ESCAP-SCO Side Event: Enabling Food Systems Transformation through Climate Smart Agri-Innovation
2023-05-16 01:30 - 02:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
The agricultural sector in the Asia-Pacific region is suffering from a number of key constraints which are significantly worsening the vulnerability of agriculture to climate impacts in the region. Apart from being highly vulnerable to its impacts, agriculture is also an important contributor to climate change.
Agricultural innovation for development of more efficient and sustainable technologies and machinery holds significant promise to boost climate resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Apart from digital and smart technologies, there is a vital role for innovation of simple and low-cost agricultural technologies and practices for resource-poor farmers and smallholders. These can help put agriculture on a trajectory of resilient and low-carbon development.
Co-organized by ESCAP and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the 79th session of the Commission, the event will inform and support countries’ implementation of the national food system transformation pathway, especially in the action areas of advancing equitable livelihoods, building resilience, and accelerating the Means of Implementation. It will advance the understanding of policymakers and practitioners working in the areas of agriculture and climate change adaptation and mitigation on the need for promoting agri-innovation.
The event will be opened by remarks from senior-level speakers. This will be followed by a panel of experts that will illustrate pertinent approaches and technologies. The closing session will reflect on how such solutions can be upscaled in the region through multilateral cooperation.
Participants attending the 79th session of the Commission in Bangkok are welcome to attend in-person while the event will also be open to online participation through the registration link below. The event will be conducted in English and simultaneous interpretation will be provided in Chinese and Russian for the online participants.

Intergovernmental Consultations on Nature-Based Solutions: First Global Consultation
2023-05-16 08:00 - 2023-05-17 17:00 | Virtual Event
The first global consultation meeting in the intergovernmental consultations on nature-based solutions will be a virtual meeting. It will comprise two four-hour sessions, one held on Tuesday May 16th and one on Wednesday May 17th 2023.

UNEP webinar on report findings on solutions to end plastic pollution
2023-05-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual Event
In this webinar, UNEP will present the key findings of its latest report “Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy“. The report proposes a systems change to address the causes of plastic pollution. It combines reducing the most problematic and unnecessary plastic uses with three market shifts – Reuse, Recycle, and Reorient and Diversify – and actions to deal with the plastic pollution legacy.

Reuse refers to the transformation of the ‘throwaway economy’ to a ‘reuse society’.
Recycling refers to the importance of accelerating the market for plastics recycling, ensuring it becomes a more profitable venture.
Reorient and Diversify refer to shifting the market demand towards sustainable plastic alternatives.

The report highlights that these solutions are available now and explains how a systems change underpinned by the necessary integrated regulatory instruments will result in social, environmental, and economic benefits.

What the COP15 Global Biodiversity Framework Means for Your Company
2023-05-18 13:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
With representatives from leading businesses, corporate biodiversity initiatives, and indigenous groups, this webinar will focus on outcomes of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15). This event will give businesses a better understanding of their risks, dependencies and impacts on biodiversity, as well as practical ways to engage in corporate investment initiatives and build cross-sector partnerships to restore the natural environment.

UNEP FI Regional Roundtable Asia Pacific 2023
2023-05-23 20:00 - 2023-05-25 03:30 | Seoul, South Korea, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
The UNEP FI Regional Roundtable Asia Pacific will be held in person on 24-25 May in Seoul, South Korea. The event will convene UNEP FI members, policymakers, civil society organisations, and academia to discuss the advancement of sustainable finance, its challenges, and solutions in Asia Pacific.
In addition to having the opportunity to network with the finance community in the region, speakers and participants will explore important issues specific to the region, including net zero banking and insurance, ASEAN taxonomies as guiding frameworks for the finance sector, understanding and managing nature-related risks, financial health and inclusion, and more.

Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution
2023-05-29 08:00 - 2023-06-02 17:00 | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Headquarters in Paris, France, Paris, France
The second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-2) will take place from 29 May to 2 June 2023 at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Headquarters in Paris, France. The meeting will be preceded by regional consultations on 28 May 2023, at the same venue.
Practical information regarding the meeting and the venue is available in the Information Note for Participants (13 April 2023). Participants are strongly encouraged to read the information note to get acquainted with all the meeting logistics, including visa procedures for entry in France. This note will be continually updated with the necessary practical and logistical information.

2023 Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Sustainable Maritime Connectivity
2023-05-29 21:30 - 2023-05-31 06:30 | Virtual Event
Maritime and port activities serve as a key enabler of all dimensions of sustainable development and of deeper regional integration due to their vital role as the gateway for international trade. Despite the diversity of Asia and the Pacific region, which includes coastal countries, small island developing States or archipelago countries, there are several common issues that they all should consider in establishing their maritime and port development policies, such as supporting the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, achieving the greenhouse gas reduction targets, promoting technological innovation in the shipping and port industries and collaborating with the private sector to improve shipping performance.
Regular sharing of best practices and experiences on these and related issues can contribute to promoting better maritime transport connectivity as well as stimulating collective action for achieving SDGs. In recognition of this, the Regional Action Programme for Sustainable Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific (2022–2026), adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Transport in Bangkok in December 2021, includes a systematic regional dialogue on sustainable and resilient maritime connectivity, including the promotion of the development of low- and zero-emissions green shipping for Asia and the Pacific in close partnership with global and regional actors and the shipping industry.
The 2023 edition of the Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Sustainable Maritime Connectivity will be held in Bangkok, Thailand and online on 30-31 May 2023. The event will bring together experts from the member countries and relevant organizations to engage on a wider array of issues relevant for strengthening and enhancing maritime connectivity in Asia and the Pacific, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia.

The SDG Business Breakdown: Supply Chain & Operations
2023-06-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
To efficiently contribute to the creation of a more prosperous planet, sustainability needs to be embedded in a company’s DNA. This can be a challenging task, especially for departments who do not directly work on sustainability issues.
The UN Global Compact Network USA will host The Business Breakdown of the SDGs webinar series to provide companies with the opportunity to integrate the SDGs into each core function of their business. This series aims to help non-sustainability professionals integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into their day-to-day work. By ‘breaking down’ a business by function in each webinar, the series is designed to provide department-specific insight, knowledge, and inspiration needed to make a positive impact on the company’s SDG strategy.
This session will provide Supply Chain & Operations professionals with the insight, tools, and actions to integrate the SDGs into their work. The webinar will feature Supply Chain & Operations professionals who have made a significant impact on their company’s SDG strategy.

Bonn Climate Change Conference 2023
2023-06-05 08:00 - 2023-06-15 17:00 | Virtual Event
The Bonn Climate Change Conference is scheduled from 5 to 15 June 2023. The pre-sessional meetings take place 30 May to 4 June. Building on the mandates that emerged from COP 27 in Egypt last year, the conference will host a large number of mandated events and continue discussions on issues of critical importance, such as the global stocktake, global goal on adaptation, just transition, loss and damage and the mitigation work programme. The conference is expected to make progress on these and other important issues and prepare draft decisions for adoption at COP 28 / CMP 18 / CMA 5 in the UAE in December 2023.

United Nations World Oceans Day 2023
2023-06-08 10:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
JOIN UN WOD 2023
The ocean covers the majority of the earth, but only a small portion of its waters has been explored. Despite humanity’s utter reliance on it, and compared to the breadth and depth of what it gives us, the ocean receives only a fragment of our attention and resources in return.
But tides are changing.
To celebrate the United Nations World Oceans Day 2023 theme, Planet Ocean, the United Nations is joining forces with decision makers, scientists, private sector executives, civil society representatives, indigenous communities, celebrities and youth activists and more to put the ocean first.

Health is our greatest wealth: Setting the global sustainability agenda for the life & health insurance industry
2023-06-21 05:00 - 08:00 | Virtual Event
The UN Environment Programme’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI), is hosting an event that will amplify sustainability action and ambition for the life & health insurance industry in this UN Decade of Action. The event will be hosted by Vitality, a PSI signatory company, and will run from 10:00 to 13:00 BST on Wednesday, 21 June 2023. In-person participation is by invitation only. The event will be livestreamed on the UNEP FI YouTube channel. Click here to register for the livestream and add the event to your calendar.
In a post-COVID world increasingly impacted by climate change, nature loss, social inequality and the cost of living crisis, this event will feature the launch of a timely paper, “Health is our greatest wealth: How life & health insurers can drive better health outcomes and address the protection gap”. This paper is a collaborative effort by the PSI’s Life & Health Working Group—comprising 10 leading insurers and reinsurers from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America—co-led by HSBC Life and the UN, and supported by Ernst & Young LLP.
The programme will also include a CEO panel discussion, bringing together leading companies’ CEOs and other senior representatives from the insurance industry, in an engaging high-level panel discussion on the key sustainability challenges and opportunities for life & health insurers.

Investing with Nature: Deep dive on nature-based solutions in freshwater ecosystems
2023-06-27 08:00 - 09:30 | Virtual Event
Freshwater is not only indispensable for wildlife, people and planet, it is also the habit of a wide variety of fish, plant and crustacean species. The freshwater ecosystem comprises of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, springs, bogs and wetlands, and provides transport routes, hydropower, irrigation and drinking water, as well as a wide range of other ecosystem services such as recreation, landscape and biodiversity. Moreover, it also helps prevent erosion, dispose of waste and provides natural protection from flooding.
However, threats such as pollution, climate change, water-related diseases as well as harmful human activities are putting the freshwater ecosystem in danger, therefore posing significant risks to animals, the environment, humans and the economy. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be a cost-effective method to optimize the economic potential of the ecosystem, while enhancing its services and preserving biodiversity. For example, in the case of freshwater ecosystems, NbS can help build resilience against floods, combat climate change and support people’s health via clean water.
The third deep dive session of the new “Investing in Nature: Exploring Investment Opportunities Across Ecosystems” webinar series – funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH – will explain the importance of water in nature and practical ways to invest in freshwater as a nature-based solution. The panel discussion will focus on the experiences and perspectives of private and civil society actors investing in freshwater-related nature-based solutions.

Session 3: Resilience in a time of crisis: Transforming Energy access, Climate Action Learning and strengthening indigenous knowledge to achieve the SDGs
2023-07-11 08:30 - 10:00 | Virtual Event
Resilience in a time of crisis: Transforming Energy access, Climate Action Learning and strengthening indigenous knowledge to achieve the SDGs

Fourth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
2023-07-16 10:00 - 16:30 | United Nations New York Headquarters, 405 E 42nd St, New York, NY, 10017, United States
Background

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement are intrinsically linked, and one cannot be achieved without the other. In the same spirit, the Secretary-General in a recent address on his 2023 priorities stressed that “Climate action is the 21st century’s greatest opportunity to drive forward all the Sustainable Development Goals.” As such, maximizing on the interlinkages between the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement by leveraging climate action and SDG synergies has the potential of achieving both agendas faster, while ensuring a just and equitable future.
Integrated planning, coherent policies, and economic stimulus investments designed to meet both the SDGs and climate challenges can generate significant co-benefits and speed up progress. Research has shown that aligning actions on climate and SDGs globally can yield up to US$26 trillion before 2030 in economic gains, produce over 65 million new green jobs, and save approximately 7 million premature deaths per year. With concerted and coordinated global public and private collaborative efforts, achievement of all SDGs can be advanced, trade-offs avoided, and social disparities reduced.

FOURTH GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE AND SDG SYNERGIES

The Fourth Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference is convened by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Conference is conducted in association with the 2023 HLPF. It thus also provides delegations the opportunity to reflect their on-going review of progress on achieving the SDGs, notably SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17, in a wider context of the multiple interlinkages between these goals and global climate action. The Conference will take stock of progress on synergistic action at all levels. It will also shed light on some of key findings and messages from the work of the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergies. More specifically, the Fourth Global Conference on Climate and SDD Synergies will deliver:

A forward-looking summary, with a set of key recommendations for enhancing synergistic implementation of the SDGs and climate action at the political level as well as practical levels.
A set of empirical evidence on climate action and the SDGs co-benefits, including how various stakeholders are progressing in delivering jointly on these two agendas and transitioning towards just, equitable, and climate compatible pathways.

2023 Higher Education Sustainability Initiative Global Forum
2023-07-17 10:00 - 13:00 | United Nations New York Headquarters, 405 E 42nd St, New York, NY, 10017, United States
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) is an open partnership between several United Nations entities and the higher education community launched in the lead-up to the Rio+20 Conference in 2012. It is currently chaired by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the Sulitest Association – a non-profit organization and online platform aimed at improving sustainability literacy for all. Other UN partners include UNESCO, UN Environment Programme, UN Global Compact’s Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative, UN University, UN-HABITAT, UNCTAD, UNITAR, UN Office for Partnerships and UN Academic Impact.
Each year, HESI organizes a global forum as a special event to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) – UN’s main platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level – to highlight the critical role of higher education in achieving sustainable development.
This year’s HLPF is focused on “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”. The HLPF will provide an in-depth review of SDGs 6 on clean water and sanitation, 7 on affordable and clean energy, 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11 on sustainable cities and communities and 17 on partnerships for the Goals. The HESI Global Forum will examine the role of higher education in achieving these goals.

2023 SDG Global Business Forum
2023-07-18 08:30 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
Turbocharging the 2030 Agenda with business impact
As we approach the halfway mark to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the world has been confronted with a complex web of interconnected crises that have put the achievement of the 2030 Agenda at serious risk. What needs to change to get back on track to achieve the 2030 Agenda? Who needs to play a more prominent role? How do we ensure a just and fair transition to net zero? What immediate action can companies, governments, business organizations and civil society take to move the needle on the 2030 Agenda?
This year’s 2023 SDG Global Business Forum, taking place alongside important policy debates at the ministerial segment of the 2023 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), will welcome a global community of movers and shakers, problem solvers and innovators to debate these questions, discuss priorities, build alliances and co-create high-impact business solutions to turbocharge the SDGs in the remaining seven years before 2030.
In-person registration is now closed. Those with a valid UN grounds pass or stakeholders already registered to attend the 2023 HLPF can attend in person.
An engaging virtual hour–long session is open and the remaining sessions will be available to view
on UN Web TV.

3rd International Forum on Low-Carbon Cities: City-led climate actions in North-east Asia
2023-08-28 19:30 - 2023-08-29 04:30 | Incheon (Hybrid), Republic of Korea
The 3rd International Forum on Low-Carbon Cities will be jointly organized by ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office and Incheon Metropolitan City on 29 August 2023 during the Korea Global Adaptation Week, in collaboration with Green Climate Fund, Incheon Carbon Neutrality Center, ICLEI, innovative Green Development Program, CityNet, Climate Change Center and Local Government Association for Climate and Energy Transition. The Forum is expected to facilitate information sharing and strengthen partnership and peer-learning among cities and city networks in North-East Asia and beyond, by bringing together local governments, international and regional organizations, national and regional city networks and various stakeholders.
More details including registration site will be updated in due course.

8th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum (APAN Forum)
2023-08-30 00:00 - 2023-09-01 23:59 | Songdo Convensia Convention Center, Incheon City, Korea, Republic of
Considered Asia-Pacific’s largest and longest-standing gathering of adaptation practitioners to share information, knowledge and best practices in adaptation and resilience-building, the Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum (APAN Forum) is the biennial flagship event of the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) Secretariat, hosted within the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
The APAN Forum serves as a primary regional platform for adaptation practitioners to meet, exchange knowledge and experiences, and collaborate towards the pertinent outcomes and practical solutions that are needed to address the challenges of climate change.
The 8th APAN Forum will take place in-person from 30 August (Wednesday) to 1 September (Friday) during the Korea Global Adaptation Week (KGAW) 2023. It will be hosted by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Environment Institute – Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change and Incheon Metropolitan City, and co-organised by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UNEP through the APAN Secretariat.
Objectives
The APAN Forum aims to:

Enhance understanding of climate change adaptation issues, approaches, and policies for effective planning;
Provide a comprehensive report on actions taken and progress made to address knowledge, policy, and funding gaps since the last APAN Forum;
Serve as a platform for accelerating action and implementing adaptation knowledge and programmes, offering actionable guidelines for communities, practitioners, and policymakers;
Formulate recommendations to expand adaptation efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, guiding contributions to COPs and other global/regional initiatives; and,
Promote climate change adaptation and resilience through knowledge sharing, collaboration, and amplification of messages from local to global levels.

Forum Theme
Resilience for All: Enabling transformative implementation
Over the past two decades, Resilience has served as a unifying theme for the APAN Forums. The past years have seen significant efforts towards generating knowledge and information on climate change adaptation at the global and regional levels. However, we are still significantly off-schedule to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the world is in a state of climate emergency. The current climate change impacts are evident and disruptive in sectors like agriculture, ecosystems, human health, urban settlements and infrastructure.
Therefore, this year’s theme underscores the urgency of adaptation action that is required to build resilience and equip communities with the capacity to withstand and moderate worst-case climate scenarios. It is also in line with the key outcomes of COP 27, further emphasising the importance of transformative approach to accelerating and enhancing adaptation efforts.
Target Participants
Representatives from governments, financing institutions, academia and research, international organisations, UN agencies, civil society organisations, youth organisations and the private sector, among others, will participate in the 8th APAN Forum to work together to build and strengthen partnerships across sectors for adaptation action. The Forum will also provide a space to reflect on the outcomes of COP 27, and to highlight regional lessons learned. These will serve as inputs for the discussions at COP 28, which is to be held at the Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates in November 2023.

2023 SDG Summit
2023-09-18 00:00 - 2023-09-19 23:59 | New York, New York
The 2023 SDG Summit will take place on 18-19 September 2023 in New York. It will mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals with high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030.
Convened by the President of the General Assembly, the Summit will mark the half-way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It will be the centerpiece of the High-level Week of the General Assembly. It will respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and is expected to reignite a sense of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda.
REGISTRATION
Background
The 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a global plan of action to drive economic prosperity and social well-being while protecting the environment. Countries established the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) — to boost efforts to achieve the goals.
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) meets every year in July under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, bringing high-level representatives of governments and stakeholders together to review progress, examine obstacles, exchange best practices, and recommend new actions to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Countries agreed that every four years, the HLPF will meet under the auspices of the General Assembly at the level of Heads of State and Government. (General Assembly resolutions 67/290 and 70/299)
On 24 and 25 September 2019, the first SDG Summit – the HLPF under the auspices of the General Assembly was convened in New York since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in 2015. It resulted in the adoption of the Political Declaration, “Gearing up for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”. World leaders called for a decade of action to deliver the SDGs by 2030 and announced acceleration actions they are taking to advance the agenda. The General Assembly endorsed the Political Declaration on 15 October 2019.
The SDG Summit in September 2023 will be the second time for the HLPF to be convened under the auspices of the General Assembly at the level of Heads of State and Government. It will be chaired by the President of the General Assembly. The outcome of the Summit will be a negotiated political declaration.
Quick Links:

2030 Agenda
Sustainable Development Goals
High-level Political Forum (HLPF)
SDG Summit 2019
Voluntary National Reviews
Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR)
Inputs to the High-level Political Forum
Financing for Development Forum
Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs
Decade of Action
SDG Advocates & Champions
Goal of the Month

Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Rights in Asia
2023-10-04 00:00 - 2023-10-05 23:59 | United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC – BKK), Bangkok City, Thailand, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
The regional conference on Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Rights in Asia will bring together selected business leaders, investors, policy makers, academics and civil society champions to exchange views on the role of businesses and governments in supporting and strengthening the newly recognized right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Importantly, the conference will also facilitate learning and dialogue around emerging regulatory norms involving biodiversity impacts and disclosure, environmental and human rights due diligence, decarbonization strategies and carbon markets, and ESG reporting.

Who should attend?

Business: CSOs, CFOs, CEOs, Managing Directors, ESG Professionals, Sustainability Professionals

Finance Industry: CSOs, CFOs, CEOs, Managing Directors, Heads of Sustainability, Heads of ESG from the finance sector driving their internal sustainability strategies

Investors and Asset Managers: Directors of Sustainability, Heads of Sustainability and Heads of Sustainable Investing/Finance, Portfolio Managers at Asset Managers, Institutional Investors, Private Equity, Hedge Funds and Family Offices

Solution Providers: Business Development Directors, Consultants, Marketing Directors and Product Specialists providing solutions to businesses to help them with the sustainability and human rights due diligence challenges

Government: Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief of Staff, Other Senior Government Officials, Director Generals and Advisors

Not for profits: NGOs, Civil Society and Associations

Academia: Professors, Researchers and others

Press

Asia in Transition
Following the COP27 Climate Change Conference and the COP15 Conference on Biological Diversity, business leaders and investors in Asia are better placed to amplify actions to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Today, business leaders understand that they must embrace and embed practices and policies which respond to Asia’s environmental priorities. But while some enterprises are already taking active measures to lower carbon and methane emissions, reduce deforestation risks in their supply chains, and embrace circular economy principles, there remains significant scope to reinvent, innovate and drive action on corporate sustainability in the region. What is the state of play on corporate action, including ESG investment in Asia? What are tools, mechanisms and incentives emerging from these global climate/environmental frameworks that businesses can use to advance their actions in these areas? Who is leading in sustainability practice and what are some initial results? Importantly, what is on the horizon and where are the blind spots?
Increasingly, sustainability professionals recognize that a level playing field will be necessary to drive practice at scale. With this in mind, action from government to ensure data transparency, policy coherence and environmental rule of law will be key. Some governments in Asia are now taking steps to strengthen environmental laws and policies, to improve implementation and enforcement measures, and to enhance vehicles for public participation in environmental decision-making, in alignment with international trends. Signaling a growing consensus among states, the UN General Assembly passed an historic resolution in July of 2022, recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.[1] This resolution followed quickly on the heels of a UN Human Rights Council resolution recognizing the same, in October of 2021.[2] These “twin resolutions” as they are often called, on the right to a healthy environment (RHE) have given additional, much-needed impetus to the work of promoting responsible business practices in Asia. But what does RHE and its relationship with environmental rule of law mean for business in the region, and how can it be translated into action by governments? What role, too, does the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) play, as increasing numbers of governments adopt national action plans to support UNGP implementation?
Hosted by UNDP and UNEP, the regional conference on Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Rights in Asia will explore efforts undertaken so far by States and business to address Asia’s environmental priorities. These include, mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, addressing adverse climate impacts, protecting nature, eliminating and reversing biodiversity loss, and mitigating air and water pollution, among others. In so doing, the conference will explore the advantages for business in adopting policies which promote and protect the right to a healthy environment. Further, the conference will examine current practices in decarbonization efforts, biodiversity loss assessments and disclosures, and good practices in addressing air and water pollution, and ensuring just transitions in the renewable energy space. The conference will also identify gaps and space for collaboration between partners on wider subjects including, loss and damage and the “30 by 30 plan” for nature conservation. A mix of exchanges on environmental rule of law topics, and deeper dives in regulatory practice will motivate a constructive dialogue among different stakeholders on opportunities for business to deliver on environmental and broader ESG commitments.
Conference outcomes
The regional conference on Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Rights in Asia will facilitate learning and dialogue around the role of business in strengthening the right to a healthy environment. Three outcomes are contemplated: 1) better understanding among business actors and experts on ways to reduce impacts on climate and the environment; 2) constructive dialogue between business, government and civil society on business policy formation, emerging regulatory requirements and enforcement measures; ; 3) stronger uptake by civil society, media and youth on specific environmental and climate-related priorities and; 4) greater awareness of the potential positive contribution of business in addressing these priorities in a just and sustainable way. Overall, the conference will result in a wider understanding of the applicability and utility of the right to a healthy environment, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and environmental rule of law principles to resolve a host of sustainability-related matters facing the people of Asia.
If successful, the conference on Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Rights in Asia will occur yearly and seek to refine outcomes as time progresses. In preparation of future events, committees may be formed around specific issues that tailor conversations to issues relevant to upcoming global conferences (Conference of the Parties) on climate change and biodiversity.
Who we are:
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
UNDP is the United Nations global development network, present in over 170 countries and territories. UNDP’s mandate is to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and exclusion, and achieve sustainable development. Since 2016, UNDP’s “Business and Human Rights in Asia” (B+HR Asia) programme has been partnering with government, business, and civil society leaders in Asia to promote the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). As the world’s most authoritative, normative framework guiding responsible business practice, the UNGPs provide an agreed pathway for governments and business to address business-related environmental and human rights risks and impacts. In pursuit of a responsible business agenda in the region, B+HR Asia has been a leading partner on corporate sustainability, producing reports, providing grants, training business, and advising governments, including on respect for the environment.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda; promotes the coherent implementation of environmental dimensions of sustainable development within the UN system; and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP’s mandate in the field of environmental law is to lead the United Nations System in the development and implementation of environmental rule of law with attention at all levels, including access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters. UNEP does this through the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme the ten-year intergovernmental programme on promoting and implementing environmental rule of law. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) supports the upholding of the right to a healthy environment through The Environmental Rights Initiative which is a coalition of state and non-state actors united to promote, protect and respect environmental rights.

[1] United Nations General Assembly resolution 76/300, The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, A/RES/76/300 (26 July 2022)

[2] United Nations Human Rights Council resolution 48/13, The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, A/HRC/RES/48/13 (8 October 2021)

The third Asian and Pacific Energy Forum
2023-10-18 13:00 - 2023-10-20 12:59 | United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC – BKK), Bangkok City, Thailand, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
The third Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (APEF3), is co-hosted with the Ministry of Energy of Royal Thai Government, to be held at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok and online on 19 and 20 October 2023. The Third forum will be organized under the theme “Building a secure, sustainable and interconnected energy future for Asia and the Pacific”
The participants of APEF3 will have chance to review the progress made in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy) in the Asia-Pacific region and in implementing the Ministerial Declaration on Regional Cooperation for Energy Transition towards Sustainable and Resilient Societies in Asia and the Pacific, which was adopted at the Second Asian and Pacific Energy Forum, in 2018.
Participants are also invited to discuss the progress achieved through the initiatives that enhancing energy security and developing appropriate policies and strategies to attain the Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives include the development of Goal 7 road maps for countries in the region, the implementation of the Regional Road Map on Power System Connectivity: Promoting Cross-border Electricity Connectivity for Sustainable Development and the secretariat’s work on emerging areas of the energy transition.
The Asia Pacific Energy Week will also be held at the UNCC from 16 to 20 October 2023. During the Asia Pacific Energy Week, International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS) International Conference on 16 and 17 October together with exhibition and other side-events will be held. More information can be found at ‘Asia Pacific Energy Week’ tab.

COP 28: 2023
2023-11-30 00:00 - 2023-12-12 23:59 | Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
COP28 UAE brings the world together at a critical moment for global transformative climate action. To deliver on its ambitious agenda, COP28 will be inclusive, transparent, pragmatic, and results-oriented.

WHAT IS COP?
A critical moment in global transformative climate action
In the three decades since the Rio Summit and the launch of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP) has convened member countries every year to determine ambition and responsibilities, and identify and assess climate measures. The 21st session of the COP (COP21) led to the Paris Agreement, which mobilized global collective action to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by 2100, and to act to adapt to the already existing effects of climate change.

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
2024-01-15 00:00 - 2024-01-19 23:59 | Davos, Switzerland
“Rebuilding Trust”
The 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.
This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

International Day of Education
2024-01-24 00:00 - 23:59 | NY
To invest in people, prioritize education
The year 2023 marks the mid-point since the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for people, planet and prosperity, with a set of 17 interlocked goals that will come up for review at the SDG Summit in September on the theme of investing in people.
Building on the global momentum generated by the UN Transforming Education Summit in September 2022, this year’s Day calls for maintaining strong political mobilization around education and charting the way to translate commitments and global initiatives into action. Education must be prioritized to accelerate progress towards all the Sustainable Development Goals against the backdrop of a global recession, growing inequalities and the climate crisis.
The International Day of Education on 24 January 2023 is dedicated to Afghan women and girls.
Read UNESCO’s concept note for the 2023 celebration and download the programme.

Background
Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.
Education is a human right
The right to education is enshrined in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration calls for free and compulsory elementary education. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, goes further to stipulate that countries shall make higher education accessible to all.

Education is key to sustainable development
When it adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015, the international community recognized that education is essential for the success of all 17 of its goals. Sustainable Development Goal 4, in particular, aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.
Challenges to achieving universal education
Education offers children a ladder out of poverty and a path to a promising future. But about 244 million children and adolescents around the world are out of school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school. Their right to education is being violated and it is unacceptable.
Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.

International Day of Clean Energy
2024-01-26 00:00 - 23:59 | NY
Clean energy: for all…
Energy lies at the core of a double challenge: leaving no one behind and protecting the Planet. And clean energy is crucial to its solution.
In a world grappling with climate change, clean energy plays a vital role in reducing emissions, and can also benefit communities lacking access to reliable power sources. Still today, 675 million people live in the dark – 4 in 5 are in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The connection between clean energy, socio-economic development, and environmental sustainability is crucial in addressing issues faced by vulnerable communities worldwide.
For populations without clean energy access, the lack of reliable power hinders education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, and many of these developing regions still rely heavily on polluting fossil fuels for their daily life, perpetuating poverty. If current trends continue, by 2030 one in four people will still use unsafe, unhealthy and inefficient cooking systems, such as burning wood or dung.
Although this situation has been improving, the world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. The General Assembly will hold a Global Stocktaking on SDG7 in April 2024 to assess progress and recommend solutions.

… and for our planet
But adopting clean energy is integral to the fight against climate change, as well.
A large chunk of the greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the Sun’s heat are generated through energy production, by burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, and gas) to generate electricity and heat.
The science is clear: to limit climate change, we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels and invest in alternative sources of energy that are clean, accessible, affordable, sustainable, and reliable. Renewable energy sources – which are available in abundance all around us, provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth – are replenished by nature and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.
The International Day of Clean Energy on January 26 is a call to raise awareness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet.

World Interfaith Harmony Week
2024-02-01 00:00 - 2024-02-07 23:59 | NY
Uniting for peace
World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February, since the General Assembly designation in 2010. The General Assembly pointed out that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and established World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.
Recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, the General Assembly encourages all States to spread the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week, on a voluntary basis and according to their own religious traditions or convictions.
Origin and history
World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote a culture peace and nonviolence, was first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations in 2010. This was quickly adopted by the UN General Assembly (resolution A/RES/65/5), declaring the first week of February each year as World Interfaith Harmony week, calling on governments, institutions and civil society to observe it with various programs and initiatives that would promote the aim of the WIHW objectives.

World Wetlands Day
2024-02-02 00:00 - 23:59 | NY
Life interlaced: wetlands and people
Wetlands are ecosystems where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life. A broad definition of wetlands includes both freshwater and marine and coastal ecosystems such as all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fishponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and saltpans.
These lands are critical to people and nature, given the intrinsic value of these ecosystems, and their benefits and services, including their environmental, climate, ecological, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic contributions to sustainable development and human wellbeing.
Though they cover only around 6 per cent of the Earth’s land surface, 40 per cent of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands. Wetland biodiversity matters for our health, our food supply, for tourism and for jobs. Wetlands are vital for humans, for other ecosystems and for our climate, providing essential ecosystem services such as water regulation, including flood control and water purification. More than a billion people across the world depend on wetlands for their livelihoods – that’s about one in eight people on Earth.

Wetlands and Human Wellbeing

The theme for World Wetlands Day is “·Wetlands and human wellbeing”. Its goal is to highlight how all aspects of human well-being are tied to the health of the world’s wetlands -physical, mental, and environmental.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INTERCONNECTION

Why they are in danger
Wetlands are among the ecosystems with the highest rates of decline, loss and degradation. Indicators of current negative trends in global biodiversity and ecosystem functions are projected to continue in response to direct and indirect drivers such as rapid human population growth, unsustainable production and consumption and associated technological development, as well as the adverse impacts of climate change.
Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests and are Earth’s most threatened ecosystem. In just 50 years — since 1970 — 35% of the world’s wetlands have been lost. Human activities that lead to loss of wetlands include drainage and infilling for agriculture and construction, pollution, overfishing and overexploitation of resources, invasive species and climate change.
This vicious cycle of wetland loss, threatened livelihoods, and deepening poverty is the result of mistakenly seeing wetlands as wastelands rather than lifegiving sources of jobs, incomes, and essential ecosystem services. A key challenge is to change mindsets to encourage governments and communities to value and prioritize wetlands.

International Day of Human Fraternity
2024-02-04 00:00 - 23:59 | NY
Human fraternity for peace and cooperation
We need — perhaps more than ever before — to recognize the valuable contribution of people of all religions, or beliefs, to humanity and the contribution that dialogue among all religious groups can make towards an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind.
We also need to underline the importance of raising awareness about different cultures and religions, or beliefs, and the promotion of tolerance, which involves societal acceptance and respect for religious and cultural diversity, including with regard to religious expression. Education, in particular at school, should contribute in a meaningful way to promoting tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief.
Furthermore, we must acknowledge that tolerance, pluralistic tradition, mutual respect and the diversity of religions and beliefs promote human fraternity. Thus, it is imperative that we encourage activities aimed at promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue in order to enhance peace and social stability, respect for diversity and mutual respect and to create, at the global level, and also at the regional, national and local levels, an environment conducive to peace and mutual understanding.
Within that frame, the General-Assembly took note of all international, regional, national and local initiatives, as appropriate, as well as efforts by religious leaders, to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and in this regard took note also of the meeting between Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyib, on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi, which resulted in the signing of the document entitled “Human fraternity for world peace and living together”.

Background
Following the devastation of the Second World War, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. One of its purposes is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems, including by promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
In 1999, The General-Assembly adopted, by resolution 53/243, the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, which serves as the universal mandate for the international community, particularly the United Nations system, to promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits all of humanity, including future generations.
The declaration came about as a result of the long-held and cherished concept — contained within the Constitution of UNESCO — that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” The Declaration embraces the principle that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but also requires a positive, dynamic participatory process, in which dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are resolved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.
On 20 October 2010, the General Assembly in resolution A/RES/65/5 pointed out that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and established World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith. It further recognized the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people.
At the core of all the faith systems and traditions is the recognition that we are all in this together and that we need to love and support one another to live in harmony and peace in an environmentally sustainable world. Our world continues to be beset by conflict and intolerance with rising number of refugees and the internally displaced in a hostile and unwelcoming world around them. We are also, unfortunately, witnessing messages of hate spreading discord among people. The need for spiritual guidance has never been greater. It is imperative that we double our efforts to spread the message of good neighborliness based on our common humanity, a message shared by all faith traditions.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 4 February as the International Day of Human Fraternity, with resolution 75/200.

What is the Culture of Peace?
A culture of peace is a set of values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviour and ways of life based on:

Respect for life, ending of violence and promotion and practice of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation;
Full respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law;
Full respect for and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts;
Efforts to meet the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations;
Respect for and promotion of the right to development; Respect for and promotion of equal rights and opportunities for women and men;
Respect for and promotion of the right of everyone to freedom of expression, opinion and information;
Adherence to the principles of freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations; and fostered by an enabling national and international environment conducive to peace.

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
2024-02-06 00:00 - 23:59 | NY
Ending Female Genital Mutilation by 2030
Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women.
Girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health.
Although primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, female genital mutilation is a universal issue and is also practiced in some countries in Asia and Latin America. Female genital mutilation continues to persist amongst immigrant populations living in Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Over the last three decades, the prevalence of FGM has declined globally. Today, a girl is one-third less likely to undergo FGM than 30 years ago. However, sustaining these achievements in the face of humanitarian crises such as disease outbreaks, climate change, armed conflict and more could cause a rollback of progress toward achieving gender equality and the elimination of FGM by 2030.
More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation. This year, nearly 4.4 million girls will be at risk of this harmful practice. This equates to more than 12,000 cases every day.
With seven years remaining in this decade of action, our collective actions must be centered around creating environments where girls and women can exercise their power and choice, enjoying full rights to health, education, and safety. And this is possible through investments in initiatives led by survivors of female genital mutilation who are challenging harmful gender and social norms. Their voices and actions can transform deeply rooted social and gender norms, allowing girls and women to realize their rights and potential in terms of health, education, income, and equality.
To promote the elimination of female genital mutilation, coordinated and systematic efforts are needed, and they must engage whole communities and focus on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences.

2024 Theme: Her Voice. Her Future
Investing in Survivors-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation
In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6th as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, with the aim to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of this practice.
For more than a decade, the Joint Programme has supported survivors of FGM, prioritizing investments in survivor-led initiatives, centered around empowerment, agency and access to essential services.
There is an urgent need for even more targeted, coordinated and sustained and concerted efforts if we are to achieve our common goal of ending female genital mutilation by 2030. Every survivor’s voice is a call to action, and every choice they make in reclaiming their lives contributes to the global movement to end this harmful practice.
Join us on 6 February 2024 in our call to action. Share with the world how you support #HerVoiceMatters in leading the #EndFGM movement.
UN Action
Although the practice has been around for more than a thousand years, ending female genital mutilation within this generation is still possible if we accelerate our progress 10 time faster. That is why the United Nations strives for its full elimination by 2030, following the spirit of Sustainable Development Goal 5.
Since 2008, UNFPA, jointly with UNICEF, leads the largest global programme to accelerate the elimination of female genital mutilation. The Joint Programme currently focuses on 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and also supports regional and global initiatives.
Over the years, this partnership has seen significant achievements. As of last year, the Joint Programme supported more than 11,000 organizations, of which 83 per cent were grassroots organizations partnering with coalitions and survivor-led movements, advocating for changes in policies and laws, and championing changes to social and gender norms. [source: 2022 Annual Report on FGM).
#EndFGM

Did You Know?

There are over 200 million girls and women alive today who are survivors of FGM.
Girls are today one third less likely to be subjected to FGM compared to 30 years ago; however, progress needs to be at least 10 times faster to meet the global target of FGM elimination by 2030.
In 2024, nearly 4.4 million girls – or more than 12,000 each day – are at risk of female genital mutilation around the world.
1 in 4 survivors underwent female genital mutilation by a health worker.
Daughters of FGM survivors are at significant higher risk to undergo FGM compared to daughters of women who have not undergone FGM.
The financial cost of health care for FGM survivors is USD 1.4 billion every year.

World Pulses Day
2024-02-10 00:00 - 23:59 | NY
What are pulses?
Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Dried beans, lentils and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses.
Staples dishes and cuisines from across the world feature pulses, from hummus in the Mediterranean (chick peas), to a traditional full English breakfast (baked navy beans) to Indian dal (peas or lentils).
Pulses do not include crops that are harvested green (e.g. green peas, green beans)—these are classified as vegetable crops. Also excluded are those crops used mainly for oil extraction (e.g. soybean and groundnuts) and leguminous crops that are used exclusively for sowing purposes (e.g. seeds of clover and alfalfa).

Origin
#WorldPulsesDay #LovePulses
Recognizing their value, on 20 December 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/68/231) proclaiming 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP). The celebration of the year, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), increased the public awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production.
Building on the success of the International Year of Pulses and recognizing their potential to further achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with particular relevance to Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13 and 15, Burkina Faso proposed the observance of World Pulses Day.
In 2019, the General Assembly proclaimed 10 February as the World Pulses Day (resolution A/RES/73/251).

Why are pulses important crops?
Nutritional value
They are packed with nutrients and have a high protein content, making them an ideal source of protein particularly in regions where meat and dairy are not physically or economically accessible. Pulses are low in fat and rich in soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and help in the control of blood sugar. Because of these qualities they are recommended by health organizations for the management of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart conditions. Pulses have also been shown to help combat obesity.
Food security
For farmers, pulses are an important crop because they can both sell them and consume them, which helps farmers maintain household food security and creates economic stability.
Environmental benefits
The nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses improve soil fertility, which increases and extends the productivity of the farmland. By using pulses for intercropping and cover crops, farmers can also promote farm biodiversity and soil biodiversity, while keeping harmful pests and diseases at bay.
Furthermore, pulses can contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing dependence on the synthetic fertilizers used to introduce nitrogen artificially into the soil. Greenhouse gases are released during the manufacturing and application of these fertilizers, and their overuse can be detrimental to the environment.
