UNIS/INF/249
21 November 2007

Media Advisory

 

UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008 Launch in Austria

Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world

VIENNA, 21 November (UN Information Service) - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report 2007/2008, which this year focuses on fighting climate change: human solidarity in a divided world,  will be launched in more than 100 countries, with the main launch hosted by President Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Brazil, on 27 November.  In Austria, the Report will be available from UNIS Vienna. For further information on the Report and on the world-wide launch events, visit: http://hdr.undp.org/en

The Report warns of an irreversible ecological disaster if urgent action is not taken to reverse the damaging impacts of climate change and cautions that the poorest countries would suffer the most as a result.  It states that although the financial resources and technology needed to solve the problems are available, the international community has not fully grasped the urgency of the situation. The next ten years will prove crucial in the challenge. It also calls on rich countries to accept their responsibility for contributing to the problem, urges them to curb greenhouse gas emissions and stresses the need for concerted action to protect the planet.

The information contained in the Report is under embargo until 27 November, 13:00 hours, Central European Time.

  Media representatives based in Austria may request a copy under embargo by contacting:

 

Martha Villa Godínez
Associate Information Officer
United Nations Information Service Vienna
Telephone: +43 1 260 60 4592
Email: martha.villa.godinez@unvienna.org

Austrian Chancellor and Administrator of UNDP to present Human Development Report 2007/2008 in Vienna on 3 December

The Federal Chancellor of Austria, Alfred Gusenbauer, and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Kemal Dervis, will present the Report at the Austrian Federal Chancellery on Monday, 3 December from 11:30 to 13:00 hours.  The presentation will be followed by a press conference.

For information on the p resentation at the Austrian Federal Chancellery, please contact:

Sven Pusswald
Spokesman, Cabinet of the Federal Chancellor
Telephone: +43 1 53115 2656
Email: sven.pusswald@bka.gv.at