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Spotlight on climate action

Photo: Unsplash/Tobias Rademacher

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. 

20 Nov 2024 12:30

African cities embrace walking and cycling as climate crisis deepens

Walkers in Nairobi
Andalou Agency via AFP/Cyril Ndegeya

With one of today's themes focusing on transport, it's important to highlight the role decarbonising public transport systems can play in reaching countries emissions targets. Ensuring cycling is possible - and safe - is one way of doing that with dedicated cycle lanes important. Yet cycling, and even walking, can be a challenge in African cities.

Ephrem Bekele Woldeyesus co-founded a community organization, Along the Way, that aims to make cycling common in Ethiopia’s capital, Adis Adaba. Woldeyesus is among a growing number of campaigners and government officials who want to make cycling and walking safer in Africa’s cities, where roads are notoriously dangerous. 

They believe that will lead more people to choose what’s known as active mobility, reducing gridlock and helping to counter a climate crisis that is already sowing chaos on the continent of 1.3 billion. Read the full article here. 

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20 Nov 2024 11:54

On now: Nature, health and agriculture in cities ministerial

Riga, Latvia
Pexels/Aleksejs Bergmanis

The interconnected crises of climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss threaten food security, clean water, and climate regulation. With global warming likely to exceed 1.5°C within the next decade, urgent adaptation is required in human settlements, focusing on ecosystem protection and restoration for planetary and human health. 

This event will explore the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in tackling climate and biodiversity challenges while improving food security and urban health. It will feature discussions on best practices for integrating NbS into urban planning. 

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20 Nov 2024 11:00

Crunch time in Baku as negotiations continue

press at COP29
UN Climate Change/Kamran Guliyev

It’s getting close to crunch time in Baku with negotiations on a number of issues from Article 6.2 and 6.4 to climate finance.  

One issue with finance is how much developing countries should pay developing countries and what form these payments should take.  

Cedric Schuster, the chair of The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) said yesterday that the “top level priority is minimum allocation floors for Small Island Developing States of US$39 billion a year and US$220 billion a year for Least Developed Countries both in grant equivalent terms. Any texts that do not include these aspects will not be acceptable for these groups.”  

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jiwoh Abdulai highlighted the issue many developing countries are focused on, namely what form this money should take. “Don’t use the word ‘donor’,” he said yesterday at COP29. “That implies charity. There is a climate debt that needs to be paid. We are talking about lives and livelihoods. Our people are paying with their lives.” 

UN Executive Secretary, Antonio Guterres told G20 leaders in Brazil last night that the “the success of COP29 is largely in your hands. I appeal to the sense of responsibility of all the countries around this table to help ensure that COP29 will be a success.” 

It is hoped that progress will be made today, although the mood in Baku is more cautious than optimistic. 

 

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20 Nov 2024 10:30

On now: A global status stocktake of the buildings and construction sector

This session will present the latest data and analysis about the buildings sector’s alignment with the Paris Agreement from the special edition of the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction. The presentation will include an update on the global Buildings Climate Tracker and will share the latest analysis of key indicators which are shedding light on the mitigation efforts implemented by governments and the private sector. 

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20 Nov 2024 08:22

On now: First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism

People on the beach
Serinus

Tourism contributes around 8 per cent to global emissions and so it has a critical role in addressing climate change, recognizing both its vulnerability to climate impacts and its potential to contribute to solutions. This event will examine how the tourism sector can help support national climate goals.  

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20 Nov 2024 08:04

Focus shifts to urbanization, transport and tourism as negotiations heat up

Aleksandar Pasaric

Today’s theme is urbanization, transport and tourism, all areas that need to decarbonise if the climate crisis is to be addressed. This High-Level Roundtable will explore the role of Nature-based Solutions in tackling climate and biodiversity challenges while improving food security and urban health.   

UNEP and IRENA are hosting an event focused on advancing electric mobility and renewable energy integration in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The event brings together key representatives from Seychelles, Antigua & Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Palau, and Fiji to discuss innovative solutions for sustainable transport. SIDS face unique challenges in their transition to clean energy, including fossil fuel dependency and climate vulnerability. However, through UNEP's Global Electric Mobility Programme and with funding from Global Environmental Facility, twelve SIDS are receiving support to accelerate their shift to electric mobility. The session will explore how e-mobility and renewable energy can enhance energy security and achieve climate goals in island nations. 

This event will explore the urgent need to optimise nitrogen use in agriculture to tackle climate change, reduce and reverse environmental damage whilst ensuring food security. 

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19 Nov 2024 17:45

Some bright spots in Baku amid slow negotiations over finance

COP29
UN Climate Change/Kamran Guliyev

Amid quite slow progress in Baku, there were a few bright spots today at COP29 as negotiations over finance and myriad other issues continue. The Australian government committed US$32.5 million to the loss and damage fund. The fund was created at COP27 to help low-income developing countries offset the damage from natural disasters caused by climate change. 

The United States has said it will announce a contribution of US$325 million to the Climate Investment Funds – a set of World Bank managed trust funds for climate action for low and middle-income countries.  

The UK, New Zealand and Colombia have joined the international Coalition on Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Incentives Including Subsidies (COFFIS). COFFIS is a Dutch-led coalition of governments working together to remove barriers and facilitate transparency toward the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies. It now has 16 member countries, including Austria, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland and New Zealand.

 

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19 Nov 2024 16:01

Countries commit to reduce methane emissions from food waste

COP29
UN Climate Change/Kamran Guliyev

Thirty countries today committed to reduce methane from organic waste such as food. Food loss and waste accounts for 8-10 per cent of total annual greenhouse gas emissions and methane emissions from food waste in landfills are a significant component, representing 3 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

The Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste supports the broader Global Methane Pledge to cut all global methane emissions at least 30 per cent by 2030.

UNEP is also working to reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas sector through the use of big data and satellite monitoring. 

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19 Nov 2024 14:30

UNEP head: action needed to stop spiral of more emissions, hotter planet, more cooling demand

Inger Andersen
UNEP/Florian Fussstetter

Passive cooling, better urban design and Nature-based Solutions – including more green and blue spaces are necessary to stop the spiral of “more emissions, hotter planet, more cooling demand,” UNEP’s Executive Director, Inger Andersen said. 

Speaking at a High-level Roundtable – Delivering on the Global Cooling Pledge – yesterday in Baku, she highlighted the need to increase access to cooling to protect human health, reduce inequality and poverty, and allow economies to function and cold chains to “reduce the 12 per cent of food that is lost and the 25 per cent of vaccines that degrade due to lack of proper temperature management.” 

Andersen also highlighted the fact that Stronger energy efficiency standards for cooling equipment. And a faster phase-down of climate-warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, could “protect 3.5 billion people from extreme heat by 2050; cut sectoral emissions by over 60 per cent; and reduce electricity bills for end users by US$1 trillion in 2050.” 

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19 Nov 2024 13:32

On now: Tackling food waste as an essential climate action

This event will kickstart the Food Waste Breakthrough in preparation for launch at COP30 in Brazil next year. Its aim? To achieve a 50 per cent reduction in global food waste and a 30 per cent reduction in methane emissions by 2030, accelerating climate mitigation and fostering a sustainable and resilient food system.

With food loss and waste generating 8 to 10 per cent of emissions, it's vital the issue is tackled by the public and private sectors.   

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Topics

Related Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1

Goal 1: No Poverty
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Goal 7

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
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Goal 11

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Goal 12

Goal 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production
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Goal 13

Goal 13: Climate Action
+

Goal 14

Goal 14: Life Below Water
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Goal 15

Goal 15: Life on Land
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