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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. 

09 Oct 2023 13:00

From Libya to Brazil, 2023 has been the year of climate-driven floods

Floods in the UK
Photo: Chris Gallagher/Unsplash

Floods are a clear impact of climate change, and we have seen a record number of floods all over the world since September, and more recently in New York, USA. Meanwhile, in countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the most water-scarce region in the world, drought and land degradation are of particular concern, further undermining the capacity of soil and ecosystems to absorb sudden precipitation. With the MENA regional climate week upon us, we are reminded of climate change’s impact on water.  

Globally, our freshwater resources - including rivers, lakes and wetlands - are coming under increasing pressure from the effects of climate change, which affects food security and biodiversity. This makes protecting and restoring these resources of paramount importance.  

At World Water Week earlier this year, the UAE (UNFCCC COP28 President) launched its Water Agenda, of which it prioritizes freshwater ecosystems. Sunday 10th December has been designated the food, agriculture and water day at COP28 - the UAE is set to host a high-level event to further highlight commitments and next steps of the Freshwater Challenge.  

Last updated at
08 Oct 2023 17:32

MENA Climate Week 2023

MENA Climate Week poster
Image: UNFCCC

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week 2023 is underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 8 to 12 October.

Leaders from governments, businesses, international organizations and civil society will gather to explore ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while adapting to the mounting fallout from the climate crisis. MENA Climate Week also builds momentum ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 28 in Dubai and the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake, designed to chart the way for fulfilling the Paris Agreement's goals and provide region-focused contributions to inform the Global Stocktake. 

Explore the various events during MENA Climate Week that representatives from UNEP will be organizing/taking part in.

Last updated at
03 Oct 2023 12:44

United in Science Report 2023

 

Last updated at
26 Sep 2023 13:53

Panama taps solar energy to heat water and reduce deforestation

Globally, trees soak up 30 per cent of emissions from industry and fossil fuels, but every year 10 million hectares of forests are cut down, with deforestation accounting for 11 per cent of carbon emissions. Projects like Termosolar Panama can help keep trees in the ground. 

“Hot water is one of the easiest things to make sustainable, through solar thermal,” said Geordie Colville, UNEP’s Chief of Energy and Climate. “But even in tropical countries, such as Panama, where the sun is plentiful, a large proportion of water is heated by non-sustainable means.”

Read about the Termosolar Panama project funded by the Global Environment Facility.

Last updated at
20 Sep 2023 17:21

UN plan promises massive emission cuts in the construction sector – the most polluting and toughest to decarbonise

Image of a construction site
Photo: Pixabay/Thomas Wolter

A report published on 12 September 2023 by UNEP and partners offers solutions to decarbonize the buildings and construction sector and reduce the waste it generates through a three-pronged approach, Avoid-Shift-Improve.

The report, Building materials and the climate: Constructing a new future, offers policy makers, manufacturers, architects, developers, engineers, builders and recyclers a three-pronged solution to reduce “embodied carbon” emissions and the negative impacts on natural ecosystems from the production and deployment of building materials (e.g., cement, steel, aluminium, timber, biomass).

Last updated at
14 Sep 2023 19:25

Launched today: Peatlands Atlas, our wet climate guardians

Although peatlands cover only 3% of the world's land, they store about twice as much carbon of all the world's forests combined. But worldwide more than 10% of the 500 million hectares of peatlands are already drained. Every year, another 500,000 hectares of peatlands are destroyed. Drainage turns peatlands into massive climate emitters as they release huge amounts of greenhouse gases. With more than two billion tonnes of CO2, the draining of peatlands is responsible for about 4% of all human-made emissions globally. In addition, drainage is also disastrous for biodiversity. Unique habitats for specially adapted species are being lost.

This is outlined in the Peatland Atlas 2023 - Facts and figures on wet climate guardians.

 

Last updated at
08 Sep 2023 19:03

Africa Climate Week wraps up in Nairobi

Africa Climate Week closing ceremony
Photo: UNEP, Africa Office

Africa Climate Week (ACW) 2023 has come to a close. It was held alongside the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS).

Climate finance, loss and damage and climate justice were the reoccurring themes in the remarks of both the UN Secretary-General António Guterres who said, “let’s deliver the climate justice that Africans, the world, and the planet we share demand and deserve.”

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said a press release: “Africa Climate Week must be the place where we accelerate climate action across the African continent and finance a just transition to a climate-resilient future.”

Last updated at
08 Sep 2023 16:13

Climate, peace and food systems: Empowering African solutions 

Farmers in the Gambia
UNEP/GCF/Hannah McNeish

In Africa, prolonged droughts, extreme weather events and rising temperatures are wreaking havoc on food security, livelihoods and peace as competition over scarce resources exacerbates existing conflicts, leading to heightened tensions and insecurity.

Despite these challenges, local communities across Africa are demonstrating remarkable resilience and ingenuity in adapting to climate change, promoting sustainable agriculture and fostering peace within their regions.

This event showcases the success stories of African communities that have embraced sustainable practices, climate adaptation strategies and peace-building efforts.

Last updated at
08 Sep 2023 13:45

Leveraging national adaptation plans and water resources

National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) are a critical component of a country's strategy to address the impacts of climate change and build resilience.

UNEP assists developing countries around the world in their efforts to create NAPs to identify medium- and long-term adaptation needs. Countries can utilize the NAP process and its outcomes to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a central component of the Paris Agreement.

UNEP has co-organized with UNDP, an interactive panel discussion on the complexities of identifying, prioritizing and implementing National Adaptation Plan (NAP) actions relating to water in African countries.

Last updated at
08 Sep 2023 09:57

Transforming African cities through climate action​

CBD, Nairobi, Kenya
Photo: UNEP/Duncan Moore

Of the over 1 billion people living on the African continent, about 40 per cent lives in urban areas. Climate change and growing urbanization are intertwined megatrends.



Rising global temperatures have caused extreme weather events including flash floods, storms, droughts, and heatwaves in cities with the most vulnerable being hit the hardest.  

At this official side-event, African city leaders, national governments and climate experts discussed policies to accelerate climate solutions in cities which is critical to transforming African cities to be healthy, sustainable and resilient urban systems and create socio-economic opportunities while delivering the targets of the Paris Agreement.  

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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
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Goal 14

Goal 14: Life Below Water
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Goal 15

Goal 15: Life on Land
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