7 October 2008: On the eve of International Day for Disaster
Reduction, during a news conference in New York, US, UN Under-Secretary-General
for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes
underlined the cost-effectiveness of reinforcing hospitals to make them safe
from disasters. He explained that the Day aims to raise awareness of the
inter-connection between disaster reduction and climate change prevention,
mitigation and preparedness.
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7 October 2008: In a press conference at the UN Headquarters
in New York, US, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon characterized climate change
as the “defining challenge of our era,” and warned that the fight against this
challenge risks being “obscured by shorter-term problems, and in particular the
deepening financial crisis.” He expressed the hope that the climate
negotiations scheduled to take place in December 2008 in Poznan, Poland, will
result in increased cooperation and agreement on a timeframe of work, as well
as “a strong willingness” by developed and developing countries to lead on this
issue.
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8 October 2008: IISD Reporting Services is pleased to
announce that the newest issue of CLIMATE-L.ORG Bulletin is now available. To
access the eighth issue directly, click here. To read past
issues and to sign up to receive the Bulletin, click here.
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8 October 2008: On the occasion of the International Day for
Disaster Reduction, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted the greater
incidence of disasters in 2008 and called for increased action to “turn
commitments on paper into deeds” and implement the 2005 Hyogo Framework for
Action.
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8 October 2008: In a statement to mark the International Day
of Disaster Reduction, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja highlighted that action on climate change
mitigation and adaptation must consider managing risks to drought in a global
coordinated approach, and said the Hyogo Framework for action is a platform to
achieve these considerations.
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6 October 2008: Top UN officials marked World Habitat Day by
drawing attention to the need to raise awareness of the problems of rapid
urbanization, its impact on the environment and the challenges of rising urban
poverty. The UN has designated the first Monday in October each year as World
Habitat Day, to reflect on the state of towns and cities and the basic right to
adequate shelter for all. This year, Luanda, Angola, led the observance of the
celebration, which focused on the theme “Harmonious Cities.”
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2 October 2008: The World Bank has announced an 87% increase in funding for renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) projects and programmes in developing countries in the past fiscal year.
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1 October 2008: The UN-backed Equator Initiative has
announced the 25 winners of the Equator Prize 2008, which recognizes
exceptional leadership in slashing poverty through conservation and sustainable
biodiversity efforts.
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October 2008: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with the
Global Sports Alliance of Japan and Volvo, hosted the 2008 Global Forum for
Sport and Environment in Alicante, Spain, from 4-6 October 2008.
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1 October 2008: In an editorial column published on 30
September 2008 in the Washington Times, John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General
for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, stressed the urgent
need for a Green Revolution in Africa to deal, inter alia, with the challenges
of climate change and the food and oil crises.
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