9 January 2009: Prince Albert II of Monaco has begun a month-long visit to Antarctica to assess the impact and raise awareness of climate change.
31 December 2008: The UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Climate Neutral Network has reported that Air New Zealand successfully tested a new jatropha-fuelled jumbo jet. The airline said the experience demonstrated that jatropha biofuel is suitable for use in airplanes without the need for engine modifications.
December 2008: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that, after a year where weather-related disasters resulted in approximately US$200 billion in damages, many are anticipating 2009 to be a year of progress in the fight against climate change. In particular, many are looking towards the new US administration to make big changes with regard to climate change policy.
19 December 2008: The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Steering Committee has published a report on GCOS planning and implementation activities during 2007-2008. The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) is a joint undertaking of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Environment Programme, and the International Council for Science.
December 2008: The SEED Initiative, a global network founded in 2002 by IUCN, the UN Development Programme and the UN Environment Programme to contribute towards the goals in the UN's Millennium Declaration and the commitments made at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, has called for nominations for its annual award.
3 December 2008: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with the UN/OCHA Integrated Resource Information Network (IRIN), has launched a film series titled “Gathering Storm - The humanitarian impact of climate change.”
11 December 2008: The Year End Snapshot of the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), compiled by the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Risø Centre, reveals that worldwide over 4,200 CDM projects have been developed or are in operation.
10 December 2008: At a side event held during the 14th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, in Poznan, Poland, members of the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) discussed the role of insurers in developing innovative products to respond to the increasing number of weather-related disasters, to insure forests, and to smooth out uncertainties in renewable energy.
9 December 2008: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) have announced the completion of the nearly US$1 million Joint Geophysical Imaging project in Kenya. The project tested new seismic and drilling techniques to tap steam from hot underground rocks, and found wells of steam able to generate 4-5 MW of electricity, with one well yielding 8 MW.
8 December 2008: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and three solar companies have issued a joint statement calling for widespread and rapid implementation of policies supporting solar energy as a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction.
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