The ocean and the blue economy are fundamental to addressing the triple planetary crisis—says UNDP
World leaders agreed to the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, a roadmap of 17 goals which are a minimum for the people and planet to survive. Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14) set a series of ten ambitious targets for ocean protection and restoration, several with target dates for achievement of 2020 or 2025. Out of all the Global Goals, #SDG14 has received the lowest investment and none of the targets that were supposed to be met in 2020 were met. While some progress has been made, much remains to be done if the ocean SDG agenda is to be realized by 2030. From 27th June through 1st July at the UN Ocean Conference, UNDP will be engaging in several high-level side events in Lisbon and online, to advocate for urgent, concrete actions that are imperative to tackle the ocean crisis and address the urgent transformational change required in both ocean and land-based sectors. “SDG 14 remains the most underfunded SDG yet holds immense potential to be a game changer in addressing the triple planetary crisis. Every penny invested in achieving the Paris Agreement is a penny invested in the long-term sustenance of the overall blue economy. In a business-as-usual fossil fuel use scenario, many ocean species and ecosystems, and the food security and livelihoods of billions of people, face existential threats,” states UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Haoliang Xu.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.