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November 2, 2025 Climate and environment

The 1.5-degree warming threshold will be exceeded within the next decade, meaning more natural disasters and the risk of permanently upsetting the planet's balance. Climate Conferences (COP-30)At the UN News Service's Belém Summit, which will take place in November in Belém, Brazil, Evgenia Kleshcheva spoke with Oksana Tarasova, a senior scientist at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), about global risks and how to respond to the claims of "climate sceptics."

The main cause for concern, which was also mentioned by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the recent WMO Congress, is an excess of 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming compared to the pre-industrial era, as set by the Paris Agreement.

"The threshold is one and a half degrees will be exceeded "Over the next decade, climate action is clearly needed to avoid prolonged temperature increases," Tarasova emphasized.

Adaptation or emission reduction

The Paris Climate Agreement's goal is still achievable, despite short-term overshoots. But this can only happen if all parties take action. to reduce emissions and removing CO₂ from the atmosphere, the expert noted.

UN/E. Hungrecker

Senior Researcher at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Oksana Tarasova.

“At the same time, in the near future, as we exceed one and a half degrees, very significant changes in frequency and intensity are expected extreme weather events" she warned.

This is why early warning systems are especially important for everyone, and the role of meteorological services to preserve life and property will only increase.

“However, it is important to understand: adapt to the future "It will be very difficult. Adaptation and emission reduction must proceed in parallel. It's impossible to choose one direction or the other," the researcher noted.

A vicious circle

WMO scientists are recording record levels of greenhouse gasesThe increase in CO₂ concentrations is particularly alarming.

"Carbon dioxide concentrations have begun to increase at a much faster rate than in the 1990s and 2000s. If we compare the increase in CO₂ in 2024, it is significantly higher than the average for the previous ten years," noted Tarasova, who coordinates the WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.

Lok Sujag Pakistan

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere has reached new highs.

According to her, the planet is already losing its ability to “self-regulate”: “We see that the Earth system is approaching points at which it passes from one state to anotherThe capacity of forests is decreasing, oceans absorb harmful emissions. If these points are reached, it means that the natural systems that currently absorb half of all emissions will stop doing so."

This creates a vicious circle: the less carbon the Earth absorbs, the climate change is accelerating.

"Once we cross a certain threshold, it's very difficult to go back. For example, if permafrost has thawed, even if we later lower the temperature, it won't recover. This is a process of ecological system formation that takes thousands of years," the WMO specialist explained.

Disinformation and false controversies

Despite the obvious observational data, debate continues in society about the nature of climate changeAccording to the expert, this is largely the result of disinformation and distortions in the media. However, all information disseminated by the agency undergoes a rigorous scientific process, undergoes international discussion, and is published in reputable journals.

"If people lack critical thinking, and one person's opinion is perceived as the same as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which includes 10,000 experts, then that's a question of ethics, not logic," Tarasova said bluntly.

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A WMO employee emphasized that there is no real scientific disagreement: "Surveys have been conducted, and there are, in fact, numerous publications that show that what the public perceives as a lack of consensus is, in fact, completely incorrect. There's one skeptic for every 10,000 scientists who say climate change is happening and caused by human activity. It's just that our media operates on the logic that consensus is uninteresting."

In addition, according to her, certain economic interests fuel doubts"Oil and gas companies are spending huge amounts of money on disinformation campaigns that create the impression that everything is ambiguous."

"Climate is not a belief, it is a measurement."

Tarasova recalled how, at a recent press conference, a journalist asked what to do with those who “don’t believe” in climate change – whose numbers are increasing along the same trajectory as the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

"I replied with a smile: 'Who told you that climate change is a religion? People believe in religions. But climate measurements are science. Any skeptic looks at their thermometer every morning before getting dressed and going outside. Don't they trust their thermometer?' But climate measurements are many thermometers, all measuring according to a certain standard," the scientist says.

© Mom/J. Cortes

Destruction after Hurricane Beryl in Jamaica.

She also explained what the key difference is current climate changes From natural fluctuations that have occurred throughout Earth's geological history: "Yes, climate change has occurred. Yes, we've seen 400 parts per billion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. And 5 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed our land, during the Jurassic period, the temperature was 2-3 degrees warmer, and sea levels were 10-20 meters higher than they are now. Yes, we've seen glacial transitions, ice ages, and interglacial periods."

According to Tarasova, there is one "small difference." During the transition from an interglacial to an ice age and back, changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were approximately the same as between the start of the Industrial Revolution and modern levels. However, the transition from a glacial to an interglacial occurred over 10,000-15,000 years, while less than 200 years have passed since the Industrial Revolution.

"Do you feel the difference between 200 years and 15,000 years?" the expert notes.

"Every molecule of CO2, methane "Or nitrous oxide, which flies around—it's like a tiny heater. It flies away from Earth, absorbing everything and then re-emitting it. The physics are very simple. The more molecules there are, the more can be absorbed and re-emitted," she added.

KS-30: Hope for collective action

In conclusion, the WMO expert emphasized that the future of the climate depends from the collective efforts of states.

"We see China developing alternative energy, and Europeans introducing laws to regulate emissions. But climate issues aren't being addressed locally. Greenhouse gases are mixing in the global atmosphere and accumulating," Tarasova said.

"Unfortunately, one country or one bloc of countries cannot solve global problems. What's needed is joint global action," she concluded.

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Vibhu Mishra

November 1, 2025 Sustainable Development Goals

How can we build a society in which everyone feels a stake in social progress? In a world of increasing digital inequality, demographic shifts, and climate change, the promise of "social development for all" sounds more relevant than ever, but, frankly, it's not entirely realistic.

The idea that development should be people-centered, inclusive, and equitable is far from new. This vision was enshrined 30 years ago at the UN summit in Copenhagen – and remains relevant today.

Next week, world leaders will gather in Doha, Qatar, for a high-level UN conference to breathe new life into this vision. From November 4 to 6, the Second World Summit for Social Development will bring together heads of state, ministers, civil society representatives, and experts to assess progress, identify gaps, and chart a new course.

The focus is on a simple yet significant question: how can we ensure that no one is left behind?

"This summit comes at a critical time," said Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. "Inequality is growing. Trust is eroding. Communities are facing conflict, climate shocks, and rapid technological change. At the same time, we are seeing incredible examples of innovation, sustainable development, and solidarity. This is our chance to restore trust, both among governments and peoples, and between countries."

A global call to action

Björg Sandkjær, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, called the summit a "global call to action." She noted that more than a billion people worldwide still live in poverty, and 40 percent of the planet's population lacks access to social protection.

The meeting, she told UN News Service, is aimed at restoring confidence in collective progress – “the belief that we can make a difference.”

© UNICEF/S. Poon

The summit was the result of months of intergovernmental negotiations in New York, culminating in the agreement on the Doha Political Declaration, which is planned to be formally adopted at the forum.

"This declaration is the heart and soul of the summit," said Alia Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN. "It is a global call to action, reaffirming governments' commitment to creating a favorable economic, political, social, cultural, and legal environment for achieving social development for all."

The turning point

With just five years left until the 2030 deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world is seriously lagging behind on many fronts. Poverty reduction has slowed, progress on gender equality has stalled, and many young people face an uncertain future.

When Member States called for this summit last year, they sent a clear signal: social development must be prioritized again. This is about returning to the core of the 2030 Agenda and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Dynamic and inclusive format

In addition to the official plenary sessions, a parallel program of events has been prepared. The Civil Society Forum, the Private Sector Forum, and the interactive "Solutions Square" will present innovations in employment, social protection, and community resilience.

The Doha Social Development Solutions Platform, jointly launched by Qatar and France, will present tangible commitments and new initiatives – from policy reforms to partnerships aimed at increasing employment, expanding inclusion, and combating poverty.

“The Doha Forum is becoming a symbol of global solidarity, where commitments inspire action, partnerships drive progress, and a shared vision of an inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful future for all is realized,” said Alia Ahmed Saif Al-Thani.

UNDP

Closing the circle

For Bjørg Sandkjær, who attended the first World Summit in Copenhagen in 1995 as an activist representing youth, the Doha forum symbolizes both continuity and change. Back then, she recalls, there was great optimism – a belief that multilateralism and cooperation would continue to grow.

"Today's youth face tougher challenges—disinformation, climate threats, mistrust," she said. "My message to young people is simple: your participation matters. Speak up, build new alliances, and push for action."

From words to deeds

The real test, says Bjørg Sandkjær, will be translating commitments into real improvements in people's lives – decent work, social protection, and greater inclusion: "That's when we'll know we've succeeded."

Thirty years after the meeting in Copenhagen, the challenge remains the same: to build a world in which progress is measured not only by wealth, but also by well-being, equality and human dignity.

The UN News Service will provide breaking news coverage from Doha throughout the summit, featuring the voices of political leaders, young activists, civil society representatives, and innovators driving change.

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October 31, 2025 Human rights

An independent international fact-finding commission investigating alleged human rights violations in Iran has reported a "surge in repression and an unprecedented rise in executions" in the country following Israeli airstrikes in June.

At a briefing at UN headquarters in New York, Commission Chairperson Sara Hossain said the situation in the country had worsened following the strikes, which reportedly killed more than 1,000 people.

According to the Iranian government, 38 children and 102 women were among the 276 civilian casualties, with more than 5,600 others injured. Civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities and schools, was damaged. The government also reported that Tehran's notorious Evin Prison was struck without warning, killing approximately 80 people, including inmates, their relatives (the attack occurred during visiting hours), staff, and at least one child. The prison held approximately 1,500 inmates at the time, including many human rights defenders and activists.

Hossain also expressed alarm over Iran's retaliatory missile strikes on Israel, which, according to Iranian authorities, have killed 31 people and injured more than 3,300.

"Systematic attacks on civilians"

Hossain said the aftermath of the strikes led to further internal repression by the Iranian government, further undermining respect for the right to life.

A commission appointed by the UN Human Rights Council has documented the arrests of thousands of people, including lawyers, journalists, human rights defenders and those who expressed opinions about the conflict on social media.

This year, the number of executions in Iran reached its highest level since 2015. Most death penalty cases, according to the Commission, violate international human rights law. A law was passed expanding the use of the death penalty for charges of "espionage" and criminalizing the publication of information on social media deemed "false" by the authorities.

"If executions are part of a widespread and systematic repression of the civilian population as part of a State policy, those responsible – including judges who hand down death sentences – may be held accountable for crimes against humanity," said commission expert Max du Plessis.

Recent repressions have also affected ethnic and religious minorities: more than 330 Kurds and a large number of Arabs have been arrested, and hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been deported. Members of the Baha'i religious minority have been accused of "Zionist espionage," and their homes have been searched and their property confiscated.

Impunity for "honor killings"

The commission reported persistent cases of severe violence, including "honor killings" of women and girls. Sixty such cases were recorded between March and September 2025. These crimes, like other forms of gender-based violence, remain unpunished.

There are also reports of businesses serving women who refuse to comply with mandatory hijab regulations being closed, and increased surveillance. There are also reports of the return of "morality police" to the streets.

The commission documented an increase in transnational repression, including interrogations, threats, and surveillance of the families of Iranian journalists abroad. Credible information indicates that more than 45 media workers in seven countries have faced serious threats.

"The denial of justice is not a neutral act," Hossain said. "Failure to ensure justice only prolongs the suffering of victims and undermines the state's obligations under international human rights law to ensure accountability, truth, justice, and reparations."

"The rights to life and liberty are under unprecedented threat."

In a report to the General Assembly, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran Mai Sato condemned the Israeli and US strikes as an illegal use of force in violation of the UN Charter and expressed deep concern that the end of hostilities had not brought relief to Iranians.

"External aggression has fueled internal repression," Sato said. "The Iranian people's rights to life and freedom are under unprecedented threat."

She described the rise in executions as a deliberate policy of intimidation and retribution, noting that many sentences were handed down after unfair trials or on vague charges of threatening national security.

The rapporteur also pointed to the expansion of transnational repression: Iranian authorities are targeting opposition figures abroad through intimidation, surveillance, and threats, and called on UN member states to support vulnerable members of Iranian civil society and coordinate efforts to counter transnational repression.

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October 31, 2025 International law

New reports are emerging of atrocities committed during and after the capture of El Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur province, by the Rapid Intervention Forces. Seif Magango, a representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), spoke at a press briefing in Geneva on Friday.

Mass crimes in El Fasher

Speaking via video link from Nairobi, he noted that since the Rapid Intervention Forces entered the city on 23 October, OHCHR had received "horrific reports" of extrajudicial executions, massacres, rapes, attacks on humanitarian workers, robberies and abductions.

In an interview with the UN News Service, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Denise Brown spoke about the information coming out of El Fasher.

"We have begun receiving credible reports of extrajudicial executions of unarmed civilians, particularly men who are forced to the ground and shot. We have also received credible reports of extrajudicial executions of civilians attempting to flee the fighting in El Fasher," she said.

The situation in Tawila

Brown has just returned from the town of Tawila, where most people fleeing El Fasher are heading.

"They can't take a bus or a car, they walk," Brown says.

"Our Office has received testimonies from those who fled El Fasher in terror and endured the perilous journey to Tawila, approximately 70 km away. It's a three- to four-day journey. We have received shocking videos and other images documenting serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross human rights abuses," said Seif Magango.

Denise Brown also reported that fewer people have been arriving in Tawila in recent days. This could mean that the Rapid Intervention Forces are not releasing the remaining people from El Fasher.

Communication with the city has been cut off, hampering any attempts to obtain and confirm information. OHCHR estimates that the death toll during and after the capture of El Fasher by the Rapid Intervention Forces could be in the hundreds.

Attacks on medical facilities

Magango recalled the attack on a maternity hospital a few days ago, which killed 460 people, and also reported attacks on buildings in the Daraja Ula and Al-Matar areas that were temporarily used as medical centers.

Millions of people across Sudan are unable to access healthcare due to ongoing attacks on health facilities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Sexual violence

According to an OHCHR representative, there are also reports of sexual violence. At least 25 women were gang-raped when the Rapid Intervention Forces attacked a shelter for internally displaced persons near El Fasher University. The militants also forced approximately 100 families to leave the shelter.

Attacks on humanitarian workers

On October 27, at least two local humanitarian workers were killed in El Fasher. As of October 29, OHCHR has recorded at least four attacks on humanitarian personnel and local volunteers. Under the current circumstances, delivering humanitarian aid to the city is extremely difficult and dangerous. Rapid Intervention Forces have been besieging the city for over 500 days.

"We haven't been able to access El Fasher for over 500 days. In practice, this means our humanitarian convoys are blocked, so there are no food, medicine, or clean water supplies," said Denise Brown, Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan.

Violations in Bara, North Kordofan

There are also reports of serious violations related to the capture of the town of Bara in North Kordofan, including the alleged extrajudicial execution of five Red Crescent volunteers. At least 50 civilians have been killed, some of them for allegedly supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces.

"These latest serious violations committed in El Fasher and its surrounding area, as well as in Bara, potentially constitute crimes under international law. An independent, prompt, transparent, and thorough investigation is essential… and those responsible must be held accountable," Magango said.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reiterated his call on States with influence over the parties to the conflict to take urgent measures to end the violence, stem the flow of weapons and ensure effective protection of civilians.

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October 31, 2025 Peace and security

Ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure are exacerbating the suffering of the population and could lead to a large-scale humanitarian crisis with the onset of cold weather, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale warned today.

"We are very concerned about people living in high-rise buildings in cities along the front line – the situation could develop into a major crisis," Schmale told reporters in Geneva on Friday.

Massive attacks

On the eve of Russia dealt massive blows At critical energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. According to Ukrainian authorities, 705 munitions were fired in total—one of the largest attacks since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Humanitarian organizations, faced with a shortage of funds, "will not be able to respond to a serious crisis within a crisis" if people in frontline cities like Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, or Dnipro in multi-story buildings "are left without electricity and clean water for several days in a row" during the winter, Shmale explained.

"The destruction of energy infrastructure at the onset of winter directly impacts the civilian population and constitutes a form of terror," the UN representative emphasized. He added that the constant shelling throughout the country creates a sense of widespread insecurity, and the mental health consequences are becoming increasingly severe.

Shmale noted that warfare is "becoming increasingly technological—a drone war." Drones accounted for a third of all documented civilian deaths or injuries in 2025. Overall, the number of civilian casualties increased by 30 percent compared to last year.

Attacks on hospitals and educational institutions

Among those killed in the attack yesterday was a seven-year-old girl from the Vinnytsia region. Earlier this week, a children's hospital in Kherson sustained serious damage, injuring medical workers and a child. According to the World Health Organization, 364 attacks affecting healthcare facilities in Ukraine were recorded from January to October 2025.

Shmale shared his personal impressions of a visit to a kindergarten in Kharkiv that was hit by three missiles: "As a parent, I imagine taking my children to kindergarten in the morning, and a couple of hours later receiving a call asking me to pick up my frightened children, who had survived three missile strikes."

He stressed that “the sense of security, especially for children and vulnerable groups, is constantly being violated.”

The UN coordinator also expressed concern about the situation in the territories of Ukraine under Russian occupation, noting that the danger for approximately one million people is growing daily. According to Shmale, they face "violations of their fundamental rights, including the right to citizenship": residents of these territories face deportation or arrest if they do not obtain Russian documents.

Funding shortfall

Shmale warned that humanitarian aid operations for Ukrainians are hampered by a serious shortage of funds. "In 2022, we had over $4 billion, in 2023 – $2.6 billion, and last year, despite everything happening in the world, $2.2 billion. This year, we've received only $1.1 billion – half as much as last year, and there are only two months left in the year," he said.

"We are already seeing how funding cuts are reducing our ability to help the most vulnerable," the UN representative noted, calling on the international community "not to forget Ukraine."

He said humanitarian workers on the ground felt the conflict was increasingly becoming a protracted war.

"We've lived through periods of cautious optimism, when it seemed like it might all be over… But now, those of us here don't feel it at all," Shmale concluded.

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October 31, 2025 International law

Airstrikes carried out by the United States in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean against vessels "allegedly linked to drug trafficking" violate international human rights law, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated on Friday.

"Since early September, US forces have reportedly carried out a series of attacks on shipping in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of more than 60 people. These actions are unjustifiable under international law," the High Commissioner said.

"Such attacks and the growing death toll are unacceptable. The United States must cease these strikes and take all necessary measures to prevent extrajudicial executions of people aboard these vessels, regardless of their alleged criminal activities," he added.

American authorities claim that these operations are being carried out as part of the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism and fall under the norms of international humanitarian law.

The United States must stop these strikes and take all necessary measures to prevent extrajudicial killings of people.

"However, combating drug trafficking across international borders—as states have long recognized—is a law enforcement task and is governed by strict limits on the use of lethal force established by international human rights law," Türk emphasized. "Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is permissible only as a last resort against individuals who pose an immediate threat to the lives of others."

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The UN Security Council discussed rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela in the Caribbean region.

“Based on the very limited information released by the US authorities, none of those on the targeted vessels appeared to pose an imminent threat that would justify the use of lethal force under international law,” the High Commissioner noted.

Türk called for prompt, independent and transparent investigations into these attacks.

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October 30, 2025 Economic development

Kyrgyzstan's capital has tripled in size in recent years and acquired new transportation options. Bike paths have been built and the facades of schools and buildings have been greened. On World Cities Day, celebrated on October 31, Bishkek's First Deputy Mayor, Mirlanbek Baigonchokov, spoke with Lyudmila Blagonravova about how the capital is transforming into a more environmentally friendly and convenient metropolis.

MB: In recent years, Bishkek has made significant progress in implementing large-scale changes, which were, of course, aimed at developing the city and improving people's quality of life.

I'd like to highlight the key changes that affected the following areas. Just last year, we underwent an administrative-territorial reform, as part of which the city of Bishkek more than tripled in size. While Bishkek's territory previously covered approximately 13,000 hectares, it has now grown to almost 41,000.

This places certain obligations on the municipality. Over the past few years, we have embarked on a large-scale construction and reconstruction of social facilities, including schools, kindergartens, medical centers, various sports facilities, and public spaces in general. Last year alone, we built approximately 10 kindergartens and four educational facilities.

We have completed the reconstruction of our central square, the Alga complex, and other public facilities. At the same time, a master plan for Bishkek through 2050 is being developed. We have begun upgrading public transportation, purchasing electric buses and natural gas buses.

We're implementing various innovative parking projects. We're the first in the city to install rotary parking systems. These are just the first steps, of course, and I think we'll continue to do so.

Environmental and greening issues are also pressing, and we've launched the "Thousands of Green Walls" project and other large-scale environmental initiatives. We've begun improving our transportation and waste management systems. We're actively planting trees, improving lawns and parks, cleaning rivers, and upgrading street lighting.

LB: Can you give examples of any projects or programs that have already been implemented and that have led to specific results?

MB: The city of Bishkek annually adopts a socio-economic development program, which determines the directions and priorities of the city's development and budget policy. Thanks to a systematic approach, we implement approximately 80 percent of the planned activities.

Last year, we modernized and rehabilitated central streets, water supply, and sewerage systems. We are improving service quality and introducing modern technologies into public utilities.

© Unsplash/M. Dudin

Large-scale projects to modernize the city are being carried out in Bishkek.

We're implementing a variety of innovative digital methods. For example, we've developed and implemented the "My City" app, where every citizen can contact the authorities with problems, and we respond to requests promptly. We've also integrated a public transit tracking feature into the app, allowing citizens to see the route passing through and when public transit will arrive while waiting at a stop.

We've also introduced a visually impaired transport mode with voice notifications so our citizens can know where they've arrived. We're also introducing intercity transport traffic indicators. We've also implemented a workflow tracking system that integrates with the "My City" app, which tracks citizen complaints about municipal services' performance.

In the post-pandemic period, we identified five informal settlements, home to approximately 75,000 people, and implemented a pilot project to connect them to water and sewerage systems and build roads. This project was supported by the UN and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

LB: Tell us about the project that is currently being implemented with the support of UN agencies and which is aimed at reducing poverty.

MB: With UN support, we began implementing this project, and the main focus was on improving social protection, simplifying access to assistance, and introducing a social contract model to engage families in business.

The relationship between poverty, food security, and nutrition was analyzed. The primary goal was to reduce dependence on social assistance and increase the resilience of vulnerable groups.

LB: You've already mentioned environmental issues. Air pollution is a significant problem in Bishkek. Tell us about the programs being implemented in this area.

MB: Bishkek, as a development center, the center of the republic, and a metropolis, faces environmental challenges. And here I would like to note that the main sources of air pollution are motor vehicles.

© UNDP/D. Usmanov

Some houses in Kyrgyzstan are heated with coal.

We also have a combined heat and power plant, which was built back in the Soviet Union. It's operational, providing us with heat and light, but it's also a source of pollution. Of course, there are also boiler houses that serve various neighborhoods, industrial enterprises, private farms, and private homes that use coal to heat their homes. All of this impacts the city's ecology. Consequently, the municipality has begun implementing comprehensive measures to improve the environmental situation.

One such measure is the "Thousand Green Walls" project, which involves vertical greening of building facades. We have begun a pilot project to green several schools and residential buildings in one of the city's neighborhoods. We hope the project will bear fruit, and based on this pilot experience, we will continue to expand.

We also insulate the facades of municipal buildings and social facilities. We also advise private households that their homes need to be insulated first and foremost to prevent heat loss, thereby achieving energy efficiency.

We install heat pumps in public facilities, which in turn reduce energy consumption and, consequently, emissions. And since motor vehicles are a major cause of pollution, over the past two years, with the support of the government, our development partners, and the Asian Development Bank, we have begun a large-scale procurement of environmentally friendly vehicles, including electric buses.

© UNDP/D. Usmanov

Motor transport is one of the main sources of pollution.

We're implementing the appropriate infrastructure in the city, creating opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists. We're purchasing natural gas-powered buses. And one more thing: we've begun construction of a waste processing plant that will generate electricity.

I'd like to point out that for years, waste at the sanitary landfill smoldered rather than burned, releasing waste. This also had an impact on the environment. Just last year, we stopped this smoldering by implementing various innovative methods, and we no longer have any smoke. Furthermore, by the end of the year, we hope to commission a waste incineration plant, which will also contribute to improving the city's environment.

LB: You mentioned bicycles; many cities around the world are now building bike paths. How is the situation in Bishkek?

MB: We are increasing the space so that city residents can get somewhere on foot, can use bicycles, and are building bike paths in the city.

Of course, this is just the beginning; we've begun paying more attention to this in the last year or two. I hope this process will accelerate in the future, and we'll increase the length of bike lanes to encourage more residents to use bicycles. As the number of cars in the city increases and congestion increases, we'll encourage this mode of transportation by expanding the number of bike lanes.

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October 30, 2025 Human rights

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic warned today that renewed violence is undermining hopes for stability that emerged after the fall of Syria's previous government last year.

Human rights violations

The commission expressed deep concern that ongoing mass killings and human rights violations, including those reportedly committed by members of the interim government's security forces, could drag the country back into conflict.

Photo UN/J-M. Ferrier

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Commission Chair Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro called on the interim Syrian authorities and UN member states to address the root causes of the recent violence and prevent its recurrence.

"Syria's future hangs in the balance, and the country urgently needs assistance that goes far beyond the humanitarian plan, which itself remains woefully underfunded," Pinheiro said.

The return of refugees

Since December 2024, more than a million Syrian refugees have returned home, "swept up in an unprecedented wave of optimism," the Commission said in a statement. This progress was made possible by the creation of a new transitional justice body and a National Authority for Missing Persons, which experts called "critical steps toward justice for victims."

In addition, the interim authorities granted the Commission members full access to various regions of the country, including Latakia, Tartus, As-Suwayda and the surrounding areas.

However, according to Pinheiro, “despite the positive steps taken by the government towards state-building, repeated outbreaks of violence are alarming and call into question the ability of the interim authorities to end the entrenched cycles of violence in Syria.”

Mass executions

In March, an estimated 1,400 men, women and children were killed in massacres in the governorates of Latakia, Tartus and Hama, in some cases involving members of the interim government's security forces.

© OCHA/A.H.Suleiman

A new cycle of violence began after coordinated attacks by forces loyal to the former government. Armed individuals filmed gross human rights violations against the Alawite population, including executions and the bodies of murdered and burned people lying in the streets.

“It is alarming that the Commission continues to receive reports of extrajudicial killings, torture, ill-treatment and forced displacement of Alawite civilians in Damascus and the western governorates,” Pinheiro said.

The investigation continues

The Commission's investigations are ongoing, but it is already clear that the humanitarian needs of displaced communities, including Druze and Bedouin, are enormous and require urgent action ahead of winter.

Violence against women

Pinheiro also expressed growing concern about cases of violence and discrimination against women, citing numerous reports of abductions of women and girls by unknown armed groups. Some were reportedly subjected to sexual violence and forced marriages. Families claim that local authorities are taking no steps to investigate these disappearances.

Bringing the guilty to justice

According to the Commission Chair, further decisive and concrete steps must be taken to hold perpetrators accountable and restore trust between the state and the affected communities. This includes combating incitement, both online and offline, which fuels violence on the coast, in As-Suwayda, and elsewhere. Such hateful rhetoric, coupled with a sense of impunity following repeated massacres, is deeply alarming: there is a risk of a new surge in violence unless urgent reform and prevention measures are taken.

© OCHA/A.H.Suleiman

"The transitional authorities face enormous challenges, and they require the attention, support and resources of Member States to address them," Pinheiro stressed.

External intervention

The Commission also expressed grave concern about external interference, calling on Member States to take urgent measures to prevent the forced displacement and arbitrary detention of civilians as a result of Israel's advance into southern Syria last December, as well as ongoing Israeli airstrikes. "Such actions by third parties risk further escalating the conflict and exacerbating the suffering of the Syrian people," the statement said.

Tensions also remain in northeastern Syria, where clashes were reported in Aleppo and at the Tishreen Dam in early October.

Effective institutions

“A secure, rights-respecting Syria, reflecting the country’s rich mosaic of religious and ethnic communities, requires strong, inclusive, and effective state institutions rooted in human rights and the rule of law,” Pinheiro said.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.