Life on Land

The latest Sustainable Development Goals report shows that the development agenda is delivering for communities, but not evenly or fast enough. Political will, sustained investment and international cooperation are needed amid growing pressures.

As heatwaves become increasingly severe and long, the UN is supporting communities by improving access to water, addressing the health impacts of extreme temperatures and leveraging both nature and new technologies.

Governments are reporting the highest levels of satisfaction with UN development support since reforms of the development system began nearly a decade ago. But continued progress will depend on sustained political engagement and more predictable financing.

Young leaders across the globe are solving environmental and human development challenges by improving how people interact with nature, valuing diverse ways of thinking and enabling more inclusive participation in shaping solutions.

Nestled in the Ring of Fire, Tonga is the world's second most at-risk country to natural hazards. Under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, the UN is working with partners to chart a future for the island that is not only resilient, but also sustainable.

In the lush Bolivian Amazon, a UN programme promotes sustainable agricultural practices that improve productivity while conserving biodiversity. Small-scale producers working with the programme are translating their harvests into existing international value chains.

As climate change pressures natural resources and intensifies disaster hazards, Tajikistan is building on its longstanding water leadership by leveraging new AI technologies that sustainably manage water sources and enhance climate resilience.

With most Comorians living within two kilometres of the coast, the UN and partners are supporting investments that will safeguard 140,000 residents by restoring, protecting and sustainably managing the natural resources that comprise the islands' natural defences.

With the High Seas Treaty now in effect, the UN is building on existing support to ensure that high seas and international seabeds are managed for the benefit of all humanity, offsetting the ecological destruction wrought by unsustainable economic interests.

As climate impacts fuel tensions over scarce resources in Mali, the UN is working with partners on a number of resilience projects, including reviving traditional institutions to manage natural resources and implementing early warning systems.

Youth in Myanmar are turning their climate anxiety into positive action, building resilience in their communities and restoring ecosystems with reforestation efforts.

In 2025, the urgency of climate action is undeniable. Spotlighting ten solutions that prove that scaling action now can drive justice, jobs, resilience and still bend the curve towards the 1.5-degree limit.

The reality is that change is happening, and it affects our everyday lives. From grassroots initiatives to national policy, we are seeing progress that is real, measurable, collective and worth scaling up. 

With the Amazon at the crossroads of climate action, biodiversity, and inclusive development, UN Resident Coordinator in Brazil Silvia Rucks reflects on how community-driven solutions, backed by the Brazil–UN Fund with support from Canada, are fostering resilience, equity, and hope across the region. 

Landlocked Developing Countries face unique challenges and Resident Coordinators through their UN country teams, is helping them turn these barriers into bridges for development.