The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
On the eve of the UN Climate Change negotiations in Glasgow, COP26, the heads of ten international organizations issued today a united and urgent call to governments to prioritize integrated water and climate action given the all-pervasive impacts on sustainable development.
“This letter also appeals for urgent and accelerated action to address the water-related consequences of climate change,” said World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) spokesperson Clare Nullis at a media briefing in Geneva.
The letter urges governments to address more effectively the water dimensions of climate change adaptation and mitigation, as provided for in a UN-agreed framework to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all).
It was signed by the heads of WMO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN University (UNU), the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP).
Reading the letter, Ms Nullis said that “climate change is dramatically affecting the water cycle, making droughts and floods more extreme and frequent and decreasing the natural water storage in ice and snow. Rising temperature and variability in flow patterns of water bodies also strongly affect water quality in surface and groundwater.”
“Changing precipitation patterns are already impacting agriculture, food systems, and livelihoods are becoming increasingly vulnerable, as well as ecosystems, and biodiversity. Rising sea levels threaten communities, infrastructure, coastal environments and aquifers,” she continued.
According to a recent UNICEF report on the impact of climate change on children, over one third of the world’s children (920 million) are currently severely exposed to water scarcity.
In addition, the UN World Water development Report 2020 emphasizes that water is the “climate connector”, allowing for greater collaboration and coordination in policy-making across the majority of targets for climate change (Paris Agreement), sustainable development (2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals ), and disaster risk reduction (Sendai Framework).
— ends —
STORY: COP 26 – Call for Water and Climate Action
TRT: 1’24’’
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 29 Oct 2021, GENEVA, Switzerland
SHOTLIST
- Exterior wide shot, United Nations flags flying.
- Medium shot, inside the press conference room (B-128), showing speakers and participants.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Clare Nullis, Media Officer, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “This letter also appeals for urgent and accelerated action to address the water-related consequences of climate change.”
- Medium shot, journalists seated and masked taking notes of the briefing.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Clare Nullis, Media Officer, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Climate change is dramatically affecting the water cycle. It’s making droughts and floods more extreme and frequent and decreasing the natural water storage in ice and snow. Rising temperature and variability in flow patterns and water bodies also strongly effect water quality in surface and ground waters.”
- Close shot, journalist seated and masked in foreground, large-screen TV showing Mrs. Nullis to rear.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Clare Nullis, Media Officer, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Changing precipitation patterns are already impacting agriculture, food systems and livelihoods are becoming increasingly vulnerable as well as ecosystems and biodiversity.
Rising sea levels threaten communities, infrastructure, coastal environments and aquifers.”
- Close shot, a journalist taking notes during the press conference.
- Medium shot, participants inside the B-128 room attending the meeting.
- Close-up: a technician supervising the briefing on Zoom.
- Medium shot, inside the press conference room, showing speakers and participants.
- Close shot, journalist seated and masked listening to the briefing.
- Medium shot, participants to the briefing, masked, taking notes.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Human rights are underfunded, under attack and undermined worldwide, but activism is still powerful, undeterred and mobilising, says UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Human Rights Day press conference
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
Gaza newborns ‘scarred by war before first breath’ by preventable maternal malnutrition: UNICEF
Starving mothers in Gaza are giving birth to underweight or premature babies who die in intensive care units or struggle to survive as they endure acute malnutrition, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango delivered the following remarks on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
The humanitarian situation in northern Mozambique continues to deteriorate sharply as prolonged attacks by non-State armed groups in Nampula trigger one of the largest displacement surges of the year, the UN warned on Friday.
1
1
Edited News | UNMAS
The deadly legacy of conflicts old and new from Gaza to Sudan and beyond continues to kill and maim civilians on a near-daily basis, mine action workers said on Wednesday, as they appealed for greater support for their lifesaving work in a context of deep funding cuts.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO , UNICEF
Asia: Lives upended in cyclone disasters, ‘extreme’ rainfall on the rise - UN agencies
Across southeast Asia, record-breaking rains and flooding caused by back-to-back tropical storms have claimed hundreds of lives and brought devastation and displacement upon entire communities, UN agencies said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press briefing in the Geneva on Friday the UN Human Rights Office raised grave concerns about the recent constitutional amendments adopted in Pakistan.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, UN Human Rights Spokesperson made the following comment on the most recent killings in the occupied West Bank yesterday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press briefing in the Geneva on Friday the UN Human Rights Office raised concerns about the military-controlled election in Myanmar, which starts next month and will be conducted in an atmosphere rife with threats and violence putting the lives of civilians at risk.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | UNAIDS
World AIDS Day 2025: Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response
1
1
1
Edited News | UN WOMEN
Gaza women are ‘last line of protection’ for their families amid attacks, hunger and harsh winter – UN Women
Women in Gaza are ensuring their families’ survival “with nothing but courage and exhausted hands” while violence continues and essentials remain in short supply, the UN’s gender equality agency warned on Tuesday.