Investing an additional USD 40 billion a year in the forestry sector could halve deforestation rates by 2030, increase tree planting by around 140 percent by 2050, and catalyze the creation of millions of new jobs. Those were among main findings of a report on forests produced by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and launched today by the UN Communications Group in a press conference in Beirut on the occasion of World Environment Day 2011 (WED).

On the 28th of January 2016, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Yemen Abdul-Malik Al-Mikhlafi visited ESCWA headquarters in Beirut where he met with Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf.

Investment in alternative energy offers a range of benefits, not only for energy security or environmental considerations but also for the socio-economic gains they can generate. Renewable energy global demand continues to rise, contributing an estimated 19% of global final energy consumption in 2011. Renewables constituted more than 26% of global generating capacity and contributed an estimated 21.7% of global electricity, while creating an estimated 5.7 million jobs for people working directly or indirectly in the renewable energy sector in 2012.

In their first meeting after the end of war on Lebanon, the ambassadors of UNESCWA member countries will meet at 11am on Thursday 14 September 2006 at the UN House, Beirut. This meeting comes within the context of the regular Advisory Committee Meetings and is the second for this year. UNESCWA Executive Secretary Mervat Tallawy will open the meeting with a statement addressed to the participants and media representatives.