Climate and Environment

Graphic for No Denying It, the UN News Podcast about Climate Action
UN News/ Paola Bustamante

No Denying It episode 5: Jane Goodall Introduces Xiaoyuan "Charlene" Ren

23 September 2021
Global

In the fifth episode of the UN climate action podcast No Denying It, United Nations Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall, known for her groundbreaking scientific work studying chimpanzees, interviews Xiaoyuan "Charlene" Ren.

Ms. Ren is the founder of MyH20, a network that collects drinking water data to help find solutions to improve water quality across China. Globally, two billion people lack access to safe drinking water, a figure that will only go up as infrastructure struggles to keep pace with new climate change-related weather patterns.

National governments are the main drivers of change to reduce harmful emissions.
Unsplash/Daniel Moqvist

World’s two largest economies commit to climate action – Guterres

21 September 2021
Global

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday welcomed important commitments made towards climate action by the world’s two largest economies, as the 76th High Level Debate began in New York.

In southern Mauritania, a market garden run by a women's cooperative uses solar energy to irrigate crops.
© UNICEF/Raphael Pouget

Call for ‘decisive action now’ to avoid climate catastrophe 

20 September 2021

Speaking alongside the UK Prime Minister in New York on Monday the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has called on world leaders for “decisive action now to avert climate catastrophe.” 

Essential infrastructure including roads and bridges were destroyed by the August earthquake.
IOM/Monica Chiriac

FROM THE FIELD: Haiti’s gruelling post-quake road to recovery

18 September 2021
Americas

Thousands of Haitians continue to take refuge in neighbours’ houses, makeshift shelters, chapels or informal displacement sites, a month after a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the west of the Caribbean island where they live. That’s according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) which has been assisting in recovery efforts. 

If no actions are taken, global emissions will continue to grow this decade. By 2030 they will increase by about 16.3 per cent compared to 2010 levels.
WMO/Seyed Amin Habibi

Paris climate deal could go up in smoke without action: Guterres

17 September 2021

Unless wealthy nations commit to tackling emissions now, the world is on a “catastrophic pathway” to 2.7-degrees of heating by the end of the century, UN Secretary General António Guterres warned on Friday.

People cross a flooded river in western Haiti after a bridge was washed away by Hurricane Matthew. (file)
MINUSTAH/Logan Abassi

‘Tipping point’ for climate action: Time’s running out to avoid catastrophic heating

16 September 2021
Global

The temporary reduction in carbon emissions caused by global COVID-19 lockdowns did not slow the relentless advance of climate change. Greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels, and the planet is on path towards dangerous overheating, a multi-agency climate report published on Thursday warns. 

Graphic for No Denying It, the UN News Podcast about Climate Action
UN/ Paula Bustamante

No Denying It episode 4: Kyne Introduces Mat dos Santos

15 September 2021
Global

In the fourth episode of the UN climate action podcast No Denying It, drag performer, social media star, and mathematics communicator Kyne introduces Managing Attorney at Our Children’s Trust, Mat dos Santos. Mx. dos Santos and their colleagues oversee a legal program that brings climate litigation on behalf of youth in federal and state courts in the United States, and tribunals across the globe.

Wild meat is often a key use and a major driver for legal and illegal hunting,
CIFOR/Manuel Lopez

Eating wild meat significantly increases zoonotic disease risk: UN report 

15 September 2021

The domestic consumption of meat from wild animals has significant impacts on most species protected under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), says a new report released on Wednesday, including increasing the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans.  

Sugar cane and soybean plantations have replaced hectare after hectare of jungle as the Amazon has been exploited in the name of agriculture, with little regard for the environmental impacts. Photo: UNEP GRID Arendal/Riccardo Pravettoni
UNEP GRID Arendal/Riccardo Pravettoni

Most agricultural funding distorts prices, harms environment: UN report 

14 September 2021

Around 87% of the $540 billion in total annual government support given worldwide to agricultural producers includes measures that are price distorting and that can be harmful to nature and health.  

No Denying It Podcast - Episode 03 Cover
Paula Bustamante/UN

No Denying It episode 3: Dia Mirza Introduces Aditi Mayer

8 September 2021
Global

In the third episode of the UN climate action podcast, No Denying It, Bollywood actor and UN Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza introduces sustainable fashion advocate Aditi Mayer, who explains the links between the fashion industry, the climate crisis, and colonialism.