Africa’s Tourism Boom: 12% Global Surge in H1 2025, Morocco Leads
Africa posted the fastest tourism growth in H1 2025, with a 12% rise in arrivals led by Morocco's 19% surge, boosting jobs and $61.8 bn revenue, says UNWTO.
Zurab Pololikashvili – The Man Behind UNEP’s Climate Drive
If you’ve heard the name Zurab Pololikashvili lately, it’s probably because he’s pushing big climate and biodiversity moves at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). He’s not just a bureaucrat; he’s a former diplomat from Georgia who turned his love for nature into a global career. In plain terms, he’s the guy trying to make the planet a safer place while juggling politics, finance and local communities.
Career Highlights and Why They Matter
Zurab started out in the Georgian foreign service, working on energy and environmental issues. By the time he joined the UN in 2016 as Executive Director of UNEP, he already had a track record of negotiating tough deals. One of his early wins was helping shape the Paris Agreement’s implementation tools, making sure countries actually follow through on their promises.
Since taking the helm at UNEP, he’s championed the Global Environment Facility and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Those programs funnel billions of dollars into projects that restore forests, clean up oceans and support renewable energy in developing nations. The result? More than 200 million hectares of land got a second chance, and countless jobs popped up in green sectors.
Another signature move is the Adaptation Fund push, which he restructured to speed up funding for vulnerable communities. Instead of waiting years for paperwork, projects now get cash in months, letting villages rebuild after floods or droughts faster.
Current Priorities at UNEP
Right now, Zurab is laser‑focused on three fronts: climate action, biodiversity loss, and waste reduction. He’s leading the charge on the “30 by 30” goal – protecting 30% of the planet’s land and sea by 2030. In practice, that means more marine reserves, stricter deforestation rules and stronger enforcement on illegal poaching.
On the climate side, he’s promoting the Nature‑Based Solutions agenda, which ties carbon‑capture projects to local livelihoods. Think mangrove planting that stores carbon while safeguarding coastal towns from storms. He’s also pushing a global plastics treaty, aiming for a phased ban on single‑use plastics and better recycling infrastructure worldwide.
Zurab’s style is pragmatic. He often says the best solutions come from “local people knowing what works for their land.” That’s why he spends a lot of time in the field – from Kenyan savannas to Pacific islands – listening to community leaders and translating their needs into UN policies.
For anyone following climate news, you’ll see his name pop up in headlines about the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) and the latest biodiversity summit. He’s also active on social media, sharing short videos that break down complex topics into bite‑size facts. If you’re looking to understand why the UN is moving faster on green finance, his speeches give a clear snapshot of the direction.
Bottom line: Zurab Pololikashvili blends diplomatic skill with a genuine passion for the environment. Whether you’re a student, a policy maker or just someone who cares about clean air and water, his work offers a roadmap of what global cooperation can achieve when it’s driven by realistic, community‑first solutions.
Stay tuned to this tag page for the latest articles, interviews and analysis that feature Zurab’s initiatives and how they impact everyday life around the world.
