A Glass Half Full: A Conversation with the UNDP's Boaz Paldi on Climate Action and Hope

The climate crisis represents one of humanity's biggest challenges, but within this challenge lies an unprecedented opportunity for transformation. As the world tackles urgent environmental concerns, innovative solutions and collaborative approaches are emerging across the globe. As we head into 2025, we sat down with Boaz Paldi, Chief Creative Officer of UNDP, to get his take.

Boaz oversees UNDP’s advocacy, flagship campaigns, events, and activations. In 2021 Boaz launched the #DontChooseExtinction campaign that has been viewed by over 2.2 billion people across the globe. Boaz continued the drive for climate actions with the recent launch the #Weather Kids campaign that clearly illustrates the cost of the climate emergency to the next generations.

In his view, climate progress is about seeing the glass "half full". Read on.

Q: In your role at UNDP working across 170 countries, you've seen countless climate initiatives. What are the most promising developments that make you optimistic?

"Overall there's optimism in the air," Paldi shares. "The climate emergency has a glass-half-full side to it. It's an opportunity for humanity. We need to create thousands and millions of jobs to build a green economy. Trillions of dollars will flow in, and it's all happening as we speak. We need to make sure it speeds up and scales as quickly as possible. We just don't have time, but all the signs show we're moving in the right direction."

"The story out of China is what makes me most optimistic," he continues. "China was supposed to hit peak emissions in 2030, and now we know they're doing it in 2025 and turning the curve downward. If the biggest emitter can do it, everyone can do it."

"The most important thing is getting everyone involved. We need to get as many people to be part of this transition and bring them in so they see themselves in it. I'm super optimistic. We'll beat this together as humanity, not as U.S. and Uganda, but as humanity fighting a global challenge."

Q: The UNDP has been key in connecting business leaders with climate solutions. Can you share some success stories of private sector engagement?

"At UNDP, we work in 170 countries. We're on the ground with global knowledge at the local level. We work with national leaders - government, NGOs, civil society, and private sector. We bring solutions we see into those spaces," Paldi explains.

"What really stands out at UNDP is our work on the NDCs - we help 125 countries with their NDC plans. We help them figure out how to cut emissions without hurting their public, especially those who are poorest and least able to cope. What's important is that we leave nobody behind, and that everyone gets to be part of the transition."

Q: As Chief Creative Officer, you've led innovative campaigns like "The Weather Kids" and "Don't Choose Extinction." How can we better communicate climate progress to inspire action rather than eco-anxiety?

"The narrative around climate emergency has been negative for too long. We need to change that. We need to look at the glass half full and make sure people understand they can play a part in this opportunity. We all have the power to make a difference," Paldi asserts.

"Moving forward with hope works better than fear. I don't believe in using fear tactics. The campaigns we've built might start with a bit of urgency, but they quickly move into hope."

Paldi continues, "For me, it's crucial we move past the fear and doomsday stuff and switch to a story of hope and opportunity. I don't buy into this idea that there's some cliff we'll fall off if we pass 1.5 degrees, or even at 2 degrees. Sure, we'll face more challenges, and we'll have to deal with them, figure out ways to adapt and live with them. But it's not doomsday. We need to show people what's possible when we transition to a greener economy."

"People need to understand there's hope and a future ahead. And inside that future, there's something better."

Q: You've worked with diverse communities worldwide. What have you learned about how different cultures approach climate solutions?

"Solutions pop up everywhere," Paldi states. "?You've got innovators there living with climate challenges every day, coming up with solutions and trying to bring them to market. What's happening in sub-Saharan Africa is incredible, but they don't have access to credit or ways to scale up."

"Here's the thing - we need to think about the climate crisis as one big global program, not get stuck in nationalist thinking. The atmosphere doesn't care where the U.S. stops and Mexico begins. This is a global problem that needs global solutions, and those solutions can come from anywhere. They might come from India, Kenya, or Brazil, and work just as well in the U.S."

"In my opinion, we're seeing nationalism rise because of fear. People want to huddle up and protect themselves, but that's exactly the wrong move. We have to keep getting this message across. The only way forward is unity, not nationalism. Working together as humans is how we'll get out of this mess, and I really believe we can do it. I'm optimistic about that."

Q: Based on your experience, what positive climate developments do you expect to see in the next 5-10 years that might surprise people?

"We're going to see a big push toward carbon capture - that's going to be a huge part of the solution. Just cutting emissions won't cut it - we need to actually pull carbon out of the atmosphere," Paldi predicts. "The switch to electric is going to happen way faster than people think, with more EVs, planes, and ships. The whole transportation scene is going to change dramatically - that's something everyone can see and relate to."

"You'll see other big changes too - lots of countries are going to move away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy much faster than expected. I'm hoping we'll finally ditch fossil fuel subsidies. We don't need them anymore; they're outdated and actually hurt us. They're holding us back in the fight against climate emergency."

"When we get to COP 30, I'm optimistic we'll come out with a stronger version of the Paris agreement - one where we all push for that 1.5-degree target. That needs to stay our goal, even without U.S. involvement right now. We're going to see Europe, China, and hopefully India really step up on cutting emissions. The international process isn't perfect, but it's not beyond fixing either."

And that’s all for this issue of Climate Positive. Please do share any positive news/stories you see that would be a fit. The more positivity and awareness we can build around progress, the more action we can inspire through hope. Like and follow if you'd like to see more. And if you'd like my team to help, tell your positive climate story, ping me at [email protected].