The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere has reached new highs. Top news of the day | Wednesday: Ukraine, Gaza, UN reform, greenhouse gases UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, proposals to increase the effectiveness of the UN, record concentrations of greenhouse gases.
Strike on the Ukrainian hospital
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine continue to suffer due to the fighting. On October 13, a hospital in Kharkov was seriously damaged and seven patients were injured. An emergency evacuation was organized. The UN human rights monitoring mission in the country, which visited the site, reported that about 120 patients and 10 doctors were there when the glide bomb exploded. Humanitarian agencies quickly mobilized efforts to evacuate patients, provide psychological support to victims, and distribute hot food.
Middle East
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher on Wednesday called for the opportunity to fully implement agreements on the Middle East conflict not to be missed. He stressed that Hamas must make every effort to urgently return the bodies of all dead hostages. He also called on Israel – in accordance with the agreements – to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave. Fletcher noted that UN humanitarian agencies have developed a 60-day plan to deliver aid to Gaza. This week he is in the region coordinating the implementation of the plan. three key areas – peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. Speaking at a meeting of the General Assembly on reform of the Organization, Guterres emphasized the need for structural changes and program reviews throughout the UN system. He noted that the UN needs a more coherent, flexible and cost-effective approach.
Greenhouse gases
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere rose at a record pace in 2024 and reached new highs. This has intensified long-term trends in global warming and extreme weather events, the World Meteorological Organization said. The rising concentrations are being driven by continued emissions from human activities, increasing wildfires, and the declining capacity of land and oceans to absorb carbon dioxide. Other long-lived greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide, also set new highs.