Key Resources

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• Paris Climate Agreement  -- full text of the agreement

  • The US and the Paris Agreement (brief summary from UNA--PDF) (from 2016)

• COP27, November 2022.  High level meetings to address the defining issue of our time -- climate change.

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) -- Established in 1988 with the World Meteorological Organization, the IPCC is the premier international organization coordinating and disseminating scientific information on climate change.

  • Recent reports

    • Global Warming of 1.5 ºC -- A special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. 2018

    • Assessment Reports -- The IPCC regularly produces reports outlining the state of scientific knowledge for causes, impacts, and needed responses to climate change

• Sustainable Development Goals. Promulgated in 2015, the goals identify targets in 17 distinct area designed to reach a more just society.  

  • Goal 13 focuses on climate change.

• UN Videos on Climate Change -- A large collection of videos discussing many aspects of climate change and the UN's role in combating it.

• Global Climate Action Portal  -- "platform where actors from around the globe - countries, regions, cities, companies, investors and other organizations - can display their commitments to act on climate change."

 

UN News on Climate and the Environment
 

• UN News Channel --Keep up with UN News on climate and the environment.

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Main Bodies

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• General Assembly

  • Resolution 73/232. Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind 

• Security Council

  • Climate change recognized as ‘threat multiplier’, UN Security Council debates its impact on peace

 

Departments and Programs

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• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• United Nations Environment  -- the primary agency charged with coordinating international responses to environmental challenges.  Search here for up-to-date information on UN activities related to climate change

• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  

  • Human Rights and Climate Change

  • In Harm's Way: International Protection in the Context of Nexus Dynamics Between Conflict or Violence and Disaster or Climate Change

Specialized Agencies

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The UN family of agencies includes many with specialized missions, including the study of the effects of climate change.

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) --  Published research on agricultural systems around the world, including their effects on climate change and the potential for mitigating GHG emissions with system changes.

  • Agriculture and Climate Change.  Challenges and Opportunities at the Global and Local Level - Collaboration on Climate-Smart Agriculture 

• World Meteorological Organisation. -- conducts research in meteorological systems and the effect of greenhouse gases on how those systems operate.

  • WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2018

 

Non-Governmental Organizations

Non-governmental organizations with consultative status at the UN have a formal role in the development of UN policies and programs.  They work most closely with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)  A complete list of NGOs with consultative  status is available at the UN website

• World Resources Institute

• Climate Institute

 

Local Organizations & Research Centers

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• Citizen's Climate Lobby: State College Chapter -- connect with others in our area who are concerned about climate change

• Pennsylvania Power and Light: Communities of Faith Responding to Climate Change

• Climate Change Research at Penn State

  • Earth and Environmental Systems Institute

    • Center for Climate Risk Management

  • Biomass Energy Center

  • Penn State Sustainability Institute

  • Penn State Brandywine Student develops podcast about climate change

• State Impact Pennsylvania: Climate Change.  A collaboration among WITF, WHYY, WESA, and The Allegheny Front.

 

Local News on Climate Change

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• Pa. has no standards for teaching climate change in the classroom — so it might not be taught at all (State Impact Pennsylvania)

• How will climate change impact animal ag in Northeast? (Penn State Dept of Agriculture)

• Centre Climate: How does climate change affect Centre County? Look to ticks, trees and trout (CDT)

• ‘It’s like gambling every year.’ How changing weather patterns affect Centre County farmers (CDT)

• Invasive plants thrive in shifting climate conditions. (The Bradford Era)

• Conversations Live:  Revisiting Climate Change.  WPSU interview with Penn State professors Dr. Richard Alley, Dr. Erica Smithwick, and Dr. Jonathan Brockopp.

• The secret scourge of climate change? More raw sewage in Philadelphia's waterways.  (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Penn State's Richard Alley explains why a few degrees Celsius matters for climate change (WITF)

• The Philosophy of Climate Denial.  (The Allegheny Front)