UNDP Archives - Disasters News

May142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Turkmenistan Leads Cryosphere Resilience Efforts with National Climate Workshop in Ashgabat

Ashgabat hosts critical regional initiative to transform climate strategies into national action as Central Asia responds to escalating cryosphere challenges Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, became a key hub of regional climate dialogue on May 12–13, 2025, as it hosted a high-level national workshop focused on translating Central Asia’s climate resilience strategies into actionable national plans. This pivotal event is part of a broader international initiative under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), dedicated to strengthening cryosphere monitoring and fostering sustainable development across Central Asia. The Ashgabat workshop, the fourth in a se...

Feb102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate-Driven Wildfires Could Reshape Global Emissions Accounting: UN Expert

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Opinions

The growing impact of climate-driven wildfires is forcing a rethink in how greenhouse gas inventories calculate emissions, says Minal Pathak, an associate professor at Ahmedabad University and co-author of the United Nations Emissions Gap Report. For the first time, the 2024 report has included wildfire emissions, highlighting the complexities of accounting for these fires in global climate data. Pathak explains that wildfires are categorized as either natural or anthropogenic, with the latter resulting from activities like agricultural burning. While CO₂ from fires is often considered carbon neutral since forests can regrow and reabsorb emissions climate change is altering this balance, making it harder to predict how forests recover and store carbon. Recent wildfires in Los Angeles...

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Jujube Trees Offer Hope Amid Conflict and Climate Struggles in Afghanistan

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

In Afghanistan’s war-torn Nangarhar province, a simple but powerful solution is transforming lives: the jujube tree. As conflict, poverty, and climate change converge, afforestation efforts are providing both environmental protection and economic opportunities for displaced communities. Nestled along the Pakistan border, Nangarhar has long been a hotspot for violence and migration. Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees struggle with poverty, lack of resources, and increasingly extreme weather. Flash floods regularly devastate homes and farmland. “Every year, the floods come, destroying everything,” says Abdul Aziz, a resident of the Samar Khail Araban camp. Seeking a solution, local communities turned to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Th...

Nov232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Japan and UNDP Join Hands to Build Disaster-Resilient Evacuation Centers in Laos

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Vientiane, November 24, 2024: The Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have partnered to construct 12 state-of-the-art evacuation centers in the disaster-prone provinces of Khammouane, Salavan, and Champasack in Laos over the next three years. The initiative, valued at $3.8 million, aims to enhance disaster resilience and foster a culture of preparedness in the region. At the signing ceremony, H.E. Mr. Koizumi Tsutomu, Japan's Ambassador to Laos, emphasized the importance of the project: "This initiative not only ensures safety during emergencies but also promotes disaster awareness and preparedness. Japan remains committed to strengthening Laos' resilience as a strategic partner." A Lifeline for Vulnerable Communities The Strengthening Disast...

Sep62024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Crisis Linked to Surge in Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa: UN Report

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A recent report from the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, highlights a deeply troubling connection between climate change and intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings suggest that tens of millions of women and girls in the region will face catastrophic levels of violence if the world fails to curb rising global temperatures. According to projections, the number of individuals experiencing intimate partner violence could nearly triple by 2060, reaching 140 million in the worst-case scenario of unchecked emissions and stalled socioeconomic development. The report, Climate Change Impacts and Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa, was produced by UNFPA in collaboration with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and ...

Jul92024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Afghan Communities Strengthen Resilience Against Climate Change Induced Disasters

Breaking News, Environment

Afghan people continue to face increasingly severe impacts from climate change-induced disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and droughts. Afghanistan ranks as the world's seventh most vulnerable country to climate change despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions. Flash floods, in particular, have wreaked havoc, causing loss of life, displacement, and extensive damage to infrastructure in Jalalabad, Nangarhar. Recognizing the urgent need for sustainable and durable solutions, UNDP, with funding from the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA)'s joint regional program, has implemented several projects aimed at increasing the resilience of local communities, particularly those with high concentrations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees. These i...