Climate and Environment

Children walk in flood waters in Jonglei state, South Sudan.
© WFP/Musa Mahadi

Flooding leaves South Sudan facing threat of ‘catastrophic’ hunger levels 

29 September 2020
Africa

Torrential rains and flooding across South Sudan have created the threat of “catastrophic” levels of hunger and left hundreds of thousands homeless, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday. 

Greta Thunberg (centre), joins a climate demonstration (file)
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

LIVE: UN Climate Change Roundtable - a 'just transition' through climate action is key says Guterres

24 September 2020

Live coverage of the High-Level UN Climate Change Roundtable, featuring UN chief António Guterres, designed to rally momentum for more ambitious action to limit global warming and ensure sustainable post-pandemic recovery plans. 

 

Highlights

UN chief warns that 'the world has a fever and is burning up' 

Watch the roundtable live on UN Web TV

UK and UN to co-host December climate event. 

UN climate envoy: 'the entire financial sector needs to adapt'

 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres (r) with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (file)
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

UN chief and UK premier announce December climate summit

24 September 2020
Global

With the COVID-19 pandemic having disrupted plans to hold the annual international UN climate meeting - known as the COP - this year, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom have announced that they will instead co-host a “landmark global event” on 12 December, the fifth anniversary of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

In Bhutan, farmers are needing to adapt to climate change.
UNDP Bhutan

FROM THE FIELD: Protecting the post-pandemic planet

24 September 2020
Global

An emphasis on sustainable development and fighting climate change will benefit countries around the world as they recover from the unprecedented economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, says the UN Development Programme, (UNDP).

Food assistance programmes in Chad promote sustainable agriculture and strengthen incomes and livelihoods.
WFP/Giulio D'Adamo

Reversing land degradation can ‘pre-empt and manage’ conflicts

17 September 2020
Global

To help prevent conflicts and at the same time protect the planet, “we all must tackle environmental degradation”, a top UN official told the Security Council on Thursday.

Testing sheep for diseases in Bako, Ethiopia.
ILRI/Barbara Wieland

UN report highlights links between ‘unprecedented biodiversity loss’ and spread of disease

15 September 2020
Global

The continued degradation of the environment is increasing the likelihood of diseases spreading from animals to humans, warns a UN report on biodiversity, released on Tuesday.

A female engineer checks on a construction site in Amman, Jordan.
© ILO/Jared J. Kohler

Women are key to response and recovery out of the COVID era: Deputy UN chief

3 September 2020
Global

Young women are fighting interconnected battles for “environmental, economic and racial justice”, the deputy UN chief said in a discussion on Thursday.

A solar mini-grid system in Eritrea powers two rural towns and surrounding villages.
UNDP Eritrea/Elizabeth Mwaniki

Make COVID recovery ‘a true turning point’ for people and planet, Guterres urges, calling for concerted action by G20

3 September 2020
Global

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on governments to incorporate “meaningful” climate action in all aspects of recovery from the global pandemic. 

A Kenyan farmer prepares cowpea leaves to be dried for future use.
FAO

From farm to fork: How food systems can power climate action

1 September 2020
Global

Taking specific steps to transform national food supply systems can help countries achieve climate goals and limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius, a new joint UN report on climate action has found.