Stockholm+50 Weaving Global Environmental Governance
The Stockholm Conference in 1972 created the framework that still guides how countries negotiate environmental deals. How do we fulfill its vision?
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 71 - 80 of 407 results
GEO Virtual Symposium 2022
Under the theme “Global Action for Local Impact,” the GEO Virtual Symposium 2022 explored how the portfolio of Group on Earth Observations (GEO) products and services can provide insights and evidence for policy development and decision making.
Moving Beyond GDP: The Case for Wealth as a Core Measure of National Progress
Despite its frequent use as the main measure of progress, GDP fails to account for health, happiness, inequality, and environmental sustainability. An expert panel explored how a focus on wealth could inform policymaking in Africa—and how to make the shift.
56th Session of the IPCC (IPCC-56) and 14th Session of Working Group III (WGIII-14)
With greenhouse gas emissions at their highest ever and rising, delegates and authors worked overtime to finalize the Summary for Policymakers, which presents the key findings of their report, “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change.”
UNEA's Role as a Governance Architect
Once called “the world’s parliament on the environment,” the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) has a unique role in global environmental governance. It is high-level and universal—the only forum for stakeholders from all countries to discuss the environmental challenges we face.
Big Data for the Planet Breakfast and Ministerial Dialogue: The Next 50 Years
The event formally launched the Data for the Environment Alliance, which promotes cooperation and synergies on environmental data and solutions between state and non-state actors.
UNEA Flagship Side Events
During the resumed Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), side events focused on “Strengthening actions for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Scientific Symposium: From Arctic to Antarctic
"The polar regions give us our last chance for a sustainable future; if we fail there, we fail elsewhere" The Symposium enabled discussions on how polar changes affect the global climate, societies and economies, and the next steps.
2nd UNEA Cities and Regions Summit
Participants from around the world gathered for the Summit to exchange experiences, which showcase the multiple benefits of nature for cities for tackling the triple planetary crisis. They also focused on key levers to accelerate implementation, ranging from local to global actions, and from policy to finance measures.
55th Session of the IPCC (IPCC-55) and 12th Session of Working Group II (WGII-12)
As a summary of impacts across both human and natural systems, the latest IPCC report, “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability,” recounts widespread losses and damages to nature and people.