The climate emergency is a direct consequence of carbon-heavy land-use and agriculture, transport, buildings and industrial processes and polluting energy sources. Without profound changes to these sectors and a drastic cut to carbon footprints, there is little hope of protecting the planet from the devastating effects of a warmer world.
Below are climate-related news and events from the United Nations and partners.
The UN chief on 25 July 2024 issued an urgent call to action to better protect billions around the world exposed to crippling effects of extreme heat, as global temperature rise continues unabated.
“Billions of people are facing an extreme heat epidemic – wilting under increasingly deadly heatwaves, with temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius around the world. That is 122 degrees Fahrenheit – halfway to boiling,” Secretary-General António Guterres said at a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York.
“The message is clear: the heat is on. Extreme heat is having an extreme impact on people and planet. The world must rise to the challenge of rising temperatures.”
Barbados has launched an ambitious effort to adapt to an uncertain climate future. Called Roof to Reefs, it includes everything from reinforcing homes to buttressing critical infrastructure to protecting coastal and marine ecosystems. It focuses on integrated, home-grown solutions that build resilience to the climate crisis.
The Bridgetown Initiative, named after Barbados’ capital, proposes a radical rethinking of the global financial system, calling for a combination of debt relief, new lending and private sector investments in vulnerable developing countries, which would use the money explicitly to prepare for the effects of climate change.
The Bridgetown Initiative has put Barbados and its Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, at the forefront of the push for climate justice for small island developing states.
GCF Board #GCFB39 approved #adaptation project FP232 with @UNEP to restore ecosystems and ensure water security in Jordan 🇯🇴 through integrated land and water resources management interventions. #ClimateAction https://t.co/ehaY84DGJb pic.twitter.com/71dvz2HDUR
— Green Climate Fund (@theGCF) July 16, 2024
On day three of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) the reality of the climate emergency for some of the most vulnerable communities on Earth was front and center.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has described climate action as the 21st century’s greatest opportunity to drive forward all the SDGs. Conversely, the HLPF was confronted with warnings that with the world on track for 3°C warming, failure to take urgent action on climate will render the other Goals unattainable.
During the session reviewing SDG 13, Tarek Ladeb, Vice-President, UN Economic and Social Council (Tunisia), recalled that the foundations laid by the co-emergence of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda in 2015 continue to support coherent and cross-cutting implementation and accelerated action.
The Northern Corridor Green Freight Strategy 2030 launched under the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) has received full endorsement from members states and the Council of Ministers, paving the way for a net-zero emissions corridor by 2050
The Northern Corridor which links six countries Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo is the busiest corridor in East and Central Africa handling over 30 million tons of cargo through the Port of Mombasa.
The strategy aims to improve fuel the efficiency of freight transport, reduce particulate matter, black carbon and oxides and lower CO2 emissions intensity. The goal is to mitigate the environmental impacts of freight transport activities along the Northern Corridor and to build sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
UNEP together with other partners will continue to support the NCTTCA in implementing the strategy, ensuring that the corridor becomes a safe, sustainable, and competitive trade and transport route.
UNEP joined other international organizations to unite to call for responsible and sustainable implementation of bioenergy systems to ensure it contributes effectively to efforts to mitigate climate change and support global development.
“Good governance builds on evidence-based assessment of environmental, economic, social and political factors, and safeguards food and energy security, climate justice, biodiversity stewardship, land and water rights and local development priorities. It follows the principles of nature-based solutions, including local stakeholder engagement, and free, prior and informed consent,” the statement reads.
Sudan is grappling with both war and a climate crisis. Over 70% of its population relies on rain-fed agriculture and cattle grazing, facing challenges like unreliable rainfall, rising temperatures, droughts, floods, and soil erosion, which reduce crop yields annually. This sector is highly vulnerable, with little margin for failure, as there are no alternative income sources if crops fail or cattle die. Adapting to these conditions is crucial. Last week, Sudanese participants, including soil specialists, were trained in using the RUSTLE equation for soil erosion risk, annual soil loss rates, digital soil mapping, and Unmanned Ariel Vehicle data mapping.
In Tanzania, UNEP is working to spearhead the shift to electric vehicles through its Global Electric Mobility Programme. Along with countering climate change, the transition could create new economic opportunities, found a recent UNEP-led report.
Tanzania has about 1.2 million motorcycles and three-wheelers with internal combustion engines. At least 10 companies have entered the country’s electric mobility market, hoping to capitalize on an untapped opportunity. For example, leading ride-hailing platform Bolt, asset financer Watu and TRÍ have just launched a pilot programme, deploying 25 electric bajaj taxis.
“Transitioning from vehicles with internal combustion engines to those powered by electricity is not just a trend. It is a necessary shift to achieve net-zero emissions targets,” says Rob De Jong, Head of the Sustainable Mobility Unit with UNEP.
