Extreme heat is a serious threat to human health, and climate change is making it more frequent and intense. Heat-related deaths have surged by 23% since the 1990s, with more than half a million lives lost every year. is a World Health Organization initiative to protect event-goers, workers and communities from the rising risks of extreme heat, air pollution and ultraviolet exposure. This video explains how Heat-Health Action Plans can help governments, communities, workplaces and event organizers prepare for and respond to extreme heat. It also highlights practical steps individuals can take: stay hydrated, rest in shaded or cool areas, use sun protection, recognize the signs of heat illness and look out for others. Together, we can Beat the Heat.
Climate
Young people’s rights to a healthy environment, safe homes, decent work, health care, food and education are increasingly threatened by the climate crisis. As the largest generation in history, they are driving change as advocates, innovators, educators, researchers, entrepreneurs and community leaders. Yet barriers to resources, representation and decision-making persist. Empowering meaningful youth participation is essential to advancing climate justice, human rights, resilience, transparency and a sustainable future that leaves no one behind for generations to come. .
Extreme heat is no longer a future threat—it is a global crisis already claiming more lives each year than floods, storms and wildfires combined. As record-breaking temperatures and marine heat intensify, the strengthening is expected to push global temperatures even higher while disrupting rainfall patterns and increasing the risk of droughts, floods and . Yet proven solutions exist. Early warning systems, , nature-based solutions and resilient infrastructure can help protect lives and reduce the growing .
A child wades through water in Uvira, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, after El Niño-induced torrential rains caused Lake Tanganyika to overflow in 2024. El Niño is one of the world's strongest climate patterns, bringing droughts, floods and extreme weather that damage crops, disrupt markets and drive hunger in vulnerable communities. Because its impacts can be forecast months in advance, governments and humanitarian agencies have a critical window to act before food crises escalate. Through anticipatory action—such as cash assistance, food support, early-warning systems and climate monitoring—the World Food Programme helps families protect their livelihoods and reduce future losses.
Submit your best weather-inspired photograph to and showcase how weather, climate, and water shape our lives and planet.
As extreme heat intensifies worldwide, stronger monitoring, , and preparedness are essential to protect health and vulnerable communities.
In a special address at London Climate Action Week, United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, draws on the latest scientific evidence to show how the worsening climate crisis and growing energy insecurity are rooted in continued fossil fuels dependence. He outlines a clear pathway to accelerate the transition to a more secure, resilient and sustainable energy future: one powered by renewable energy, strengthened international cooperation, and science-based action.
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 , 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.
Football teaches us that the greatest matches are played as a team. And the future is, too.
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, the track Deep Down asks us to get moving, to get real, to stand up.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of El Niño developing between June and August 2026, with a more than 90% likelihood of persisting until at least November. Most climate models indicate a moderate to potentially strong event. Rising sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, supported by unusually warm subsurface waters and atmospheric indicators, confirm the developing conditions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres that El Niño could intensify the impacts of climate change and called for urgent climate action and support for vulnerable communities. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo , noting increased risks of droughts, heavy rainfall and heatwaves. WMO will continue monitoring conditions and issuing early warnings globally.
A new UN 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.
Heat was once routine for Sary Kea, a rice farmer in Cambodia, until extreme temperatures began ruining her crops. Repeated plantings failed as rains never came, draining her income and heightening anxiety about each season. Her story reflects a growing global crisis. A new shows how extreme heat, combined with shifting rain and drought, damages crops, livestock and livelihoods. The effects are personal: lower yields, unsafe working conditions and food loss. Solutions that reach farmers in time — early warnings, heat‑tolerant crops, cooling storage and basic worker protections — are turning heat from a sudden disaster into a risk farmers can plan around, helping families like Sary Kea’s stay safe and afloat.
In Kyrgyzstan’s rugged Batken Province, 70-year-old farmer Urinisa Tillabaeva is proving that tough land can still grow bright futures. With a new greenhouse, drip irrigation, and hands-on training, she no longer waits out the long winter months—she harvests beyond the traditional season, boosting yields and turning tomatoes into steady income for her family. As a leader in a local women’s farming group, Urinisa Tillabaevais helping her community trade uncertainty for resilience—growing more and wasting less. She is among 4,500 farmers participating in a new World Food Programme () project aimed at boosting incomes and diets and adapting to deepening weather extremes in one of Central Asia’s most climate-vulnerable countries.
In 2025, the UN climate conference closed with an agreement to strengthen support for developing countries. The outcome includes stronger commitments on adaptation support and climate finance, alongside equity-based and just transition mechanisms. Grounded in science and solidarity, it advances practical solutions while amplifying the voices of affected communities. Learn how collective action can deliver real climate change and watch our video .