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 31 - 40 of 429 results
Uniting for Climate Action: Calling for International Cooperation on Technology and Innovation Objectives
Technology plays a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change around the world. The UNFCCC's Technology Mechanism accelerates and enhances the development and transfer of climate technologies to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
23rd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP 23)
Delegates praised the Convention as an example of how to translate global commitments into regional action. The week’s highlights included the adoption of the new Programme of Work and Budget 2024-2025, and the Portorož Ministerial Declaration, in which Parties commit to a healthy Mediterranean environment.
Climate Finance: The Role of the Climate Funds in Supporting Developing Countries
The four major climate funds jointly announced their commitment to enhance access to and increase the collective impact of climate finance. At this event, high-level leaders discussed the drive to achieve coherence and complementarity in crucial climate finance processes.
A Just Transition Work Programme with the Trade Unions Delivering Climate Justice
Representatives of trade unions, workers, and youth called for solidarity between climate and labor movements to achieve a just transition and combat the climate crisis. This event stressed basic rights – labor, energy, food, and others – at stake in the push for climate and social justice.
CGIAR at COP 28
At COP 28, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) will address two of humanity’s most urgent challenges—climate change and food security.
FAO at COP 28
FAO’s programme of events at COP 28 includes discussions on the intersection of agriculture and loss and damage, and adaptation solutions for agrifood systems, as well as the climate finance gap these face.
IISD at COP 28
At COP 28, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) will focus its events on National Adaptation Plans (NAPs): how they prepare communities for climate change impacts; the lessons learned in tracking them; how regional governments are making strides; and how to lower the barrier to create effective plans.
UN-SPBF at COP 28
At COP 28, the UN’s fastest growing multi-sector convening platform on the environment will bring together decision makers to focus on technology, partnerships, and integrated solutions for nature.
UN Climate Change Conference - United Arab Emirates Nov/Dec 2023
Parties adopted a decision operationalizing the new loss and damage fund and a number of parties announced pledges for its initial capitalization. But negotiations were difficult on the other central outcomes: the first Global Stocktake, the Global Goal on Adaptation, the mitigation work programme, just transition pathways, and climate finance.
GEO Week 2023
GEO Members adopted the GEO Post-2025 Strategy, which not only supports GEO’s continued leadership in enabling the provision and use of Earth observations but also introduces pathways for GEO to co-produce products and services with users and for users, thereby requiring GEO to adapt its operating model.