The Paradox of Pledging
With less than a month until the Glasgow Climate Change Conference, we ask: Is flexibility justified in environmental action?
Climate Change
Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and weather patterns. Unexpected changes in weather patterns make it difficult to maintain and grow crops in regions that rely on farming because expected temperature and rainfall levels can no longer be counted on. Climate change has also been connected with other damaging weather events, such as more frequent and more intense hurricanes, typhoons, floods, downpours, and winter storms. Climate change is largely caused by human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas. Carbon emissions from fossil fuels, methane, and nitrous oxide, among others, are called “greenhouse gases.” When released into the Earth’s atmosphere, these gases trap heat from the sun’s rays causing Earth’s average temperature to rise. This rise in the planet's temperature is called global warming. While the climate has continually changed throughout the Earth's history, it has usually been a slow process over thousands of years. Climate change caused by human activity is occurring at a much faster and more dangerous rate.
Events and Articles
Showing 121 - 130 of 432 results
High-level Dialogue on Energy
The first high-level meeting to tackle energy issues under the United Nations General Assembly in 40 years demonstrated broad interest in accelerating ambition towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) on affordable and clean energy and the net-zero emissions by 2050 goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Energy Action Days
Immediately prior to the High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE), Energy Action Days brought together representatives of business, foundations, cities, youth and other segments of civil society to announce “Energy Compact” commitments.
Climate Resilience through the Right to Food: Perspectives on the UN Food Systems Summit
In the first of a two-part series, stakeholders discussed the right to food as an entry point for transforming current unequal and unsustainable development trends.
An IPCC for Chemicals and Wastes?
This week, global attention turned to the dire warnings of climate scientists. This is becoming a routine.
54th Session of the IPCC (IPCC-54) and 14th Session of the Working Group I (WG I-14)
The first Working Group contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report providing a comprehensive assessment of the physical science underpinning past, present and future climate change.
Carbon Neutrality & Social Transformation: Are We on Track to Arrive at a Justice-based Transition?
This HLPF side event identified key requirements for achieving carbon neutrality and a just transformation, including ensuring universal access to energy and clean cooking, engaging with all stakeholders, adopting nature-based solutions, and greening supply chains.
High-level Dialogue on Energy Ministerial Thematic Forums (HLDE 2021)
The Ministerial Thematic Forums for the HLDE launched reports prepared by Technical Working Groups, each with detailed recommendations for action needed, on five thematic topics also explored during the week by multi-stakeholder dialogues and ministerial sessions
60th Meeting of the GEF Council
The 60th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council adopted a Work Program worth USD 281.1 million that includes eight stand-alone full-sized projects on international waters, four on biodiversity, three on climate change mitigation, and two on chemicals and waste.
GEF Consultations with Civil Society
Prior to the 60th Meeting of the GEF Council, Secretariat staff and Council members engaged in a consultation with civil society organizations on the theme, “Enhancing Climate Resilience: The Role of Civil Society, and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.”