The 2026 World Cup demonstrated that mega-sporting events could leave cities greener, not just busier. Toronto, Seattle and Mexico City turned tournament pressure into long-term environmental gains through net-zero facilities, restored parks, native tree planting, reusable foodware, food rescue and stronger recycling systems. Expanded public transit, cycling routes and walkable streets also helped fans choose lower-carbon travel. The tournament showed that when cities paired major events with community action and lasting partnerships, the final whistle marked the beginning of a healthier, more sustainable urban future.

The world has more than 20 billion football-pitch-sized parcels of land, but nearly 40% are already degraded by deforestation, unsustainable farming, urban expansion and climate change. Every second, the equivalent of four football fields is lost, threatening food security, biodiversity, livelihoods and the climate. Forests continue to shrink, and most farmland is already degraded or at risk of desertification. Yet there is hope: countries and communities are restoring ecosystems on a massive scale, with pledges to revive 1.4 billion football pitches of land—showing that collective action can restore nature, strengthen economies and secure a healthier future for people and the planet.

The planet is sending signals we cannot ignore as emissions and urban heat effects intensify extreme heat, threatening lives worldwide.

A single pair of jeans carries a surprisingly large environmental footprint, consuming thousands of litres of water, generating greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to chemical pollution and textile waste throughout its life cycle. As demand for fast fashion grows, these impacts are placing increasing pressure on natural resources and ecosystems. In a new UNEP documentary, supermodel and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Amber Valletta travels to Tunisia to explore the hidden environmental cost of making jeans—and the innovations helping transform the denim industry. Valletta highlights how sustainable production, greater transparency, and informed consumer choices can help reshape fashion into a more responsible and circular industry.

From the polluted waters of the Mediterranean in the 1970s to cleaner coastlines today, UNEP shows how international cooperation and sustained environmental investment can restore marine ecosystems and improve lives.

Extreme heat is one of the most urgent and fast-growing climate challenges facing cities today. Around the world, urban areas are experiencing more frequent, intense, and prolonged heatwaves, affecting health, infrastructure, and daily life. Through the 50@50 initiative, cities are coming together to share solutions, strengthen resilience, and protect communities. From expanding green spaces and cooling public areas to improving urban design and early warning systems, cities are exploring people-centred approaches to stay safe in a warming world. Learn how cities are shaping a more resilient future.

Land is essential to life, providing food, water and raw materials, yet more than 2 billion hectares worldwide are degraded, affecting over 3 billion people. As droughts intensify and temperatures rise, restoring ecosystems is critical to protecting biodiversity, food security and freshwater resources. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), everyone has a role to play. Key actions include promoting sustainable agriculture, protecting soil health and pollinators, restoring freshwater ecosystems, reviving coastal and marine habitats, bringing nature back into cities, and increasing investment in ecosystem restoration. These efforts are central to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), a global initiative to scale up action for a healthier, more resilient planet.

The limbo reimagined asks: How low can we go? How low can we keep global warming to safeguard our planet for future generations? In partnership with‪@alok‬, the track Deep Down asks us to get moving, to get real, to stand up.

Inclusion means fostering respect, dignity, and safe spaces where diverse identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences are valued so that everyone can fully participate in shaping a more sustainable future.

A new UN report argues that cutting emissions from buildings and construction is not only essential for tackling climate change, but could also reduce energy costs, improve living conditions, and make housing more affordable worldwide. The report warns that decarbonising buildings and construction is progressing too slowly, despite the sector generating 37% of global emissions and nearly half of all material extraction. While buildings are becoming more energy efficient, rising construction activity and continued fossil fuel dependence threaten climate goals. The report calls for stronger policies, investment, and low-carbon construction to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

In Andhra Pradesh, millions of farmers are restoring degraded land and improving livelihoods, which promotes natural farming practices that rebuild soil health, protect biodiversity, and reduce reliance on chemical inputs.

We waste over 1 billion tonnes of food each year, squandering the resources behind its production and transport. This loss equals 1.3 discarded meals for every person facing hunger, making it both a humanitarian tragedy and a climate threat, as up to 10% of global emissions come from wasted food. Addressing the problem requires action across the entire food system—from policy to agribusiness—yet individuals can also help reduce waste. Here are seven practical tips.

Seagrasses are one of the most widespread marine ecosystems on Earth, covering around 300,000 square kilometres of seabed in 159 countries. When compared to colourful coral reefs, or mysterious mangroves, seagrass meadows may appear simple, but they are vital ecosystems supporting marine life, sustaining fisheries and storing large amounts of carbon while protecting coastlines. As these habitats rapidly disappear, the United Nations is raising awareness through World Seagrass Day and global restoration efforts to help protect biodiversity and combat climate change.

Around 2 billion people welcomed the Year of the Horse last week. Horses have shaped ecosystems for millions of years and supported human societies for millennia. As the world marks the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, the United Nations Environment Programme highlights how wild, feral and domestic horses aid restoration, from Kazakhstan’s rewilding efforts to seed dispersal and water access for other species. When sustainably managed, they strengthen ecosystems, support communities from Central Asia to the Andes, and exemplify resilience and cooperation—key lessons for environmental action.

Mariam Issoufou (Champions of the Earth 2025 winner) transforms traditional Sahelian architecture into climate-smart solutions that protect communities from extreme heat, reduce energy use, and lower carbon emissions. By blending heritage with innovation, her designs revive local craftsmanship, support sustainable livelihoods, and create safe, comfortable spaces across Niger and Africa.