COP24

COP24 closing plenary meeting in Katowice, Poland, 16 December 2018.
UNFCCC/James Dowson

At COP24, countries agree concrete way forward to bring the Paris climate deal to life

15 December 2018
Climate and Environment

After two weeks of crunch negotiations – with overtime – the almost 200 parties gathered in Katowice, Poland, for the United Nations COP24 two-week climate change conference, adopted on Saturday a “robust” set of implementing guidelines for the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, aimed at keeping global warming well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels.

Prince Albert II of Monaco, chair of the IOC Sustainability and Legacy Commission, speaking at the launch of the Sports Climate Action Framework at the COP24 climate action conference in Katowice, Poland. 11 December 2018.
UNFCCC Secretariat

COP24: World sports join team UN in race against climate change

12 December 2018
Climate and Environment

Major organizations from the world of sport are joining an increasing number of private sector businesses in the race to beat global warming. At the United Nations’ COP24 conference in Poland on Wednesday, 17 major players representing sporting bodies, athletes and fans, added their names to the collective scoreboard, with the launch of the Sports Climate Action Framework.

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
Climate and Environment

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.

An old coal-fired power plant dumps vast quantities of ash out in the open in Kosovo (June 2008).
World Bank/Lundrim Aliu

Greenhouse gas levels in atmosphere break another record, UN report shows

22 November 2018
Climate and Environment

Levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached another new record high, according to a report issued on Thursday by the United Nations weather agency, which reveals that there is no sign of reversal of this trend, responsible for climate change, sea level rise, ocean acidification and extreme weather.

Secretary-General António Guterres delivers a major speech on climate change at the UN Headquarters in New York. 10 September 2018.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

‘Direct existential threat’ of climate change nears point of no return, warns UN chief

10 September 2018
Climate and Environment

The world risks crossing the point of no return on climate change, with disastrous consequences for people across the planet and the natural systems that sustain them, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday, calling for more leadership and greater ambition for climate action, to reverse course.