Yemen's West Coast faces a severe water crisis, worsened by conflict and climate change, with International Organization for Migration providing vital relief.
Climate Change
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
In Yemen’s West Coast, families like Ali and Ibrahim’s face ongoing threats from conflict and flooding, relying on International Organization for Migration’s support for immediate relief and long-term resilience.
A recent reveals that 2023 marked the driest year for global rivers in over three decades, impacting water availability significantly
Climate change affects people differently, with the poorest and most vulnerable bearing the brunt. Developing countries suffered economic loss and damage of US$425 billion in 2020 due to climate change. One of the best ways to address loss and damage linked to climate change is to make funding available directly to local communities, Indigenous peoples, and civil society organizations so that they can design, implement, and deliver their innovative solutions that are culturally appropriate and context-specific. The Global Environment Facility implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (), provides support to local organizations to tackle environmental issues like climate change.
World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week would be held each year from October 4-10. For the year 2024, the chosen theme is “Space and Climate Change.” This theme emphasizes the critical role of space exploration and technology in understanding and addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
Two months after Hurricane Beryl, one of the most destructive storms in recent memory, residents of the Caribbean’s once-idyllic Grenadines Islands are still battling to rebuild their lives and livelihood. With winds up to 240 km/h, Beryl devastated essential infrastructure and dwellings in many of these little island towns, displacing thousands. Amid the aftermath, stories of strength and resilience emerge from the rubble. As families continue to pick up the pieces, the International Organization for Migration () is working with the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as national and international partners to provide emergency relief.
There is a global call for more climate finance to support Low and Middle-Income Countries and fund adaptation. However, roughly $4.8 trillion has been channeled into climate action, with .
Sea-level rise is one of the most significant impacts of climate change, with rates doubling over the past 30 years and expected to rise 15-30 cm by 2050. Extreme sea-level events, once rare, could happen annually by the end of the century. This problem will affect a billion people in low-lying coastal zones. The High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise (25 September), the first of the General Assembly on this issue, will focus on building understanding, political leadership, and international cooperation to promote solutions for vulnerable states and communities. !
Extreme heat affecting the health of 70% of the global workforce. Shifting weather patterns damaging our harvests. Rising sea levels increasing the chances of catastrophic floods. The impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Since the 1800s, , primarily through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly. We are at a defining moment to change the path of humanity.
Climate change impacts are becoming more severe, with increasing droughts, floods, and extreme heat. We have a crucial two-year window to influence countries' third generation of and keep global warming below 1.5°C.