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UNITAR is guided by a four-year Strategic Framework which articulates the Institute’s vision, mission, core values and strategic objectives and enablers. The present Framework, covering the period from 2018 to 2021, was approved by the Institute’s Board of Trustees in November 2017.
The Framework structures the Institute’s objectives, programming and activities under the peace, people, planet and prosperity pillars of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable, in addition to cross-cutting programme pillars on accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, multilateral diplomac...
Angela I. Ebeleke Yoka, Gender and Climate Change focal point at the UNFCCC, for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Manchester, England Stepping up as a co-facilitator at COP28 negotiations on gender Angela, or Angèle as she is called in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is a National Gender and Climate Change Focal Point (NGCCFP) at the UNFCCC for the DRC and works as a course guide for the night school for new negotiators organized by the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO). In...
Mercury is a silvery-white metal that is liquid at room temperature and evaporates easily into the air. Many Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Miners (ASGM) around the world use mercury to extract the gold from the earth using its low heating point to evaporate from the gold compile.
Mercury exposure causes severe negative effects to both human health and the environment. ASGM continues to be a major issue of concern globally due to the activities and disposal of products that are contaminated with mercury.
While the world will never be entirely “mercury free” simply because it ...
Born in Togo, 39 years old Bontiébite Badjare was trained as an agricultural engineer at Lomé's university in 2004, following the example of his older brother. He first obtained a position as an assistant at the International Center for Soil Fertility. A few years later, he worked for the Togolese Agricultural Research Institute, before he resigned to become an independent consultant, working among others for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This is where he first looked into the impact of chemicals on the environment, a field on which his…
This story is about one of the two radio programmes that have sparked a wave of environmental consciousness across Zimbabwe, educating its listeners and fostering a nationwide discussion on climate change. Based on interviews with three different individuals—the radio host, an interviewer, and a teacher—the story is explored through their unique perspectives, showcasing how the programme has influenced both its creators and educators who engage with it. By providing accessible, engaging content, the show was a vital source of climate change education for a wide audience, fr...
Born in Austria thirty-five years ago, Sabine Samarawickrema has devoted a huge part of her life to questions tied to sustainable consumption. During her Ph.D., which was completed in Vienna in 2011, she travelled to a lot of different places, working among others for the United Nations in New York. Having met her future husband in New York, she moved to Sri Lanka in 2011 and started working with various NGO's and the UN, active in the field of sustainable development, child protection or education.
But this enthusiastic young woman had to have her own way: one year later…
Dr. Alba Ávila is an Associate Professor at the University of the Andes in Colombia, who specializes in teaching and research in nanotechnologies. She was one of the experts in nanotechnologies, who helped organize and chair sessions at the Nanosafety Regional Workshop for the Latin America and Caribbean Region, which was held in Bogotá, Colombia in 2015.
Nanotechnology is a growing industry poised to create an array of economic and social benefits worldwide, while potential risks to…
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 inve...
As a child growing up in Namibia in the late 80s and early 90s, my earliest memory always has the sound of the radio in the background. That would be whether I was at home in town or while helping out in the fields while visiting the village. I vividly remember listening to Christmas carols or the liberation songs to commemorate the Namibian liberation struggle against apartheid on Independence / Heroes days. Radio has been a big part of my childhood, it was a source of information and entertainment. Through this mode of communication, we learned of far-off relatives eithe...
The Strengthening Capacities in the Use of Geospatial Information for Improved Resilience in Asia-Pacific and Africa project, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), aims to enhance climate resilience and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in eight countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Lao PDR, Nigeria, Solomon Islands, Uganda and Vanuatu. The project is being implemented between July 2021 and December 2024. More specifically, the project focuses on building geospatial information technology (GIT) capacities for effective planning and decision-mak...