20 World Events on Climate Change and Environmental Issues in 2020

COP21 in Paris, France (Photo: U.S. Department of State)

The year 2020 will be the year of climate action and for many years to come. Until 2019, we have witnessed how climate change and environmental problems could contribute to worsening the extreme weather events that are happening worldwide. We also watched the powers of the youths’ voices worldwide raising people’s awareness and pushing governments to act accordingly on the climate crisis.

The world does have some yearly major agendas to be followed up by us. Some are global agendas with a relating theme on climate and environment, some are specifically-organized to fully discuss the climate crisis and find the solutions in the form of climate action around it. events on climate change and events with a theme on climate change.

Below are some of those world events, whether it is a regional or international event on climate change and environmental issues and how countries should and will act on the matter.

January

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

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Date: 21-24 January | Location: Davos-Klosters, Switzerland | More information

This year World Economic Forum Annual Meeting marks the 50th annual meeting and the Forum’s anniversary. The theme is “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.” The Meeting aims to assist governments and international institutions in tracking progress towards the SDGs and the Paris Agreement and facilitate discussions on trade governance and technology.

The Meeting will prioritize six key areas that are ecology, economy, technology, society, geopolitics, and industry. Addressing the urgent climate and environmental challenges are one of the four global issues that will be featured prominently on the Meeting’s agenda. The 2020 Annual Meeting will be among the most sustainable international summits ever held. It is 100% carbon neutral and were awarded the ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management.

Initiatives taken by the Meeting include using locally-sourced food suppliers which 90% of the food served is seasonal food, reducing or eliminating the use of materials that are difficult to be recycled or reused which will produce 25% less waste than the 2019 Annual Meeting, using 100% renewable electricity, and 88% of the cars used are electric or hybrid.

54th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum

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Date: 27-29 January | Location: Mombasa, Coast, Kenya | More information

The 54th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF 54) will be held under the theme “Mitigating Climate Risks for Resilience.” It’s organized by the IGAD and the ICPAC in collaboration with the Kenya Meteorological Department, the WMO, the AfDB, and other partners.

The Forum will bring together climate scientists and researchers from key sectors including socioeconomic sectors, governmental institutions, NGOs, decision-makers, and civil society stakeholders.

February

World Biodiversity Forum

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Date: 23-28 February | Location: Davos, Switzerland | More information

The Forum is organized by the international research network bioDISCOVERY and the University of Zurich Research Priority Programme Global Change and Biodiversity. This conference will contribute to the 2020 vision of the new global biodiversity framework “New Deal for Nature” by viewing biodiversity through the lens of an Earth system approach and highlight the solutions ecosystems provide to sustainable development.

52nd Session of the IPCC

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Date: 24-28 February | Location: Paris, France | More information

The IPCC is a UN body that assesses science on climate change. The IPCC currently in its sixth assessment cycle. The outputs of this cycle are the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) and three special reports: the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15); the Special Report on Climate Change and Land (SRCCL); and the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC).

The Panel’s objective is to provide governments across the world with scientific information they can use to develop climate policies. One of the main agenda in the 52nd session of the IPCC (IPCC 52) will be to consider the outline for the IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report. IPCC reports are a key input into international climate change negotiations.

March

Africa Climate Week 2020

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Date: 9-13 March | Location: Kampala, Uganda | More information

The Africa Climate Week (ACW) is a part of the Regional Climate Weeks (RCWs) organized by the UNFCCC. RCWs is a series of events that act as a collaborative platform for diverse stakeholders to address the relevant climate issues together. It is held annually in three regions: Africa, Latin-America and Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific. As of 2020, it’ll include the Middle East and Northern African region.

The ACW 2020 will provide space for individuals, organizations, public and private sectors’ stakeholders for a grassroots exchange of knowledge and best practices across the African region on the implementation of SDGs, Global Climate Action (GCA), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

7th Climate Change Online Conference

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Date: 23-30 March | Location: Virtual | More information

The 7th Climate Change Online Conference (CLIMATE2020) will take place exclusively on the internet and convened by the Research and Transfer Centre of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. Some of its specific themes to be addressed include climate finance and access to funding, intelligent climate planning, and climate change as a threat to biodiversity.

April

Adaptation Futures 2020

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Date: 27-30 April 2020 | Location: New Delhi, India | More information

Adaptation Futures 2020 is the 6th Adaptation Futures international conference series on climate change adaptation ever held. It will be co-hosted by The Energy And Resources Institute (TERI) with the World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP). Adaptation Futures is the flagship event of the WASP and act as a global platform for various stakeholders such as scientists, policymakers, academia, and practitioners to discuss actionable solutions on adaptation issues.

As the conference will be the first to be held in Asia, it will allow highlighting adaptation challenges in the Asian context that differs in term of social, economic, political, and cultural aspects. As for India that has a high reliance on sectors such as agriculture and forestry for livelihoods and resources that is climate-sensitive, it will gives visibility to the required adaptation for India and other developing countries.

May

8th International Nitrogen Initiative Conference

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Date: 3-7 May | Location: Berlin, Germany | More information

The 8th International Nitrogen Initiative Conference (INI2020) is a triennial event that bring together scientists all around the globe to deal with reactive nitrogen compounds in many sectors including agriculture, traffic, industry, water, soil, and air. Most of the SDGs are closely interlinked with the nitrogen cycle.

Related to that, the Conference’s goal is to stimulate the exchange of ideas, results, and visions among policymakers and stakeholders to improve reactive nitrogen management. It is to reduce and avoid more hunger, poverty, and hazards for human health, biodiversity, and the environment in general.

3rd Pacific Ocean Pacific Climate Change Conference

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Date: 27-29 May | Location: Samoa | More information

This will be the third Pacific Ocean Pacific Climate Change Conference ever held. The theme of this biennial conference is “Blue Pacific, Climate Action for Climate Resilience.” The conference acts as an opportunity to hear how Pacific countries are responding to the challenge of the Paris Agreement. It’s also to advance the conversation on the climate crisis impacts and its solutions on the Pacific’ people. The official site will be launched in early September 2020.

June

5th Sustainable Summits Conference

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Date: 1-5 June | Location: Kathmandu, Nepal | More information

The 5th Sustainable Summits Conference in Nepal is an international conference for sharing solutions for protecting and preserving the world’s mountain regions. It’s inspired by the escalating pressures on the mountain environments from overcrowding, waste, noise, and more. It’s also to highlight climate change issues and its impacts on Nepal’s mountain environments.

IUCN World Conservation Congress 2020

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Date: 11-19 June | Location: Marseille, France | More information

The quadrennial IUCN World Conservation Congress brings together thousand leaders and policymakers from many sectors including government, business, civil society, academia, and indigenous peoples. Its goals are the conservation of the environment and harnessing the solutions that offered by nature to the global challenges.

The most recent Congress took place in Hawai’i, USA from 1 to 10 September 2016. It was attended by around 10,000 participants from 180 countries and generated over 21,000 news articles and reached 75 million people on social media. There are also 120 decisions on major conservation issues taken by the IUCN Members at the 2016 Congress.

July

3rd World Symposium on Climate Change Communication

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Date: 6-7 July | Location: Warsaw, Poland | More information

The 3rd World Symposium on Climate Change Communication will be an interdisciplinary event, mobilizing scholars, social movements, practitioners, and members of governmental agencies to execute projects and/or undertaking research needed on climate change communication all over the world.

The 2020 theme is “Using Communication to Transform Research and Policy on Climate Change Adaptation.” The Symposium is organized by the WSD-RTC of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Warsaw, and the ICCIP, in collaboration with the UNEP, the WHO, the WMO, the ESCWA, and other partners.

Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week 2020

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Date: 6-10 July | Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | More information

The Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week (LACCW) is a part of the Regional Climate Weeks (RCWs) organized by the UNFCCC. RCWs is a series of events that act as a collaborative platform for diverse stakeholders to address the relevant climate issues together. It is held annually in three regions: Africa, Latin-America and Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific. As of 2020, it’ll include the Middle East and Northern African region.

The LACCW 2020 will provide space for individuals, organizations, public and private sectors’ stakeholders for a grassroots exchange of knowledge and best practices across the Latin America and Caribbean region on the implementation of SDGs, Global Climate Action (GCA), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

August

7th Our Ocean Conference

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Date: 17-18 August | Location: Palau | More information

The 7th Our Ocean Conference will have six areas of focus that is climate change, marine pollution, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economy, and maritime security. The Conference will draw global partners to find solutions to the sustainable management of marine resources, increasing the ocean’s resilience to climate change, and safeguarding the ocean’s health for future generations.

September

75th Session of the UNGA

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Date: 15-30 September | Location: New York City, US | More information

The 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 75) will be the place for its 193 Member States to discuss and work together on a varying array of international issues such as development, international law, peace and security, environment, etc. The views and ideas captured by the UN will be presented to world leaders and senior UN officials at a high-level event on 21 September.

Climate Week NYC 2020

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Date: 21-28 September | Location: New York, US | More information

Climate Week NYC will be a week-long events program that includes panel discussions, concerts, exhibitions, seminars, and more. It invites governments, businesses, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and individuals. Climate Week NYC is organized by The Climate Group and will run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York. The 2020 Climate Week NYC is on track to surpass the 2019’s record of 150 events.

October

53rd Session of the IPCC

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Date: 6-10 October | Location: TBA | More information

The IPCC is a UN body that assesses science on climate change. The IPCC currently in its sixth assessment cycle. The outputs of this cycle are the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) and three special reports: the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15); the Special Report on Climate Change and Land (SRCCL); and the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC).

Climate Adaptation Summit 2020

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Date: 22 October 2020 | Location: the Netherlands | More information

Climate Adaptation Summit 2020 (CAS) is a global leaders summit organized in collaboration with the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) to reflects the need to successfully adapt to the climate. It is intended to showcase the accelerated action undertaken during the Year of Action on the impacts of our changing climate. It also acts to raise countries’ aspirations on adaptation for the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow, UK.

The CAS will be a high-level event that brings together government officials at all levels, international organizations senior figures, private sector entities, NGOs, civil society, academia, youth groups, and many others. The summit also coincides with a Climate Adaptation Week from 19 to 23 October 2020 with key events held in Groningen and Rotterdam. There’ll also various initiatives to take place in the form of supporting events and side events to advance the global climate adaptation agenda.

November

COP26

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Date: 9-20 November 2020 | Location: Glasgow, UK | More information

The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UNFCCC is expected to take place in Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, UK from 9-20 November 2020. Up to 30,000 participants and 200 world leaders are expected to attend the conference. The chosen city of Glasgow is one of the UK’s most sustainable cities and Scotland was one of the first countries in the world to acknowledge the global climate emergency and act on it.

The world leaders will come to discuss action-based solutions to tackle climate challenges on a global scale in the COP26. The Conference is a rare chance for the world to works together to tackle climate challenges and because of that, it has a high stake and a tense atmosphere.

G20 Leaders Summit 2020

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Date: 21-22 November | Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | More information

The 15th meeting of Group of Twenty (G20) will be themed “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century For All.” The G20 is the highest forum for international economic cooperation that gathers the world leaders of the largest economies of the world to discuss financial and socioeconomic issues.

There will be three key agenda items under the 2020 theme: “Empowering People, by creating the conditions in which all people – especially women and youth – can live, work and thrive”; “Safeguarding the Planet, by fostering collective efforts to protect our global commons”; and “Shaping New Frontiers, by adopting long-term and bold strategies to share benefits of innovation and technological advancement.”

The Summit will be the place to see world leaders commitments to curb greenhouse gases by aiming for “net zero” by 2050. Also, to found a common ground and agree on climate change deal similar to that signed in Osaka and Argentina.

December

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Last updated on January 8, 2020

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