Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights
-Production Gap Report
-Security Council
-Somalia
-Ethiopia
-Syria
-Cabo Verde/Covid-19
-Secretary-General/Finance in Common Summit
-Global Map of Salt Affected Soils
-Guest Tomorrow
PRODUCTION GAP REPORT
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today released its Production Gap Report, which found that despite increased climate ambitions and net-zero commitments, governments still plan to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than what would be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
Over the next two decades, governments are collectively projecting an increase in global oil and gas production, and only a modest decrease in coal production.
The report also shows that countries have directed over $300 billion in new funds towards fossil fuel activities since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic — more than they have towards clean energy.
The Secretary-General said that the report shows there is still a long way to go to a clean energy future. He added that it is urgent that all remaining public financiers as well as private finance, including commercial banks and asset managers, switch their funding from coal to renewables to promote full decarbonization of the power sector and access to renewable energy for all.
SECURITY COUNCIL
At a Security Council meeting on the situation in the Great Lakes region, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Huang Xia, said that the region is at a crossroads. He reiterated that the main threat to peace and stability remains the persistence of armed groups.
But, Mr. Xia added, bilateral and regional initiatives attest to the awareness of the added value of dialogue and cooperation. More than ever, he said, it is necessary to consolidate these gains.
Turning to COVID-19, he said the pandemic has exacerbated vulnerabilities, but also demonstrated the resilience of societies in the region. He reiterated the Secretary-General’s call for greater solidarity to facilitate access to vaccines and to strengthen existing health systems and structures.
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, also spoke to Council members.
This afternoon, the Security Council will have a meeting on Somalia, followed by consultations on Lebanon.
SOMALIA
On Somalia, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that climate shocks are worsening the situation in the country, which is bracing for a third consecutive below-average rainy season.
As a result, the November cereal harvest in the northwest of Somalia is projected to be 63 per cent below the average levels in the past decade.
More than 250,000 people are facing severe water shortages, half of them in Jubaland State. There is also a reduction in pasture for livestock, affecting vulnerable people’s food security and nutrition.
Without humanitarian assistance, nearly 3.5 million people across Somalia will face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity by the end of the year. Some 1.2 million children under the age of five are also likely to be acutely malnourished – of these, more than 213,000 are projected to be severely malnourished.
Water, food, and health assistance are the most urgent humanitarian needs, according to our partners on the ground.
Humanitarian organizations are trucking water, providing cash vouchers and delivering nutrition supplies to people in need.
They are, however, significantly constrained by the lowest funding levels in five years. Somalia’s 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 50 per cent funded.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=20%20October%202021
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