This was stated by Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), at the launch of the agency’s annual report on February 18. The head of UNEP called for urgent action to combat the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, warning that progress on all fronts remains slow and uneven.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions that make environmental cooperation difficult, she stressed the importance of joining forces to address the challenges. “Environmental multilateralism can be chaotic and difficult. But even in difficult geopolitical times, cooperation across borders and differences is the only way to protect the foundation of humanity’s existence – planet Earth,” Andersen added.
UNEP’s 2024 Emissions Gap Report warns that countries must cut emissions by 42% by 2030 to keep global warming within the 1.5-degree Celsius target agreed in the Paris Agreement. Climate modelling suggests that without drastic action, temperatures could rise by 2.6 to 3.1 degrees Celsius this century, with catastrophic consequences.
UNEP is working with more than 60 low- and middle-income countries to accelerate their transition to electric vehicles, as part of a wider campaign to reduce emissions in the transport sector. Investing in green transport is changing the world for the better.
Plastic pollution, one of the most pressing global environmental threats, is another major focus for the global community. Thus, international efforts continue to agree on a legally binding global treaty in this area. “Countries should aim to agree on a strong instrument to end plastic pollution before the seventh UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in December,” Andersen said.
The UNEP head called for more decisive action, especially as countries prepare for the next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to limit global warming, which they are due to submit at the end of February.
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