News and comment on the United Nations and UNA-UK Autumn 2010 | £3.00 NEW WORLD Biodiversity: new age of extinction? FEATURING Nicholas Young on ‘silent emergencies’ \ Setsuko Thurlow on surviving Hiroshima \ Mo Ibrahim on development data \ Mary Robinson on climate justice Taking stock of WMD-free In danger: the ICC Middle East? 10 UK species page 14 page 18 page 20 PLUS Fresh woes for DRC page 10 Cancún climate talks page 10 Towards Zero page 16 Queen Elizabeth visits UN page 22 Launch of ‘Lobby for the UN’ page 34 Interview with new UNA-UK Executive Director page 35 Careers at the UN page 47 UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF THE UK | 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL | www.una.org.uk FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN Donate to the UNA Trust The United Nations works for peace, development and human rights, and coordinates global action on issues ranging from climate change to HIV/AIDS, which no country can address alone. On the ground in every continent, it reaches out to people whom others cannot or will not, making a profound difference to the lives of millions around the world. The UNA Trust (registered charity number 256236) supports the UN’s work through education and public information. We are independent of the UN and are not funded by it. Donations and legacies are vital to our work. Visit www.una.org.uk/unatrust or contact us on 020 7766 3456 or [email protected] to find out more © Mike Goldwater/Alamy NEW WORLD Contents FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIRECTORY 4 IN BRIEF 5 From the Editor Biodiversity OPINION 2010 target BEEN FORGOTTEN An estimated 150-200 plant and animal species become extinct Climate justice 7 missed every day. While humankind is certainly not among them – the Mary Robinson global population is poised to breach the seven-billion mark Silent emergencies 8 next year – we too are under threat from the rapid loss of biodi- Nicholas Young versity and the ecosystems we rely on to sustain us. In this issue Revisiting Hiroshima 9 of New World, we make the case for integrating conservation Setsuko Thurlow with action to tackle climate change (pages 11 and 20). Ahead of the December 2010 UN climate conference (page IN FOCUS 10), we also put the spotlight on the human face of climate Fresh woes for the DRC 10 p.11 change. In an op ed based on her speech at UNA-UK’s major After Cancún? 10 UN Forum event (pages 26-31), Mary Robinson explains why Diversifying environmental policy 11 climate change is arguably the greatest threat to human rights ESSAY (page 7). On page 8, Sir Nicholas Young highlights the dev- Data is key to achieving the MDGs 12 astating cycle of drought and heavy rains in the Sahel region. Mo Ibrahim From the floods in Pakistan (page 24) to wildfires in Russia, MDG Summit 13 extreme weather has manifested itself throughout 2010. No Elizabeth II GUEST BRIEFING at the UN single event can be conclusively linked to climate change, but Monarch returns Taking stock of the ICC 14 the increase in reports documenting the ‘worst ever’ weather after more than episodes is a sobering indication of what might be to come. Kate Grady 50 years This issue of New World is the first to be produced since TOWARDS ZERO Phil Mulligan became UNA-UK’s Executive Director (pages NPT follow-up 16 4 and 35). In line with his vision of UNA-UK at the fore- James Kearney front of domestic action on international issues, we want to WMD-free Middle East? 18 transform our annual parliamentary initiative, Lobby for the Sameh Aboul-Enein and p.22 UN, into a nationwide debate on our policy priorities for Hassan Elbahtimy 2010-11: the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and nuclear non-proliferation and multilateral disarmament. Ten… To kick-start the campaign, we feature summaries of this Species under threat in the UK 20 year’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference FEATURE (page 16) and MDG Summit (page 13), as well as contri- Queen Elizabeth visits UN 22 butions on possible areas for action. On page 12, Dr Mo DO SOMETHING 24 Do something Ibrahim argues that data is essential to achieving the MDGs, Pakistan floods and on page 18, Dr Sameh Aboul-Enein and Hassan UN FORUM SPECIAL 26 Elbahtimy analyse the prospects for a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East. WESTMINSTER WIRE Details on how to register for our Lobby campaign can UNA-UK in Parliament 32 be found on page 34. Help us to ensure that these issues are Georgina Banks high on the agenda – in Westminster, Brussels and beyond! Henry Bellingham at UN Forum 33 Lobby for the UN 34 Natalie Samarasinghe, Editor UNA-UK p.24 Interview with Phil Mulligan 35 Branch bulletin 37 From the archive – 57 years ago Notices 38 Listings 39 Resources 41 Letters 43 UN Forum UNYSA special 10/11 Youth Council 44 1,400 people MDG campaign launch 45 attend major UNA-UK event YPN Young professionals’ round-up 46 Careers at the UN 47 UNA-UK gift membership 48 p.26 From United Nations News, Coronation Issue, April-June 1953 To read the full article, visit www.una.org.uk | Autumn 2010 | NEW WORLD | 3 © Mike Goldwater/Alamy Contents UNA-UK Appointments 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL UNA-UK is delighted to announce the following appointments: www.una.org.uk Phil Mulligan EXECUTIVE OFFICE Executive Director Executive Director Phil brings a wealth of experience to UNA-UK, having worked Phil Mulligan 020 7766 3457 on issues ranging from sustainable development to gender [email protected] empowerment in his previous roles as CEO of Environmental Protection UK and head of Voluntary Service Overseas in Indonesia. He also Executive Assistant serves as Vice-Chair of Defra’s Civil Society Advisory Board, as a trustee of Georgina Banks 020 7766 3457 the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers, on the Steering Group of the [email protected] Brighton & Hove 10:10 campaign, and on the Sustainability Committee of a global law firm. MEMBERSHIP & FINANCE Upon being appointed, Phil said “it’s a real honour to be associated with Deputy Director (Finance & Governance) Carol Hodson UNA-UK. This is an organisation with a lot of potential and it will be exciting 020 7766 3455 to take it forward to its next stage of development. I’m also looking forward [email protected] to meeting UNA-UK’s members and supporters”. (See page 35 for an interview with Phil) Finance Manager Ajay Vasa 020 7766 3454 Sir Jeremy Greenstock GCMG [email protected] Chair of the Board of Directors Sir Jeremy will become Chair of UNA-UK in February 2011, Membership & Fundraising Officer when Lord Hannay of Chiswick reaches the end of his five- Rich Nelmes 020 7766 3456 year term. [email protected] A member of the British Diplomatic Service from 1969 to 2004, Sir Jeremy has served in the British embassies in Washington DC, Paris, Dubai and POLICY & ADVOCACY Head of Policy & Communications Saudi Arabia. He was Ambassador to the UN for five years, attending over Natalie Samarasinghe 150 meetings of Security Council, chairing the Council’s Counter-Terrorism 020 7766 3451 Committee, and heading a Council mission to West Africa. [email protected] From September 2003 to March 2004, Sir Jeremy served as the UK’s Peace & Security Programme Coordinator Special Representative for Iraq. He was Director of The Ditchley Foundation James Kearney from 2004 to August 2010. At present, he is a Trustee of the International 020 7766 3446 Rescue Committee (UK) and a Non-Executive Director of De La Rue plc and [email protected] of Lambert Energy Advisory. UNA Wales | CCU Cymru Join us . The Temple of Peace/Y Deml Heddwch The United Nations Association of the UK (UNA-UK) is the UK’s leading Cathays Park/Parc Cathays, Cardiff/Caerdydd CF10 3AP independent policy authority on the UN and a UK-wide grassroots membership www.wcia.org.uk/una_wales/514 organisation campaigning for a strong, credible and effective United Nations. OFFICERS/SWYDDOGION Every member of UNA-UK receives a free subscription to New World, containing Acting Chief Executive / Prif Weithredwr Dros Dro news and comment on the UN. By joining you will also be invited to take part in Martin Pollard campaigns and to attend conferences, seminars and other events. 029 2022 8549 [email protected] See pages 41 and 42 for our new exclusive membership offers. Programme Coordinator / Cyd-Lynydd Rhaglenni Naomi Blight New World is published by To advertise please call Natalie Subscription: 029 2022 8549 UNA-UK, 3 Whitehall Court Samarasinghe on 020 7766 3451 Copies of New World are London SW1A 2EL included in the membership [email protected] www.una.org.uk The deadline for submission fee for UNA-UK of material for the next issue Editor: of New World is noon on The United Nations Natalie Samarasinghe, 10 December 2010 Association of Great Britain This issue of New World is printed using [email protected] and Northern Ireland is a vegetable-based inks on 100 per cent The next issue will cover the period company limited by guarantee recycled chlorine- and acid-free paper. Research, drafting 1 February 2011 to 31 May 2011 (registered no. 2885557) and copy-editing: When you are finished with the Georgina Banks All submissions should be typed Designed by magazine, please recycle it or, better Helen Franzen and sent by email where possible to SoapBox yet, pass it on to a friend.