promotes conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems including wetlands, because they contribute to food security and a transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life, leaving no one behind. Our diverse and extraordinary wetlands provide many benefits to both nature and communities.
Natural Resources and the Environment
The excessive release of nutrients like phosphorus from sources such as synthetic fertilizers, has plagued Florida's beaches, underscoring the urgent need for global cooperation to reduce nutrient pollution.
Ilaria is a single mother who lives with her four children and mother in a remote part of the Mbya Guarani indigenous territory in Santa Teresita, Paraguay. She faces the harsh realities of living in a community that is affected by deforestation and climate change, which forces her and other resilient women to leave their communities periodically to feed their families. The story of the Mbya Guarani community of Santa Teresita is similar to many other indigenous communities in South America who are struggling to protect their ancestral cultures and resilience in the face of deforestation and climate change. These communities need support, protection, and the international community's commitment to finding more solutions that allow people to remain in their communities despite their changing environment.
The year 2024 will be marked by a number of events and observances with important implications for the environment, biodiversity, and global sustainability. From advancing sustainable nitrogen management to fostering inclusive collaboration for biodiversity and addressing critical threats like antimicrobial resistance, the 缅北禁地Environment Programme () will work to support multilateralism, science-based dialogue and actions, innovation, partnerships for people and planet and much more. See some planned.
The (COP28) concluded with an agreement that sets the stage for a 鈥渟wift, just and equitable鈥 transition away from fossil fuels and towards deep cuts in emissions and increased financing. The conference also established a 'global stocktake' to track climate action before the end of the decade and keep the global temperature limit of 1.5掳C within reach. The stocktake recognizes the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030 and calls for a tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. Parties are encouraged to set ambitious emission reduction targets in their next round of climate action plans (known as nationally determined contributions) by 2025.
Camelids are key to the livelihoods of millions of households across over 90 countries. From alpacas to Bactrian camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, and vicu帽as, they are a source of meat, milk, fiber, fertilizer, and transportation in hostile environments like deserts and highlands where other livestock species cannot survive. The aims to build awareness of the untapped potential of camelids in building resilience to climate change and to advocate for greater investment in the camelid sector.
Rural-urban migration in response to environmental degradation and natural hazards is rising at an alarming rate as families seek employment in urban areas.
Mountains are natural treasures that we must cherish. They are home to 15% of the world麓s population, host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots, and provide fresh water to half of humanity. Unfortunately, they are threatened by climate change, contamination, and overexploitation. International Mountain Day 2023 (13 December), under the title 鈥溾, aims to raise awareness about the relevance of mountain ecosystems and calls for solutions and investments that increase the ability of mountains to adapt to daily threats and extreme climatic events.
Our planet鈥檚 survival depends on the delicate balance between soil and water, a precious link that generates over 95% of our food. However, climate change and human activity are degrading soils and straining water resources. World Soil Day 2023 (5 December), led by , defends the need for sustainable practices to combat soil erosion and pollution, enhance soil health, and aid water storage. Achieving those needs would be crucial to create sustainable food systems, and even mitigate climate change. Join , and use its to spread the message.
The Montes del Aguacate Biological Corridor is located in the western part of Costa Rica's Central Valley. It serves as a link between Protected Wildlife Areas and Protected Zones, promoting biological connectivity. The area is home to several rural communities with scarce job opportunities and low human development. However, the inspiring story of Mar铆a Olivia Rodr铆guez Vasquez and Jes煤s Mar铆a Molina Salas shows that this doesn't have to be the case. Over 30 years ago, they started farming livestock on a 20-hectare land, and with the support of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, they have been able to make a living out of it.
has released its which provides an essential toolbox of approaches for strengthening the implementation and enforcement of environmental law.
G枚kova Bay, a sparkling blue body of water on the Mediterranean coast off T眉rkiye, is one of the world鈥檚 biodiversity hotspots and one of the most successful marine ecosystem conservation initiatives. This is in large part thanks to Zafer Kizilkaya and the efforts of his organization, , a . At its outset, the organization focused primarily on the creation of marine protected areas, which allowed fishing but limited development, and included no-take zones, which forbid all fishing and were critical to fully restoring marine ecosystem functions after years of overfishing. The organization still maintains the highest level of respect and reverence for the small-scale fishermen who have accumulated generations of knowledge about local fishing conditions of this Mediterranean spot.
The sea urchin is considered a culinary delicacy in many countries and faces the threat of overfishing in some areas. However, while some sites are lacking in the species, other areas are experiencing excessive sea urchin populations that can lead to the depletion of algae and other marine vegetation, so-called sea urchin barrens. These two contrasting situations call for individualized solutions. is countries and farmers tackle these two issues by creating specific guidelines for restorative aquaculture and helping with the removal of urchins and their sale in culinary markets, helping to restore algae populations while enhancing the value of these species.
A healthy environment is a basic human right, , the 13-year-old Colombian Climate Human Rights defender.
Despite its widespread use, mercury has been known for centuries to be toxic. Adopted in 2013, the aims at stepping up action on mercury pollution to help attain a pollution-free planet.