An alleged act of sacrilege by a Chinese tourist at a prominent Buddhist monastery has triggered widespread anger among Tibetans, with many calling for swift action against the individual involved. Public outrage intensified after a video of the incident began circulating online, quickly drawing condemnation across social media platforms. The footage shows the tourist consuming […]
When UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric briefed correspondents in New York on Thursday following the release of the White House Memorandum, he insisted that the Organization will continue to carry out its mandates from Member States “with determination.” Wednesday’s memorandum states that the US administration is “ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the […]
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva set the tone at the opening session, declaring that the battle for truth has become just as critical as the fight to cut emissions. COP30 must mark “a new defeat for climate denialists,” he said. On Wednesday, 12 nations – including Brazil, Canada, France, Germany and Spain – signed […]
Ethiopian mountain vipers, Galapagos iguanas and Brazil’s Pernambuco tree – prized by violin bow-makers – and are just three of the more than 30 species that could be listed for special protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). “Because the trade in wild animals and plants […]
At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) is pressing negotiators to make climate mobility a core part of adaptation plans. “People and communities who choose to stay must be safe, and those who decide to move must have the option to do so with dignity,” Ugochi Daniels, IOM’s Deputy Director […]
After slamming into the island nation on 9 November with winds of around 185 kilometres per hour (or 115 miles per hour) leaving at least six dead, Super Typhoon Fung-wong hit homes, schools and access to health services across 16 regions, UNICEF reported on Thursday. The archipelago has already been exhausted by multiple climate-related and geophysical shocks this […]
As climate negotiations continue in the Amazonian city of Belém, Brazil, governments, UN agencies and partners have adopted the Belém Health Action Plan, placing an emphasis on addressing healthcare inequalities. For updates on all the action and UN News coverage so far, head to our dedicated page here. A planet heading to ‘intensive care’ The adoption […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 – […]
UN climate chief Simon Stiell set the tone on Monday: “There is a deep awareness of what’s at stake, and the need to show climate cooperation standing firm in a fractured world.” His warning was blunt: “There is no time to lose with delays and obstruction.” For the next two days, ministers will lay out their positions […]
But this lush harmony carries a warning. If negotiators at COP30 hope to protect the world’s forests, they must first safeguard the people who sustain them. Chocolate, community and a vision for the future Just 30 minutes by boat from Belém – known as the ‘gateway to the Amazon’ rainforest and host city of this […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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, […]