On this week’s episode of The Lid Is On, we look at how the issue of the climate emergency has been raised during the opening session of the latest General Assembly session (UNGA77).

This week, we’ve heard powerful speeches by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, star-studded events and gatherings at UN Headquarters, and hundreds of events taking place in New York, capitalizing on the global attention the city receives, when so many world leaders are in town.

As well as Mr. Guterres, the episode features the voices of former New York mayor and climate envoy Michael Bloomberg, and the new head of the UN Climate (UNFCCC), Simon Stiell.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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This week we bring you a bonus episode of The Lid Is On: an exclusive interview with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

On the eve of High-Level Week, when leaders from around the world gather at UN Headquarters in New York, Nargiz Shekinskaya from UN News sat down with Mr. Guterres to discuss some of the key international issues on his agenda, including the climate crisis, the need to urgently transform education, and how to tackle the worrying rise in xenophobia and hate speech.

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On this week’s Lid Is On, Conor Lennon speaks to two experts on racism against people of African Descent, on the insidious nature of everyday racism, the importance of reparations, and why an acceptance that the wealth of developed countries is built on the back of oppressed, Black people, is liberating for people of all races.

Dominique Day is a human rights lawyer, and the chairperson of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. Verene Shepherd is a social historian, and the chairperson of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

This episode was recorded ahead of International Day for People of African Descent, which is marked on 31 August, with support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

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Uganda’s status as a refuge has seen large numbers escaping conflict in neighbouring and nearby countries, in particular South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and living in relative safety.

Whilst many are living in refugee camps administered by the UN in the north of the country, such as the Bidi Bidi settlement, others have made their way to the capital, Kampala, and some are making an impact on Uganda’s alternative music scene.

Conor Lennon from UN News visited the headquarters of the Nyege Nyege record label in Kampala, which hosts a range of strikingly original artists from several countries, many of whom live on-site and collaborate with other musicians, whilst they develop their style, working towards critical and financial success.

Music: Ketsa, Within the Earth

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Okubani Market is located in northern Uganda’s Yumbe District, within the Bidibidi refugee settlement which, during the South Sudan civil war, was the largest settlement of its kind in the world.

The market is a vital economic hub for refugees from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the host community, which suffered years of insecurity at the hands of the Lord’s Resistance Army.

For the last of our mini-series recorded in northern Uganda, Conor Lennon from UN News visited Okubani, to see how the support of the local government and the UN is helping those living in the region to improve their livelihoods.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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Hundreds of millions of people do not have access to electricity, seriously hampering their ability to improve their development prospects.

In Arua, northern Uganda, where employment rates are low and poverty is high, the UN is supporting a company that is providing pay-as-you-go solar energy services, putting the benefits of electricity in reach of villagers who would otherwise never be able to afford it.

In this, the third episode in our mini-series recorded in Uganda, Conor Lennon from UN News heads to Arua to see the impact that solar power is having on people’s lives.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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In Lumonga village, situated in a remote part of the West Nile region of northern Uganda, smallholder farmers have traditionally been cut off from the banking system, and been forced to rely on small savings and loans from their community to survive hard times.

For the second episode in our Lid Is On mini-series recorded in northern Uganda, Conor Lennon from UN News went to Lumonga village, to see how digital technology is helping the farmers to get connected, and have a better chance of getting the finance they need to buy basic equipment, grow more crops, and sell more produce.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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Northern Uganda has higher poverty and less employment that the south of the country, which is why the UN is backing projects aimed at boosting the regional economy.

In “Developing northern Uganda”, a special four-part mini-series, we go to Yumbe and Arua districts, to see how the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is helping to create sustainable employment prospects for local people.

In this episode, Conor Lennon from UN News visits Honey Pride, a social enterprise supported by UNCDF, and meets one of the hundreds of beekeepers whose lives have been improved since the business began.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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For the last episode in our mini-series exploring some of the ocean-related issues facing Barbados, Conor Lennon went to one of the sea turtle nesting grounds on the southwest of the island.

He met members of the Barbados Sea Turtle Project, which has been successful in restoring the turtle population on the island, despite a host of challenges, including the climate crisis.

This series was produced in the run-up to the 2022 UN Conference, convened to bring fresh impetus to science-based solutions, and start a new chapter of global ocean action. On this website, you will find a host of videos and text stories, as well as more episodes of The Lid Is On, on ocean-related subjects.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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In our third episode looking at ocean-related issues facing the eastern Caribbean island nation of Barbados, released in the run-up to the UN Oceans Conference, we turn to the issue of the coral reef.

Barbados’s reef has been declining for decades, hit by decades of pollution and the climate crisis. CORALL, a volunteer organization supported by the UN, is showing that it is possible to bring life back to the reef, by carefully growing coral in nurseries off the coast.

Conor Lennon from UN News went to visit the nurseries, to find out if it will be possible to bring the reef back to its former glory.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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This is the second in a four-part mini-series, released in the run-up to the UN Oceans Conference, exploring some of the ocean-related issues facing the eastern Caribbean island nation of Barbados.
This episode focuses on the pollutants that, for decades, have poured into the coastal waters, a result of agriculture and the development of the island. In recent years, the government, with the support of the United Nations, has sought to use nature-based solutions to rectify the damage.
Conor Lennon went to the National Botanical Gardens of Barbados, to find out how a national hedgerow planting project is aiming to hold water in the soil, and reduce the amount of harmful substances reaching the sea.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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In a four-part mini-series, released in the run-up to the UN Oceans Conference, we explore some of the ocean-related issues facing the eastern Caribbean island nation of Barbados.

This episode concentrated on the worrying spread of sargassum seaweed, which arrived unannounced in 2011, and has been a regular fixture on much of the coastline ever since.

There’s no single answer to why the seaweed is clogging up the beaches and waters, but many scientists believe that the climate crisis is at least partly to blame.

Conor Lennon went to Barbados for UN News, to find out what effect sargassum is having on the island’s environment, and why some entrepreneurs on the island, and UN scientists, believe that it could eventually have a positive effect on the economy.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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“We can’t heal by ignoring what happened” – that’s one of the key demands for greater racial justice in the United States, from the founder of the influential 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones. For this latest edition of our ‘Lid is On’ podcast, she sat down with UN News’s Ben Malor to discuss the need for a deeper reckoning with the history of slavery at home, and worldwide – including the “essential” provision of reparations for Black Americans, today.

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“We can’t heal by ignoring what happened” – that’s one of the key demands for greater racial justice in the United States, from the founder of the influential 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones. For this latest edition of our ‘Lid is On’ podcast, she sat down with UN News’s Ben Malor to discuss the need for a deeper reckoning with the history of slavery at home, and worldwide – including the “essential” provision of reparations for Black Americans, today.

This post was originally published on UN News.

International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai, the world’s largest humanitarian hub with some 135,000 square metres of warehouse space, has been transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, medical supplies far outstrip other emergency items stored at IHC, in terms of volume and dollar value, and the amount of material held at the hub has grown exponentially in the last few years.

But the pandemic has provided hard-earned lessons for those in charge, with CEO Guiseppe Saba calling for changes to ensure that the humanitarian sector responds better to the next global emergency.

Conor Lennon from UN News went to the IHC for the latest episode of The Lid Is On, to speak to some of those responsible for getting desperately needed supplies to those who need them, as quickly as possible.
 

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As the UN independent expert on contemporary racism and intolerance, Tendayi Achiume leads a worldwide effort to combat related human rights violations and tackle systemic racism, through fact-finding missions on the ground, investigating alleged violations, and submitting her findings to the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly in New York.

The Zambian-born law professor tells UN News that it was as an undergraduate that she became fascinated with the potential and power that international law has to ease human suffering, and help transform societies.

In this special edition of our Lid is On podcast – part of our multimedia coverage surrounding the 20th anniversary of the historic Durban Declaration to counter racism – Mita Hosali speaks to Ms. Achiume about where we stand now, from her perspective, two decades on.

Music credit: ‘Told You So’, by Ketsa

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Growing up in California’s Silicon Valley, African-American Derrick León Washington took note of the socio-economic disparity around him, and knew early on, there was something unjust about what he saw.

Given the opportunity to explore dance as a teenager, he saw most weren’t so lucky, leading him on a mission to explore how he could be of service to his community and beyond.

In this UN News Lid is On podcast hosted by Natalie Hutchison – part of our coverage marking the 20th anniversary of the milestone declaration against racism signed in Durban, South Africa – Derrick shares his trajectory from shy and curious youngster, to professional anthropologist, and his recent work as a senior human rights fellow here at the United Nations.

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At times it seemed that a COP26 resolution was still hours or even days away but, on Saturday evening, a final document was finally adopted, despite the misgivings expressed by many countries at revised language regarding fossil fuels.

At one point, the COP26 President, Alok Sharma, seemed close to tears, betraying the enormous pressure felt by so many of those closely involved with the negotiations.

In the last episode of the Lid Is On from COP26, Conor Lennon and Laura Quiñones discuss the outcome of the conference, the Glasgow Climate Pact.

Music: ‘Within the Earth’ Ketsa
 

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With negotiators still haggling over the details of the COP26 final declaration, Conor Lennon and Laura Quiñones look back over two extremely busy, sleep-deprived weeks of announcements, protests and hopeful pronouncements.

Thanks for tuning into the Daily Lid Is On episodes from Glasgow, and please subscribe to our flagship news podcasts! You can also subscribe to our newsletter: https://news.un.org/en/newsletter/climate-change 

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In theory it is the penultimate day of COP26, but this is dependent on negotiators reaching a final agreement, with many thorny details still to be ironed out.

Thursday was also Cities, Regions and Infrastructure day, and our team in Glasgow – Conor Lennon and Laura Quiñones – talk to mayors, activists, and a record-breaking explorer, to get a feel for the progress that is, and isn’t, being made to make cities more liveable and inclusive.

Music: “Within the Earth’, Ketsa
 

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It’s looking more and more likely that electric vehicles will dominate the roads of the most developed countries within the next few decades. But will the Global South become the world’s dumping ground for old, polluting cars?

In today’s episode of The Lid Is On from COP26, Conor Lennon and Laura Quiñones speak to some leading experts from the road, shipping and aviation sectors about sustainable fuels and electrifying transport, and get some of the reactions to the draft COP26 final text, released by the UK presidency on Wednesday morning.
 

Music: ‘Within the Earth’, Ketsa

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Little Amal, the giant puppet of a Syrian refugee girl was, literally, the biggest figure at COP26 on Tuesday, where the main theme was gender.

She took to the main stage today, alongside Samoan climate activist Brianna Freuan, who reminded delegates that women and girls bear the brunt of the climate crisis.

The day also focused on issues surrounding science and innovation so, in today’s episode of The Lid Is On from COP26 in Glasgow, Conor Lennon and Laura Quiñones explore how hard it can be to communicate scientific information, and the potential impact of low-cost, readily available technology including…the power of dance!

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa
 

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Mankind’s impact on the planet is causing it to react against us, provoking extreme weather events in every corner of the world.

But there is a growing realisation that nature already holds the key to reversing climate change, rather than inventing new technology to solve the problem.

In today’s episode of the Lid Is On, Conor Lennon and Laura Quinones explore nature-based solutions, from forests to seaweed, and mangroves.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa
 

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The anger of climate activist Greta Thunberg, one of the leading voices of the demonstrations in Glasgow City Centre on Friday, threatened to drown out the events taking place within the COP26 conference centre.

Yet, there were many youth voices inside, engaging with government leaders, the UN and others. On today’s episode of The Lid Is On, Conor Lennon was at the venue, whilst Laura Quinones stayed in town to follow the protests.

Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

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Energy was the main theme of COP26 on Thursday, with a particular focus on ending the world’s reliance on coal. 

However, to achieve the UN’s aim of achieving clean and reliable access to energy for all by 2030, all countries need to speed up the transition away from all fossil fuel sources, and switch renewable sources.

On today’s COP26 episode of The Lid Is On, Conor Lennon and Laura Quinones sift through the day’s main announcements, find out why clean cooking could be a low-cost way to save hundreds of thousands of lives, and why Togo’s government is banking on solar technology to lift its citizens out of poverty.
 

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Day three of COP26 was dominated by climate finance: how to ensure that the financial sector moves definitively away from fossil fuels and instead invest in initiatives that push the global economy towards sustainability.

Conor Lennon and Laura Quinones share the main stories of the day, and explain why, in the context of climate change, insurance is interesting (it really is!).

They also share some words in Welsh, Doric, Quechua, and Cuyonon!
 

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Several new pledges were made on the second day of COP26, the UN climate conference, but the reforestation commitment made by the public and private sector attracted the most attention.

In today’s Colombia-tinged COP26 episode of The Lid Is On, Conor Lennon and Laura Quinones discuss the main events of the day, as well as Prince William, methane, and sausage rolls.
 

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The 26th UN climate conference, or COP, opened with a World Leaders Summit on Monday, and a characteristically blunt speech from UN chief António Guterres. It’s the start of a mammoth two-week event, which some are calling the last best chance to save the planet.

Conor Lennon and Laura Quinones are on the ground throughout the conference, to give you a flavour of what it’s like to be in Glasgow, and to speak to some of those involved, from climate change activists, to artists, UN leaders and more. 

Follow all of our Special COP26 coverage here.

You can also subscribe to our daily COP26 newsletter here.

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For UN Secretary-General António Guterres, this is a pivotal moment for mankind, which is on the brink of global catastrophe, but has the tools to create a fairer, cleaner world, if the political will can be found.

In September, Mr. Guterres outlined his vision of how international cooperation needs to develop over the next 25 years, in “Our Common Agenda”, which lays out a pathway for a sustainable future.

For this special episode of The Lid Is On, Assumpta Massoi from UN News sat down for an exclusive interview with the UN chief, to talk Afghanistan, gender equality, and why world leaders need to “wake up, change course, and unite”.

Music credit: Music credit: Ketsa, Within the Earth

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