On this World Ozone Day (16 September), we not only celebrate the achievements to date but also look to the future for deeper and faster action under the . Deeper and faster for the ozone layer but above all, for people, for climate and for the planet. The UNEP Ozone Secretariat has prepared a in six languages, including cards, videos, and suggested messages. The ozone layer is a fragile shield of gas that protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun, thus helping preserve life on the planet.
Natural Resources and the Environment
After bees swarmed a hotel restaurant in Saint Lucia, Richard Matthias called a local beekeeper, William ‘Vavan’ Antione, who captured the bees and asked Richard to take care of them. Now, 15 years later, Richard is a leading beekeeper and apiculture expert in the eastern Caribbean. With support from the Global Environment Facility Facility (GEF) , implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (), beekeeping projects in the region have helped revive the industry and boost honey production and beekeeper income.
To protect and restore mangroves, one of the planet's most crucial ecosystems, launched the in September 2022. Since then, significant progress has been made through collaboration among biosphere reserves, government representatives, and scientists across 7 biosphere reserves in Latin America and the Caribbean. These efforts have focused on gathering data to establish a solid baseline for successful mangrove restoration. The project has also strengthened partnerships with universities and scientific institutions, offering opportunities for young scientists to contribute to mangrove conservation.
Supported by the Government of Flanders (Belgium) and the Spanish National Parks Agency.
The community of Guapinol in northern Honduras, with a population of 3,000, depends on agriculture, livestock, and remittances from the United States. Surrounded by African palm plantations, the Guapinol River is slowly returning to being a source of shade and clean water, as it always had been until 2018 when people realized that the water became heavily polluted. Juana Zúniga, an environmentalist, and her partner José Cedillo have fought for the human right to a healthy environment. Their advocacy led to the passing of an important law, Executive Decree 18-2024, which safeguards protected areas in Honduras and prohibits mining in these areas.
How much do you know about degraded land, deserts and droughts?
Pakistan is revitalizing its Indus River through the , a flagship project under the , aiming to restore 25 million hectares and breathe new life into this vital waterway.
The Mojana region in northern Colombia faces extreme water issues, with alternating floods and droughts. These conditions make it hard for the 400,000 residents to protect their health, earn sustainable incomes, and adapt to a changing climate. The Colombian Government sought help from the United Nations Development Programme () to work with local communities. It launched a pilot project to reduce climate vulnerability by focusing on wetland restoration, local livelihoods, and infrastructure. The inland delta comprises 500,000 fertile hectares in a complex of rivers and wetlands that nourish some of the world’s richest biodiversity.
Fourth mass bleaching event underscores urgent need for global action to save imperiled coral reefs from climate change-induced extinction.
Climate change and prolonged droughts pose an ever-increasing threat to agriculture in Cabo Verde.Through the project, a group of Chinese experts pass on their knowledge and expertise to Cabo Verdean farmers and livestock producers to fight pests, manage soil and animal production, and offer other useful techniques in adapting to the effects of climate change.
As climate records are shattered and emissions continue to rise, on this World Environment Day (5 June) the UN Secretary-General sets out some hard-hitting truths about the state of the climate, the grotesque risk leaders are running, and what companies and countries – particularly the G7 and the G20 – need to do over the next eighteen months to salvage humanity’s chances of a livable future. Follow LIVE at 10 AM EDT at the American Museum of Natural History.
Land sustains life on Earth, but more than 2 billion hectares of the world’s land is degraded, affecting more than . Vital ecosystems and countless species are under threat. It is crucial to find ways to stop dry land from becoming desert, fresh water sources from evaporating, and fertile soil from turning to dust. World Environment Day (5 June) will highlight how everyone can help end land degradation and restore blighted landscapes. The United Nations World Environment Programme () offers seven ways to get involved in restoring ecosystems.
Hundreds of thousands of people are coming together to – by tuning dried up monoculture plots into forest gardens.
Today we celebrate for the first time the International Day of the Markhor, an iconic and ecologically significant species found across the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia. Categorized as ““, the main threats to the markhor’s survival are habitat loss, illegal hunting and climate change. Besides its ecological value, the markhor is a valuable species that contributes to local economies. Preserving the markhor and its natural habitat is an ecological imperative and a significant opportunity to bolster the regional economy.
In 2023 alone, 400 million hectares were consumed by flames—an area twice the size of Mexico. Forest fires cause biodiversity loss, release large quantities of carbon dioxide, and degrade the soil and contaminate water resources. Today, more than half of forest fire-related costs go toward rapid response. But is spent on planning for and preventing this environmental threat. Costa Rica's Volunteer Forest Fire Brigade has been supported by the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (), in fighting forest fires for the last 30 years.