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21 September 2024
Secretary-General’s video message for the International Day of Peace, observed on 21 September 2024
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19 September 2024
‘Create a future fit for our grandchildren’, Guterres urges, ahead of gamechanger Summit
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17 September 2024
What’s going on with the world (and the future) at the UN?
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Bahrain
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. With 21 United Nations Entities represented in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the work of the United Nations encompasses all 17 SDGs.
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04 September 2024
Planning ahead: 5 things to know about the UN’s landmark Summit of the Future
1 What is the Summit of the Future?In 2020, the UN turned 75 and marked the occasion by starting a global conversation about hopes and fears for the future.This was the beginning of a process that would eventually lead, four years later, to the convening of the Summit of the Future, a major event this September, which will take place at UN Headquarters, just before the annual high-level debate of the General Assembly.The Summit was conceived at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was a perception at the UN that, rather than cooperating to face this global threat that affected all of us, countries and people pulled apart.“We were really confronted with the gap between the aspirations of our founders, which we were trying to celebrate at the 75th anniversary, and the reality of the world as it is today”, says Michele Griffin, the Policy Director of the Summit. “The problems that we faced, the threats, but also the opportunities and the imperfections in how we respond”.UN Member States tasked Secretary-General António Guterres to come up with a vision for the future of global cooperation. His answer to their call was “Our Common Agenda”, a landmark report with recommendations on renewed global cooperation to address a host of risks and threats, and a proposal to hold a forward-looking summit in 2024.The event will consist of sessions and plenaries based around five main tracks (sustainable development and financing; peace and security; a digital future for all; youth and future generations; and global governance), and other topics that cut across all of the work of the UN, including human rights, gender equality and the climate crisis.The immediate outcome will be a finalised version of a Pact for the Future, with a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration for Future Generations in annex, all of which are expected to be adopted by Member States during the Summit. 2 Why does the Summit matter?Because, although these themes have been addressed in the past, and groundbreaking accords such as the Paris Agreement on climate and the Sustainable Development Goals have been reached, there is a widespread perception that the structures of the UN, many of which were established decades ago, are no longer sufficiently fair or effective.The Summit of the Future offers a chance to deliver more fully on promises that have already been made, to ready the international community for the world to come, and to restore trust.“The most important ingredient in international cooperation is trust”’ says Michele Griffin. “Trust in each other. A sense of our shared humanity, our interconnectedness. And the summit is designed to remind all of us, not just governments and not just people who will be at the UN in New York in September, but everyone, that we have to work together to solve our biggest shared problems”.3 Who are the key players?The Summit will be preceded by two Action Days, also held at UN Headquarters, where representatives from civil society, private sector, academia, local and regional authorities, youth, Member States and many more, will have the chance to engage in the main themes of the event.“You look at the UN and you think governments are the key players”, says Griffin. “And that’s true. They’re the ones sitting around the table, but they do so on behalf of their people”.“Civil society actors, young people have been involved throughout and will be at the summit”, explains Ms. Griffin. “Private sector will be here in recognition of the massive role they have in shaping people's lives and opportunities today. This summit is for and by everyone, and everyone should see themselves reflected in it”.4 What happens next?The organizers of the Summit have stressed that the closing of the event will not be the end of the discussions and issues raised over the four days.Michele Griffin describes it as the beginning of a process: “most of the seeds that we plant at this summit will take some time to grow and flourish”, she says, “and all of us have to be involved in holding governments responsible for living up to their commitments on the international stage”.After the Summit, the focus will shift to implementing the recommendations and pledges contained within the Pact for the Future. In November, Azerbaijan will host the UN Climate Conference (COP29), where climate financing will be high on the agenda; December sees the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Botswana, where solutions for sustainable development will be sought; and next June, efforts to reform the international financial architecture (including bodies such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which decide how, and under which conditions, to provide loans, grants and technical assistance to developing countries) will be stepped up in Spain, at the International Conference on Financing for Development (Ffd4).5 How can I get involved?Act Now is the UN’s global campaign to encourage all people to advocate for a better, more peaceful and sustainable future. The platform aims to increase the numbers of those who are speaking up and making a positive difference, whether it’s by volunteering in their local community, taking part in local decision-making, or simply changing their personal habits of consumption to live more environmentally responsible lives.In the lead up to the Summit, the UN Youth Office is also galvanizing young people and allies by launching #YouthLead, an appeal to world leaders to make global policymaking more representative of the communities they serve.
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06 June 2024
WHO Bahrain Country Office on the forefront of the fight against Tobacco
In the lead-up to World No Tobacco Day (May 31st), WHO Bahrain organized a workshop on May 18th to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use, including for youth.
The event was held at the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and attended by a diverse youth audience.
Participants were provided with essential information and tools to combat tobacco use. Promotional material dedicated to fighting tobacco, including a video, was unveiled. The workshop also included a video production and editing session in preparation for a regional video contest held on World No Tobacco Day 2024.
On May 26th, the WHO Bahrain Country Office held a lecture on World No Tobacco Day for Ministry employees and healthcare professionals. The lecture focused on this year's theme, which urges youth to act against predatory tobacco marketing tactics and provided crucial information to combat tobacco use.
On May 30th, 2024, the WHO Country Office in Bahrain attended the World No Tobacco Day 2024 event at the Ministry of Interior.
The event was organized to enhance community awareness and participation in health issues.
Several internal and external bodies, including Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative in Bahrain, were honoured during the event. Additionally, the winner of the smoking cessation competition organized by the World Health Organization and the Ministry's employees who participated in the tobacco cessation initiative were also recognized.
"We have undoubtedly achieved so much progress on tobacco control, but we still have a long journey ahead. Tobacco and related industries will continue to fight to ensure the dangers of their products are concealed. Still, we must be on our guard against its tactics to protect our current and future generations," said Dr Atatrah.
The event was held at the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and attended by a diverse youth audience.
Participants were provided with essential information and tools to combat tobacco use. Promotional material dedicated to fighting tobacco, including a video, was unveiled. The workshop also included a video production and editing session in preparation for a regional video contest held on World No Tobacco Day 2024.
On May 26th, the WHO Bahrain Country Office held a lecture on World No Tobacco Day for Ministry employees and healthcare professionals. The lecture focused on this year's theme, which urges youth to act against predatory tobacco marketing tactics and provided crucial information to combat tobacco use.
On May 30th, 2024, the WHO Country Office in Bahrain attended the World No Tobacco Day 2024 event at the Ministry of Interior.
The event was organized to enhance community awareness and participation in health issues.
Several internal and external bodies, including Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative in Bahrain, were honoured during the event. Additionally, the winner of the smoking cessation competition organized by the World Health Organization and the Ministry's employees who participated in the tobacco cessation initiative were also recognized.
"We have undoubtedly achieved so much progress on tobacco control, but we still have a long journey ahead. Tobacco and related industries will continue to fight to ensure the dangers of their products are concealed. Still, we must be on our guard against its tactics to protect our current and future generations," said Dr Atatrah.
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22 April 2024
New technologies and SDGs discussed at a student debate at Ahlia University
The United Nations Information Centre for the Gulf Countries (UNIC Manama) participated on 18 April in a student debate organized by Ahlia University in Bahrain on the implications of robotics for achieving the SDGs.
Speaking at the debate, UNIC Manama Director Ahmed Ben Lassoued highlighted the importance of new technologies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
"However, new technologies, including AI, must be safe, under human control, and governed fairly, inclusively, and transparently," Ben Lassoued said, stressing the importance of the upcoming Summit of the Future, to be held in New York in September this year.
"One key point to be discussed at the Summit is how to leverage better science, technology, innovation, and digital information for sustainable development," he said.
Youth voices matter
"As the custodians of the planet, young people will have to live with the consequences of today's actions - or inaction," Ben Lassoued told the participants.
"The United Nations stands with you in your effort to make your voice heard and count," he said, calling the participants to engage with the United Nations in the lead-up to the Summit.
Speaking at the debate, UNIC Manama Director Ahmed Ben Lassoued highlighted the importance of new technologies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
"However, new technologies, including AI, must be safe, under human control, and governed fairly, inclusively, and transparently," Ben Lassoued said, stressing the importance of the upcoming Summit of the Future, to be held in New York in September this year.
"One key point to be discussed at the Summit is how to leverage better science, technology, innovation, and digital information for sustainable development," he said.
Youth voices matter
"As the custodians of the planet, young people will have to live with the consequences of today's actions - or inaction," Ben Lassoued told the participants.
"The United Nations stands with you in your effort to make your voice heard and count," he said, calling the participants to engage with the United Nations in the lead-up to the Summit.
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19 September 2024
‘Create a future fit for our grandchildren’, Guterres urges, ahead of gamechanger Summit
Mr. Guterres was speaking as negotiations for the Summit of the Future, which opens at UN Headquarters on Sunday, enter the final stretch.“I have one overriding message today: an appeal to Member States for a spirit of compromise. Show the world what we can do, when we work together,” he said. ‘An essential first step’The two-day Summit of the Future is “an essential first step towards making global institutions more legitimate, effective, and fit for the world of today and tomorrow,” Mr. Guterres told journalists.“We can’t create a future fit for our grandchildren with systems built for our grandparents,” he said, stressing that the Summit “cannot fail”. He said work already done in the lead-up reveals “potential breakthroughs on a number of important fronts”.This includes “the strongest language on Security Council reform in a generation – and the most concrete step towards Council enlargement since 1963”, the first-ever governance measures for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies, and advancements in reforming the international financial architecture. Other items cover financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and commitment to advance an SDG Stimulus plan to boost support to developing countries. “It would be tragic if all of these would be lost,” he warned. Challenges, crises and conflict Mr. Guterres said the Summit is “so critical” because “international challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them.” He pointed to “out-of-control geo-political divisions and runaway conflicts – not least in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and beyond,” in addition to “runaway” climate change, inequalities and debt, and the development of AI and other technologies that lack guidance or guardrails. “Crises are interacting and feeding off each other – for example, as digital technologies spread climate disinformation that deepens distrust and fuels polarization,” he said. Press conference Reform multilateral institutions Meanwhile, multilateral institutions “born in a bygone era for a bygone world” simply cannot keep up. Mr. Guterres said so many of the challenges the world is facing today were not on the radar 80 years ago when these institutions were created. “Our founders understood that times would change,” he said. “They understood that the values that underpin our global institutions are timeless – but the institutions themselves cannot be frozen in time.” An ever-changing world He said the peacebuilders back then could not have predicted the changes that have occurred over the past eight decades.During this time, the world has witnessed independence movements, the economic and geopolitical rise of many developing countries, catastrophic climate consequences, and space exploration, as well as the development of the Internet, smartphones and social media, which are all boosted by AI. “Like our founders, we cannot know precisely what the future holds,” he acknowledged. “But we don’t need a crystal ball to see that 21st century challenges require problem-solving mechanisms that are more effective, networked and inclusive; that serious power imbalances in global institutions must be adjusted and updated; and that our institutions must draw on the expertise and representation of all of humanity.”Although change will not happen overnight, “it can start today,” he insisted. Finish the job Member States attending the Summit are expected to adopt a Pact for the Future, with a Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations annexed to it. Mr. Guterres expressed hope that they will “do everything possible” to get these documents “over the finish line”. World leaders to attendMore than 130 Heads of State and Government are scheduled to attend the Summit of the Future, which is taking place from 22-23 September - just ahead of the annual debate in the UN General Assembly. The Summit will be preceded by two “action days” where non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academics and private sector representatives will engage on the main themes. Reporters asked the Secretary-General how the Summit and its outcome documents will differ from previous UN gatherings, such as the 2016 SDG Summit, which also ended with the adoption of international declarations and pacts.Mr. Guterres responded that while the SDG Summit and other events were “about the what”, the Summit of the Future "is about the how”, again underlining the essential need to reform decades-old institutions.
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17 September 2024
What’s going on with the world (and the future) at the UN?
As the week unfolds from 22 to 30 September, here’s what you need to know:Summit of the Future: What if the world keeps its promises?What would the world look like if leaders keep their promises to implement internationally agreed goals towards sustainable development? The future looks good: no hunger, no poverty, no pollution, safe air and water, gender equality, nuclear-free and conflicts resolved by diplomacy not bombs.Getting there is just part of what’s on the agenda at the Summit of the Future, the centrepiece event kicking off the High-Level Week. On 22 and 23 September 2024, world leaders, civil society and experts will collectively work towards addressing pressing problems, from rising sea levels to ending hunger and more, through a Pact for the Future, which is expected to be adopted at the Summit. Learn more from UN NEWS special coverage page here.© UNICEF/Mary GelmanA Brazilian student working on a robot in Rio de Janeiro.Summit Action DaysTo jump start the global event’s momentum, the UN Secretary-General is convening the Summit of the Future Action Days on 20 and 21 September.Young people, Member State representatives, civil society and experts will gather to exchange success stories and address challenges and the themes in the spotlight – building a better digital, peaceful and sustainable future for all – as they pave the way towards a next chapter of multilateralism that is more inclusive and networked.Learn more about these Action Days here.United NationsTackling the threat of rising sea levelsThe high-level meeting on sea-level rise will gather global leaders and stakeholders on 25 September to address this urgent and escalating threat.As the UN chief said in his visit to the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga last month, “the world needs your leadership” for “showing the way” to protect the planet from the ravages of climate change.The meeting will focus on building common understanding, mobilising political leadership and promoting collaboration and international cooperation towards addressing challenges with a view to building a resilient and sustainable future, including for small island developing States and those living in low-lying coastal areas.Find out more about this climate change consequence here and about the high-level meeting here.© FAO/Luis TatoSamples from a chicken are analysed in Kenya as part of research into drug-resistant bacteria.What happens when antibiotics stop working?That’s the question world leaders will tackle on 26 September at a high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which causes more than one million deaths a year.Tune into the meeting as countries and stakeholders renew efforts and accelerate progress in combating the growing threat of this preventable phenomenon.Find out more about AMR in our explainer here and learn more about the high-level meeting here.© ICAN/Darren OrnitzCampaigners in New York joined people around the world on the Global Day of Action against nuclear weapons on 26 November 2023. (file)Advancing towards nuclear-weapon-free worldOn 26 September, the General Assembly will convene its annual high-level meeting on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.This annual high-level plenary meeting commemorates and promotes the International Day, hearing from all nations, including those affected by nuclear bombs and test explosions.Learn more here.© UNRWA/Ashraf AmraA family forced to move following evacuation orders by the Israeli authorities in Deir Al-Balah in Gaza in August. (file)Focus on PalestineAs the war rages on in Gaza, two events will be convened during the High-Level Week with focus on Palestinians.A high-level meeting on education in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – Gaza and the West Bank – is planned for 25 September, convened by the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, and UN agencies UNESCO and UNICEF as well as Education Cannot Wait. Keynote addresses are expected to be made by UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini and former United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown.On 26 September, a high-level meeting on support for the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, where the Secretary-General is expected to deliver opening remarks on 26 September.UN Photo/Cia PakThe President of United States addresses the general debate at UNGA77. (file)General debate: Leaders get their sayUNGA79 President Philemon Yang, from Cameroon, will gavel open the world body’s annual general debate on 24 September, when world leaders will take their turn speaking from national perspectives on this year’s theme: Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations. From 24 to 28 September and on 30 September, high-level representatives of the UN’s 193 Member States will take the podium in the General Assembly Hall to explore solutions to intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security and sustainable development.Leaders SummitThe day-long Leaders Summit on the UN Global Compact on 24 September at the Javits Centre North in New York is dedicated to providing the tools, network, knowledge and inspiration needed to scale the impact of private sector contributions to the 2030 Agenda.Keynote speakers include Don Cheadle, award-winning actor and the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador, and Amy Webb, founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute and Sanda Okiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN Global Compact.Learn more about the events here.ABCs of the SDGsUNGA79 also marks a crucial milestone in the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The SDG Media Zone, running from 23 to 27 September, will feature in-depth interviews and dialogues with youth, experts and celebrities from around the world will take on global issues that matter to people everywhere.Learn more here.
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12 September 2024
Summit of the Future aims to make the UN more effective
Among the issues under discussion are accelerating sustainable development and reforming decades-old institutions, including the UN Security Council and the international financial system.On Wednesday the Under Secretary-General for Policy and UN lead for the Summit, Guy Ryder, briefed journalists on the “very ambitious agenda” for the conference.A more ‘networked’ multilateralism“The idea of the Summit is to render the United Nations, the multilateral system, more effective in the fulfillment of its mandate; to make it more participatory, more networked. This, in the face of the very clear global challenges that we face,” he said.“The fact that the world has changed and is changing rapidly, and the reality that many of our governance structures date back to the creation of the United Nations when it had 51 Member States instead of the 193 Member States who will be gathering at the Summit itself.”Interest mountingOver 130 Heads of State and Government are expected to attend the landmark event, which will be held from 22 to 23 September, just ahead of the annual high-level debate in the UN General Assembly.It will be preceded by two “action days”, where non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academics and private sector representatives will engage on the main themes. So far, over 7,000 people have registered to participate.The Summit is expected to adopt a Pact for the Future, with a Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations annexed to it. Future visionMr. Ryder gave an overview of the Pact, which he called “the mother document”.It will contain five chapters covering sustainable development and related financing; peace and security; science, technology and innovation; youth and future generations, and transformation of global governance. The chapter on science, technology and innovation “is where the annex on the Global Digital Compact comes into play,” he said.“The objective of the Global Digital Compact is to make technology work for humanity equitably,” he explained, highlighting the need for action to close digital divides and create systems to govern artificial intelligence (AI), among other goals.Meanwhile, the Declaration on Future Generations aims to ensure that decisions made today take into full account the needs and interests of tomorrow. Confidence and consensus“The ambitions for this Summit have always been high,” said Mr. Ryder, adding that with 10 days to go, UN Member States are working hard to reach the necessary consensus on the three outcome documents.“We need consensus for adoption, but I think there is good reason to be confident that the successful conclusion of these negotiations will produce the Pact with two annexes that will truly make a difference,” he said.“This is something which is not only worth having. It is something that we need to secure for the future.”
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11 September 2024
Call for ‘solutions across the board’ as 79th General Assembly opens
Mr. Yang underscored the need for equitable economic growth driven by innovation and green economies, ensuring that “the benefits of economic development are accessible to all nations, large and small.”Peace and security, he added, will also be key priorities, as he urged nations to resolve ongoing conflicts, including in the Gaza Strip, Haiti, Ukraine, and the Great Lakes region of Africa.“We must invest in all efforts to decrease tensions and instead build trust around the world,” he said.Human rights at the coreHuman rights, together with strengthening international law and justice frameworks, will remain high on the agenda, with the Assembly working to enhance the coordination of humanitarian efforts.This will help ensure its response to crises is timely and efficient, and that aid reaches those most in need, Mr. Yang said.“Lastly, we will address the pervasive challenges of international terrorism, drug and human trafficking and modern slavery,” he continued, stressing the need to uphold human dignity.“As President of the General Assembly, I am committed to facilitating these discussions and harnessing our collective will and expertise to deliver significant solutions,” he added.UN… the place for solutionsUN Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the opening of the session, highlighting the urgency of collective action to confront a world “in trouble.”He praised President Yang for his vision and leadership, pledging his full support to unite the diverse member states around common goals.“From day one, the United Nations has been the place for multilateral solutions – grounded in collaboration, dialogue, diplomacy, and the UN Charter,” he said. Bring SDGs back to lifeAcknowledging the gravity of the current global situation, the UN chief emphasized the need for concrete solutions across various domains, including reducing poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis.“We need solutions…to bring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back to life and end poverty and inequality,” he noted, adding that economic progress and job creation, particularly for women and young people, must be prioritized.The Secretary-General also pointed to the critical role of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and the need to ensure they serve as tools for progress and not barriers.“Step by step, solution by solution, we can rebuild trust and faith in one another,” he concluded, calling for renewed commitment to the principles that have guided the Organization since its founding in 1945.Palestine takes a seatThe opening of the 79th session also marks the first time the State of Palestine was seated among Member States at the General Assembly, following the adoption of resolution ES-10/23 at the tenth emergency special session earlier this year.That resolution also set forth additional rights for the State of Palestine’s participation in Assembly meetings, but not the right to vote or put forward its candidature to UN Main Organs such as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).The additional rights and privileges do not confer membership to the State of Palestine, which requires a specific recommendation from the Security Council.
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04 September 2024
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLEAN AIR FOR BLUE SKIES
Ninety-nine per cent of humanity breathes polluted air – leading to an estimated 8 million premature deaths – including more than 700,000 children under five.Pollution is also choking economies and heating up our planet, adding fuel to the fire of the climate crisis. And it disproportionally affects those most vulnerable in society, including women, children, and older persons.Yet pollution is a silent killer that can be stopped. Investing in clean air requires actions by both government and businesses – to phase out fossil fuels, strengthen air quality monitoring, enforce air quality standards, boost renewable energy, transition to clean cooking, build sustainable transport and sustainable waste management systems, clean up supply chains, and reduce harmful emissions, including methane.It is also critical to put a price on carbon.At the same time, development organizations, financial institutions and philanthropies can redirect financial capital behind clean air technologies to tackle the triple planetary crisis. Above all, we must work together at the regional and global levels.
Investing in clean air saves lives, combats climate change, strengthens economies, builds fairer societies, and advances the Sustainable Development Goals. On International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, let’s invest now so we can breathe easy knowing we are securing a healthier planet for all.
Investing in clean air saves lives, combats climate change, strengthens economies, builds fairer societies, and advances the Sustainable Development Goals. On International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, let’s invest now so we can breathe easy knowing we are securing a healthier planet for all.
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Press Release
12 September 2024
Op-ed: What Does the Summit of the Future Mean for Bahrain?
On 22-23 September, the United Nations will host the Summit of the Future in New York. This unprecedented global event will bring together world leaders to explore the best ways to address the escalating global threats of extreme poverty, hunger, increasing global emissions that lead to catastrophic climate change, health crises, conflicts, and rising displacement. These threats endanger international peace and security and hinder the development prospects of billions of people. The prevailing climate of widespread mistrust, accompanied by unprecedented levels of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech, including online, further underscores the urgency of this Summit.The Summit aims to advance collective efforts to achieve existing international commitments related to the development agenda and to take concrete steps to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. World leaders will approve a package of decisions on fundamental issues such as sustainable development, financing for development, international peace and security, science, technology, innovation, digital cooperation, youth and future generations, and transforming global governance.Since these threats are global in nature and do not respect national borders, effective international cooperation is essential to confront them and leverage the opportunities globalization presents for achieving common goals. The Summit of the Future will strive to achieve this by adapting the global governance system to our rapidly changing world, aiming to create a better world for future generations.For Bahrain, the Summit represents an important opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to a sustainable and better future for its youth, to exercise its voice as a UN member state in advocating for a better, safer, and more sustainable future for every young person in all countries of the world, and to promote its commitment to peaceful coexistence, respect, and religious tolerance, while calling for the same values everywhere.The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the bedrock of international peace and security. I had the opportunity to highlight this once again during my participation in May at the fifth edition of the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum (WEIF), hosted by Bahrain under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, concurrently with the 33rd Arab Summit. I underscored tangible SDG acceleration actions to scale up SDG implementation through initiatives undertaken by governments and non-governmental actors, and how the private sector, in particular, can contribute through entrepreneurship, risk-taking, innovation, and knowledge.Delegates attending the WEIF endorsed the "Manama Declaration," calling on the international community, including stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to achieve the SDGs, with a focus on women, youth, and people with disabilities. The declaration recognized the importance of an integrated approach and the crucial role of financial institutions and active private sector engagement in achieving theSDGs, and called for promoting promising sectors, such as the creative economy known as the "orange economy," and digital transformation, including artificial intelligence.Such recommendations could enrich the discussions at the Summit of the Future. Bahrain is well-positioned to present these ideas as the custodian of the Declaration. Furthermore, Bahrain's role in fostering SDG 17, "Partnerships for the Goals," is evident in the level of international partnerships the Kingdom has established to achieve global objectives. Finally, as a leading nation in innovation and digital transformation, Bahrain is well-prepared to share its best practices, like the Bahrain Digital Innovation Country Profile, completed in 2023 with support from the United Nations. Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship for the SDGs through engagement with youth in schools and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises is another success story worth highlighting. The United Nations is looking forward to Bahrain’s contribution and active involvement in this key gathering for multilateral cooperation. By Khaled El-Mekwad, UN Resident Coordinator in Bahrain
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Press Release
27 August 2024
UNSG Press conference on Sea Level Rise - Tonga, 27 August 2024
Distinguished members of the media,I am in Tonga to issue a global SOS – Save Our Seas – on rising sea levels.A worldwide catastrophe is putting this Pacific paradise in peril.Global average sea levels are rising at rates unprecedented in the past 3,000 years.The ocean is overflowing.The changes here in the Pacific region are visible since my last visit.And around the world, rising seas have unparallelled power to cause havoc to coastal cities and ravage coastal economies.The reason is clear: greenhouse gases – overwhelmingly generated by burning fossil fuels – are cooking our planet.And the sea is taking the heat – literally.It has absorbed more than 90 percent of global heating in the past fifty years.Water expands as it gets hotter.And glaciers and ice sheets are melting into the sea – adding to its volume.In other words – more water is taking up more space.Two papers released today by the United Nations throw the situation into sharp relief:The World Meteorological Organization’s report on the State of the Climate in the South West Pacific;And the UN Climate Action Team’s new report summarizing the science: Surging seas in a warming world.Taken together, they show that changes to the ocean are accelerating, with devastating impacts.Month after month, sea temperatures shatter records.Marine heatwaves are more intense and longer-lasting – doubling its frequency since 1980.And rising seas are amplifying the frequency and severity of storm surges and coastal flooding.These floods swamp coastal communities. Ruin fisheries. Damage crops. And contaminate fresh water.All this puts Pacific Islands in grave danger.Today’s reports confirm that relative sea levels in the Southwestern Pacific have risen even more than the global average – in some locations, by more than double the global increase in the past thirty years.Ocean temperatures are increasing at up to three times the rate worldwide.And Pacific islands are uniquely exposed.This is a region with an average elevation just one to two meters above sea level;Where around 90 percent of people live within 5 kilometers of the coast;And where half the infrastructure is within 500 metres of the sea.Without drastic cuts in emissions, the Pacific Islands can expect at least 15 centimeters of additional sea level rise by mid-century, and more than 30 days per year of coastal flooding in some places.Distinguished members of the media,Today’s reports show that the average rate of sea level rise has more than doubled since the 1990s.But a doubling in speed shows that the phenomenon is accelerating in an unusual and uncontrolled way.Global-mean sea level has already risen over 10cm since 1993. It is as I said worse in the Pacific, with some locations exceeding 15cm.Emerging science suggests that a two-degree temperature rise could potentially lead to the loss of almost all the Greenland ice sheet, and much of the West Antarctica ice sheet.This would mean condemning future generations to unstoppable sea level rise up to 20 meters – over a period of millennia.But at three degrees of warming – our current trajectory – the rise in sea level would happen much more quickly – over centuries.That spells disaster: wide-ranging and brutal impacts, coming far thicker and faster than we can adapt to them – destroying entire coastal communities.Can you imagine the impact on this beautiful capital city of Nuku’alofa?But what happens in Tonga did not start in Tonga, and it doesn’t end here.Surging seas are coming for us all – together with the devastation of fishing, tourism, and the Blue Economy.Across the world, around a billion people live in coastal areas, from low-lying islands to megacities; from tropical agricultural deltas to Arctic communities.Coastal megacities including Dhaka, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Lagos and Shanghai are threatened by our swelling ocean.Rising seas will increase the frequency of extreme events like coastal floods.If global temperatures rise by 2.5 degrees, that frequency could increase from once in 100 years to once in five years by the end of this century.Without new adaptation and protection measures, economic damage from coastal flooding could amount to trillions of dollars.Around 1 meter of future sea level rise is already locked in. But its future scale, pace, and impact are not.That depends on decisions we take now.Global leaders must step up:To drastically slash global emissions;To lead a fast and fair phase-out of fossil fuels;And to massively boost climate adaptation investments, to protect people from present and future risks.Only by limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius do we have a fighting chance of preventing the irreversible collapse of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets – and the catastrophes that accompany them.That means cutting global emissions by 43 percent compared to 2019 levels by 2030, and 60 percent by 2035.We need governments to honour the promise made at COP28 – and deliver new national climate action plans – or Nationally Determined Contributions – by next year.And these must be aligned with the 1.5 degree limit, and cover all emissions and the whole economy.They must put the world on track to phase out fossil fuels fast and fairly – including ending new coal projects and new oil and gas expansion now.And they must keep the promises made at COP28 to triple renewables capacity, double energy efficiency and end deforestation by 2030.The G20 – the biggest emitters, with the greatest capacity and responsibility to lead – must be out in front.And the world must massively increase finance and support for vulnerable countries.We need a surge in funds to deal with the surging seas.At COP29, countries must agree to boost innovative financing and a strong new finance goal.And developed countries must deliver on their finance commitments – including the commitment to double adaptation funding to at least $40 billion a year by 2025.And we need significant contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund as a step towards climate justice – in support of vulnerable countries like the Pacific Islands: And the same applies to the Pacific initiatives that were announced once again during this Summit of the Pacific funds to protect the Pacific Islands.Finally, we need to protect every person on Earth with an early warning system by 2027.That means building up countries’ data capacities to improve decision-making on adaptation and coastal planning.Dear members of the media,The world must look to the Pacific and listen to science.This is a crazy situation:Rising seas are a crisis entirely of humanity’s making.A crisis that will soon swell to an almost unimaginable scale, with no lifeboat to take us back to safety.But if we save the Pacific, we also save ourselves.The world must act, and answer the SOS before it is too late.And I thank you. * * *
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Press Release
26 August 2024
The United Nations in Bahrain launches its 2023 Country Results Report
The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Bahrain launched today its 2023 Country Results Report during a meeting of the Joint Steering Committee of the Government of Bahrain and United Nations’ Strategic and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2024 (SCF), held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The report outlines key results achieved in 2023 across the four outcomes set out by the SCF, presenting their progress and success indicators. It also presents various projects carried out during the reporting period and the steps undertaken in formulating the new Cooperation Framework 2025-2029, including a rigorous program review and exploring ways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. "The report highlights the progress made in achieving the SDGs throughout the penultimate year of the current Cooperation Framework and the United Nations' strengthened partnership with the Government of Bahrain," said the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bahrain, Mr Khaled El Mekwad. "For the UNCT, 2023 was a year of consolidation, reflection and adaptation. Together, we consolidated our programming and initiatives for greater coherence; we reflected on how we approach emerging development challenges in a high-income country context while adapting in real time to national and regional developments. In 2024, the UNCT will continue contributing to sustainable development and SDG acceleration both in the country and globally," Mr El Mekwad said. His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain's commitment, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to strengthening cooperation and strategic partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies. This commitment aims to consolidate international peace and security and support the Sustainable Development Goals. For the full report, please visit: 2023 Country Results Report | United Nations in Bahrain For more information, please contact: United Nations Information Centre, ManamaEmail: unic-manama@un.org
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Press Release
12 August 2024
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres' message on International Youth Day 2024
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
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MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2024“From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”12 August 2024International Youth Day celebrates the power and potential of young people.This year’s focus is on the pivotal role of youth in harnessing technology to advance sustainable development.Around the world, young people are turning clicks into progress, making the most of digital tools to take on local and global challenges – from climate change to rising inequalities to the growing mental health crisis.But achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires a seismic shift – which can only happen if we empower young people and work with them as equals.That means bridging digital divides, boosting investments in education, critical thinking and information literacy, tackling the gender biases that often dominate the tech industry, and supporting young innovators in expanding digital solutions.As Artificial Intelligence reshapes our world, young people must also be front and centre in shaping digital policies and institutions.Next month’s Summit of the Future is an opportunity to build global problem-solving mechanisms that are more networked and inclusive. I urge leaders to use the Summit to advance youth participation at every level, establish youth consultative bodies, promote intergenerational dialogue and scale up funding opportunities for young people everywhere.You can count on the UN Youth Office and the entire UN family to stand with and for young people.Together, let us draw on their energy and ideas to shape a more sustainable future for all.***
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MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2024“From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”12 August 2024International Youth Day celebrates the power and potential of young people.This year’s focus is on the pivotal role of youth in harnessing technology to advance sustainable development.Around the world, young people are turning clicks into progress, making the most of digital tools to take on local and global challenges – from climate change to rising inequalities to the growing mental health crisis.But achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires a seismic shift – which can only happen if we empower young people and work with them as equals.That means bridging digital divides, boosting investments in education, critical thinking and information literacy, tackling the gender biases that often dominate the tech industry, and supporting young innovators in expanding digital solutions.As Artificial Intelligence reshapes our world, young people must also be front and centre in shaping digital policies and institutions.Next month’s Summit of the Future is an opportunity to build global problem-solving mechanisms that are more networked and inclusive. I urge leaders to use the Summit to advance youth participation at every level, establish youth consultative bodies, promote intergenerational dialogue and scale up funding opportunities for young people everywhere.You can count on the UN Youth Office and the entire UN family to stand with and for young people.Together, let us draw on their energy and ideas to shape a more sustainable future for all.***
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Press Release
29 May 2024
UNSG António Guterres Message for World Environment Day 2024 (observed on June 5)
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is “land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.”Humanity depends on land. Yet, all over the world, a toxic cocktail of pollution, climate chaos, and biodiversity decimation are turning healthy lands into deserts, and thriving ecosystems into dead zones. They are annihilating forests and grasslands, and sapping the strength of land to support ecosystems, agriculture, and communities.That means crops failing, water sources vanishing, economies weakened, and communities endangered – with the poorest hit hardest. Sustainable development is suffering. And we are trapped in a deadly cycle – land use is responsible for eleven percent of the carbon dioxide emissions heating our planet. It’s time to break free.Countries must deliver on all their commitments to restore degraded ecosystems and land, and on the entire Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. They must use their new national climate action plans to set out how they will halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. And we must drastically scale-up finance to support developing countries to adapt to violent weather, protect nature, and support sustainable development.Inaction is too costly. But swift and effective action makes economic sense. Every dollar invested in ecosystem restoration creates up to thirty dollars in economic benefits.We are Generation Restoration. Together, let’s build a sustainable future for land, and for humanity.***
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Latest Resources
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Resources
02 April 2024
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