UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
Michele Zaccheo, Chief of the TV, Radio and Webcast Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons of the Human Rights Council, the World Meteorological Organization, and the World Health Organization.
Global temperatures figures
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), stated that the WMO would later today confirm that 2024 was the hottest year on record. Extraordinary sea and land temperatures had been accompanied by extreme weather across the world, said Ms. Nullis. Many climate change impacts could be observed throughout the year. WMO would be issuing a press release at 5 pm Geneva time, and the six sources of data used in the consolidated report were the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, the United Kingdom Met Office, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, Berkley Earth, and Japan Meteorological Organization. WMO would also be incorporating data from the Ocean Consortium at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. At COP29 in Baku in November 2024, Ms. Nullis reminded, the WMO had already warned that 2024 would be the warmest on record, which would be confirmed later today.
Responding to questions, Ms. Nullis reiterated that all data sets were quite clear that the world was heading in the wrong direction. Ms. Nullis reminded that 2023 had been the warmest on record thus far and was now about to be overtaken by 2024. It did not mean, however, that every subsequent year would set a new temperature record. Going over the Paris Agreement’s limits of 1.5 Celsius degree warming was indeed a warning sign, but those trends would need to manifest over a longer timespan to declare that the Paris temperature limits were definitely breached. Ms. Nullis confirmed that the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had stated that La Niña conditions were present and expected to persist through February to April 2025.
California wildfires
Michele Zaccheo, for the United Nations information Service (UNIS), said that the UN Secretary-General was shocked and saddened by the widespread devastation caused by the fast-moving wildfires in the Los Angeles area in California. He extended his sincere condolences to the families of those who had lost their lives and commended the courage of the thousands of firefighters and first responders doing everything they could in extremely difficult conditions. The United Nations stood ready to provide assistance if needed.
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that the WMO extended its condolences to the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. She reminded that California was no stranger to wildfires. The US National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, which said that because of the winds there was a risk of a further spread of wildfires. The 2024 rainy season for the Los Angeles area as a whole had been slightly above normal, but 2025 so far had been dry. The big compounding factor in this context were the winds, causing low humidity and temperature increases. The weather played a major role in this regard, and causes of wildfires could be multifold, said Ms. Nullis. NOAA stated that “climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States during the last two decades.” Ms. Nullis also reminded of a 2016 NOAA study which found climate change enhanced the drying of organic matter and doubled the number of large fires between 1984 and 2015 in the western United States. A 2021 study supported by NOAA concluded that climate change had indeed been the main driver of the increase in fire weather in the western United States.
Replying to questions, Ms. Nullis said that prevention had an important role to play, including preparation of adequate evacuation plans. She stressed the importance of an early warning system, which had worked well in this case.
Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that wildfires could have a significant morbidity and mortality effects. The smoke was of major concern, as the atmospheric particle matter PM with diameter 2.5 was associated with a premature death in general population. Particles deposited on the lung surface could induce tissue damage and lung inflammation, among other effects. More interdisciplinary research was needed to understand a long-term effect, she stressed.
Announcements
Pascal Sim, for the Human Rights Council (HRC), said that the 19th cycle of the Human Rights Council had begun this year, under the presidency of the Swiss Ambassador Jürg Lauber, with an organizational meeting of the Universal Periodic Review. A total of 42 States would be reviewed under the UPR mechanism in 2025, and the UPR session would begin on 20 January, informed Mr. Sim. Mr. Sim also confirmed that the HRC President would brief the media ahead of the next HRC session, which would start on 24 February.
From 13 to 17 January, the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action would hold its 23rd session in Room XVII of the Palais des Nations.
Mr. Sim further referred to the statement by the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which said that the recent arrests, including those of prominent human rights defenders, political leaders, and their relatives, constituted yet another attack on the rights and freedoms of the Venezuelan people. Full statement is available here.
He also informed that commissioner Hanny Megally of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria had concluded a first visit to Syria on 9 January, taking crucial steps to foster dialogue and engagement with the new Syrian caretaker Government. He had visited Damascus, where he had held meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense. He had also visited one of the detention centres of the former regime, which he described as “harrowing”. Such abuses should never be repeated again, and all those responsible should be held accountable, stated Mr. Megally. Statement on Mr. Megally’s visit can be read here.
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), announced that, in the context of 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, on 16 January the WMO would organize a detailed, in-depth briefing online with experts on glaciers.
Responding to a question, Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that on 14 January, the WHO Regional Committee for Africa would meet to decide on the process for the election of the next Regional Director for Africa. More details can be found here.
Michele Zaccheo, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the Committee on the Rights of the Child would hold its 98th session from 13 to 31 January. During the session, the Committee w review the reports of Slovakia, Eritrea, Honduras, St Kitts and Nevis, Peru, Gambia, and Ecuador. The CRC would also hold a meeting with Member States.
In response to questions about the impact of the recent decision announced by META to terminate fact-checking on its platforms, Mr. Zaccheo noted that the UN was constantly monitoring and evaluating the social media space and its role within it. The position of the United Nations was that it was important to be present on social media platforms in order to provide evidence-based information and to bring attention to the dangers and mis- and disinformation. On behalf of WHO, Ms. Harris stated that her agency believed it was important to present trusted information on all channels where people might be seeking out such information, including various social media platforms.
Finally, Mr. Zaccheo informed that the UN was now accepting nominations for the United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, which aimed to recognize the achievements of those who dedicated their lives to the service of humanity. The deadline was 28 February, and more information is available here.
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