Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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December 26, 2025 Climate and environment
Humanity is rapidly approaching an "ecological tipping point," warns a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). However, changing course is still possible—with a large-scale transformation of key systems, from the economy to food.
The report "Global Environment Outlook 7th Edition: The Future We Choose," published earlier this month, notes that environmental degradation already threatens human health, economic sustainability, and the future of the planet. However, the report's authors emphasize that with decisive action, the worst-case scenario can be avoided.
UNEP calls for a transformation of five interconnected systems – economic and financial, energy, food, materials and waste management, and environmental management.
Experts estimate that by 2050, these reforms could prevent up to nine million premature deaths, lift 100 million people out of poverty, and reduce malnutrition for 200 million people. By the end of the century, they could generate up to $100 trillion in annual economic benefits.
“Transforming these five systems will require a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort on a scale the world has never seen, but it is absolutely essential if we are to build a fairer and more sustainable planet,” said UNEP Chief of Science Maarten Kappelle.
Well-being beyond GDP
The report recommends abandoning a narrow focus on gross domestic product and instead focusing on the true value of natural resources, for example through so-called natural capital accounting. This will allow countries to make decisions that simultaneously benefit the economy and the environment, as GDP ignores important factors, including the long-term economic consequences of environmental degradation.
Transition to a "cyclical" economy
The report's authors call for a reallocation of $1.5 trillion in annual subsidies that harm nature, particularly in the energy, extractives and agriculture sectors.
Circularity—the reuse, repair, and recycling of resources—must play a key role. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the need to encourage investment in clean technologies, incentivize environmentally responsible behavior among citizens, and obligate businesses to compensate for all environmental damage.
Energy transition and food systems
With more than 80 percent of the world's energy still produced from fossil fuels, the report urges accelerated development of renewable sources and improving energy efficiency.
In the food sector, UNEP recommends promoting more sustainable diets, reducing food waste, developing organic agriculture and alternative food sources.
Protecting nature is the foundation of a sustainable future
In the face of the "triple planetary crisis"—climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss—the protection and restoration of ecosystems is identified as a key priority. The report calls for expanding protected areas, implementing nature-based solutions, and ensuring equitable management of shared resources.
UNEP emphasizes that only a comprehensive and coordinated approach will enable humanity to preserve the planet and its own future.
Land degradation
The report examines in detail the consequences of continuing business-as-usual development models. Greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 1.5 percent annually since 1990. reaching a new high in 2024, leading to rising global temperatures and intensifying the impacts of climate change. The cost of dealing with the consequences of extreme weather events related to climate change over the past 20 years is estimated at approximately $143 billion per year.
An estimated 20 to 40 percent of the world's land resources have been degraded, affecting over three billion people. One million of the world's estimated eight million species are threatened with extinction.
Nine million deaths annually are linked to some form of environmental pollution. The economic costs from health damage alone air pollution amounted to about $8.1 trillion in 2019, or 6.1 percent of global GDP.
The environment will deteriorate sharply if humanity continues to develop its economy along the current path. If no action is taken, by the early 2030s rise in average global temperature, will likely exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and in the 2040s, will exceed 2 degrees and continue to increase. Under this scenario, climate change will reduce annual global GDP by 4 percent by 2050 and by 20 percent by the end of the century.
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