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.
REN21 launches it's Global Overview Module today as part of the Renewables 2024 Global Status Report (GSR 2024).
Since 2023, REN21 has been releasing the Global Status Report as a series of modules to rigorously cover the energy system from its different elements, including demand, supply, systems and infrastructure, and economic and social value creation. At the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, 130 countries pledged to triple renewable energy capacity and double the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
As the first module of the GSR 2024 series, the Global Overview provides the big picture status of renewables in the wider energy system and in the context of global challenges such as climate change, development goals, and the geopolitical landscape, and has some positive news:
Register to join the launch event taking place at 3 PM CET/ 4 PM EAT.
In 2023, temperatures shattered records with a 116-day streak of peak temperatures. As the urgency to address and adapt to the pressing threat of climate change rapidly grows, the financial sector recognises its pivotal role in addressing climate risks, and financial institutions are increasingly looking to integrate climate change-related risks into their strategic frameworks.
The 2024 Climate Risk Landscape Report serves as a comprehensive resource delving into the available tools for financial institutions to assess physical and transition climate risks and boost their institution’s resilience to related impacts. This edition provides best practices for tool utilisation, case studies, and recommendations to navigate the dynamic climate risk tools market. It also offers insights into the rapidly evolving regulatory developments around climate-related disclosure frameworks and recent market developments.
Building upon the foundational work of UNEP Finance Initiative's (UNEP FI) Climate Risk and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Programme, the report is designed for banks, insurers and investors looking to enhance their capabilities in climate risk management and facilitate the global transition towards sustainability.
The Circular Economy campaign is now live, with all content from the print campaign and more featured on our Global Cause site.
You can search for the campaign hashtag on social media, #CircularEconomyCampaign2024.
You can pick up a hard copy within the New Scientist because will be printing physical copies for contributors to share with members or to distribute at relevant events. A digital copy of the print campaign can be found on issuu.
Join UNEP in the launch of the Food Waste Index Report 2024. The report provides the latest global estimates on food waste, occurring at retail and consumer level. Addressing food waste is an important facet of embracing zero waste and tackling the climate crisis.
Nearly 500 people attended the Global Methane Forum in-person, with hundreds more online representing more than 50 countries. Participants shared replicable successes to catalyse methane emission reductions in line with the 157-country Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
Read the press release from the event.
Following the Forum, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), in partnership with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), hosted a Methane Roadmap Action Programme (M-RAP) workshop, convening new GMP participants and countries engaged in developing their national methane action plans.
Participants at the M-RAP workshop discussed their efforts to enhance the inclusion of methane in their 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and upcoming Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs). The inclusion of methane in NDCs and national climate policy frameworks enables tracking progress under the GMP and is key to addressing climate change and mobilising necessary climate finance.
Read the full story on the GMF and M-RAP workshop.
According to the State of the Global Climate 2023 report, records were broken, if not shattered, for greenhouse gas levels, ocean heat, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice loss and glacier retreat.
Heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and quickly developing tropical cyclones wreaked havoc, disrupting millions' daily lives and causing billions of dollars in economic damage.
Watch the video to discover the importance of early warning systems in saving lives and livelihoods.
More than 1.8 billion dollars have been invested in climate technology in projects informed by the global Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) project.
The funding figures show that TNAs and Technology Action Plans have a strong potential to provide an effective and solid basis for countries to both scale-up and implement action on technologies for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Since 2009, UNEP and the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre have led the implementation of the global TNA project, funded by the Global Environment Facility.
Projects informed by the TNA project cover a broad range of countries and technologies including Bus Rapid Transport in Pakistan, the Aimags and Soums Green Regional Development Investment Program in Mongolia and more across the globe.
With the country-driven approach, the TNA project helps identify the best suited technologies for each country, integrates into national planning and strategies such as the Nationally Determined Contributions and guides countries towards implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The Ministerial Declaration from the Buildings and Climate Global Forum, which ended earlier today, outlines a comprehensive strategy to address the decarbonization and climate resilience of buildings. The declaration, endorsed by ministerial representatives from various governments, is organized into seven parts.
It outlines the importance of aligning the building sector with the long-term goals of international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, and outlines objectives related to planning, construction, and retrofitting. It calls for the implementation of regulatory measures, financial incentives, and collaborative efforts to achieve sustainable, resilient, and low-emission buildings globally.
Read the full declaration.
The Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction highlights the fact that the global construction sector has long been male-dominated, with women representing only a small percentage of workers. There are plenty of women participating in the Buildings and Climate Forum who came together to celebrate International Women’s Day earlier today.
In India, two women architects are preserving India’s ancient heritage of mud construction by emphasizing the material’s sustainable properties, which make it an ideal way to combat the modern problem of high-carbon construction. Read more here.
