Events

The thematic priorities for UNFF18 and UNFF19 are: (i) Enhancing forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits; (ii) Increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests, as well as the proportion of forest products from sustainably managed forests; and (iii) mobilizing financial resources and strengthening scientific and technical cooperation; promoting governance frameworks to advance implementation; and enhancing cooperation, coordination and coherence, for sustainable forest management.

This unique region, where argan trees have been cultivated for centuries combines agricultural biodiversity, resilient ecosystems and valuable cultural heritage. For that reason, it has gotten recognition and protection from various UN entities.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated in 1988 the endemic production area as the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve. Also, all know-how concerning the argan tree was inscribed in 2014 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Moreover, in December 2018, FAO recognized the Argan-based agro-sylvo-pastoral system within the area of Ait Souab – Ait Mansour in Morocco as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.

And lastly, in 2021, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 10 May the International Day of Argania. The resolution, submitted by Morocco, was co-sponsored by 113 member states of the United Nations and adopted by consensus.

The upcoming World Migratory Bird Day campaign in 2024 will focus on the importance of insects for migratory birds, and highlight concerns related to decreasing populations of insects.

Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys and greatly affect the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations.

Along their migration routes, birds actively seek out insects in fields, forests, wetlands, and various habitats during stopovers. The timing of bird migration often coincides with peak insect abundance at stopover locations, supplying nourishment for birds to replenish their energy reserves before continuing their journeys.

The World Migratory Bird Day campaign in 2024 will stress the need for proactive conservation measures. This includes reducing the use of pesticides and fertilisers, and where possible, switching to organic farming. Other measures include maintaining and connecting areas of natural vegetation which provide food and shelter for birds and other species, in agricultural landscapes.

In 2024, World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated on two days, 11 May and 12 October, aligning with the cyclic nature of bird migration in different hemispheres.

Mark your calendars for a marathon conference that’s set to redefine how businesses approach climate responsibility. Introducing the 24H NCS Summit — completely free & designed to equip businesses worldwide with knowledge about using nature-based Carbon Credits with integrity.

This isn’t your typical environmental conference. It’s a strategic opportunity for businesses to explore how integrating NCS into their climate strategy can drive innovation, enhance reputation & mitigate climate risks.

Hosted through the NCS Procurement Hub, this event is your roadmap to navigating the landscape of nature-based carbon credits and learning how your business can complement decarbonization efforts and create positive social and environmental impact.

The NCS Summit and the NCS Procurement Hub is supported by the Natural Climate Solutions Alliance as part of the efforts to mobilize high-integrity demand for high-quality NCS.

Regenerating nature

Climate action

Supply chain risk and resilience

AgTech and innovation

The International Day of Light celebrates the role light plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. The celebration will allow many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrates how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – building the foundation for peaceful societies.

Environmental Finance is pleased to announce that out annual Natural Capital Investment Americas conference will take place on 16 May in New York.

Nature and biodiversity are finally being given their rightful place as an integral part of sustainable finance – and hopefully of finance more broadly.

Join to discuss the key issues involved with natural capital investment approaches, regulation and policy, data gaps and more.

Every year on the third Friday in May, thousands of people around the world participate in Endangered Species Day by celebrating, learning about, and taking action to protect threatened and endangered species. This global day of action and celebration was created and founded by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition in 2006, and has continued ever since.

The 10th World Water Forum will take place in Bali, Indonesia from 18 to 24 May 2024. With the theme “Water for Shared Prosperity”. The 10th World Water Forum provides a unique platform where the water community and key decision makers can collaborate and make long term progress on global water challenges. By participating in the 10th World Water Forum you will contribute to responding to the challenges of water and sanitation of our time.

Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.

Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.

The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.

We all depend on pollinators and it is, therefore, crucial to monitor their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity.

This invite-only event is tailored to professional investors and Brazil’s top NbS business leaders, with a focus on the investment case for NbS within Brazil’s climate transition plan. The day will begin with macro opportunity and context setting sessions on the policy context, risk management, and catalytic finance led by leading experts in the field.

Following these sessions, will be featured presentations by 25+ nature-positive opportunities spanning funds, project developers, and enterprises across asset classes and solutions including agroforestry, the forest bioeconomy, regenerative agriculture, ecosystem restoration, restoration of degraded pastureland, sustainable livestock management, nature tech, and more.

Throughout the day you will have opportunities to forge in-person connections, catalyze dealmaking, and, on the third and final day, visit projects on-site, allowing attendees to experience the amazing work that these enterprises are doing on the ground firsthand. The complete agenda can be found HERE.

Biological diversity resources are the pillars upon which we build civilizations. Fish provide 20 per cent of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Over 80 per cent of the human diet is provided by plants. As many as 80 per cent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant‐based medicines for basic healthcare.

But loss of biodiversity threatens all, including our health. It has been proven that biodiversity loss could expand zoonoses – diseases transmitted from animals to humans- while, on the other hand, if we keep biodiversity intact, it offers excellent tools to fight against pandemics like those caused by coronaviruses.

While there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to future generations, the number of species is being significantly reduced by certain human activities. Given the importance of public education and awareness about this issue, the UN decided to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity annually.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are in the crossfires of multiple crises: climate change, the economic and social repercussions of COVID-19, and a crisis of debt. The pandemic hugely impacted all island nations, especially those dependent on tourism. Global lockdowns left large holes in islands’ coffers and severely set back efforts to invest in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Meanwhile, climate action is becoming increasingly urgent, as weather-related disasters have doubled in two decades: with island nations both most vulnerable and least responsible.

At this time of great peril, opportunity must be seized. In Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024, the international community will gather to review SIDS’ sustainable development progress and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to supercharge their path to resilient prosperity.

The 8th edition of the World Cities Summit sought to address this with its theme of “Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Emerging Stronger”. The Summit is a convening point for global mayors, business leaders and knowledge experts to exchange and co-create city solutions for liveable and sustainable cities, and engages cities, businesses and experts at the highest levels to discuss how cities can emerge stronger through prolonged and unpredictable disruptions.

Fisheries provide a vital source of food, employment, recreation, trade and economic well-being for people throughout the world. In a world of growing population and persistent hunger, fish has emerged as an important commodity for the achievement of food security. However, efforts by the international community to ensure the sustainability of fisheries are being seriously compromised by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities are responsible for the loss of 11–26 million tonnes of fish each year, which is estimated to have an economic value of US$10–23 billion. To curtail this impact, Target 4 of Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Agenda adopted in 2015 by the UN General Assembly, specifically urges the international community to “effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices”.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day 2024 with a focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Saudi Arabia announced today.

World Environment Day, marked annually on 5 June, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. Over the past five decades, the Day has grown to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. Tens of millions of people participate online and through in-person activities, events and actions around the world.

We currently face one of the greatest threats ever to our blue planet and all its inhabitants: the climate crisis. It is all too clear that we need a healthy ocean for a healthy climate, and vice versa, and we need significantly stronger local, national, and international action from both government and corporate leaders. Now.   

For 2024, The Ocean Project is launching a new multi-year action theme: Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate. By growing the movement through transformative collaboration, they aim to create not only a healthy blue planet, but also a more just, equitable and sustainable society.  

Together, they want to persuade national legislators and corporate leaders to follow through on their promises and all the big talk about doing the right thing, specifically:  

• make the best use of all existing climate solutions;  
• accelerate a just transition to clean and renewable energy;  
• stop fossil fuel extraction, including oil, gas and coal; 
• rapidly and equitably phase out its existing production including for single use plastics;
• collaborate with and amplify the voices of local leaders who are working to implement action within their communities; 
• protect and restore natural coastal and ocean ecosystems (and on land) by creating strongly protected areas covering at least 30% of our lands and waters by 2030;  and
• keep on creating more solutions at the local, national and international levels that are based on the best science

On January 1, 2024, Italy assumed, for the seventh time, the Presidency of the G7: the group that brings together Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The G7, in which the European Union also participates, is united by common values and principles and plays an invaluable role in defending freedom and democracy and addressing global challenges.

The Italian Presidency will last until December 31, 2024, and will feature a dense programme of technical meetings and institutional events throughout the country. The main event, the Leaders’ Summit, will be held on June 13-15 in Apulia.

Un­der the theme From Sci­ence to Ac­tion, the third World Bio­di­ver­si­ty Fo­rum  brings to­geth­er re­searchers across all dis­ci­plines of bio­di­ver­si­ty sci­ence with prac­ti­tion­ers and so­ci­etal ac­tors to ex­plore how to move from sci­ence to ac­tions and so­lu­tions to con­serve bio­di­ver­si­ty and set us on a path to­wards trans­for­ma­tion for sus­tain­abil­i­ty.

The third World Bio­di­ver­si­ty Fo­rum will be held as an in-per­son event, once again at the Con­gress Cen­tre in Davos, Switzer­land. The WBF will start with a day of work­shops, train­ing ses­sions and net­work­ing meet­ings on 16 June 2024 and end with ex­cur­sions in the beau­ti­ful sur­round­ings of Davos and its moun­tains on Fri­day, 21 June 2024.

Germany will host the next Desertification and Drought Day on 17 June 2024, which will also mark the 30^th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), one of the three Rio Conventions alongside climate and biodiversity.

Land is the foundation of human wellbeing and plays a key role in regulating the planet’s climate. Yet up to 40 per cent of the planet’s land is degraded, affecting nearly half of the world’s population. Since 2000, the number and duration of droughts has increased by 29 per cent, representing a severe risk to ecosystems and peoples’ livelihoods.

The 2024 Desertification and Drought Day will focus on the transformative power of healthy land for addressing today’s most pressing and interconnected challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food and water security—a blueprint for providing future generations with a healthy planet. The Day will amplify a renewed global commitment to sustainable land management and drought resilience in the run-up to UNCCD COP16, scheduled for 2-13 December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network working with more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, they influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. Every three years, the ICLEI World Congress showcases how local and regional governments across our network are advancing sustainable urban development worldwide.

The UN General Assembly adopted on 21 December 2016 its resolution A/RES/71/246 and designated 18 June as an international observance, Sustainable Gastronomy Day.

The decision acknowledges gastronomy as a cultural expression related to the natural and cultural diversity of the world.

As for the FAO, the Organization promotes green culture diets that are not only healthy, but sustainable and suggests that countries that already have dietary guidelines should begin to consider a process of incorporating sustainability into them.

Over three days and nine sessions, the hosts will bring together interdisciplinary researchers with practitioners and decision-makers from the public and private sectors, as well as Indigenous voices from around the world, to discuss and co-create an action plan for nature-based solutions to support positive social-environmental change. They will examine the evidence for the benefits of nature-based solutions beyond climate change mitigation, in particular for human and ecological health, climate change adaptation, humanitarian crises and food security, and tackle the role of adaptive management in resilience. Theywill also explore how to deal with uncertainty on the socio-ecological outcomes of nature-based solutions, and ensure that governance, markets and finance can act together in support of them, discussing, even, how we might transform the economy so that it enhances rather than weakens the web of life. Finally, they will explore how we can rekindle a soulful human connection with nature.

Founded in 2017 by Rainforest Partnership, World Rainforest Day celebrates the importance of healthy, standing rainforests for climate, biodiversity, culture, and livelihoods— and convenes a global movement to protect and restore them.

Celebrated annually on June 22, this day highlights rainforests and their critical role in safeguarding our future on this planet, showcases innovative and emerging solutions for their protection, and inspires individual and collective actions around the world for holistic forest impact.

London Climate Action Week (LCAW) harnesses the power of London for global climate action. The annual event brings together the city’s world-leading array of climate professionals and communities. Now in its sixth year, LCAW creates space for participants to come together and find global solutions to climate change.

This year’s programming will promote cooperation between key parts of the London climate ecosystem and improve the impact of London’s global climate action networks into the future.

LCAW 2024 will showcase London as the leading city of how the whole of society can together shape and drive climate action.

The IUFRO World Congress is one of the largest global forest events, held every five years since 1893. The congress gives a unique opportunity to gather worldwide leading scientists and top leaders to contribute and co-create for a sustainable future within forestry, climate and society – aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The IUFRO World Congress 2024 is a collaborative global network platform with great opportunity for knowledge sharing and getting access to the latest science and research. The outcome of the event will also set the future research agenda and roadmap for next generations, this time focusing on the congress theme Forests & Society Towards 2050.

The congress week gives the delegates great opportunity to discuss the important role of our forests. We offer arenas for innovations, forward-looking dialogues, and the foundations for collaborations.

The urgent need to shift global agriculture toward regenerative practices is clear, driven by the imperative to combat biodiversity loss and soil degradation.

Mexico, renowned for its biodiversity and widespread smallholder farming, offers a unique opportunity to implement tailored regenerative agricultural techniques. Leveraging indigenous knowledge and traditional methods, farmers across Latin America can adapt these practices to their local contexts while preserving cultural heritage.

However, challenges such as education, digitalization, and farmer skepticism must be addressed to enable this transition. Collaboration across the food system is crucial.

Enter the Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems Summit LATAM, a platform for industry leaders to collaborate, exchange ideas, and drive transformative change toward a sustainable food system.

Join the summit on June 25-26 in Mexico City to unite under a shared mission of accelerating the transition to regenerative agriculture and building a more resilient food system for future generations.

The International Day of the Tropics celebrates the extraordinary diversity of the tropics while highlighting unique challenges and opportunities nations of the Tropics face. It provides an opportunity to take stock of progress across the tropics, to share tropical stories and expertise and to acknowledge the diversity and potential of the region.

The Tropics are a region of the Earth, roughly defined as the area between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. Although topography and other factors contribute to climatic variation, tropical locations are typically warm and experience little seasonal change in day-to-day temperature. An important feature of the Tropics is the prevalence of rain in the moist inner regions near the equator, and that the seasonality of rainfall increases with the distance from the equator. The tropical region faces several challenges such as climate change, deforestation, logging, urbanisation and demographic changes.

Net Zero Week is the UK’s official national awareness week, uniting stakeholders crucial for achieving net zero by 2050 and ensuring the security and affordability of Britain’s energy. Organized by Binary Carbon, a digital-only media organization, you can engage in the live and online conference. Hear from a diverse array of experts, including academics, scientists, policy influencers, trade associations, and solution providers. In 2023, they attracted over 3,000 delegates.

International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated on the first Saturday of July every year. It was first celebrated under the auspices of the United Nations in 2005, though its history as a day celebrated by the international cooperative movement and the International Co-operative Alliance goes back  to 1923. The aim of the International Day is to increase awareness on cooperatives and and promote the values and principles that make the cooperative model suitable for advancing sustainable development. The International Day also aims to strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other actors, including international organizations, and governments and social partners, at local, national and international levels.

Each year the theme of the International Day of Cooperatives is determined by the Committee on the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) , of which the ILO is a member.

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

This year’s theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee, is “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud”.

The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will be held from Monday, 8 July, to Wednesday, 17 July 2024, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This includes the three-day ministerial segment of the forum from Monday, 15 July, to Wednesday, 17 July 2024as part of the High-level Segment of the Council. The last day of the High-level Segment of ECOSOC will be on Thursday, 18 July 2024.

The theme will be “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions”. (A/DEC/77/553)

The HLPF in 2024, without prejudice to the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the Sustainable Development Goals, will review in-depth: Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere; Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; and Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2015 and celebrated each year on 26 July, aims to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem” and to promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses.

Mangroves are rare, spectacular and prolific ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea. These extra ordinary ecosystems contribute to the wellbeing, food security, and protection of coastal communities worldwide. They support a rich biodiversity and provide a valuable nursery habitat for fish and crustaceans. Mangroves also act as a form of natural coastal defense against storm surges, tsunamis, rising sea levels and erosion. Their soils are highly effective carbon sinks, sequestering vast amounts of carbon.

Yet mangroves are disappearing three to five times faster than overall global forest losses, with serious ecological and socio-economic impacts. Current estimates indicate that mangrove coverage has been divided by two in the past 40 years.

In order to raise awareness of the needs of these population groups, every 9 August commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This date, adopted in December 1994 by UN General Assembly resolution 49/214, marks the date of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Geneva in 1982.

Violations of the rights of the world’s Indigenous Peoples have become a persistent problem, sometimes because of a historical burden from their colonization backgrounds and others because of the contrast with a constantly changing society. In response to this problem, let’s remember every August 9 that Indigenous Peoples have the right to make their own decisions and carry them out meaningfully and culturally appropriate to them.

International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August, bringing youth issues to the attention of the international community and celebrating the potential of youth as partners in today’s global society.

The idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by the young people who were gathered in Vienna, Austria, for the first session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System. The Forum recommended that an International Youth Day be declared, especially for fund-raising and promotional purposes, to support the United Nations Youth Fund in partnership with youth organizations.

In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (resolution 49/114).

The principal aim of the Montreal Protocol is to protect the ozone layer by taking measures to control total global production and consumption of substances that deplete it, with the ultimate objective of their elimination on the basis of developments in scientific knowledge and technological information. It is structured around several groups of ozone-depleting substances. The groups of chemicals are classified according to the chemical family and are listed in annexes to the Montreal Protocol text. The Protocol requires the control of nearly 100 chemicals, in several categories. For each group or annex of chemicals, the Treaty sets out a timetable for the phase-out of production and consumption of those substances, with the aim of eventually eliminating them completely.

Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together over 500 events and activities across the City of New York – in person, hybrid and online. Each year, business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world, gather to drive the transition, speed up progress, and champion change that is already happening.

Climate Week NYC is hosted by Climate Group, an international non-profit whose purpose is to drive climate action, fast. Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector.

Food loss and waste undermine the sustainability of our food systems. When food is lost or wasted, all the resources that were used to produce this food – including water, land, energy, labour and capital – go to waste. In addition, the disposal of food loss and waste in landfills, leads to greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. Food loss and waste can also negatively impact food security and food availability, and contribute to increasing the cost of food.

Our food systems cannot be resilient if they are not sustainable, hence the need to focus on the adoption of integrated approaches designed to reduce food loss and waste. Actions are required globally and locally to maximise the use of the food we produce. The introduction of technologies, innovative solutions (including e-commerce platforms for marketing, retractable mobile food processing systems), new ways of working and good practices to manage food quality and reduce food loss and waste are key to implementing this transformative change.

The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.

In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

The upcoming World Migratory Bird Day campaign in 2024 will focus on the importance of insects for migratory birds, and highlight concerns related to decreasing populations of insects.

Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys and greatly affect the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations.

Along their migration routes, birds actively seek out insects in fields, forests, wetlands, and various habitats during stopovers. The timing of bird migration often coincides with peak insect abundance at stopover locations, supplying nourishment for birds to replenish their energy reserves before continuing their journeys.

The World Migratory Bird Day campaign in 2024 will stress the need for proactive conservation measures. This includes reducing the use of pesticides and fertilisers, and where possible, switching to organic farming. Other measures include maintaining and connecting areas of natural vegetation which provide food and shelter for birds and other species, in agricultural landscapes.

In 2024, World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated on two days, 11 May and 12 October, aligning with the cyclic nature of bird migration in different hemispheres.

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was started in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. Held every 13 October, the day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face

Collective action across 150 countries worldwide, in up to 50 languages, is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, municipalities, businesses, CSOs, the media, the public, even youth. They promote worldwide awareness of hunger and promote action for the future of food, people and the planet.

East Asian Seas boast incomparable biodiversity that supports livelihoods and economic development. Yet marine and coastal ecosystems in the region face a range of threats including unsustainable coastal development, overfishing, ocean warming and acidification, and rampant pollution.

The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is a regional intergovernmental mechanism bringing together nine countries (Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Viet Nam) in development and protection of the marine environment and coastal areas of East Asian Seas. COBSEA is one of 18 Regional Seas programmes, administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat is hosted by Thailand.

The 26th Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is scheduled to take place in Cambodia. The event will focus on crucial strategies for managing marine environments in the East Asian Seas Region.

COP 16 will be the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP 15 in December 2022 in Montreal, Canada.

At COP 16, governments will be tasked with reviewing the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Parties to the Convention are expected to show the alignment of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with the Framework. COP 16 will further develop the monitoring framework and advance resource mobilization for the Global Biodiversity Framework. Among other tasks, COP 16 is also due to finalize and operationalize the multilateral mechanism on the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources.

The GIIN Impact Forum is a premier global event for impact investing, featuring networking opportunities, insightful speakers, and interactive sessions. It brings together leaders from six continents to share innovative strategies and industry insights.

As impact investing gains momentum, the forum offers a chance to explore new opportunities and stay ahead of industry trends. With more investors recognizing the importance of social and environmental impact, now is the time to position yourself at the forefront of this growing field.

Promoted by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), a global advocate for impact investing, the forum aims to increase the scale and effectiveness of impact investing worldwide. Impact investments generate positive social and environmental outcomes alongside financial returns, making them a powerful tool for change.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has found that over the last 60 years, at least 40 percent of all internal conflicts have been linked to the exploitation of natural resources, whether high-value resources such as timber, diamonds, gold and oil, or scarce resources such as fertile land and water. Conflicts involving natural resources have also been found to be twice as likely to relapse.

The United Nations attaches great importance to ensuring that action on the environment is part of conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding strategies, because there can be no durable peace if the natural resources that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems are destroyed.

On 5 November 2001, the UN General Assembly declared 6 November of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (A/RES/56/4).

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the UNFCCC will convene from 11 to 24 November 2024. It will take place in Azerbaijan. More information to be released soon.

The G20 Summit represents the conclusion of the work carried out by the country holding the group’s rotating presidency. It is the moment when heads of state and government approve the agreements negotiated throughout the year and point out ways of dealing with global challenges.

In Brasil, the G20 Leaders’ Summit is scheduled for November 18 and 19, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro, with the presence of the leaders of the 19 member countries, plus the African Union and the European Union.

The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5), is scheduled to take place from 25 November to 1 December 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea. The session will be preceded by regional consultations.

By letter dated 14 March 2023, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirmed its willingness to host the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) . The Conference will be held in Riyadh from 2 to 13 December 2024.

In line with the provisions of decision 34/COP15 the UNCCD secretariat will now enter into consultation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the organization of COP 16.

Information on further arrangements for the session will be communicated to all Parties and observers in due time.

World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.

An international day to celebrate soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand and within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO has supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness raising platform. The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.

Building Bridges is a joint initiative, launched in 2019 by Swiss public authorities, the finance community, the United Nations and other International partners to accelerate the transition to a global economic model aligned with the SDGs.

At the core of the initiative is the recognition that the scale and complexity of the transition require “building bridges” between multiple stakeholders in the finance, government, and  international development communities.

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December – the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights empowers us all. The principles enshrined in the Declaration are as relevant today as they were in 1948. We need to stand up for our own rights and those of others. We can take action in our own daily lives, to uphold the rights that protect us all and thereby promote the kinship of all human beings.

The United Nations General Assembly designated 11 December “International Mountain Day”. As of 2003, it has been observed every year to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the coordinating agency for the preparation and animation of this celebration and is mandated to lead observance of it at the global level. The Mountain Partnership Secretariat in the FAO Forestry Division is responsible for coordinating this international process.