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Global Issues:
Climate Change

Climate change affects people differently, with the poorest and most vulnerable bearing the brunt. Developing countries suffered economic loss and damage of US$425 billion in 2020 due to climate change.  One of the best ways to address loss and damage linked to climate change is to make funding available directly to local communities, Indigenous peoples, and civil society organizations so that they can design, implement, and deliver their innovative solutions that are culturally appropriate and context-specific. The Global Environment Facility implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (), provides support to local organizations to tackle environmental issues like climate change.

World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week would be held each year from October 4-10. For the year 2024, the chosen theme is “Space and Climate Change.” This theme emphasizes the critical role of space exploration and technology in understanding and addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

Two months after Hurricane Beryl, one of the most destructive storms in recent memory, residents of the Caribbean’s once-idyllic Grenadines Islands are still battling to rebuild their lives and livelihood. With winds up to 240 km/h, Beryl devastated essential infrastructure and dwellings in many of these little island towns, displacing thousands. Amid the aftermath, stories of strength and resilience emerge from the rubble. As families continue to pick up the pieces, the International Organization for Migration () is working with the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as national and international partners to provide emergency relief.

There is a global call for more climate finance to support Low and Middle-Income Countries and fund adaptation. However, roughly $4.8 trillion has been channeled into climate action, with .

Sea-level rise is one of the most significant impacts of climate change, with rates doubling over the past 30 years and expected to rise 15-30 cm by 2050. Extreme sea-level events, once rare, could happen annually by the end of the century. This problem will affect a billion people in low-lying coastal zones. The High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise (25 September), the first of the General Assembly on this issue, will focus on building understanding, political leadership, and international cooperation to promote solutions for vulnerable states and communities. !

Extreme heat affecting the health of 70% of the global workforce. Shifting weather patterns damaging our harvests. Rising sea levels increasing the chances of catastrophic floods. The impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Since the 1800s, , primarily through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly. We are at a defining moment to change the path of humanity.

Climate change impacts are becoming more severe, with increasing droughts, floods, and extreme heat. We have a crucial two-year window to influence countries' third generation of and keep global warming below 1.5°C.

teams in the Caribbean are assessing the devastating aftermath of , providing crucial humanitarian aid to communities severely impacted by the storm's destructive force.

How much do you know about degraded land, deserts and droughts?

Small-scale farmers in Southern Madagascar find themselves on the front lines of climate change, facing increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and environmental degradation. Erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts have become common, severely affecting agricultural productivity and food security.

Healthy land provides most of our food, clothing, shelter, jobs, and livelihoods, and protects us from worsening droughts, floods, and wildfires. Yet desertification, land degradation, and drought are among the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with up to 40% of the world’s land already considered degraded. The theme of this year’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (17 June), “United for Land. Our Legacy. Our Future,” spotlights the future of land stewardship — our most precious resource to ensure the stability and prosperity of billions of people worldwide.

In her coastal home in Mokha, Zahara is busy cooking and caring for her husband, who is in frail health, and her extended family. Zahara's family, along with three other households, is a close-knit community united by family ties and mutual support. Over a year ago, the International Organization for Migration () provided them with a new transitional shelter that provides physical protection, security, and privacy. With their new shelter, they have found a haven from Mokha's strong winds and torrential floods, as well as the privacy they have longed for amid the bustling life of communal living.

"" highlights ILO's efforts to protect Mexican greenhouse workers from climate-induced excessive heat.

Food systems are collapsing due to climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem destruction, but by empowering rural communities to lead sustainable management practices, we can restore ecosystems and ensure food security.