By Grace Samuel
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has issued a call for urgent climate change awareness campaigns to tackle the pressing global challenges linked to climate change.
During the launch of the Weather Kids Climate Change Awareness Campaign project in Abuja recently, UNDP’s Administrator, Achim Steiner, stressed the critical need for immediate action.
Steiner highlighted that the campaign was a collaborative effort with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Weather Channel.
This initiative forms part of UNDP’s broader mission to foster discussions and mobilize efforts to address climate change, particularly in the lead-up to the COP30 climate talks scheduled for Brazil in 2025.
The primary objective of the campaign is to raise awareness about the far-reaching impacts of climate change and inspire individuals worldwide to take proactive measures to protect future generations.
Weather Kids, a pivotal component of the campaign, serves as a crucial tool in raising awareness about the imminent dangers posed by climate change.
Steiner emphasized that without swift and comprehensive action to transition towards clean energy and decarbonize economies, the planet’s prospects for current and future generations would be bleak.
Furthermore, the Weather Kids initiative aims to safeguard and rejuvenate the environment while empowering communities to actively engage in their respective countries’ climate commitments.
Steiner highlighted that Weather Kids content, supported by UNDP’s climate initiatives, is broadcasted on news channels in over 80 countries, providing audiences with regular weather updates and educational content on climate change.
Additionally, the Weather Kids campaign seeks to bolster countries’ efforts to adhere to the target of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a critical goal in the fight against climate change.
Steiner underscored the pivotal role of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in this global endeavor.
The recent establishment of the UNDP Climate Hub, which offers extensive support for climate action in nearly 150 nations, represents a significant milestone in UNDP’s efforts to combat climate change.
Additionally, UNDP’s Climate Promise initiative has played a pivotal role in addressing climate change by collaborating with 85 percent of developing countries worldwide on their NDC submissions, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The launch of the Weather Kids Campaign marks a crucial step forward in raising awareness, mobilizing action, and galvanizing global efforts to address climate change, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.