BRIDEGETOWN, 21 May 2026 - What can businesses do to ensure the safety, health and well-being of their employees, their families and their communities when all-too-common disasters strike? The leading Caribbean private sector umbrella organisation and the United Nations have come together to offer a practical and effective suite of tools that encourage vital planning and action. UNICEF and the Caribbean Chambers of Commerce (CARICHAM) are launching the Caribbean Private Sector Engagement in Humanitarian Action guide. Accessible and full of grounded advice, the guide highlights the unique contribution the private sector can make before, during and after emergencies such as hurricanes, earthquakes, sea level rise, floods and heatwaves. It shows how businesses - whether micro, small, medium-sized or large - can use their agility, innovation, resources and logistical expertise, to really make a difference. In addition, the Family-Friendly Business Continuity Plan Supplementary Checklist provides step-by-step advice on creating a realistic plan to be activated to cover the short- medium- and long-term. The guide is supported by CARICHAM, UNICEF, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the aligned Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (Arise).CARICHAM Chair, Martin Cave, recognizes the importance of the private sector in emergencies. “We know the critical role we need to play. After all, what are businesses but people in enterprises? And these form a critical part of the fabric of communities,” he maintained. “When disasters occur, we are often there - providing shelter, supplies, communication, and support - and stay there long after the emergency phase is over, helping families and communities recover, rebuild, and regain a sense of stability.”Maryam Abdu, UNICEF Representative (a.i.) for the Office of the Eastern Caribbean Area, agrees and considers the private sector an invaluable partner. “Children are among the most vulnerable during disasters, especially when families lose access to essential services, goods and livelihoods. This is why partnership with the private sector is so important: it helps keep communities connected, supports access to vital supplies and assistance, and helps ensure that children and families are not left behind in times of crisis.”Being ready to deal with hazards is key in one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Emergencies such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions take a tremendous toll not only through physical destruction but also long-term social, psychological and trauma impacts, especially on children and vulnerable families. They also place a heavy burden on often fragile economies. For example, the estimated cost of loss and damage following 2024’s Hurricane Beryl in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was over US$600 million.Business community readiness can go a long way towards mitigating some of these impacts. According to Sarah Wade-Apicella, UNDRR Global Coordinator of ARISE, “Private sector engagement is critical; from investing in resilient infrastructure to ensuring risk-informed business continuity planning, to participating in early warning systems and community preparedness,” she said, adding, “Building resilience is not only a humanitarian priority - it is also essential for protecting economies, jobs, and long-term sustainable development.”.................................................................................This news was first published by UNICEF.

The Secretary-General said it makes clear Member States’ responsibility to protect their own people from what is an “escalating climate crisis”.The resolution drawn up by Vanuatu - a Pacific island nation on the frontline of the climate crisis, and several other countries - was adopted after intense discussion including multiple proposed amendments with 141 votes in favour, eight against and 28 abstentions.Those voting against were Belarus, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the US and Yemen. When the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s principal judicial body, ruled in July 2025 that States have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the decision was hailed as a breakthrough. The UN chief described it simply as “a victory for our planet”.‘Legal duty’The Court also ruled that if States breach these obligations, they are legally responsible and may be legally required to stop the wrongful conduct, offer guarantees that it won’t happen again, and make full reparation, depending on the circumstances.Although the ICJ’s advisory opinions are not binding, they carry significant legal and moral authority – helping to clarify and develop international law by defining States’ legal obligations.Wednesday’s General Assembly adoption following up on the ruling, sends a strong message that tackling the climate crisis is a legal duty under international law, and not just a political choice. “The world’s highest court has spoken,” responded Mr. Guterres. “Today, the General Assembly has answered.”What’s in the resolution?The resolution calls on all UN Member States to take all possible steps to avoid causing significant damage to the climate and environment, including emissions produced within their borders, and to follow through on their existing climate pledges under the Paris Agreement.Governments are urged to cooperate in good faith and continuously coordinate efforts to tackle climate change globally and ensure that climate policies safeguard the rights to life, health, and an adequate standard of living.In a statement released after the General Assembly vote, Mr. Guterres declared that those least responsible for climate change are paying the highest price, and that the path to climate justice “runs through a rapid, just, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy.”The UN Secretary-General noted that renewables have proved to be the cheapest and most secure form of energy and that the goal of keeping global temperature rises to no more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is still within reach............................................................................This story was first published by UN News.

Record-breaking heat poses increased public health burdenMore extreme water cycle means increasing drought or delugeRapidly intensifying hurricanes test preparedness and responseGlacier retreat threatens long-term water suppliesExtreme weather and climate hits agro-food systemsAlong Atlantic-facing coasts, sea level is rising faster than the global average in parts of the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean. Continuing ocean acidification and warming are compounding risks to marine ecosystems and fisheries, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2025."The signs of a changing climate are unmistakable across Latin America and the Caribbean, from accelerating glacier loss and rising sea levels to rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones, extreme heat, floods and drought,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.“This report shows that while risks are growing, so too is our capacity to anticipate and act to save lives and protect livelihoods,” she said.This was exemplified by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 - the first Category 5 hurricane on record to make landfall in Jamaica. It led to 45 deaths and economic losses of approximately 8.8 billion US dollars, more than 41% of GDP. Even though Melissa had no historical precedent, Jamaican authorities used high-quality risk modelling to inform advance financial measures and disaster preparedness which limited the human toll and helped the island cope.Another major risk is from extreme heat, which is posing an increasing public health burden. In 2025, recurrent and intense heatwaves – with temperatures well above 40°C - affected large parts of North, Central and South America. There is therefore a pressing need to embed climate intelligence into health planning and emergency preparedness and to integrate meteorological early warnings with public health triggers.Many countries do not routinely publish cause-specific heat mortality data. It is estimated that there were approximately 13 000 heat-attributable deaths annually (average across 17 countries from 2012–2021). This suggests a significant underestimate of heat related mortality and there is a need for improved reporting, according to the report.It also examines how agro-food systems are exposed to extreme weather and climate shocks, with simultaneous impacts on agricultural production, rural livelihoods, access to food, and market functioning.The State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean was launched at Olacyr de Moraes Auditorium at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), in Brasília, Brazil. It provides authoritative information on key climate indicators, impacts and risks and on major regional extreme events, including tropical cyclones, heatwaves, heavy rainfall and drought, and cold waves.“These findings are deeply concerning. But they also show why our work matters. Climate information is not only about data. It is about people,” said Celeste Saulo.“It is about protecting communities from floods, droughts, hurricanes, heatwaves and other hazards. It is about farmers planning their crops, health authorities preparing for heat-related risks, and coastal communities planning for rising seas,” she said.“The State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean 2025 is not only a scientific publication. It is a call to action. It calls on us to strengthen observations, invest in services, close early warning gaps, and ensure that climate information reaches those who need it most,” said Celeste Saulo. TemperaturesOf the four 30-year periods assessed in the report, the period 1991–2025 shows the strongest warming trend since datasets began in 1900: about 0.26°C per decade across South America, and 0.25 °C per decade across Central America and the Caribbean. Mexico experienced the fastest warming rate, about 0.34 °C per decade from 1991 to 2025.The average annual mean surface temperature in 2025 ranked between the fifth and eighth warmest on record.There was record-breaking heat across the region, including 52.7 °C in Mexicali (Mexico) – a new national record – and multiple heatwaves exceeding 40 °C–45 °C throughout Central America.  Many places in South America also recorded temperatures above 40°C, with 44 °C in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and 44.8°C in Mariscal Estigarribia (Paraguay).PrecipitationIn the last 50 years or so, rainfall in Latin America and the Caribbean has become more extreme – swinging between drought and deluge and with longer dry spells and more intense wet events.Heavy rainfall events have increased in Central America and in northern South America (for example, in Colombia, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Amazon fringe). Southeastern South America (southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina) has also seen an increase in annual rainfall, and more frequent floods.Central Chile, north east Brazil and some areas of Central America and the Caribbean are becoming drier. The Amazon region is a mixed picture, with longer dry seasons, stronger wet-season extremes and increased drought frequency in the southern and eastern Amazon.In 2025, extreme rainfall and flooding triggered major humanitarian impacts, including over 110 000 people affected in Peru and Ecuador (March floods), 83 deaths in Mexico (October floods) and widespread landslides and infrastructure damage.June 2025 was the rainiest month ever recorded in Mexico. Despite this, drought gripped northern and central regions of Mexico – covering up to 85% of the country at its peak and creating a water crisis for crops and reservoirs. There were severe water shortages in the Caribbean and over 40% rainfall deficits in parts of southern South America, contributing to agricultural losses and wildfire risk.Glacier retreatAndean glaciers form a critical water tower for approximately 90 million people, supplying freshwater for domestic consumption, hydroelectric power, agriculture and industry.Recent global glacier mass balance datasets show accelerating losses in the high-mountain southern Andes, as well as tropical glaciers in low-latitude regions like Colombia and Ecuador.The convergence of accelerating ice loss, rising water demand and limited adaptive capacity – particularly among rural Andean communities – makes the future of the Andean water tower one of the most pressing water security challenges in Latin America. OceanLatin America accounts for 8.8% of the world’s coastline. The ocean is absorbing excess heat and carbon dioxide from human activities. The resulting ocean acidification and warming combined with deoxygenation are affecting marine ecosystems and coral reefs, harming fisheries and local economies.In 2025, surface ocean pH continued to decline (acidification), reaching a record low in large parts of the Atlantic and Pacific adjacent to the region.Extreme marine heatwaves occurred in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and in the ocean area adjacent to Chile.Along Atlantic-facing coasts, rates of sea level rise are exceeding the global average in parts of the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean. Notes to EditorsThe State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean was produced by WMO in collaboration with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, international data centres, leading climate research institutions and United Nations partners, including the Pan-American Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization and UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.Dozens of experts and institutions contributed to this report. WMO is especially grateful to lead author José A. Marengo of Brazil’s National Centre for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN).The World Meteorological Organization is the United Nations System’s authoritative voice on Weather, Climate and Water.For further information, please contact:Clare NullisWMO media officercnullis@wmo.int+41 79 709 13 97Global Communication and Engagement Media Contactmedia@wmo.int

The Government of Guyana and the United Nations in Guyana signed a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to formalise the United Nations’ participation in the Global Biodiversity Alliance, marking an important step in strengthening cooperation on biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, climate resilience and global knowledge exchange.  Honourable Gail Teixeira, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and Jean Kamau, UN Resident Coordinator, signed the DOI on18th May, 2026.The signing ceremony hosted by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, took place at the Office of the President. It was attended by senior government officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, as well as representatives of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in Guyana. His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has conveyed that the partnership reflects Guyana’s long-standing commitment to responsible stewardship of its forests, biodiversity and natural resources. He expressed that the signing by the United Nations on to the Global Biodiversity Alliance, led by Guyana, is a powerful affirmation that biodiversity protection and the sustainable management of natural resources must remain central to global development. He underscored that Guyana’s leadership in climate and biodiversity, has shown that innovative partnerships can support environmental stewardship, and Guyana remains committed to sharing experiences and lessons with the international community. “The United Nations is pleased to join this important initiative, which closely aligns with the world’s shared objectives of sustainable development goals (SDGs) while championing South-South cooperation,” said Jean Kamau, UN Resident Coordinator.Through the Declaration of Intent, the Government of Guyana and the United Nations reaffirmed their shared commitments to integrating biodiversity considerations into national development planning and sustainable investment frameworks, in line with Guyana’s vision of pursuing development that is inclusive, low-carbon, and climate-resilient. The Declaration further underscores the importance of inclusive participation and the meaningful engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose knowledge, stewardship and lived experience are essential to biodiversity conservation. The Partnership is expected to contribute to stronger coordination, data-sharing and information exchange on biodiversity action within the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, while supporting Guyana’s ongoing leadership in climate and biodiversity diplomacy.........................................................................This news was first published by UN Guyana.