Climate Change

Unsplash/Jezael Melgoza

Climate action: UN chief encouraged by Japan’s 2050 net zero pledge 

26 October 2020
Asia Pacific

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed Japan’s announcement on Monday that it would reduce carbon emissions to zero, by 2050, as part of the global effort to slow the worldwide rise in temperatures, and prevent the most damaging effects of human-made climate change. 

UNDP Cambodia/Manuth Buth

FROM THE FIELD: Women guardians of the environment

22 October 2020
Global

Women from around the world are being given a more prominent role in the fight against climate change, thanks to the efforts of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

UNDP/Arjen van de Merwe

FROM THE FIELD: Cultivating a response to disasters in Malawi

13 October 2020
Africa

Farmers in Malawi who are struggling with the dual threats of climate change and an economic crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, are learning how to more accurately predict the weather and prepare for the eventuality of natural disasters, thanks to a project supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

UNICEF/Louzada

Shift needed from what weather will be, to ‘what the weather will do’

13 October 2020
Global

Extreme weather and climate events have increased in frequency, intensity and severity as a result of climate change, hitting vulnerable communities disproportionately hard, a new UN report has revealed, calling for greater investment in effective early warning systems. 

UNDP Bhutan

UN chief urges ministers to provide ‘decisive leadership’ on climate action

12 October 2020

With nations striving to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impacts, efforts must focus on decarbonizing the global economy and building a more inclusive and resilient future, the UN Secretary-General said on Monday.

OCHA/Danielle Parry

‘Staggering’ rise in climate emergencies in last 20 years, new disaster research shows

12 October 2020
Global

The first 20 years of this century have seen a “staggering” rise in climate disasters, UN researchers said on Monday, while also maintaining that “almost all nations” have failed to prevent a “wave of death and illness” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Unsplash/Killian Pham

Greening of India's railway network on track

4 October 2020
Asia Pacific

An ambitious plan to make one of the world’s largest and most complex railway networks a net zero carbon emitter by 2030 is moving full steam ahead, although without the steam, thanks, in part, to support from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

UNOCHA

Sudan alert: Flooding and surging inflation threaten humanitarian assistance 

2 October 2020
Africa

Catastrophic flooding and rising food and health costs in Sudan, have driven up the number of people in need, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday. 

Unsplash/Marco Secchi

LIVE: UN chief, Prince Charles, rally ‘coalition of the willing’ to end biodiversity destruction

30 September 2020
Global

Here's our special LIVE coverage of the UN Summit on Biodiversity, where activists and senior UN officials are calling for urgent action on biodiversity, to help ensure sustainable development for all.

 

© 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.