The 22^nd climate conference convenes in Morocco today, with representatives of almost every nation expected to attend. The focus is on how to implement the plans agreed to in 2015 as the Paris Agreement. That went into effect on 4 November 2016.

Climate, and the central role it plays in achieving the sustainable development goals, will get added attention this week when science centers’ work is commemorated on 10 November. In Washington, the UN Information Centre will mark this first International Science Center and Museum Day with an event at the National Academy of Sciences that brings 100 local students together with scientists and others from NASA, NOAA, the EPA and the Smithsonian Institution.

Upcoming:

7-18 November           22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC in Marrakech, Morocco

10 November              International Science Center and Museum Day and World Science Day for Peace and Development

For livestream of the Washington event, please click here

The Secretary-General:

The Secretary-General opened a round of intensive discussions between Cypriot leaders today in Switzerland. He will attend key meetings at the climate conference, and spoke extensively about his long commitment to action on climate change.  Also:

• Mali: Ban strongly condemns attack that kills two civilians and one peacekeeper
• UN chief highlights importance of preparedness to reduce tsunami risks
• Secretary-General welcomes adoption of new Constitution in Côte d’Ivoire
• South Sudan: Ban acts to improve UN Mission’s ability to protect civilians
• Lebanon: UN chief encourages formation of government without delay
• “To transform our world, we must transform its cities” Ban says on World Cities Day

At the Security Council:

Senegal serves as the Security Council president through November. Today it hosts an open debate on how UN peace operations face asymmetrical threats, including those posed by terrorists and other armed groups. In settings such as Mali, Somalia and Afghanistan, the UN missions’ “mandates were not always flexible enough to meet those challenges,” explained Fodé Seck, Senegal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. He presided over the ministerial-level debate.

Also, this week, the leaders of police units of UN missions gather to brief the Security Council and others on their goals and challenges. The Council also will focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, sanctions against Somalia and Eritrea, Burundi, and Libya. UNAMI’s chief will brief the Council on its work in Iraq, and update it on the fight to retake Mosul from ISIL. The Council also is expected to adopt a resolution renewing measures to counter piracy.

Next week, Security Council members travel to the Great Lakes Region. (11-14 November)

In case you missed it:

• Security Council extends mandate of UN-OPCW body on chemical weapons use in Syria
• UN Security Council ‘strongly condemns’ ceasefire violations in Mali
• Security Council authorizes UN Mission in Colombia to verify ceasefire

Around the UN:

Climate. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the entry into force on 4 November of the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change. “We remain in a race against time,” he said at a press conference, “but with the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world has the plans we need to make the shift to a low-emission, climate-resilient path.”

• On historic day, Ban urges sustained momentum for better, safer future
• ‘The eyes of the world are upon us’ president of UN conference says
• ‘Climate action starts in the kitchen,’ says UN, launching #Recipe4Change campaign
• Dramatic action needed to cut emissions, slow rise in global temperature – UNEP

Refugees/Migrants. The International Organization for Migration briefs at UN Headquarters on efforts underway to follow up on the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, and the Global Compact for Migration, both approved in September. (8 November)

• Migrant deaths at sea near deadly milestone of 4,000
• Pregnant women, children among the victims in latest Mediterranean tragedy: UNICEF
• Some 3,500 people fleeing South Sudan each day due to ongoing conflict
• Western Saharan refugees face looming food shortage, UN agencies warn

Yemen.

• Dawn of peace could be near if Yemenis prioritize national interest, UN envoy says
• Conflict, humanitarian situation worsens as parties reject road map
• New WHO report reveals extensive damage to health system in war-torn Yemen

Haiti.

• One month after Hurricane Matthew, needs in Haiti remain ‘vast,’ UN reports
• UN agency working to address women’s health and protection needs in storm-hit Haiti

Iraq. People fleeing the battle for control of Mosul have begun to fill UN feeding and other centers.

• ISIL moving ‘trucks full of abducted civilians’ to Mosul as shields against airstrikes
• Close to 10,000 children in urgent need of aid, says UNICEF

Syria. The humanitarian situation in Aleppo continues to dominate attention at the Security Council and among many UN agencies:

• UN rights office concerned at continuing hostilities in both western and eastern Aleppo
• UNICEF renews call for protection of children after kindergarten hit in Damascus

In Case You Missed It: For a short video about developments last week, and top headlines, please click here. Other news of note:

• New WHO guidelines aim to stop surgical infections and arrest spread of superbugs
• On International Day, UN calls for end of impunity for crimes against journalists
• Funding shortfall for UN emergency response fund could have ‘devastating impact’
• UN cites duty of care towards the environment in peacetime and during conflict
• Afghanistan: UN Mission probing air strikes that allegedly killed 32 civilians in Kunduz