Good morning, this is Bruno, bringing you the climate news for Geneva Solutions.

This week we look at the Earth’s ‘skin’ - soils and vegetation - and why taking care of it has become so important. Do worms and nematods hold the key to our future?

We also look at how human rights institutions can contribute decisively to climate stability. Meanwhile, a growing number of cities are on track to keep global warming below 1.5 C, unlike the countries they are sitting in.

Bruno Jochum

18.12.2020

Today’s reason for hope

Aerial view of Copenhagen (Pixabay)

Cities that are spearheading the fight for climate. Local efforts are paying off. According to a new analysis by C40, a group of cities focused on tackling climate change, 54 cities are on the right track to keeping global warming to a maximum of 1.5 C.

Geneva Solutions (EN)

Climate News

Earth's fragile 'skin': why soils are so important to life and climate. Not only do they produce food, store as much carbon as plants and filter water. In the fight for a sustainable future, they are an essential ally - together with the billions of creepy crawlies they shelter, and the trees above.

Geneva Solutions (EN)

Climate action from a human rights perspective. Sea levels rising, floods, pollution are all consequences from climate change with a major impact on human rights. Increasingly confronted with this, national human rights institutions are becoming crucial climate advocates.

Geneva Solutions (EN)

Deep-diving into the oceans. From ancient trade networks to delicate ecosystems, oceans hold many treasures. With the growing threat of climate change, this series explores what’s at stake.

The Conversation (EN)

Here's what else is happening

Impacted by the pandemic, the children of the world want to be heard.
RTS (FR)
Geneva Science and Diplomacy foundation reveals its next steps.
Geneva Solutions (EN)
Switzerland returns more illicit assets to Peru
Swissinfo.ch (EN)
As COVID-19 vaccines launch, digital certificates seen deepening inequalities
Reuters (EN)
Syrian refugees and host communities pushed into poverty, report says
World Bank (EN)
The United Front: a lesser-known side of Chinese presence in Switzerland
The Geneva Observer (EN)
Victims of conflict rush to Mirwais regional hospital, staff struggle to keep up
ICRC (EN)
WFP warns of critical food shortages for refugees in Kenya
WFP (EN)
UN committee on enforced disappearance registers 1,000th ‘milestone’ request
UN News (EN)

Image of the day

(Keystone/Corporal Phil Dye/Ministry of Defence via AP)

The world’s largest iceberg heading for collision. An iceberg the size of Delaware is on the path to crash with the island of South Georgia, in the South Atlantic. It is drifting some 75 kilometers from the island, threatening to cut penguins’ and seals’ access to the ocean. A team of scientists will be heading next month on a mission to find out how the iceberg is affecting wildlife and marine life on the island, said the British Antarctic Survey.

Next on the agenda

22 December | Waste Management During COVID-19: From Crisis to Opportunity. Experts discuss the experiences learned from around the world in the last six months in waste management.

UNEP (EN)

14 January | Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues. An event for actors in Geneva engaged in rethinking the way we manufacture, use, trade and manage to network and create synergies.

GEN (EN)

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Have a good day!

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