Dirty air alone is responsible for 6.7 million deaths globally every year, while one study suggests that in 2019 alone 5.5 million people perished from heart disease linked to lead exposure.   

To stem this pollution crisis, countries agreed in 2022 to establish a new body that would provide policymakers with robust, independent information on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention.   

Negotiators are finetuning the details of this new science-policy panel, with the latest round of discussions set for 15-18 June in Uruguay. If agreed upon and established, the panel would complete a trifecta of similar scientific bodies designed to counter climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.  

“What we’ve been missing is a strong and comprehensive science-policy interface to tackle the pollution pillar of the triple planetary crisis,” says Tessa Goverse, a Principal Officer with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)  supporting the intergovernmental working group that is preparing the foundational elements of the panel. “Now the global community is constructively working towards a panel that can deliver policy impacts that save lives and protect the environment for decades to come.”

UNEA resolution 5/18 in 2022 established an ad hoc open-ended working group to prepare proposals for the science-policy panel. Such a science-policy panel could help translate scientific findings into action and work strategically with the Global Framework on Chemicals adopted in 2023 and numerous Multilateral Environmental Agreements.   

Ahead of the Uruguay discussions, here’s a closer look at the science-policy panel and why experts say it could play a major role in reducing pollution.   

What is the aim of the new science-policy panel?   

It seeks to equip policymakers with the best available science and knowledge, enabling them to make well-informed decisions and develop policies to lessen the toll of toxic chemicals, waste and pollution on human health and the environment.   

“There’s a lot of information out there but the landscape is quite fragmented because of a tendency to look at issues chemical by chemical,” said Goverse. “The panel has the potential to look at chemicals, waste and pollution in a more integrated way and offer the knowledge for more holistic solutions.”   

Why is the new panel necessary?  

Chemicals bring many benefits to society. But their unsafe and unsustainable management means hazardous and long-lived chemicals are polluting air, land and water. This threatens human health and ecosystems. For example, pesticides used to kill insect pests leak into rivers and lakes. Discarded medicines end up in wastewater. Contaminated liquids from waste dumps seep into soil.   

Those problems are expected to mount. By 2050, the world’s municipalities are projected to generate nearly 4 billion tonnes of solid waste – a 56 per cent increase from what was generated in 2021, according to UNEP Global Waste Management Outlook. The size of the global chemical industry is also projected to double by 2030.  

“We need urgent action because worldwide the issues are growing and the risks are wide-ranging,” Goverse said.  

What would be the science-policy panel’s key functions?  

The panel is expected to conduct assessments of current issues and identify potential solutions, in particular those relevant to developing countries. It will also identify key gaps in scientific research, support communication between scientists and policymakers, and raise awareness. The panel will also assist information-sharing and build capacity to strengthen the science-policy interface. 

Will the panel be looking for emerging areas of concern?  

Yes, the panel could play a critical role in undertaking “horizon scanning” to identify trends and emerging issues that could be relevant to policy makers in the future.    

“In these fast-changing times, it is imperative to better understand how the chemicals, waste and pollution crisis could evolve,” said Goverse. “To secure a pollution-free world and achieve sustainability while recognizing the differences in contexts, we need to be ahead of the curve.”  

Are any of the emerging types of pollution and waste especially worrying?  

Yes. A 2020 UNEP report highlighted several of them, including endocrine disrupting chemicals, microplastics, persistent pharmaceutical pollutants, including antibiotics that can promote antimicrobial resistance and nanomaterials.   

When will the panel be up and running?  

In 2022, an ad hoc open-ended working group was established to prepare proposals for the panel. The working group aims to complete this task this year and convenes 15-18 June in Punta del Este, Uruguay, back-to-back with an intergovernmental meeting scheduled for 19 and 20 June where countries would consider the panel’s establishment.    

Who will be on the panel?  

The panel will be an independent intergovernmental body which governments will be invited to join. Member governments will make up the panel’s governing body that takes decision and approves its programme of work.   

Who else will be involved in the panel?  

To produce policy-relevant deliverables, the panel will depend on the contributions of thousands of scientists and experts around the world. It will also need to engage with local communities, workers and Indigenous Peoples, since they are often the ones on the receiving end of pollution. Engagement with the private sector is also relevant for addressing the source of pollution and waste, and for coming up with solutions grounded in reality. But careful attention must be paid to potential conflicts of interest.  

How will the science-policy panel contribute to Multilateral Environmental Agreements?   

These accords can both contribute to and benefit from the findings of the panel. They could invite the panel to look into specific scientific and technical matters that require global attention. Examples include the use of chemicals in products and the reduction of the footprint of high-impact sectors. Relevant agreements include the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, which set out measures for handling chemicals and waste, and the Minamata Convention to manage the use of mercury.   

Could the panel help counter the other two prongs of the triple planetary crisis, climate change and nature loss?  

Yes. The sound management of chemicals and waste, and the prevention of pollution can boost the fight against climate change by reducing pollutants that are greenhouse gases. It can also help to achieve the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for a reduction in the negative impacts of pollution on biodiversity and ecosystems. 
 

Many of the discussions will focus on the Congo Basin, which stores more planet-warming carbon than the Amazon but is disappearing. 

The Congo Basin is home to the world’s largest tropical peatlands, along with Brazil and Indonesia. The peat swamp forest of the Congo Basin stores around 29 billion tons of carbon – approximately equivalent to three years’ worth of global greenhouse gas emissions – while the Basin as a whole absorbs nearly 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year . The Basin stretches across six countries- Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

“The Congo Basin is one of the world’s last regions that absorbs more carbon than it emits,” says Doreen Robinson, the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Head of Biodiversity and Land. “We have to find ways to meet critical energy needs for development without sacrificing peatlands and the essential services they provide for people and the economy.”

Peatlands are an effective carbon sink – they absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they produce. Carbon sinks are essential to combating the climate crisis and protecting planetary health. However, peatlands and other carbon sinks are already at risk of collapse due to climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, warns UNEP’s Becoming #GenerationRestoration report. Without the critical services these ecosystems provide, the climate and nature crisis will only worsen.

Peatlands and the climate crisis

The climate crisis causes more frequent extreme weather events that worsen food and water scarcity, hinder global economies, and threaten human well-being. With human-caused greenhouse gas emissions forecast to rise, ensuring urgent cross-sector action and protecting and sustainably managing peatlands is considered crucial.

Peatland ecosystems play a key role in mitigating the climate crisis. They house and protect rare and vital nature and offer resilience through water capture, storage and much more. According to a UNEP report, protecting and restoring the peatlands that are already degraded can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 800 million metric tons per year.

Peatlands cover only 3 per cent of the global land surface but store an estimated 600 billion tons of carbon—twice as much as in all the world’s forests. This makes them one of the most efficient carbon sink ecosystems and underlines the need to protect them, experts say.

Plants absorb carbon during the process of photosynthesis, which they use to convert into wood, leaves and roots. Because peatlands are water-logged, plant matter takes longer to decompose. This traps more carbon and provides a net-cooling effect.

Peatland peril

Several countries have recognized the importance of peatlands and have made commitments to protect the imperiled ecosystems. At the Global Peatlands Initiative meeting held in Brazzaville in 2018, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo and Indonesia signed the Brazzaville Declaration, which promotes better management and conservation of the Cuvette Centrale region in the Congo Basin, one of the world’s largest tropical peatlands.

At the UN Environment Assembly in 2019, Member States played a key role in establishing a resolution that urges them and other stakeholders “to give greater emphasis to the conservation, sustainable management and restoration of peatlands worldwide.”

Despite these agreements, peatlands remain especially vulnerable to human activity.

Approximately 15 per cent of peatlands have been drained for agriculture, while an additional 5–10 per cent are degraded due to vegetation removal or alteration. The draining and burning of peatlands emit approximately 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide through oxidization or fires per year, which amounts to nearly 5 per cent of all human-caused emissions. An annual investment of US$46 billion by 2050 is needed to slash half of these emissions, and experts warn that the bill for saving peatlands will only increase without urgent investment.

Protecting peatlands

Governments must conserve more protected areas and emphasize the importance of peatlands’ ecosystem services. Assigning economic value to peatlands and placing a price on carbon emissions would deter harmful and excessive resource extraction and also provide critical financial resources that can support local communities and sustainable development.

“Peatlands and forests provide numerous ecological, economic and cultural benefits to millions of people,” says Robinson. “The long-term economic costs of ecosystem damage far exceed short-term financial gains from resource exploitation. Countries have recognized the importance of protecting peatlands and must act to meet those commitments.”

Some jurisdictions, like the European Union, are considering imposing restrictions on commodities whose production caused the degradation of carbon sinks. Individuals can also urge governments and businesses to adopt nature-friendly behaviour and policies that promote net-zero emissions.

The Global Peatlands Initiative, led by UNEP, connects experts and institutions to improve the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of peatlands. The UN-REDD Programme, the UN’s flagship partnership on forests and climate, acts as an advisory platform to realize forest solutions to the climate crisis. It plays an important role in managing peatlands in Indonesia, which is home to approximately 22.5 million hectares of the ecosystem.

Preventing resource extraction and increasing the resiliency of peatlands benefits millions of people and enables progress towards reducing the climate crisis.

“There is no possibility of limiting global warming to 2°C or 1.5°C if we don’t conserve existing carbon sinks, such as peatlands, and quickly cut fossil fuel emissions, reaching net-zero by 2050 – but ideally much sooner,” says Mark Radka, Chief of UNEP’s Energy and Climate Branch. “We must also undertake a massive ecosystem restoration effort to reduce carbon emissions from non-fossil sources.”

Contact information: To learn more, please contact Dianna Kopansky, Global Peatlands Coordinator <dianna.kopansky@un.org>.

The partnership between the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), will initially invest $15 million, which will serve as a catalyst to raise additional public and private finance, ultimately targeting a total investment of $30 million in the region. By fostering local entrepreneurship and pioneering blended finance opportunities, Pro-Congo aims to demonstrate that businesses – whose model does not depend on deforestation – can develop, raise capital and sell products to market intermediaries thereby reducing carbon emissions, combatting deforestation, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices in one of the world’s most climate-critical regions. 

The Congo Basin rainforest is one of the world’s largest carbon sinks. It is home to over 75 million people, including Indigenous Peoples whose livelihoods are deeply intertwined with the forest. Despite its importance and the ongoing threat of deforestation and unsustainable land use, this critical ecosystem has not received the same level of attention compared to tropical forests in Southeast Asia or the Amazon basin. The Pro-Congo initiative, which supports four countries in the region – Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo – is designed to contribute to reversing these trends by empowering local entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to lead the transition to a green economy and crowd in third party capital from impact investors and development banks. 

“UNCDF is proud to unlock finance where it is needed most, supporting MSMEs in the Congo Basin to become nature-positive while creating jobs and driving sustainable growth. Our unique capital mandate within the UN development system allows us to address gaps in fragile contexts where traditional financial mechanisms often fall short. Through blended finance solutions we can unlock public and private capital and de-risk investments, while augmenting the development impact of our UN partners like UNEP,” said Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, the Executive Secretary of UNCDF.

UNCDF will support a pipeline of investment-ready enterprises able to absorb blended capital and create long-term value, deploying an initial $6.2 million in concessional finance, including loans and reimbursable grants to MSMEs with the potential to scale, while UNEP will lead on technical assistance, ensuring enterprises adopt robust environmental and social safeguards, providing seed funding, and building investment-ready business models through incubation and acceleration programs. 

“The Congo Basin, with its unique biodiversity and above and below ground carbon stores, is critical to advance on international environmental targets. UNEP is therefore pleased to work with UNCDF and CAFI to support enterprises in the region to ‘decouple’ deforestation from economic activities,” said Rose Mwebaza, Director of UNEP’s Regional Office for Africa.

The Pro-Congo Initiative is supported by a dynamic coalition of CAFI donors – including Germany, Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, the European Union, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom– alongside the six Central African partner countries in the Congo Basin. 

UNCDF and UNEP are working closely with impact investors, development finance institutions, and national stakeholders to build a robust pipeline of investable, inclusive, and sustainable enterprises. By creating a scalable ecosystem for green finance, the initiative will contribute to the foundation for long-term resilience, climate action, and inclusive economic development in the Congo Basin. 

About CAFI 

The Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) was established in 2015 to support transformational reforms and investments that address the direct and underlying causes of deforestation in Central Africa. CAFI is both a high-level policy dialogue platform and a financing mechanism aligned with national climate and development objectives.  

About UNCDF 

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) mobilizes and catalyses an increase in capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States, especially Least Developed Countries, contributing to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity. 

In partnership with UN entities and development partners, UNCDF delivers scalable, blended finance solutions to drive systemic change, pave the way for commercial finance, and contribute to the SDGs. We support market development by enabling entities to access finance in high-risk environments by deploying financial instruments, mechanisms and advisory. 

About UNEP 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the world’s leading authority on the environment. UNEP works globally to address the triple planetary crisis — climate change, nature loss, and pollution — by supporting nations in building low-carbon, nature-positive, and resource-efficient economies.

The Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2024-2025 – Not just another brick in the wall highlights progress made on related global climate goals and calls for greater ambition on six challenges, including building energy codes, renewable energy, and financing. Global frameworks and initiatives such as Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate, the Buildings Breakthrough and the Declaration de Chaillot are sustaining momentum towards adopting ambitious climate action plans, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), for net-zero buildings ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil.

“The buildings where we work, shop and live account for a third of global emissions and a third of global waste,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “The good news is that government actions are working. But we must do more and do it faster. I encourage all countries to include plans to rapidly cut emissions from buildings and construction in their new NDCs.” 

Reviewing the decade since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the report finds 2023 was the first year when continued growth of building construction was decoupled from associated sector greenhouse gas emissions, which have previously plateaued. 

By adopting mandatory building energy codes aligned with net-zero emissions, mandatory performance standards and seizing energy efficiency investments, the sector’s energy intensity has reduced by almost 10% while the renewable energy share in final energy demand has increased by nearly 5%. Additional measures such as circular construction practices, green leases, energy efficient retrofitting of existing buildings, and prioritizing the use of low carbon materials can further reduce energy consumption, enhance waste management and reduce emissions overall.   

Despite this progress, the sector remains a key driver of the climate crisis, consuming 32 per cent of global energy and contributing to 34 per cent of global CO₂ emissions. The sector is dependent on materials like cement and steel that are responsible for 18% of global emissions and are a major source of construction waste. 

Given nearly half of the world’s buildings that will exist by 2050 have not yet been built, the adoption of ambitious energy building codes is critical. However, data points to a recent decline in highly effective measures like heat pump installations and over 50 per cent of newly constructed floorspace in emerging and developing economies is still not covered by building codes.

The report sets out a challenge to major carbon-emitting countries to adopt zero-carbon building energy codes by 2028, to be followed by all other countries no later than 2035. Building codes and integrating building code reform plans in the ongoing submission of NDCs are critical to achieve the COP28 Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge. 

Finally, all governments, financial institutions and businesses need to work together to double global building energy efficiency investment from USD 270 billion to USD 522 billion by 2030. Adoption of Extended Producer Responsibility measures, and circular economy practices – including longer building lifespans, better material efficiency and reuse, recycling, passive design, and waste management – are key to help bridge gaps in financing, while workforce development programmes are essential to fill skill gaps in the sector.

UNEP, GlobalABC members, and other partners will continue to support countries and businesses to decarbonise new and existing buildings and the entire building value chain, including using this data to support ambitious NDCs ahead of COP30.

About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. 

About the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC)

Founded at COP21, hosted by UNEP and with 291 members, including 42 countries, the GlobalABC is the leading global platform for all built environment stakeholders committed to a common vision: A zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector.

As the planet warms, the fallout from climate change – from droughts, to floods, to superstorms – is getting worse. But not everyone has felt the pain equally. This imbalance is tied to longstanding inequalities: women often shoulder more domestic care responsibilities, have less access to resources, such as land or credit, and are underrepresented in decision-making spaces. 

But in recent years women have worked to flip that script, emerging as drivers of community efforts to adapt to climate change. In rural and urban areas women are spearheading initiatives to better manage water, farm more sustainably, and prepare for disasters.  

The growing wave of female-led adaptation demonstrates that climate action can also support gender equality and more secure livelihoods. For International Women’s Day on 8 March, we look at five women leading adaptation efforts in their communities.  

Marine Baponampoze, Rwanda

In Rwanda, extreme floods and droughts are hitting harder than ever. For years, deforestation has made these impacts worse by limiting the land’s ability to absorb water and recharge groundwater supplies. With support from the Rwanda Environment Management Authority, local communities in the Kirehe District came together to launch beekeeping businesses –which are less reliant on rainfall – and conserve forests. Leading the charge is Marine Babonampoze. As a team leader in the local beekeeping cooperative, she shows beekeepers how to use modern equipment to increase production. Having restored over 600 hectares of ecosystems to provide foraging ground for the bees, the project is simultaneously reducing the impacts of flood and drought while increasing honey yields. 

“In general, cooperative members work together and care for one another, and everything becomes better when we unite,” she says

Ahumwire Justine, Uganda 

In southwestern Uganda, banana farmer Ahumwire Justine lost 300 trees and two cows during a devastating hailstorm a few years ago. With no insurance, she faced food shortages, unpaid school fees and an uncertain future. Now, a new digital crop insurance system, introduced by NDC Action Project, offers protection. Farmers use smartphones to document healthy banana plants and submit damage photos after storms, allowing quick assessments by agroeconomists. Justine, a ‘champion farmer,’ shares this tech with fellow smallholders—nearly half of whom are women—boosting resilience and productivity. This innovative approach provides financial security and fosters hope across Uganda’s growing network of banana farmers. Bananas are integral to Uganda’s economy, with 47 per cent of farmers involved in their cultivation in 2019, according to Uganda’s statistics bureau. 

Louise Mabulo, the Philippines 

When Typhoon Nock-ten ripped through the Philippines in 2016, chef Louise Mabulo noticed cacao trees still standing amid the wreckage. It was at that moment that she realized cacao trees were relatively resilient to storms and she launched “The Cacao Project”, training over 200 farmers in agroforestry and planting more than 150,000 trees. By focusing on cacao’s climate resilience and high market value, her initiative combats deforestation, revitalizes farmland and empowers communities to withstand future storms, which are expected to become more common as the climate changes.  Recognized as a Young Champion of the Earth, Mabulo was said to exemplify how women’s leadership can transform adversity into opportunity. 

Anti Rohey Ceesay, the Gambia   

In Gambia, climate change is causing more severe flooding. Fishers in the countryside sometimes lose their lives because they lack reliable forecasts and receive no alerts of when to avoid open water. Anti Rohey Ceesay, a forestry expert from the Central River Region, decided to take matters into her own hands a few years ago. After nine weather stations were built in her district with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Ceesay was able to gather weather alerts and travel via motorbike from village to village sharing vital warnings. In Ceesay’s culture, knowledge is often passed on through song and dance, so she organized ‘climate theatre’ performances in villages to educate her community about climate change and how to adapt. Since Ceesay began providing advanced warnings, the number of deaths from climate impacts has fallen in her community, Ceesay said. 

Vivienne Rakotoarisoa, Madagascar 

On Madagascar’s southeast coast, climate change has led to erratic and unpredictable rainfall. For rice farmer Vivienne Rakotoarisoa, floods and droughts devastated her family’s harvests. Determined to adapt, Rakotoarisoa now cultivates rambo—a drought-resistant reed—and transforms it into hats, mats and baskets. Although the plant is not edible, it’s more resilient than rice and its popularity as a weaving material makes it a valuable crop. With funding from GEF, Rakotoarisoa and hundreds of villagers gained new skills, providing them with alternative, climate-resilient incomes. Weavers would traditionally forage for rambo in the wild, but now they can sustainably farm and sell the reed, which maintains a steady income even if the rice harvests fail. 

Michelle Delgado, Mexico 

With precipitation patterns changing in Xalapa, Mexico, local homemaker Michelle Delgado once believed restoring forests was “for men.” But through a project funded by the GEF and implemented by UNEP, workshops were organized to teach women how to plant and nurture tree species. Alongside other participating women, Delgado reforested the riparian forest of the Arroyo Papas stream, helping protect communities from landslides and floods while building a more sustainable future. Women collect native seeds, germinate them, and distribute trees to households—“one tree for every home”. Now called “guardians of the forest” by their communities, these women’s efforts are dismantling gender stereotypes and empowering them to shape decisions that build resilience and curb climate impacts. 

Read more: www.unep.org

The renewable energy sector is evolving at an incredible pace, fueled by cutting-edge technology, government initiatives, and a global push for sustainability. As of 2025, several transformative trends are shaping how we generate and use clean energy.

1. Unprecedented Growth in Renewable Energy

The world is witnessing a historic shift as renewables take center stage. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable power generation is set to surpass coal this year, becoming the dominant electricity source globally. Solar and wind energy are rapidly overtaking traditional power sources, with nearly 70 countries expected to rely on renewables as their primary energy source by 2028.

2. Stronger Policies Driving Clean Energy Adoption

Governments worldwide are ramping up efforts to accelerate the clean energy transition. During COP28, world leaders pledged to triple global renewable capacity by 2030. In the U.S., the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is unlocking billions in funding, sparking a surge in private investment toward sustainable energy projects. These policies are acting as catalysts, pushing renewables into the mainstream.

3. Breakthrough Innovations Improving Efficiency

New technologies are revolutionizing the way we harness renewable energy. Scientists have developed nano-scale 3D-printed electrodes that improve bioenergy production using cyanobacteria. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are enhancing forecasting models, making it easier to predict energy generation and optimize grid performance.

4. The Rise of Decentralized Energy Systems

Traditional centralized power grids are making way for decentralized networks. Microgrids, battery storage systems, and localized energy production are gaining traction, improving reliability and resilience. This shift enables communities and businesses to generate their own clean energy, reducing dependence on large power stations.

5. Businesses and Communities Embracing Renewables

Companies are investing heavily in renewable energy to cut costs and meet sustainability goals. At the same time, communities near wind and solar farms are benefiting from energy discounts and financial incentives. This engagement is fostering greater public support for clean energy projects.

6. Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite remarkable progress, significant challenges remain. The world needs to expand its renewable energy capacity from 3.4 terawatts in 2022 to over 11 terawatts by 2030 to meet global climate goals. However, current government commitments fall short, with projections reaching only 7.2 terawatts. Urgent policy adjustments and accelerated deployment are necessary to close this gap.

A Sustainable Future in the Making

The renewable energy landscape in 2025 is dynamic and full of potential. With technological advancements, ambitious policies, and widespread adoption, the world is on the path to a cleaner, more sustainable future. While hurdles remain, the momentum toward a renewable-powered world has never been stronger.

Advocates say the industry could embody the zero-waste agenda by bolstering waste management globally, reducing waste generation, and promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns. 

Humanity generates up to 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, a tally that includes everything from food to electronics to textiles. Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced globally, found The Global Fashion Agenda. This is the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothing being incinerated or sent to a landfill every second. Between 2000 and 2015, clothing production doubled while the duration of garment use decreased 36 per cent, found the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.   

The fashion and textiles sector accounts for 2–8 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and 9 per cent of microplastic pollution reaching the oceans annually. It also consumes 215 trillion liters of water—equivalent to 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. An estimated 15,000 chemicals are used in the textile manufacturing process, and some of these substances accumulate in the environment for decades. 

“The fashion and textile sector is fueling mass overconsumption and waste pollution. And as the industry continues to rapidly grow, so will its environmental impact, unless a shift towards circularity and sustainable production and consumption is taken by all actors,” said Jacqueline Alvarez, the Chief of UNEP’s Chemicals and Health Branch. “The International Day of Zero Waste 2025 will promote a more circular sector and the recognition of textile waste as a valuable resource.”  

Zero-Waste Day will be observed through events and activities held worldwide, aiming to raise awareness of national, subnational, regional, and local zero-waste initiatives and their contributions to achieving sustainable development. UNEP and UN-Habitat invite partners and stakeholders to register their events and activities using this registration link.  

“Achieving zero waste in fashion and textiles cannot be an isolated effort,” added Alvarez. “It requires determined action from all stakeholders, with benefits for all. Reducing pollution will at the end bring economic and environmental gains for all of society.” 

Find out more: International Day of Zero Waste Event Page  

International Day of Zero Waste, observed on 30 March 2024, was established through UN General Assembly Resolution 77/161 and is jointly facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). This day aims to raise awareness about the critical role of waste management and responsible consumption and production in achieving sustainable development. It calls on individuals and organizations to adopt a life-cycle approach, focusing on reducing resource use and environmental emissions at every stage of a product’s life cycle. 

#BeatPollution and #BeatWastePollution aim to build and nurture a larger narrative on a pollution-free planet that weaves interrelated aspects of climate and nature and connects different forms of pollution to the larger issue of pollution and waste. The goal is to optimize human health and environmental outcomes through enhanced capacity and leadership in the sound management of chemicals and waste and increasing circular processes. 

Launched at the 16^th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Decent Work in Nature-based Solutions 2024 report calls for increased and more targeted investments to the countries with most potential for use of NbS. 

Currently, over 60 million people work globally in activities categorized as NbS, which are actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use and manage natural or modified terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems. 

Through targeted investments, NbS employment could increase by up to 32 million jobs globally. The greatest gains would be in Africa, Latin America and the Arab States, where the number of people working in NbS could go from the current level of   2.5 million to over 13 million by 2030. The share of global NbS employment in these regions would increase from around 5 per cent currently to over 40 per cent.

While employment estimates currently focus on NbS for environmental challenges like climate mitigation and biodiversity loss as well as land degradation, there is untapped potential for more “green-grey” infrastructure which integrates both the built and nature-based infrastructure (NbI). In low-and middle-income countries where NbS work is more labour-intensive, there is large scope for creating employment opportunities for vulnerable populations. 

“With trillions of dollars of infrastructure investment in the pipeline for the coming decades, NbI offers an excellent opportunity to channel a significant amount into nature and drive decent work creation and more climate resilient infrastructure”, said Mirey Atallah, Chief of UNEP’s Climate Adaptation Branch.

The report highlights that, while the overall benefits of the green transition are positive, specific groups may face adverse effects on their employment and livelihoods. As the demand for NbS grows, mobilizing additional resources and implementing just transition measures will be essential to ensure broad support for these initiatives.

“We hope this report will contribute to the global dialogue on the importance of decent work in protecting, restoring and sustainably managing our ecosystems. We also hope it will provide guidance to policymakers and practitioners on leveraging employment opportunities when planning and implementing NbS.” said Moustapha Kamal Gueye, ILO Director for the Priority Action Programme on Just transitions.

Skills gaps in both technical and core competencies pose barriers, with most existing NbS jobs classified as medium-skilled roles. As NbS grows, higher-skilled roles are projected to rise, emphasizing the need for targeted skills development to scale projects and enhance job quality.

“When planned and implemented using a robust environmental, social, and economic framework following the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, NbS offer an essential tool in the implementation of the climate and biodiversity policy frameworks. This makes NbS a scalable and effective means to address the interlinked climate and biodiversity crises while delivering important benefits for human well-being and livelihoods, including good jobs” said Stewart Maginnis, Deputy Director-General of IUCN.

Key recommendations from the report include strengthening policy frameworks, investing in skills development and enhancing worker productivity. The report further recommends promoting worker rights and inclusiveness in the NbS jobs, and strengthening research and data collection.

About the International Labour Organization (ILO)
ILO is the United Nations agency for the world of work. To advance social justice and promote decent work, ILO brings together governments, employers and workers to drive a human-centred approach to the future of work through employment creation, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue.

About the International Union for Conservation of Nature  IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of more than 15,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

For more information, please contact:
 
The International Labour Organization (ILO) newsroom@ilo.org
The International Union for Conservation of Nature, press@iucn.org
The UN Environment Programme, unep-newsdesk@un.org

2024 saw a blitz of important environmental negotiations take place, including the sixth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Kenya, the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Colombia, the UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan, the fifth session of negotiations on an international, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution in South Korea, and the UN Desertification COP (COP16) in Saudi Arabia. While each of these meetings made significant progress in some areas, some key issues remained unresolved, highlighting the need for nations to work even closer together – and with more determination – to ensure agreement on and implementation of measures that would bring the world closer to a more sustainable and just planet.

Last year, UNEP’s reports provided the latest science on pressing issues of global environmental concern. The annual Emissions Gap Report cautioned that nations must close huge emissions gaps in new climate pledges and deliver immediate action or lose the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C by 2100. 

UNEP’s 2024 Adaptation Gap Report found that while international public adaptation finance flows to developing countries increased from by $6 billion between 2021 and 2022, a huge gap continues to exist between adaptation finance needs and current international public funding available for adaptation.

In Gaza, a preliminary environmental assessment by UNEP found that the conflict has caused unprecedented levels of pollution, with sewage, debris and toxic munitions contaminating soil, water, and the air. The report notes that environmental degradation risks irreversible damage to Gaza’s natural ecosystems.

UNEP is also providing crucial data to support nations and companies as they act on methane emissions. The Methane Alert and Response System, part of UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory – a satellite data and machine-learning system that identifies major methane leaks – has delivered more than 1,000 notifications to governments and companies over the last two years. The alerts led to the plugging of major leaks in Algeria and Nigeria, preventing the release of greenhouse gases equivalent to those that 1 million cars would produce over a year.  

Through 2024, UNEP mobilized significant funding in co-financing from partners, enabling countries to focus on electric mobility, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-emission buildings. These initiatives are expected to benefit more than 17 million people and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 300 million tonnes, the equivalent of taking 65 million cars off the road.

Reflecting on the past year and looking ahead at 2025, UNEP’s Executive Director, Inger Andersen, said: “The reality is that environmental multilateralism is sometimes messy and sometimes arduous. But even in complex geopolitical times, collaboration across borders and across our differences is the only option to protect the foundation of humanity’s existence – Planet Earth.” 

“UNEP calls for a dramatic uptick in ambition and action in the coming year. Nations must promise and deliver huge cuts to greenhouse gas emissions in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), due in February 2025. They must start delivering the necessary finance for climate adaptation and for desertification and biodiversity action. And they must work towards agreeing on a strong instrument to end plastic pollution before UNEA-7 in December,” she added.

About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. 

For more information, please contact: 
News and Media Unit, UN Environment Programme

In the past year, organizing committees in Germany have been accused of anti-Semitism for their stance on Palestine. The German state has imposed harsh law enforcement measures and police crackdowns, while German institutions have carried out suspensions from schools or threatened professional consequences.

“When someone asks me where I am from, I hesitate before saying Palestine. I always have to justify [myself]. Until two months ago, I was scared to even wear the keffiyeh [at university]. I was afraid they would think I was an extremist,” said a student in Munich, who requested anonymity.

But in October 2023 these political tensions were amplified: expressing political sympathies with Gaza or calling the war a ‘genocide’ was now affiliated with Islamist terrorism. A month later, the phrase “from the river to the sea” was officially classified as “Hamas-Parole” by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. To avoid legal consequences, such as losing their residency status or retaliation from academic staff, faculty, and colleagues, students have decided to refrain from further engaging in the political discourse on campus, distancing themselves from lectures and dialogues about Israel.

Germany’s unrelenting stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza has intensified a long era of repression among its Arab diaspora, which has also festered in German academia. Well before the war on Gaza began, students already feared expressing or sharing their Palestinian identity on campus.

This sense of alienation was further reinforced once it was revealed how closely German academia intertwines itself with Israeli institutions. For instance, the Technical University of Munich (TUM), maintains close ties with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Technion in Haifa, Israel. After October 7th, Thomas Hofmann, TUM’s president,  issued a statement declaring his personal support for the university’s Israeli partners and emphasizing the university’s solidarity with the Israeli people. At the time, over 1.500 people had been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to a report released by the World Health Organization. The university’s statement made no mention of Palestinian civilian casualties. 

Outraged by this ostensibly deliberate omission, TUM students collected over 1.000 signatures protesting the statement, demanding the inclusion of Gaza’s dead, to no avail.

Another student at TUM, who requested anonymity said: “He could have at least acknowledged to his Palestinian students, who were going through difficult times, and I don’t think it’s human to neglect the suffering of others.”

In a recently published document by the Munich-based activist group “Academics for Justice,” ongoing collaborations between German and Israeli academia revealed a concerning partnership with Ariel University (AU) in Ariel, in the central West Bank. 

AU prides itself for its “fresh perspective on contemporary Zionism,” and welcomes “new [Jewish] immigrants and Israeli researchers returning from abroad.” During Israel’s war on Gaza, approximately 4.000 of AU students were drafted into military service. A scholarship fund was set up for students who fought on the front lines, and exemptions and credit for tuition fees were provided to reservists.

Traditional media in Germany is shackled by outdated customs and stifling social norms that curb freedoms. 

AU was built atop one of the largest illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and is rife with public controversies violating human rights and international law. Since its foundation, the university was met with sharp criticism–from Palestinians and Israelis alike. In 2012, AU was officially recognized as an Israeli university, thereby securing additional state funding. Outraged, over 1.200 Israeli faculty members from the organizing committee “Israeli Academics for Peace” signed a petition opposing this move. Since then many more have called for an end of international collaborations with the university. 

Photo: Ariel University- Located in an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory – West Bank –

In their 52-page report, Academics for Justice also referenced a post from 2022, shared on Linkedin by the AAIR lab, part of TUM’s Chair of Structural Informatics, advertising a joint PhD program between AU and TUM. One of the benefits listed was a “dormitory” in Ariel, effectively encouraging students to apply for a position that would grant them the opportunity to live on occupied Palestinian territory, thereby validating Israel’s plans to repopulate the West Bank. In addition, multiple research collaborations with AU were listed throughout the report, some as recent as December 2024. 

“I don’t think the university is taking anything or anyone in relation to Palestine seriously,” a student, who requested anonymity, said: “We contacted the administration, the professors, and some of us even spoke with the TUM-president. He didn’t even care. We were ghosted or ignored, so you can see where their priorities and interests lie.” 

In the latest escalation, TUM’s students and academic staff requested an open dialogue with their university to discuss collaborations with AU. After the about thirty participants gathered in the seminar room for the discussion, police suddenly locked the doors from outside, as was documented by “University for Palestine,” a grassroots movement advocating for Gaza, and Academics for Justice. 
Students and staff were accused of allegedly “trespassing” on public grounds. At the same time, they weren’t given an option to leave the facilities. Instead, they were detained, searched.

“We were locked up–like animals. It was a trap,” says one student activist who is now also facing criminal charges. “The police must have prepared for it at the university. I can’t understand why they would lure their own students and employees into such an ambush. How can that be?”

It’s evident that after over a year of its ardent backing of Israel, Germany has severed its connection to its Arab students. But other European academic institutions show that there can still be hope. 

Universities in Belgium, Ireland, and Norway have distanced themselves from several Israeli universities and research institutions for their involvement in human rights violations. After a flurry of student protests across the world, some universities, like Dublin’s Trinity College, agreed to divest from Israeli institutions and companies engaging in activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, while also granting scholarships to students from Gaza. 

Although such steps are only the beginning, and merely the first step towards more fair and democratic dialogue with university students, in accordance with international law, it’s time for Germany to reflect not only on its past, but also its present.