Timeline

Human Impacts of Climate Change

QUNO views climate change as an environmental, political and economic challenge that interconnects with its work on peace and justice issues. We seek to highlight the human impacts of climate change at a time when communities worldwide are experiencing its consequences, yet man made greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) continue to rise at dangerous rates.
March 2024

Human Rights Council urged to promote a ‘human rights economy’

HICC Programme Assistant Anna Aguto delivers statement at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council.

Global economic system transformation is needed to ensure businesses operate within planetary boundaries to secure a sustainable environment and protect human rights.

This was a key message from the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) at the recent 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC). QUNO delivered its statement on behalf of the Friends World Committee for Consultation which represents Quakers, Soka Gakkai International, the World Council of Churches and Anglican Communion.

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March 2024

QUNO Review 2024

QUNO is proud to announce that the latest version of our annual review is now available online! This is a great opportunity to read and learn more about the work of our New York and Geneva offices during this past year, and to learn about the work ahead.

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January 2024

Governments need to urgently and equitably transform root causes driving rising temperature

QUNO’s Human Impacts of Climate Change programme, speaking on behalf of the Friends World Committee for Consultation, this month participated in the 60th Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Istanbul, Turkey. 

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December 2023

Intergenerational justice with this text is still at stake

The most difficult climate change Conference of Parties (COP) since the Paris Agreement (2015) has just finished. The mood in Dubai is sober and exhausted; there is little elation.  QUNO’s analysis will follow in the next days, but for now we can say that true urgency, equity and wealthy country leadership commitment remain deeply insufficient. Still, certain taboos on fossil fuels and international finance dysfunction are shifting, alongside improved focus on Adaptation and Loss and Damage.

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December 2023

Geneva Reporter newest edition online for download

 

Every few months, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva publishes the Geneva Reporter newsletter. In this latest December 2023 edition we share updates on our programmes, links to our latest publications and offer a message of hope. 

Geneva Reporter is freely available for download at the link further down on this page. We would appreciate it if you share it with anyone who might be interested in our work at the United Nations. Enjoy reading! 

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December 2023

Quaker United Nations Summer School 2024 - Applications Now Open

Quaker United Nations Summer School 2023 participants at their visit to the United Nations in Geneva; group photo in front of the flags

We are excited to announce the return of the Quaker United Nations Office Geneva’s Summer School (QUNSS)! Our 12-day residential programme takes place from 1-12 July 2024 at the heart of international governance in Geneva, Switzerland. Summer school brings together a diverse group of young individuals to learn about pressing international concerns, develop professional skills, and build a like-minded community.

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November 2023

QUNO publication connects climate science with personal and political actions

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva has just published an updated version of ‘How to be a Hero for All Our Children,’ which is available in English, Arabic, and Spanish. It aims to connect people with the most recent climate science and suggests personal actions and questions for politicians.

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November 2023

QUNO publication communicates climate science

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva has just published an updated version ‘A Government Official’s Toolkit: Inspiring Urgent, Real, and Equitable Climate Action,’ which is available in English, Arabic, and Spanish. This publication is aimed at enhancing understanding and communication of climate change.

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September 2023

Climate change Global Stocktake must focus on human rights

As the United Nations-led Global Stocktake is being finalised, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) has offered two submissions to this assessment of international action on climate change.

QUNO’s submission — available for download here — was made on behalf of the Quaker organisation, Friends World Committee for Consultation, which it represents at the United Nations (UN).

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September 2023

Climate change: beyond fear and into courage

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) consistently monitors developments around climate change.

QUNO approaches climate change as a peace and justice concern, and is involved in international climate negotiations, the Human Rights Council, and is an accredited observer of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Lindsey Fielder Cook, QUNO’s Geneva-based Representative at the United Nations, heads its Human Impacts of Climate Change programme.

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August 2023

Geneva Reporter newest edition online for download

Every few months, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva publishes the Geneva Reporter newsletter. In this latest September 2023 edition we share stories about how our staff found their path to Quaker House in Geneva, report on our annual Quaker United Nations Summer School held recently, and have a Q&A with one of our programme assistants who is wrapping up a year of working with our Human Rights & Refugees programme.

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July 2023

Quakers involvement in the UN Human Rights Prize 2023

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 and awarded every five years since, the UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights is an honorary award given to individuals and organizations in recognition of their outstanding achievements in human rights. One of the two recognized organizations this year was the Global Recognition of the Right to a Healthy Environment Coalition.

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June 2023

QUNO at SB58 (5 - 15 June)

QUNO’s team at the recent United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations (SB58) in Bonn (June 5 – June 15) was the Representative for the Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC), Lindsey Fielder Cook, and HICC programme assistant Alana M Carlson. During the two weeks the QUNO team presented two publications, held a quiet diplomacy dinner with climate negotiations, a side event and spoke at a press conference.

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June 2023

New Climate Publication - A Government Official's Toolkit

QUNO has just published the most recent version of A Government Official’s Toolkit: Inspiring Urgent, Real, and Equitable climate action. The 2023 Toolkit highlights the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Synthesis Report. It is a useful guide for both policy makers and climate activists.

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May 2023

New Climate Publication - Fair Sources of Finance for a New Loss and Damage Funding Arrangement

Last November, States that took part in COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh agreed to pass a new funding arrangement for responding to loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change. Loss and damage (L&D) refers to the monetary and non-monetary losses and damages that people have experienced and will experience due to sudden and slow-onset events. Economic, or tangible, L&D includes the loss of property and livelihood, changes in labor and agricultural productivity, cost of medical treatments associated with climatic events, and so forth.

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March 2023

Small Island Developing States champion initiative to seek World Court Advisory Opinion

The Quaker United Nations Office welcomes the landmark decision by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion on “the obligations of States in respect of climate change.” The UNGA decision came after Vanuatu led a core group of nations, made up mostly of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and others, including New Zealand, to bring forward the resolution to the General Assembly.

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March 2023

QUNO Review 2023

2023 is an opportunity for us to celebrate 75 years of Quaker peace and justice work at the UN. Read our newest QUNO Review to learn more about the work of our New York and Geneva offices during this past year, and to learn about the work ahead.

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March 2023

QUNO: 75 Years of a Trusted Presence at the United Nations

This year, 2023, marks 75 years since the Quakers United Nations Office (QUNO) was founded in 1948. QUNO represents Quakers at the United Nations (UN) and related multilateral institutions, such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

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March 2023

IPCC 58th Session

QUNO, speaking as Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), took part in an approval process to finalize the Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which collates the full findings of the 6th Assessment Report. From 13-19th March, 135 states and over 150 observers took part in negotiations to finalize the language of the Synthesis Report to communicate to policy makers worldwide the latest climate science.

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March 2023

52nd Session of the Human Rights Council – Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment

On the 9th and 10th of March, an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment was held as part of the 52nd Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva.

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