داخل فريق الأمم المتحدة القطري. ومع استمرار البحرين في النهوض بالمساواة بين الجنسين بما يتماشى مع الهدف الخامس من أهداف التنمية المستدامة، يظل الفريق العالمي للنوع الاجتماعي ملتزمًا بتحقيق نتائج متماسكة وتحويلية للنساء والفتيات، مما يساهم في تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة على نطاق أوسع.وقالت جوزفين موس، الرئيسة المشاركة للفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي وأخصائية التنسيق الإقليمي من المكتب الإقليمي لهيئة الأمم المتحدة للمرأة للدول العربية إنه”بناءً على إنجازات هذا العام، سيعمل الفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي على أن تظل المساواة بين الجنسين وتمكين المرأة في صميم العمل المشترك لفريق الأمم المتحدة القطري في البحرين مدعومًا بالتدريب الفني الذي تم إجراؤه خلال المعتكف. وستضمن الجهود الجماعية التي يبذلها الفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي أن يكون فريق الأمم المتحدة القطري قادرًا على التعاون بفعالية مع شركائنا الوطنيين والمساهمة في أولويات التنمية الوطنية لمملكة البحرين فيما يتعلق بتمكين المرأة ومنهاج عمل بكين.“ ومع وجود خارطة طريق واضحة لعام 2025، يستعد الفريق المعني بالنوع الاجتماعي لتعزيز تأثيره في مجال المساواة بين الجنسين، وضمان أن يظل عمل الأمم المتحدة في البحرين شاملاً وفعالاً ومتوافقاً مع المعايير العالمية.