Threats by United Nations

From time to time, many people and organizations predict, according to current events, threats that will afflict humanity in the coming years. One such organization is the United Nations. It is an international organization founded in 1945. Today, it consists of 193 Member States, which are accepted as members by decision of the General Assembly and on the recommendation of the Security Council. Their work is guided by the purposes and principles contained in the founding Charter. The United Nations may have evolved over the years to keep up with a rapidly changing world, but one thing has remained the same: it remains the only place on Earth where all nations of the world can come together, discuss common problems, and find common solutions that benefit all of humanity.

According to the United Nations, there are many environmental threats, starting with the unchecked carbon pollution. It is known that global emissions are set to increase almost 14% over the current decade that spells catastrophe. Moreover, increased heat waves, droughts, and floods are already exceeding plants and animals’ tolerance thresholds. So, it is possible that many ecosystems are at the point of no return. We must do something because a delay in finding a solution means death. Let’s accelerate the energy transition to a renewable energy future. Tackling all these different challenges involves everyone working together to prioritize risk reduction, as well as equity and justice in decision-making and investment.

Furthermore, fires are expected to increase by 50% by the end of the century. But we all know that funding isn’t properly channeled into wildfire prevention and wildfires mainly hurt the poor nations and destroy ecosystems. Not only that, but also smoke directly harms human health. There is no doubt that the exacerbation of wildfires and climate change are analogous, and they both enable each other. More funding is spent on response than prevention, despite reports showing it should be otherwise and, of course, there should be more awareness globally about firefighters’ health risks.

Moreover, because environmental threats are worsening conflicts worldwide, they will soon constitute the biggest challenge to human rights, the United Nations has warned. Climate change, pollution, and nature loss are severely affecting human rights, while countries across the globe fail to take the necessary action. The interlinked crises of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity act as threat multipliers, amplifying conflicts, tensions, and structural inequalities, and forcing people into increasingly vulnerable situations. As these environmental threats intensify, they will constitute the single greatest challenge to human rights of our era. Environmental threats were already directly and severely impacting a broad range of rights, including the rights to adequate food, water, education, housing, health, development, and even life itself, hurting the poorest nations the hardest. The UN rights chief cited “murderous climate events”, including the fires in Siberia and California, and floods in China, Germany, and Turkey. Bachelet warned that severe droughts could additionally force millions of people into misery, hunger, and displacement. Therefore, addressing the environmental crisis is a humanitarian, a human rights imperative, a peace building, and a development imperative.

The United Nations also warn of a human security threat. Digital advances could jeopardize the security of future generations. Digital technologies are increasingly pushing for the existing legal, humanitarian, and ethical rules, non-proliferation, international stability, peace and security. It also reduces barriers to access and opens new potential conflict areas. At the same time, there has been a dramatic increase in malicious incidents targeting information and communication technology. “Violent” internet and marketing that have a negative impact on men, women and children are associated with threats such as cyberbullying, co-worker violence and the unconscious dissemination of personal information. The UN Report warns of illegal economic flows and the link between social media and drug use. Finally, the annual report points out that social media offer opportunities to buy cannabis, prescription painkillers and other controlled substances.

Finally, the United Nations predicted a financial threat. At least two thirds of households with children have lost income since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out two years ago, according to a joint report released on Wednesday by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The World Bank. Speaking of the lack of human capital development, Ms. Sánchez-Páramo added that the current situation “could lead to increased inequality for future generations, making children less likely to do better than their parents or grandparents”. Crash in family incomes during COVID will increase inequality for the future generations.

So, these are the threats posed by the United Nations. We all need to do our best to keep them from becoming a reality. Otherwise, the consequences will be harmful to all of us.

by Euphoria Team

Euphoria’s members: Eirini Antoniadi, Emilevassiliou, Artemis Logkaki, Theodora Matsaka, Alexia Moschouti, Iwanna Tsane

Course’s Professors: Betty Tsakarestou and Mania Xenou

#ADandPRLab #PanteionUniversity #CrisisManagement