Climate Change


Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time.  Receding forests, changing rainfall patterns and rising sea levels will exacerbate existing economic, political and humanitarian stresses and affect human development in all parts of the world.  As the leading global organization in the fight against poverty, with a presence in 177 countries and territories, UNDP is responding on the front lines of climate change – where it hits the world’s 2.6 billion poorest people the hardest. UNDP works with national, regional, and local planning bodies to help them respond effectively to climate change and promote low-emission, climate-resilient development.

UNDP support focuses on three areas: connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life; helping countries build more resilient societies; and strengthening the capacity of countries to access, manage and account for climate finance.

Our Stories

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Rain water harvesting improves lives of Tanzanian farmers

In recent years, residents of Tanzania's Kilimanjaro region have seen their livelihoods threatened by climate change-induced water shortages. The Kilimanjaro region has always been one of the driest in Tanzania, receiving less than 400 mm of rainfall annually. The average annual rainfall for the cou more

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Farmers in Ethiopia fight drought and climate change

Throughout most of his 55 years, Mohammed Hassen and his family have suffered  during recurring droughts that have ravaged his district of Kalu, South Wollo Zone, in northeastern Ethiopia. The country, once defined by rural poverty, is developing a strategy to address pockets of extreme poverty more

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In Nigeria, farm training yields fuller harvests for rural women

For Mama Nsedu, a young widow in Northern Nigeria, feeding her family was becoming harder every day. Like thousands of women in the rural communities of Nanka, Kyado and Yauri, Mama Nsedu faced poor crop yields due to harsh, dry weather, low rainfall, poor soil nutrients and overdependence on expens more

News

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UNDP and the United Arab Emirates to reduce Dubai's carbon footprint

New York – Harmful carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 1.3 million tonnes over the next 10 years following a doubling of the United Arab Emirates’ project portfolio under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Dubai Carbon more

Ethiopia launches strategy for low-emission climate resilient development

Durban, 8 December –Ethiopia will embark on a national plan that aims to boost the country’s development over the next twenty years while keeping its greenhouse emissions to current levels. Unveiled here by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strateg more

UN helping South African communities to access sustainable energy

Durban -  UN agencies and the South African government unveiled this week a pilot project that provides communities outside of Durban with access to clean energy. The project will deliver clean cooking, lighting systems and solar-heated water for clinics and schools in the district of Ilembe, si more

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