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Consumerism and Climate Change: How the Choices You Make Can Help Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change

This is the fourth article of the UNAIÌýFood Security and Climate ChangeÌýseries. Schools and departments which specialise in climate change and food security at UNAI member institutions were asked to submit articles highlighting research and work encompassing the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and to showcase the importance of sustainable agriculture to mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change, whilst ensuring present and future food security. Please note that the articles are for discussion, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.

Global Models Must Meet Grassroots Action to Deliver Climate Solutions for Farmers

This is the third article of the UNAI 'Food Security and Climate Change' series. Schools and departments which specialise in climate change and food security at UNAI member institutions were asked to submit articles highlighting research and work encompassing the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and to showcase the importance of sustainable agriculture to mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change, whilst ensuring present and future food security. Please note that the articles are for discussion, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.

'The world needs science and science needs women,' says UN on new International Day

11 February 2016 – More than ever today, the world needs science and science needs women, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization () said today markingÌýthe firstÌý.

The Intimate Relationship between Food Security and Land

This is the second article of the UNAI 'Food Security and Climate Change' series. Schools and departments which specialise in climate change and food security at UNAI member institutions were asked to submit articles highlighting research and work encompassing the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and to showcase the importance of sustainable agriculture to mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change, whilst ensuring present and future food security. Please note that the articles are for discussion, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.

The World's Food Supply is Made Insecure by Climate Change

This is the first article of the UNAI 'Food Security and Climate Change' series. Schools and departments which specialise in climate change and food security at UNAI member institutions were asked to submit articles highlighting research and work encompassing the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and to showcase the importance of sustainable agriculture to mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change, whilst ensuring present and future food security. Please note that the articles are for discussion, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.

Food Security, Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals

With the population predicted to increase to over 9.6 billion people by 2050, and food demand set to increase by between 60 and 100 per cent, the topic of increasing agricultural output to feed the growing population whilst reducing our global footprint is by far one of the biggest challenges society faces today.

Currently 1 in 9 people are defined as chronically hungry, and this chronic hunger disproportionately impacts the world's poorest people. Temperature growth has undeniably been linked with human induced greenhouse gas emissions, with the 'safe' limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere proposed as 350 parts per million. However, in March of 2015, carbon dioxide emissions were recorded as over 400 parts per million by NASA.Ìý These emissions levels mean increasing food production whilst reducing our per capita emissions is the only viable option in ensuring food security. Ìý

UNAI and SDSN Join Forces to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals

Combating hunger, poverty, climate change, and gender inequality while promoting good health, education, clean water and sanitation, and decent work and economic growth are just a few of the aims of the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).ÌýÌý

To mobilize action in support of achieving the SDGs, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and the today announced a strategic collaboration to activate universities, research institutions and NGOs to advance teaching, applied research and problem solving around the SDGs.

Head of UNAI, Ramu Damodaran, said the agreement will help to generate relevant academic content and utilize academic expertise to help aid in policy development and progress on the SDGs. Ìý

New Tool Helps Communities Better Understand Climate Change

Global climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, but communicating complex climate science to different stakeholders is a challenging task for climate scientists. Nevertheless, Article 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) addresses the importance of climate change communication and engaging stakeholders in the issue. It highlights the responsibility of participating countries to develop and implement educational and public awareness programmes on climate change and its effects to ensure public access to information and to promote public participation.

Low Impact Living Can Yield High Returns in Happiness

Six years ago American author Colin Beavan decided to see what it would take to live a truly eco-friendly life and have zero impact on the environment, all while living in the heart of New York City.Ìý He chronicled his yearlong experiment in the 2010 book No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries He Makes about Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process.

Mr. Beavan stopped by the UN Bookshop at United Nations Headquarters on 28 January to launch his new book, How To Be Alive: A Guide to the Kind of Happiness That Helps the World, and discuss his ideas on how people can live a life more aligned with their values, passions and concerns.Ìý The discussion was moderated by Peter H. Kostmayer, CEO of the Citizens Committee for New York City, and UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Cristina Gallach, made opening remarks.

Lessons Learned from 70 Years of UN Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping

On Tuesday, 26 January more than 200 people attended an event co-hosted by United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and the International Studies Association (ISA) entitled The United Nations Confronting War and Violence: Lessons after 70 Years.

The three hour discussion examined the lessons learned from seventy years of UN conflict resolution and what role academia, research institutions and data collection can play in strengthening peacemaking, peacebuilding and peacekeeping.Ìý

UNAI Director Ramu Damodaran, as conference moderator, encouraged panelists to outline key areas in which the United Nations could improve in conflict prevention and response.

And Quiet Flows the River: Students use Dance and Song to Advocate for Environmental Change

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New Report Examines Perception of Religion and Looks at Ways to Increase Dialogue and Trust across Faiths

The 2016 Annual Dialogue Report, prepared by Media Tenor, was released today and examines ways in which we can build trust and increase dialogue across religious faiths.ÌýThe report, which has been published annually since 2008, provides objective data on the perception of religion and the media coverage of religious issues, in a study that compares attitudes and frames between countries. The analysis focuses especially on the perception of Islam and traces the development from 9/11, over the Pontificate of Benedict XVI and Obama's 2009 speech in Cairo, to the recent development in the Middle East that is shaped by the unprecedented rise of the Islamic State. The implications of the findings are unambiguous: the only way to overcome the divide between religions is to improve our attempts at unlearning intolerance.

Is a More Equitable Society a More Peaceful Society? UNAI-sponsored Conference Examines the Links between Poverty and Conflict

On 11 and 12 January 2016 more than two dozen scholars from universities, think tanks and non-governmental organizations gathered at United Nations headquarters for a two day conference examining the role poverty and inequality play in fostering conflict.Ìý

The conference, co-sponsored by United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and People Programme International, brought together scholars from various disciplines including economics, sociology, psychology, politics and cultural analysis to discuss the causes of poverty and inequality, what could be done to combat these issues and what role the United Nations could play in the process. ÌýÌý

The United Nations celebrated its 70^th birthday last year and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in September, providing an opportunity to focus global attention on inequality as an impediment to achieving peace and security.Ìý

Call for Applications: 2016 Reham Al-Farra (RAF) Memorial Journalists Fellowship Programme

The United Nations Department of Public Information is currently seeking applications from young journalists and broadcasters for the 2016 Reham Al-Farra (RAF) Memorial Journalists Fellowship Programme.

The Programme provides journalists with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the work of the United Nations. It is also an opportunity to meet journalists from other countries and exchange ideas with UN communication professionals.

Selected journalists and broadcasters will spend four weeks at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, from 8 September through 5 October, 2016

Upon completion of the Programme, participants are expected to continue working in journalism or broadcasting and help promote better understanding of the United Nations in their home country.

Happy New Year from UNAI

Happy New Year from UNAI! Ìý

We're looking forward to another year of knowledge, education and engagement with all our member schools!

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