The UNEP’s 2024 Annual Report stresses the urgency of collaborative action among nations to tackle climate change, nature loss, and pollution. UNEP’s Executive Director calls for greater commitments to emission reductions and financing for climate initiatives. The report highlights UNEP’s successes in supporting countries towards electric mobility and advancing environmental objectives while recognizing the continuing global environmental challenges that require comprehensive solutions.
The 2024 Annual Report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing the intertwined crises of climate change, nature loss, and pollution. Entitled ‘We are all in this together,’ the report emphasizes the importance of collaboration among nations and with UNEP to achieve favorable environmental outcomes.
Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director, highlights that while multilateral environmental efforts can be complex, cooperation is essential to safeguard the planet. She calls for increased ambition and action, urging countries to commit significantly to greenhouse gas emissions reductions, enhance financial support for climate adaptation, and achieve consensus on addressing plastic pollution prior to the upcoming UN Environment Assembly-7 in December.
The report details UNEP’s notable achievements over the past year, including the development of research reports offering solutions for the climate crisis and aiding 64 countries in their initial reporting on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Additionally, UNEP provided support to 60 low- and middle-income countries, facilitating their shift towards electric vehicles to combat air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Notably, in 2023, electric vehicles constituted 18 percent of new car sales globally, marking a significant increase compared to five years prior. UNEP’s initiatives include the Clean Air Initiative and continued endeavors to finance a low-carbon future through the UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), which aids numerous banks, insurers, and investors in tackling climate change.
The Net-Zero Banking Alliance, established by UNEP FI, has seen over 140 members across more than 40 countries commit to reducing the carbon footprint of their financing. The report indicates that around two-thirds of surveyed members have implemented policies addressing coal and fossil fuels, while one-third have focused on land use and deforestation.
Moreover, the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance has grown to 89 members managing nearly US$10 trillion in assets. In 2023, these members invested US$555 billion in climate solutions, a substantial increase from US$100 billion in 2020, demonstrating their commitment to lowering emissions by approximately six percent annually since the alliance’s inception.
This year, UNEP also leveraged artificial intelligence for environmental solutions, emphasized freshwater ecosystem conservation, promoted women’s inclusion in environmental governance, and addressed plastic pollution. Despite recognizing both achievements and setbacks, UNEP stresses the critical need for global coordinated action to respond to rising temperatures, ecosystem degradation, and pollution issues.
In conclusion, the UNEP’s 2024 Annual Report clearly indicates that significant cooperation and action are essential for environmental preservation amidst ongoing global crises. Ambitious commitments to reduce emissions, financial support for climate initiatives, and collaborative responses are pivotal. While UNEP celebrates notable advancements, it acknowledges that humanity faces daunting challenges that necessitate unified global efforts toward a sustainable future.
Original Source: jamaica-gleaner.com
