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Annual Report 2024

We are all in this together

During its sixth session, the United Nations Environment Assembly passed 15 resolutions designed to protect people and planet. At the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), nations resolved to rein in pollution from chemicals, to combat desertification and address sand and dust storms, to protect the ocean, to reduce air pollution, to better manage freshwater supplies, and to support the sustainable mining of energy transition minerals. With a record of 5,600-plus attendees, including 12 heads of state or government, the assembly demonstrated that countries can overcome geopolitical divisions to unite on environmental action. “The spirit of true, inclusive multilateralism was evident throughout this vibrant assembly,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. Bringing the world together

Leila Benali

UNEA-6 President

I am proud to say this was a successful

assembly, where we advanced on

our core mandate: the legitimate

human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, everywhere. What is UNEA?

The United Nations Environment

Assembly is the world’s highest decision-

making body on the environment and

includes all 193 UN Member States.

It sets the global environmental

agenda, develops policy responses to

emerging environmental challenges and

establishes UNEP’s strategic direction.

For the first time, UNEA dedicated a day to increasing the impact of Multilateral Environmental Agreements through more united action. These international accords have served as frameworks to protect endangered species, repair the ozone layer and rein in chemical pollution, among other things. UNEA-6 also saw youth step up, with environmental activist Grace Catapang from the Philippines decrying the “devastating injustices” caused by environmental degradation. Youth activist Grace Catapang from the Philippines takes the stage at UNEA-6. Ahead of the session, 450 young people from around the world gathered to discuss some of the planet’s biggest environmental challenges. Photo: UNEP

Harnessing science to address the climate crisis The Emissions Gap Report 2024 found that the world must promise and deliver 42 per cent off annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in the next round of countries’ climate pledges, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). If they do not, the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C by 2100 will not be achievable. Based on current policies, a devastating temperature rise of 2.6°C–3.1°C this century is projected. The report called for big emitters in the G20 to do most of the heavy lifting. The Adaptation Gap Report 2024 called for a massive increase in financial support for developing nations contending with droughts, floods and other climate-related shocks. The report was cited in a landmark decision at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) to triple climate-related finance for developing countries. Leaders from Bulgaria, Kenya and Tonga, among others, referenced the gap reports during COP 29. Together, the publications were featured in 3,000-plus news stories across over 90 countries. Resourcing the Energy Transition presented seven principles and five actionable recommendations designed to ensure justice, equity and sustainability in minerals development and a circular supply of critical energy transition minerals. The report’s recommendations, if followed across extraction, trade, use and disposal of minerals and metals, can help to lower emissions, protect nature, reduce energy poverty, manage demand, address supply and increase benefit shares for producer countries and local communities. Recommended by the UN Secretary- General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, the report informed the UN General Assembly, the G20, and UN summits on biodiversity and climate change. 3,000+ UNEP’s “gap” reports were featured in news stories across

90 countries

According to the Global Resources Outlook , the extraction of natural resources has tripled in the past five decades, driving the triple planetary crisis. The report, which calls for sustainable resource management, was cited in a resolution on renewable energy by the Council of the European Union and mentioned in a UNEA-6 resolution. The Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment showed how the world can cut 40 per cent off emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas that also damages the ozone layer and pollutes the air. Cutting emissions could prevent 20 million premature deaths by 2050. The report’s findings were featured at COP29 and covered by global media. Brazil’s Puyanawa Indigenous People use traditional farming techniques, including the planting of hardwood trees, to counter deforestation, a major driver of climate change. Photo: UNEP

Backing Paris Agreement implementation UNEP provided technical support to 64 nations as they produced their first biennial transparency reports, which chart how well nations are meeting their NDCs. Over the last few years, UNEP’s transparency-related work has backed countries as they enhance the use of national climate data, build the capacity of national climate-reporting experts and establish systems to strengthen reporting bodies. UNEP also supported over 30 countries in advancing implementation of their NDCs. UNEP’s work supported Colombia as the nation created plans to scale up climate-related investments. UNEP’s work also supported Morocco in forging roadmaps for low-carbon development and Viet Nam in designing mangrove restoration programmes. Through peer-learning forums, UNEP supported 120 countries in the preparation of their next NDCs, due in 2025. UNEP supported 35 developing countries in advancing efforts to accelerate low-carbon development through initiatives drawing on over US$200 million in grant funding from the Global Environment Facility, one of the financial mechanisms of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. By also mobilizing billions in co-financing from partners, countries have focused 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. In Colombia, UNEP supported the rollout of dozens of electric buses, most of which have been driven by women. The initiative is part of a UNEP effort to support 60 low- and middle-income countries as they make the leap to electric transport. Photo: La Rolita

Supporting communities dealing with climate change UNEP supported communities in 50 countries as they adapted to drought, rising seas and other climate impacts. That work – highlighted in a UNEP podcast, Resilience – is expected to benefit 3.5 million people and restore 241,000 hectares of land. Initiatives launched last year include a US$60 million effort in Jordan to boost water security for 750,000 people. In addition, three countries – Costa Rica, Nepal and Zimbabwe – finalized their national adaptation plans, with support from UNEP. The plans are designed to unlock public and private sector investment; Nepal’s alone aims to generate US$47 billion by 2050. In all, UNEP is assisting 30 countries in the development of national adaptation plans. Meanwhile, UNEP supported six small island developing states – the Cook Islands, Niue, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Timor-Leste and Tuvalu – on early-warning systems for natural disasters. Niue tracked an April 2024 storm that brought heavy rains and gale force winds, Palau has begun to issue national ocean bulletins and Timor-Leste held community-level disaster simulations. Children in the Pacific island state Niue gather around newly installed weather monitoring equipment. The gear is helping meteorologists better forecast extreme weather and issue alerts to communities. Photo: UNEP

Financing a low-carbon future The UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) continued to support a large network of banks, insurers and investors in their efforts to address climate change. The Net-Zero Banking Alliance, convened by UNEP FI, with more than 140 members across over 40 countries, saw the number of the lenders setting independent targets for reducing the carbon footprint of their financing efforts across power generation, real estate, transport and other sectors reach well over 100. Around two-thirds of members surveyed had put in place policies for coal, and oil and gas. One-third had policies on land use and deforestation. The alliance’s members agreed to expand their net-zero targets to include capital market activities, the largest source of “financed emissions” for many banks. The Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance expanded to 89 members, which combined have nearly US$10 trillion under management. In 2023, alliance members channelled US$555 billion into climate-related solutions, up from US$ billion in 2020. Since the alliance’s launch in 2019, members have driven down the emissions in their portfolios by roughly 6 per cent annually. UN-REDD, a partnership that includes UNEP, advised 11 countries as they developed environmental and social safeguards that would allow them to access the global market for forest-based carbon trading. That market got a boost at COP29 when countries operationalized an article of the Paris Agreement that governs carbon trading. UN-REDD also provided technical support to seven countries seeking eligibility for more than US$1 billion in results- based finance for protecting forests. Safeguarding those forests would prevent the release of 138 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking 30 million cars of the road, while delivering benefits for communities and biodiversity. US$ billion Amount the members of the UNEP FI-led Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance channelled into climate-friendly solutions in 2023 Women collect seeds in Sumatra, Indonesia. Villagers here are participating in a UN-REDD programme that allows them to earn money without felling local trees, a process key to countering climate change. Photo: UNEP

The Digital Accelerator Lab, launched in May 2024, features 20 digital applications and prototypes. These include the Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer, which allows users to access high-resolution maps of lakes, rivers and other sources of freshwater, and track their extent over time. The Strata platform spotlights areas where environmental stressors, like climate change, overlap with conflict and socio-economic challenges, helping decision makers prioritize responses and foster peacebuilding. UNEP is also working to ensure that new technologies do not harm the environment. Ahead of the UN General Assembly in September, UNEP released Artificial Intelligence (AI) End-to-End , which offered seven recommendations for minimizing AI’s impact on the planet. Those included establishing global standards for measuring AI’s environmental footprint. UNEP’s Digital Accelerator Lab houses 20 cutting-edge digital tools,

including one that

allows users to track

the health of rivers,

lakes and aquifers.

Photo: UNEP

UNEP is working to reverse the unprecedented decline of the natural world, while supporting communities that depend on nature for their survival.

Nature

action

Safeguarding the natural world UNEP is assisting 108 countries as they conserve, sustainably manage and restore their ecosystems – protecting wildlife and supporting Indigenous Peoples, who are the world’s major stewards of biodiversity. UNEP also supports local communities and is enlisting the private sector in biodiversity conservation action. Thanks to UNEP’s interventions, over 1.6 million hectares of terrestrial and marine areas are under improved management. Nearly 900,000 people are expected to benefit from UNEP’s work on landscapes. UNEP also supported the conservation and restoration of 2.3 million hectares of marine environments, including mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass meadows. That work spanned 53 countries and took place in some of the world’s most sensitive bodies of water, including the Red Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the South Pacific Ocean. As one example, UNEP supported the Thai Ministry of Environment as it established a 900-hectare marine safe haven that protects a threatened species of crab crucial to local economies. UNEP and the African Development Bank teamed up to produce the Natural Capital Atlas of Africa. The report catalogued the value of the continent’s soil, water, minerals and other natural resources, supporting policymakers to make more informed development decisions. The atlas followed a request from African governments for strategies that make the continent’s natural capital sustainable. It was designed to contribute to Agenda 2063, Africa’s blueprint for becoming a global economic powerhouse. During a star-studded ceremony at UNEA-6, UNEP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN recognized seven World Restoration Flagships under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The efforts, from Pakistan to Peru, are expected to restore 40 million hectares and create 500,000 jobs. Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, was named a UNEP Champion of the Earth for her efforts to protect biodiversity and solidify the territorial claims of Indigenous communities. Photo: UNEP

Combatting desertification UNEP supported the marshalling of US$80 million in funding for Africa’s Great Green Wall, an effort to increase the amount of arable land across 8,000 km of the Sahel, a semi-arid region that spans Africa. The projects from that funding are expected to cover more than 6.9 million hectares and benefit 5 million people. In Iraq, 90 per cent of which is arid or semi-arid, UNEP supported the roll out of a national strategy to counter land degradation. In the countries of the South Caucuses, including Armenia and Georgia, UNEP is backing the restoration of 20, hectares of degraded drylands, work that is expected to benefit 15,000 people. Abdullah Ibrahim Alissa and other conservationists are greening parts of Saudia Arabia’s Thadiq National Park in an ambitious bid to stop desertification. Photo: UNEP

Inger Andersen

UNEP Executive Director

Restoration boosts

livelihoods, lowers

poverty and builds

resilience to extreme

weather – supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. World Environment Day showcased solutions to drought, desertification and land degradation, spurring people around the world to act on these mounting threats. Saudi Arabia hosted the official celebrations on 5 June, while 4,000 other events took place in 150-plus countries. #WorldEnvironmentDay was the top trending hashtag on X, while political leaders and celebrities, from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to actor Leonardo DiCaprio, voiced their support for ecosystem restoration. UNEP’s World Environment Day-related content was viewed 421 million times across social media, while the celebration was mentioned by press in 178 countries. At the sixteenth Conference of Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, nations launched the Riyadh Action Agenda, which saw US$12 billion committed in loans and grants for land restoration and drought resilience initiatives. Also launched was the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, which will work to leverage finance in support of 80 of the most vulnerable and drought-hit countries around the world.

Financing biodiversity In 2024, 22 signatories joined the UNEP FI-led Principles for Responsible Banking, which supports banks as they align their core business with the Sustainable Development Goals and environmental accords like the GBF. More than 350 lenders – representing half of the world’s banking assets – have adopted the principles and are putting sustainable finance targets in place. Meanwhile, the Global Fund for Coral Reefs financed efforts to protect 1.7 million hectares of coral reefs, which are under threat from multiple stressors, in 13 countries. The fund supported Indonesia in launching a landmark US$35 million debt-for-nature swap, Mexico in countering a seaweed epidemic that is smothering coral reefs and the Philippines in improving the management of marine protected areas. The fund’s work in 2024 is expected to benefit around 15,000 people through training and job creation. UNEP is the global monitoring and evaluation lead for the fund and co-chair of its executive board. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema UNEP Deputy Executive Director We are the first generation to fully understand the immense threats to the land – and might be the last one with a chance to reverse the course of destruction. In Mexico, UNEP is helping conservationists raise king crabs. The animals are voracious consumers of algae, which is infesting sensitive coral reefs as the ocean warms due to climate change. Photo: UNEP

Women at the centre of environmental action Bridging the gender divide The triple planetary crisis weighs heavily on women, deepening gender inequality and trapping millions in poverty. To counter that, UNEP proactively ensures that women participate equally in environmental restoration while creating economic opportunities that make people more resilient to climate change.