The climate emergency is a direct consequence of carbon-heavy land-use and agriculture, transport, buildings and industrial processes and polluting energy sources. Without profound changes to these sectors and a drastic cut to carbon footprints, there is little hope of protecting the planet from the devastating effects of a warmer world.
Below are climate-related news and events from the United Nations and partners.
The UrbanShift Africa Forum, held in Nairobi from February 17 to 19, 2025, brought together over 250 leaders from African cities, including mayors, policymakers, investors, and business leaders. The event focused on sustainable urban development amidst the continent's rapid urbanization.
Key takeaways:
As Africa is poised to lead global urban growth in the coming decades, the insights and commitments from the UrbanShift Africa Forum are crucial steps toward building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities for future generations.
As part of UrbanShift in Africa Forum, city officials and urban planners explored Luthuli Avenue, now a model for sustainable urban mobility. Once congested, the street now prioritizes cycling lanes and pedestrian walkways, targeting up to 50% reduction in vehicle emissions and promoting cleaner air and better public health.
With climate-proofed infrastructure, the project prevents urban flooding and supports a cooler, more resilient city. The air quality monitoring provides the evidence base to eventually create the first carbon-neutral street in the region, signaling the potential of this project to lead toward a transformative impact on the fabric of the city.
UrbanShift is a programme funded by the Global Environment Facility and led by the UN Environment Programme that supports more than 20 cities in Asia, Africa and Latin America to adopt integrated approaches to urban development, helping shape cities that are efficient, resilient and inclusive.
From 17-21 February 2025, over 250 African city leaders, policymakers, and investors will gather in Nairobi for the Green & Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum - a landmark event driving action on sustainable urban development. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and hosted by C40 Cities, with support from UNEP, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and ICLEI, the forum will tackle Africa’s growing urban climate challenges.
With 92% of African cities at extreme climate risk, leaders will discuss solutions for urban resilience, green financing, and sustainable growth. A key highlight will be the release of the Roadmap on Sustainable Finance Action and Advocacy for Global South Cities, offering practical steps for mayors to advance climate action.
The forum will also see the publication of an open letter - signed by mayors from some of Africa’s largest cities - urging global investors, development banks, and governments to prioritize funding for green infrastructure, climate resilience, and sustainable urban growth.
Read the press release.
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As the urgency of climate change intensifies, effectively communicating its implications and solutions is vital for meaningful action.
At the COP29 event, "A force for good: The role of social media content creators in climate communications", the crucial role of social media content creators in shaping public understanding of climate issues was emphasized and the risk of the social media space being exploited for climate disinformation was explored.
In the southeast province of Binh Thuan, Viet Nam, the Dai Phaong wind farm stands as a beacon of innovation and international collaboration. This documentary tells the story of how the UNEP Seed Capital Assessment Facility bridged critical early-stage financing gaps, enabling The Blue Circle to build a 10-turbine wind farm.
The wind farm now powers over 65,000 homes with clean energy, replacing polluting coal-fired and diesel-based systems, and avoiding approximately 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually—equivalent to removing 20,000 cars from the road. With a focus on community involvement, the project has also created local jobs and training opportunities.
The world has just experienced the hottest January ever recorded, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on 6 February 2025, citing data crunched by UN partner the Copernicus Climate Service.
The January data was “surprising” even to climate change experts at Copernicus, the European climate change service, which noted that it was the 18th month in the last 19 where the global-average surface air temperature was more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level.
“January 2025 is another surprising month, continuing the record temperatures observed throughout the last two years, despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures,” said Samantha Burgess, Copernicus Strategic Lead for Climate.
