News

Seven countries have joined forces to improve marine governance and conserve the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden's unique marine ecosystems through GEF-funded initiative. Implemented by UNEP and executed by PERSGA, the initiative will help countries advance a sustainable blue economy that benefits both people and nature. 

In the rural community of El Mora in Turrialba, Costa Rica, a long-standing commitment to collective water stewardship has laid the foundation for an innovative transformation. Known for its organised community water system and strong culture of conservation, El Mora is now demonstrating how local leadership can drive regional progress through the UNEP and IADB–led, GEF-funded and Cartagena Convention-executed  CReW+ project.

In the heart of central Mali, the village of Diaborki has long lived with uncertainty, shaped by drought, insecurity and dwindling opportunities. But in 2025, a turning point arrived with the UNEP–led, GEF–funded NB-ITTAS project, which selected the village as a pilot site for sustainable groundwater management. What followed is a powerful example of how access to water can restore stability, dignity and economic hope in communities at the frontline of climate impacts.

The 7th SADC Groundwater Conference, held in Johannesburg from 19–21 November 2025, brought together regional institutions, policymakers, researchers and young professionals to highlight the significant role of groundwater in climate resilience and water security.

The ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) by Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Morocco and Sierra Leone has pushed the total number of supporting countries past the critical threshold of 60, setting in motion the treaty’s entry into force for 17 January 2026. 

The indigenous communities of Yaxley, San Antonio Segundo, and Yodzonot Nuevo share not only the scenic beauty of Mexico's Caribbean coast, its customs, and way of life, but they have also experienced common challenges in water and sanitation. Paradoxically, water surrounds them; their proximity to the ocean and the Sian Ka'an reserve contrasts with the lack of water for everyday use, a common element of daily life.