Emissions Gap Report, El Niño, Extreme Heat & other topics - Daily Press Briefing Press Conferences Date: 21 October 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/briefing/sg/2026-10-21 Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- UN · Spokesperson [0:00]: All right, good afternoon. Welcome to all of you. Everybody settled in, buckled up. All right, a couple of programming notes for you. 30 p.m. here in this very room, Paola Gaviria Betancourt, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Internally Displaced People, will be here to brief you. 30 a.m., the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, will be speaking to you at the Security Council stakeout, and I do expect him to take some questions. And if he doesn't-- and the SG. 30, sorry. Sorry, I know you haven't seen him in a while, but 9:30, the Security Council. 30, there'll be a briefing here by Ben Saul, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism. And just to make sure you're fully busy, After the briefing, I will have Jorge Moura da Silva, the Executive Director of UNOPS, who will be briefing you on his various projects, including, I think, a recent travels to Nepal following the devastating floods. A couple of environment and climate notes for you. The UN Environment Programme today launched its Emissions Gap Report 2026. showing that the chance of holding global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels with no limited or limited overshoot is a key target of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and that goal is now gone. In a video message to the launch of the report, the Secretary-General notes that the consequences are already devastating, but overshoot is not surrender. The Secretary-General says that we can still keep it as small and as short as possible. and bring temperatures back down to below 1.5 degrees before the end of the 21st century. The Secretary-General underscores that we have the tools to change the course and we have the tools to pull back from the brink. He warns that the world is running out of time and governments must go much further and much faster. The Secretary-General also emphasizes that the G20 must lead and the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities must apply in all countries, especially the big emitters, must do more. The, he adds that developed countries must mobilize the affordable finance for developing countries to accelerate the transition and protect people from a worsening climate. The message, the report, all of that has been made available to you. And this morning in Geneva, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, sounded the alarm over El Nino, calling it a behemoth and a wrecking ball that will hit regions already battered by conflict, battered by displacement, battered by soaring food, fertilizer, and fuel prices. and massive aid cuts on top of it all. Speaking together with Celest Aulo, the head of the World Meteorological Organization, Mr. Fletcher warned that the humanitarian system cannot cope alone with a threat on this scale, calling for a much wider goal mobilization of solidarity, expertise, and action across governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector. He warned that the next two weeks are a critical window to act before the damage is With forecasts giving us a chance to prepare, he said it would be an extraordinary failure to squander the opportunities to protect people from El Nino. We cannot prevent El Nino, he said, but we can be serious about the challenges ahead and we can be creative and generous for preparing them. The World Meteorological Organization also today released a new second seasonal climate outlook, which indicates that the current El Nino event could be unprecedented in strength. The global seasonal climate updates forecast that sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, the epicenter of El Nino, may rise to 3.8 degrees Celsius above average during November through January of next year. And last related note. Today, as extreme heat intensifies around the world, the WHO, the World Meteorological Organization, UNICEF, and the UN Population Fund launched the first ever set of priority indicators to help countries track the impacts of heat on pregnant women, newborns, and children. The new framework is designed to strengthen preparedness, improve monitoring, and accelerate response. These actions will help protect some of the populations most vulnerable to climate health-related risks. Update on the situation in Abyei. Following the Secretary-General's condemnations of the drone attacks in Abyei on October 19, the UN interim force there, or peacekeeping force there, UNISFA, tells us that at least 80 people were killed, with 27 injured, treated by UN personnel. The mission continues to verify casualties and other people are still missing. UNISFA has distinguished -- has extinguished the major fires caused by the attacks on Amiet market and Todak, with our peacekeepers continue to evacuate casualties and provide medical assistance. The mine -- UN Mine Action personnel are also assessing the affected areas for any any, excuse me, unexploded ordnance. The mission has also doubled its patrols in the affected areas to help deter further violence and is engaging with community leaders to encourage restraint and prevent retaliation. UNISFA continues to engage with the governments of Sudan, South Sudan, and other relevant stakeholders in an effort to support the de-escalation. We reiterate the Secretary-General's call on both governments to take all possible steps to prevent further attacks and uphold demilitarized status while maintaining dialogue through existing mechanisms, including the upcoming joint political and security mechanism meeting that is scheduled in Khartoum. Also on Sudan, but turning to Geneva, as we've told you, we are co-hosting, along with the government of Switzerland, the sixth round of the consultations on Sudan among international and regional actors trying to work together to end this devastating war. On the sixth consultative meeting on enhancing coordination of peace initiatives and efforts for Sudan, Mr. Pekka Havisto, the Secretary-General's personal envoy, said the meeting offers an opportunity to take stock of our collective efforts and consider how to strengthen coordination among the respective initiatives. The session aims to explore practical ways forward, including a path towards a transitional political phase that reflects the aspiration of the Sudanese people. The key focus will be laying the foundations for an inclusive and credible dialogue that can advantage a Sudanese-led political process. Mr. Havisto added it is also essential to listen to the perspectives of countries in the region and consider how to prevent further deterioration and spillovers. Mr. Havisto affirmed his commitment to convening these meetings every three months to maintain momentum and help develop pragmatic responses to an evolving situation. Staying on the continent, turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our humanitarian colleagues warn that escalating violence in the southeast of the country continues to force families from their homes and increase humanitarian needs. On Monday, nearly 12,000 people left the Nambia area in Olomani province following attacks that reportedly killed two civilians, injured others, and led to abductions, according to our partners. The displaced families sought refuge in neighboring Okatanga province, some 14,500 people who had fled similar violence this month. The arrival of so many displaced people, as you can well imagine, is adding increased pressure on host communities and also increasing the need for shelter, food, health care, water, sanitation, and protection. And these communities are already facing tremendous humanitarian strain. Our humanitarian colleagues warn that the volatile situation could force further displacement and make it even harder for humanitarians to reach the people who so desperately need our help. We reiterate our call on all parties to protect civilians, to respect international humanitarian law, and to ensure safe, sustained, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian goods. Turning to Yemen, our Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grunberg, concluded visits to London, Berlin this week, where discussions were held with senior officials in both countries, focusing, as you can imagine, on the developments in Yemen and the broader region, and how to advance the Yemeni-led political process. This process under U.N. auspices is the path to lasting stability. Mr. Grunberg briefed them on his ongoing efforts to preserve that political path that can resolve comprehensively Yemeni conflict and contribute to regional stability. Throughout the visits, he stressed that concerted regional and international support for a negotiated settlement of the conflict remains as critical as ever. Meanwhile, on the ground, the fighting has forced nearly 200,000 160,000 people to flee their homes since the beginning of August, nearly half of them seeking refuge in Taiz Governorate. Despite the extremely difficult conditions, our humanitarian partners have been able to reach about 174,000 displaced people since August. That's nearly six in 10 of displaced households providing food, hygiene kits, emergency cash in the first days after these families were forced to flee. Once again, we call on parties to protect civilians, to protect civilian infrastructure, to obey international humanitarian law, and to allow for the safe, unhindered delivery of humanitarian goods. And in the occupied Palestinian territory, our colleagues at OCHA tell us that they remain deeply concerned about the continued strikes and reportedly causing civilian casualties in Gaza. They said their UN convoy traveling through Khan Yunis yesterday had to change its route after small arms fired nearby. Meanwhile, the UN has brought more than nine more food and fuel into Gaza, along with some 900 pallets of winter clothing, as well as school supplies. Last week, our child protection partners distributed 4,200 kits with winter clothing and hundreds of hygiene kits to children, along with footwear and underwear. Nearly 6,000 children received psychosocial counseling or consultations. Children still face serious risks, including injuries, hazardous child labor, psychological distress, violence and exploitation. Our partners have provided specialized protection services to hundreds of boys and girls at high risk. At the last, also last week, our Mine Action partners carried 30 assessments to identify explosive hazards in areas where we operate to help keep our humanitarian operations and our personnel safe. They're still unable to clear explosive ordnance because the lack of permission they need from the Israelis to bring in heavy equipment that is needed for such clearance. But our partners people understand the risk, reaching about 17,000 children and adults between the 7th and the 15th of October with in-person sessions. Turning to the West Bank, our colleagues with the UN Human Rights Office called today on all states and donors to take urgent action beyond condemnation and statements to press for the protection of Palestinian communities as the olive harvest gets underway with an ominous start. They said thousands of Palestinian farmers are unable to access their olive trees to the harvest due to severe restrictions on movement, which have dramatically worsened over the past three years, and not to mention the continued attacks by Israeli settlers on those farmers. And just to note back here, yesterday afternoon, our friend Peter Du, the Special Representative of the Secretary General, head of the UN Interim Administration in Kosovo, UNMIK, briefed the Council, Security Council. He provided an update on recent developments in Kosovo. He highlighted the rising tensions and frictions over intermunicipal and property-related issues, including demolitions and evictions in northern Kosovo and elsewhere. He also noted that the stalled reintegration of Kosovo Serb judges and prosecutors, restrictions on freedom of expression, and ongoing challenges of closures facing Serbia-run healthcare and education institutions, as well as the Serbian Orthodox Church. He echoed the Secretary-General's calls for renewed progress on the EU-facilitated dialogue, highlighting the UN Mission's programmatic activities and engagement with political, religious, and community leaders, as well as youth and women. He reaffirmed the mission's commitment to fostering dialogue, strengthening trust, and promoting inclusive engagements across communities. Also today, Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Security Council on Lebanon on Resolution 1559, if I'm not mistaken. That was in close consultations. And back on this continent, in Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the violence continues to drive displacement in Artibonite department following an armed attack in Petite-Riviere on October 19. Families had to flee to safer areas within the town and nearby communities. That's what authorities are telling us. Sporadic gunfire continues to be reported, disrupting movement within the town. Our OCHA colleagues are working with partners and local authorities to monitor the situation and assess the needs of the displaced. Meanwhile, communities in Goumorn, also in the Artibonite department, continue to grapple with the consequences of violence that erupted at the end of September. According to the IOM, more than 10,000 people have been displaced, and nearly all of them are staying with host families. Despite all of the challenges and despite the insecurity, humanitarian operations have been able to resume. In October, our partners distributed 1,500 hot meals and hygiene kits to displaced families and plan to deliver more than 2,000 kits, with kitchen sets and plastic sheets in the coming week. Road access to reach people in need remains possible, but insecurity continues to put humanitarian operations at risk. Once again, we need safe, unhindered, and rapid accessibility to those who need humanitarian help. Two events I want to flag to you this afternoon, if you have nothing else to do. 00 p.m. in ECOSOC, there'll be a joint meeting of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and the African Union Peace and Security Council. Discussions will focus on ways to strengthen Africa-led prevention and peacebuilding, better aligning regional efforts with national priorities, and leveraging financing and partnership more effectively. The meeting will be co-chaired by the permanent representative of Morocco, Omar Hilal, who is also the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, and by the chairperson of the African Union Peace and Security Council for October, that is the permanent representative of Cameroon to the African Union, Ambassador Churchill Iwumbe Monono. And on our side, our friend Elizabeth Spahar, the Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Peace Support, will be there, as well as Parfait Onanga who, as you know, is the head of the UN office in Addis Ababa, the African Union. Both are expected to deliver remarks. The meeting will be open. 15, our human rights colleagues invite you to an event marking the centenary of the Slavery Convention, which was signed in 1926, it's 100 years, at the first global agreement aimed at ending slavery and the slave trade. Despite its prohibition, around 50 million people worldwide continue to be subjected to contemporary forms of slavery. The 100th anniversary offers an important opportunity to reaffirm member states' commitment to eradicate contemporary forms of slavery, strengthen survivor leadership. The event, which is at the Cervantes Institute, will bring together representatives of human rights Office, the human rights system, member states, civil society, survivor leaders, academia, student organizations, private sector, and philanthropy. Interesting fact, that convention, we have that convention in our archives, and it's a pretty amazing document with the seal of King George V and the Russian czar. Anyway. On that note, no quiz, but I'm ready to take your questions. Yes, Edie, sorry. It should be automatic. Speaker 2 [17:32]: Thank you, Steph. One follow-up on Abyei and then a question. On Abyei, has there been any determination of who was responsible for this deadly attack? UN · Spokesperson [17:48]: We are not at this point able to make a formal determination. Speaker 4 [17:53]: And secondly, does the Secretary-General have any comment on the announcement of talks between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine next month on ending the war in Ukraine. UN · Spokesperson [18:16]: We always welcome new avenues of dialogue to bring an end to this war. We are always ready to support any efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine based on international law, based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for a settlement to be just, to be fair and sustainable, and also based on all relevant UN resolutions. Stefano, then Pam. Speaker 6 [18:50]: Thank you, Stefan. Does the Secretary-General has any comment on the news coming out in these hours that Ambassador Lana Nusibet has been here at the UN for over 10 years. She's the possible candidate, new candidate for Secretary-General. UN · Spokesperson [19:10]: The short answer is no, because A, there's been no confirmation, and B, as you know and as he's told you, I think, in this room, he will not comment on the ongoing process to succeed him as Secretary General. Madam Falk. Speaker 8 [19:25]: Thank you, Steph. A follow-up on Edie's question about these multilateral meetings. On the Ukraine-U UN · Spokesperson [19:43]: I mean, this story literally broke, I think, in the last 10 minutes, so let us look into it. Speaker 10 [19:48]: All right. Number two is on the story that broke a few days ago, which is trilateral U.S., Russia, China. What is the view of that meeting, and is there any sense that the UN would be involved in it? UN · Spokesperson [20:03]: Well, I mean, I think it is always good when leaders of countries that have very serious issues to discuss meet at the highest level. Thank you. Yeah, Nathan, please, and then Islam. Speaker 12 [20:23]: Thank you so much, Steph. So today I was following the press briefing by the WMO and the OCHA. So there was a mention of giving like families of affected, in affected regions, cash before disaster hits. So now my question is, how exactly is this cash or this aid dispersed to these families? Does it go straight directly to the families or it has to go through government? 'Cause there's also data, for example, by the Peace Project in Zimbabwe and several other parts where some of the aid does not really get to the people or does not get to all the people who are affected by such crisis. So I just wanted to know if there is like how the aid is dispersed to the people. UN · Spokesperson [21:24]: It depends on, they're different projects. My understanding when the UN, you know, we talk often about UNHCR, WFP, distributing cash assistance, we do it directly or through a partner NGO. But the point of cash assistance is that it is a very effective way of getting money, obviously, into people's hands and then money back into a marketplace, right? It's a way of reviving a community or reviving an economy, often those transfers are done through electronic transfers using various mobile cash apps that a lot of people have access on their phones. That is not to say that perhaps governments also have different programs, but for the UN, in the most part, those things are done directly. Okay, Islam. Speaker 14 [22:15]: Thank you, Stephan. There are reports that an Israeli soldier who is being accused for killing Hind Rajab is visiting the US. The Hind Rajab Foundation and some US lawmakers asking his arrest. Was the Secretary General position that some Israeli soldiers who are being accused for international crime, including genocide, are traveling freely without held accountable? UN · Spokesperson [22:47]: I personally have not seen that report. Our position is very clear that there needs to be accountability for the violence committed on civilians. Speaker 16 [22:58]: And if I may ask second question on Yemen, there are reports that France and UK moving the military asset to Saudi Arabia to support against Houthis. What is the Secretary-General concern if The conflict over there is deepening, especially with the military block escalating. UN · Spokesperson [23:25]: Well, I mean, I think a number of things have to can happen at the same time. I mean, countries have a responsibility to keep their citizens safe. Some countries enter into military alliances and agreements to ensure that those countries have entered an agreement with, provide the necessary equipment so they can be kept safe. And I think that is a normal function of government. At the same time, we're obviously concerned about the ongoing conflict, not only between in Yemen, the strikes that the Houthis have done against Saudi Arabia, violating their sovereignty, which we've condemned, and obviously the ongoing tensions in the Gulf. And our line continues to push for a diplomatic solution. I mean, I think that is exactly what Mr. Greenberg is doing in terms of Yemen. And the Secretary General has been following closely and continues to be in touch with various mediators on the broader Iran, the Iran issue. Speaker 18 [24:27]: And if I may ask one last question, follow up Edith's question yesterday, you said that Sudanese meeting in January, Sudanese government and RSF are not represented. Any other country representing these sides? UN · Spokesperson [24:46]: I mean, it is not so much countries representing the sides. This is about our continued effort to bring the various initiatives together, both from the quintet and the Quad, right, the group that represents various countries and groups of various international organizations. Whenever you have various diplomatic efforts to try to deal with a conflict, it is important that they be unified, and that's exactly the aim of Mr. Havis to and the Swiss government who are co-hosting. Yes, in the back, and then go to Zora. Speaker 20 [25:19]: Thank you, Stephen. Nigeria is now the fifth country to have reported the outbreak of the Ebola strain, yesterday with a case linked to a flight from Uganda. Is the Secretary-General concerned that the outbreak may spread to more countries? And also that it may continue for the next one year, you know, going by the, uh, current, uh, response from the international community. UN · Spokesperson [25:44]: Yeah, I mean, it's of course concerning that, uh, there is a case in, in a new country, we have full confidence. in the ability and the capacity of the Nigerian government's health authorities to deal with this singular case, and I know they've done very active contact tracing following that discovery. It is also incumbent that Countries work together, follow international health regulations, work with the WHO. I mean, this is why the WHO was created, to help to deal with these issues, and I know they're very much on top of it. Speaker 22 [26:25]: support that the UN is giving to Nigeria? UN · Spokesperson [26:28]: We are, as always, ready to assist the government of Nigeria in any way possible, and I have no doubt that our WHO colleagues in Nigeria are in touch directly with the health authorities in Nigeria. Zora. Mona, sorry. Speaker 24 [26:44]: It's Mona. UN · Spokesperson [26:44]: I know, Mona, I know, sorry. Speaker 26 [26:47]: Just a brief follow-up on Islam's question. A few weeks ago, when we asked about Hind Rajab's case, you said that we should wait and see the results of the Israeli investigation. Now, I know you don't speak on behalf of the Israeli authorities, but do we have any updates or progress on that investigation, specifically given that Mr. Sean Glass is currently reportedly in the U.S. soil. UN · Spokesperson [27:17]: I have no more information than you do on this case. Monsieur. Speaker 28 [27:30]: Thank you, Stefan. A follow-up on the meeting in Geneva. So after this meeting and after, as you said, the parties will have or the parties taking part in this meeting would have unified a vision or a plan, does the UN intend to present this plan to the warring parties to talk about, or does it plan to start a negotiation process? UN · Spokesperson [28:12]: I don't think I said that the outcome of the meeting would be a unified plan. That is the effort, right, to keep going. I'm not -- let's wait for the meeting to conclude. But from what I understand, with my limited understanding of things, I'm not expecting a full announcement of -- in the sense that you -- that you said. The aim of the meeting, as Mr. Haviestoh said, is to explore practical ways forward. in how we can advance towards a transitional political phase that takes very much into account, but it's at the center, the aspirations of the Sudanese people. I would also encourage you to watch the press conference, which I think may either still be going on or just concluded a little while ago by Mr. Javisto in Geneva. Speaker 30 [29:03]: Thank you very much. President Trump said recently that president of Ukraine shouldn't be at the moment anymore in the discussion for peace. He thinks that somebody else should represent Ukraine. Now, But does the Secretary General think that this is something that could help or not the peace process? UN · Spokesperson [29:36]: Stefano, I'm not going to start commenting on comments made by people more than a week ago. As you know, it is up to the people of each country to choose their own leaders. Speaker 32 [29:47]: And just a very quick follow-up, because today Russia freed an American prisoner. And the special envoy of President Trump called President Putin a humanitarian. Does the Secretary-General share this? UN · Spokesperson [30:09]: First of all, it is always welcome when someone who is not free is freed. On the rest, I'm not a color commentator on international quotes. On that note, I bid you all adieu.