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Climate change

World Cities Day – 24 October 2024

31 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: cities, Climate change, economic growth, home, regions, social inclusion, urban challenges, young leaders

As cities around the world continue to grow, they are increasingly home to a new wave of young leaders committed to addressing the pressing issues of climate change. Youth are at the forefront of local action and innovation, playing a catalytic role in shaping sustainable urban futures.

On 31 October 2024, UN-Habitat invites everyone committed to urban resilience and climate action to join the Global Observance of World Cities Day, under the theme “Youth climate changemakers: Catalysing local action for urban sustainability.” This year’s event, taking place in the historic city of Alexandria, Egypt, will highlight the leadership of young people in driving bold, transformative actions that contribute to building more sustainable and climate-resilient cities.

A call to action

World Cities Day 2024 is a call to action for youth and local governments to work hand-in-hand to address the climate crisis. With climate change intensifying urban challenges, particularly in rapidly growing cities, this year’s observance emphasizes the power of youth to lead in urban adaptation and climate resilience. By taking the lead, today’s youth can shape their cities to be inclusive, equitable, and environmentally sustainable for generations to come.

About World Cities Day

World Cities Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 and is celebrated annually on 31 October. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable urbanization and to encourage cooperation among nations, regions, and cities to address urban challenges. It also emphasizes the role of cities in fostering innovation, economic growth, and social inclusion.

 

Source: Text: https://unhabitat.org/news/24-oct-2024/world-cities-day-2024-youth-climate-changemakers-catalysing-local-action-for-urban-sustainability

International Day of Families – 15 May 2024

15 mai 2024
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, Climate change, education, families, impact, industries, information, initiatives, participation

2024 Theme: Families and Climate Change

Climate change negatively impacts the health and well-being of families through increased pollution, while extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, such as hurricanes, droughts and floods, often lead to forced displacement and loss of livelihoods for families and individuals. Such events impact agricultural productivity and access to water, intensifying hunger and vulnerability. They cause economic disruption in industries sensitive to climate impacts such as agriculture and fisheries.

Without drastic action, adaptation to and mitigation of the impacts of climate change will become increasingly difficult and costly.

Empowering families through education, changing consumption habits, and advocacy is critical for meaningful and effective climate action. Families pass values across generations, so instilling sustainable habits and climate awareness in families from an early age is important. Integrating circular economy principles into early childhood education can help build a sustainable economic model based on minimizing waste and regenerating natural resources. Families as consumers and advocates can drive the transition to a circular economy.

The 2024 International Day of Families aims to raise awareness of how climate change impacts families and the role families can play in climate action. Through family and community initiatives, we can foster climate action with education, access to information, training and community participation.

 

Source: Text & Image (Fan Xiao): https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-families

World Press Freedom Day – 3 May 2024

3 mai 2024
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Climate change, democratic societies, disinformation, environmental crisis, freedom of expression, inequalities, international efforts, journalism, planetary crisis

A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis

In 2024, World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.

Awareness of all aspects of the global environmental crisis and its consequences is essential to build democratic societies. Journalistic work is indispensable for this purpose.

Journalists encounter significant challenges in seeking and disseminating information on contemporary issues, such as supply-chains problems, climate migration, extractive industries, illegal mining, pollution, poaching, animal trafficking, deforestation, or climate change. Ensuring the visibility of these issues is crucial for promoting peace and democratic values worldwide.

In the context of the world’s triple planetary crisis —climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution— dis-/misinformation campaigns challenge knowledge and scientific research methods. Attacks on the validity of science pose a serious threat to pluralistic and informed public debate. Indeed, misleading and false information about climate change can, in some cases, undermine international efforts to address them.

Dis-/misinformation about environmental issues can lead to a lack of public and political support for climate action, effective policies, and the protection of vulnerable communities affected by climate change, as well as of women and girls, as climate change tends to exacerbate existing inequalities.

To achieve sustainable development, it is necessary for journalists to report accurately, timely, and comprehensively on environmental issues and their consequences, as well as on possible solutions.

This requires a comprehensive strategy that includes:

  • Preventing and protecting against crimes committed against journalists.   
  • Ensuring the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of scientific research, and access to key sources of information, in addition to combating dis-/misinformation through journalism.   
  • Promoting the plurality, diversity, and viability of media, especially regional, local, indigenous, and/or community-based media.   
  • Ensuring that the governance of digital platforms foster the transparency of technology companies, their accountability, due diligence, user empowerment, and content moderation and curation based on international human rights’ standards, as indicated in UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.
  • Promoting Media and Information Literacy programs to empower users with skills to engage and think critically in the digital environment.
Source: Text: https://www.un.org/en/observances/press-freedom-    Image: UNESCO

World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2024

28 avril 2024
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Climate change, diseases, health, législation, policies, right, safety, work

The impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health

Climate change is already having serious impacts on planetary health, human health and the world of work. As this problem intensifies, workers around the globe find themselves at an increased risk of exposure to hazards such as excessive heat, ultraviolet radiation, extreme weather events, air pollution, vector-borne diseases and agrochemicals. Numerous health conditions are linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, and mental health disorders.

Promoting, respecting and realizing the fundamental principle and right at work of a safe and healthy working environment also means addressing dangerous climate change impacts in the workplace. Mainstreaming occupational safety and health (OSH) into climate policies and integrating climate concerns into OSH practices is crucial. Legislation may need re-evaluation or new regulations as climate hazards evolve.

Collaboration between governments and social partners is vital for climate mitigation and adaptation policies. The time to act is now!

On the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024, the ILO has launched a new report titled « Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, » which reveals alarming new data on the impact of climate change on workers’ safety and health.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://www.un.org/en/observances/work-safety-day

 

International Day of Clean Energy – 26 January

26 janvier 2024
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: affordable, clean energy, Climate change, durable, fossil fuels, greenhouse gases, sun, waste, water, wind

Clean energy: for all…

Energy lies at the core of a double challenge: leaving no one behind and protecting the Planet. And clean energy is crucial to its solution.

In a world grappling with climate change, clean energy plays a vital role in reducing emissions, and can also benefit communities lacking access to reliable power sources. Still today, 675 million people live in the dark – 4 in 5 are in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The connection between clean energy, socio-economic development, and environmental sustainability is crucial in addressing issues faced by vulnerable communities worldwide.

For populations without clean energy access, the lack of reliable power hinders education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, and many of these developing regions still rely heavily on polluting fossil fuels for their daily life, perpetuating poverty. If current trends continue, by 2030 one in four people will still use unsafe, unhealthy and inefficient cooking systems, such as burning wood or dung.

Although this situation has been improving, the world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. The General Assembly will hold a Global Stocktaking on SDG7 in April 2024 to assess progress and recommend solutions.

… and for our planet

But adopting clean energy is integral to the fight against climate change, as well. 

A large chunk of the greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the Sun’s heat are generated through energy production, by burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, and gas) to generate electricity and heat.

The science is clear: to limit climate change, we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels and invest in alternative sources of energy that are clean, accessible, affordable, sustainable, and reliable. Renewable energy sources – which are available in abundance all around us, provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth – are replenished by nature and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.

At the same time, improving energy efficiency is key. Using less energy for the same output – through more efficient technologies in the transport, building, lighting, and appliances sectors for instance: saves money, cuts down on carbon pollution, and helps ensure universal access to sustainable energy for all.

 

Source: Text: https://www.un.org/en/observances/clean-energy-day Image: Raphael Pouget/UNICEF (Woman cleaning solar panel)

 

World Olive Tree Day – 26 November

26 novembre 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Climate change, cultural heritage, harmony, sustainability efforts, symbol. wisdom, UNESCO

World Olive Tree Day was proclaimed at the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference in 2019 and takes place on 26 November every year.

The olive tree, specifically the olive branch, holds an important place in the minds of men and women. Since ancient times, it has symbolized peace, wisdom and harmony and as such is important not just to the countries where these noble trees grow, but to people and communities around the world.

Conserving and cultivating the olive tree is a growing imperative as the world combats and adapts to climate change. The protection of cultural and natural heritage, including landscapes, is at the heart of UNESCO’s mission and marking World Olive Tree Day reinforces environmental sustainability efforts.

The aim of World Olive Tree Day is to encourage the protection of the olive tree and the values it embodies, in order to appreciate its important social, cultural, economic and environmental significance to humanity.

 

Source: Text: https://whc.unesco.org/    Image:  pexels.com

World Vegetarian Day – 1 october

1 octobre 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: animal slaughter, Climate change, diet, environment, food, meat, religious concerns, vegetarian

The Many Different Types of Vegetarianism

A vegetarian is a person who does not consume meat or products of animal slaughter due to ethical, moral, or religious concerns. There are many varieties of vegetarianism. Ovo-Lacto vegetarians, for instance, eat eggs and milk, but no other animal products. Adherents of more strict forms of vegetarianism, such as vegans, tend to abstain from consuming anything that may include any kind of animal products or may be made from animal labor, such as animal testing. Other types of vegetarians include raw vegetarianism, where followers only eat raw foods or products that have been dehydrated; and fruitarianism, where adherents only consume fruits and nuts, preferably obtained without any harm to the plant.

In India, members of the Jain religion follow a form of vegetarianism that not only prohibits eating animal products, but also restricts consumption of root vegetables like onions, potatoes, and garlic.

From Religion to Saving the Environment

In many cultures, vegetarianism is an integral part of religion. Many sects of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism prohibit the consumption of meat and animal products, though the use of milk, honey, and sometimes unfertilized poultry eggs is acceptable.

Religious vegetarianism tends to be rooted in a philosophy of non-violence and compassion towards the natural world. Many other people follow vegetarianism as a way to protect the environment – they believe that raising and killing of animals for food negatively affects the environment, creates pollution, and contributes to climate change.

Many follow vegetarianism out of concern for animals and their treatment at farms where they are being raised for food. Others on the hand, adopt the vegetarian diet for its health benefits. Research has shown that a plant-based diet can help reduce the risks of heart disease, diabetes, and some kinds of cancer.

 

Source: Text: https://www.timeanddate.com/    Image: https://www.lapetite.com/blog/2021/09/world-vegetarian-day/

International Day of the Tropics – 29 June

29 juin 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: biodiversity, Climate change, Equator, forests, marine ecosystems, planet, seasons, slums, température

Each year on June 29th, the International Day of the Tropics raises awareness about various challenges that tropical nations face. It’s also a day to celebrate the extraordinary diversity of the Tropics.

#InternationalDayOfTheTropics

The regions of the Earth that lie in the middle of the planet are called the Tropics. The Tropics account for 36 percent of the Earth’s landmass. It includes the Equator and parts of North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. This region is warm all year round. The temperature in the Tropics ranges from 77 to 82 degrees F. The Tropics get a lot of sun and only have two seasons: the wet season and dry season.

Some parts of the Tropics, like the Amazon Basin, get nearly 9 feet of rain per year. Other areas, such as the Sahara Desert, get only 2 to 10 centimeters of rain a year. This difference in precipitation affects which plants and animals live in the different parts of the Tropics. The Tropics are important because of the number of economic exports come from these regions. Also, about 40 percent of the world’s population lives within the tropical zone.

Biodiversity

While biodiversity is greater in the Tropics, the loss of biodiversity is also greater here than in the rest of the world. This loss of biodiversity is partly attributed to human activity, such as:

  • Destruction of forests and marine ecosystems
  • Overexploitation of industrial fishing fleets and commercial hunters
  • Spread of diseases and invasive species
  • Growing impacts of climate change

Because of these issues, many species of plants and animals in the Tropics face the loss of their habitats. They are also vulnerable to becoming endangered.
Humans living in the Tropics face many challenges as well. More people experience undernourishment in the Tropics than anywhere in the world. This is consistent with the higher levels of poverty in these regions.

Also, more people live in slums in the Tropics than in the rest of the world.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/international-day-of-the-tropics-june-29/

World Rainforest Day – 22 June

22 juin 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: canopy, carbon dioxide, Climate change, diversity, flora and fauna, fresh water, oxygen, protect and preserve

World Rainforest Day is observed on June 22 every year across the world. This day is set aside to raise awareness about rainforests and also about all the biotic species that live in them. World Rainforest Day aims to encourage people to learn more about rainforests and join efforts to protect and preserve these forests for generations to come. Rainforests have been disappearing and taking the rich diversity of flora and fauna with them because of increasing deforestation and climate change. World Rainforest Day was instituted to halt this disappearance by reminding people of the importance of rainforests.

HISTORY OF WORLD RAINFOREST DAY

World Rainforest Day is observed throughout the world and aims to educate people about the importance of rainforests — why they are important and the diversity of life that lives in them. By educating people, World Rainforest Day aims to encourage more people to join the effort to protect and preserve rainforests for future generations.

Rainforests are lush forests that have a continuous tree canopy. The entire forest is heavily dependent on moisture. Rainforests do not have any forest fires. Flora, fungi, epiphytes, lianas, and trees forming a closed canopy, are found in rainforests. Many popular houseplants like the Pothos and Monstera, are native to rainforests. A majority of living organisms — birds, animals, plants, and trees — are native to rainforests. A large number of species of mammals, reptiles, birds, invertebrates, and amphibians are found in rainforests.

Rainforests are necessary as they are an important source of freshwater for humans. Additionally, they absorb carbon dioxide and protect the earth from the effects of climate change. They are an important natural resource directly and indirectly. Apart from freshwater and the production of oxygen, several ingredients used in everyday life and manufacturing are derived from rainforests. Timber, meat, animal products, plant derivatives, and tourism are among the other benefits offered by rainforests.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://nationaltoday.com/world-rainforest-day/

International Day of Families – 15 May 2023

15 mai 2023
Nicole Gregoire
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Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Climate change, concerns, development, health, lifespan, population, urbanization

2023 Theme: Demographic Trends and Families

In late 2022, the world’s population has reached eight billion people. Characterised by the United Nations Secretary-General as a ‘milestone in human development’ this landmark event illustrates major advancements in health extending human lifespans. Population growth is to continue albeit at a decreasing rate. It is projected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 in 2100 rising concerns about the prospects of sustainable urbanization and management of climate change.

Demographic change is one of the most important megatrends impacting our world and the life and well-being of families worldwide. 

In 1993, the General Assembly decided in a resolution (A/RES/47/237) that 15 May of every year should be observed as The International Day of Families. This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

On 25 September 2015, the 193 member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of 17 goals aiming to eliminate poverty, discrimination, abuse and preventable deaths, address environmental destruction, and usher in an era of development for all people, everywhere. Families and family-oriented policies and programmes are vital for the achievement of many of these goals.

 

Source: Text: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-families    Image: depositphotos