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.
This live feed will keep you up-to-date with all the latest news from the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan.
01 Dec
2023
19:26
Putting the right to a healthy environment in practice
UNEP/Duncan Moore
The world must move from advocacy and the recognition of the right to a healthy environment to strong and rapid implementation, UNEP Executive Secretary Inger Andersen told guests at COP28 today.
Andersen was speaking at the UNEP event: Human Right to a Healthy Environment: What Next?
"Our task now is to transition from advocacy and recognition to strong and rapid implementation. If nations implement this right fully, it will change so much – by empowering action on the triple planetary crisis, providing a more predictable and consistent global regulatory environment for businesses, and protecting those who defend nature," she said.
She also detailed what we mean when we talk about the right to a healthy environment: "Substantive elements include clean air. A safe and stable climate. Access to safe water and adequate sanitation. Healthy and sustainably produced food. Non-toxic environments in which to live, work, study and play. Healthy biodiversity and ecosystems. Procedural elements include access to information, the right to participate in decision-making, and access to justice and effective remedies – including the exercise of these rights free from reprisals. These are the elements upon which we must focus our efforts."
Andersen also highlighted the vital role indigenous peoples and environmental human rights defenders have played in the past few decades.
New report underscores role methane emissions play in warming climate
The An Eye on Methane Report, launched today, delves into the progress made to achieve deep reduction of methane emissions, starting with the fossil fuel sector.
The International Methane Emissions Observatory's third annual report seeks to provide decision makers with a framework of action to track and monitor methane emissions to plan targeted and ambitious action for their mitigation.
Anthropogenic methane emissions drive roughly 30 per cent of the global warming. In order to reach the Paris Agreement goals, methane emissions need to be reduced by about a third.
As highlighted by the IPCC’s latest Synthesis Report, reducing methane emissions is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to immediately slow the current rate of warming as we decarbonize.
Production Gap Report highlights urgency of energy transition
Unsplash/Ben Wicks
World governments plan to produce approximately 110 per cent more coal, gas and oil in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, a UNEP report released last month shows.
Governments from 151 nations have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions, yet current plans would lead to increases in global coal production until 2030 and in global oil and gas production until at least 2050, according to the Production Gap Report 2023.
Fossil fuels will, as always, be a contentious issue at this COP, with some pushing for language calling for their "phase-out" in the final declaration, while others, including fossil fuel producing nations, calling for a different approach.
"The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate," said United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres earlier today.
01 Dec
2023
15:52
New report highlights scale of drought and famine due to climate crisis
UNEP/Miranda Grant
A report published today by UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has revealed “an unprecedented emergency on a planetary scale, where the massive impacts of human-induced droughts are only starting to unfold.”
The UNCCD report, Global Drought Snapshot,revealed some sobering facts including that China is expected to have 80 per cent more drought intensity by 2100; it has been 500 years since Europe experienced a drought as severe as in 2022; and 170 million people are expected to experience extreme drought if average global temperatures rise 3°C above pre-industrial levels.
There are multiple solutions to this crisis, including focusing on nature-based solutions such as land restoration and efficient water management, such as drip irrigation.
World leaders are speaking at COP28 now, with calls for more to be done to tackle the climate crisis, particularly when it comes to helping developing nations, who are bearing the brunt of the crisis.
UN Secretary General, António Guterres pointed out that "current policies will lead to an earth scorching three degree rise" and that "the G20, which represents 80 per cent of the world's emissions must lead."
Tupou VI, the King of Tonga said it was “painful” for small developing island states to see the lack of progress on reaching the Paris Agreement Goals. Small island countries such as Tonga, are of course, experiencing existential threats from the climate crisis.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made a call to “rescue the belief in multilateralism” emphasising that no country can tackle the climate crisis alone.
Indigenous voices were heard too, with Isabel Prestes da Fonseca, co-founder of Brazil’s Instituto Zág (pictured above) saying: "I am here today as an indigenous woman, mother and sister… Every day I witness all that is happening with much sadness – the devastation of our forests. In the name of indigenous lives, join us in this fight. United we will restore our Earth, preserve our heritage, and rescue lost harmony,” she said.
01 Dec
2023
13:35
World leaders sign declaration on transforming food systems
Unsplash/Stefan Pflaum
In what is the first COP resolution that focuses on food systems and the climate crisis, world leaders have signed a declaration recognising that “unprecedented adverse climate impacts are increasingly threatening the resilience of agriculture and food systems as well as the ability of many, especially the most vulnerable, to produce and access food in the face of mounting hunger, malnutrition, and economic stresses.”
More than 100 countries have signed the declaration, and have committed to including food and land use in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans by COP30 in 2025.
Food systems are responsible for almost one third of greenhouse gas emissions, the majority coming from livestock and fertilizers.
Food production itself has also caused wide-scale changes in ecosystems, being responsible for 70 per cent of water withdrawals and a significant driver of deforestation and loss of biodiversity. It is also heavily dependent on these natural resources.
Watch Now: Methane data revolution – The road to radical transparency
Unsplash/Patrick Hendry
This event at the UNEP Pavilion – starting at 14.00pm UAE time – will showcase the first public release of data from UNEP’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) and unpack how advanced remote sensing is providing the transparency needed for governments, companies and civil society to deliver methane progress and achieve the goals of the Global Methane Pledge.
The event will also launch the 2023 edition of International Methane Emissions Observatory Annual Report, which provides an analysis of the methane emissions data submitted by companies under the OGMP2.0 assessing the progress made to achieve reduce methane emissions.
Buildings Pavilion highlights role of sector in climate action
Unsplash/Etienne Girardet
The Buildings Pavilion at COP28 is designed to be a space for businesses and policymakers to interact, a meeting place for the buildings and construction community, and a space to showcase solutions through a variety of events, presentations and exhibitions.
It also aims to be a place where the buildings and construction sector can take stock of progress made since COP21 and showcase buildings as solutions for climate action.
COP28 will see the launch of the Buildings Breakthrough, which aims to speed the global transition towards climate-resilient and near-zero-emission buildings.
As the buildings and construction sector is responsible for 37 per cent of energy-related CO2 emissions, this transition is vital if the Paris Agreement goals are to be achieved.
World leaders arrived at COP28 this morning for the first day of the World Climate Action Summit.
The two-day event sees heads of state and government, as well as leaders from civil society business, youth, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, frontline communities, science and other sectors discuss concrete actions and plans aimed at scaling climate action.
The summit serves as an important platform for major announcements and is intended to provide momentum and guidance to the remainder of the COP.
