UN Environment: International community must step up action to tackle 'triple planet crisis'

On February 18, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its annual report, calling for the global response to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution to be accelerated, noting that the current international community's progress in tackling the triple global crisis is still slow and uneven.

Unep Executive Director Arnolsen said that while the world has made some achievements in tackling the triple planetary crisis in the past year, it has also faced many setbacks. She stressed that geopolitical tensions are impeding global environmental cooperation and making multilateral environmental protection processes complicated and difficult.

Arnold stressed that despite the complex and volatile global situation, cooperation across national borders and differences remains the only option to protect the Earth, the foundation of human existence.

Ambitious climate targets are crucial

Citing data from the 2024 Emissions Gap Report, the report states that the world must cut greenhouse gas emissions by 42 percent by 2030 to keep global warming below the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement.

The report further reveals, through scientific modelling, that in the absence of drastic action to reduce emissions, global temperatures could rise by between 2.6°C and 3.1°C this century, with catastrophic consequences.

Unep is working with more than 60 low - and middle-income countries to accelerate the transition to electric mobility to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector.

The report highlights successful practices in some countries, such as Antigua and Barbuda's large-scale procurement of electric buses, and Kenya's legislation to promote electric motorcycles and public transport investment projects, which demonstrate the positive effects of green transition at the national level.

Eliminate plastic pollution

Plastic pollution, as one of the world's most serious environmental threats, is a focus area of UNEP's work, and the international community is actively promoting the negotiation of a legally binding global plastic pollution control treaty.

At the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution in Busan last year, 29 of the 32 articles of the proposed treaty were agreed, but the final text is still being negotiated.

Unep urged countries to bridge their differences before the next round of negotiations and reach a strong agreement to end plastic pollution before the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly in December. Arnold pointed out that the conclusion of a legally binding and strong global plastic pollution control agreement is crucial, and countries must reach a consensus as soon as possible.

Calls for greater action

The report also calls on countries to come up with more ambitious emission reduction action plans when they submit a new round of nationally determined contributions at the end of February to help keep global warming within the target range of the Paris Agreement.

Arnold warned that the global environmental situation remains serious, with temperatures continuing to rise, ecosystems deteriorating and the threat of pollution increasing, and these global crises require global solutions. The world must work together to build a more equitable and sustainable home planet.