Delivering innovative training and conducting research is at the heart of UNITAR’s mission. On the 18th and the 19th November 2010, the Manager of UNITAR’s Peacekeeping Training Programme (PTP) took part in a series of events organised by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. On this occasion, UNITAR was represented at the Study and Work Abroad Fair where students were introduced to PTP’s new courses on peace operations.

From the 8th to 12th of November 2010, UNITARs Peacekeeping Training Programme, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), delivered a training of trainers (ToT) in Nairobi, Kenya on Natural Resource Management and Peacekeeping. This event, sponsored by the German Federal Foreign Office, was attended by environmental focal points from 17 different UN missions and by representatives from four regional training centres.

South Korean President Myung Bak Lee announced the national 5-Year Green Growth Strategy in 2009, positioning Korea as the global leader for Green Growth and Low-Carbon Development.

Barcelona, Spain, 8-12 November 2010. The Police Platform for Urban Development hosted its second training from 8-12 November 2010 in Barcelona, Spain at the police training facilities of the Catalan Institute for Public Security (ISPC).

UNITAR’s Multilateral Diplomacy Programme (MDP) is currently conducting a three-week long workshop with participating trainers from the Diplomatic Academies of South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The unique setup of this Training of Trainers consists of several related workshops that mutually reinforce each other, thereby leading to an unprecedented added value for both diplomatic academies.

Cyclone Giri hit western Rakhine state in Myanmar packing winds of up to 177km/h, hitting the major town of Kayaukpyu among other locations. Although it is difficult to estimate casualties and damage, local authorities have confirmed that 101,923 people remain homeless and at least 20,380 houses have been destroyed.

UNOSAT has been invited to present its work on Piracy Monitoring at a meeting of the UN Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC) in October 2010. The use of satellite analysis to monitor the activity of pirates off the coasts of Somalia has been developed by UNOSAT as part of the activities of the Programme in the area of human security and monitoring.

Geospatial information and satellite analysis have the potential to generate tangible benefits in a growing number of areas.

This November 5th, 2010 CIFAL Findhorn will host the 2010 Highlands International Biodiversity and Climate Change conference, part of the United Nations’ International Year of Biodiversity in Inverness, Scotland. It is the forum to find the latest information about how climate change is affecting the unique habitats and resources of the Highlands and Islands, and learn about innovative solutions to enhance biodiversity under the pressure of climate change.