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.
With today’s focus on technology, it’s worth highlighting how big data – in the form of UNEP’s Marine Sand Watch – is tracking illegal sand dredging. The first-ever global data platform on sand and other sediment extraction in the marine environment finds that the marine dredging industry is digging up 6 billion tons per year, the equivalent of more than 1 million dump trucks per day. This is significantly impacting biodiversity and coastal communities. Read the full story.
Today is Science, technology, innovation and digitalisation day at COP29 and there will be a host of events focused on how technology and innovation can help countries increase ambition and reduce emissions.
Following the launch of the Eye on Methane Report 2024, this event will look at the latest methane data and tools from UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) and explore how stakeholders are using these resources to drive mitigation across sectors. This morning also sees a Ministerial Meeting on the circular economy co-hosted by the COP29 Presidency and UNEP, which will showcase examples from countries that have successfully leveraged circular economy to raise climate ambition, including through their NDCs. This event at the UN Azerbaijan-Pavilion will highlight the importance that stakeholders value the Technology Needs Assessment outcomes, as part of their NDCs.
It's been another very eventful day in Baku with report launches, ministerial meetings and protests. One of the more high-profile protests was regarding the influence of the energy industry at COP29, with 1,773 coal, oil, and gas lobbyists granted access to the event, about 1.5 per cent of the total number of visitors.
Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing on a range of issues from climate finance to Article 6, with progress very slow in some areas. It is hoped that some breakthroughs will be made next week, but a lot of ground needs to be made up before then.
The world now has the tools to slash methane emission, but what is needed now is action. That was the message at the launch of the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO)'s 2024 Eye on Methane report earlier today at COP29.
Speaking at the launch, UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen highlighted the fact that in some cases, stopping methane emissions comes down to simple repairs. "We’re quite literally talking about screwing bolts tighter or replacing filters in some cases," she said.
Methane emissions are responsible for roughly one third of current global warming Through its Methane Alert and Response System, IMEO has issued more than 1,200 notifications about major methane plumes over the last two years.
A global coalition of financial organisations – including the International Development Finance Club and UNEP Finance Initiative – has released a set of recommendations for the post-2025 climate finance framework.
These include: A more strategic, collaborative and qualitative use of public finance; addressing climate mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage priorities by substantially increasing financial volumes targeting them; and highlighting the role Public Development Banks can play to help move from transaction-level impacts to more systemic, cross-sectoral, whole-of-society effects.
Total CO2 emissions – including both fossil and land-use emissions – will hit a new record high in 2024, reflecting a growth of 2 per cent over 2023 levels.
The 19th edition of the Global Carbon Budget Report published today, also revealed that Global emissions from coal increased by 0.2 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023, while oil emissions increased 0.9 per cent and gas emissions increased by 2.4 per cent. Emissions from cement and other sources fell by 2.8 per cent.
As highlighted by UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2024, emissions cuts of 42 per cent are needed by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035 to get on track for 1.5°C.
In 2022, buildings were responsible for 34 per cent of global energy demand and 37 per cent of energy and process-related CO2 emissions. With half of the buildings that will exist by 2050 not yet been built, it’s crucial that the building sector decarbonizes.
During COP29, the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction is collaborating with the UNEP Cool Coalition to host a joint Buildings and Cooling Pavilion. This Pavilion aims to bring together the entire built environment value chain and the cooling community, creating a unified voice to drive building decarbonisation and resilience, while addressing the challenges of extreme heat and sustainable cooling.
All the pavilion’s events will be streamed live on YouTube.
Technology is a driver of climate action – that was the message from an UNFCCC Technology Mechanism event held yesterday at COP29.
Five climate technology experts from Costa Rica, Laos, the Republic of Korea, the Solomon Islands, highlighted how technology is helping drive climate action. These projects ranged from Costa Rica’s adoption of a national circular economy strategy to mobilizing more than $10 million in funding for Laos, piloting the first e-bus fleet in the Solomon Islands, modernizing district heating systems in Serbia with pro-bono support from the Republic of Korea, and transforming national climate technology action plans into concrete investments.
The moment of truth for plastic pollution is imminent. That was the message from UNEP's Executive Director, Inger Andersen this morning at COP29. She highlighted the upcoming negotiations in Busan, Republic of Korea, which it is hoped will produce a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution
She also highlighted the link between plastics and climate change.
"If plastic production keeps growing as predicted, it will expend 20 per cent of the carbon budget for 1.5°C by 2040. This target of the Paris Agreement is already in deep trouble. Every sector that contributes to global heating must play its part.
"And plastic pollution makes it much harder to adapt to climate change, damaging ecosystem resilience and blocking drainage systems that are already struggling to cope with increasing floods," she added.
Methane emissions are responsible for around 30 per cent of global warming, with the energy sector accounts for more than one third of total methane emissions attributable to human activity. Yet despite these emissions costing energy companies billions, they remain close to record levels.
UNEP's the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), is helping tackle this through technology, monitoring methane leaks through a range of sources, including company reporting, peer-reviewed studies and government disclosures and satellite measurements. With the An Eye on Methane: Invisible but not unseen report released earlier today, it is hoped technological solutions such as IMEO will help slash emissions.
