🌌 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
O International day for a Preservation da Layer de Ozone was created by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to mark the signing of the Montreal Protocol – treaty that aims to protect the ozone layer.
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On September 16, 1987, the world came together to sign the Protocol, designed to phase out a number of chemicals that were creating a continent-sized hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica.
Today, the ozone layer is recovering, protecting the planet from the potentially devastating effects of ultraviolet radiation.
- What is the ozone layer? (WWF)
- All about ozone and the ozone layer (UNEP*)
- While the ozone layer is recovering, traps remain (UNEP*)
In a statement, issued this Friday (16), the UN Secretary-General – António Guterres – praised the adoption of the Montreal Protocol and called on countries to pursue the goals of the treaty, supporting the tasks set out thereinsystem. (UN News)
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🌱 New Unicef ambassador wants to 'give a voice' to victims of climate change
Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate recently traveled to the drought-ravaged Horn of Africa to listen to children suffering from hunger. The next day, she learned that one of the boys she knew had died.
It is for these children, whose lives are severely affected by the climate crisis, that Nakate – the new Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) – wants to make their voices heard.
“I hope to continue doing the same to amplify and truly give a platform to the stories of children (…) who are suffering due to the climate crisis”, declared Nakate, 25, in an interview with AFP.
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Inspired by Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager known for her defense of the fight against climate change, Nakate founded the Rise Up Climate Movement several years ago in her home country, Uganda, and has spoken on the topic at prestigious international events.
This Thursday (15), she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), joining figures such as actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, singer Katy Perry and Syrian refugee and education activist Muzoon Almellehan.
“I have always believed that every activist has a story to tell”, said Nakate. “And each story has a solution to give and each solution has a life to change."
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She states that children and women are the ones who suffer most from the global warming and that your mission is to make them heard, rather than to speak on their behalf.
"I can't say I can give anyone a voice, because I believe everyone has their own voice.”, he added. “The question is: who listens to them? Who pays attention?"
According to Unicef, Approximately half of the world's children, around 1 billion, live in one of 33 countries classified as “extremely high risk” due to the impacts of climate change.
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Nakate expressed frustration that despite the increase in extreme weather events, the world's governments, busy dealing with the Ukraine war and the Covid-19 pandemic, are not doing enough to save the planet.
“It is disheartening to see that the world is not paying as much attention as it should to climate issues, it can be very frustrating”, said the activist.
"Leaders need to understand above all that the Earth is home for all of us, it is our roof. And we have to ensure that the entire ceiling is in good condition and that there are no leaks anywhere.”, stated Nakate. “Because any leak in a part of the ceiling will at some point affect everyone in the house.. "
🇮🇹 Italy debates climate change after deaths from violent storm
At least 10 people died and 4 are considered missing in the violent storms that hit in the early hours of Friday (16) in central Italy, destroying homes and streets, a tragedy that opened the debate on the measures to be taken against climate change .
“400 mm of rain fell in six hours in an area where 1.500 usually falls in a year. This is definitely linked to climate change and we need to get used to it and adapt. This is the future, a demonstration of the future, we need to build our resilience”, Paola Pina D'Astore, from the Italian Society of Environmental Geology, explained to AFP.
The most affected area is the province of Ancona, but the rains also hit the neighboring region of Umbria.
“The state of degradation of our Common Home deserves the same attention as other global challenges, such as serious health crises and war conflicts”, wrote Pope Francis in a tweet this Friday (16) on the occasion of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
Several meteorologists believe that these phenomena will multiply throughout the country in the coming months due to the anomalous summer and the extensive heat wave, with record temperatures of up to 42 degrees amid the biggest drought in the last 70 years.
“People died and that is why today the interest in the climate catastrophe is greater. What do we want to do with our lives while the Italian State does nothing to reduce emissions and prevent tens of thousands of similar deaths in the coming years?” lamented Michele Giuli, activist from the environmental movement Última Geração.
🎨 Mural by Brazilian artist Kobra opens at UN headquarters
The work will be completed this Friday (16). According to Kobra, the work aims to celebrate sustainability, an extremely relevant agenda for the United Nations and which should be at the center of the debates of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly, which begins on September 20system. (UN News)
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O Curto Verde is a daily summary of what you need to know about the environment, sustainability and other topics linked to our survival and that of the planet.
(With AFP)
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