Climate and Environment

A climate change demonstration in Erlangen, Germany.
Unsplash/Markus Spiske

Climate litigation spikes, giving courts an ‘essential role’ in addressing climate crisis

26 January 2021
Global

 A rise in climate litigation cases has made courtrooms increasingly important as a venue for addressing climate change around the world, according to a report released on Tuesday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). 

A boy makes a small house using plastic and debris. His home was completely swept away when Typhoon Goni hit the Philippines in November 2020.
UNICEF/Nino Luces

Scale up funding for climate adaptation programmes, Guterres urges

25 January 2021
Global

The UN Secretary-General on Monday called for urgent scaling up of funds for climate change adaptation and resilience building programmes, so they can offer real and lasting protection against the impact of major events such as droughts, floods and rising sea-levels. 

Former United States Secretary of State John Kerry, accompanied by his grand-daughter, signs the Paris Agreement at UN headquarters in April 2016.
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Secretary-General welcomes US return to Paris Agreement on Climate Change

20 January 2021
Americas

Following the inauguration of United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday, the UN Secretary-General said he looks forward to an era of new leadership towards accelerating climate action, with the US back inside the landmark Paris Agreement.  

2020 was the warmest decade on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
Unsplash/John Towner

2020, one of three warmest years on record: World Meteorological Organization 

14 January 2021
Global

The COVID-19 pandemic was not the only long-term crisis the world will remember from 2020. In terms of climate change, the year was also one of the three warmest on record, and rivalled 2016 for the top spot, the UN weather agency said on Wednesday. 

Workers pick tea in Tanzania. Changes in the climate have affected crops such as tea, across the world.
CIFOR/Nkumi Mtimgwa

Step up action and adapt to 'new climate reality', UN environment report urges

14 January 2021
Global

Though countries have made progress in planning for climate change adaptation, there are significant financing shortfalls in getting them to the stage where they provide real protection against droughts, floods and rising sea levels, a new UN environment report has found. 

A wind farm in Biedesheim, Germany.
Unsplash/Karsten Würth

UN chief calls for ‘urgent transition’ from fossil fuels to renewable energy 

11 January 2021
Global

Building a global coalition for carbon neutrality by mid-century will be the UN’s “central objective”, the world body’s top official told a conference on climate action on Monday.