The bad news is hard to avoid. Evidence of a rapidly warming planet, conflicts and inequality are often right in front of our eyes. But despite the constant barrage of alarming headlines, there are many reasons for hope and even optimism – vital states of mind if we are to continue to fight for a more sustainable, safer and fairer world.
The Amazon is a treasure trove of biodiversity and accounts for more than half the world’s rainforest. In 2023, Amazonian deforestation dropped dramatically compared to the year before, reflecting shifts in political will, stronger environmental law enforcement and the tireless work of countless organizations especially, the region’s Indigenous caretakers who show time and again that they have the knowledge and commitment to lead in protecting natural environments.
Although the Amazon is often referred to as the ‘lungs of the Earth’, much more carbon is sequestered by our ocean, a massive ‘carbon sink’ retaining far more carbon than it releases. The ocean is also responsible for most water vapor, and its stability can be a handbrake for dangerous climate change feedback loops. As part of UNDP’s Nature Pledge, 132 countries are receiving support to prepare national strategies, with world-changing goals such as the protection of 30 percent of land and 30 percent of ocean areas by 2030.
From Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, plastics are everywhere, even in our bloodstreams.
Work has advanced on a global treaty to end plastic pollution in the ocean and on land. The current draft includes proposed text covering all stages of the plastic lifecycle, promoting better product design to reduce plastic use and improve recycling and ensuring a just transition towards a circular economy. The treaty negotiations are expected to be completed in the coming year.
Cambodia is one of many countries taking ownership of this issue in Southeast Asia, where the highly polluted Mekong River is one of the more visible effects of the crisis. UNDP is working with the government, private sector and civil society to address the issue and ensure the country’s low carbon future.
The Red Sea is one of Earth’s most precious marine environments, as well as an important commercial conduit and a vital source of income for the millions who live along its shores. Yet it had been teetering on the brink of an environmental catastrophe. For several years, an oil storage tanker, the FSO Safer had been stranded by war off the coast of Yemen with a volatile cargo of 1.1 million barrels of crude oil.
In August UNDP led an international marine salvage operation to remove the oil. The threat of an economic and ecological disaster was averted.
“A remarkable global coalition came together under the UN umbrella to prevent the worst-case scenario of a catastrophic oil spill in the Red Sea.” – David Gressly, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen
Progress has been made to end our fossil fuel addiction. Alternative energy, particularly solar, is finding its place in the sun, prompted by prices which have plunged by 93 percent in the past decade, and new innovations which are making it more accessible, even in the remotest communities.
From private homes to massive industries, solar photovoltaics have the flexibility to go big or small. The International Energy Agency reports solar is gaining ground every year and is projected to pass the installed capacity of natural gas by 2026 and that of coal by 2027.
UNDP works around the world to make sure solar panels are not just a luxury for the rich. Mini grids and other new variations of solar power and even hydro power are making people more productive and more empowered.
The tiny, remote South Pacific nation of Tokelau, embodies this trend. Seventy-five percent of its power is solar, which means it mostly avoids expensive fluctuations in energy markets and has slashed its diesel fuel bills.
At the 2023 Africa Climate Summit, determined African leaders resolved to lead on renewable energy, sustainable land use and the latest climate technology.
The climate crisis is increasingly tied to the potential for conflict. In a historic move, Sahelian countries meeting in Mali approved a landmark declaration to keep their citizens safe in a heating world.
“Whether it's the impacts on vulnerable communities or the potential for conflict linked to diminishing resources, it's clear that climate security is not just an environmental issue; it's a matter of human security.” – Nicole Kouassi, UNDP Resident Representative in Niger
A just transition is being pursued in the Balkan States, where carbon heavy industries are working as part of UNDP’s Climate Promise on ways to reach net zero emissions and build more resilience to global heating.
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai culminated in the "UAE consensus”, an ambitious response to the first global stocktake on the Paris Agreement, as well as a historic decision on loss and damage. Nearly 200 parties agreed to formally “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems”. While there has been criticism that the language did not go far enough, it is a positive shift.
“Given 2023 is the hottest year on record, reaffirming that goal underscores the urgency of climate action at speed and scale, aligning with what the science is telling us. The declaration should be considered the starting point for more ambition, not the endpoint. Fundamentally, countries have agreed that successful economies of the future will be net zero.” – Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator
Young people have not given up on the future. They are leading climate strikes, innovating, creating meaningful work, and bringing new ideas to the global conversation.
Three years after announcing the first cohort of Generation17, UNDP welcomed three new young leaders, chosen from more than 1,400 applicants. Zubair Junjunia, Priscilla Efe Johnson and Mock Yi Jun joined this group of advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Almost all the leaders met in Seoul for an event organized by Samsung Electronics, another remarkable milestone. They attended the Galaxy Unpacked event and a mentorship session with the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre director, among other activities that equipped them to advance their initiatives.
While gender equality is still a distant dream, legal frameworks and social norms remain biased against women, and gender-based violence continues to take a horrific toll, more women are assuming political leadership, despite the risks to their safety.
UNESCO reports this year that greater numbers of girls are in school—50 million more have enrolled since 2015. They are equalling boys in mathematics and outdoing them in reading.
UNICEF data show that child marriages are becoming less common. Today about 19 percent of young women were married as children, compared to 23 percent a decade ago.
UNDP is supporting a new cohort of countries employing the UNDP Gender Equality Seal for public institutions, with ministries of finance and tax authorities, setting up for economies that work for women.
Without a doubt, 2023 has been a difficult year. But it's important to remind ourselves of the things the global community, working together, has been able to achieve. From averting a maritime disaster to agreeing to agree to end plastic pollution, these large and small victories can inspire even more collaboration to improve our world.
© 2026 United Nations Development Programme
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