28 May 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - In the vast expanse of the Pacific, where the azure waters meet lush islands, the threat of climate change is not distant, but a reality deeply anchored in the present. Rising sea levels, frequent flooding, and coastal erosion pose relentless threats to their rich ecosystems and communities. Despite contributing minimally to global carbon emissions, these island nations face staggering costs to bolster their infrastructure against climate-induced hazards. Estimates suggest that Pacific island countries need to invest between 6% and 9% of their annual GDP—which is approximately $1 billion annually for the region—to fortify their defences against climate change. In response to these urgent needs, UNOSAT has stepped up, leveraging its technological prowess and capacity-building initiatives to enhance resilience and safeguard livelihoods. 

April 2024, Bonn, Germany - UNITAR's Sustainable Cycles (Scycle) Programme published the National E-waste Monitor for Namibia and Botswana. This reports outline the current status of e-waste management in those countries and highlight significant challenges facing the countries in this regard.

26 April 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - More than 75,000 students from worldwide have enrolled in the e-course Climate Change: From Learning to Action. Now, this course has been translated into a fifth language, Chinese, and was launched in celebration of the UN Chinese Language Day. Check out what will you learn in this course.

April 12, 2024, Monrovia, Liberia - Liberia took an important step towards ramping up climate change education. The country organized an inception workshop, which brought together key partners, such as UN CC:Learn, to kickstart the development of the country’s National Climate Change Learning Strategy.

UN CC:Learn invites you to apply for the next Champion!

11 April 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - UN CC:Learn and the Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education Project (MECCE) are shedding light on the state of online climate change learning among adults worldwide.

8 April 2024 - It is with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Mr. Marcel André Boisard, former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and former Executive Director of UNITAR from 1992 to 2007. The news of his departure has deeply saddened us all.

20 March 2024, Geneva / Bonn - The world’s generation of electronic waste is rising five times faster than documented e-waste recycling, the UN’s fourth Global E-waste Monitor (GEM) reveals today. The 62 million tonnes of e-waste generated in 2022 would fill 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks, roughly enough trucks to form a bumper-tobumper line encircling the equator, according to the report from ITU and UNITAR.

8 February 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - Meet Leba Gaunavinaka, a dedicated advocate for environment preservation, whose entire career has been a testament to her commitment. Serving as UNOSAT's embedded technical expert within the Government of Fiji's climate change adaptation team, Leba has greatly contributed to shaping climate discussions. Her skills and unique perspective, derived from hands-on experience in the field, provide invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by the Pacific Islands. As we delve into her experiences at COP28, discover the story of a passionate individual actively contributing to the global effort for climate resilience and adaptation.

6 October 2023, Geneva, Switzerland - Climate change is a global issue that requires targeted, adaptable, and tailored solutions. A solution that works well in one country, may not necessarily work as well in another country or region.  This was evident at the recent Youth Climate Dialogue which brought together high school students from six countries as part of UNITAR’s 60th Anniversary celebrations.

Read on to find out more about the rich and engaging discussions about climate change that took place at Palais des Nations with students from six different countries.