Climate Action
How the United Nations Turned Environmental Crises Into Global Victories
October 24, 2025
On this day 80 years ago, October 24th 1945, the United Nations (UN) officially came into existence after its charter, the founding document of the international organization, was ratified by the United States, the Soviet Union, China, France, the United Kingdom, and other major signatories.
Since its inception, the UN’s main purposes involve upholding international peace and security, bridging the gap between differing nations in an effort to improve living conditions for all, and to serve as a reminder of the fundamental rights and freedoms for all individuals, regardless of race, sex, language, or religion.
It was not until 1972 that the United Nations convened its first major environmental summit, the UN’s Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm, Sweden. This historic conference marked the beginning of international environmental diplomacy. It led to the adoption of the Stockholm Declaration, which formally recognized the link between economic development, environmental degradation, and human well-being.
The conference also acknowledged the correlation between economic growth, the pollution of our planet, and the well-being of all people, and recognised the link between industrialization and environmental problems. Most importantly, it established the UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP). the first UN body dedicated to coordinating global environmental efforts, shaping policy, and promoting sustainability worldwide. The Stockholm Conference laid the groundwork for all future environmental agreements and frameworks, including the Rio Earth Summit (1992) and the Paris Agreement (2015).
And so it was 20 years after the Stockholm conference, the UN’s Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 1992 summit reiterated the interconnectedness between social, economic, and environmental factors, while bringing up what was at the time considered an achievable goal of integrating sustainable development across the globe. The summit led to many major achievements, including the creation of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which officially went into effect in 1994.
In light of this long and on-going history of the UN’s involvement in environmental issues, here’s some of their most influential policies and initiatives surrounding climate change.
The Worldwide Ban on Leaded Fuel
Spearheaded by the UNEP-led global Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV), the nearly two decade campaign to ban leaded fuel came to an end in 2021 when Algeria, the final country to use leaded gas, phased out its supply. This served as a huge milestone in improving global health and the environment.
Leaded fuel, which contains a toxic compound known as tetraethyl, had been used since 1922 to improve engine performance, and by the 1970s, nearly all petrol produced worldwide contained lead.
Lead has known detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Outside of the home, our soil can be contaminated by the lead used in leaded gasoline for cars and industry. Lead in the soil can be ingested as a result of hand-to-mouth activity that is common among children. It is linked to heart disease, stroke, some cancers, and the development of the brain, especially in children.
Even in our homes lead dust created by lead-based paint can be an issue if it is scraped, sanded, or heated during home renovations. Settled lead dust can also contaminate the air during general cleaning like sweeping and vacuuming. In 1978, the United States banned consumer uses of lead paint. As of January 2024, 48% of countries have confirmed that they have legally binding controls on the production, import, sale, and use of lead paints.
According to the UNEP, the ban on leaded fuels alone has been estimated to save over 1.2 million lives annually globally, avoid $2.4 trillion in healthcare expenses annually, among other costs, increase IQ points in children, and reduce crime rates.
While this is a huge win for the globe, the problem of fossil fuel cars, which emit greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, still looms. An estimated total of 1.2 billion cars are to be out on roads globally by 2030 with many relying on fossil fuels, especially in developing countries. Fossil fuel cars raise huge concerns for the future of our environment as they contribute to global warming and air polluting traffic.
Numerous countries have transitioned toward electric cars, but we must continue to keep pressuring governments to shift away from fossil fuels.
Join EARTHDAY.ORG’s Our Power, Our Planet initiative and call on global leaders to pave the way for a sustainable future through phasing out fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy. We invite you to sign our petition here.
The World Heritage Convention
In 1972, the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, also known as the World Heritage Convention. This international treaty is significant because it binds together two movements: the preservation of cultural sites and the conservation of nature.
By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage.
UNESCO
This convention allowed for the recognition of World Heritage sites to belong to everyone around the world, regardless of the territories in which the sites lie in. These include sites such as the Great Barrier Reef, Machu Picchu, and Petra.
As of October 2025, the World Heritage List has 1,248 sites that are part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee notes as having outstanding universal value. This list includes 972 cultural, 235 natural, and 41 mixed sites across 170 States Parties, which are countries that adhere to the World Heritage Convention.
UNEP’s Clean Seas Campaign
In 2017, the UNEP launched their Clean Seas campaign, which has become part of the largest global coalition to end marine litter and plastic pollution within oceans, lakes, and waterways. Clean Seas strives to raise awareness on the overconsumption of plastic products. As of 2021, nearly 11 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean annually.
It was noted in the same year, 2021, that at least 50% of Earth’s oxygen is derived from the ocean. Our oceans are home to the majority of Earth’s biodiversity, and they are the main source of protein for over a billion people worldwide. However, all of this is in jeopardy if we do not continue to work toward ensuring our oceans are plastic-free, and Clean Seas has been a driving force in ensuring we do not lose sight of this universally beneficial goal.
The Ocean is the lifeblood of our planet, yet we are poisoning it with millions of tonnes of plastic every year. The time has come to turn the tide on marine litter.
Peter Thomson, former president of the UN General Assembly
Since Clean Seas’ establishment, 69 countries have pledged their commitment to the campaign by implementing stronger legislative and policy initiatives at all governmental levels. These countries represent 76% of the world’s coastline and serve as a testament to the ongoing conversations surrounding preserving and protecting our water bodies.
Clean Seas also laid the groundwork for an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which was adopted in 2022 to “support Member States in negotiating a legally binding global plastics treaty.”
Ultimately, the campaign’s persistent outreach and collaborative efforts between governments, businesses, and individuals, is the driving force behind its success in continuing conversations of ridding the world of plastic pollution and preserving marine life.
Currently, the work of Clean Seas is continuing under the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) and the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign.
Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow
The UN’s continued involvement in environmental action and policies is a beacon of hope for the future of our planet. These achievements, despite some of their challenges, highlight that progress can happen when we work as a united front and implement bold and daring goals for future generations.
You can join EARTHDAY.ORG’s End Plastics campaign by signing the Global Plastics Treaty and call upon the UN and governmental organizations to enact policies that will lead to the reduction of plastic pollution, protection of human health, and ultimately, a waste-free planet.
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