Post-election unrest since October has forced thousands of Mozambicans and refugees to flee their homes. Additional displacement and misery have come in the wake of and Cyclone Dikeledi, which have left trails of destruction across the north of the country since December. Repeated climate shocks like these have added to the suffering of vulnerable populations, including people already displaced by the ongoing armed conflict in northern Cabo Delgado Province. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees () describes this triple crisis based on climate change, conflict and political unrest.
Climate Change
As the sun sets over the Caribbean, Union Island's mangrove ecosystems tell a stark story of climate change's impact. Hurricane Beryl, the earliest recorded Category Five hurricane in the Atlantic, has devastated the region, displacing thousands and plunging communities into despair. Union Island, which hosts the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Grenadines, has seen 90 percent of these vital coastal forests damaged. Kristy Shortte has worked tirelessly with Sustainable Grenadines Inc. to restore this habitat, crucial for marine life and as a buffer against storms. The loss of six hectares of mangroves threatens biodiversity, home to over 25 species of birds and rare green turtles. Despite contributing less than one percent to global emissions, Caribbean communities face significant climate disruptions, leading to increased displacement as they seek safer ground.
Glaciers are crucial for regulating the global climate and providing freshwater, essential for billions of people, animals, and plants. However, these vital resources are rapidly melting due to climate change, driven mainly by human activities since the 1800s. The United Nations has designated 2025 as the to highlight the importance of glaciers and ensure that those affected by glacier´s melting receive the support they need. Follow the (21 January, 2pm, CET) and join and to .
The climate crisis is severely impacting Chad, where residents face devastating flooding. "Everything I own is under water," said one displaced individual. Since July 2024, the Chari River has overflowed, affecting all 23 provinces, displacing over 13,000 people. With more than 1 million women and girls in need of sexual and reproductive health services, UNFPA’s response is critical, but due to severe underfunding, many lack access to essential care and protection services amidst the crisis.
“We need a major push to get discussions over the finishing line,” warned UN Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of the culmination of COP29. “The need is urgent. The rewards are great. The time is short”, he added. As the ongoing talks continue through the weekend, two main issues remain at stake: how to finance low-income countries hit hard by global warming and how to curb greenhouse gas emissions that are overheating the atmosphere and causing climate chaos.
Speaking to the press on the final days of the UN climate change conference, COP29, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged negotiators to find a compromise and deliver an ambitious and balanced package on all pending issues, including a new ambitious climate finance goal. “We need a major push to get discussions over the finishing line,” he said. “The need is urgent. The rewards are great. The time is short.”
The new climate finance goal, set to be finalized at , aims to significantly increase funding for developing countries' climate efforts while improving transparency and accessibility.
Rosa Sandoval, a fisherwoman from Lake GĂĽija, adapts to climate change by diversifying income and empowering women for resilience.
As the climate crisis hits every economy harder each year, we need to redouble our focus on climate solutions.
Yemen's West Coast faces a severe water crisis, worsened by conflict and climate change, with International Organization for Migration providing vital relief.
Esneda Saavedra is a member of the Yukpa people, who have lived in the SerranĂa del Perijá mountain range on the Colombia-Venezuela border for centuries. In recent decades, conflicts, forced displacement, resource exploitation, and climate change have threatened their way of life. Born in the Sokorpa reserve, Esneda was influenced by her mother, a traditional authority, and felt compelled to lead from a young age. “I was born to defend our land and people,” she affirms. The Yukpa have faced violence and displacement since colonial times, and when Esneda was eight, her father was murdered by armed groups exploiting their ancestral territory. She has faced threats herself for advocating for her community.
The (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, 11-22 November, is a crucial opportunity to accelerate climate action. With record-high global temperatures and increasing extreme weather, COP29 will unite leaders from government, business, and civil society to drive forward solutions. A key focus will be on climate finance, as trillions of dollars are required to cut emissions and protect communities, as well as the presentation of updated under the Paris Agreement. If done right, these plans will help us achieve a livable planet for all.
Global average temperature rise is approaching 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and the put the world on course for a catastrophic rise of 2.6-3.1°C. As climate impacts hit the world’s poorest hardest, finds that nations must scale-up adaptation, starting with a commitment on finance at this upcoming . Even though finance flows are rising, there is still a huge gap between what is needed and what is being delivered. The report provides a science-based assessment of the global progress on climate adaptation.
When water submerged their village, Mandoko recounts, "We had no choice but to flee. We took refuge in a church on the hill, but we lost all our food stock. Fortunately, we received help from our relatives and community members." Four months later, when the water receded, Mandoko and her family returned home. But what they saw was heartbreaking: mud-covered wooden debris was all that remained of their home. "We’ve lost everything," she lamented. "Now that the floodwaters have receded, we have gradually resumed our agricultural activities to survive.”
Africa’s second-longest river, the Congo River, is a major threat for people in Tshopo Province, which is situated in the heart of the Congo Basin forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). For the past 10 years, the river’s recurrent flooding has destroyed people’s lives and livelihoods. Mandoko Atanga, 39, is just one of those people. Recurring floods have displaced more than 108,000 people in Tshopo and destroyed more than 5,000 hectares of farmland and their harvests, disrupting agricultures and putting people at risk of acute food insecurity. Their story represents how cyclic flooding has affected thousands of households in the region.
Tshopo Province is grappling with multiple crises. Recurrent flooding is destroying crops, making food scarce; land disputes are fuelling intercommunal violence, dividing society. Despite these challenges, local communities are in a constantly changing environment.
“I don't think you can underestimate the capacity of human ingenuity to come up with solutions at a blistering pace.”
Acclaimed actor, filmmaker and three-time Academy Award nominee Edward Norton has long been raising his voice on behalf of the planet and its most vulnerable communities. As a UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity, he is championing the protection of biodiversity for the well-being of all.
“It’s quite heartbreaking. I started diving, when I was 14, in the Caribbean. The change to the reef environments in the Caribbean in my adult lifetime is staggering and really upsetting [...] It looks like a burnt forest or something. It’s just not, it’s not as alive.”
Working closely with communities in East Africa and around the world, Edward is pushing for conservation that also tackles poverty by providing sustainable sources of income for local communities. In this special episode, the Hollywood star reflects on his activist upbringing, his hopes for his children, and on balancing a successful acting career with a rich, varied and meaningful life.
Photo: ©UN Photo/S. Cardi