Climate and Environment

A brown bear and her cub walk through a forest in Slovenia.
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.

 

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.

Found high up in the atmosphere, the ozone layer shields Earth from Sun’s harmful UV-B rays
Photo: UNEP

Ozone treaties ‘inspiring examples’ of political will, UN chief says on International Day

16 September 2020
Global

The United Nations commemorated the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, on Wednesday, recognizing the success of landmark global agreements in helping restore the protective layer around Earth. 

More than 78,000 acres of forest in the Sierra mountains in California has been lost due to wildfires.
San Francisco Fire Department

Climate change: Record northern heat, fuels concerns over US wildfire destruction

15 September 2020

The northern hemisphere experienced its warmest August ever, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday, amid searing conditions that have contributed to devastating wildfires on the west coast of the United States.

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.

Young people protest for gender equality and women's rights in Nepa (file)
UN Women/Uma Bista

A youthful 75: New generation carries the torch for UN values

12 September 2020
Global

75 years on from the founding of the UN, young people are being enlisted to share their visions of a better planet, and help decide the next chapter of the Organization.