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.
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.
Local leaders gathered in Paris today to deliver the Outcome Document of the Local Leaders Roundtable on Decarbonizing Buildings. This document serves as a pivotal contribution to the ongoing forum and outlines crucial outcomes and recommendations from the Local Governments Roundtable.
The outcome document highlights:
As the Forum progresses, the outcomes from the Local Governments Roundtable will contribute to the final agreement.
The second day of the Buildings and Climate Global Forum takes place today in Paris with delegates hoping yesterday’s momentum will continue, with the importance of decarbonizing the building sector has never been more urgent.
Today sees a range of discussions, events and Ministerial Dialogue Day. Here's a glimpse of what's to come:
Day 2 Agenda - March 8, 2024:
09:00–10:30: Déclaration de Chaillot: Together for Implementation
13:30–16:00: Parallel Sessions on Key Themes:
16:30–17:15: Closing Plenary - Build Our Future: From Paris to Bélem
The world must act on reducing the climate impact of the buildings and construction sector, said Ligia Noronha, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General at the launch of the Buildings and Climate Global Forum in Paris.
Noronha highlighted the fact that we need to “shave 28 per cent off emissions by 2030 for 2°C, and 42 per cent for 1.5°C.” With around 21 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions linked to the sector, its vital action is taken both by governments and the private sector.
Noronha highlighted some of these, including: introducing circularity into the sector, reducing or avoiding the extraction or production of new raw materials; move to ethically produced bio-based construction materials and improve building materials and processes.
