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Last year brought both successes and disappointments in global efforts to tackle the triple planetary crisis: the crisis of climate change; the crisis of nature and biodiversity loss and desertification; and the crisis of pollution and waste.

UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2024: No more hot air … please! is the 15th edition in a series that brings together many of the world’s top climate scientists to look at future trends in greenhouse gas emissions and provide potential solutions to the challenge of global warming. As climate impacts intensify globally, the report finds that nations must deliver dramatically stronger ambition and action in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions or the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal will be gone within a few years.

This reports considers transformation required in the sectors of electricity supply, industry, transport and buildings. It furthermore investigates cross-cutting systemic transformations of food systems and the financial system, illustrating that there is immense potential to reduce emissions beyond current mitigation pledges.

Climate risks are increasing as global warming accelerates. Strong mitigation and adaptation are both key to avoiding hard adaptations limits.

Tens of thousands of chemicals exist in commercial products and processes many of which have hazardous properties. Risk reduction measure aim to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of these hazardous chemicals.

The world is facing severe challenges. Billions of people around the world are suffering the consequences of the climate emergency, food and water insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ecosystems are an indispensable ally as we meet these challenges. Protecting them and managing their resources in a sustainable manner is essential. But just increasing the protection and sustainable management of our remaining natural landscapes and oceans will not be enough, the planet's degraded ecosystems and the huge benefits that they provide must also be restored.

The need to mitigate climate change, and the role that nature can play in doing so, are recognized under multilateral agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Since the launch of the 50 reefs portfolio in 2018, the worlds coral reefs have experienced continued climate change impacts that have led to mass coral bleaching and mortality.

The key highlights of this month issue include: - Outcome of the Geneva biodiversity conference - Blue Deal for economic recovery and sustainable growth - Roles of indigenous communities in biodiversity protection - Rise in online wildlife trade - Financing chemicals and waste management - Plastic taxes as new environmental policies - Regionalizing UNEA 5.2 plastic resolution in East Africa - Promoting the Science-Policy-Society Interface of synthetic biology - Launching ACP MEAs 3 Youth Engagement and Training Initiative in Europe

The programme in the first quarter of 2022 include the key actions: - Promoting the science policy society interface of synthetic biology - Strengthening national capacity for effective implementation of chemicals and waste related MEAs in African countries. - Empowering youth in the eastern Africa region. - Galvanizing political will in the western Indian ocean region for the protection of coastal and marine resources. - Webinar on the feasibility and benefits of a transition to mercury-free lighting in CARICOM. - Supporting community based interventions on wastewater management in the Caribbean - Helping Antigua and Barbuda in phasing out mercury added products - Training Samoan government on sustainable development in the tourism sector - Launching ACP MEAs 3 youth engagement and training initiative in Europe.