As climate change drives more extreme weather, early warning systems are vital to protect lives and economies. These systems rely on climate information—data from sensors and stations—transformed into insights for forecasts and planning. Despite their proven value, investment remains low. Yet early warnings can cut damage by 30% and yield up to 10x returns. In sectors like agriculture and energy, better climate services could unlock over $160B annually in global economic gains.

Floods, cyclones, and wildfires devastate communities, but these disasters are shaped by human choices—where we build, how we farm, and what we invest in. Climate change amplifies these hazards, causing over $200 billion in annual damages and $2.3 trillion in total costs. The human toll is immense: displaced families, lost livelihoods, and stalled development. Yet, many governments spend less than 1% of budgets on disaster risk reduction. The choice is clear: invest in resilience or keep paying for disasters. 

Peru is a leading producer of coffee and cocoa, ranking fifth and seventh globally, respectively. These crops are mainly grown by small farmers on the Andean slopes, supporting over 200,000 coffee and 100,000 cocoa families. Cocoa cultivation has been actively promoted as an alternative to illegal coca leaf production, leading to a significant expansion from 41,000 hectares in 2000 to 177,000 hectares today. However, both sectors face challenges like low competitiveness, poor sustainability, and limited access to training and financial services. Most family farms are small, and producers often rely on traditional practices, resulting in low yields and contributing to deforestation. High-quality producers are scarce, and market prices are volatile. Additionally, an aging population continues to bear the burden of agricultural labor in these communities.

The concept of Blue Voyage – or Mavi Yolculuk in Turkish – refers to a traditional sailing journey along Türkiye’s southwestern coast. In Türkiye’s Bodrum Peninsula, the “Blue Voyage” tradition faces threats from rapid tourism growth and coastal degradation. Once rich in marine life, Bodrum’s shores declined as seagrass meadows—vital carbon sinks and habitats—were removed. In 2023, marine biologist Mert Gökalp and the Underwater Research Society launched Project Posidonia with UNDP-GEF support, mapping 2,185 hectares of seagrass, identifying risks, and recommending marine protections. Beyond science, the project fostered community dialogue, waste and mooring reforms, and international collaboration. 

Half of the global population is 30 years old or younger, making up the largest and most educated youth generation in history. Yet, young people continue to face systemic barriers to participating in decisions that affect their lives. Empowering this demographic is essential, not only to uphold their rights, but also as a global strategy to promote conflict prevention, social cohesion, and a sustainable future. Since 2022, with support from the UNDP’s Corredores de Paz (Peace corridors) programme and funding from Sweden, several youth-led proposals have been incorporated into the Cauca Development Plan, and young leaders have been elected as municipal councilors.

Carbon markets allow the trading of carbon credits, which represent a reduction or removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Buyers, including governments, companies, and individuals, purchase these credits to offset their emissions. Carbon credits are generated through activities like forest protection, wetland restoration, renewable energy adoption, methane capture from landfills, and improving energy efficiency. Once verified, the credits can be exchanged to help meet emission reduction targets cost-effectively. After purchase, the credits are retired, preventing reuse.

For 60 years, United Nations Development Programme has partnered with governments and communities to reduce inequalities, create jobs, support crisis recovery, and promote inclusive, sustainable development worldwide.

Being in debt can be burdensome, and similarly, our obligations to Earth are growing. We are depleting the planet's resources through deforestation, food waste, overfishing, and fossil fuel extraction at an alarming rate. This year, Earth Overshoot Day, which indicates when we surpass the Earth's annual resource replenishment ability, fell on July 24. At our current consumption rate, we require 1.75 planets to support our lifestyles. Since 1971, when we were within planetary limits, our consumption patterns have increasingly disregarded the needs of future generations.

Across Latin America and the Caribbean, young leaders are rising to confront the climate crisis, advocate for justice, and build resilient communities.

In Colombia's mountains and forests, the spirit of Mother Earth resonates through nature, traditional chants, and misty landscapes. This profound connection inspired the Comunidades Indígenas por los Bosques (Indigenous Communities for the Forests) initiative, led by UNDP Colombia. Supported by the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) and Climate Promise, it aims to empower Indigenous Peoples' organizations in their efforts for biodiversity and climate resilience. The initiative is rooted in ancestral knowledge, cultural heritage, and Indigenous governance, highlighting the importance of preserving both the land and its traditions.

The ocean, covering over 70% of our planet, is vital for human existence but faces crises from pollution, overfishing, and climate change. Grassroots actions are essential, exemplified by Shabib Asghar, a PADI Dive Master and UNDP Youth4Climate awardee from Pakistan. After his first dive in 2015, he became Director of Marine conservation Pakistan and launched the Reef Revival Initiative in 2025, focusing on organic coral propagation without artificial structures. Leading a dedicated team, Shabib empowers youth through hands-on projects, promoting sustainable practices like eco-friendly fishing and habitat restoration to protect coastal ecosystems.

Franklin Olivo was exploring the Tagarkunyal jungle in Panama's Darién province when he encountered a harpy eagle, the largest eagle in the Americas. This bird, recognized as Panama's national symbol, holds significant cultural importance for Indigenous groups and plays a crucial role in the rainforest ecosystem. However, it faces threats from hunting and habitat loss, particularly in the Darién region, which is also plagued by poverty and illegal activities. Despite economic pressures from agriculture, logging, and mining, the Guna and other Indigenous Peoples play a vital role in conserving the rainforest through their traditional knowledge and community stewardship. Franklin's sighting of the eagle was part of a monitoring project initiated by Guna leaders to empower local youth as environmental guardians.

Dayana Blanco, from Bolivia, and Maggie Bukowa, from Zambia, represent two influential voices of change within a global network dedicated to talent, conviction, and passion, which serves as the foundation for the Equator Initiative. This initiative recognizes the invaluable wisdom and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities worldwide. Supported by the governments of Norway and Germany, the Equator Initiative aligns with the UNDP's Nature Pledge and Climate Promise initiatives, which aim to enhance livelihoods while safeguarding nature and human rights. The inaugural Equator Prize was established in 2002 during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, also known as Rio+10, building upon the commitments made during the landmark 1992 Earth Summit.

In April 2025, wildlife officials confirmed the sighting of the critically endangered Malayan tiger in Southern Thailand after a decade-long absence. This discovery, captured by camera traps in Bang Lang National Park, also revealed other wildlife like tapirs and wild elephants, emphasizing the idea that thriving tiger populations benefit the entire forest ecosystem. The Malayan tiger, native to Peninsular Malaysia, numbers fewer than 150 in the wild. Successful population rebounds in countries like Bhutan and India highlight the importance of political commitment and conservation efforts supported by organizations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility.

Development has led to significant achievements like longer lives and less poverty, but these gains are threatened by deep global changes, including geopolitical tensions, shifting populations, and climate shocks. The UNDP's report "Development at Risk: Protecting Gains and Unleashing Opportunities Amid Crisis" urges the global community to prioritize risk reduction. It recommends three key actions: rethink development outcomes by incorporating measures of wellbeing and resilience beyond GDP, reimagine governance through empowering local institutions and data use, and reboot cooperation by investing in long-term, flexible solutions. These strategies aim to transform risks into opportunities for advancing development effectively.