Budva, Montenegro – 8 November 2024The 2024 Europe and Central Asia Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction concluded today in Budva, Montenegro, bringing together over 700 participants, including ministers, civil protection leaders, and diverse stakeholders from 55 UN Member States.In a show of unity, Member States endorsed a political declaration that committed to strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and addressing the growing impacts of climate change in the region, ahead of the COP29 conference taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, next week. They acknowledged the escalating risks across the region, exacerbated by climate change, economic vulnerabilities, and geopolitical tensions, and committed to four targeted actions in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the regional DRR Roadmap 2021-2030: 1. Integrated Action on DRR and Climate Resilience: Member States committed to scaling up integrated actions on disaster risk reduction and climate change. This includes setting more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that not only meet climate targets but also prepare communities for future disasters.2. Inclusive Risk Governance: Member States committed to meaningfully engage all sectors of government and society, with a focus on marginalized groups, to ensure disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation policies are inclusive and effective for all communities.3. Increased Financing for Resilience: Member States committed to enhancing disaster and climate risk financing. This involves prioritizing investments in resilient and green infrastructure capable of withstanding climate impacts and natural hazards, with a focus on nature-based solutions and sustainable technologies.4. Enhanced Early Warning Systems: Member States committed to improving multi-hazard early warning systems (EWS) to ensure timely and accurate and accessible alerts for all hazards. The goal is to expand EWS coverage to protect every person globally by 2027, in line with UN targets.These commitments underscore the determination of Member States to work collaboratively in building a resilient future for communities across the region. They committed to echo these pledges at COP29 in Baku, and to pursuing intensified actions address climate-driven risks and other natural hazards. Additionally, the Platform launched the Montenegro Call for Action on Earthquake Preparedness and Recovery, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, improving technical capacity, and driving investments toward earthquake resilience. Danilo Šaranović, Minister of the Interior of Montenegro, said: “The issue of natural hazards is not limited to individual countries. The fact that certain countries in Europe and Central Asia share fault lines and seismic zones highlights the significant impact of earthquakes not only on the country where they occur but also on neighbouring countries. Therefore, mutual cooperation is essential in disaster prevention to mitigate and reduce the impact of earthquakes. At the ministerial roundtable, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to building a safer and more resilient future for our communities, economies, and ecosystems. We also discussed the next steps in implementing disaster risk reduction measures across Europe and Central Asia.”Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction: “I welcome the Political Declaration issued by the countries of Europe and Central Asia, which commits the region to higher levels of action to reduce the human and economic costs of disasters. This declaration is especially pertinent as we head into COP29 where we hope to inspire more ambitious commitments from all countries to ensure that the goals of the Sendai Framework and Paris Agreement are realized. I also thank Montenegro for its hospitality and leadership, and I welcome its Call for Action on Earthquake Preparedness and Recovery, which seeks to remedy a critical gap in the region’s resilience against earthquakes. Together, these two outcomes demonstrate the region’s leadership on disaster risk reduction and its commitment to achieving resilience for all.” Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management said: “Disasters do not recognise borders or institutional silos, so neither should our solidary and cooperation. Together, we can achieve a more resilient future for all. This is what the European Commission is working towards with its partners in Europe and beyond. We work to strengthen the EU Civil Protection Mechanism by expanding the rescEU strategic reserve of assets, growing the Civil Protection Knowledge Network and implementing the European disaster resilience goals. We also continue working to strengthen the disaster preparedness of the most vulnerable populations and communities through EU humanitarian aid. And we work with our international partners to scale-up disaster risk reduction. Here in Budva today, we have renewed our commitment to make the vision of the Sendai Framework a reality.”Krzysztof Zyman, Executive Secretary of EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement, Council of Europe said: “The link between environment and human rights is increasingly recognized today. A healthy environment is essential for the protection of human rights, while environmental degradation can lead to severe violations of these rights. Living in an unhealthy environment, marred by pollution, loss of biodiversity, impacted by ever-more frequent and impactful extreme weather events, which are amplified by human intervention or climate change, negatively impacts our well-being and fundamental rights. Ultimately, this degradation can undermine democracy itself. To address these threats, in 2022, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a landmark Recommendation on human rights and the protection of the environment, calling on its member states to actively consider recognising, at national level, the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as a human right.”This Regional Platform marked the largest multi-stakeholder gathering in the region for the implementation of the Sendai Framework since its inception. It provided a unique forum for diverse groups, including youth, persons with disabilities, gender rights advocates, and the private sector, to share perspectives and influence collective action to protect communities, strengthen inclusive governance, and integrate DRR measures across all sectors. Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum, said: “It is essential that persons with disabilities and their organisations are involved in building policies and actions to protect people during crisis. Not only do we face disproportionate risks and barriers, but we also have knowledge that will help build more accessible and resilient solutions.”The Platform also resulted in the Children and Youth Statement: The Road to Resilience which was presented to civil protection leaders to ensure inclusive decision-making and resilience-building for all communities in the region.
Elene Samukashvili, Focal Point of the Sendai Stakeholder Children and Youth Working Group in the UN Major Group for Children and Youth said: “The Children and Youth Statement: The Road to Resilience calls for urgent action and genuine, systemic inclusion in decision-making at all levels. More than a call to action, it’s a youth-driven blueprint for change, calling for governments, organizations, and individuals to join us as allies in building a resilient, sustainable future. Together, we can create the transformative change our generation deserves.” AboutThe Europe and Central Asia Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction is the main intergovernmental platform for addressing regional disaster risk challenges in Europe and Central Asia, comprising 55 countries. Held every three years, the Regional Platform has established itself as a unique vehicle to address regional disaster risk challenges, gathering stakeholders across governments, civil society, and the private sector, enabling knowledge-sharing and making commitments to reducing disaster risk tangible. The platform is supported by a secretariat composed of the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the host country of the platform and UNDRR. Further information on the Europe and Central Asia Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024 is available on the website: https://efdrr.undrr.org/ The 2024 Regional Platform is hosted by the Government of Montenegro, with support from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Further information is available on the website: https://efdrr.undrr.org/ The last Regional Platform in Matosinhos, Portugal, in 2021, led to the endorsement of the ‘EFDRR Roadmap for Disaster Risk Reduction 2021-2030', which outlines four priority areas and sixteen action areas for the region to achieve the priorities of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The Sendai Framework is the global agreement offering Member States concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster, working hand in hand with the other 2030 Agenda agreements, and ultimately the Sustainable Development Goals.

 Podgorica, Montenegro - 24 October 2024With global challenges growing more interconnected, the recently adopted Pact for the Future by the UN General Assembly underscores multilateralism as its guiding principle. This was central message at this year's UN Day celebration hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ervin Ibrahimović.The UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Diego Zorrilla emphasized that in the face of growing global challenges, United Nations remain moral compass which the world needs.“The world needs more UN, not less UN, in order to adequately respond to the current challenges. The Pact for the Future calls for reinforced multilateralism, including reform of the international financial system and the UN Security Council. As a result, this groundbreaking international agreement was adopted by the member states as a roadmap for a new era of global cooperation,“ said Zorrilla, highlighting that Montenegro has a lot to offer in this regard. "Through active participation in numerous international initiatives, Montenegro has proven its commitment to multilateralism and I have no doubt that it will actively contribute to the realization of the Pact for the Future, primarily through the EU accession process which covers a large part of the Agenda for Sustainable Development," said Zorrilla. In a world increasingly shaped by shared risks – ranging from climate change and conflict to economic instability – the Pact calls for unified action, clearly recognizing that no single nation can address these issues alone. Montenegro's Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ervin Ibrahimović, highlighted the country’s longstanding commitment to international cooperation, emphasizing the critical role of the United Nations in strengthening multilateralism. “The world is facing a series of complex challenges, which is why the United Nations and strengthened multilateralism have a crucial role to play in ensuring peace and protecting international law,“ said Ibrahimović voicing support for the UN Secretary-General’s “New Agenda for Peace” which focuses on conflict prevention and diplomacy. He reminded that Montenegro aims to join the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member from 2026-2027 to contribute to global peace and incorporate the perspective of smaller nations in decision-making. “Montenegro’s work on achieving Sustainable Development Goals is greatly aligned with its European Union ambitions, promoting social inclusion and environmental protection, which are essential for regional peace and resilience against destabilizing policies,“ Ibrahimović added.    

Collective action across over 150 countries worldwide is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated days in the UN calendar. World Food Day is led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and takes place annually on 16 October, which is the anniversary of the founding of FAO. Each year a special theme for World Food Day promotes a particular aspect of the need to raise awareness of hunger and act for a better future with food security, with better lives for people, and the planet.This year, the theme of World Food Day spotlights access to foods as a human right. The campaign raises awareness worldwide about the need for everyone to have access to a variety of nutritious, affordable, safe, and sustainable foods. We talk about “foods” in the plural because diversity is essential to proper nutrition, as well as food availability, accessibility and affordability for all.Smallholders and family farmers are the backbone of food production and ensure the persistence of traditional food cultures. World Food Day is an ideal occasion to celebrate the hard and diligent daily work of farmers who help us keep Montenegro’s flavours alive by preserving centuries-old culinary traditions and attracting the agritourists to rural regions.Even though the world’s farmers produce more than enough food to feed the global population, data in the latest Global Report on Food Crises shows more than 280 million people experienced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2023 – and many of the crises that caused hunger last year are still ongoing in 2024. The war in Ukraine and the aftermath of regional floods, droughts and earthquakes have disrupted food production and distribution. Additionally, where food supply is severely restricted, people may consume food that is unsafe, frequency of meals may be reduced, and portion sizes may be smaller. The costs of a healthy diet are rising and are an increasing obstacle for people to maintain health and food security. Over 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet that supplies the necessary diversity of food and of micronutrients required for well-being. Those people who are unable to get the nutrients they need are more likely to get sick, face a higher risk of chronic illnesses or lack the stamina to lead an active lifestyle. The time is now for action to end food insecurity and malnutrition.  The Government of Montenegro recognizes and prioritizes the importance of the food security and adequate nutrition – this is reflected in the key strategic documents, namely the national Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Areas for 2023–2028.  According to 2022 data from FAOStat, the statistical repository of FAO, Montenegro has a prevalence of 12.3 percent of low-to-moderate or severe food insecurity in its population, giving it the lowest rate in the Western Balkans. Another important food availability metric is the average dietary energy supply adequacy (ADESA) which measures the dietary energy supply in a country as a percentage of the average dietary energy requirement for the total population. That is, it measures the adequacy of food supply in terms of calories in the country. It discerns whether undernourishment is mainly due to an inadequate food supply or unequal distribution of food among the population. Again, FAOStat data shows that in Montenegro the three-year average ADESA score has increased from 141 to 145 between 2018–2020 and 2021–2023, which indicates adequate and improving food availability.To commemorate World Food Day in Montenegro the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro, Podgorica municipality and Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro with the support of the FAO Office in Montenegro organized a Food Fair, which was attended by high-level representatives and partners from embassies, international organizations and national institutions, and that brought together more than 25 organic food and traditional food producers and vendors.  De facto Head of the FAO office in Montenegro and FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, Nabil Gangi spoke at the Fair, saying “Today’s Food Fair aims to demonstrate the unique role which smallholders and family farmers play as the backbone to producing variety of foods while preserving traditional food cultures in Montenegro. As a follow-up to the “Summit for the Future” pledge, I would like to use the opportunity of celebrating this World Food Day with our friends and partners to renew the collective commitment to building efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems that guarantee everyone’s right to nutritious foods. Together, we can get back on track to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by transforming agrifood systems for better production, nutrition, environment, and life—leaving no one behind.”The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro, Vladimir Jokovic, also spoke. He recognized the larger importance of the country’s food heritage as a marker of national identity. “We decided to organize the food and agricultural products fair to focus on organic production, traditional production of agricultural products, as well as producers who are successful entrepreneurs today and who, thanks to IPARD support, can supply the Montenegrin market with agricultural products. The Government of Montenegro has a clear direction and commitment to join the European Union market. It is very important that we all participate in creating a recognizable Montenegro, as a country with a rich tradition in agricultural production, but also in creating the most favourable environment for the business of our agricultural producers while respecting European values." Some of the fair’s attractions included traditional folklore dance and music performances, and a demonstration of food preparation with fresh local ingredients by a skilled local chef. For younger visitors, special animations and games were organized to help children learn about healthy food in a fun and interactive way. The students and teachers of the Secondary Mixed School in Andrijevica and the Secondary Vocational School "Spasoje Raspopović" in Podgorica also celebrated World Food Day. Thematic discussions and lectures on the topics of the right and access to nutritious, diverse and safe food were organized, and other interactive activities included food preparation and creation of artwork.  Fourth grade students at Andrijevica school understood the meaning of World Food Day and generated their own messages to promote the day. "Hunger is not solved by words, but by actions!""To someone, a little can mean a lot, and as humans, we should always support one another.""Young and old alike, let’s create a world without hunger together!""Let’s promote volunteer work and humanitarian projects to help one another and prevent hunger in our communities."Their words capture the true spirit and call for action of World Food Day to be carried forward every day of the year.

 New York, USA - 22 September 2024The Pact along with its annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, was adopted by consensus, despite a last-minute proposal for an amendment by some countries, including Russia, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Syria.The amendment sought to incorporate text calling for non-intervention in any issue of national sovereignty, and the primacy of intergovernmental deliberation, in effect, downplaying the role of the civil society or private sector interests. It was rejected after the 193-member Assembly decided not to act on the proposal.Click here for UN News’ live coverage of the meeting and here to download the resolutionPact for the FutureThe Pact’s five broad focus areas include: sustainable development; international peace and security; science and technology; youth and future generations and transforming global governance.This has become an urgent pivot, as multilateral financial institutions and even the United Nations itself have come up short seeking solutions to 21st century problems, the pact lays out.By endorsing the Pact, UN Member States pledged, among other things, to:Turbocharge the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, two landmark 2015 agreements that have seen halting progress and missed milestonesListen to young people and include them in decision-making, at the national and global levelsBuild stronger partnerships with civil society, the private sector, local and regional authorities and moreRedouble efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflictsProtect all civilians in armed conflictAccelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and securityGlobal Digital CompactThe Global Digital Compact marks the first truly worldwide agreement on the international regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and is founded on the idea that technology should benefit everyone.It outlines commitments to ensure that digital technologies contribute to sustainable development and human rights, while addressing risks like digital divides, cybersecurity, and misuse of technology.The Compact aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure AI technologies are used responsibly, fostering global cooperation on both AI capabilities and security threats. Governments are also obligated to form an impartial worldwide Scientific Panel on AI and start an international conversation about AI governance inside the UN.Declaration on Future GenerationsThe Declaration on Future Generations focuses on securing the well-being of future generations, also highlighting the need to include their interests in decision-making processes.It also underlines the importance of protecting the environment, promoting intergenerational equity, and ensuring that long-term consequences of today's actions are considered.New opportunitiesSpeaking after the adoption, Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the Pact for the Future and its annexes, “open pathways to new possibilities and opportunities.”“People everywhere are hoping for a future of peace, dignity, and prosperity. They are crying out for global action to solve the climate crisis, tackle inequality, and address new and emerging risks that threaten everyone,” he said.“They see the United Nations as essential to solving these challenges,” he continued, adding “the Summit of the Future sets a course for international cooperation that can meet their expectations … now, let’s get to work.”Months of negotiationThe adoption was the culmination of months of negotiations co-facilitated by Germany and Namibia.Speaking after the adoption, Philémon Yang, President of the 79th session of the General Assembly, urged nations to move forward, together, in a spirit of solidarity and multilateral cooperation.“The path we choose must lead to a future where human dignity is respected and human rights are upheld. A future where peace transcends the mere absence of conflict and is grounded in justice, inclusion, and equity.”