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.
Scientists and governments highlighted what's at stake in the negotiations, after publishing new research yesterday that showed that warming of 2°C could unlock "terrifying" irreversible impacts that could emerge in decades.
The AMI High-level Group (AMI) on Sea-level Rise and Mountain Water Resources has raised the risks and widespread damage caused by cryosphere loss, not just in polar and mountains regions but touching every country on Earth; and has urged rapid course-correction towards a safer 1.5°C trajectory.
“The latest science points to feedbacks from polar and mountain regions from our current emissions trajectory that will have extreme and irreversible economic, social and environmental consequences throughout the planet,” said the joint statement, descrying the lack of progress.
The State of the Cryosphere 2024 report, published last week at COP29, warns that current climate commitments, leading the world to well over 2°C of warming, would bring disastrous and irreversible consequences for billions of people from global ice loss.
“As a scientist, these impacts terrify me, said Dr. James Kirkham, AMI Chief Scientist. “But what terrifies me more is that the pace of global action to address these threats remains light-years away from what the science unanimously says we must do to minimise the global damage that continues to grow hour by hour.”
Degraded peatlands emit 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions originating in human activities, it was revealed today at the launch of The Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas: The State of the World's Peatlands in Maps in Baku earlier today.
Peatlands are around 3-4 per cent of the planet’s land surface, yet contain up to one-third of the world’s soil carbon, which is twice the amount of carbon found in the world’s forests.
Despite the critical climate role peatlands play, they are degrading in 177 countries, putting climate and biodiversity goals at risk.
The report introduces updated hotspot maps of global peatland distribution, highlighting the threats they face and the opportunities for peatland restoration and conservation.
“Peatlands, nature’s carbon vaults, can make or break global climate goals,” said Susan Gardner, Director of the UNEP Ecosystems Division. “Found in almost every country, peatlands do not just store vast amounts of carbon, they provide essential services that millions of people rely on daily. Their protection is a fundamental investment in human wellbeing.”
The UNEP-hosted Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) announced the establishment of the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC) yesterday in Baku.
The ICBC is a significant step toward implementing the Chaillot Declaration, a collaborative global policy framework launched in March 2024 – and endorsed by more than 70 countries – that engages stakeholders across the buildings sector in climate action.
UNEP Executive Secretary, Inger Andersen has highlighted the importance of protecting the world's water supplies.
Speaking at the launch of the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action, she underscored the fragility of our water systems.
"Nearly three billion people face water scarcity. Over 90 per cent of disasters are water-related, including drought, desertification, fires and floods," she said.
Andersen proposed "a dramatic shift from sectoral thinking to an economy-wide approach across the entire water cycle. Linking national water resources management processes to biodiversity, climate and development action plans is essential."
She emphasised that this will take all sections of society working together, while governments must increase finance.
"They can do this through greater certainty in policies to protect, conserve and restore freshwater ecosystems. Through efforts to manage water demand more effectively and equitably and improve cost-recovery to enable continuous maintenance and investments," she added.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged negotiators at COP29 to "soften hard lines, navigate through difference and keep your eyes on bigger picture."
Speaking as negotiations continued on the draft texts, he emphasised the role of climate finance in protecting the future of humanity.
“Finance is not a handout but an investment against devastation that unchecked climate chaos will inflict on us all, a down payment for a safer future for every nation on earth,” he said.
"This is a COP to deliver justice in face of climate catastrophe, to move us closer to securing a decent world for all humanity.”
Reflecting the reality of what has been a sometimes frustrating week, he urged action.
"I sense an appetite for agreement, but lets be frank: many substantial differences are still remaining. Success is not yet guaranteed."
Climate and nature are interlinked, and the Paris Agreement goals cannot be met without protecting and restoring ecosystems.
UNEP research shows that land-based and marine ecosystems play a vital role in regulating the climate. They currently absorb half of the human-made carbon emissions, with the ocean and the world’s forests, mangrove and peat bogs acting as natural carbon sinks.
Read more about why nature holds the key to meeting climate goals.
Water is the lifeblood of our planet and freshwater ecosystems play a key role in sopping up planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions and making our societies resilient to climate disasters. But the delicate balance of water availability and the habitats that keep it clean and supply it are under mounting pressure from climate change and often receive short shrift during international climate talks.
That is poised to change this week at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29). On 21 November, COP29 Presidency Azerbaijan will launch the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action, a formal series of discussions to be held each year during the UN climate summit. These dialogues will bring together governments, businesses and other groups to ensure that water remains central to negotiations on climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
So, why exactly is all this so important? Susan Gardner, Director of UNEP’s Ecosystems Division, explains the importance of the Baku Water for Climate Action Dialogue and how action on water and freshwater ecosystems can help keep the Paris Agreement goals alive.
The draft texts were released early this morning in Baku and met with a muted response, particularly on climate finance where no figure has been yet put forward, instead being marked with an “x” on the page.
It’s vital that countries agree on a New Common Quantified Goal of Climate Finance (NCQG), and raise the amount of annual climate finance provided by developed to developing countries from a floor of $100 billion. Developing countries need the finance ensure they can reduce emissions and ensure their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - or climate plans, due in February - are ambitious enough to cut emissions in line with the 1.5C figure.
Delegates, campaigners are observers will all hope that common ground can be found in the next 48 hours.
The COP29 Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action High-Level Launch Event will see countries endorse the Water Declaration, a call on stakeholders to take integrated approaches when combating the causes and impacts of climate change on water basins and water-related ecosystems, strengthen regional and international cooperation, integrated water-related mitigation and adaptation measures in national climate policies.
The Baku Dialogue will see a formal series of discussions to be held each year during the UN climate summit, developed with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the World Meteorological Organization.
While COP29 in Baku is focusing on climate, next month another COP is taking place in Saudi Arabia from Dec 2- 16. UNCCD COP16 will focus on accelerating action on land, drought resilience and green transition in Saudi Arabia, the region and beyond. Desertification and land degradation is a huge issue, with the planet losing 100 million hectares of healthy and productive land each year.
Global Leaders Dialogue: Aligning Climate Action and Biodiversity Conservation for Achieving a Nature-Positive Future and the Paris Agreement Goals
