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THE UN CLIMATE CONFERENCE AND CLIMATE CRISIS

Happy holidays

At the occasion of this last newsletter in 2021, it is time to reflect about another difficult year for all of us due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet look towards the future. I am proud of what UNITAR has achieved over the past year, adjusting our work to online and hybrid formats while ensuring the best quality of our trainings, research and capacity-building activities.

For the coming year, UNITAR’s focus will be on identifying new opportunities while taking stock of the needs of making significant progress over sustainable development and the SDGs. Health continues to be a cornerstone of our programming, with focus areas expanding to bridging the digital divide and enabling access to our trainings to the most vulnerable.

The articles in this newsletter focus on the most important challenge we face, the climate crisis. The recent COP26 highlighted mitigation, adaptation, finance and collaboration as the main axes we should center our focus. In the intersection of climate change and the SDGs, topics such as the climate refugee crisis, and climate change and gender, require our attention and action.

UNITAR is actively responding with providing updated knowledge over climate change and interconnected topics, and by training thousands of learners worldwide through its UN CC: Learn Platform. At COP26, we co-developed a learning session on the SDGs and climate change, focusing on learning and practice opportunities. Together with WMO and UNFCCC, we brought together the Geneva ecosystem in the TEDx Geneva event, delivering talks on how changing the climate change language can lead to enhanced climate action among broader audiences. In addition, our Agenda 2030 specialized Unit offers participative programmes where the youth takes action on climate change and gender with innovation.

The only way to address climate change and the SDGs is by taking action in synergies, to prevent further displacements, to progress over women empowerment and gender equality, and to mitigate the impacts of this crisis.

I wish you a healthy and peaceful holiday season and look forward to continuing our work with you in 2022.

Nikhil Seth

Executive Director

UNITAR

UNITAR AND THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION ACADEMY ORGANIZE A VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSION ON ANTI-CORRUPTION IN CLIMATE ACTION PLANS

For as long as corruption thrives, climate action cannot succeed. It has been empirically established that corruption fuels climate change and that climate action plans without anti-corruption action are ripe for failure. As we are all experiencing, as individuals and within our respective communities, failure is not an option. This is why the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) demand urgent action to combat climate change and to fight corruption in all its forms.

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UNOSAT AT #COP26

The ambitious agenda of COP 26 to accelerate action towards and beyond the goals of the Paris agreement may have been a let-down for most people. For the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), it was also an opportunity to promote once more the added value of satellite-derived information for improving climate resilience. The conference was “an important step but not enough” in the words of António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. Despite the negotiations underdelivering, many insightful events took place, where delegations could learn from different ongoing efforts.

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LEADING BY EXAMPLE: GREENING GOVERNMENTS, UN AND OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS

Greenhouse gas emissions directly contribute to global warming and climate change. The technology and fuel used for electricity generation are often responsible for high greenhouse gas emissions. Recently, UNITAR conducted a survey among energy experts in the humanitarian system to estimate the number of diesel and petrol generators that are used to produce electricity in humanitarian operations, with a view to establishing the opportunities to transition to solar solutions.

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YOUTH AMBASSADORS: UNLEASHING YOUTH POWER TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

We need the power of Generations Z and Alpha to tackle climate change. But while we recognize the importance of empowering youth, have we been helping them to act on their creativity and to reflect that back into their communities?

UNITAR hopes to do just that with its Youth Ambassador programmes, one in Hiroshima and another in Asia and the Pacific, where high school students develop projects to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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CLIMATE CHANGE & GENDER – HOW COULD CITIZENS HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUES AROUND THEM?

Crowd4SDG launched the second GEAR Cycle of the project. This year’s GEAR Cycle focuses on two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – SDG 13 on Climate Change and SDG 5 on Gender Equality. GEAR Cycles include four phases in its implementation: Gather, Evaluate, Accelerate and Refine. The first phase, Gather, kicked off in August with the launch of a call for projects for Open Seventeen (017). This year’s call focused on projects tackling the many challenges related to climate change and gender issues, with the application of crowdsourcing solutions.

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WEBINAR SERIES ON COP26 AND CLIMATE CHANGE DIPLOMACY FOR SWEDISH DIPLOMATS

The COP26 summit brought parties together to accelerate action towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). With the rising urgency surrounding the global environmental crisis, climate change diplomacy is maturing to include a wide range of policy domains, from finance and the economy, to gender sensitive adaptative actions in climate negotiations. In order to discuss the various implications of climate change diplomacy following the Glasgow Climate Change Conference, UNITAR hosted a three-part webinar series for diplomats from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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UNITAR ALUMNI DEVELOPING SOCIAL ENTERPRISES TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE IN IRAQ

Regardless of size, innovative and social businesses can create positive waves which reach beyond their communities to achieve national, or international status. It is this type of grassroots action which is necessary if the world is to address the challenges brought about by climate change.

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IMPACT STORIES

ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

Climate change is one of the causes for migration and has led to vulnerability and exclusion. However, initiatives supporting entrepreneurship among migrants and refugees aim to overcome the challenges of economic and social inclusion.

This Impact Story reveals how participants from the courses have used the newly acquired knowledge to design entrepreneurship programs for migrants and to transfer knowledge on migration issues to professionals working in migration including those in academia, non-governmental organizations and the government. Participants’ stories highlight how the course was useful for informing their research on the migration legal framework, developing business integration models for migrants and changing outlooks on how to provide insights into decision-making on public policies relating to migrants.

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ENHANCING CAPACITIES ON TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY

Climate change is already affecting food security. A joint FAO/UNITAR online course on “Trade and Food Security” (in French) was delivered from October to November 2020 for participants from Sub-Saharan Africa.

This impact story reveals how participants have applied the newly acquired knowledge to participating to WTO conference meetings, when drafting policies, for committee work, for changing position, delivering training to colleagues, raising awareness of beneficiaries, supporting decision-making processes related to exports and implementing nutrition action plans, amongst others. Participants’ stories highlight how the course was useful to inform drafting policies and papers, writing a user manual on consumers’ rights and obligations, and has led to changed perspectives for better including vulnerable groups such as women in trade.

Read more in French

UPCOMING EVENTS AND LEARNING SOLUTIONS

NEW MODULE ON LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND

A new Module focusing on “Leaving no one behind: Approaches, tools and best practices to promote meaningful engagement of all stakeholders in the implementation and follow up of the 2030 Agenda” of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement for the Review and Implementation of the 2030 Agenda is now available.

DISCOVER THE MULTILATERALISM TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Given the current global context, UNITAR specifically designed a series of training programmes to strengthen multilateralism. These aim to foster the spirit of international cooperation, build up values such as solidarity and inclusiveness, and sensitise participants to the fact that global challenges such as climate change or the COVID-19 pandemic can only be addressed together.

FIRST REGIONAL E-WASTE REPPORT FOR CIS AND GEORGIA PUBLISHED

Without a global, regional and national picture of e-waste, the true nature of e-waste challenge incl. collection and recycling rates, national and regional countermeasures, but also transboundary movements and, in some cases, illegal shipments will also be incomprehensible. Therefore SCYCLE is (co-)authoring studies, the so-called Monitors, along a widely approved and supported methodology – the E-waste Statistic Guidelines

UNOSAT CELEBRATED 20 YEARS OF OPERATIONS LEADING TO THE UNITED NATIONS SATELLITE CENTRE

UNOSAT has been providing satellite imagery-based solutions and capacity development to United Nations funds, programmes, specialized agencies, and Member States in support of the achievement of sustainable development. In 2021, the United Nations Economic and Social Council approved a resolution recognizing UNOSAT as the United Nations Satellite Centre.

REGISTRATIONS OPEN FOR THE ONLINE DIPLOMA AND E-LEARNING COURSES IN MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY

The Online Diploma in Multilateral Diplomacy offers a unique opportunity for both students wanting to pursue a career in international relations, international and regional organizations staff, as well as governmental and non-governmental officers, to expand their knowledge on international affairs and strengthen their capacities in the field of multilateral diplomacy.

MICROLEARNING VIDEOS

Together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). UNITAR has developed several microlearning videos around the importance of statistical literacy among the general public, the issues around trust in statistics and the role of the National Statistical Office in ensuring that data provided is of quality.

MOOC ON INFRASTRUCTURE ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), UNITAR and the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University have launched a new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Infrastructure Asset Management for Sustainable Development. The course was developed based on the UN publication “Managing Infrastructure Assets for Sustainable Development: A Handbook for Local and National Governments” – the result of a joint collaboration of UN DESA, UNCDF and UNOPS.

E-WORKSHOP ON GENDER, WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AND MENTORING

Women’s equal participation in decision-making is crucial for an effective Covid-19 response and recovery. However, gender parity remains far off. The pandemic is adding significantly to the burden of unpaid and domestic care work that women carry out worldwide, multiplying the risk that increasing numbers of female leaders are squeezed out of the labour market. To combat this adverse trend, UNITAR substantially strengthened its efforts in the field of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) to achieve SDG5 despite the pandemic’s destructive impact.

NEW E-COURSE ON GENDER EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN CLIMATE ACTION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

This self-paced e-course provides an overview of the interlinkages between gender, human rights, climate change, and renewable energy. It provides the specific knowledge and tools to integrate and implement gender equality in renewable energy access and entrepreneurship, as well as related gender-responsive and human rights-based approaches in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

WEBINAR: IS INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN CRISIS?

International Criminal Law has come a long way since the Nuremberg trials and the entry into force of the Rome statute almost twenty years ago. In parallel with the prosecution of high-level cases, a plethora of accountability mechanisms continue to thrive. However, after the rapid development of international criminal justice in the late 20th and early 21st century, recent years seem to indicate a system in crisis, notably with the war in Syria and other conflicts such as the US sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor and senior staff.

ONLINE CERTIFICATE DESIGNED ON INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE UN SYSTEM

Government representatives and other high-level officials of international and non-governmental organizations must be able to navigate international law and the UN System to achieve their objectives and advance their interests. The UNITAR Online Certificate on International Law and the UN system offers a unique opportunity for participants to expand their knowledge on the field of international law, multilateral diplomacy and the UN system.

COURS EN LIGNE SUR LA MAÎTRISE DES PLANS NATIONAUX D'ADAPTATION (PNA)

Ce cours intitulé « Maîtriser les plans nationaux d'adaptation (PNA) - du début à la fin » présentera aux apprenants plusieurs aspects importants du processus des PNA. Il vise à améliorer leur connaissance concernant les éléments clés du processus PNA ainsi que les questions pertinentes à ce processus telles que le genre et les informations climatiques dans la formulation et la mise en œuvre des PNA, et le financement des processus des PNA.

PARTNERSHIPS

HERTIE SCHOOL AND UNITAR PARTNER TO EMPOWER FUTURE LEADERS WORLDWIDE

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically shown the degree to which vulnerability, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) characterize our world today. Higher levels of resilience and adaptability on the individual and organizational level are needed and can only be achieved through rapid development and implementation of new skills and innovative organizational strategies. In light of this, UNITAR and the Hertie School Executive Education signed a Letter of Agreement to empower growth-oriented professionals working in multilateral contexts, both in the private and public sector.

UNITAR, UNILEVER’S SUNLIGHT AND ABSA BANK TO LAUNCH TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN KENYA

UNITAR has signed a memorandum of understanding with Sunlight (a home care brand under Unilever Kenya Limited) and Absa Bank Kenya, forming a new partnership to deliver the programme Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership Training for Women Entrepreneurs in Africa. This joint programme seeks to empower women entrepreneurs in Kenya to develop their social or for-profit businesses.

UNITAR AND BABSON COLLEGE LAUNCH THE EXECUTIVE CERTIFICATE IN GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADERSHIP

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur looking to drive your business to success? Passionate about your project(s) but unsure where to start? Would you like to empower yourself with the skills to navigate a complex and ever-changing global economy? To meet these needs Babson College and UNITAR designed the Executive Certificate in Global Business Leadership, a series of courses created exclusively for shaping an effective social entrepreneurial leader.

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