Hurricane Melissa: Devastation in Jamaica at levels ‘never been seen before’

© UN/Lovell

 

Food is packed for distribution to people affected by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.

   

By Charlotte Frantz

29 October 2025

 Climate and Environment

As Hurricane Melissa moved north of Jamaica on Wednesday, the head of the UN team there said that preliminary damage assessments from the category 5 storm showed a level of devastation “never seen before” on the Caribbean island.

As Hurricane Melissa moved north of Jamaica on Wednesday, the head of the UN team there said that preliminary damage assessments from the category 5 storm showed a level of devastation “never seen before” on the Caribbean island.

UN Resident Coordinator Dennis Zulu emphasised the UN remains closely engaged with governments across the region, on-the-ground UN agencies, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), noting the “tremendous and unprecedented destruction of infrastructure,” across Jamaica where Melissa made landfall on Tuesday.

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Looking to the months-long reconstruction and recovery effort ahead, he told correspondents in New York via video conference that it would take “a lot of resources” to rebuild and put the thriving economy back on its feet.

“I don't think there's any single soul on this island that was not affected by Hurricane Melissa", highlighted the resident coordinator.

‘Terrible tragedy’

UN World Food Programme (WFP) Director for the Caribbean Multi-Country Office, Brian Bogart, told UN News from the capital, Kingston: “This is a terrible tragedy and there is a real sense of urgency here on the ground. What we're really focused on now is trying to get food and logistics support to enable the entire humanitarian community to respond in coordination with the government”. 

Mr. Bogart said the agency’s primary focus is to deliver 2,000 emergency food boxes which are ready to be airlifted from Barbados as soon as the airport reopens, which would be enough to support 6,000 people for a week. 

As the leading logistical agency, WFP is also loading a vessel in Barbados from the Logistics Hub run alongside the CDEMA, with essentials – such as hygiene kits, shelter, generators – and other items from UN agencies and partners to support the humanitarian effort in Jamaica.

Hurricane barrels on

Early Wednesday morning, Hurricane Melissa crossed into Cuba, bringing 120 mph winds, heavy rain, and a warning of “life-threatening” storm surges, according to news reports. It’s due to move on to The Bahamas, followed by Bermuda.

The storm weakened to a category 2 reaching Cuba, but the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) there said Melissa would “remain a powerful hurricane when it moves across the Bahamas later today.”

The UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said the slow-moving storm was “yet another demonstration of climate science and why we must fight for a world at 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

Data from the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) shows Melissa ranks among the most intense storms to strike Cuba in recent decades, with maximum sustained winds near 138 mph (222 km/h) and two-day rainfall totals approaching 145 millimetres. 

On Wednesday, the UN allocated $4 million each to Haiti and Cuba from its Central Emergency Fund to help communities prepare for the storm and reduce its impact. 

According to news reports, at least 20  Haitians – including 10 children – died due to river flooding as Melissa barrelled across the region. 

UN working ‘hand in hand’ with authorities

Conveying his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his solidarity with the governments and communities affected by the hurricane. 

“Guided by Resident Coordinators on the ground, the UN is working hand in hand with authorities and humanitarian partners to assess needs, assist those impacted, and prepare in areas that may yet face the storm’s impact,” he said. 

UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock tweeted that for small island developing States “the climate crisis is a lived reality, and the cost of inaction is measured in lives and livelihoods. Adaptation isn’t optional, it’s survival. Solidarity must become sustained, scaled-up climate action.”

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/10/1166217

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World Food Day 2025: Building Sustainable Food Systems for All

Author : Shoba Suri

Expert Speak Health Express

Published on Oct 15, 2025

As FAO marks 80 years, World Food Day 2025 highlights the urgent need for inclusive, sustainable partnerships to end hunger and strengthen food security.

Image Source: Getty Images

On 16 October 2025, as the world observes World Food Day, organised by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the need to eliminate hunger and advance sustainable food systems becomes ever more urgent, especially as FAO marks 80 years of commitment to this mission. The theme for this year, "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future," highlights the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which fosters evidence-driven, country-led partnerships aimed at transforming agri-food systems and strengthening food security. Amid climate crises, conflicts, and economic instability, the theme highlights the urgent need for collective action in bringing together governments, farmers, businesses, and communities to build resilient, nutritious, and sustainable food systems.

Although the world produces enough food to nourish 8.2 billion people, 673 million individuals dealt with hunger at some point during 2024. Progress, however, remains uneven; Africa and Western Asia continue to face significant setbacks due to conflicts and extreme weather conditions. According to the World Food Programme, regions such as Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti are home to 1.9 million people facing catastrophic hunger. Worldwide, 733 million people suffer from undernourishment, while 2.8 billion are unable to afford a healthy diet due to rising prices and the increasing cost of living.

The theme for this year, "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future," highlights the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which fosters evidence-driven, country-led partnerships aimed at transforming agri-food systems and strengthening food security.

Agrifood systems, which provide livelihoods for 1 billion people, contribute a third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and are under increasing pressure from climate change, economic instability, and resource constraints. Climate change has already impacted crop yields in parts of South Asia, contributing to declines in productivity, shifts in planting and harvest dates, and increased vulnerability to pests and extreme weather, according to  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessments. The 2022 Ukraine crisis further exacerbated the situation, driving a 14 percent surge in food prices and pushing an additional 71 million people into poverty.

Sustainable practices offer a promising path toward transforming food systems. Regenerative agriculture, for instance, enhances soil health and biodiversity while improving yields and reducing emissions. However, building sustainable food systems depends on effective governance and collaboration across multiple stakeholders. A 2024 review of 34 governance models emphasised that participatory and hybrid approaches combining public-private partnerships with active community engagement tend to deliver more inclusive and durable outcomes than siloed strategies. Such “polycentric” governance arrangements strengthen adaptive resilience, enabling food systems to withstand shocks such as pandemics or floods more effectively.

A bibliometric analysis also reveals growing academic attention to sustainability and collaboration in food supply chains. A recent review of over 500 studies on sustainable food supply chains reported a marked post-2020 rise in research on collaboration, digital traceability, and circular economy strategies. Innovations such as blockchain technology are resulting in improved transparency and traceability, curbing food losses and waste. Additionally, circular models are increasingly repurposing agricultural by-products into animal feed or bioenergy. Yet, much of this research remains concentrated in high-income regions, although the Global South continues to bear nearly 80 percent of the global hunger burden.

“Polycentric” governance arrangements strengthen adaptive resilience, enabling food systems to withstand shocks such as pandemics or floods more effectively.

Recent interdisciplinary studies underscore the importance of systems-thinking approaches in fostering sustainable and equitable food systems. A 2025 study published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems advocates for using systems-thinking visualisations to map interconnections within food systems, identifying leverage points such as agroecological transitions that can enhance biodiversity and nutrition. Additionally, a meta-analysis, examining over 120 frameworks, found that collaborative indicators, such as partnership density, correlate with a 25 percent increase in sustainability scores. This highlights the significance of collaboration in achieving sustainable food systems. Furthermore, another study emphasises the role of co-creation in value-sharing partnerships, which have been shown to increase incomes through fair-trade premiums.

Together, these insights underscore that sustainable food systems require both scientific rigour and inclusive partnerships. This is a central principle of the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIH). A flagship global programme designed to accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems in ways that are inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable. The core aims are to eradicate poverty (Sustainable Development Goal 1), end hunger and malnutrition (SDG 2), reduce inequalities (SDG 10), and strengthen resilience to climate change. Launched in 2019, the HIH Initiative supports 80 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Its strength lies in the use of advanced geospatial analysis, socioeconomic data, and investment modelling to identify regions where agricultural interventions can have the highest impact on poverty and hunger reduction. Through its Investment Forums, the initiative mobilises public and private financing for food system transformation by promoting innovation in value chains, climate adaptation, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Across continents, HIH projects have helped smallholders diversify crops, enhance resilience to climate shocks, and integrate into fairer markets. In countries such as Peru, Ethiopia, and the Pacific Islands, HIH has enabled new investments that link small-scale producers, many being women and youth, to sustainable market opportunities while safeguarding biodiversity and reducing post-harvest losses.

Global evidence, literature, and experiences unite in a single message-collaborative efforts can halve hunger by 2030, advancing the vision of SDG 2.

The evidence and case studies underscore the essence of this year’s theme of hand-in-hand collaboration as key to building better foods and a better future for all. World Food Day 2025      serves as a clarion call for policymakers investing in inclusive initiatives to help consumers choose sustainable produce. Global evidence, literature, and experiences unite in a single message-collaborative efforts can halve hunger by 2030, advancing the vision of SDG.

https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/world-food-day-2025-building-sustainable-food-systems-for-all

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Учение заявили о расширении Южно-Атлантической магнитной аномалии

14.10.2025, 08:48

Область слабого магнитного поля Земли, известная как Южно-Атлантическая аномалия, резко выросла с 2014 года. За прошедшие годы ее площадь увеличилась до размера, равного половине территории континентальной Европы, сообщило Европейское космическое агентство (ЕКА).

Слабое магнитное поле Южно-Атлантической аномалии было впервые обнаружено еще в XIX веке к юго-востоку от Южной Америки. Сегодня эта аномалия является важным фактором при обеспечении космической безопасности, поскольку пролетающие над этим регионом спутники подвергаются повышенным дозам радиации. Это может привести к сбоям в работе, повреждению критически важного оборудования и даже к отключению электроэнергии, поясняет ЕКА.

«Южно-Атлантическая аномалия — это не просто единый блок. Она меняется иначе по направлению к Африке, чем вблизи Южной Америки. В этом регионе происходит нечто особенное, что приводит к более интенсивному ослаблению поля»,— заявил Крис Финли, профессор геомагнетизма в Датском техническом университете. Он считает, что такое поведение аномалии связано со странными закономерностями в магнитном поле на границе между внешним ядром Земли и ее мантией.

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https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8119494

Екатеринбург готов принять ЭКСПО в 2025 году

Фото Службы новостей ООН/ А.Успенский



Делегация России провела в ООН презентацию заявки на проведение ЭКСПО-2025 в Екатеринбурге


28 сентября 2018


Культура и образование


Екатеринбург и Баку оказались конкурентами в борьбе за проведение международной выставки ЭКСПО. Россияне на 99 процентов уверены, что победят. Поддержать екатеринбуржцев на презентацию в ООН пришел министр иностранных дел России Сергей Лавров. А председатель заявочного комитета «ЭКСПО – 2025» Александр Чернов рассказал Елене Вапничной о том, что дает ему уверенность в успехе.


ЕВ: Почему Екатеринбург?

АЧ: Набор городов России велик, и определиться с кандидатом на ЭКСПО от нашей страны было не так просто. Есть блестящая Москва, есть изумительно красивый Петербург, есть восхитительная Казань…

ЕВ: И замечательный Нижний Новгород, в котором проходили игры чемпионата мира по футболу…

Да, прекрасный ярмарочный город. И в Екатеринбурге тоже были игры Чемпионата.

Кстати, в последнем отборочном туре «финальный забег» проходил как раз между Екатеринбургом и Нижним Новгородом. В пользу «Еката» сыграло то, что он уже прежде выдвигался на эту позицию. То есть существует команда, отношения, а главное – возможность показать, тем, кто голосует, что город этого хочет. А мы действительно хотим поместить себя на мировую выставочную карту.

ЕВ: Как я понимаю, в России никогда ЭКСПО не проводились. У каждого ЭКСПО своя тема. Какую тему предлагаете вы?

АЧ: Тема у нас «Инновации и развитие для будущих поколений». Эта тема достаточно общая, с одной стороны, а с другой – позволяет всем «выплеснуть» в свои павильоны, в свои решения, в свои предложения, в свое продвижение максимум наработок – научных, культурных, общественных, социальных – которые присущи той или иной стране. Это же выставка всех стран мира. То есть нет такой темы, которая не могла бы стать элементом обсуждения и решения в рамках этого заявленного слогана.

ЕВ: Мы еще не знаем решения… С кем вы, кстати, конкурируете?

АЧ: Очень некстати мы конкурируем с очень сильными претендентами, которых мы очень уважаем, с которыми мы дружим. Это Осака – японский город – я там был: красивый, динамичный, молодой. Но Япония уже пять раз проводила ЭКСПО. И Баку – сумасшедше красивый город, куда хочется возвращаться. И та борьба, которую нам навязывает Азербайджан, заставляет меня уважать их еще больше. Молодцы.

ЕВ: То есть Вам нужно противопоставить что-то такое уникальное, ради чего всем захотелось бы приехать в Россию, и я понимаю, планы уже какие-то есть. Немного можете рассказать? Там что-то интересное у Вас происходит.

АЧ: Во-первых, сам город. Это подарок Петра I своей жене Екатерине. Мало где в мире, наверное, могут похвастаться такими подарками. Во-вторых, конечно, сама история России – необъятна, восхитительна, глубока, многомерна. В-третьих, наша приверженность ценностям ЭКСПО. Мы участвовали в самой первой выставке в 1851 году в Лондоне, когда половины стран, которые сейчас конкурируют и голосуют, не существовало, а вторая половина не являлась членами этого движения. Мы уже были его приверженцами. На нашем «боевом счету» – участие в выставках в Париже, когда был представлен шедевр Веры Мухиной [скульптура «Рабочий и колхозница»], но мало кто знает, что еще один шедевр является подарком России движению ЭКСПО – это мост Александра III в Париже. Это был наш подарок Парижской выставке 1900 года, под понятием «наш подарок» я имею в виду, Россию.

Но есть у нас один очень хороший аргумент – это Чемпионат мира по футболу, который прошел в России. И всех, с кем я встречаюсь сейчас, я спрашиваю: «Вам надо рассказывать, что мы умеем проводить большие мероприятия?» «Нет, не надо, мы не могли оторваться, мы знаем - мой друг приехал, моя жена там была, мой брат, мой сын и так далее». Это бронебойный аргумент, которым, конечно, успешно надо воспользоваться, и мы надеемся, что у нас это получится. Тем более, что в «Екате» проходили матчи чемпионата мира по футболу, и французы, японцы, и сенегальцы, и мексиканцы знают, что такое Екатеринбург с его гостеприимством и умением принимать гостей.

ЕВ: Успехов!

АЧ: Спасибо большое.

Фото Службы новостей ООН/ М.Баранюк
Александр Чернов рассказал в ООН о заявке Екатеринбурга на проведение в городе выставки ЭКСПО в 2025 году



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UN ‘high seas’ treaty clears ratification threshold, to enter into force in January

© Ocean Image Bank/Hannes Klost

 

A sea lion swims past a starfish, highlighting the vibrant biodiversity of marine ecosystems.

   

By Vibhu Mishra

20 September 2025

 Climate and Environment

A landmark UN treaty to safeguard marine biodiversity on the high seas has now met the required 60 ratifications for entry into force, clearing the way for it to take effect in January 2026.

Morocco and Sierra Leone joined the list of States ratifying on Friday, becoming the 60th and 61st parties to the pact.

The treaty, formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement), was adopted by UN Member States in June 2023 after nearly two decades of negotiations.

A historic achievement

Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the development, calling it a “historic achievement for the ocean and for multilateralism.”

“In two years, States have turned commitment into action – proving what is possible when nations unite for the common good,” he said in a statement.

“As we confront the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, this agreement is a lifeline for the ocean and humanity.”

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The pact – also called the “high seas treaty” – covers two-thirds of the world’s ocean area that lies beyond national boundaries.

It establishes legally binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity, share benefits from marine genetic resources more fairly, create protected areas, and strengthen scientific cooperation and capacity building.

Foundation of our existence

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen also hailed the milestone.

“Our ocean is the foundation of our very existence. Today we took an important step forward to save our ocean, and to save our future,” she said in a post on social media.

Safeguarding humanity’s future

The BBNJ agreement builds on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, regarded as the “constitution for the oceans.”

Once the high seas treaty enters into force on 17 January 2026, it will provide a global framework to help achieve international biodiversity targets, including the pledge to protect 30 per cent of land and sea areas by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Mr. Guterres urged all remaining UN Member States to join the treaty without delay and called on partners to support its swift and full implementation.

“The ocean’s health is humanity’s health,” he said.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165901

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Healing the ozone layer: ‘Guided by science, united in action’

© Unsplash/Jerry Zhang

 

The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun.

   

16 September 2025

 Climate and Environment

Every year on 16 September, the UN celebrates the international community’s success in healing the ozone layer and brings attention to what more can be done to protect the planet.

Last century, scientists confirmed the alarming reality of a significant depletion in the ozone layer – an invisible shield of gas which surrounds the earth and protects it from the sun’s UV rays.

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The collection of ozone-depleting substances included CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, which in the mid-1980s were commonly found in everyday products such as air conditioners, fridges and aerosol cans.

Science led to global action. Realising that harmful UV radiation was entering the atmosphere through what was potentially a damaged ozone layer, countries made a commitment under the Vienna Convention in 1985, to do what was needed for the protection of the people and the planet.

“The Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol became a landmark of multilateral success,” said the UN Secretary General António Guterres in a message for this year’s World Ozone Day.

“Today, the ozone layer is healing,” he said.

What is the Vienna Convention?

Forty years ago, countries came together to take the first step in protecting the ozone layer, “guided by science, united in action,” the UN chief continued.

The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, adopted and signed by 28 countries on 22 March 1985, formalised universal cooperation over the protection of the fragile ozone layer.

It is the first treaty to be signed by every country in the world and the precursor to the Montreal Protocol.

The objective of the Montreal Protocol is to monitor the global production and consumption of substances that deplete the ozone layer – and eventually eliminate them.

Multilateralism at its best

In a video message, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighted that through action under the conventions “ozone depleting substances have now been virtually eradicated and the hole in ozone layer is closing.”

After scientists sounded the alarm, countries, nations, and businesses came together and took action for the planet.

“That is multilateralism at its very, very best,” she added.

The Montreal Protocol has been progressing well in both developed and developing countries with most phase-out schedules – the time given for each country to gradually stop the production of harmful substances – adhered to or even surpassed.

“This achievement reminds us that when nations heed the warnings of science, progress is possible,” remarked Mr. Guterres.

Next in line, the Kigali Amendment

In his message, Mr. Guterres urged governments to ratify and implement the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which commits to phase down, or reduce, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), greenhouse gases used mainly in cooling technologies.

“Implementing the Kigali Amendment could avoid up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of the century,” he said. “Paired with energy-efficient cooling, we could double these gains.”

As outlined in the Paris Agreement, countries have agreed to try and limit the rise of global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“On this World Ozone Day, let’s recommit to preserving our ozone layer and to protecting people and planet for generations to come,” the UN chief said. 

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https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165861

Monsoon floods kill more than 700 in Pakistan, with heavy rains set to continue

© UNICEF/Vlad Sokhin

 

Children wade through a flooded canal in Pakistan, where this year’s monsoon rains have left many families without homes, safe water or schooling. (file photo)

   

By Vibhu Mishra

21 August 2025

 Climate and Environment

Heavy monsoon rains and flash floods have killed at least 739 people across Pakistan since late June, displacing thousands and destroying homes and crops, with more severe weather expected in the weeks ahead, according to UN agencies and national authorities. 

 

The National Disaster Management Authority has also reported 978 injuries and the destruction or damage of more than 2,400 houses, while over 1,000 livestock have been lost as of Thursday, 21 August.

Severe weather is forecast to continue into early September, raising the risk of further flooding, landslides and crop losses, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hit hardest

The northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has borne the brunt of the disaster. 

Authorities declared a state of emergency in nine districts, including Buner, Shangla and Mansehra, after torrential rains between 15 and 19 August left 368 people dead, 182 injured and damaged more than 1,300 homes. Nearly 100 schools were also destroyed.

The international charity CARE said its teams found widespread devastation in Buner, where families reported homes and livelihoods swept away within minutes by torrents of floodwater carrying boulders and debris.

Children most affected

The toll on children has been particularly severe, with displacement, loss of schooling and limited access to safe water putting their health and well-being at grave risk. 

According to the UN Children’s Fund (UNJCEF), at least 21 children were among those killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 15 August.

Many schools have been destroyed or are now being used as temporary shelters, further restricting access to education and safe spaces.

Urban flooding in Karachi

In Sindh province, heavy rains on 19 August triggered urban flooding in Karachi – Pakistan’s largest city – where at least six people were killed in wall collapses and electrocutions. Rainfall reached up to 145 millimetres (about 5.75 inches) in parts of the city, inundating roads and leaving many neighbourhoods without power for hours.

The province of Punjab also suffered extensive flooding along the Indus and Chenab rivers, which has displaced more than 2,300 families and damaged cash crops across thousands of acres.

Scaling up support

Federal and provincial authorities are leading the response, having mobilized over 2,000 personnel for rescue and evacuation. In coordination with the UN and partners, they have dispatched key relief items, including food, tents and medical supplies to affected areas.

OCHA said it has deployed field coordinators to the hardest-hit districts and activated emergency mechanisms, including the release of funds from its regional humanitarian envelope for Pakistan – prioritising life-saving assistance in health, water, food security and shelter.

For its part, UNICEF has dispatched essential medicines and hygiene kits to affected districts. Each kit includes soap, water containers and other hygiene supplies to help prevent disease outbreaks.

Worrying trend

Pakistan has endured devastating monsoon seasons in recent years. In 2022, unprecedented floods killed more than 1,700 people, displaced millions, and caused an estimated $40 billion in economic losses.

Erratic and intensified rainfall patterns, amplified by climate change, are compounding the country’s vulnerability, threatening lives, livelihoods and long-term recovery across southern Asia. 

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/08/1165699

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