UNEP has announced five , honoring leaders advancing bold solutions to the climate crisis. Marking the award’s 20th year, the laureates address climate justice, methane reduction, sustainable cooling, resilient architecture, and forest protection. Honorees include Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change for reshaping global climate law; Supriya Sahu for pioneering sustainable cooling and green jobs in India; architect Mariam Issoufou for climate-resilient design in the Sahel; Brazil’s Imazon for AI-driven forest protection; and the late Manfredi Caltagirone for global methane action. Together, they demonstrate that innovative leadership can protect people, ecosystems, and the planet.
UNEP
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution already cost trillions annually, warns a new United Nations Environment Programme . But systemic transformation, circular economies, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, could unlock $20 trillion yearly by 2070, save nine million premature deaths, and lift millions from poverty and hunger. Investing $8 trillion a year until 2050 secures a thriving planet and economy. However, the cost of inaction is far higher.
Bamboo-based restoration restores degraded land, supports biodiversity, boosts rural livelihoods, mitigates climate impacts, and promotes sustainable development across nine countries globally.
The UN report launched today at COP30, warns that global demand for cooling could more than triple by 2050, fueling climate change due to cooling-related emissions and straining power grids. But we can change the course. The report champions a Sustainable Cooling Pathway that could slash cooling emissions by 64% by 2050 and save trillions of dollars in energy and infrastructure costs. This Pathway promotes nature-based cooling strategies, low-energy and hybrid systems that combine fans and air conditioners, high-efficiency equipment and the reduction of harmful refrigerants.
’s&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č; finds that within the next decade, global temperatures will likely exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
As climate impacts accelerate, the from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) sounds a global alarm: developing nations are staring down a staggering annual shortfall of over US$310 billion in adaptation finance by 2035—twelve times current international flows. This gap threatens vulnerable populations facing climate impacts like rising seas and deadly storms. Although many countries have made strides in adaptation planning, outdated policies and insufficient finance remain challenges. The report urges a global push for increased public and private funding, emphasizing that adaptation is vital for climate justice and economic resilience.
Food waste isn’t just what’s scraped off plates, it’s a quiet crisis echoing through our climate, economies, and the lives of millions who go hungry. reveals that 19% of consumer-available food is wasted, causing emissions five times higher than aviation, while a third of humanity faces food insecurity. Yet, individuals and communities can act creatively. Chef , Goodwill Ambassador, leads the initiative, turning surplus food into meals at “Refettorios” in nine countries—showing that fighting waste is both responsible and beautiful.
The Deliver-E Coalition unites major global food and grocery delivery platforms to accelerate the shift to , aiming to reduce emissions, and improve urban air quality.
A in Kenya, has helped farmers by up to 40%, showcasing the vital role of temperature-controlled storage in improving food security.
honors young environmental innovators globally, supported by Chris Kemper and Planet A since 2024.
Car exhaust. Factory smoke. Wildfire haze. Chances are, no matter where on Earth you live, you’re exposed to some form of air pollution almost every day. Air pollution remains a widespread and critical public health concern, responsible for an estimated 8.1 million premature deaths in 2021. The recent International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies emphasized solutions, focusing on the theme "Racing for Air," which highlights the urgent need to combat this global emergency. Sports associations are increasingly supporting clean air initiatives. Steven Stone, Deputy Director of UNEP, stated that just as athletes need clean air to thrive, so does everyone else, as it supports healthy individuals, resilient communities, and a healthier planet.
There are over across the globe, but many are undergoing dramatic changes. Climate change, pollution, and excessive water use are causing lakes to shrink, overflow, or even . According to Dianna Kopansky of the UN Environment Programme (), some of the world’s most iconic lakes have deteriorated significantly in recent decades. She warns that reversing this trend is essential, as countless people depend on lakes for their survival. In honor of the first World Lake Day, here’s a closer look at the biggest threats to the world’s lakes – and what can be done about them.
The global textile sector is massive, but so is its environmental impact. The current "take, make, and dispose" model needs a revolution. InTex, a programme by the and funded by the European Commission and Denmark, is working to transform the industry into a sustainable, circular model through better data. By shifting to circular business models, and reducing carbon footprints across Africa and Asia, it has the potential to generate $700 billion by 2030. Find out more at .
Fifty years after Jaws, UN Ocean Patron Lewis Pugh is swimming 96km around Martha’s Vineyard to shift perceptions and highlight the real threat sharks face, mass killing by humans, not the other way around.
From AI to ecosystems, intelligence surrounds us but solving plastic pollution requires action, not just innovation, as we observe .