Football teaches us that the greatest matches are played as a team. And the future is, too.
Climate
The limbo reimagined asks: How low can we go? How low can we keep global warming to safeguard our planet for future generations? In partnership with@alok, the track Deep Down asks us to get moving, to get real, to stand up.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) forecasts an 80% chance of El Niño developing between June and August 2026, with a more than 90% likelihood of persisting until at least November. Most climate models indicate a moderate to potentially strong event. Rising sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, supported by unusually warm subsurface waters and atmospheric indicators, confirm the developing conditions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that El Niño could intensify the impacts of climate change and called for urgent climate action and support for vulnerable communities. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized preparedness, noting increased risks of droughts, heavy rainfall and heatwaves. WMO will continue monitoring conditions and issuing early warnings globally.
A new UN report argues that cutting emissions from buildings and construction is not only essential for tackling climate change, but could also reduce energy costs, improve living conditions, and make housing more affordable worldwide. The report warns that decarbonising buildings and construction is progressing too slowly, despite the sector generating 37% of global emissions and nearly half of all material extraction. While buildings are becoming more energy efficient, rising construction activity and continued fossil fuel dependence threaten climate goals. The report calls for stronger policies, investment, and low-carbon construction to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Heat was once routine for Sary Kea, a rice farmer in Cambodia, until extreme temperatures began ruining her crops. Repeated plantings failed as rains never came, draining her income and heightening anxiety about each season. Her story reflects a growing global crisis. A new analysis shows how extreme heat, combined with shifting rain and drought, damages crops, livestock and livelihoods. The effects are personal: lower yields, unsafe working conditions and food loss. Solutions that reach farmers in time — early warnings, heat‑tolerant crops, cooling storage and basic worker protections — are turning heat from a sudden disaster into a risk farmers can plan around, helping families like Sary Kea’s stay safe and afloat.
In Kyrgyzstan’s rugged Batken Province, 70-year-old farmer Urinisa Tillabaeva is proving that tough land can still grow bright futures. With a new greenhouse, drip irrigation, and hands-on training, she no longer waits out the long winter months—she harvests beyond the traditional season, boosting yields and turning tomatoes into steady income for her family. As a leader in a local women’s farming group, Urinisa Tillabaevais helping her community trade uncertainty for resilience—growing more and wasting less. She is among 4,500 farmers participating in a new World Food Programme (WFP) project aimed at boosting incomes and diets and adapting to deepening weather extremes in one of Central Asia’s most climate-vulnerable countries.
In 2025, the UN climate conference closed with an agreement to strengthen support for developing countries. The outcome includes stronger commitments on adaptation support and climate finance, alongside equity-based and just transition mechanisms. Grounded in science and solidarity, it advances practical solutions while amplifying the voices of affected communities. Learn how collective action can deliver real climate change and watch our video Voices from the Amazon Forest.
For the Seychelles, a small island developing state in the middle of the ocean, land is limited, and 200 years of human settlement has already seen significant impacts on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. On the main island of Mahé, where 86% of the population live, land is being actively developed for tourism, agriculture, housing, and other human needs. The impacts of these demands can be seen and felt where today less than 5% of the original native forest remains intact. To reverse this damage and restore degraded land, the project ‘Ridge to Reef’, is working to improve tree cover and restore soil. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Seychelles Government in partnership with UNDP, the 'Ridge to Reef' approach focuses on the connection between land and sea to address environmental degradation. Nelson Renaud, chairman of the Local Food Producers Association, says "By taking care of the land, we can grow food that will take care of our community."
The world is heating. Inequalities are deepening. And yet, across continents, young people are stepping into the cracks of broken systems and reimagining what’s possible. While the world works to respond to the climate crisis, youth from around the world are showing what happens when youth are not just invited to the table but trusted to lead. This article introduces five of these young leaders: Sundus from Pakistan (seen here with her team that brings damaged reefs back to life), Elvis from Liberia, Luís from Bolivia, Pablo from Colombia, Specioza from Uganda. All of them, with support of Youth4Climate, are building new systems of food, energy, mobility and education, from the ground up. Their projects are different, but their experiences and drive are shared. What they show us is clear: when young people are trusted and supported with the right resources, they can drive meaningful and lasting change.
UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2025 finds that within the next decade, global temperatures will likely exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Forty years ago, nations adopted the Vienna Convention to safeguard the ozone layer, which shields life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. This landmark agreement laid the foundation for global efforts to protect both people and the planet. Building on it, the Montreal Protocol successfully phased out ozone-depleting substances, and the Kigali Amendment now targets greenhouse gases. On the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (16 September), these treaties together demonstrate how science can drive global cooperation for a safer, healthier future.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has established a new world record for the longest lightning flash – an incredible 829 km (515 miles) in a notorious storm hotspot in the United States of America.
Many disasters, whether man-made or weather-related, are unpredictable. Nevertheless, a growing number of disasters can now be predicted thanks to continuously improving early warning systems. Action before disasters strike can help limit the devastating impact that these have on people and communities everywhere. As extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and humanitarian needs are soaring, it is more crucial than ever to ensure that each dollar goes further. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) promotes anticipatory action to help people in vulnerable situations stay steps ahead and weather the storm.
Performance-based climate finance ties the flow of financial resources directly to the achievement of specific, measurable and independently verified climate results. This clear connection between funding and outcomes increases transparency, which in turn builds trust among all stakeholders involved – from governments and donors to frontline communities working on climate action. Performance-based climate finance also sparks innovation. Since finance depends on the achievement of results, implementers are keen to find the most effective and efficient ways to deliver impact. UNDP is a key enabler of performance-based climate finance worldwide, with extensive experience on climate mitigation.
In the vibrant community of Medina Gounass, Senegal, Modou Fall, also known as the Plastic Man, is dedicated to advocating for a cleaner planet. He raises awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and educates children on the urgent need for sustainable action to protect the environment.