*[Enwl-eng] Global emissions hit new high, COVID-19’s impact on the environment, and more

[ENWLine]

crossroads Year in review Your guide to the top environmental stories December 2020

This month, we look at a chilling United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) study on greenhouse gas emissions and cast our gaze back on the top environmental stories of 2020. Teaser: the news wasn’t all bad.

Climate Change Pandemic does little to stem greenhouse gas emissions: new report Despite a dip in carbon dioxide emissions caused by COVID-19, the planet remains on pace for catastrophic warming, warns a new study from UNEP. But the 2020 Emissions Gap Report also finds reason for hope. If the world embraces a “green” recovery from the pandemic, it can avoid the worst consequences of climate change, it says. Read more

Environmental Crusaders These 13 “Champions” are fighting for the future of the planet UNEP has named a cadre of activists, scientists and entrepreneurs as its 2020 Champions of the Earth and Young Champions of the Earth. The awards are the institution’s highest environmental honours. Laureates include a pioneer in the battle against environmental racism and an inventor who is turning plastic waste into paving stones.   Read more

Looking Back These are the stories that made headlines in 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic brings a year of desperation and, eventually, hope The emergence of COVID-19 sparked an unprecedented global health emergency and threatened everything from food supplies to mountain gorillas. As countries raced to contain the novel coronavirus, a landmark UNEP report on zoonotic diseases examined its origins and warned that without dramatic changes, pandemics will become increasingly common. Late in the year, the rollout of vaccines brought hope – and possible investments in global cold chain facilities. Read more Air Pollution Battle rages against another silent killer, air pollution While COVID-19 dominated headlines, the campaign against air pollution, which kills about 7 million people annually, continued as UNEP launched the first annual International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. Meanwhile, several African states imposed stricter regulations on the trade in heavily polluting used vehicles, which a major UNEP report found were being foisted on the developing world, and activists in Latin America worked to close some of the region’s most toxic dumps. Read more

Ecosystem Restoration The drive to mend the planet takes centre stage From the mountains of El Salvador to the forests of Madagascar, scientists and locals partnered in 2020 to revive ecosystems lost to development and, in some cases, disaster. The work comes on the eve of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global push to reverse the rapid decline of natural spaces, and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science and Sustainable Development. Read more Ecosystems Despite COVID-19, the world keeps its gaze on the environment The pandemic may have scotched in-person gatherings, but netizens turned out in force to celebrate the planet in 2020, feting a landmark World Environment Day. Meanwhile, the video game industry threw its weight behind the push to protect nature and biodiversity took centre stage at the United Nations General Assembly. Read more

UNEP in the news

Climate Change Humanity is waging a “suicidal” war with nature, warns the UN’s Secretary-General. Read more Biodiversity The biodiversity crisis is a development crisis, writes UNEP Executive Director Read more

COVID-19 Human activity raises risk of more pandemics like Covid-19, warns UN report Read more Air Pollution The export of older, dirtier cars has become a major pollution problem. Read more

Early 2021 18 - 19 January Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean Barbados Learn more 22 - 26 February First part of the 5th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly Nairobi, Kenya Learn more More events

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UN Environment Programme · United Nations Environment Programme - United Nations Avenue, Gigiri · P O Box 30552 · Nairobi 00100 · Kenya   From: UN Environment Programme Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 11:54 AM Subject: Global emissions hit new high, COVID-19’s impact on the environment, and more

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