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The Sustainable Development Goals in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Malaysia:
Take Action
09 February 2022
Act Now for Our Common Future
Embrace the possible that’s the call of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, a blueprint for a better world.
Everyone can join the global movement for change.
ActNow is the United Nations campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Publication
09 August 2023
UN Country Results Report Malaysia 2022: Enabling Post-Pandemic Sustainable, and Inclusive Development in Malaysia
The UN Country Results Report 2022 is the third unified results report for the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Malaysia, and covers our work in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
It reports on the work and results of the 22 UN agencies, 9 resident and 13 non-residents, with programmatic activity in Malaysia.
As the country emerged from the pandemic and the recovery gathered pace, and as Malaysia also encountered new challenges, the UNCT continued to focus on the achievement of the SDGs and long-term sustainable development. Identified under four priorities - People, Prosperity, Planet and Peace, the work within the UNSDCF reflects the UN’s focus on ‘leaving no one behind’; on improving the plight of vulnerable groups; on finding solutions to deal with the climate emergency; and on promoting good governance.
The reported results reflect the UN’s key contributions to sustainable and inclusive development, and to working with the Government, the private sector, civil society, and academia to develop and implement solutions. These also demonstrate the multifaceted nature of the UN’s work as it seeks to promote greater coordination between stakeholders and improve outcomes for all to achieve the SDGs. This has involved policy support ranging from clean energy, environmental protection, women’s empowerment, ageing, cryptocurrency regulation, waste management, and healthcare reform.
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Story
31 May 2023
Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund announces first call For proposals, offering USD3.6 Million for high-impact projects
Visit the Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund webpage here
The Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund, a collaborative initiative between the MySDG Foundation and the United Nations in Malaysia, supported by the Government of Malaysia, announces the launch of its 2023 Call for Proposals (CFP-2023). This first call for proposals aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Malaysia, by focusing on groups and communities at risk of being left behind.
The CFP-2023 invites project proposals from UN agencies, Malaysian civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and academia engaged in SDG implementation and advocacy. A total sum of USD3.6 million (approximately MYR 16,200,000 based on USD1= MYR4.50 exchange rate) will be disbursed to approved projects, enabling their impactful implementation.
In her statement on the launch of CFP-2023, Karima El Korri, UN Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, emphasized that "at this pivotal halfway mark to 2030, the Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund presents a unique opportunity to support impactful and innovative initiatives aligned with Malaysia’s foremost SDG priorities.” She further added that “the Fund complements ongoing efforts of the government and various stakeholders to deliver on the principles, ambitions, and goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."
The Fund envisions annual calls for proposals until 2030, aiming to support catalytic interventions targeting those at risk of being left behind, and promote partnerships and a whole-of-society approach. It seeks to create equitable and inclusive pathways that enable the realization of socioeconomic rights for people across all regions of Malaysia. Projects should prioritize local actions that enhance lives and livelihoods and deliver wider SDG gains for vulnerable populations such as the unemployed and informal sector workers, indigenous people, women, youth, people with disabilities, older persons, migrants, refugees, stateless and undocumented persons. The Fund is anchored in three thematic pillars - People and Prosperity; Planet and Peace; and Partnership, encompassing twelve priority areas.
Tan Sri Abdul Wahid bin Omar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the MySDG Foundation, hailed the Fund as a “catalyst of SDG progress that leaves no one behind.” He called upon sustainable development champions to “step forward with innovative solutions that foster collaboration, engage community-based action, and generate tangible results.”
CFP-2023 welcomes project proposals seeking funds ranging from USD100,000 to USD500,000 (approximately MYR 450,000 to MYR 2,250,000 based on USD1= MYR4.50 exchange rate). Projects should have a minimum duration of six months and a maximum duration of 18 months, and adhere to the criteria detailed in the CFP-2023 brochure.
The CFP-2023 will be open from 1 June to 14 July 2023.
-Ends-
Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund: three thematic pillars and twelve priority areas.
People and Prosperity
Promoting an inclusive recovery from the COVID - 19 pandemic, addressing the poverty, nutritional and health challenges of affected and marginal and excluded groups (e.g., informal sector workers, the poor and vulnerable in peripheral regions including indigenous peoples, women, youth, migrants and refugees, undocumented persons, and persons with disabilities).
Levelling up wider SDG performance in key human development domains across regions, focusing on communities in lagging peripheral areas. Expanding resilience through greater social protection measures, focusing on excluded and under-served groups and those in informal work.
Addressing the specific human development needs of women at risk of being left behind.
Promoting work opportunities to the poor and vulnerable, those in informal work and those in remote locations, via access to skills training, financial services, commercial credit, and to decent jobs.
Addressing geographical and economic imbalances, especially those faced by communities living in remote locations, including by assisting them to unlock local comparative advantages (natural capital, sustainable exploitation of natural resources and products, enhanced tourism).
Planet
Building the resilience of communities (groups and localities) at most risk to the impacts of climate change through active adaptation efforts.
Tackling biodiversity loss, particularly for marginal communities which rely on the natural capital for their livelihoods.
Assisting marginal communities to tackle land, sea and river pollution, which blights their living conditions.
Peace and Partnership
Helping to build social and political cohesion between Malaysia's diverse communities.
Enabling the realization of key socioeconomic rights by marginal and excluded groups (e.g., the poor and vulnerable in peripheral regions including indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees, undocumented populations, and people with disabilities)
Enabling, within the law, the recognition of undocumented people and their social inclusion.
About MySDG Foundation:
Yayasan Matlamat Pembangunan Mampan Malaysia or The Foundation for Sustainable Development Goals Malaysia (MySDG Foundation) was established in 2022 under the Trustees (Incorporation) Act 1952 (Act 258). It is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its core principle of leaving no one behind. MySDG Foundation provides funding through grants, in support of the achievement of the SDGs in Malaysia. In early 2023, MySDG Foundation entered into collaboration with the United Nations through the Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund, a breakthrough initiative aimed to support SDG-focused projects that address national priorities, promote a multi-stakeholder approach and implement innovative and inclusive SDG-solutions across Malaysia. A key objective of MySDG Foundation is to strengthen its donor base, by mobilizing the continued support of the Ministry of Finance and raising funds and contributions from other donors within and outside Malaysia.
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Publication
29 March 2023
Enhancing Human Capital Through Sexual & Reproductive Health Investments and Family Support Policies in Malaysia
This report, a joint collaboration between UNFPA Malaysia, The Ministry of Economy (previously Economic Planning Unit) of Malaysia & The Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health focuses and evidences how Malaysia can enhance her human capital, via strategic investments in Sexual & Reprodutive Health as well as vital family support services in order to increase the county's female labour participation rate and in tandem achieve essential milestones, such as the 2030 SDGs and the realisation of the 12th Malaysia plan.
Review:
Every person has a dream. Every girl and woman should be able to complete her education, pursue her ambitions, and make a living that protects her from poverty and vulnerability. She also has the right to live a life free of violence.
Globally, women and girls face various risks, crises and vulnerabilities. Almost half of all pregnancies in the world are unintended, and the risk of death during and after pregnancy is high for them. Furthermore, they are often less educated and earn less than their male counterparts. Meanwhile, the pandemic has increased the number of unpaid female workers, leaving them vulnerable to income instability and lack of health and social benefits.
Malaysian women are not exempt. They still face issues such as maternal morbidity, poor-quality maternal care and high rates of cervical cancer. Furthermore, Malaysian families face huge economic burdens in bearing and rearing children and are not provided with adequate high-quality childcare, forcing women to stay at home to take care of their children and miss out on their career goals.
All of the examples outlined above pose significant drawbacks not only to girls, women and families alike, but to the national economy as well: in order for girls and women to contribute to the economy, as well as national development they must have optimal reproductive health to enable them to be productive.
Women’s greater economic productivity and increased labour participation as a whole will accelerate Malaysia’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a set of 17 global goals that are essential to towards achieving peace and prosperity for everyone on the planet – and the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP) which is designed to propel Malaysia into high-income status by year 2025 (as described in Section 1 of the report).
Therefore, in order to achieve these essential milestones, especially in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia needs to invest in her women and girls now.
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Take Action
13 March 2023
Be the Change Campaign
This World Water Day is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action. That means you!
This is a once-in-a-generation moment for the world to unite around water. Play your part. Do what you can.
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Story
01 December 2023
For a sustainable HIV response, let communities lead
Communities are the drivers of progress in the AIDS response. They connect people to public health services, build trust, innovate, monitor the implementation of policies and services and hold service providers accountable.
Letting communities lead builds healthier and stronger societies.
However, communities are not fully leveraged for their expertise and leadership. Community-led responses are under-recognized and under-resourced. Underfunding of community-led initiatives is leaving them struggling to continue operating and expanding into areas and populations that most need their support. This threatens losing the gains made in the national HIV response from the last decade and jeopardizes the sustained impact of the HIV programme for years to come.
Globally, funding channeled through communities has fallen in the past 10 years from 31% in 2012 to 20% in 2021. These funding shortages, policy and regulatory hurdles, capacity constraints, crackdowns on civil society and on the human rights of marginalised communities are obstructing the progress of HIV prevention, treatment and care services.
It is in everyone’s interests to fully fund community-led organisations and remove the many obstacles they face. It is by enabling communities in their leadership that the promise to end AIDS can be realised.
This is why communities at the centre of World AIDS Day commemorations this year, including in a major new UNAIDS report Let Communities Lead.
The report sets out the facts and figures that demonstrate communities’ impact and shares how progress is being driven by communities through case studies from across the world and through guest essays by nine pioneering community leaders. As the report notes, there is a need not only to recognise the contribution communities make but also to pull down the barriers that stand in their way.
That means:
The leadership role of communities needs to be core in all HIV plans and programmes and in their formulation, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
Communities need to be fully and reliably funded to allow them to scale up their services and for workers to be properly remunerated for their contribution
And barriers to community leadership need to be removed. There must be an enabling regulatory and legal environment that allows communities the space to operate and protects human rights for all.
It has been a long-standing principle of the AIDS response to bring people living with and affected by HIV to the decision-making table. Nothing About Us Without Us! Where this is being followed, progress is being made. Supporting communities in their leadership is not only the right thing to do, but also essential for advancing public health.
AIDS is far from over. In Malaysia, it is estimated that eleven young people aged 15–24 years become infected with HIV every week. In 2022, 18% of new HIV infections are among young people. Increasing proportion of new HIV infections are among young men; they accounted for 79% all new HIV infections in 2022.
We need to invest more in communities to unleash the full potential of community leadership to address the gaps we still have in the national HIV response. And to sustain community-led responses, we have to encourage a sense of ownership. This motivates communities to invest in the future free of HIV through both pride in protecting themselves and their loved ones and preventing transmission to others.
Every year, the world marks World AIDS Day on 01 December. On this World AIDS Day, we call upon the government, development partners, and civil society organizations to invest in and support the role of community leadership in the national HIV response. For decades, our synergy with communities, especially people living with HIV and key populations, has strengthened the HIV response, built necessary capacities, and harnessed the power of community advocacy. None of this is possible without support – political, financial, and technical.
As we move forward in our path to end the AIDS epidemic, let us remember the journey, the milestones, and the lessons. And more importantly let’s recognize that community-led initiatives are not a supplementary effort but an integral part of the solution. We must continue to invest in promoting community-led responses to HIV that drive us closer to a world of healthy lives. By working hand in hand with communities, we can achieve a future where HIV is no longer a global threat, but a historic achievement.
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Story
20 November 2023
Act Now campaign in Malaysia to reach over 12 million people by end of 2023
Leveraging the Act Now app as the campaign's centerpiece, the UN Communications Group (UNCG) in Malaysia collaborated with civil society organizations, youth groups, and the private sector to promote it as "the App to living sustainably". This joint effort is set to reach over 12 million people in Malaysia by the close of 2023.
The Global UN Act Now campaign was launched in Malaysia in July 2023, ahead of the global SDG Summit. Covering all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the campaign encourages individual actions for a healthy planet, better economy, a just society and a world working together.
At the campaign launch in July, UN Resident Coordinator Karima El Korri urged participants to “Act now for peace, for rights and for sustainable development, as achieving the future we want is within reach provided that we join our efforts.”
During several weeks, the Act Now app was promoted to kickstart a lifestyle of sustainability, not only recording sustainability efforts but also providing key facts and trends on the SDGs. Globally, Act Now triggered 15.6 million climate actions around the world.
UNCG used a three-pronged approach to advocate the campaign via branding initiatives through collaboration with the private sector, during Act Now exhibitions at pre-summit events, and by disseminating messages to key stakeholders and the public using online channels.
Collaboration with the Private Sector
Teaming up with Wow Media, the Act Now digital billboard creative illuminated the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Cheras and Shah Alam city for a week. Looping 250-450 times daily, it is estimated that both billboards reached around 600,000 people. The creative, displaying messages in Bahasa Malaysia and English was produced with the assistance of the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC).
Caption: Act Now campaign displayed on Cheras (left) and Shah Alam Digital Billboards
Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, owner and operator of the country’s rail services, including Light-Rail Transit (LRT) networks, KL Monorail and the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines has been a key partner in this initiative by promoting Act Now across its assets and services, including buses in Kuala Lumpur.
Act Now will be featured in 50 carriages in the LRT Ampang and Sri Petaling Line, and in 25 carriages in the LRT Kelana Jaya Line, totaling over 2400 screens. The monthly average ridership of the three train lines is estimated at 11 million passengers. In addition, around 900,000 RapidKL and BRT Sunway bus riders are expected to be reached when the campaign is rolled out across 165 vehicles and 180 screens.
Act Now exhibition at UN-supported events
Act Now posters were prominently displayed at various events in the lead-up to the SDG Summit in September, including the Malaysia CSO SDG Forum and the 3rd Malaysia SDG Youth Summit.
The UNCG also promoted the campaign to 300 young sustainability private sector executives in collaboration with UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB) through their Young Executives Sustainability Summit and at the TedX Petaling Street event which brought together 1300 youth.
Reaching 12 million individuals before the end of 2023 is an ambitious undertaking.
Complementing the partnership efforts with the private sector and advocacy during key SDG events, the UNCG was able to reach a more diverse audience of SDG champions via e-bulletins and WhatsApp groups, reaching 1,100 UN Staff, 60,000 members of the public, 350 CSOs, 60 youth-led organizations and over 30 media outlets.
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Story
20 November 2023
Op-ed: Coal, oil, and gas are fueling the cost-of-living crisis. The COP28 Climate Conference can see a climate action surge.
Over the last couple of years inflation has caused a cost-of-living crisis across large parts of the world. Some fearmongeres have used the hardship this has caused billions of people to propagate rhetoric that climate change action is unaffordable and running against the interests of ordinary people. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Propagating a Green vs. Poor narrative is divisive, and it is often used to mask short-term, profit-driven self-interest. The only stable, economically sustainable future is one of energy security, resilience to disasters, well-funded coordinated recovery from them, and ultimately a cap on temperature rise at 1.5 degrees centigrade.
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas are a major driver of the cost-of-living crisis, which is stretching billions of household budgets to breaking point. Prices have swung wildly, as they frequently do, driven higher by uncertainty and conflict. In turn, this pushes up the costs of transport, food, electricity, and basic household necessities. In some heavily fossil fuel-dependent countries, household bills rose as much as US$1000 in 2022 due to fossil fuel energy costs.
Consumer costs will rise even further and economic growth will slow as climate impacts become more intense, according to economic authorities, such as the United States Treasury, the Reserve Bank of India and the European Central Bank. High energy prices also shrink profit margins for businesses and hurt economic growth. High energy prices also shrink profit margins for businesses, hurt economic growth, and impede the right to energy access across the world. Inflation hurts the poorest households the most.
This comes as climate disasters are also getting worse in every country. This year will likely be the hottest for 125,000 years. More destructive storms, unpredictable rains and floods, heatwaves, and droughts are already causing massive economic damage and affecting hundreds of millions of people across the world, costing them their lives and livelihoods.
The fossil fuel taps can’t be turned off overnight but there are a lot of opportunities for action not currently being taken. For example, in 2022, governments spent over $7 trillion in taxpayers’ money or borrowings on fossil fuel subsidies. Subsidies fail to protect the real incomes of the poorest households and divert money that are increasing developing country debt burdens, or could have been used to improve health care, build infrastructure – including renewable energy and grids – and expand social programs to alleviate poverty. Done responsibly, a phase-out of such subsidies would actually help the poorest and improve the economies of the countries now dependent on them.
This year, at UN Climate Change, we conducted a Global Stocktake on climate action up to now. It has indicated clearly that progress is too slow. But it also revealed that there are many tools we have to speed up climate action now, which will simultaneously build stronger economies. We have the knowledge and tools to accelerate this transition while ensuring it is fair and just, leaves no one behind.
Billions of people need their governments to pick up this toolbox and put it to work. That includes switching billions of dollars from investments in new fossil fuel production to renewable energy that will provide stable, reliable and lower-priced energy to propel economic growth. This is about both demand and supply. Those of us that demand energy to turn our lights on need to be provided with clean options to do it, and the fiscal space to invest in our communities and their ability to adapt to the changing world. There is cause for optimism, if governments come to this year’s climate change conference – COP28 – in Dubai with a spirit of cooperation and a laser-focus on solutions. At COP28 we can agree on tripling the world’s renewable energy capacity. We can double energy efficiency. We can show we are doubling finance to help countries adapt to climate impacts and center it in national planning. We can make the climate loss and damage fund a reality that helps deliver climate justice. And we can deliver old promises on financing the transition, and outline how we are going to fund the next steps. One moment, one meeting, won’t change everything. But we can capture the future in the directions that we set this year, and provide the plan for how national commitments can deliver in 2025. I refuse to let fearmongering pull a hood over my eyes, and you shouldn’t either. This op-ed was published in The Star here and The Malaysian Insight here
Billions of people need their governments to pick up this toolbox and put it to work. That includes switching billions of dollars from investments in new fossil fuel production to renewable energy that will provide stable, reliable and lower-priced energy to propel economic growth. This is about both demand and supply. Those of us that demand energy to turn our lights on need to be provided with clean options to do it, and the fiscal space to invest in our communities and their ability to adapt to the changing world. There is cause for optimism, if governments come to this year’s climate change conference – COP28 – in Dubai with a spirit of cooperation and a laser-focus on solutions. At COP28 we can agree on tripling the world’s renewable energy capacity. We can double energy efficiency. We can show we are doubling finance to help countries adapt to climate impacts and center it in national planning. We can make the climate loss and damage fund a reality that helps deliver climate justice. And we can deliver old promises on financing the transition, and outline how we are going to fund the next steps. One moment, one meeting, won’t change everything. But we can capture the future in the directions that we set this year, and provide the plan for how national commitments can deliver in 2025. I refuse to let fearmongering pull a hood over my eyes, and you shouldn’t either. This op-ed was published in The Star here and The Malaysian Insight here
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Story
15 November 2023
Commemorating the 78th Anniversary of the United Nations in the green lung of Kuala Lumpur
The 78th anniversary of the United Nations was celebrated in Malaysia at Taman Tugu, a 66-acre green sanctuary in Kuala Lumpur. The event brought together 160 UN staff and over 150 guests from the diplomatic corps, government, civil society, the private sector, and media. It was officiated by the Honorable Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia, alongside Ms. Karima El Korri, UN Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam.
In Ms. El Korri's commemoration speech, she underscored the founding purposes and principles of the United Nations upheld in the organization's Charter, “As we look back on nearly eight decades of commitment to peace, security, human rights, the UN stands as a beacon of international unity and a source of hope for people around the world.
On Malaysia’s commitment to the global community. Ms El Korri added that, “Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to globally agreed frameworks is unquestionable. We applaud the nation’s fresh perspective on the economy and society outlined in Malaysia Madani, Ekonomi Madani, and the many macro and local-level initiatives drive the country’s transformation.”
YB Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin commended the UN on its 78th anniversary and emphasized the long-standing partnership, “The UN has accompanied us in our journey since independence, and we hope this partnership will continue to prosper.”
The Honorable Deputy Minister stressed that Malaysia has always been an active member of the UN, engaging with the global community through various means, from co-sponsoring resolutions to its continued support of UN peacekeeping missions, with over 800 personnel participating across various missions. He also thanked the Malaysia UN Country Team for its continued efforts in supporting the country in reaching its goals for a more sustainable and equitable future towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
Under the theme "Act Now on UN Day and Every Day," the UN Day event amplified the Act Now! campaign, which aims to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals and commit to a healthy planet, an inclusive economy, a just society, and a world working together.
The feature activity for the day was the Act Now storytelling sessions by UN entities, each highlighting their work, capturing the audience's attention with topics ranging from healthy aging, the care economy, sustainable tourism, immunization for hard-to-reach populations, refugee support, green urban spaces, promotion of safe migration, building capacities of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and empowering children through disaster education.
UN Day guests also explored the Park’s tranquil trails, immersing themselves in the beauty of Malaysia's unique biodiversity.
A few individuals shared their unique experiences and impressions of the event:
Sumalee Sterup-Hansen, Head, United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) was enthusiastic on UN Day being held outdoors, “I loved the venue on UN Day at Taman Tugu. It’s so welcoming and provided fantastic green ambience, meaningful activities, uplifting discussion with partners in a lovely outdoor space. The concept showed a very thoughtful process to organizing the event differently and successfully connect audiences brilliantly with the theme ‘Act now’.”
Dr. Shiau Yun Chong, National Programme Analyst, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), gave her views as one of the storytellers: “Telling the stories of UNFPA was like unwrapping special gifts - each one full of hope and empowerment. As a storyteller, I felt a sense of joy and responsibility, and I am proud to contribute to creating positive change and inclusivity for the world.”
Zhi Ying of Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB) explained their engagement with MSMEs to drive the SDG and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda: "We developed a website portal to guide MSMEs on how they can start their ESG journey. We've put in relevant resources, tools, and figures as guides for them. The application ensures a user-friendly experience for clients who want to align their work with the ESG agenda.”
Siti Munawirah Ahmad Mustaffa, Communications Assistant, International Organization for Migration (IOM) presented IOM’s work on the theme - Promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration for the benefit of all, “This year, IOM anticipates resettling over 6,000 individuals from Malaysia to a third country, the highest since 2016. To support migrants in their journey, IOM initiated a cash-based intervention program last December. Over 10 months, 500+ beneficiaries from the refugee and asylum-seeker community received cash assistance, helping them pay overdue rent."
Asiya, a youth leader from the refugee community, shared, "Witnessing individuals come together for various causes, including advocating for refugee rights, is truly inspiring and commendable. When people show concern, their nation begins to care, marking the beginning of a positive impact on the world by like-minded individuals.”
The event was also marked by a captivating photo exhibition presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The exhibition proudly displayed a rich chronicle of Malaysian leaders who have played significant roles at the United Nations throughout the years; Malaysia’s significant contributions to peacekeeping; and dynamic engagement within the UN General Assembly.
This important commemoration, amidst the challenging times facing the world, highlighted the enduring values of unity, cooperation, and sustainable development that the UN embodies and acknowledged the global community's shared responsibility in realizing a better future for all. It also emphasized the need to involve the younger generation, empower women and girls, and safeguard human rights to make strides that genuinely enhance the well-being of people around the world.
Photos by Farah/UNICEF and Devendiran/UNHCR
View the UN Day photo album on Flickr here
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Story
09 November 2023
Report Launch: “Demographic & Socioeconomic Changes in Sabah” by UNFPA Malaysia, University Malaya & University Malaysia Sabah
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Population Studies Unit, University of Malaya and Universiti Malaysia Sabah, launched the landmark report “Demographic and Socioeconomic Changes in Sabah” in the presence of invited guests from government, academia and civil society.
The report, the first of its kind in the state, offers an in-depth look at the demographic changes and challenges faced by Sabah from aspects such as the population age-sex structure, health and education planning needs, the potential of youth, gender disparities in labour force participation and the state of family planning. Crucially, the report acts as a database with key metrics to assess Gender Equity and sexual and reproductive health and rights in Sabah, in line with the state’s developmental journey towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings of the study are set to provide policy and programme recommendations to enhance human capital and further support the empowerment of women and girls in Sabah, ultimately contributing to the state's socioeconomic development and well-being.
In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Asa Torkelsson, UNFPA Country Representative Malaysia and Country Director Thailand, affirmed women’s central role in Sabah’s development: “Women and girls in Sabah are essential in responding to the state’s development, and support is needed to harness their full potential.” She also highlighted how Sabah’s demographic and socioeconomic changes and the challenges that come with them could help further empower the state – with the right interventions: “These challenges also come with tremendous benefits that can be harnessed by promoting gender equality, enhancing education and healthcare services, and empowering girls, women, and youth, and making the right investments.”
The report was officially launched by YBrs Puan Hajah Haslina Ismail, Director of the Women’s Affairs Department Sabah, on behalf of YB Datuk James Ratib, Minister of Community Development and People’s Welfare (KPMKR) Sabah. In his special address, the Minister reiterated how women and the well-being of communities and the state at large were intimately linked, “Women are an integral part of the fabric holding society together; we ignore them, their perspectives and their needs at our own collective peril. Our development as a state and a nation will always be limited as long as there continue to be structural and social barriers that hold women back from being full participants in the economy and public life more broadly.” “Women make up half the population of our state, and yet there are still significant gender gaps within the workforce.
As highlighted in the report, 49.1% of married women participate in the workforce, compared to a significantly higher figure of 96.8% for married men.” He proposed that women should be at the centre of strategies to combat the challenges that come with an increasingly aged population: “Sabah has much to gain from fully harnessing the economic potential of women who currently make up half the state’s population, especially in the face of an ageing population and potential slowdowns in productivity. As of now, Sabah’s ageing population is steadily increasing, and our fertility rate of 1.4 is one of the lowest in the country, just after Penang.
Putting women at the heart of our economic and developmental strategies simply makes sense.” “To this end, one of our key priorities should be ensuring the sexual and reproductive health and rights of both women and girls.” A presentation of the report and its key findings was given by Associate Prof. Dr. Tey Nai Peng, University of Malaya (UM) and Prof. Dr. Jennifer Chan Kim Lian, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
This was followed by a two-part panel which began with a broad discussion on Sabah’s demographic dynamics and its impact on the state’s socioeconomic well-being, followed by more in-depth discussions on gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Panellists included Puan Celestina Aron, Deputy Director, (Planning), Economic Planning Unit Sabah, Dr Halimatul Aris, Head of Clinical & Medical Officer, National Population & Family Development Board (NPFDB Sabah) LPPKN Sabah, Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Malaysia, Dr. Janice Nga, Associate Professor, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Dr John Teo, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.
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Press Release
28 November 2023
KPWKM and UN Malaysia light up Menara Kuala Lumpur in orange - launching the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (IDEVAW) and 16 Days of Activism
Kuala Lumpur, 24 November – KL Tower was lit up in orange today to celebrate this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (IDEVAW) and 16 Days of Activism, beginning Saturday the 25th of November. The evening launch event, organised by The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Malaysia, brought together key stakeholders in the arena towards ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) to collectively and symbolically launch the global call to end violence against women in Malaysia.
Present at the event were Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family & Community Development (KPWKM), Karima El Korri, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam, Dr. Asa Torkelsson, UNFPA Malaysia’s Country Representative, Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and Dr Wan Nur Ibtisam Binti Wan Ismail, Director General of the Department of Women’s Development, alongside other key representatives from government, academia, and civil society.
In her welcoming remarks, Dr Asa Torkelsson began by highlighting the dark reality still faced by millions of women and girls today: “Violence against women and girls sadly remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations that continues to happen. According to the United Nations, globally, 736 million women - that is almost 1 in 3 - have been subjected to physical or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their lifetime.” She acknowledged the strides that Malaysia had made so far to address social, legislative and enforcement gaps in the battle against gender-based violence, and highlighted Malaysia’s regional successes including being the first Asian country to introduce a specific law on domestic violence (the Domestic Violence Act 1944), and being the first to develop the trailblazing One Stop Crisis Center (OSSC) to support victims of gender-based violence.
In the Minister’s keynote speech, YB Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri reminded the audience that the impacts of violence against women were not limited to women, but had widespread societal ramifications. Not only were survivors less likely to participate meaningfully in their communities or labour force, she revealed that gender based violence also had the ability to break down family structures and perpetuate generational cycles of violence. Ultimately, the stunted development of women and their families can impact the socio-economic development of communities and countries as a whole.
“UN Women estimated that the global cost of violence against women amounted to a whopping 1.5 trillion US dollars, stemming from loss of employment and productivity, and major resources required for social services, the justice system, health-care agencies and employers. As a nation or as a global community, we are all worse off when women are disempowered,” she said.
In line with Malaysia’s international commitments to tackling violence and discrimination against women, the Minister described several ongoing government initiatives to address domestic violence: “Operationally, a Committee on Addressing Domestic Violence was established as an institutionalised multi-stakeholder platform for implementing and monitoring concerted efforts to address domestic violence. We are also in the final stages of updating JKM’s Guideline on Handling Domestic Violence Cases, which serves as a reference and guidance to the relevant agencies to coordinate and handle the cases effectively.” The Minister highlighted Malaysia’s recent strides in enacting gender-focused policy, including the Sexual Harassment Act, the Anti-Stalking Section in the Penal Code, and amendments to the Employment Act. She also cited the government’s commitment to gender-responsive budgeting, and lauded the ongoing efforts of dedicated Gender Focal Teams within each Ministry. In line with legislative developments, she hoped to continue launching nationwide sexual harassment awareness roadshows in the new year, especially upon the establishment of the new Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal. Lastly, she stressed that addressing violence was a shared responsibility between the government, the private sector and all Malaysians: “We must all play a part in ensuring our workplaces are environments of safety, where there is zero tolerance for harassment or violence of any kind. The private sector has an immense role to play in ensuring that workplace culture proactively evolves to become inclusive, non-discriminatory and in consideration of unpaid care work duties of all employees - female as well as male.”
A panel session titled “Identifying and Strategising Key Social and Legislative Investments needed towards ending Violence against Women in Malaysia” was then held, moderated by Tehmina Kaoosji, Independent Broadcast Journalist. The session drew on the expertise and experience of panellistsACP Siti Kamsiah Hassan, Principal Assistant Director, D11 Unit, PDRM, YBrs Dr Wan Nur Ibtisam, Director General, Women’s Department, KPWKM, Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Malaysia, and Sumitra Visvanathan, Executive Director, WAO. The launch event concluded with a press conference featuring the Minister Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri, Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff and Dr Wan Nur Ibtisam from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, alongside Dr Asa Torkelsson and Tengku Aira Tengku Razif representing UNFPA Malaysia.
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View photos from the event here.
ABOUT UNFPA
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an agency under the UN that aims to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For further inquiries or any other related media matters, kindly please contact UNFPA Malaysia at malaysia.media@unfpa.org
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Press Release
24 October 2023
United Nations Day Malaysia 2023
The United Nations in Malaysia commemorated the 78th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) today in Taman Tugu, Kuala Lumpur.
The event, under the theme Act Now on UN Day and Every Day! amplifies the Act Now! campaign, aimed to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals and commit to a healthy planet, an inclusive economy, a just society and a world working together.
Leading the commemoration were Ms. Karima El Korri, the UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, and YB Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. The event witnessed the participation of 160 UN staff and over 150 guests, including government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives from civil society, youth organizations, religious leaders, academia, the private sector, and the media.
In her address, Ms. El Korri underscored the founding purposes and principles of the United Nations upheld in the organization’s Charter, and said: “As we look back on nearly eight decades of commitment to peace, security, human rights, and development, we acknowledge our successes and setbacks. And with unwavering resolve and resilience, the UN stands as a beacon of international unity and a source of hope for people around the world.”
The United Nations in Malaysia is comprised of 22 UN agencies of the UN Country Team (UNCT), all working in support of Malaysia's efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. UN Resident Coordinator Karima El Korri said: “Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to globally agreed frameworks is unquestionable. We applaud the nation’s fresh perspective on the economy and society outlined in Malaysia Madani, Ekonomi Madani, and the many macro and local-level initiatives drive the country’s transformation. The establishment of the Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund is a testimony to the government’s commitment to engage all stakeholders. It is also proof of the strong trust in the United Nations as a results-driven partner.”
YB Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin extended his congratulations to the UN on its 78th anniversary and reiterated Malaysia's firm commitment to continued engagement with the UN. He stated, "Malaysia reaffirms its dedication to continuing cooperation with the UN and its member states, grounded in the principles of mutual respect and international law, as enshrined in the UN Charter.”
We also thank the UN in Malaysia for its continued work supporting the country in reaching its goals for a more sustainable and equitable future. The UN has accompanied us in our journey since independence, and we hope this partnership will continue to prosper.”
YB Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin added that Malaysia has always been an active participant in the UN, engaging with the global community through various means, from co-sponsoring resolutions to our continued support of UN peacekeeping missions, with over 800 personnel participating across various missions. Malaysia is also host to UN Global and Regional centres such as the WHO and UNDP Global Service Centres and UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD).
The UN Day event at Taman Tugu also featured the "Act Now!" storytelling session, where UN agencies in Malaysia enlightened the audience about their work in areas such as healthy aging, the care economy, sustainable tourism, immunization for hard-to-reach populations, refugee support, green urban spaces, promoting safe migration, inspiring small and medium-sized enterprises, and empowering children through disaster education. Participants also explored the Taman Tugu trail walks.
UN Day, celebrated every year on 24 October, commemorates the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. It amplifies our common agenda and reaffirms the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that have guided us for the past 78 years.
-ends-
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Press Release
19 September 2023
Responding to cascading global crises, SDG Summit launches new phase of accelerated action on the Sustainable Development Goals
New York, 18 September – Gathering at the SDG Summit on 18 to 19 September, world leaders agreed today to urgently step up their efforts to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our global roadmap out of crises, by 2030.
World leaders made an historic global promise to secure the rights and well-being of everyone on a healthy, thriving planet when they agreed to the 2030 Agenda and the 17 SDGs in 2015. However, at midpoint of SDG implementation, the SDGs are in peril. Tens of millions have fallen into poverty since 2020. Over 110 million people are forcibly displaced. Inequalities have worsened, strikingly so for women and girls. Many governments are forced to choose between debt payments and investing in healthcare and education. The climate emergency is wreaking havoc on lives and livelihoods. Developing countries and the world’s most vulnerable people continue to bear the brunt of these crises.
“The SDGs aren’t just a list of goals. They carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations of people everywhere,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “Yet today, only 15 per cent of the targets are on track. Many are going in reverse. Instead of leaving no one behind, we risk leaving the SDGs behind.”
The Political Declaration
Leaders adopted a decisive, action-oriented political declaration at the Summit, highlighting their collective commitment to build a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous world by 2030.
With a strong focus on the means of implementation, and in particular, on financing for development, the declaration acknowledges that without a quantum leap in investments to enable just and equitable energy, food, digital transitions, and a transformation in education and robust social protection in developing countries, the goals simply will not be met.
Additionally, the Declaration urges immediate action to deliver an SDG Stimulus proposed by the UN Secretary-General, which calls for a massive increase in financing for the achievement of the SDGs to the tune of $500 billion each year. It also conveys strong support from all countries for a much-needed reform of the international financial architecture to better reflect today’s global economy.
“I am deeply encouraged by the detailed and wide-ranging draft political declaration under consideration here today — especially its commitment to improving developing countries’ access to the fuel required for SDG progress: finance. This can be a game-changer in accelerating SDG progress,” stated the Secretary-General.
Global and National Commitments
Over 100 Countries will present national commitments to SDG Transformation that include priority transitions and areas for investment, setting national benchmarks for reducing poverty and inequalities by 2027 and strengthening institutional frameworks to support SDG progress. In addition to these national commitments, developed countries and other countries who have the capacity, are expected to make individual global commitments drawing on the Secretary-General’s proposal for an SDG Stimulus and broader means of implementation, such as fulfilling ODA commitments, suspending debt payments and agreeing on innovative finance mechanisms.
SDG Action Weekend
The SDGs cannot be delivered by governments alone. The SDG Action Weekend on 16 to 17 September gave an opportunity for over 3000 people from all sectors of society to outline their commitments to accelerate progress on the SDGs. The SDG Mobilization Day on Saturday 16 September saw business, civil society, science, local authorities and young people making meaningful contributions to SDG implementation.
The SDG Acceleration Day on 17 September highlighted UN High-Impact Initiatives that show that transformation is possible and will help to drive momentum for action on the ground in the coming years. The initiatives focus on six major transitions that will drive progress across the SDGs: i) Social Protection; ii) Energy; iii.) Education; iv) Food Systems; v) Digital Transformation; vi) Biodiversity and Nature, underpinned by greater financing and other supports, as well as action to advance gender equality.
About the Summit
The opening of the Summit featured statements by the President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the Economic and Social Council Paula Narvaéz.
The 2-day Summit will feature a short plenary segment to hear the actions and commitments delivered on behalf of groups of States. Six Leaders' Dialogues will allow Heads of State and Government to report on progress and set out concrete national commitments to SDG transformation.
SDG Media Zone, 18-22 September, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
The SDG Media Zone is a key feature of the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week, bringing together world leaders, influencers, activists, experts, content creators and media partners to highlight actions and solutions in support of the SDGs. Organized by the UN Department of Global Communications, in collaboration with the PVBLIC Foundation, the Zone takes the conversation on advancing the 2030 Agenda into the public discourse through impactful in-depth interviews and conversations on global issues that matter to people everywhere. All sessions will livestream on UN WebTV.
SDG Pavilion, 15-22 September
The SDG Pavilion is a beacon for the Sustainable Development Goals. It was created to mark the halfway point of the Goals. To use a sporting analogy, we are down at halftime.
However, the good news is that any given match is won in the second half. Organized by the UN Office for Partnerships, in collaboration with Project Everyone, the SDG Pavilion will host a series of Halftime Talks and a high level gathering of women leaders to mobilize the world to keep the promise of the SDGs. Sessions will be livestreamed on UN WebTV.
Follow the SDG Summit
Please follow us on the SDG Summit, using the main hashtags: #GlobalGoals and #SDGs.
On Facebook: United Nations, Global GoalsUN, DESA, Sustainable Development
On Twitter: @UN, @GlobalGoalsUN, @UNDESA, @SustDev, @UN_Partnerships
For more additional information, please visit key links below:
The SDG Summit 2023 website and SDG Summit Programme
The SDG Summit Media Corner
The SDG Action Weekend
High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly Snapshot
The Sustainable Development Goals Website
Follow key events live on UN WebTV.
Media contacts (interviews available upon request):
Francyne Harrigan, UN Department of Global Communications, harriganf@un.org
Sharon Birch, UN Department of Global Communications, birchs@un.org
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Press Release
04 July 2023
New ILO study highlights steps to strengthen decent work in Malaysia’s rubber glove supply chain
Read of the original press release here
Actions to enhance labour rights, social dialogue and fair recruitment practices are needed to strengthen decent work in the Malaysian rubber glove sector according to a new International Labour Organization (ILO) report.
The findings aim to promote action and provide guidance to the Government of Malaysia, employers’ and workers’ organizations, buyers of rubber gloves, recruitment agencies and other key industry stakeholders.
Key recommendations made by the report include the need to strengthen rights at work by continuing to align Malaysian labour laws with international standards. Particular attention should be paid to working hours – especially overtime hours permitted – as well as ensuring safe and healthy working and living environments. Enforcement capacity at the Department of Labour should also be reinforced so that it can regularly inspect workplaces to monitor compliance with labour laws.
The report highlights how strengthened social dialogue would support employers to identify and resolve workplace issues and enable workers to collectively negotiate for better and safer working conditions. While the weak presence of unions in the sector is noted, glove manufacturing workers who participated in this study expressed a desire to join a union if one were active.
The need for greater promotion of fair recruitment practices in the sector, including through relevant labour law reform that would, inter alia, prohibit recruiters and employers from charging recruitment fees and related costs to workers is also stressed.
Other recommendations include the need to strengthen the capacity of employers to conduct due diligence in their supply chains, including on recruitment agencies and labour sub-contractors as well as improving grievance mechanisms.
Speaking about the findings, Ms. Panudda Boonpala, ILO’s Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific said: “The research provides an analysis of the decent work challenges and opportunities in the rubber glove supply chain in Malaysia. We trust that the findings and recommendations will be of use for the Government, employers’ and workers’ organizations and the other supply chain stakeholders in generating and imple¬menting new policies, plans, tools and training to address the challenges and harness the opportunities for promoting decent work in the rubber glove supply chain.”
Decent work challenges and opportunities in Malaysia’s rubber glove supply chain was developed within the framework of the Sustainable Supply Chain to Build Forward Better (SSCBFB) project, a joint initiative of the ILO and the European (EU) to advance decent work in key global supply chains of key importance.
Malaysia is the world’s largest exporter of rubber gloves, contributing more than 60 per cent of global glove exports. The sector employs around 70,000 workers, of which about 60 per cent are migrant workers.
The findings aim to promote action and provide guidance to the Government of Malaysia, employers’ and workers’ organizations, buyers of rubber gloves, recruitment agencies and other key industry stakeholders.
Key recommendations made by the report include the need to strengthen rights at work by continuing to align Malaysian labour laws with international standards. Particular attention should be paid to working hours – especially overtime hours permitted – as well as ensuring safe and healthy working and living environments. Enforcement capacity at the Department of Labour should also be reinforced so that it can regularly inspect workplaces to monitor compliance with labour laws.
The report highlights how strengthened social dialogue would support employers to identify and resolve workplace issues and enable workers to collectively negotiate for better and safer working conditions. While the weak presence of unions in the sector is noted, glove manufacturing workers who participated in this study expressed a desire to join a union if one were active.
The need for greater promotion of fair recruitment practices in the sector, including through relevant labour law reform that would, inter alia, prohibit recruiters and employers from charging recruitment fees and related costs to workers is also stressed.
Other recommendations include the need to strengthen the capacity of employers to conduct due diligence in their supply chains, including on recruitment agencies and labour sub-contractors as well as improving grievance mechanisms.
Speaking about the findings, Ms. Panudda Boonpala, ILO’s Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific said: “The research provides an analysis of the decent work challenges and opportunities in the rubber glove supply chain in Malaysia. We trust that the findings and recommendations will be of use for the Government, employers’ and workers’ organizations and the other supply chain stakeholders in generating and imple¬menting new policies, plans, tools and training to address the challenges and harness the opportunities for promoting decent work in the rubber glove supply chain.”
Decent work challenges and opportunities in Malaysia’s rubber glove supply chain was developed within the framework of the Sustainable Supply Chain to Build Forward Better (SSCBFB) project, a joint initiative of the ILO and the European (EU) to advance decent work in key global supply chains of key importance.
Malaysia is the world’s largest exporter of rubber gloves, contributing more than 60 per cent of global glove exports. The sector employs around 70,000 workers, of which about 60 per cent are migrant workers.
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Press Release
21 March 2023
IPCC Synthesis Report: Urgent climate action can secure a liveable future for all
Visit the AR6 Synthesis Report Climate Change 2023 microsite here for all materials
There are multiple, feasible and effective options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change, and they are available now, said scientists in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released today.
“Mainstreaming effective and equitable climate action will not only reduce losses and damages for nature and people, it will also provide wider benefits,” said IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee. “This Synthesis Report underscores the urgency of taking more ambitious action and shows that, if we act now, we can still secure a liveable sustainable future for all.”
In 2018, IPCC highlighted the unprecedented scale of the challenge required to keep warming to 1.5°C. Five years later, that challenge has become even greater due to a continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The pace and scale of what has been done so far, and current plans, are insufficient to tackle climate change.
More than a century of burning fossil fuels as well as unequal and unsustainable energy and land use has led to global warming of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. This has resulted in more frequent and more intense extreme weather events that have caused increasingly dangerous impacts on nature and people in every region of the world.
Every increment of warming results in rapidly escalating hazards. More intense heatwaves, heavier rainfall and other weather extremes further increase risks for human health and ecosystems. In every region, people are dying from extreme heat. Climate-driven food and water insecurity is expected to increase with increased warming. When the risks combine with other adverse events, such as pandemics or conflicts, they become even more difficult to manage.
Losses and damages in sharp focus
The report, approved during a week-long session in Interlaken, brings in to sharp focus the losses and damages we are already experiencing and will continue into the future, hitting the most vulnerable people and ecosystems especially hard. Taking the right action now could result in the transformational change essential for a sustainable, equitable world.
“Climate justice is crucial because those who have contributed least to climate change are being disproportionately affected,” said Aditi Mukherji, one of the 93 authors of this Synthesis Report, the closing chapter of the Panel’s sixth assessment.
“Almost half of the world’s population lives in regions that are highly vulnerable to climate change. In the last decade, deaths from floods, droughts and storms were 15 times higher in highly vulnerable regions,“ she added.
In this decade, accelerated action to adapt to climate change is essential to close the gap between existing adaptation and what is needed. Meanwhile, keeping warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels requires deep, rapid and sustained greenhouse gas emissions reductions in all sectors. Emissions should be decreasing by now and will need to be cut by almost half by 2030, if warming is to be limited to 1.5°C.
Clear way ahead
The solution lies in climate resilient development. This involves integrating measures to adapt to climate change with actions to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in ways that provide wider benefits.
For example: access to clean energy and technologies improves health, especially for women and children; low-carbon electrification, walking, cycling and public transport enhance air quality, improve health, employment opportunities and deliver equity. The economic benefits for people’s health from air quality improvements alone would be roughly the same, or possibly even larger than the costs of reducing or avoiding emissions.
Climate resilient development becomes progressively more challenging with every increment of warming. This is why the choices made in the next few years will play a critical role in deciding our future and that of generations to come.
To be effective, these choices need to be rooted in our diverse values, worldviews and knowledges, including scientific knowledge, Indigenous Knowledge and local knowledge. This approach will facilitate climate resilient development and allow locally appropriate, socially acceptable solutions.
“The greatest gains in wellbeing could come from prioritizing climate risk reduction for low-income and marginalised communities, including people living in informal settlements,” said Christopher Trisos, one of the report’s authors. “Accelerated climate action will only come about if there is a many-fold increase in finance. Insufficient and misaligned finance is holding back progress.”
Enabling sustainable development
There is sufficient global capital to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions if existing barriers are reduced. Increasing finance to climate investments is important to achieve global climate goals.Governments, through public funding and clear signals to investors, are key in reducing these barriers. Investors, central banks and financial regulators can also play their part.
There are tried and tested policy measures that can work to achieve deep emissions reductions and climate resilience if they are scaled up and applied more widely. Political commitment, coordinated policies, international cooperation, ecosystem stewardship and inclusive governance are all important for effective and equitable climate action.
If technology, know-how and suitable policy measures are shared, and adequate finance is made available now, every community can reduce or avoid carbon-intensive consumption. At the same time, with significant investment in adaptation, we can avert rising risks, especially for vulnerable groups and regions.
Climate, ecosystems and society are interconnected. Effective and equitable conservation of approximately 30-50% of the Earth’s land, freshwater and ocean will help ensure a healthy planet. Urban areas offer a global scale opportunity for ambitious climate action that contributes to sustainable development.
Changes in the food sector, electricity, transport, industry, buildings and land-use can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, they can make it easier for people to lead low-carbon lifestyles, which will also improve health and wellbeing. A better understanding of the consequences of overconsumption can help people make more informed choices.
“Transformational changes are more likely to succeed where there is trust, where everyone works together to prioritise risk reduction, and where benefits and burdens are shared equitably,” Lee said. “We live in a diverse world in which everyone has different responsibilities and different opportunities to bring about change. Some can do a lot while others will need support to help them manage the change.”
###
Temperature-Scale Equivalents
1.1C = 2.0F
1.5C = 2.7F
For more information, please contact:
IPCC Press Office: ipcc-media@wmo.int
Lance Ignon, SYR Communications Specialist: ignon@ipcc-syr.org AR6 Synthesis Report in Numbers
Review comments: 6841
Governments: 47 (21 Developed, 2 Economies in transition, 22 Developing, 2 SIDS)
Government Comments: 6636 (1814 Figures, 4822 Text)
Observers: 5
Observer Comments: 205
Core Writing Team members: 49
Review Editors: 9
Extended Writing Team Authors: 7
Contributing Authors: 28
Women: 41
Men: 52
Developing Country Authors: 37
Developed Country Authors: 56 About the IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide political leaders with periodic scientific assessments about climate change. The IPCC has 195 member states that are members of the UN or WMO. Thousands of people from all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC. For the assessment reports, experts volunteer their time as IPCC authors to assess the thousands of scientific papers published each year to provide a comprehensive summary of what is known about the drivers of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and how adaptation and mitigation can reduce those risks. An open and transparent review by experts and member governments is an essential part of the IPCC process to ensure an objective and complete assessment and to reflect a diverse range of views and expertise. The IPCC has three working groups: Working Group I, which addresses with the physical science of climate change; Working Group II, which focuses on the impact, adaptation and vulnerability associated with climate change; and Working Group III, which deals with the mitigation of climate change. It also has a Task Force on Greenhouse Gas Inventories that develops methodologies for measuring emissions and removals. IPCC assessments provide governments, at all levels, with scientific information they can use to develop climate policies. IPCC assessments are a key input into the international negotiations to tackle climate change. IPCC reports are drafted and reviewed in several stages to guarantee accuracy, objectivity and transparency.
About the Sixth Assessment Cycle The IPCC publishes comprehensive scientific assessments every six to seven years. The previous one, the Fifth Assessment Report, was completed in 2014 and provided the main scientific input to The Paris Agreement. At its 41st Session in February 2015, the IPCC decided to produce a Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). At its 42nd Session in October 2015, it elected a new Bureau, which is composed of the IPCC Chair, the IPCC Vice-Chairs, the Co-Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Working Groups, and the Co-Chairs of the Task Force. At its 43rd Session in April 2016, the IPCC decided to produce three Special Reports, a Methodology Report and AR6.
The Working Group I contribution to AR6, Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis, was released on 9 August 2021. The Working Group II contribution, Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, was released on 28 February 2022. The Working Group III contribution, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, was released on 4 April 2022. The IPCC also published the following special reports on more specific issues during the Sixth Assessment Cycle: Global Warming of 1.5°C (2.7°F) in October 2018;
Climate Change and Land in August 2019; and
Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate in September 2019
In May 2019, the IPCC released the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
For more information, please visit www.ipcc.ch. Most videos published by the IPCC can be found on its YouTube channel
###
Temperature-Scale Equivalents
1.1C = 2.0F
1.5C = 2.7F
For more information, please contact:
IPCC Press Office: ipcc-media@wmo.int
Lance Ignon, SYR Communications Specialist: ignon@ipcc-syr.org AR6 Synthesis Report in Numbers
Review comments: 6841
Governments: 47 (21 Developed, 2 Economies in transition, 22 Developing, 2 SIDS)
Government Comments: 6636 (1814 Figures, 4822 Text)
Observers: 5
Observer Comments: 205
Core Writing Team members: 49
Review Editors: 9
Extended Writing Team Authors: 7
Contributing Authors: 28
Women: 41
Men: 52
Developing Country Authors: 37
Developed Country Authors: 56 About the IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide political leaders with periodic scientific assessments about climate change. The IPCC has 195 member states that are members of the UN or WMO. Thousands of people from all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC. For the assessment reports, experts volunteer their time as IPCC authors to assess the thousands of scientific papers published each year to provide a comprehensive summary of what is known about the drivers of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and how adaptation and mitigation can reduce those risks. An open and transparent review by experts and member governments is an essential part of the IPCC process to ensure an objective and complete assessment and to reflect a diverse range of views and expertise. The IPCC has three working groups: Working Group I, which addresses with the physical science of climate change; Working Group II, which focuses on the impact, adaptation and vulnerability associated with climate change; and Working Group III, which deals with the mitigation of climate change. It also has a Task Force on Greenhouse Gas Inventories that develops methodologies for measuring emissions and removals. IPCC assessments provide governments, at all levels, with scientific information they can use to develop climate policies. IPCC assessments are a key input into the international negotiations to tackle climate change. IPCC reports are drafted and reviewed in several stages to guarantee accuracy, objectivity and transparency.
About the Sixth Assessment Cycle The IPCC publishes comprehensive scientific assessments every six to seven years. The previous one, the Fifth Assessment Report, was completed in 2014 and provided the main scientific input to The Paris Agreement. At its 41st Session in February 2015, the IPCC decided to produce a Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). At its 42nd Session in October 2015, it elected a new Bureau, which is composed of the IPCC Chair, the IPCC Vice-Chairs, the Co-Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Working Groups, and the Co-Chairs of the Task Force. At its 43rd Session in April 2016, the IPCC decided to produce three Special Reports, a Methodology Report and AR6.
The Working Group I contribution to AR6, Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis, was released on 9 August 2021. The Working Group II contribution, Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, was released on 28 February 2022. The Working Group III contribution, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, was released on 4 April 2022. The IPCC also published the following special reports on more specific issues during the Sixth Assessment Cycle: Global Warming of 1.5°C (2.7°F) in October 2018;
Climate Change and Land in August 2019; and
Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate in September 2019
In May 2019, the IPCC released the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
For more information, please visit www.ipcc.ch. Most videos published by the IPCC can be found on its YouTube channel
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Latest Resources
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Resources
15 September 2023
Resources
04 July 2023
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