New Forum to Help Develop Gender and Poverty-Sensitive Energy Policies in Asia-Pacific Region
Efforts to help developing countries in reducing poverty received a boost today when experts and policy makers from throughout the Asia Pacific region joined together to create a regional forum designed to help provide women and poor families reliable access to energy. The Policy Innovation Forum (PIF) was officially launched by the International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy (ENERGIA), in partnership with the UN EESCAP, at the conclusion of a two-day meeting entitled the High Level Regional Policy Meeting on Networking Towards Gender and Poverty Sensitive Energy Policies. [4 November 2008]

UN Meeting to Focus on Links Between Gender, Poverty and Energy in Developing Nations
Women in developing countries are amongst those most affected by a lack of access to energy sources such as modern fuels and electricity. Their long hours spent on daily survival tasks. such as fuel gathering, cooking and household chores, mean they have little room for self-development or for productive activities that can contribute to family incomes lifting them out of poverty. These links – between gender and poverty and energy in the Asian-Pacific region - will be the focus of a high-level meeting, starting on Monday, organized by the International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy (ENERGIA) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). [31 October 2008]

Meeting on Post-Nargis Recovery and Livelihood Opportunities in Myanmar
Six months after Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, key partners in the country's recovery process gathered in Bangkok to assess how to best strengthen their joint efforts to support inclusive and sustainable recovery there. The two-day Regional High-level Expert Group Meeting on Post-Nargis recovery and Livelihood Opportunities in Myanmar was organized by ESCAP and ASEAN, with the support of the Government of the Union of Myanmar. It brought together high-ranking Myanmar Government officials and representatives of ASEAN, ESCAP and other UN and international partners, as well as experts with experience in dealing with such recent disasters in the region as the 2004 Asian Tsunami, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, and the 2007 Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh. The high-level commitment to this dialogue was reflected in the opening statements by ESCAP Executive Secretary, Under-Secretary-General Noeleen Heyzer, ASEAN’s Secretary-General, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, and the Myanmar Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, U Kyaw Thu. [28 October 2008]

Remarks by Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, on UN Day, 24 October 2008
"The United Nations does not - and can not - act alone. It really is as strong as its members want it to be - and when I use the term 'members' here, I do not solely mean member states. Far from it, in fact. By 'members' I mean every man, woman and child in our region - and on our planet. In fact, the charter of the United Nations begins with "We, the peoples..." It is for people that the UN strives to create an inclusive and equitable society. A celebration of the United Nations achievements can not - and should not - pass without an acknowledgement of the goodwill and support that so many people have for the United Nations as it carries out its various activities... It is with the people’s support, and that of their governments, that the United Nations is able to work towards ending violence and promoting tolerance; advancing development and ensuring equality; protecting human rights and alleviating poverty. The United Nations, at its best, enables the achievement of these highest of human aspirations."
UN Secretary-General | Thai Deputy Prime Minister | President of UNA of Thailand [24 October 2008]

UN's State of the World's Cities Report Finds That Asia's Coastal Cities Are Most Vulnerable to Climate Change
Many of Asia's major cities are at risk from rising water levels due to climate change, and more needs to be done now to mitigate the impact this will have on their populations and assets. This is one of the key findings contained in the United Nations Human Settlements Programme's (UN-HABITAT) annual flagship report, this year entitled State of the World's Cities 2008/9: Harmonious Cities, which will be launched at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, 22 October, at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand. [21 October 2008]