In 2023, for the first time ever, nuclear power was mentioned as one of the low carbon energy options the world needs to turn to, if we are to lower carbon emissions and limit global temperature rises.Conor Lennon speaks to Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a UN body, about the evolving image of nuclear power, safety concerns, and its role in a net zero future.Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel: https://bit.ly/4b2a8joIAEA at COP28: Highlights | IAEA: https://bit.ly/3Vni0G9Full interview with Rafael Grossi: https://news.un.org/en/audio/2024/06/1150801IAEA spent fuel conference: https://www.iaea.org/events/sfm24Atoms for food: https://bit.ly/3VjLZ1JDisability rights convention (COSP17): https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1150786International Year of Camelids: https://www.fao.org/camelids-2024/en

On this week’s episode Conor Lennon and Anton Uspenskiy from UN News discuss the UN Secretary-General’s hard-hitting climate speech, in which he called for a ban on fossil fuel advertising and promotion; the UN’s continued support for millions of desperate people in Afghanistan; how AI is being used for the benefit of all; and whether we’re on the brink of being able to talk to whales.This week’s guests are Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Fred Werner, Head of Strategic Engagement at the UN digital tech agency (ITU) and Fiona Korwin-Pawloski, Chief Strategy Officer at Project CETI (the Cetaceous Translation Initiative).UN Secretary-General calls for ban on fossil fuel advertising: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1150661Interview with Jorge Mareira da Silva, the head of UNOPS: https://news.un.org/en/audio/2024/06/1150746How the UN is using AI to save lives: https://news.un.org/en/audio/2024/06/1150696World Ocean Day: https://unworldoceansday.org/

‘Keep it in the ground!' is the rallying cry, when it comes to fossil fuels. However, in Dominica there is a clean, renewable, subterranean resource that the government is very keen to get out of the ground: heat.Conor Lennon and Myra Lopes find out how the small country is vying to join the select group of countries powered 100% by renewables. And Matt Wells reports from Antigua, which is hosting the Small Islands Developing States conference, where the focus is on surviving the destructive consequences of the climate crisis. Today's guest is Stéphanie Fillion, UN Correspondent for The Asahi Shimbun.What exactly are SIDS? https://www.un.org/ohrlls/content/list-sidsDominica and geothermal energy: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1149136SIDS4 Conference: https://news.un.org/en/search/sids4

On this week’s show, Conor is joined by UN News colleague Heyi Zou and China Global TV reporter Dezhi Xu, for an animated discussion about the lowering of UN flags, China’s role in the transition to a net-zero economy and, in the week of the International Day of Tea, the merits of a good cuppa,World Economic Situation and Prospects reportICC story on UN NewsInternational Day of TeaIf there are any subjects you want us to talk about, or any questions you have about the work of the UN, email us: [email protected] production was by the UNTV team. The editor was Joon Park from UN Video, the Executive Producer was Mita Hosali.UN Weekly is a UN News production.

Welcome to UN Weekly, a podcast from UN News.We will bring together journalists, experts, senior officials and influencers, for an engaging and entertaining guide to the fascinating, little-known and often misunderstood world of the United Nations. Subscribe to UN Weekly on your favourite podcast platform, including YouTube, where you can watch the full video version! 

On the first episode of UN Weekly, Conor Lennon and Myra Lopes focus on the effect of the climate crisis on small island developing States (SIDS), which are struggling to cope with hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. Island nations are also drowning in plastic, which is washing up on beaches, clogging rivers and, for the most part, is not recyclable and takes hundreds of years to break down.The team are joined by Deandre Williamson from Bahamas Broadcasting, and May Yaacoub from the UN office for SIDS and least developed countries, to look at global UN-led efforts to get to grips with the problem, and how a once-in-a-decade event in Antigua can help them to fight back the plastic tide.Full Trinidad pollution videoPolluting rivers, beaches and the ocean: How can Trinidad solve its plastics problem? | UN NewsSIDS4 conference pageStudio production by Alan Adair, Jiayi Wang and Carlos Macias. Editing by Andrea Ocampo, Executive Producer is Mita Hosali. UN Weekly is a UN News production.Email us: [email protected]