UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Climate Change

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ActNow Climate Campaign
https://www.un.org/en/actnow/

The climate crisis: 5 things to watch out for in 2025
(UN News, 29 December 2024):
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/12/1158446

UN Entities & Related Bodies

• United Nations & Climate Change: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/
  • A Moment of Opportunity: https://www.un.org/climatechange/moment-opportunity-2025
• United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC):  http://unfccc.int/
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): http://www.ipcc.ch/

UN Events

• COP30 – UN Climate Change Conference – Belém, 10-21 November 2025:
  https://cop30.br/, https://unfccc.int/cop30
• Climate Summit, 24 September 2025:
  https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-summit-2025
• Security Council Meeting, 13 February 2024: Maintenance of international peace and security – The impact of climate change and food insecurity: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2024

• Climate Ambition Summit, 20 September 2023, United Nations Headquarters, New York: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-ambition-summit
• General Assembly, Seventy-seventh Session, 64th & 65th Meetings, 29 March 2023
  General Assembly adopts resolution requesting International Court of Justice provide advisory opinion on states’ obligations concerning climate change (GA/12497): https://press.un.org/en/2023/ga12497.doc.htm
  • A/RES/77/276: https://www.un.org/en/ga/77/resolutions.shtml
• Security Council Meeting, 14 February 2023: Threats to international peace and security – Sea-level rise: implications for international peace and security: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2023
• Security Council Meeting, 9 December 2021: Maintenance of international
  peace and security: security in the context of terrorism and climate change: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2021
• High-level thematic debate on “Delivering climate action: for people, planet and prosperity”, 26 October 2021: https://www.un.org/pga/76/event/deliver_climate_action/, https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1e/k1enkaxyxk, https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1104052
• Security Council Meeting, 23 September 2021: Maintenance of international peace and security – Climate and security: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2021
• Climate Summit, 23 September 2019: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/2019-climate-action-summit
  • Actions not words: what was promised at the UN’s landmark climate summit? (23 September 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/09/1047112
• High Level Meeting on Climate and Sustainable Development for All, 29 March 2019: https://www.un.org/pga/73/event/climate-and-sustainable-development-for-all/
• Security Council Meeting, 25 January 2019: Maintenance of international peace and security – Addressing the impacts of climate-related disasters on international peace and security: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2019
• Security Council Meeting, 11 July 2018: Maintenance of international peace and security – Understanding and addressing climate-related security risks: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2018
• Intersessional panel discussion on human rights, climate change, migrants and persons displaced across international borders, 6 October 2017: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/PanelClimateMigrants.aspx
• High-Level SDG Event “Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Agenda”, 23 March 2017: https://bit.ly/2nqVQES
• Expert Meeting on Climate Change and Human Rights, 6-7 October 2016: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/ClimateChange/EM2016/PoW.doc
• Paris Agreement Signing Ceremony – 22 April 2016: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/parisagreement22april/
• General Assembly High-Level Event on Climate Change (New York, 29 June 2015):
  http://www.un.org/pga/290615_hle-climate-change/
• Climate Summit – September 2014: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/highlight/2014-09-23.html
• General Assembly Thematic Debate Sustainable Development and Climate Change: Practical Solutions in the Energy Water Nexus, 16 May 2013: https://www.un.org/en/ga/president/67/pdf/calendar/20130516-energywater.pdf
• Security Council Meeting, 20 July 2011: Maintenance of international peace and security – Impact of climate change: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2011

UN Treaties, Declarations and selected UN documents

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/conveng.pdf
• Kyoto Protocol: https://unfccc.int/process/the-kyoto-protocol
• Bali Road Map: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/pastconferences/bali-climate-change-conference-december-2007/statements-and-resources/Bali-Road-Map-Documents
• Cancun Agreements: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/the-cancun-agreements
• Durban Outcomes: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/outcomes-of-the-durban-conference
• Doha Climate Gateway: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/the-doha-climate-gateway
• Warsaw Outcomes: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/outcomes-of-the-warsaw-conference
• Lima Call for Climate Action: http://undocs.org/FCCC/CP/2014/10/Add.1
• Paris Agreement: https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/what-is-the-paris-agreement
• Marrakech Action Proclamation for Our Climate and Sustainable Development: http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/marrakech_nov_2016/application/pdf/marrakech_action_proclamation.pdf
• Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action: http://unfccc.int/files/paris_agreement/application/pdf/marrakech_partnership_for_global_climate_action.pdf
• Concrete Climate Action Commitments at COP23: https://unfccc.int/news/concrete-climate-action-commitments-at-cop23
• Katowice Climate Package: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/katowice-climate-package
• The Glasgow Climate Pact – Key Outcomes from COP26: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-glasgow-climate-pact-key-outcomes-from-cop26
• Five Key Takeaways from COP27: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/sharm-el-sheikh-climate-change-conference-november-2022/five-key-takeaways-from-cop27
• Outcomes of the Dubai Climate Change Conference – UAE consensus: https://unfccc.int/cop28/outcomes
• Outcomes of the Baku Climate Change Conference – Baku Climate Unity Pact: https://unfccc.int/cop29/auvs
• UN documents on “climate change” – click here

Selected Statements and Speeches by UN Officials

• Amid climate crisis, early warning systems vital to protecting communities, Secretary-General tells World Meteorological Organization High-Level Event (SG/SM/22873, 22 October 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22873.doc.htm
• Science, economics compel action, Secretary-General tells Climate Summit (SG/SM/22829, 24 September 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22829.doc.htm
• China-European Union commitment to strengthen cooperation critical to ensure upcoming Climate Change Conference represents ‘major turning point’, Secretary-General says (SG/SM/22739, 24 July 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22739.doc.htm
• Secretary-General welcomes International Court of Justice’s Historic Advisory Opinion as victory for our planet, climate justice (SG/SM/22738, 23 July 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22738.doc.htm
• Supercharging clean energy will repair humankind’s relationship with climate, fuel economic growth, Secretary-General says, noting $2 Trillion invested in 2024 (SG/SM/22735, 22 July 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22735.doc.htm
• Dramatic reduction in emissions must start now, Secretary-General tells BRICS Conference, Calling Impact on Human Health ‘atrocious’ (SG/SM/22719, 7 July 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22719.doc.htm
• Secretary-General urges developed countries to double annual climate adaptation finance to $40 Billion (SG/SM/22600, 26 March 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22600.doc.htm
• Secretary-General, in World Meteorological Day Message, stresses early climate warning systems ‘not luxuries’, but sound, life-saving investments with almost 10-fold return (SG/SM/22583, 13 March 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22583.doc.htm
• ‘Stay on right side of history’ in climate action, says UN Chief at Davos Forum, also urging action on artificial intelligence (SG/SM/22528, 22 January 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22528.doc.htm
• We must ‘Shift our collective efforts into overdrive, deliver on goals of Paris Agreement’, says Secretary-General, outlining 2025 priorities (SG/SM/22522, 15 January 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22522.doc.htm
• 2024 hottest year on record, Secretary-General warns, urging trailblazing climate action in 2025 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, support most vulnerable (SG/SM/22517, 10 January 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22517.doc.htm
• ‘Make 2025 new beginning, not as world divided but as nations united,’ Secretary-General urges in New Year Message (SG/SM/22512, 30 December 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22512.doc.htm
• Group of 20 countries must lead on delivering financial, climate justice, says Secretary-General, at Joint Meeting of Finance, Sherpa Tracks (SG/SM/22493, 11 December 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22493.doc.htm
• Climate finance deal in Baku could have been ‘more ambitious’, says Secretary-General, urging states to ‘turn commitments into cash’ (SG/SM/22472, 23 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22472.doc.htm
• Failure of Climate Finance Deal at Baku Conference ‘not an option’, Secretary-General tells Group of 20 Leaders (SG/SM/22464, 19 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22464.doc.htm
• Mandatory rules for all, businesses adopting transition plans key to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century, Secretary-General tells Stocktake of Integrity Matters Event (SG/SM/22456, 14 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22456.doc.htm
• Secretary-General declares ‘we must move much faster’, urging Leaders’ Meeting at Baku Climate Conference to keep pushing for high ambition outcome (SG/SM/22455, 13 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22455.doc.htm
• Action for justice and equity must surge alongside demand for minerals critical to energy transition, Secretary-General tells meeting at Baku Climate Conference (SG/SM/22454, 13 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22454.doc.htm
• Secretary-General urges leaders of Small Island Developing States, at Climate Summit, to use ‘moral authority’ and demand action, leadership, justice (SG/SM/22453, 13 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22453.doc.htm
• Early warning systems, protection from extreme heat ‘are not luxuries’, Secretary-General tells event at Baku Climate Change Conference (SG/SM/22452, 13 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22452.doc.htm
• ‘Let’s see Africa where it belongs: At the forefront of the renewables revolution’, says Secretary-General, at Baku Climate Change Conference (SG/SM/22449, 12 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22449.doc.htm
• ‘In an era of climate extremes, loss and damage finance is a must’, Secretary-General tells Baku Launch Event (SG/SM/22448, 12 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22448.doc.htm
• Eighty per cent of world’s population want more climate action, Secretary-General tells Baku Summit Opening Ceremony, stressing ‘they must be heard, not silenced’ (SG/SM/22447, 12 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22447.doc.htm
• Humanity paying price for torching planet, Secretary-General says at UN Environment Programme Adaptation Gap Report Launch, urging action to address climate calamity (SG/SM/22443, 7 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22443.doc.htm
• ‘I am on your side’, Secretary-General tells Youth Climate Change Conference, stressing ‘let’s push leaders to deliver’ on climate action, justice (7 November 2024, SG/SM/22444): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22444.doc.htm
• ‘Your voices are essential’ to drive climate action, justice, Secretary-General tells Religious Leaders’ Summit, urging fast, fair transition to durable, renewable future (SG/SM/22440, 5 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22440.doc.htm
• ‘We’re out of time’, Secretary-General declares at Launch of Environment Programme Emissions Gap Report, calling for government to take action at Climate Conference (SG/SM/22422, 24 October 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22422.doc.htm
• Secretary-General, at Pacific Island Forum Opening Ceremony, says greater financial, technological support for region crucial to protect climate, save world (SG/SM/22342, 26 August 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22342.doc.htm
• Following three hottest days on record, Secretary-General launches Global Action Call to care for most vulnerable, protect workers, boost resilience using data, science (SG/SM/22319, 25 July 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22319.doc.htm
• 5°C global temperature rise still possible, but not for long, Secretary-General warns Climate Promise 2025 Launch, urging clear, ambitious emission reduction targets (SG/SM/22203, 23 April 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22203.doc.htm
• 10 European cities on track to be climate-neutral by 2030, Secretary-General tells Regional Summit, stressing local leaders need seat at national policymaking table (SG/SM/22164, 18 March 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22164.doc.htm
• We must unite at front line of climate action, build better future together, says Secretary-General, in Message for World Meteorological Day (SG/SM/22161, 15 March 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22161.doc.htm
• Solidarity critical to addressing climate emergency threatening very existence of Small Island States, Secretary-General tells Latin American, Caribbean Summit (SG/SM/22145, 1 March 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22145.doc.htm
• As mounting climate chaos, food crisis undermine international peace, Secretary-General tells Security Council it must ‘act now’ to resolve conflicts, protect people (SG/SM/22133, 13 February 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22133.doc.htm

Further information

• Rio Conventions Synergy Platform: https://rioconventions.org/
• UN News Centre on Climate and Environment: https://news.un.org/en/news/topic/climate-change
  • 8 reasons not to give up hope – and take climate action (4 April 2022): https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115512
• International Court of Justice – Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change: https://www.icj-cij.org/case/187
  • World Court says countries are legally obligated to curb emissions, protect climate (UN News, 23 July 2025): https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/07/1165475
• The Climate Dictionary: An everyday guide to climate change (2 February 2023): https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/climate-dictionary-everyday-guide-climate-change
• UNDP Climate Promise – Helping countries reach their climate goals: https://climatepromise.undp.org/
• UNDP Campaign: Don’t choose extinction – A message to humanity from Frankie the dinosaur: https://dontchooseextinction.com/
• Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts:
  http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climatechange/
  http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change-2/
• Global Issues on the UN Agenda – Climate Change:
  https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/climate-change
• Historic UN Human Rights case opens door to climate change asylum claims (21 January 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/01/historic-un-human-rights-case-opens-door-climate-change-asylum-claims
• UN child rights committee voices support for children campaigning on climate change (27 September 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2019/09/un-child-rights-committee-voices-support-children-campaigning-climate-change
• Countries violate rights over climate change, argue youth activists in landmark UN complaint (24 September 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/09/1047292
• Audiovisual Library of International Law
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992 / Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes: http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/ccc/ccc.html
  • Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1997 / Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes: http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/kpccc/kpccc.html
  • Paris Agreement, 2015 / Introductory note by Daniel Bodansky: https://legal.un.org/avl/ha/pa/pa.html
  • Air, Atmosphere and Climate Change / by Paolo Galizzi: https://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Galizzi_EL.html
  • Protection of the Atmosphere and Codification and Progressive Development of International Law / by Shinya Murase: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Murase_EL.html
  • Climate Change and the Protection of the Ocean / by Dr. Nilüfer Oral: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Oral_EL.html
  • The International Climate Change Regime: Evolution and Challenges / by Ms. Lavanya Rajamani: https://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Rajamani_EL.html
  • The International Law of Climate Change after the Paris Agreement / by Mr. Jorge E. Viñuales: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Vinuales_EL.html
  • Climate Change and Population Movement / by Mr. Walter Kälin: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Kaelin_DPR.html
• Dag Hammarskjöld Library Digitization Blog – Convention on Climate Change: https://www.un.org/en/library/digitization-update-conv-climate-change
• UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library Research Guides – Climate Change – A Global Issue: http://research.un.org/en/climate-change
• United Nations Library Geneva Research Guide on Climate Change: https://libraryresources.unog.ch/climatechange
• UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Sea Level Rise – Selected Online Resources: https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-sea-level-rise/
• INTERVIEW: “Climate change is in everybody’s backyard” – Robert Redford (UN News Centre, 1 July 2015):  https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/07/503332-interview-climate-change-everybodys-backyard-robert-redford

Selection of Publications available online

• UN News Centre on Climate Change: https://news.un.org/en/news/topic/climate-change
• UNEP Publications on Climate Change: http://www.unep.org/publications/
• UNFCCC Publications: https://unfccc.int/about-us/press-and-media/publications
• IPCC Reports (including IPCC Assessment Reports): https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/
• The Emissions Gap Reports (UNEP): https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report
• World Bank Publications: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/browse/subject?startsWith=C
• General recommendation No. 37 (2018) on the gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction in the context of climate change (CEDAW/C/GC/37, 13 March 2018):
  http://undocs.org/CEDAW/C/GC/37
• Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development (DESA, October 2015): http://bit.ly/1icXmUr
• Turn Down the Heat Reports (World Bank): http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange/publication/turn-down-the-heat
• Protecting People Crossing Borders in the Context of Climate Change: Normative Gaps and Possible Approaches (UNHCR, February 2012): http://www.unhcr.org/4f33f1729.html

Mis- and Disinformation on Climate Change

• Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/information-integrity
• Myth Busters – The facts on climate and energy: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/mythbusters

• UNESCO launches free online course to tackle climate disinformation through media and information literacy (25 July 2025): https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-launches-free-online-course-tackle-climate-disinformation-through-media-and-information
• UNDP – What are climate misinformation and disinformation and how can we tackle them? (Explainer, 1 May 2025): https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/what-are-climate-misinformation-and-disinformation-and-how-can-we-tackle-them
• WHO/Europe – Communicating the climate crisis: the scientists contending with disinformation and climate anxiety (25 April 2025): https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/feature-stories/item/communicating-the-climate-crisis–the-scientists-contending-with-disinformation-and-climate-anxiety
• The World Bank Group’s Statement on Misinformation about Missing $41 Billion for Climate Financing (4 March 2025): https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statement/2025/03/02/world-bank-statement-on-misinformation-about-41-billion-climate-financing
• WMO joins Global Initiative for Information Integrity to fight climate disinformation
  (20 November 2024): https://wmo.int/media/news/wmo-joins-global-initiative-information-integrity-fight-climate-disinformation
• New UN initiative aims to counter climate disinformation (19 November 2024): https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157191
• UNESCO – Addressing Disinformation and Eco-Anxiety: Encouraging Youth to Take Positive Action on Climate Issues – The Campus explores how scientific disinformation and eco-anxiety influence young people’s perceptions of climate change: (13 September 2024): https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/addressing-disinformation-and-eco-anxiety-encouraging-youth-take-positive-action-climate-issues
• Tackling climate mis/disinformation: ‘An urgent frontier for action’ (UN News, 30 October 2023): https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1142972
• Five ways media and journalists can support climate action while tackling misinformation (UN News, 3 October 2022): https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/1129162