UNAIDS [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/

.
19 April 201
UNAIDS urges countries to move towards a public health and human rights approach to people who use drugs
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 19 April 2016—UNAIDS welcomes the United Nations General Assembly’s call for Member States to consider effective public health measures to improve outcomes for people who use drugs and urges countries to implement programmes that reduce the impact of the harms associated with drug use.

The outcome document adopted by Member States at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem, being held in New York, United States of America, calls on countries to consider measures such as appropriate medication-assisted therapy, injecting equipment programmes and antiretroviral therapy to prevent the transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis and other bloodborne viruses.

The outcome document also underlines the need for the full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people who use drugs, including a fair trial and proportionate sentencing for people arrested for or convicted of drugs offences. It encourages countries to consider alternatives to punishment.

“The world has taken a step towards a more rational and compassionate approach to people who inject drugs,” said the UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé. “Countries can only reverse their HIV epidemics by implementing policies and programmes that are proved to work and put people first, including people who use drugs.”…

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html

.
Apr 22, 2016
Helen Clark: Statement on the signing of the Paris Agreement
.
Russia pledges $10 million to help mitigate climate impact in Europe and CIS region and beyond
Apr 22, 2016
The Government of Russia will be making a $10 million contribution towards UNDP programmes which support efforts to mitigate and prevent the negative effects of climate change in developing countries.
.
Major Agreement between CAFI and the DRC sets best practices to prevent tree loss and ensure sustainable development
Apr 22, 2016
The Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) and the Minister of Finance of the DR Congo today signed a letter of intent (LOI) for 200 million US dollars to address deforestation and forest degradation in the country and to promote sustainable development.
.
Ecuador: UNDP opens new office in the coast to boost recovery in earthquake-affected areas
Apr 22, 2016
UNDP has opened a special recovery office in the Ecuadorean city of Manta to immediately initiate reconstruction in the most quake-affected areas.
.
To Meet Global Climate Change Targets, Experts Say Greater Focus Needed on Forests and their Guardians
Apr 21, 2016
Expanding land rights for indigenous peoples can play a key role in protecting tropical forests and slowing global climate change and must be included in international efforts to do so, leading scientists, environmental researchers and celebrity advocates said today.
.
Helen Clark: Speech at High-Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Apr 21, 2016 United Nations – New York, USA
.
UNDP launches new online donations platform to support earthquake recovery efforts in Ecuador
Apr 20, 2016
UNDP has launched a new online and mobile platform to gather international donations for the earthquake relief in Ecuador.
.
Helen Clark: Keynote speech at ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development
Apr 18, 2016 Trusteeship Council, United Nations – New York, USA

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/?doctypeID=1

.
21/04/2016
UN Credits Used to Make Paris Agreement Signing Climate Neutral
Everyone Can Go Climate Neutral Now

.
Ahead of UNEA-2: Paris Signing Marks Critical Next Step to Sustainable Future
Climate and Sustainability – A Shared Vision of Opportunity for Billions of People
20/04/2016

.
UNEP Report Provides Roadmap for Solar Energy Exports from Ghana
West African country to earn $38 million, create 3,000 jobs and save 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions with exports from a 100 MW of solar power plant
20/04/2016

.
Gearing up for UNEA- 2, African Ministers Pledge Accelerated Action on Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Illegal Trade in Wildlife
Decisions taken at African Ministerial Conference on the Environment set stage for brighter future for continent
19/04/2016

UNISDR UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.unisdr.org/archive

.
22 Apr 2016
Southern African countries set to track disaster losses
Six southern African countries have taken a key step in their efforts to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, a 15-year global agreement to curb the impact of natural and man-made hazards, by starting a programme to harness data.
21 Apr 2016

.
Paris Agreement must deliver long-term climate stability
UNISDR chief, Mr. Robert Glasser, calls on signatories to the Paris Agreement on climate to go beyond their existing commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if the world is to avoid catastrophic future weather events.

UN DESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs [to 23 April 2016]
https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news.html

.
21 April 2016, New York
At UN, Forest Whitaker calls on leaders to ensure benefits of global goals ‘touch everyone’
Peacebuilding advocate and Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker addressed world leaders today at the United Nations, asking them to ensure that the benefits of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can touch everyone worldwide.

.
21 April 2016, New York
UN urges action on sustainable development to create pathways for global ‘transformation’
The President of the United Nations General Assembly today called on the international community to take action on the new UN sustainable development agenda in order to begin a transformation for the benefit of all people and the planet, or risk failure that will be felt for generations to come.

UNESCO [to 23 April 2016]
http://en.unesco.org/news
Selected Press Releases/News

.
22 April 2016
Revitalizing regional cooperation in ocean science, governance and climate change in the Indian Ocean
In an effort to revitalize Member States cooperation in ocean science, governance and climate change in the Central Indian Ocean, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO is holding the Fifth Session of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO-V) in Chennai, India, from 25 to 27 April 2016.

Responsible for the coordination and implementation of IOC programmes in the Central Indian Ocean, IOCINDIO has not met officially since its Fourth Session held in December 2005, although several informal regional consultations have taken place in the past few years.

Upon the kind invitation of the Government of India, the Committee meeting comes right at a time of strong interest in the revitalization of this regional body, especially as a number of international initiatives in the Central Indian Ocean region brings together great opportunities for a reinforced engagement of IOCINDIO Member States. In particular, the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (2015-2020), the Decade of African Seas and Oceans (2015-2025), and a significant number of IOC-related programmes and activities including tsunami warning systems; the Global Sea Level Observing System; the Global Ocean Observing System and its Indian Ocean Observing System; the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange; integrated coastal area management; and the recently adopted IOC Capacity Development Strategy…

.
22 April 2016
UNESCO-China project advances ICT in teacher training in 10 African countries
China announced an extra USD4 million in funds to advance the UNESCO-China-Funds-in-Trust (CFIT) Information and Communication Technology in teacher training project, at a meeting at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris on April 19-20, 2016.

The meeting, “Harnessing Technology for Quality Teacher Training in Africa”, addressed the achievements and lessons learned in the first three project countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, and Namibia, reviewed progress in Congo, DR Congo, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda, and announced two new beneficiary countries, Togo and Zambia…

.
19 April 2016
New education partnerships to support young Syrians hit by conflict and crisis

UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/allpress.html?ref=fp
.
22/04/2016 –
UNODC Chief: UNGASS momentum can drive progress in addressing world drug problem
[See Week in Review above for more detail]

.
20/04/2016 –
Mekong countries promote regional drug strategy at UN General Assembly

.
19/04/2016 –
New campaign on science-based drug prevention launched at UN General Assembly Special Session
[See Week in Review above for more details]

.
19/04/2016 –
Global drug policies must put people first, says UNODC chief at General Assembly special session on world drug problem

.
18/04/2016 –
NGOs vital partner in work on the ground to address drug challenges, says UNODC chief ahead of UN General Assembly special session

FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2016/en/

.
22-04-2016
To fight climate change, invest in agriculture
In addition to reducing poverty and hunger, agriculture can play a crucial role in making the response to climate change responsible and more effective, Maria-Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General for Natural Resources said today.

.
On Earth Day, FAO Director-General stresses need to protect ecosystems
Faced with rising levels of hunger in mountainous regions across the developing world, FAO today launched a special funding-and-planning mechanism to ensure sustainable development and food security in highland regions, home to some 329 million people at high risk for hunger.
22-04-2016

.
New technologies boost efforts to cut down on environmentally harmful “ghost fishing”
Modern technologies that make it easier to recover lost fishing gear are giving a boost to efforts to reduce so-called “ghost fishing” and its harmful impacts on fish stocks and endangered species.
21-04-2016

.
Pulses are praised for health, ecological and economic benefits
The event “Soils and pulses: Symbiosis for life” was sponsored by Italy’s permanent representation to FAO and led by Ambassador Pierfrancesco Sacco, along with Bioversity International and FAO, drawing a strong link between the International Year of Pulses and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
19-04-2016

.
Agriculture is key to achieving lasting peace in Central African Republic
President Touadera, who took office last month, has made boosting agriculture and the rural economy one of his policy priorities. The President warmly thanked FAO for its continuous support during the crisis and acknowledged the current programmes and projects being implemented by the Organization in his country.
18-04-2016

ILO International Labour Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/lang–en/index.htm

.
Paris Agreement on climate change
Accelerated action on climate change receives overwhelming global support
22 April 2016
The far-reaching Paris Agreement on climate change was signed at the United Nations by 175 countries ushering in an era of unprecedented action to protect the environment, slash greenhouse gas emissions and ensure a just transition to a low-carbon economy.

.

Russian Federation Health and Safety Week
ILO calls for strengthened investment in workers’ safety and health
20 April 2016
The International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights the need to scale up prevention to ensure a safe and healthy workplace and fight the HIV epidemic.

IMO International Maritime Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/Home.aspx

.
22/04/2016
IMO takes further action on climate change
Organization agrees mandatory system for collecting ships’ fuel consumption data.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved mandatory requirements for ships to record and report their fuel consumption, in a move that sends a clear and positive signal about the Organization’s continuing commitment to climate change mitigation.

The mandatory data collection system is intended to be the first in a three-step process in which analysis of the data collected would provide the basis for an objective, transparent and inclusive policy debate in the MEPC. This would allow a decision to be made on whether any further measures are needed to enhance energy efficiency and address greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. If so, proposed policy options would then be considered…

WMO World Meteorological Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://public.wmo.int/en/search?sort_by=changed&f[0]=type%3Anews

.
Publish Date: 21 April 2016
Climate Change Sets New Records
Press Release
Planet sends powerful message on Paris Agreement
A prolonged run of record global temperatures and extreme weather, the rapid melting of Arctic ice, and widespread bleaching of ocean coral reefs underline the urgent need to sign and implement the Paris Agreement on climate change, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said that 2016 has so far overshadowed even the record-breaking year of 2015. “The magnitude of the changes has been a surprise even for veteran climate scientists…

.
Development Partners Discuss Hydromet Service Investment
News
Publish Date: 19 April 2016
More investment in under-funded hydrometeorological services is urgently needed in the face of growing exposure to weather and water related hazards which are being compounded by climate change, urbanization and population increase. To address the widening service delivery gap, the World Meteorological Organization and the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) convened a development partners roundtable from 13 to 14 April.

.
Sand and Dust Forecasts Shared with Africa
News
Publish Date: 18 April 2016
The Barcelona Dust Forecast Center has reached an agreement with the African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) to share the numerical output of its dust prediction models. The Barcelona Dust Forecast Center is WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for atmospheric sand and dust forecasts for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. It is hosted by Spain’s State Meteorological agency (AEMET) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. It issues daily forecasts which are freely available on its website.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.iso.org/iso/home/news_index.htm

.
21 April 2016
Vape and vapour products make their debut in international standardization
by Sandrine Tranchard on 21 April 2016
Vape and vapour products represent a technical and economic novelty. The electronic cigarette devices and their consumables called e-liquids are recognized as a genuinely disruptive innovation, having reached mass markets in many countries in just a few years. The use of electronic cigarettes has rapidly become popular around the world, especially in North America and Europe.

The vaping industry is at the heart of a new economic sector that spans the manufacturing, production and retailing of both devices and e-liquids. A new field of technical activity dedicated to vape and vapour products aims to address the emerging standardization needs in that sector. To this end, a new ISO subcommittee, ISO/TC 126, Tobacco and tobacco products, SC 3, Vape and vapour products, has been created and will hold its first meeting in the week of 24 October 2016 in Osaka, Japan.

UNWTO World Tourism Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://media.unwto.org/news

.
20 April 2016
African tourism ministers convene in Côte d’Ivoire
Over three days (19-21 April) high-level tourism representatives from African countries, including 18 tourism ministers1, are convening in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to discuss the challenges of the sector and the priorities for the programme of work of UNWTO in the African continent. The event is held in parallel with the Sustainable Tourism Conference of the 10 YFP, focused on ‘Accelerating the Shift towards Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns’.

WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/

.
April 20 – 22, 2016 (Geneva, Switzerland)
Conference on the Global Digital Content Market Opens at WIPO
WIPO Director General Francis Gurry today opened the WIPO Conference on the Global Digital Content Market, outlining the rising stakes for creators and consumers as new technologies create mass audiences but disrupt business models.
Apr 21, 2016 PR/2016/790
Meeting documents

CBD Convention on Biological Diversity [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.cbd.int/press-releases/

.
2016-04-22
European Union implementation of Nagoya Protocol bolstered by recent ratification of Germany
Germany is the latest country to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, bringing the total number of ratifications to 74. This includes 73 countries and the European Union (EU), which ratified the Protocol in May 2014.

.
2016-04-21
International biodiversity meeting to evaluate progress at the half-way point of the UN Decade on Biodiversity
One of the main bodies under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB) is set to meet next week to discuss issues that will accelerate progress in implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and achieving its Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

USAID [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases

.
April 19, 2016
U.S. Government Responds to Ecuador Earthquake
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a team of disaster experts to respond to humanitarian needs in Ecuador stemming from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on April 16 in the northern part of the country, killing approximately 400 people and injuring more than 2,600 others. These numbers are expected to increase as new information becomes available.

ECHO [to 23 April 2016]
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/en/news

.
22/04/2016
EU helps channel more support to Ecuador following earthquake
More EU support is being provided to help Ecuador in the aftermath of the recent earthquake, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Several EU countries are offering various kinds of support..

.
Syrian refugees in Turkey: €50 million released for humanitarian assistance
20/04/2016
The European Commission has announced new funding worth €50 million to support humanitarian projects addressing the immediate needs of Syrian refugees in Turkey.

.
EU provides €83 million to improve conditions for refugees in Greece
19/04/2016
Today the European Commission announces €83 million under the new ‘Emergency Assistance Instrument’, proposed by the Commission on 2 March, to improve living conditions for refugees in Greece, with funding made available immediately to the UN…

.
EU releases €1 million in humanitarian aid to support victims of earthquake in Ecuador
18/04/2016
Following the deadly earthquake on Saturday evening, which caused multiple casualties and left many injured in Ecuador, the Commission has taken immediate steps to provide coordinated European support to the relief efforts.

European Commission [to 23 April 2016]
http://europa.eu/rapid/search-result.htm?query=18&locale=en&page=1
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives]

.
EU Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete at the UN Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement New York
Date: 22/04/2016

.
Managing the Refugee Crisis: Commission reports on implementation of EU-Turkey Statement
Date: 20/04/2016
[See Week in Review above for more detail]

.
Implementing the EU-Turkey Agreement – Questions and Answers
Date: 20/04/2016
European Commission – Fact Sheet Brussels, 20 April 2016 Implementing the EU-Turkey Agreement – Questions and Answers On 18 March 2016, EU Heads of State or Government and Turkey agreed to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU and replace it instead with legal channels of resettlement…

.
Facility for Refugees in Turkey: Commission delivers an additional €110 million under the implementation of EU-Turkey agreement
Date: 19/04/2016

.
EU provides €83 million to improve conditions for refugees in Greece
Date: 19/04/2016
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 19 April 2016 EU humanitarian partners receive new emergency support funding in Greece
Today the European Commission announces €83 million under the new Emergency Assistance Instrument, proposed by the Commission on 2 March, to improve living conditions for refugees…

.
Questions and answers: First projects of EU support to refugees in Greece under the new emergency support instrument
Date: 19/04/2016

.
EU supports Ecuador following deadly earthquake
Date: 18/04/2016

.
New measures approved to improve stability and tackle the root causes of irregular migration
Date: 18/04/2016
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 18 April 2016 The European Commission today announced the introduction of 20 new measures in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin, worth over EUR 280 million in total. The European Commission today announced the adoption of 20 new measures to assist the Sahel…

.
Description of the new measures adopted to tackle the root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin
Date: 18/04/2016
European Commission – Fact Sheet Brussels, 18 April 2016 The European Commission today announced the introduction of 20 new measures in the Sahel region and the Lake Chad basin, worth more than EUR 280 million in total. Summary of measures to be adopted immediately At regional level Measures at regional…

OECD [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/publicationsdocuments/bydate/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

.
18-April-2016
Global trade in fake goods worth nearly half a trillion dollars a year – OECD & EUIPO
Imports of counterfeit and pirated goods are worth nearly half a trillion dollars a year, or around 2.5% of global imports, with US, Italian and French brands the hardest hit and many of the proceeds going to organised crime, according to a new report by the OECD and the EU’s Intellectual Property Office.