Indigenous protesters block COP30 entrance, demand action from Brazilian Government

The Munduruku, who live primarily in the Amazon states of Amazonas, Mato Grosso and Pará, are demanding an end to projects and extractive activities that threaten Indigenous territories, particularly in the Tapajós and Xingu River basins. ‘Legitimate’ protests and government response COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni described the demonstrations as “legitimate” and confirmed that the […]

COP30: Climate crisis is a health crisis, WHO warns as philanthropies pledge $300m for solutions

The special report on health and climate change, published by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the Brazilian Government, warns that one in 12 hospitals could face climate-related shutdowns. It calls for urgent action to protect health systems in a rapidly warming world. This follows Thursday’s launch of the Belém Health Action Plan, a […]

‘When finance flows, ambition grows’: COP30’s call for action

At every negotiation table and in every diplomatic statement lies a stark truth shared by nations on the front lines of the climate crisis: without funding, there is no path to safety, justice, or survival. Many urgent actions are required to secure a livable planet and protect millions of lives. But all of them – […]

‘Decisive battle’: Guterres calls for youth power in fight to phase out fossil fuels

On Tuesday in Belém, ministers from Colombia, Germany, Kenya, the Marshall Islands, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom and several other countries, voiced strong support for Brazil’s proposal to elevate the issue in this year’s round of UN climate negotiations. The coalition called on negotiators to reinforce language around the fossil fuel transition in the draft […]

In the Amazon, a school becomes a beacon of climate resilience

On a sandy riverbank, a modest school crowned with a solar-paneled roof tells a different story – one of resilience, ingenuity, and hope for the next generation. A school built for the future For three years, the Maria Naura Gouvêa Municipal School has been living out one of COP30’s central themes: adaptation. Its flood- and […]

‘The world is watching’: Guterres and Lula urge unity as COP30 talks near deadline

Amid reports of deadlocks on fossil fuels, climate finance and other key issues, both leaders urged negotiators to act decisively on phasing out fossil fuels and boosting adaptation finance, insisting that fairness and ambition must guide the final hours of COP30. Guterres: 1.5°C is the ‘non-negotiable red line’ Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr. Guterres […]

What’s at stake in the COP30 negotiations?

In practical terms, the debates at COP30 revolve around three big questions: 1. How can countries ramp up climate action? With the planet heating at record speed and climate disasters intensifying, cutting emissions and adapting to impacts dominate the agenda. Delegates are looking at key tools: • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): National climate plans updated […]

Can industrial growth and climate action go hand in hand?

In Namibia’s Daures region, a bold experiment aims to prove economies can create jobs without fossil fuels.  When completed, Daures Green Hydrogen Village will sustainably produce hydrogen and ammonia from renewable sources, which will be used to make the country’s first carbon-free green fertiliser, reducing the need for imports.  The project is designed to benefit […]

From waste pickers to courtrooms: Women demand a gender focus at COP30

Women’s voices are rising with clarity and urgency, pressing negotiators to ensure the conference leaves a lasting mark on the link between gender and climate policy.   At the heart of talks is the Belém Gender Action Plan – a proposed blueprint that acknowledges climate change hits women hardest and sets out measures for financing, […]

Belém COP30 delivers climate finance boost and a pledge to plan fossil fuel transition

Climate disinformation: Commitment to promote information integrity and counter false narratives. The final decision emphasises solidarity and investment, setting ambitious financial targets while leaving energy transition for later discussion. The burning of fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases that are by far the largest contributors to global warming, making this omission a point of concern for […]

Somalia declares drought emergency as millions face hunger after failed rains

On 10 November, the Federal Government of Somalia formally declared a drought emergency and appealed for urgent international assistance as conditions continued to deteriorate across northern, central and southern regions, according to the UN relief coordination office, OCHA. Puntland is among the worst affected areas, where authorities estimate that nearly one million people need support, […]

Cyclone Ditwah brings worst flooding in decades to Sri Lanka, killing hundreds

According to the UN relief coordination office, OCHA, 998,918 people across all 25 districts have now been affected, with 212 deaths reported and 218 people missing. More than 180,000 people from over 51,000 families are sheltering in 1,094 government-run safety centres as search and rescue efforts continue. Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on 28 November before […]

Asia: Lives upended by cyclones, ‘extreme’ rainfall on the rise, warn UN agencies

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) spokesperson Clare Nullis told reporters in Geneva that Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam are among the countries most affected by what she described as “a combination of monsoon-related rainfall and tropical cyclone activity”. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep sadness over the tragic loss of life across the […]

Deadly storms sweep South and Southeast Asia, leaving over 1,600 dead

Since mid-November, overlapping tropical storms and intensified monsoon systems have triggered catastrophic flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Viet Nam. UN teams across the region are supporting government-led emergency operations with food, health, water and sanitation aid, medical deployments and early recovery assessments, as heavy rains continue and fears grow that […]

Arab region pushed to limits by climate extremes as 2024 smashes heat records

The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) first State of the Climate in the Arab Region report paints a stark picture of a region under constant pressure from rising temperatures and increasingly extreme weather. The UN agency noted that “a number of countries [in the Arab region] reported temperatures of above 50°C (122°F) last year, while average […]

Communities struggle to rebuild following Pakistan’s worst floods

As communities struggle to rebuild, many have little time to grieve the immense losses they have suffered.   Since June, over six million people in Pakistan have been affected by what have been described as “unusually heavy monsoon rains” which have claimed nearly 1,000 lives, including about 250 children. Residents are still recovering from flash […]

A sustainable future requires new thinking: UN environment report

“The Global Environment Outlook lays out a simple choice for humanity: continue down the road to a future devastated by climate change, dwindling nature, degraded land and polluted air, or change direction to secure a healthy planet, healthy people and healthy economies,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. The report has input from 287 multi-disciplinary […]

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