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“Go vote” is the resounding message that 20-year-old climate activist Sophia Kianni wants everyone to hear, because the only way to effect real change to slow global warming, is through better public policy, she says. 

One of seven activists who make up the Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, the young American bemoaned the failure of the US Congress to pass ‘Build Back Better’ legislation, to tackle the climate emergency. 

If people want to be engaged, they need to be involved in their political processes, Liz Scaffidi, but she began by explaining how she took up the mantle of climate activist. 

Audio Duration: 3'42"

Photo Credit: UN News/Elizabeth Scaffidi

Globally, $460 billion of value is lost each year by discarding clothes that could still be worn. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is implementing a three-year project funded by the European Union (EU) to develop innovative business practices and economic models in the textile value chain to help reduce environmental impact and improve livelihoods. Africa Collects Textiles is one of the first Kenyan start-ups to participate in the InTex project.

Weather, climate and water extremes are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change.  Impact-based forecasts that inform the public of what the weather will do are vital to save lives and livelihoods. Yet one in three people are still not adequately covered by early warning systems. Greater coordination between hydrometeorological services and disaster management authorities is fundamental. This Day (23 March) spotlights the vital importance of Hydrometeorological and Climate Information for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Bantayan, a small coastal island in central Philippines, is home to approximately 3,000 people – around 80 per cent of them fisherfolk and the rest, farmers. In Bisaya, the local language, bantayan means to look closely. As its name implies, bantayan is a signal for everyone to pay attention. It is a reminder that the realities and consequences of the climate crisis go beyond the discomfort of unpredictable weather. Their voices are the warning the world needs to hear.

The climate crisis is  all over the world. Emission reductions to mitigate the rise in global temperatures are crucial, but we cannot wait for this to happen. Communities on the frontlines of the crisis need urgent support to adapt. And the (WFP) is doing just that! Here are some of the ways WFP is working with some of the most vulnerable communities to adapt to one of the greatest threats humanity has ever faced.

Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and is affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, according to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit. “The G20 must lead the way, or humanity will pay an even more tragic price,” the UN Secretary-General said in his statement on the report. “I know people everywhere are anxious and angry. I am, too. Now is the time to turn rage into action.”

On 28 February, the UN’s  (IPCC) is expected to on the impacts of climate change and why it is imperative that we act now to address the growing risks. The report, which focuses on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, will detail how climate impacts are already affecting every living thing on the planet – humans, animals, plants, entire ecosystems – in every part of the world, and how, without much bolder action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to increasing climate impacts, more lives will be lost and more livelihoods destroyed.

People everywhere are taking steps to be part of the solution to the climate crisis. More than 5 million actions have been logged through the ActNow campaign. Big, bold steps need to be taken by governments and businesses. But the transition to a low-carbon world also requires the participation of citizens – especially in advanced economies. From the electricity we use, to the food we eat and the way we travel, we can make a difference. Check out ten actions that can make an impact. Learn more about ActNow and log your actions through the .

This week launches its Regional Drought Response Plan for the Horn of Africa, calling for US$327 million to respond to the immediate needs of 4.5 million people and help communities become more resilient to extreme climate shocks. The money is for emergency response, with a proportion to continue to build capacities of communities and individuals to meet their own needs.

In this episode of 's , Lis and Marcus find out about some really creative and practical solutions to the climate threats faced by coastal communities and people living on low-lying small islands. Eritai Kateibwi, from the Te Maeu Project, talks about introducing hydroponics to Kiribati so his community can grow food without monthly ‘king’ tides washing away their crops. And world-renowned Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, who specialises in climate-resilient architecture, talks about floating cities and building flood barriers that double as parks, skateboard ramps, and bike storage - drawing on a concept known as ‘hedonistic sustainability.’

Although average global temperatures were temporarily cooled by the 2020-2022 La Niña events, 2021 was still one of the seven warmest years on record, according to six leading international datasets consolidated by the .  Global warming and other long-term climate change trends are expected to continue as a result of record levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The average global temperature in 2021 was about 1.11°C above the pre-industrial (1850-1900) levels. 2021 is the 7th consecutive year global temperature has been over 1°C above pre-industrial levels.

Creative Development with IFC - S1E2

Makhtar Diop about how music can help raise awareness of a changing climate, give voice to the issues that matter to people, and bring people together to make change happen. He also discusses his efforts to combat desertification in the Sahel and to raise awareness for gender equality.

Photo Credit: IFC

The (WFP) is working on a sand dune-fixing project. Since 2017, WFP has helped fix 36,200 hectares of sand dunes in southern Madagascar. This involves planting three kinds of flora whose roots sink into the sand and stop dunes from moving. But sand and wind movements are not the only symptoms of extreme weather, worsened by climate change. The sea is changing and fishing conditions have deteriorated. WFP is considering extending this project to other coastal areas in the country.

We are witnessing the impact of climate change. The consequences of burning fossil fuels and deforestation have altered the global climate and the impact can already be felt. We see hurricanes, heat waves, fires, floods, droughts, and the sea level rising.

A temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk on 20 June 2020 has been recognized as a new Arctic temperature record by the (WMO).