World leaders gathered in New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 2023. This year’s session comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, global economic challenges and dire warnings of looming environmental and human catastrophe.

We discussed urgent concerns about our planet with David Cooper. He is Acting Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

Another major issue at this year’s UNGA was rising global hunger.  According to the UN, as many as 783 million people faced hunger around the world last year. The climate crisis, conflict and economic shocks have left millions of people wondering where their next meal will come from.

We spoke with Shaza Moghraby, the spokesperson for the United Nations World Food Programme, about the critical issues at stake.

The earth’s biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. Plus, a global food crisis puts millions at risk of worsening hunger. 

⤵️With resources tightening

⤵️Assistance cuts are becoming the norm

❗Leading more and more people to emergency hunger.

We need to act now to save lives and protect development gains. #UNGA78

— World Food Programme (@WFP) September 14, 2023

Soil plays a central role in #climatechange adaptation and mitigation; it has the potential to store twice as much carbon as other terrestrial & atmospheric pools.#Soil is literally & physically central to our existence!

↪️: https://t.co/YxuZhz1Dn0

Via @ICRAF

— UN Biodiversity (@UNBiodiversity) September 17, 2023