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Climate Change
The planet’s fever shows no sign of breaking. The past 12 years are the warmest on record, and a powerful El Niño threatens to drive more heat and extreme weather into 2027. The World Meteorological Organization’s reports record rising sea levels, accelerating heat accumulation and continued glacier loss. Global temperatures averaged about 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels from January to September. Faster emissions cuts, stronger early warnings and protection for vulnerable communities are urgently needed.
The tracks changes in Earth’s climate, promotes sustained observations and provides reliable data to support research and adaptation. At , countries are calling for urgent action to protect these essential observing systems amid funding shortfalls, declining measurements and persistent geographical gaps.
As droughts, floods and conflict threaten women’s health in Somalia, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵFPA is strengthening climate-resilient healthcare facilities and delivering essential maternal and protection services.
The 31st Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, 9–20 November, comes at a critical moment for climate action. With global temperatures rising, every fraction of a degree matters. COP31 brings together leaders to accelerate efforts under the Paris Agreement, advance the transition away from fossil fuels, strengthen resilience to climate impacts, and mobilize the finance needed for mitigation and adaptation. At a time of deep geopolitical divisions, COP31 is an opportunity to demonstrate how international cooperation can deliver a credible response to the climate crisis.
What if the strongest defence against climate change came from the communities facing it? Across Asia and the Pacific, local people are combining traditional knowledge with innovative solutions to protect their homes, livelihoods and ecosystems. In Tonga, villagers are planting trees to shield coastlines; in Viet Nam, salt farmers are preserving their heritage while boosting incomes; and in Malaysia, Indigenous communities are restoring forests and farmland. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDP), these initiatives show how local action can build resilience and inspire global change.
Climate change may accelerate antimicrobial resistance by helping drug-resistant microbes emerge, spread and multiply, increasing global health risks and threatening effective infection treatments.
As the world heads towards exceeding 1.5°C of warming, adaptation efforts are not keeping pace with accelerating climate impacts, leaving vulnerable communities exposed to climate risks. The found that developing countries will need an estimated US$305 billion annually by 2035 for climate resilience measures, while international public adaptation finance reached just US$28.2–31.7 billion in 2024. Ahead of COP31, the report underscores the urgent need to scale up finance for climate adaptation, strengthen institutions and speed up action to build resilience and protect communities.
From flooded fields to drought-stricken farms, climate change is reshaping how we grow food, while Viet Nam and Sri Lanka show how to protect harvests and cut emissions.
The — the premier global gathering on extreme heat — brings together leaders and practitioners from across sectors to accelerate action on one of the defining challenges of our time and its impacts on health, the environment, and livelihoods. From 6-9 October 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand, the Forum will turn evidence into implementation by sharing solutions and prioritizing investment in heat resilience. The key output will be a Roadmap for investment and action on extreme heat, anchored in the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat.
Global temperatures are projected to exceed 1.5°C, increasing the risks of extreme weather, melting glaciers, and widening climate inequalities. Timed with the 2026 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Climate Summit, this explainer explores climate overshoot, climate justice, and the actions needed to accelerate a fair global transition.
The past 11 years have been the hottest on record, a clear warning that climate change is no longer a distant threat. While there is still hope, urgent action is needed to accelerate progress. What is driving this crisis? Why do greenhouse gases and fossil fuels matter? What does the 1.5°C limit mean for our future? What are the consequences of inaction? And what can we do, both individually and collectively, to make a difference? Explore these questions in our Climate Change global issue, learn more on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Climate Action website, and create your own plan for action through the ActNow campaign.
The planet is sending signals we cannot ignore as emissions and intensify extreme heat, threatening lives worldwide.
Across East Africa, climate change is driving displacement and disrupting livelihoods, from rising waters along Burundi’s Lake Tanganyika to recurrent flooding in Kenya’s informal settlements. As communities face growing climate pressures, young leaders are developing practical solutions to build resilience. In Burundi, supports flood-displaced families through reforestation, livestock distribution, and livelihood restoration. In Kenya, combines climate action with community development through improved waste management, environmental practices, and financial literacy. Supported by an climate mobility programme and grants, these youth-led initiatives demonstrate how local action can help communities adapt, recover, and thrive. Their work highlights the vital role of young people in addressing climate-driven displacement and building a more resilient future.
Heat swept across Europe in 2025 like never before, reaching from sun‑baked southern coasts to places near the Arctic Circle that rarely see such extremes, warns a new by the World Meteorological Organization. About 95% of Europe was warmer than normal. Long heatwaves hit even Arctic areas, with temperatures above 30°C. Seas were the warmest ever, and many wildfires burned a record area. Glaciers across Europe kept shrinking, snow cover fell well below average, and major ice loss was seen in Iceland and Greenland. Many rivers had low water for most of the year. The report warns these changes are harming people and nature and shows Europe is warming faster than any other continent.