26 March 2026, Mérida, Mexico - The twenty-first International Hurricane Seminar concluded successfully, bringing together 290 in-person attendees and more than 1,600 virtual participants from across the region. Over two days of high-level discussions, technical workshops, and institutional collaboration, the event solidified its standing as a premier platform for strengthening disaster preparedness and operational resilience within the airport sector.

The seminar's opening ceremony was presided over by Yucatán State Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena, who underscored the critical importance of fostering a culture of prevention and reinforcing coordination among government authorities, the private sector, and international organizations. His remarks set a clear target: proactive collaboration, not reactive response, must define how institutions confront the growing threat of extreme meteorological events.

Mérida Municipal President Cecilia Patrón also took the stage to reaffirm her municipality's commitment to risk management and civil protection. Her participation reflected the broad institutional buy-in that has come to characterize the seminar over its two decades of history. It is an event that spans not only the aviation sector but engages the full ecosystem of emergency management stakeholders.

25 March 2026, Atlanta, United States - UNITAR in partnership with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), has launched the regional workshop "Future-Ready Airports: Preparedness for Mega Events Through Safety, Sustainability, and Smart Innovation." The two-day training workshop takes place on 22 April at the Georgia Tech campus and 23 April at ATL’s Emergency Operations Center, bringing together airport authorities and key stakeholders ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

24 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland – In line with the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035), UNITAR’s Airports Global Training Programme aims to support governments and institutions in strengthen transport systems through effective training, innovation, and cross-sectoral partnerships.

20 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - Observed annually on 22 March, World Water Day raises awareness of the global water crisis and the importance of sustainable freshwater management. The 2026 theme, “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows,” highlights the close relationship between water security and gender equality, and calls for stronger efforts to ensure that women and girls play a central role in water governance and decision-making.

19 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland –The International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL), hosted by the University of the Philippines CIFAL Philippines and part of the CIFAL Global Network (CGN) managed by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) closed 2025 with a record of meaningful engagement, reaching 1,460 beneficiaries through 20 capacity-building activities, professional courses, collaborative research, and youth empowerment programmes. Rooted in the mandate of the CIFAL Global Network and guided by the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Centre once again demonstrated that the pursuit of sustainability is not a destination but a continuous, institution-wide commitment.

18 March 2026, Brussels, Belgium - CIFAL Brussels, previously called CIFAL Flanders, convened its annual Kick-Off gathering in Brussels, marking the start of a milestone year for the organization and its growing network of partners, practitioners, and changemakers. Under the theme "From Challenges Today to Resilience Tomorrow," the event brought together stakeholders from the private sector, public institutions, civil society, and the UN system for a day of forward-looking exchange, and to formally launch what the organization is calling CIFAL 2.0.

17 March 2026, Brussels, Belgium - Applications are open for the Maritime Cyber Lab 2026, an international expert forum convened by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The Lab is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office and is designed as a focused, practitioner-oriented exchange. It will bring together senior representatives from across the maritime sector, including ports, shipping companies, international organizations, maritime insurance companies, financial institutions, and technology actors. The objective is to facilitate a structured dialogue on practical approaches to strengthening maritime cyber resilience, with particular attention to operational experiences, governance frameworks, and capacity-building needs across the maritime ecosystem. The event will take place on 27–28 May 2026 at the UN House in Brussels and can be attended in person or online and is free of charge.

Electronics are the world’s fastest-growing waste stream, and yet most countries still lack the data, systems, and institutional capacities required for effective management. UNITAR’s Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Programme has not only built the world’s most comprehensive multi-level monitoring architecture—spanning global, regional, and national e-waste and material-flow analyses—but also develops the expert networks, methodological leadership, and practical system knowledge needed to support real-world transition processes.

We are stuck in response mode. But what good is an ambulance without a hospital?
Climate shocks are intensifying. Conflict is at record levels. Economies are fragile. Humanitarian appeals grow larger each year, while donor countries prioritise domestic and security concerns. One emergency follows another. Recovery slips further out of reach.

13 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - New moderated training for sports organizations: The Future of Sport: Training to Win in a Changing Climate, available on-demand. The training targets staff from sports organizations looking for practical ways to address climate challenges while strengthening their operations. It is fully customizable and can be tailored to the needs of each federation, club, or event organizer, ensuring relevance across different sports contexts.