Newsletter 16 Mar 2020
Environment: What’s Up in GENeva this Week | 16-22 March 2020
#COVID19: In light of the continuing spread of the coronavirus, the UN has stepped up measures to safeguard staff and all those using its offices around the world, while at the same time ensuring that the critical work of the Organization continues to deliver on key mandates, and provide lifesaving support to those in need. So have done many other stakeholders in the region. A series of events initially planned in the next weeks have been canceled or postponed, however, business continues when possible, and therefore, remote meetings available via live stream are also being proposed. We will flag on our website the upcoming live events, online learning offers, job opportunities still open and reading suggestions.
Check WHO updates on COVID-19, the Geneva State Council recommendations & information, and the Swiss Confederation updates on the situation.
Tips for working remotely
This virus outbreak has already proven to be one of the largest teleworking experiments ever, but how can we effectively use online participation tools to continue global meetings uninterrupted? DiploFoundation is organizing a Live Discussion “Diplomacy goes virtual as coronavirus goes viral: How to organise and run online meetings” to discuss this topic, Tuesday 17 March at 2pm (CET).
Many platforms are providing tips to organize successful virtual meetings.
- What It Takes to Run a Great Virtual Meeting by Bob Frisch and Cary Greene. Harvard Business Review, 5 March 2020.
- Best video conferencing software 2020: paid and free solutions for business. TechRadar, March 2020.
Regional Forum on SDGs goes live
The Regional Forum 2020 will now be a virtual meeting on 19 March. Check all the information online. Connection details will be shared on 18 March. #RFSD2020
What else can you participate in?
- Civil Society Pre-meeting, 18 March 2020, 10:00 – 17:10 (CET)
- Accelerating progress on the SDGs through policy coherence for sustainable development, 18 March 2020, 8:30 (CET)
- Rural women, youth and economic opportunities: cases from Europe and Central Asia to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, 18 March 2020, 10:00 (CET)
- SDG Challenges Webinar, 18 March 2020, 13:30 – 15:30 (CET)
- Retooling for sustainability, 19 March 2020, 8:30 – 9:45 (CET)
- Policy coherence for sustainabile development, 19 March 2020, 8:30 – 9:45 (CET)
- Leveraging data and statistics for SDGs, 20 March 2020, 10:00 – 11:40 (CET)
- OECD online survey
Nature-based Solution in Humanitarian Action
The Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR) is organizing a webinar, Thursday 19 March, building on outcomes from the recent Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week in Geneva. The session will introduce concrete examples to support the uptake of nature-based solutions through preparation, preparedness and recovery actions. #NatureBasedSolutions
Safe Hands on World Water Day
World Water Day 2020, on 22 March, is about water and climate change – and how the two are inextricably linked. Adapting to the water effects of climate change will protect health and save lives. Using water more efficiently will reduce greenhouse gases. We cannot afford to wait. Everyone has a role to play. #WorldWaterDay
Handwashing is essential to limit the spread of COVID-19. Wash your hands using soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub. For World Water Day, let’s show our best hand hygiene moments to fight COVID-19. #SafeHands
Free learning opportunities
You might have some free time to explore free learning opportunities to improve your knowledge about the environment.
- The United Nations Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (InforMEA) offers free online courses on various topics .
- UN Environment Programme and Partners Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
- E-waste Challenge Massive Open Online Course (Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, the EIT Climate-KIC, the University of Leuven)
- The One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn) provided various learning materials online.
- UNITAR Training Courses for our Planet (fees for various courses)
What should I read next?
- Multi-agency report highlights increasing signs and impacts of climate change in atmosphere, land and oceans. WMO, 10 March 2020.
- Expert calls for resolution on right to healthy environment. UN Special Rapporteur David Boyd, 11 March 2020.
- Coronavirus Lockdown May Save More Lives By Preventing Pollution Than By Preventing Infection. Jeff McMahon in Forbes, 10 March 2020.
- Coronavirus: nitrogen dioxide emissions drop over Italy. EEA, 13 March 2020.
- Coronavirus outbreak highlights need to address threats to ecosystems and wildlife. UNEP, 3 March 2020.
Stay tuned
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