A new UN report finds that every US$1 invested in tackling climate change and air pollution together could generate around US$15 in economic benefits. Cleaner air can cut healthcare costs, boost productivity and save lives, while also slowing global warming. In 2025, human-caused outdoor air pollution was linked to 6.4 million premature deaths worldwide. The report identifies 25 proven measures across energy, transport, agriculture, homes and waste, warning that every year of delay could cost the world more than US$1.5 trillion in lost benefits.

The world is likely to cross the 1.5°C global warming threshold within the next few years, increasing the risks of extreme weather, ecosystem loss and damage to health, food and water supplies. A new UN Environment Programme report says the best remaining path is to keep this rise as small and brief as possible, then bring temperatures back below 1.5°C. This requires rapid and sustained cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, a faster shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, stronger climate adaptation and carefully managed removal of carbon from the atmosphere. Every fraction of a degree — and every year above 1.5°C — matters.

The global energy system powers almost everything we do, but it is also fuelling some of the planet’s biggest challenges. UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook says transforming the system means rapidly expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and redirecting fossil fuel subsidies towards clean, affordable power. But the transition must also protect people and nature, including communities affected by mining for renewable-energy minerals. Expanding grids, local renewable systems and clean cooking can widen energy access. With political will, a cleaner energy system can also be fairer and more resilient.

Once considered one of the world’s fastest-disappearing ecosystems, mangrove forests are showing remarkable signs of recovery. A recent global study using satellite imagery from the 1980s to 2023 found that global mangrove losses have slowed sharply, while natural regeneration and expansion are increasingly offsetting past declines. These coastal forests protect shorelines, store carbon, support fisheries and provide habitat for more than 1,500 species. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners are helping drive this recovery through science-based, community-led restoration efforts in countries including Kenya, Costa Rica, Benin and across the South China Sea region, combining conservation, sustainable livelihoods and innovative financing.

The Moon has fascinated humanity for millennia and plays a vital role in sustaining life on Earth through its influence on tides and ecosystems. As lunar exploration accelerates, with countries and private companies pursuing ambitious missions, the United Nations is emphasizing the need for sustainable space activities. Despite international treaties and guidelines, an estimated 140 million pieces of space debris orbit Earth, including defunct satellites, rocket bodies, collision fragments and mission-related debris. These objects can damage spacecraft, pollute the atmosphere during re-entry and even pose risks to people and ecosystems. The United Nations Environment Programme and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs are working to address these growing environmental challenges through stronger global cooperation and governance.

The 2026 World Cup demonstrated that mega-sporting events could leave cities greener, not just busier. Toronto, Seattle and Mexico City turned tournament pressure into long-term environmental gains through net-zero facilities, restored parks, native tree planting, reusable foodware, food rescue and stronger recycling systems. Expanded public transit, cycling routes and walkable streets also helped fans choose lower-carbon travel. The tournament showed that when cities paired major events with community action and lasting partnerships, the final whistle marked the beginning of a healthier, more sustainable urban future.

The world has more than 20 billion football-pitch-sized parcels of land, but nearly 40% are already degraded by deforestation, unsustainable farming, urban expansion and climate change. Every second, the equivalent of four football fields is lost, threatening food security, biodiversity, livelihoods and the climate. Forests continue to shrink, and most farmland is already degraded or at risk of desertification. Yet there is hope: countries and communities are restoring ecosystems on a massive scale, with pledges to revive 1.4 billion football pitches of land—showing that collective action can restore nature, strengthen economies and secure a healthier future for people and the planet.

The planet is sending signals we cannot ignore as emissions and urban heat effects intensify extreme heat, threatening lives worldwide.

A single pair of jeans carries a surprisingly large environmental footprint, consuming thousands of litres of water, generating greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to chemical pollution and textile waste throughout its life cycle. As demand for fast fashion grows, these impacts are placing increasing pressure on natural resources and ecosystems. In a new UNEP documentary, supermodel and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Amber Valletta travels to Tunisia to explore the hidden environmental cost of making jeans—and the innovations helping transform the denim industry. Valletta highlights how sustainable production, greater transparency, and informed consumer choices can help reshape fashion into a more responsible and circular industry.

From the polluted waters of the Mediterranean in the 1970s to cleaner coastlines today, UNEP shows how international cooperation and sustained environmental investment can restore marine ecosystems and improve lives.

Extreme heat is one of the most urgent and fast-growing climate challenges facing cities today. Around the world, urban areas are experiencing more frequent, intense, and prolonged heatwaves, affecting health, infrastructure, and daily life. Through the 50@50 initiative, cities are coming together to share solutions, strengthen resilience, and protect communities. From expanding green spaces and cooling public areas to improving urban design and early warning systems, cities are exploring people-centred approaches to stay safe in a warming world. Learn how cities are shaping a more resilient future.

Land is essential to life, providing food, water and raw materials, yet more than 2 billion hectares worldwide are degraded, affecting over 3 billion people. As droughts intensify and temperatures rise, restoring ecosystems is critical to protecting biodiversity, food security and freshwater resources. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), everyone has a role to play. Key actions include promoting sustainable agriculture, protecting soil health and pollinators, restoring freshwater ecosystems, reviving coastal and marine habitats, bringing nature back into cities, and increasing investment in ecosystem restoration. These efforts are central to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), a global initiative to scale up action for a healthier, more resilient planet.

The limbo reimagined asks: How low can we go? How low can we keep global warming to safeguard our planet for future generations? In partnership with‪@alok‬, the track Deep Down asks us to get moving, to get real, to stand up.

Inclusion means fostering respect, dignity, and safe spaces where diverse identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences are valued so that everyone can fully participate in shaping a more sustainable future.

A new UN report argues that cutting emissions from buildings and construction is not only essential for tackling climate change, but could also reduce energy costs, improve living conditions, and make housing more affordable worldwide. The report warns that decarbonising buildings and construction is progressing too slowly, despite the sector generating 37% of global emissions and nearly half of all material extraction. While buildings are becoming more energy efficient, rising construction activity and continued fossil fuel dependence threaten climate goals. The report calls for stronger policies, investment, and low-carbon construction to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.