In Kabo village, men play a game with beans. The beans represent wild animals, the bag is the forest, and the players are hunters. Once the bag is empty, they all lose. This game is designed to show the consequences of unsustainable hunting on future generations' food and incomes. The Bantu and Baaka Indigenous Peoples groups in the Congo rely on wild meat as their main source of protein and income. However, overhunting, deforestation, pollution, diseases, and climate change have reduced the population of wild animals in the Congo Basin. The Programme, coordinated by the (FAO) and three other organizations, works to restore the balance between food security and wildlife conservation.
The , co-organised by France and the United Nations Environment Programme (), with the support of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, is taking place on 7-8 March 2024 in Paris. The Forum aims to gather for the first time ministers and high-level representatives of key organizations, to initiate a new impetus in international collaboration after . Governments will endorse a declaration for global efforts in decarbonization and resilience, building on the success of the launched at COP28 in Dubai.
For generations, Ariel Benitez's ancestors, the Ava Guaranà people, one of the Indigenous Peoples living in eastern Paraguay, have been harvesting the green leaves of the yerba mate tree to make the bitter, caffeinated brew beloved in South America and beyond. With wild yerba mate trees increasingly scarce due to climate change, this community, with ’s assistance, is planting new trees to support the environment and their livelihoods. They've planted more than 1,500 of them in combination with several other species of native trees, which are important for both the local ecosystem and as traditional sources of food and medicines.
The will take place from 21 to 23 February 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. It will bring together the 86 State Partners and 83 Non-State Partners to discuss the latest science and policy, share best practices, and develop a shared agenda in key emitting sectors like agriculture, waste, fossil fuels, household energy, heavy-duty vehicles and engines, and cooling. Over the next five years the world must make significant progress to slow the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, and address the poverty and inequality that threatens the most vulnerable.
Kenyan pastrolists in Tana river County in the coastal region, are facing challenges adapting to changing weather and are moving away from their communities to survive.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, along with Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria, is among the countries that face the biggest emergencies when it comes to food according to the World Food Programme (). Decades of conflict and climate change have reduced people's access to basic foods, leading to unprecedented levels of hunger. Despite the growing humanitarian needs and the global funding crisis that the WFP is trying to manage, the tragic situation in the eastern part of DRC still receives very little attention. As the African Cup of Nations attracts all the attention, it's important to reflect on what could be possible for the children of DRC, and more broadly, the children across the Continent.
Think of tomorrow, act today. Climate change is not a problem that can be addressed by one individual or nation, it can be solved if we all work together.
Clean energy is crucial for the dual challenge of inclusivity and environmental protection. With 675 million people lacking electricity, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, access to clean energy is vital for socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. It is also essential for combating climate change, by shifting away from fossil fuels. Renewable sources like sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth – are replenished by nature and emit little to no pollutants into the air. Also, improving energy efficiency ensures cost savings and universal access to sustainable energy.
Biodiversity is key to human well-being, a healthy planet, and economic prosperity for all people. However, the diversity of species and ecosystems is declining faster than at any time in human history due to changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and invasion of alien species. The (2022) set out a plan to transform our societies’ relationship with biodiversity. The (23-25 January) aims to strengthen cooperation for an effective and efficient implementation of the Framework.
is a journey that is committed not only to ensuring long-term sustainability of all fisheries but also to integrating them into resilient, sustainable, and equitable aquatic food systems.
The project has effectively reduced greenhouse gas emissions and promoted green technologies in 55 factories and SMEs, leading to a boost in productivity.
The climate crisis is causing a vicious circle of vulnerability that makes it harder for affected communities to recover, with women, children, older people and people with disabilities experiencing disproportionate impacts. As participants at this December discussed ways to accelerate action on mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, and climate finance, we look at how climate change is affecting Eastern and Southern Africa. A third of countries vulnerable to climate change are in Eastern and Southern Africa. The region’s worst drought in recent history left 32 million people facing severe food insecurity. Rising temperatures are linked to deadlier natural disasters and diseases. Shifting weather patterns impact conflict and more.
The Earth is now . The harmful impacts of climate change have already become a harsh reality, but climate change does not affect everyone in the same way. The differential impacts undermine development efforts and most severely affect the poorest and most vulnerable, who often rely directly on natural resources for their livelihoods and subsistence. There is an urgent need to address the challenges. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (), implemented by , has over three decades of experience in providing financial and technical support to civil society and community-based organizations at the local level to tackle global environmental issues while improving livelihoods.
2023 has shattered climate records, accompanied by extreme weather which has left a trail of devastation and despair, confirms.
In Kyrgyzstan's Tien-Shan mountains, locals work as community rangers to protect the Baiboosun Nature Reserve. This micro-reserve conserves local flora and fauna, including the elusive snow leopard and ibex populations. Since its establishment, sustainable tourism and green businesses have emerged, offering economic opportunities to the community such as running guest houses, producing cheese and crafting felt souvenirs. The Baiboosun Nature Reserve is part of a multi-country initiative to restore ecosystems in mountain regions, coordinated by the (UNEP), the (FAO), and the Carpathian Convention.