Climate and Environment

Climate change is impacting Tunisia's coastal zones affecting both humans and marine biodiversity.
UNDP Tunisia

CLIMATE CHANGE FOCUS: Tunisia coastline in need of climate cash boost

5 December 2018
Africa

Efforts to mobilize the cash needed to ensure that climate change does not lead to the irreversible damage of Tunisia’s coastline are being undertaken by the North African country’s government, with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

In cities like Beijing in China, smog has become a major health issue.
WMO/Alfred Lee

COP24: A million lives could be saved by 2050 through climate action, UN health agency reveals

5 December 2018
Global

Taking bold climate action now, could help save a million lives and a lot of money by the middle of the century, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday, launching a special report as part of the ongoing COP24 climate conference in Katowice, Poland.

Actnow.bot is the United Nations' innovative campaign aimed at mitigating climate change through dialogue on Facebook Messenger.
United Nations

UN launches Facebook Messenger-powered bot to take on climate change

3 December 2018
Global

As world leaders and decision-makers get to work on mitigating climate change at the COP24 conference in Katowice, Poland, renowned broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough launched a new UN campaign to give individuals their say on the key global issue, via social media.

In Ukraine, people with disabilities have contributed to developing sustainable tourism initiatives.
© UNDP SGP Ukraine/2017

FROM THE FIELD: Persons with disabilities bike towards sustainability

3 December 2018
Europe

People with disabilities in Ukraine are contributing to the development of a network of environmentally friendly bicycle routes which are helping to protect unique local landscapes.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressing the High-Level session of the Katowice Climate Change Conference, COP24, on 3 December 2018.
UNFCCC Secretariat

Four things the UN chief wants world leaders to know, at key COP24 climate conference opening

3 December 2018

During the UN COP24 Climate Change Conference grand opening on Monday, Secretary-General António Guterres told over 150 world leaders gathered for climate action that “we are in deep trouble” and asked decision-makers to focus on four key things: stepping up climate action, according to a solid plan, with more funding, as a smart investment in the future of the planet.

COP24 opening plenary
UNFCCC Secretariat

COP24: green, gender focus, as UN's crucial climate change conference gets underway

2 December 2018
Global

COP24,  the two-week 24th conference of the parties of the United Nations Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC), started on Sunday in Katowice, Poland, with a special focus on carbon neutrality and gender equality. 

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, addresses the media at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 29 November, 2018.
UN News/Natalia Montagna

UN chief welcomes G20 commitment to fight climate change

2 December 2018
Global

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has welcomed the declaration released on Saturday at the conclusion of the 2018 G20 meeting of the world’s leading economies, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which reaffirms a commitment to raise ambition in the fight against climate change.

Delegates to the G20 summit have gathered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (30 November 2018)
UN News/Natalia Montagna

G20 told crucial COP24 climate change conference 'must succeed': Guterres

30 November 2018
Global

During press briefings at the beginning of the G20 meeting of industrialized nations in Buenos Aires, UN Secretary António Guterres described the event as an essential forum, citing a lack of confidence and high level of confrontation within the international community.

The Earth, an image created from photographs taken by the Suomi NPP satellite.
NASA

World simply ‘not on track’ to slow climate change this year: UN weather agency

29 November 2018

The world is heading in the wrong direction to slow climate change after another year of near-record temperatures, the head of the UN’s weather agency said on Thursday.

A boy watches the shore from a boat near Sirajganj, a community affected by severe erosion that has left many displaced. Sirajganj, Bangladesh. October 2016
IOM/Amanda Nero

COP24: UN climate change conference, what’s at stake and what you need to know

29 November 2018
Global

As global temperatures continue to rise, climate action is lagging and the window of opportunity is closing. On Sunday, the United Nations will kick off critical negotiations on how to address the problem collectively and urgently, during a two-week climate change conference in Katowice, Poland, known as “COP24”.