Foresight Resources

The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: the World's Largest Accidental Offshore Oil Spill

The Gulf of Mexico is an important body of water that supports a vast ecosystem and numerous industries, including commercial fishing and offshore oil and gas operations. The Alert tackles the accidental release of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. In 2010, an explosion at a petroleum-drilling rig in the Gulf caused a massive oil spill that lasted for 100 days. 
 

Only Scraps of the South American Atlantic Forest Remain Eastern Paraguay

The Alert considers the South American Atlantic Forest, which has been greatly reduced, with only scraps remaining in Eastern Paraguay. The loss of this forest is significant due to the high biodiversity and potential for carbon sequestration. Deforestation was caused by the expansion of agriculture, particularly soy, cotton and sugar farms. This can be seen in satellite images from 1972 to 2010, where the forest has been mostly replaced by farms. 
 

Plant Growth Declined Over the Past Decade

Plants capture and store solar energy through photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, living plants convert carbon dioxide in the air into sugar molecules they use for food. In the process of making their own food, plants also provide the oxygen we need to breathe. Net primary productivity (NPP) is equal to the difference between the amount of carbon produced through photosynthesis and the amount of energy that is used for respiration. 
 

Ancient Water is Used to Irrigate a Desert - Murzuq Basin, Libya

For a long time, Libya’s supply of water came from underground aquifers or desalination plants on the coast. Water derived from desalination or aquifers near the coast was of poor quality and sometimes undrinkable. This problem also meant that little water was available for irrigating land for agriculture, which is vital in this largely desert country. 
 

Satellite Images Record How Wildfires Have Destroyed One Million Hectares of Forests in Western Russia

Wildfires are a natural feature of the Earth system, necessary for the functioning of many ecosystems. Interactions between vegetation and climate over extended periods establish a particular pattern of wildfire recurrence in a defined ecosystem, known as its fire regime. 
 

Global Mangrove Extent Much Smaller than Previously Estimated

Mangroves are coastal ecosystems that cover a small portion of the total ocean area but collectively are widely distributed on every continent except Antarctica. The Alert focuses on the results of the 2010 analysis of the most comprehensive and globally consistent worldwide mangrove database. 
 

Carp Aquaculture Overwhelms Lake Kolleru Andhra Pradesh, India

Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic plants and animals in oceans and inland waters. Carp is a large fish that lives in lakes and rivers and can be eaten. The Alert reviews a unique, semi-intensive system described as "Kolleru carp culture" that is practiced at Lake Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary, a Ramsar-designated wetland in Andhra Pradesh, India. 
 

Pakistan's Flood of the Century is a Global Disaster

Floods are a natural and recurring event that are only a problem when man competes with rivers for the use of the high-water channels of rivers or flood plains. The Alert reviews the massive 2010-11 Pakistan floods. It analyses the environmental impacts of this natural disaster and addresses the findings and implications of the devastating floods. 
 

Greening Cement Production has a Big Role to Play in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Cement is the largest manufactured product on Earth by mass. Combined with water and mineral aggregates it forms cement-based materials (e.g., concrete), the second most used substance in the world after water. The Alert expounds on the environmental impacts of the expanding cement production in terms of its large ecological footprint. 
 

Amazonian Deforestation Slowing but May Already be at a Tipping Point Mato Grosso, Brazil

Forests like the Amazon are gigantic reservoirs of biodiversity. They are also key for the regulation of water availability at regional levels. For people living inside these ecosystems, forests are a source of income, food, medicine. The Alert features the environmental impacts and causes of the deforestation of the Amazon that begun in the 1950s and 1960s. 
 

Huge Iceberg Breaks off Greenland’s Petermann Glacier

Glaciers are slow moving masses of ice which have accumulated either on mountains or in polar regions. They are found where warm, moist air or warm water meets cold air or water. They move, influenced by the force of gravity and the pressure of the ice, above the underlying slush layers and slide downhill, eventually melting at lower levels to form rivers or reaching sea-level, where they form ice shelves or fall into the water as icebergs. 
 

Sea-level Rise in the Indian Ocean Differs by Region and Low-lying Pacific Reef Islands can Grow or Shrink in Size Depending on Conditions

Sea-level rises are a possible consequence of global warming. As the amount of free water in the oceans increases, and as the water becomes warmer, global warming will increase. In addition, according to theory, the heating at the poles may reduce the amount of water trapped in glaciers and ice caps. 
 

Largest Fire in Israel's History Consistent with Climate Change Predictions

Fires, whether of human or natural origin, have profound effects on land cover, land use, production, local economies, global trace gas emissions, and health. Uncontrolled wildfires can have an immense impact on the human population and the environment. The Alert identifies the environmental impacts of the forest fire that occurred around Mt. Carmel in Israel, December 2010. 
 

Green Economy Vulnerable to Rare Earth Minerals Shortages

Rare earth elements (REE) include the 17 elements on the periodic table of chemical elements. Very advanced processes are required to separate the metals from each other. Industrial demand for these elements is small in terms of volume, but they are essential for a wide and growing array of green technology and security uses. 
 

Athabasca Oil Sands, Require Massive Investments and Energy and Produce Massive Amounts of Oil and CO2 - Alberta, Canada

The Athabasca oil sands region of Alberta, Canada forms the second-largest deposit of recoverable oil in the world after Saudi Arabia. The Alert explores the environmental impacts of oil sands mines in terms of the growing emissions of CO2, SO2, and other atmospheric pollutants. 
 

Nine of the Ten Hottest Years on Record All in the Last Decade

The Earth has an inhabitable climate because it has an atmosphere of greenhouse gases that trap energy from the Sun’s rays, raising the temperature by about 32C. Four of the world's leading climate research centres agree that the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1998. The Alert inspects these data and findings for 2010, and it shows that they add weight to the common conclusion that the clear, long-term trend is one of global warming. 
 

Geoengineering to Combat Global Warming

As average temperatures continue to climb because of climate change, some scientists are proposing quick fixes to buy time. Geoengineering, also referred to as climate engineering, is the deliberate and large-scale intervention in the Earth's climatic system, with the aim of reducing global warming. The Alert investigates the environmental impacts of Geoengineering. 
 

One Small Planet, Seven Billion People by Year's End and 10.1 Billion by Century's End

Population growth rate is the increase in the total number of inhabitants of a country, city, district, or area. There are very close and intricate interrelationships between population, resources, environment, and development. Changes in one affect the others, positively or adversely. Some of these changes are immediately visible, others may take a long time before they can be discerned. 
 

The Rush for Land and Its Potential Environmental Consequence

As the global population grows and climate pressures increase, we will have to start producing our food with greater efficiency and resilience, and we must encourage people everywhere to adopt diets that are more sustainable. The Alert probes the environmental impacts of the rush for land for farming. 
 

The Decommissioning of Nuclear Reactors and Related Environmental Consequences

Nuclear fuel is the fuel that is used in a nuclear reactor to sustain a nuclear chain reaction. There are highly radioactive materials produced as a by-product of reactions that occur within nuclear reactors. Many of the world's nuclear reactors are aging toward the end of their designed operational lifespan.  
 

Drought, Fire, and Deforestation in the Amazon: Feedback, Uncertainty and the Precautionary Approach

The Amazon is widely considered to be one of the world's most important natural areas and a high priority for conservation. Its importance to the global carbon cycle makes understanding its response to drought essential to modelling of the planet's future. 
 

Food Security in the Horn of Africa: The Implications of a Drier, Hotter and More Crowded Future

Food security exists when all people, always, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Nearly 44 per cent of the population in the Horn of Africa is already subject to extreme food shortages. 
 

Oil palm plantations: threats and opportunities for tropical ecosystems

Oil palm is an international commodity used for food, household, and industrial purposes and is cultivated on approximately 15 million ha worldwide. As global demand for palm oil is expected to double by 2020, researchers have broadly studied the varying environmental threats arising from increased oil palm production. 
 

A Glass Half Empty: Regions at Risk Due to Groundwater Depletion

Fresh water, though it makes up a relatively small portion of the world’s global water supplies, packs an outsize punch in terms of its importance for human and ecosystem health. Most of it, however, is not easily accessible: much of it is locked up in glaciers and snow and only 1.2 per cent is found in water bodies, including wetlands. 
 

The Drying of Iran's Lake Urmia and its Environmental Consequences

Lake Urmia, located in a mountainous region between the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan in north-western Iran is a hypersaline lake. The Alert talks about the drying of Lake Urmia and its environmental consequences. 
 

The Need for Numbers - Goals, Targets and Indicators for the Environment

Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It is a visionary plan that calls for integration of economic development, social equity, and environmental protection. 
 

The end to cheap oil: a threat to food security and an incentive to reduce fossil fuels in agriculture

Fossil fuels are essential for modern, mechanized agricultural production systems. Petroleum products are used directly to power tractors, machinery, and irrigation, and to transport, transform and package agricultural products. They are also used indirectly to manufacture fertilizers and pesticides and prepare seeds. 
 

Keeping Track of Our Changing Environment--From Rio to Rio +20 (1992-2012)

The Alert considers what has occurred since the Earth Summit of 1992. It underlines how in just twenty years, the world has changed more than most of us could ever have imagined geopolitically, economically, socially, and environmentally. 
 

One Planet, How Many People? A Review of Earth’s Carrying Capacity: A discussion paper for the year of RIO+20

So many people now inhabit the planet with so much impact that scientists have coined a new word to describe our time, the Athropocene Epoch. The Alert delves into the environmental impacts of earth's carrying capacity. 
 

A State-of-the-Art Analysis and Future Directions

A global multi-hazard early warning system is needed to inform us of pending threats. The Alert highlights the state-of-the-art assessment of existing monitoring/early warning systems (EWS) organized according to type of environmental threats 
 

Africa Without Glaciers

Glaciers are a critical component of the earth' system, and the current accelerated melting and retreat of glaciers have severe impacts on the environment and human well-being, including vegetation patterns, economic livelihoods, natural disasters, sea level fluctuations and the water and energy supply. 
 

Measuring Glacier Change in the Himalaya

The Alert enhances our understanding of the serious lack of reliable and consistent data on the state of Himalayan glaciers. As a result, the contribution of glacial melt to the Himalayan River basins remains uncertain. 
 

Growing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Due to Meat Production

Meat consumption has been listed as an unmanageable threat to global warming. It is estimated that each year livestock production emits greenhouse gases that equal to global warming effects of 7 giga tonnes of carbon dioxide, tentatively same as that of the transport industry. 
 

Gas Fracking: Can we Safely Squeeze the Rocks?

The Alert explores hydraulic fracturing, a gas extraction technique also known as gas fracking. It shows that it presents considerable environmental and health challenges. According to the Alert, the question of whether and how to allow fracking merits careful review of laws, regulations, and impacts on environment and health. 
 

Measuring progress - environmental goals and gaps

Over the last few decades, a great number of environmental goals and objectives have been adopted and a few success stories can be told. However, despite the growing body of norms and rules, the overall global environmental situation continues to deteriorate. 
 

Emerging Environmental Issues 2013: A Compilation of Global Environmental Alert Service Bulletins (GEAS)

The 36th edition of GEAS is a compilation of the environmental issues covered in 2012. 
 

Transnational Environmental Crime - a common crime in need of better enforcement

UNEP’s monthly Global Environmental Alert (GEAS) bulletins ‘take the pulse of the planet’ and widely distribute the findings about environmental events and trends to the public. The science about the state of the planet’s health is presented in highly readable language, accompanied by clear graphics and stunning satellite imagery. 
 

Forecasting and early warning of dust storms Forecasting and early warning of dust storms

Sand and dust storms are a global environmental problem that affects the health and livelihoods of millions of people across the world. Fine particles of dust can travel thousands of miles on the back of these storms, which may also carry pathogens and harmful substances, causing acute and chronic respiratory problems. 
 

The impact of corruption on climate change: threatening emissions trading mechanisms?

Emissions trading refers to one of the three Kyoto mechanisms, by which an Annex I Party may transfer Kyoto Protocol units to, or acquire units from, another Annex I Party. An Annex I Party must meet specific eligibility requirements to participate in emissions trading. 
 

Water hyacinth-can its aggressive invasion be controlled?

The spread of invasive alien species is neither easy to manage nor easy to reverse, threatening not only biodiversity but also economic development and human wellbeing. Native to the Amazon Basin in South America water hyacinth has emerged as a major weed in more than 50 countries in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world with profuse and permanent impacts. 
 

A new eye in the sky: Eco-drones

A drone is generally thought of as a military weapon or surveillance tool. Commonly referred to as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), unmanned aerial system (UAS) or remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), a drone can also provide a low-cost and low-impact solution to environmental managers working in a variety of ecosystems. 
 

Balancing economic development and protecting the cradle of mankind

Several transboundary water agreements exist in Africa. However, many of these agreements are limited to larger basins such as the Nile, Niger, Senegal, or Volta. There are very few international river basin agreements or cooperative arrangements in the small transboundary basins where development activities such as dam building and/or irrigation development are currently taking place. 
 

From Hotspots to Hopespots: Connecting local changes to global audiences

As changes to ecosystems and the environment continue to occur in response to growing population pressure and natural processes, ways to measure and observe these changes on a regular basis will become increasingly important. 
 

Mangrove forest cover fading fast

The uniquely adapted mangrove forests on the marine-terrestrial interface preserve coastline integrity by buffering wave energy from marine processes. The ecosystem services they provide and their support for coastal livelihoods worldwide are worth at least US $1.6 billion a year. 
 

Where will the water go? Impacts of accelerated glacier melt in the Tropical Andes

Slow moving masses of ice which have accumulated either on mountains or in polar regions. They are found where warm, moist air or warm water meets cold air or water. 
 

Municipal solid waste: Is it garbage or gold?

Waste management has become an issue of growing global concern as urban populations continue to increase and consumption patterns change. The health and environmental implications associated with garbage disposal are mounting in urgency, particularly in developing countries. 
 

Cyclone Phailin in India: Early warning and timely actions saved lives

UNEP works to address the environmental causes and impacts of disasters, as well as promotes sound environmental management and nature-based solutions for reducing disaster risks, with a focus on disaster prevention. 
 

Saving the Great Migrations: declining wildebeest in East Africa?

Animal migration is the seasonal and round-trip movement of animals between discrete areas. A few migrations are well known, such as the iconic wildebeest migrations of East Africa. These migrations are an important ecological phenomenon and massive tourist attraction. 
 

The future of the Aral Sea lies in transboundary co-operation

The name "Aral Sea" comes from the word "aral" meaning island. The sea's name reflects the fact that it is a vast basin that lies as an island among waterless deserts. The Aral Sea was once the world's fourth largest inland sea. 
 

Emissions and Adaptation Gaps: Can we bridge the cracks in climate policy?

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) World Environment Situation Room shows a sharp increase in CO2 concentrations of more than 100 ppm since March 1958. Since then, seasonally corrected monthly mean concentrations of CO2 have continued to rise. 
 

Sand, rarer than one thinks

Sand and gravels are the hidden foundation to our society, formed by erosive processes over thousands of years, and represent the largest volume of solid material extracted globally. Sand plays a strategic role in delivering ecosystem services, vital infrastructure for economic development, providing livelihoods within communities and maintaining biodiversity. 
 

Loss and Damage: When Adaptation is not Enough

Climate change is landing blow after blow upon humanity and the planet and reducing carbon emissions is no longer enough to halt the impacts. Many countries are realizing it's time to start adapting to a warming world. Ecosystem-based adaptation is a strategy for adapting to climate change that harnesses nature-based solutions and ecosystem services. 
 

Wealth in the Oceans: Deep sea mining on the horizon?

The deep ocean, the largest biome on Earth at over 1 000 metres below the surface of the ocean, contains many of the most pristine ecosystems on our planet and plays a crucial role in regulating the climate. It holds vast quantities of untapped energy resources, precious metals, and minerals. 
 

Emerging Technologies: Smarter Ways to Fight Wildlife Crime

Broadly speaking, wildlife crime is the illegal exploitation of the world’s wild flora and fauna. There is deep concern about the increasing scale of illegal trade in wildlife and its products, including forest products, including timber, and marine species, and its adverse economic, social, and environmental impacts. 
 

Caulerpa Taxifolia, a Growing Menace for the Temperate Marine Environment

Caulerpa taxifolia is a fast-growing marine seaweed that is originally found in warm tropical waters. It has been used widely as a decorative plant in the marine aquarium trade. For the first time in history, a genetically altered seaweed is colonising very large areas of the marine environment in an uncontrollable way. 
 

Impacts of Summer 2003 Heat Wave in Europe

The extreme drought and heat wave that hit Europe in the summer of 2003 had enormous adverse social, economic, and environmental effects, like the death of thousands of vulnerable elderly people, the destruction of large areas of forests by fire, and effects on water ecosystems and glaciers.
 

Wildland Fires, a Double Impact on the Planet 

Annually, wildland fires annually burn an area half the size of Australia and generate nearly 40% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2). Their impact in terms of deforestation, climate change and loss of biodiversity is significant. The year 2003 was one of the worst in history in terms of loss of human life and damage to the environment and infrastructure.
 

Overfishing, a Major Threat to the Global Marine Ecology

In 2002, 72% of the world's marine fish stocks were being harvested faster than they could reproduce. Fishing activities have various negative impacts on marine ecosystems. The greatest concern is the rapid depletion of fish population due to extensive commercial fishing. One-fourth of the total catch (27 million tonnes in 2003) is unintended. 
 

E-waste, the Hidden side of IT Equipment's Manufacturing and Use

The production of electrical and electronic devices is the fastest-growing sector of the manufacturing industry in industrialised countries. At the same time, technological innovation and intense marketing engender a rapid replacement process. Every year, 20 to 50 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment waste ("e-waste") are generated world-wide, which could bring serious risks to human health and the environment. 
 

Tourism Expansion: Increasing Threats, or Conservation Opportunities?

Tourism generates 11% of global GDP, employs 200 million people but produces 4.8 million tonnes of waste yearly and consumes as much energy as a country the size and development level of Japan. The number of tourists is expected, at least, to double to 1.6 billion by the year 2020. Sustainable management of natural resources and wastes is essential for the well-being of this economic sector and natural ecosystems.
 

Illegal Oil Discharge in European Seas

One-third of global marine oil transportation passes through European waters. Apart from oil tankers, other cargo ships pose a constant threat of small to medium-scale oil pollution from illegal dumping of oily wastes with at least 3000 major events per year around Europe. The devastating consequences of occasional “newsworthy” accidents are outmatched by constant small, but still harmful, releases from oil industry transport.
 

Gold Prices On The Rise, Environment Under Pressure

Although the gold industry is often presented as a “first foreign direct investment” leading to positive outcomes in many developing countries and securing the wealth of many nations, it is also clear that some of its practices have negative environmental impacts. The use of hazardous chemicals and the generation of large amounts of mining waste often result in lasting pollution for the environment. 
 

Nuclear Waste: Is Everything Under Control? 

50 years after the opening of the world's first civil nuclear power station, very little radioactive waste produced has been permanently disposed of. The Alert focuses on the environmental impacts of nuclear waste. Given the ever-growing demand for energy and the diminution of economically extractable fossil fuels and their own environmental consequences, it is increasingly likely that many countries’ energy needs will not be met by alternative sources and energy conservation alone, and some countries will consider pressing ahead with the nuclear option.
 

The Environmental Price to Pay for Heavy Goods Traffic

New methods of production and consumption, as well as ongoing economic growth in the European region in recent decades, have led to an increasing demand for faster and more flexible transport modes, often favouring road freight. This trend is mainly sustained by the fact that environmental costs are not internalised (included) in road transport prices. 
 

Coastal Degradation Leaves the Caribbean in Troubled Waters 

Recent assessments in the Caribbean indicate that suspended solids in the coastal and marine environment are already leading to severe environmental impacts in the region. Key economic sectors are threatened by sedimentation and excessive runoff, and future scenarios indicate potential increases in the amounts of sediments transported from land to sea. 
 

Human Induced Harmful Algal Blooms 

The occurrence of coastal harmful algal blooms (HABs) over the last several decades has become a worldwide environmental concern. Some of these HABs are caused by anthropogenic nutrient pollution and can harm whole marine ecosystems which, in the worst cases, may become devoid of life. Aside from biodiversity impacts, they can also menace coastal economies.
 

Global Pollinator Decline: A Literature Review - A scientific Report about the Current Situation, Recent Findings and Potential Solution to Shed Light on the Global Pollinator Crisis

Biodiversity loss refers to species' extinctions due to habitat destruction, land conversion for agriculture and development, climate change, pollution, the spread of invasive species and other reasons. Biodiversity losses are not only affecting natural ecosystems but also the services they provide.

UNEP Emerging Issues: Environmental Consequences of Ocean Acidification: A Threat to Food Security

Increased carbon dioxide (CO2) from the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities continues to affect our atmosphere, resulting in global warming and climate change. Less well known is that this carbon dioxide is altering the chemistry of the surface oceans and causing them to become more acidic.

UNEP emerging issues: global honey bee colony disorder and other threats to insect pollinators

Has a “pollinator crisis” really been occurring during recent decades, or are these concerns just another sign of global biodiversity decline? Several studies have highlighted different factors leading to the pollinators’ decline that have been observed around the world.

Policy implications of warming permafrost

Permafrost is any ground that remains completely frozen for at least two years straight. These permanently frozen grounds are most common in regions with high mountains and in Earth’s higher latitudes—near the North and South Poles. Permafrost covers large regions of the Earth.

21 Issues for the 21st century: results of the UNEP foresight process on emerging environmental issues

The purpose of the UNEP Foresight Process is to regularly produce, a careful and authoritative ranking of the most important emerging issues related to the global environment. The concept of ‘emerging issues’ is subjective.

The Future of Electric Vehicles and Material Resources

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require a rapid reduction of emissions from the transport sector, which is responsible for almost a quarter of direct greenhouse gas emissions. The main goals of this foresight brief are to highlight major opportunities and challenges in the mainstreaming of Electric Vehicles EVs.

Satellites record second lowest Arctic sea ice extent since 1979

This news story focuses on the rate at which the Arctic Sea ice has been melting since 1979 due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions causing global heating. This rapid change has been one of the indicators that are relied on by scientists when monitoring how fast our climate is changing.

Governments, smart data and wildfires: where are we at?

Wildfires can occur naturally, through deliberate or accidental human activity. This news story looks at various types of wildfires that have occurred in the recent past, assess their effects and the causes.

Perfect storm: when climate change stokes wildfires, marine heatwaves and biodiversity loss

Climate change leads to some of the major environmental disasters that have become more frequent in recent years. This news story includes wildfires in southern Australia, loss of biodiversity and marine heatwaves in the Indian Ocean.

Why Australia’s 2019-2020 bushfire season was not normal, in three graphs

On record 2019 was the second hottest year since 1880, with Australia recording its warmest temperature in December of 2019. This news story focuses on bushfires that occurred in Australia in the last two months 2019 and the first six weeks of 2020.

How climate change is making record-breaking floods the new normal

This news story focuses on the connection between climate change and floods. Global climate change cause severe weather patterns and are likely to result in major floods. While it is hard to make a clear connection between a particular event and climate change, we need to prepare to face more frequent and extreme hydro-metrological events.

Record global carbon dioxide concentrations despite COVID-19 crisis

Data from various monitoring centers like the NOAA reported a notable increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This news story focuses on carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere despite less carbon emissions caused by the COVID-19 restrictions.

The data behind the blinking lights of climate breakdown

This news story demonstrates how data indicators are helpful in monitoring climate change. Some of these indicators, otherwise referred to as “the blinding lights of the climate crisis” are the wildfires in the Americas, the prolonged heat in Siberia, the Hurricane Laura, and the rate at which sea-ice is melting.

Climate change: Proof in numbers

The UNEP’s World Environment Situation Room plays a significant role in providing near real-time data on various aspects of our changing environment across the planet. When some of the climate change indicators like wildfires were taking place, some scientists relied on the WESR to collect data on such environment subjects like air pollution.

Global temperatures: costs continued to soar in 2021

This news story highlights environmental disasters because of the increasing global temperatures. Evidence from different data and monitoring centers like the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration not only recorded 2021 as one of the hottest globally, but it also states that the US experienced 20 events that are climate related.

Another wake-up call: sea ice loss is speeding up

Climate change has led to rising temperatures causing previously frozen permafrost below ground to melt. This news story focuses on the alarming rate at which sea ice is receding. It is on record that the Arctic is among the fastest warming regions on earth.

Record heat sends sea ice into retreat, worrying scientists

This news story focuses on how high temperatures are contributing to the sea ice retreat. The collapse of the Conger ice shelf in Antarctica is the latest indicator of record high temperatures at both North and South Pole.

Our use of sand brings us “up against the wall”, says UNEP report

Sand is the second most used natural resource in the world, after water. This news story highlights the use of sand as a natural resource and recommends alternative materials. In a UNEP report, “Sand and Sustainability: 10 strategic recommendations to avert a crisis”, reports that harvesting sand from sites such as rivers, coastal areas or marine ecosystems can lead to erosion, salination of aquifers, and loss of protection against storms.

A new science-policy interface for UNEP at 50

The presentation of the report of the UNEP Executive Director on the science-policy interface first identifies ozone depletion substances. Talks on lead in petrol and mercury led to formulation of policies and legislation, after science pointed out their harmful effects.

GEMS Ocean programme officially endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade

This news story focuses on endorsement of the GEMS-Ocean Programme by the UN Ocean Decade. This recognition helps the Programme and UNEP to collaborate with international experts and other stakeholders within the UN Ocean Decade framework.

How artificial intelligence is helping tackle environmental challenges

Artificial intelligence (AI) helps in tackling environmental challenges. Artificial Intelligence has been identified as an important tool in data collection making more climate data available than before. Yet, how this data can be accessed, read, and interpreted and acted on is significant in managing the climate crisis.