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.
UN secretary general António Guterres gave a strong speech at the World Leaders Summit today, highlighting the costs of climate inaction and emphasising that the climate crisis is here now.
“Families running for their lives before the next hurricane strikes; Workers and pilgrims collapsing in insufferable heat; Floods tearing through communities, and tearing down infrastructure; Children going to bed hungry as droughts ravage crops. All these disasters, and more, are being supercharged by human-made climate change,” he said.
“But there is every reason to hope,” Guterres said. “It’s time to deliver and humanity is behind you.”
Guterres listed three priorities. First “emergency” emissions reductions, with the G20 countries leading. Second, protecting people from the ravages of the climate crisis, especially the most vulnerable, which will require hundreds of billions of dollars. Third, delivering the overall finance goal, which should be at least US$1tn a year and is the key task at COP29.
“Developing countries eager to act are facing many obstacles: scant public finance; raging cost of capital; crushing climate disasters; and debt servicing that soaks up funds,” he said. “Developing countries must not leave Baku empty-handed. A deal is a must.”
It’s the second day of COP29 with a range of events, discussions and panels on across Baku Stadium. Today is the first day of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, which features heads of state and government. Speakers today include UK leader Keir Starmer and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey. However leaders such as Joe Biden, Xi Jinping and the EU's Ursula von der Leyen.
Events include a high-level discussion on climate finance; a ministerial dialogue on scaling up investment for tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency; the launch of a UNHCR report on the link between climate change, conflict and displacement; an event on delivering climate action in agriculture and food systems; and the “operationalization” of the Loss and Damage Fund that was agreed upon at least year’s COP28 in Dubai.
Ever wondered how exactly international environmental agreements get signed off? Well, wonder no more as this video explains how seminal treaties like the Montreal Protocol and the Minamata Convention were born, and learn about the ongoing multilateral efforts such as the groundbreaking plastic pollution treaty.
Last week saw the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF) take place in Cairo, where the crucial role cities need to play in effective climate action was highlighted.
Elisabeth Mrema, UNEP Deputy Executive Director, emphasized the crucial role of cities in climate action, highlighting their responsibility for more than 70 per cent of global CO2 emissions and the need for localized climate solutions.
UNEP led more than 15 events on the topics of urban finance, climate-resilient and nature-positive cities, extreme heat, food waste, plastic pollution, and sustainable mobility. The event also saw the relaunch of the 2024 Food Waste Index Report and the 2024 State of Finance for Nature in Cities report, highlighting the importance of multilevel governance and cross-sectoral cooperation for sustainable urban development.
UNEP-led events focused on everything from addressing funding gaps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to how cities can help achieve a reduction cooling-related emissions by 68 per cent by 2050, as well as the need to develop green and resilient buildings.
COP29 is not the only COP – or conference of the parties – to take place this month, with COP16 having wrapped up in Cali, Colombia, last week.
With its focus on biodiversity and nature restoration, the event – sometimes billed as the 'nature COP' – saw agreement reached on an expanded role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in saving biodiversity and a groundbreaking agreement on the operationalization of a new global mechanism to share benefits from digital genetic information.
However, an agreement could not be reached on a fund to help developing countries restore natural ecosystems.
2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record, with the global average near surface temperature even higher than in 2023, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Today saw the release of the WMO’s State of the Climate 2024 Update, which paints a stark picture of the unfolding climate crisis.
The report reveals that 2015-2024 will be the warmest ten years on record; the loss of ice from glaciers, sea-level rise and ocean heating are accelerating; and extreme weather is wreaking havoc on communities and economies across the world.
Thousands of delegates, observers and members of civil society are arriving at Baku Stadium for the first day of COP29. Earlier, at the opening ceremony, Mukhtar Babayev, the summit president-elect, called the two-week event a “moment of truth for the Paris Agreement."
The Paris Agreement goal is to keep global average temperatures 1.5C above pre-industrial average. However a report last week from the EU's climate service revealed that 2024 would be the first year to breach that target, and is "virtually certain" to be the hottest year on record.
UNFCCC head Simon Stiell highlighted the widespread effects of the climate crisis, pointing out how it “is affecting every single individual in the world in one way or another, pushing up energy bills, furthering global instability, and taking lives."
UNEP works in countries around the world helping to tackle the climate crisis. From sustainable design solutions in African schools to a greenbelt project in a Mexican city, the Climate Action series features projects around the world.
While all eyes on are Baku this morning as COP29 starts, it’s worth recalling what was achieved at COP28 took place in Dubai last year. While the final text avoided calling for the “phase out” of coal, oil and gas, as many nations had hoped, there were some positives included pledges to transition away from fossil fuels; reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent; and triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
Read the full article.
Thanks for joining us this morning as COP29 kicks off in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku. Delegates, observers, politicians, officials and a host of others are arriving in Baku Stadium for what is hoped will be a productive two weeks.
We will be posting all the relevant events, news and updates here on our live feed and remember to check UNEP’s social channels too.
Watch COP29 Opening Ceremony at 11:00h AZT/GMT+4
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