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Spotlight on climate action

Credit: UNEP

At a time of profound geopolitical and economic uncertainty—when governments and societies are navigating multiple, overlapping crises—keeping climate action at the top of the global agenda is more important than ever. The world cannot afford further delays or inaction, especially when climate solutions can deliver wider benefits for economies, jobs, public health and resilience.

Climate Live Feed is your daily pulse on climate action—tracking how progress is being made across sectors, finance, technology and resilience. It brings together the latest science, policy developments and practical solutions, from clean energy expansion and climate finance to adaptation efforts and innovation on the ground.

Explore the latest climate news, announcements, reports and events from the United Nations and partners—because when it comes to climate, the heat is on to deliver solutions.

 

1 hour ago

Health gains visibility in national climate plans, but implementation gaps remain

A new report from UNEP CCC finds that countries are increasingly recognising the health impacts of climate change in national climate plans, including National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The report, Loss and Damage Beyond Economics, highlights growing attention to both physical and mental health impacts, as climate-related risks intensify worldwide. However, it finds limited evidence that these risks are being translated into concrete policies, financing mechanisms or implementation pathways.

With an estimated 546,000 heat-related deaths each year and 3.6 billion people living in areas highly vulnerable to climate change, the report calls for stronger integration of health into climate planning, improved data on non-economic losses and damage, and greater investment in implementation.

The findings come as discussions on loss and damage continue at the Bonn Climate Change Conference.

More on this. 

Last updated at
13 Jun 2026 15:21

Zero Waste Forum puts food waste at the centre of climate action

Last week, at the Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul (5–7 June), convened by the Zero Waste Foundation under the leadership of H.E. Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of Turkiye, and the COP31 Climate High-Level Champion, UNEP joined governments, cities and partners to advance zero-waste and circular economy solutions as part of climate action.

A key moment was the Marrakech Partnership Global Climate Action Agenda meeting, co-organized on the margins of the Forum by COP31 Climate High-Level Champion Samed Ağırbaş and COP30 Climate High-Level Champion Dan Ioschpe, bringing together Marrakech Partnership stakeholders to strengthen implementation ahead of COP31.

UNEP spotlighted food waste prevention as a major climate opportunity, sharing COP30's Food Waste Breakthrough and how action by cities and food businesses can cut methane emissions and strengthen food security through food waste prevention.

The Forum also saw two significant announcements. The Zero Waste Foundation launched the Zero Waste Package for Climate Action, a new framework under the Global Climate Action Agenda designed to align and scale existing circular economy and zero-waste initiatives. Meanwhile, COP31 Climate High-Level Champion Samed Ağırbaş introduced the Global Zero Waste Districts initiative, aimed at translating commitments into practical action at the local level.

Together, these developments signal growing momentum to embed zero waste at the heart of climate delivery on the road to COP31.

Read this speech by Inger Andersen - Reducing food waste: a multi-purpose solution for climate and economic health.

Last updated at
12 Jun 2026 15:01

UNEP urges cities to put nature at the heart of climate resilience at Bonn talks

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Nature-based Solutions are critical infrastructure for building climate-resilient cities, UNEP highlighted at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, urging stronger integration ahead of COP31 and the 2028 Global Stocktake.

Speaking at two events, Mirey Atallah, Chief, Adaptation & Resilience Branch stressed that cities home to over half the global population but covering just 3% of land depend heavily on ecosystems beyond their boundaries for water, cooling and food security.

At an ICLEI session on NDC implementation, representing UNEP, Mirey Atallah pointed to evidence that nature-based solutions can lower urban temperatures by up to 4°C and reduce energy demand by up to 30%, while delivering both mitigation and adaptation benefits. She emphasized that cities can only meet climate targets if wider ecosystems are protected and restored, and called for stronger multilevel governance linking national commitments with local action.

Atallah also highlighted UNEP’s Generation Restoration Cities initiative, which has supported projects in 24 cities across 19 countries, trained more than 2,300 practitioners and identified over 196,000 hectares for restoration, helping mobilize funding and double investment.

At EbA Knowledge Day, she urged streamlined climate reporting systems, promoting a “collect once, report many times” approach to align global frameworks.

Last updated at
10 Jun 2026 20:47

COP31: Electrifying the world starts with buildings

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At the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB64), the COP31 Presidency of Türkiye set an ambitious direction: achieving 35% global electrification and reducing building energy intensity by at least 25% by 2035. These targets place buildings at the heart of the clean energy transition, where they truly belong.

According to UNEP's Global Status Report on Buildings and Construction, the sector accounts for a significant share of global emissions—nearly 37%—yet progress remains too slow. Recent data shows operational emissions reached 9.9 GtCO₂ in 2024, highlighting a widening gap toward net-zero goals. Electrifying buildings is one of the most impactful ways to reverse this trend. Technologies like heat pumps, which deliver three to five times more energy than they consume, demonstrate how efficiency and electrification can work together.

Beyond reducing emissions, buildings can actively support energy systems. Grid-interactive buildings, equipped with smart controls, solar panels, and storage, can shift electricity use, reduce peak demand, and enhance resilience. This transforms buildings from energy consumers into valuable grid assets.

However, success depends on stronger policies, updated building codes, and investments—particularly in housing, which represents over 70% of building energy use globally. As COP31 approaches, prioritizing electrified, efficient, and resilient buildings will be essential to delivering meaningful climate action.

More on this. 

Last updated at
10 Jun 2026 16:45

The message from Bonn is clear: the world doesn't need more promises. It needs progress.

Credit: Lara Murillo/UN Climate Change

As governments meet ahead of COP31, new Action Agenda targets, announced yesterday, are helping shift the focus from ambition to implementation: 

  • Increase electrification from just over 20% of final energy demand today to 35% by 2035.

  • Halve the growth of global waste by 2035.

  • Reduce energy consumption intensity in buildings by at least 25% by 2035.

These targets reflect a broader reality highlighted throughout the Bonn Climate Change Conference: the solutions already exist. The challenge now is deploying them at speed and scale.

From accelerating clean energy and modernizing grids, to cutting waste, improving efficiency and building resilience, the path forward is increasingly clear.

The decisive question is no longer what needs to be done. It's how quickly we can do it.

Read more: From promises to progress: why the Bonn conference must push the needle on climate change

Last updated at
10 Jun 2026 16:19

What are standards for a climate-resilient planet?

Credit: GettyImages/UnsplashPro

UNEP participated in the IEC's (International Electrotechnical Commission) Academy webinar of the IEC and the SDGs series exploring how international standards and conformity assessment systems can accelerate progress toward SDG 7 (affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all),  SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

IEC develops standards and conformity assessments to support organizations achieve a minimal impact on the environment and optimal use of resources.

UNEP argued that while the world is still off track on climate goals, there is growing optimism due to rapid progress in clean energy and emerging “positive tipping points” where low‑carbon technologies become cheaper and scale quickly. However, faster and more inclusive action is needed. Standards play a key role by enabling trust, guiding markets, and accelerating the transition, but stronger collaboration, equity, and alignment with long‑term climate goals are essential to speed up system‑wide change. 

To learn more about IEC standards, find the recording of the webinar here.

Last updated at
10 Jun 2026 15:20

From lived experience to implementation: Advancing Nature-based Solutions in SIDS

A powerful keynote by Sarita Meeheelaul of the Ministry of Environment in Mauritius opened yesterday’s #SB64 side event on urban Nature-based Solutions in Small Island Developing States, grounding the discussion in the lived realities of climate change in Mauritius. Her message was clear: the urgency to move from ambition to implementation is immediate and tangible.

Supporting climate resilience with Nature-based Solutions in urbanizing Small Island Developing States, organized by the Republic of Mauritius and University College Dublin with support from UNEP, the event brought together policymakers, researchers, and private sector actors to examine how NbS can address rising risks, including sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and urban climate pressures.

Panelists from GIZ, UNU-EHS, and Air Mauritius highlighted the role of partnerships and financing. Air Mauritius underscored growing private sector engagement, including exploring carbon markets to support climate action and offset emissions.

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All speakers emphasized that NbS offer cost-effective, multi-benefit solutions; integrating them into NDCs and urban planning must accelerate; and innovative, blended finance will be critical to scaling impact.

The event reaffirmed a clear takeaway: nature is central to resilience in SIDS, but success now depends on bridging the gap between commitments and implementation.

Last updated at
09 Jun 2026 17:46

CTCN celebrates 1,000 Members as partnerships drive climate technology action at Bonn Climate Change Conference

Global collaboration took center stage in Bonn, Germany, as the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism convened key stakeholders to accelerate climate technology deployment. During the session, the UNEP-hosted Climate Technology Centre & Network marked a major milestone, reaching its first 1,000 Network members.

This achievement highlights the rapid growth of a diverse, global community working to support climate technology development and transfer. The network now brings together governments, research institutions, private sector actors and international organizations, all contributing expertise and resources to scale solutions where they are most needed.

Discussions at the event emphasized the critical role of partnerships in unlocking finance, overcoming deployment barriers and accelerating innovation. Key themes included industrial decarbonization, adaptation finance and collaboration under the Cement and Concrete Breakthrough Agenda, illustrating the breadth of ongoing climate efforts.

Participants also underscored the importance of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in enhancing climate action outcomes. The #AI4ClimateAction initiative was highlighted as a growing area of focus, with potential to transform data-driven decision-making and implementation.

As climate ambitions intensify, the expanding CTCN network and strengthened partnerships are positioning the Technology Mechanism as a central driver of impactful, scalable climate solutions.

Last updated at
09 Jun 2026 17:42

CTCN joins Digital Public Goods Alliance to advance open climate solutions

Digital

At the UN Climate Change Bonn Conference, the UNEP-hosted Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) announced its official entry into the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA), marking a significant step in advancing open, accessible climate technologies worldwide.

Joining the alliance alongside UNFCCC, the CTCN is reinforcing its commitment to promoting open-source software, open data and responsible artificial intelligence as tools for climate action. The move is expected to strengthen collaboration across digital and climate communities, enabling wider dissemination of solutions that can be adapted and scaled, particularly in developing countries.

Speakers at the event highlighted the growing role of digital public goods in driving innovation, improving transparency, and accelerating the deployment of climate technologies. By aligning with the DPGA, the CTCN aims to bridge gaps between technology development and implementation, ensuring that critical solutions remain accessible and inclusive.

The announcement reflects a broader shift toward leveraging digital ecosystems to support climate goals, with initiatives like #AI4ClimateAction gaining traction. As countries face rising climate challenges, the integration of open digital tools is increasingly seen as essential to delivering effective, scalable and equitable responses.

 

Last updated at
09 Jun 2026 14:28

Electrification takes centre stage as the missing link in the energy transition

A whole‑of‑system approach is needed, aligning electrification with grid expansion, storage, and improved planning. Demand‑side flexibility is a key enabler but remains significantly underutilised. 

Ruth Coutto, Deputy Director, Climate Change Division, UNEP, emphasized that electrification must be measured not just by volume, but by impact. Growth driven primarily by large industrial loads or data centres may not deliver equitable outcomes. Instead, electrification should prioritize:

  • Cooling for vulnerable populations
  • Clean, accessible mobility
  • Reliable energy for households and services
  • Productive uses that strengthen local economies

The discussions at SB64 reinforced UNEP’s core message: the energy transition will not be won on supply alone. Success depends on transforming how energy is used across buildings, transport, industry and cities while ensuring systems are:

  • Integrated, linking demand with clean supply and infrastructure, 
  • Flexible, able to manage peaks and variable renewables, and
  • Affordable and inclusive, delivering real benefits to people.
Last updated at
Topics

Related Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1

Goal 1: No Poverty
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Goal 7

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
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Goal 11

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Goal 12

Goal 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production
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Goal 13

Goal 13: Climate Action
+

Goal 14

Goal 14: Life Below Water
+

Goal 15

Goal 15: Life on Land
+
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