New UNICEF Ambassador Seeks to Give Louder Voice to Climate Change Victims

Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate has been named UNICEF's new Goodwill Ambassador Ed JONES AFP
Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate has been named UNICEF's new Goodwill Ambassador Ed JONES AFP
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New UNICEF Ambassador Seeks to Give Louder Voice to Climate Change Victims

Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate has been named UNICEF's new Goodwill Ambassador Ed JONES AFP
Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate has been named UNICEF's new Goodwill Ambassador Ed JONES AFP

Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate recently traveled to the drought-ravaged Horn of Africa to hear from children suffering from starvation. The next day she learned that one of the boys she met had died.

It is for such children, whose lives have been shattered by the global climate crisis, that Nakate, UNICEF's newest Goodwill Ambassador, has set out to make their voices heard, AFP said.

"I'm hoping to continue doing the same thing to amplify, and really platform, the stories of the children ... that are suffering, because of the climate crisis," Nakate, who is 25, told AFP in an interview.

Inspired by Sweden's climate crusader Greta Thunberg, several years ago Nakate founded the Rise Up Climate Movement in her native Uganda and has spoken at prestigious international climate events.

On Thursday, she was appointed the newest Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, the United Nations' children's agency, joining recent high-profile supporters such as actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas, singer Katy Perry and Syrian refugee and education activist Muzoon Almellehan.

"In my journey of activism, I've always told myself, and I've always believed that every activist has a story to tell," Nakate said. "And every story has a solution to give and every solution has a life to change."

The activist says children and women suffer the most from global warming and her mission is make their voices heard -- but not to speak on their behalf.

"I cannot say that I can give a voice to anyone, because I believe everyone has their own distinct voice," she added.

"But the question is, who is listening to what we are saying? Who is paying attention?"

'Roof for all of us'

Last week, Nakate visited UNICEF-run hospitals and nutrition centers in Turkana, a Kenyan region in the Horn of Africa hit by devastating drought.

There she witnessed the tragedy firsthand.

"I got to meet many children suffering from severe, acute malnutrition, because of this drought," Nakate said of the trip. "One of the children that I got to meet that day, I got to learn the following morning that he had passed."

UNICEF says about half of the world's children — roughly 1 billion — live in one of 33 countries classified as "extremely high risk" due to climate change impacts.

Scientists say that droughts, floods, storms and heat waves will only get stronger and more frequent due to global warming, and Nakate is frustrated that governments around the world, busy with the war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic, are not doing enough to save the planet.

"It can be discouraging to see that the world is not paying the attention that it should to climate issues, it can be very frustrating," said the activist.

"Leaders especially need to understand that Earth is a home for all of us, is like that roof for all of us. And we have to ensure that the entire roof is well and no part is leaking," Nakate said. "Because any leak in a part of a roof will eventually affect everyone in that house."



iRead Marathon Records over 6.5 Million Pages Read

Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA
Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA
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iRead Marathon Records over 6.5 Million Pages Read

Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA
Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA

The fifth edition of the iRead Marathon achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 6.5 million pages read over three consecutive days, in a cultural setting that reaffirmed reading as a collective practice with impact beyond the moment.

Hosted at the Library of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) and held in parallel with 52 libraries across 13 Arab countries, including digital libraries participating for the first time, the marathon reflected the transformation of libraries into open, inclusive spaces that transcend physical boundaries and accommodate diverse readers and formats.

Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone, but a reflection of growing engagement and a deepening belief in reading as a daily, shared activity accessible to all, free from elitism or narrow specialization.

Pages were read in multiple languages and formats, united by a common conviction that reading remains a powerful way to build genuine connections and foster knowledge-based bonds across geographically distant yet intellectually aligned communities, SPA reported.

The marathon also underscored its humanitarian and environmental dimension, as every 100 pages read is linked to the planting of one tree, translating this edition’s outcome into a pledge of more than 65,000 trees. This simple equation connects knowledge with sustainability, turning reading into a tangible, real-world contribution.

The involvement of digital libraries marked a notable development, expanding access, strengthening engagement, and reinforcing the library’s ability to adapt to technological change without compromising its cultural role. Integrating print and digital reading added a contemporary dimension to the marathon while preserving its core spirit of gathering around the book.

With the conclusion of the iRead Marathon, the experience proved to be more than a temporary event, becoming a cultural moment that raised fundamental questions about reading’s role in shaping awareness and the capacity of cultural initiatives to create lasting impact. Three days confirmed that reading, when practiced collectively, can serve as a meeting point and the start of a longer cultural journey.


Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Launches Fifth Beekeeping Season

Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA
Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA
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Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Launches Fifth Beekeeping Season

Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA
Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA

The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority launched the fifth annual beekeeping season for 2026 as part of its programs to empower the local community and regulate beekeeping activities within the reserve.

The launch aligns with the authority's objectives of biodiversity conservation, the promotion of sustainable environmental practices, and the generation of economic returns for beekeepers, SPA reported.

The authority explained that this year’s beekeeping season comprises three main periods associated with spring flowers, acacia, and Sidr, with the start date of each period serving as the official deadline for submitting participation applications.

The authority encouraged all interested beekeepers to review the season details and attend the scheduled virtual meetings to ensure organized participation in accordance with the approved regulations and the specified dates for each season.


Hail Municipality Named Arab Green City For 2024-2025

The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA
The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA
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Hail Municipality Named Arab Green City For 2024-2025

The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA
The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA

The Hail Region Municipality has secured first place in the Arab Green City award for 2024-2025 at the 15th session of the Arab Towns Organization.

This recognition honors the municipality’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the expansion of green spaces, and the implementation of urban practices that elevate the quality of life, SPA reported.

The award follows a series of strategic environmental initiatives, including large-scale afforestation, the modernization of public parks, and the adoption of eco-friendly solutions to enhance the urban landscape and resource efficiency.

By aligning its projects with the sustainability goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the municipality continues to foster a healthy and safe environment for residents and visitors.

This achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development.