Climate change news

A new study commissioned by WWF-Belgium and conducted by the Institute for Environmental Studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam highlights the growing financial risks of climate change and continued fossil fuel reliance. The analysis underscores that climate change is no longer solely an environmental concern—it is a systemic economic and financial risk. The report draws clear connections between extreme weather events, inflationary pressures, and fossil fuel dependency. Belgium’s 2021 floods, which caused 41 deaths and over €2 billion in damages, exemplify how climate-related shocks are disrupting economies and straining public finances. Key findings emphasize that issues such as inflation, energy security, climate policy, and biodiversity loss must be addressed through integrated financial strategies. Concepts like “fossilflation” and “climateflation” are already material, affecting households, businesses, and national budgets across the EU. The study calls for urgent financial policy reforms: phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, scaling up investments in renewable energy, decarbonizing key sectors, and aligning fiscal and monetary frameworks to support sustainable infrastructure and resilient economic growth. Greening the financial system is not optional—it’s essential for long-term economic stability.

The convergence between climate and biodiversity has been getting increased recognition both from a scientific and a political perspective. This could be achieved through the implementation of national plans required under both Conventions and synergetic enabling conditions. The workstream will also aim to connect those plans to the Action Agenda and Presidency Pledges. Climate change has been recognized by the IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019) as the third driver of biodiversity loss; in its Sixth Assessment Report the IPCC has recently recommended that 30% to 50% of Earth’s land, freshwater, and ocean needs to be protected. Last year also saw a Global Report on Tipping Points2 that highlights that negative tipping points will have devastating impacts on people and ecosystems. Despite all those advances, WWF has identified an implementation gap for nature-related climate action. We believe that synergies between climate and nature must be integrated in national mitigation and adaptation strategies, targets and objectives and those must be aligned with biodiversity national strategies and plans. We also believe synergies must be considered under a whole-of-society approach, considering human rights and in partnership with local communities and indigenous peoples. WWF proposes a Belém Work Programme on Climate and Nature to be created in a Cover Decision or similar prominent text at COP30, with a year for Parties to discuss and propose a draft decision to be adopted at COP30. We envisage a minimum duration of four years for the workstream, with a decision to be adopted on conclusions/recommendations and its continuation. The conclusions/ recommendations should feed into the next GST. The workstream would be composed of an implementation component focused on designing solutions and assessing progress on specific themes (workshops) and a political component (Ministerials) with recommendations for Parties.

A unique opportunity exists now for governments to align their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). These plans, though developed under different global agreements, share a singular goal: a sustainable, climate-resilient, and biodiverse future. WWF Global NDC Enhancement Coordinator and one of the report authors, Shirley Matheson, says the GIZ-IISD-WWF report -Effectively Delivering on Climate and Nature:NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs Synergies. A Checklist For National Policymakers- is a practical rationale and checklist or creating synergies between these instruments. "When countries plan them in isolation, they risk duplicating efforts, wasting resources, or even making counterproductive decisions. But when coordinated, these strategies can maximize co-benefits, reduce climate and biodiversity risks, and promote social equity and gender includsion," she said. Nature-based solutions, ecosystem-based adaptation, and equitable governance models are central to this transformation—ensuring that climate actions do not harm biodiversity, and biodiversity efforts support climate resilience. With 2024 and 2025 being key years for NBSAP revisions and the next round of NDCs, governments have a rare, time-sensitive opportunity to break silos and build bridges. The checklist encourages high-level coordination, integrated assessments, joint financing strategies, and inclusive monitoring frameworks. It highlights the need for a just transition, where Indigenous knowledge, gender perspectives, and local voices are not afterthoughts—but drivers of change. To meet global climate and biodiversity goals, countries must act boldly and collectively. The future depends not just on how much we commit—but how well we connect our commitments. The path forward is clear: integrated action for people, climate, and nature. This brief, developed in co-operation between the Deutsche Gesellaschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and WWF. For more information contact Mandy Woods mwoods@wwfint.org

WWF has published a groundbreaking new resource: theToolkit for the Procurement of Lower Emission Steel, designed to empower corporate buyers with the knowledge, strategies, and tools needed to accelerate the decarbonisation of one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries. Steel production is responsible for approximately 7–8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With the technology to produce near-zero emission steel already available, strategic procurement decisions can be a major force in shifting the industry onto a 1.5°C-compatible path. The toolkit outlines how corporate procurement can directly reduce Scope 3 emissions, drive technological innovation, and future-proof supply chains against regulatory and financial risks. It provides clear guidance on how to begin sourcing lower emission steel, demystifies the complex landscape of standards and certifications, and explains why corporate demand is pivotal. With over 70% of the world’s blast furnaces approaching reinvestment age by 2030, the report warns that without strong signals from buyers, we risk locking in decades of high-emission production. “This is a decisive moment,” said Amanda Rejström, WWF’s Global Lead for Steel Decarbonisation. “The corporate sector has a historic opportunity — and responsibility — to reshape the future of steel. By choosing lower emission steel, companies can lead the market, meet climate commitments, and help secure a liveable planet.” WWF calls on all companies with steel in their value chains to integrate lower emission procurement targets into their climate strategies and to engage in collaborative initiatives such as SteelZeroand the First Movers Coalition. Download the toolkit and learn how to take action here. For more information, contact Amanda Rejström:amanda.rejstrom@wwf.fi

(GLAND, Switzerland) 24 April 2025 - In a world increasingly aware of the dangers posed by climate change and geopolitical tensions, ensuring energy security for all means one crucial step: ending our dependence on fossil fuels. Shifting rapidly to renewable energy brings more than climate benefits: it is a route to economic growth, lower energy bills for citizens, and stronger energy security. One trend stands clear from all others: while fossil fuel reserves dwindle, price volatility increases and secure delivery is at the whim of global geopolitics, renewable energy keeps growing in scale, reliability and affordability, helping many low-and middle-income countries reduce their dependence on importing fossil fuels. Recent energy crises - brought on by various factors post the COVID-19 pandemic and then the war in Ukraine - highlighted the inherent risks of the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. And, says WWF Global NDC Enhancement Coordinator Shirley Matheson, achieving the Paris Agreement’s global temperature goal of 1.5℃ is only feasible through a comprehensive phase-out of fossil fuels. And countries need to embed these implementation plans in their national climate strategy, called Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs. “Well-designed climate plans and policies can boost economies,” she says, citing a recent Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development report which found that well-designed climate actions can accelerate economic growth. In the UK, for example, the net-zero sector is expanding at three times the rate of the overall economy, creating high-wage jobs, enhancing energy security, and fostering innovation. Globally, taxpayers spent an astonishing $6 trillion annually subsidizing the fossil fuel industry. This could be redirected to fund initiatives aimed at energy security, renewable energy development, supporting communities facing the brunt of the climate crisis, and nature restoration. “Fossil fuels can no longer give us the energy security or the climate security we need. The IEA told us in 2023 that we cannot afford any new oil and gas if we are to meet our legally binding climate goals. Their members must include the phase out of fossil fuels in the national climate plans that they have to submit by before COP20 starts in November - instilling confidence for investment and innovation,” says Matheson. New NDCs must be submitted to UN Climate Change ideally by September this year, in line with the Paris Agreement. To assist countries to include the fair phase-out of fossil fuels in their national climate plans, WWF has published a new report - Phasing out Fossil Fuels Through NDCs 3.0: Guidance for Policy-Makers. The report aims to support governments in their NDC drafting processes, rather than providing a prescriptive set of measures. It offers guidance to teams drafting a country's NDC, namely by showing: how little countries are reflecting fossil fuel phase out in climate plans, suggesting why they should do so, and countering common arguments against the feasibility of phasing out fossil fuels; how countries might address consumption, production of oil, gas and coal in their national climate plans; and how to address aspects to consider before, during and after drafting the national climate plans. “Recently, a major survey of business leaders found that three-quarters associate renewables with better energy security. It’s time that the world’s political leaders caught up. Clear and actionable plans that detail how countries will phase out fossil fuels will instil the confidence for investment and innovation and will generate growth and the enduring jobs required for the future,” says Matheson. For further information, contact: Mandy Woods mwoods@wwfint.orgornews@wwfint.org

2024 was the first year that the global annual temperature exceeded 1.5°C, the limit beyond which, according to scientists, will be increasingly severe climate change impacts. This doesn’t mean we have breached the 1.5°C threshold set out in the Paris Agreement, but it underscores that the fact that global temperatures are rising beyond what humans have ever experienced. WWF Global Advisor Climate Change Adaptation Sandeep Chamling Raisays, "With every fraction of a degree of warming, the impacts of climate change will become more frequent and more intense, and adaptation will become that much harder and more expensive for people and nature. The capacity of humans and nature to adapt to climate impacts is not infinite, and when these tipping points are exceeded, loss and damage becomes irreversible." Current national climate plans – known as Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs – are intended to be‘roadmaps’ for addressing climate change by sharply reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience. But these plans are nowhere near ambitious enough to do that. The consequences are that climate risks are increasing, and thefrequency and intensity of extreme weather events is escalating. 2025 is the last opportunity for countries to meet the global emissions reduction target of at least 43% by 2030, and the last time national climate plans will be presented before this significant deadline. "Anchoring lossesand damagesin NDCs can provide the necessary plans and actions to safeguard people and nature. It canprovide countries with a more comprehensive climate response, and ensure that the most vulnerable communities can be assisted," he says. Countries can take four simple stepsto ensure that Loss and Damage is effectively reflected in their plans, says Chamling Rai. First, countries must define loss and damage in the national context. It is important for countries to include a definition of loss and damage in their national context in their NDC. Second, countries must describe the specific losses and damages that are already happening. It is also important that projected losses and damages related to different sectors or geographies based on different greenhouse gas emission and temperature-rise scenarios be included in their NDC. Third, countries must highlight ongoing initiatives being undertaken to avert, minimize and address losses and damages. These may include institutional frameworks, policies, on-the-ground implementation and financing measures. It is also an opportunity to highlight how the lack of global ambition to finance mitigation and adaptation actions exacerbates country losses and damages. Finally, countries must include specific contributions onloss and damage based on the first three steps. NOTE: Countries must update their climate plans and submit them to UN Climate Change byCOP30, scheduled to be held in Belém, Brazil in November 2025. NOTE: Read our report,Why Loss and Damage is essential for climate action in NDCs 3.0to get more information on this issue.

Norway published its white paper on climate yesterday, which includes the government’s proposal for its new national climate plan (called Nationally Determined Contribution or NDC). The proposal gives an emissions reduction target of 70%-75% by 2035. The Norwegian Parliament will make a final decision on the NDC and the emissions' reduction target in June. Responding to the news, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead, said:“This round of NDCs is the last chance for countries to announce plans - with targets and implementation plans - to reduce global emissions by at least 43% by 2030. By the next NDC cycle, it will be too late, and we cannot afford to fail the promise of the Paris Agreement.  “This is why Norway’s announcement of its emissions' reduction target is deeply disappointing on many levels, and even going surprisingly in the wrong direction; ignoring the vital 2030 mitigation gap and effectively backsliding on their previous 2030 target of reducing national emissions by 55%. “A country’s credible contribution to the Paris Agreement means committing to the highest possible domestic action. For this perspective, Norway is performing worse than its last NDC, making it one of the poorest efforts so far from a developed country. “The target published today indicates that Norway will be avoiding vital work within their own borders and rely on action abroad. We urge them to up their ambition before it’s too late. “Developing countries need assurance that the biggest polluters will do their fair share of emissions reduction in their own countries, so they will have the confidence to uplift their targets too.” Karoline Andaur, WWF-Norway CEO, said: “The Norwegian government has hit the snooze button once again on the climate crisis. It’s unbelievable that no binding target has been set for reducing emissions in Norway. The government is postponing policies and measures for the necessary energy transition. As our government now abdicates responsibility, it is up to the Parliament to do the job of ensuring a strong NDC.”

Our world is in the midst of a growing a climate crisis. To help solve it, we must rapidly transform our global energy system from one reliant on fossil fuels to one powered by renewable energy. Changing our energy system is crucial to reduce emissions and protect people and nature from the worst impacts of climate change. Renewables are a clean source of energy and represent the best option. But we are also in the middle of a nature crisis, and the impact of renewable energy on biodiversity must be carefully managed. In 2021, this thinking brought together like-minded organization together a new coalition, Coalition Linking Energy And Nature for action (CLEANaction). The six founder members are the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), Birdlife International, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and WWF. The goal of the Coalition is to ensure that the impact on nature by clean energy systems is fully accounted for prior to any installation. Now, three years since the formation of the Coalition, there are many more members, and a growing body of practical examples of ways to carefully assess the full impact of renewable energy projects, that help advance the global renewable energy transformation while prioritizing options that cause the least damage to nature. The CLEANaction Highlights 2024 report is a collation of such examples. These examples bring together all those aware of the link between energy and nature to work collaboratively in spreading knowledge and driving solution-oriented approaches and results. This enables shared best practice, appropriate siting, bridging data gaps, knowledge-sharing, promoting the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, and more. For more information, contact Dean Cooper at the Coalition here:cleanaction@wwfint.org And visit our website at panda.org/cleanactionfor more information.