Download Climate Change News 27 April 12

Climate change in the news
Issue 27 – 3rd April, 2012
Recent Agriculture & Forestry Articles/ Publications
1. FAO Examines Action on Climate Change in Agriculture
2. Crops for the future; surviving climate change
3. Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Issues Final Report
4. UNDP/SPC Introduces GIS Mapping for Land and Forest in Solomon Islands
5. World Water Day Focuses on Food Security
6. New FAO publication - Forest Management and Climate Change
7. ITTO, FAO Workshop Addresses Global Forest Reporting
8. PACC Project Assesses Climate Vulnerability of Ontong Java Communities
9. CCAFS Reports Examine Accessibility of Climate Finance for Smallholder Farmers
10. A new web tool has been developed to help improve the accuracy and extent of
land use and forest cover information
11. SPC, FFPRI to Cooperate on Forestry Research
12. HLPE - Food Security and Climate Change - V0 draft report available for public
feedback and comments
13. ICTs and Food Security: Connecting the Dots
REDD+
1. UN-REDD Reviews its 2011 Activities
2. Lessons from REDD+ from how to become a Forest-Adding Country
3. New publication: A framework for integrating biodiversity concerns into national
REDD+ programmes
4. UN-REDD Newsletter Questions Whether REDD+ Will Work in Fragile States
General
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
We Need Many Strong, United Voices to Combat Climate Change
SPC Assists Tonga in Adapting to Climate Change
GEF SGP Showcases Activities in the Pacific
Asia-Pacific Forum Focuses on Mainstreaming Adaptation into Development
New book on the links between Climate, Environment and Disasters
Increasing demand and climate change threaten global water supplies – UN
report
Opportunities and Events
1.
2.
3.
4.
FAO Launches e-Learning Course on Food Security and Climate Change
Science Communication Workshop, Fiji: Call for applications
TckTckTck and Climate Nexus Launch Rio+20 Video Speech Contest
Asian Development Bank Climate Change on Twitter & Facebook
FAO Examines Action on Climate Change in Agriculture
March 2012: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has produced a
report aimed at catalyzing thinking on how the agricultural sector can be fully integrated
into national strategies on climate change and into the UNFCCC framework.
The paper, titled "Action on Climate Change in Agriculture: Linkages to Food Security, Markets, and
Trade Policies in Developing Countries," provides overviews of: climate change and agriculture;
agricultural mitigation and adaptation; a role for agriculture under the UNFCCC framework;
agriculture and climate change under international trade rules; the funding shortfall; and
recommendations for steps forward.
Noting the different challenges posed by mitigation and adaptation, the paper proposes focusing
mitigation efforts on: a greater reliance on renewable energy; the reduction in use of fertilizers and
chemicals; and organic agriculture and conservation agriculture.
On adaptation, the paper stresses that much adaptation occurs autonomously at the local level as
farmers adjust their planting schedules. On world trade, the paper highlights the challenge of
adjusting world trade rules to incorporate and consider environmental measures. It underscores that
financing remains a major challenge and stresses the need to coordinate over-arching, programmatic
strategic approaches to help address climate change and development challenges
concurrently. [Publication:Action on Climate Change in Agriculture: Linkages to Food
Security, Markets, and Trade Policies in Developing Countries]
Crops for the future; surviving climate change
Wednesday 28 March 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva –Twenty-six
participants from across the Pacific are currently in SPC’s Pasifika Conference Room, Suva,
attending a regional consultation to evaluate crop diversity as a tool for managing climate
variability.
In his opening remarks, Acting Director of SPC’s Land Resources Division, Mr Inoke Ratukalou,
said, ‘SPC’s Climate Change Engagement Strategy identifies ways in which SPC will apply its
technical expertise across the different sectors to assist Pacific Island countries and territories
(PICTs) in their climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.
‘Changes in temperature, rainfall, loss of agro-biodiversity, salt water intrusion, extreme weatherrelated natural disasters and changes in pest and disease regimes will have severe repercussions
for agricultural production,’ Mr Ratukalou said, and explained that under all these climate change
projections, crop and food production losses will occur, but the level of damage will depend on the
adaptation responses and risk reduction measures put in place across various food production
systems.
In 1996, Pacific Ministers of Agriculture recognised the importance of a regional effort in
maintaining the unique diversity of Pacific crops to support food security. This led to establishing
a climate-ready collection under the International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative (ICAAI),
funded by the Australian Agency for International Development.
ICAAI provided funds to SPC’s Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT), which houses the
collection, to help farmers better manage climate change through crop diversity.
The collection consists of crops and varieties that have demonstrated climate tolerant traits; they
are available to PICTs for distribution and evaluation to determine their effectiveness in their own
local conditions.
The meeting this week will hear
some of these evaluations, as well
as other components of the ICCAIfunded project, such as developing
a methodology for screening for
drought and salinity tolerance, and
breeding for drought tolerance. In
addition, presentations will come
from countries that have been
conducting
agrobiodiversity
studies,
working
with
local
communities to record their
observations on climate variability
and the response of local crop
varieties and imported material to this variability.
Other presentations will cover the Pacific Climate Change Science Programme, and two reports
from studies funded by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency under the Pacific
Adaptation Strategy Adaptation Programme (PASAP).
Both studies have produced some very interesting results; one assessed the economic value of
germplasm and crop improvement as a climate change adaptation strategy, while the other
considered the key drivers for determining the uptake of crop diversity within the context of
adaptive capacity analysis.
The consultation which will conclude on 30th March is organised by the Land Resources Division of
the Secretariat of the Pacific Community with funding from AusAID-funded ICCAI.
[Ends]
(For more information, please contact Dr Mary Taylor ([email protected]), Vinesh Prasad on 6793370733 or the LRD Helpdesk ([email protected])
Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate
Change Issues Final Report
28 March 2012: The Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change
has released its final report proposing policy responses to the challenges of
feeding a world confronted with climate change, population growth, poverty,
fluctuating food prices and degraded ecosystems.
In the report, titled "Achieving Food Security in the Face of Climate Change," the Commission outlines
seven recommendations to be implemented by governments, international institutions, investors,
producers, consumers, food companies and researchers. The recommendations related to policy,
finance, agriculture, development aid, diet choice, food waste and knowledge management systems.
The Commissions's recommendations encourage: raising the level of investment in sustainable
agriculture and food systems over the next decade; sustainably intensifying agricultural production on
the existing land base while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and reducing losses and
waste in the food system. The report cites evidence that the yields from 16 major crops could be
increased by more than 50%. It also stresses the need to mobilize public policies and budgets toward
low emission crop breeds and actions that lead to the conservation of land, water and energy.
From the demand side, the Commission calls for policies to encourage eating choices that are good
for people and the planet. It also underscores the importance of policies and programmes that
empower vulnerable populations, alongside improved data and decision support tools for land
managers and policy makers.
The report calls for continued progress under the G20 on the design of rapid response and insurance
strategies to protect poor populations from rising food prices and poor harvests. It also urges
governments to make commitments for regionally-based research, implementation, capacity building
and monitoring to improve agriculture and food systems at the upcoming UN Conference on
Sustainable development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). The Commission also released a video to illustrate why
and how humanity must change its relationship with food to respond to climate change, global
population, eating patterns and the environment.
The Commission was convened by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
(CGIAR). [Publication: Achieving Food Security in the Face of Climate Change] [Commission
Video]
UNDP/SPC Introduces GIS Mapping for Land and Forest
in Solomon Islands
23 March 2012: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the South Pacific
Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) Division of the South Pacific Community (SPC)
in partnership with the Solomon Islands Government, plan to introduce a remote
sensing mapping and Geographic Information System (GIS) to map land and
forest cover in the Solomon Islands.
The GIS capability will map agriculture and forest cover, including pasture, mangroves, and forest
plantations. It will contribute in monitoring climate change and land use on the islands, thereby
building resilience and managing the risks faced by the country. The specifics of the project were
presented at the Solomon Islands National Vegetation and GIS Technical Workshop, which took place
from 12-16 March 2012, in Solomon Islands. The project will include in-country and Fiji-based training
for GIS specialists, assistance towards a database of natural hazard and social vulnerability, and
support for the school of Natural Resources of the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education to
develop and deliver a GIS technicians course.
The project is funded by the UNDP Project Strengthening Environment Management and Reducing
the Impact of Climate Change (SEMRICC), and the Adaptation Fund. Satellite imagery is funded by
USAID under the Pacific Food Security Project. [SPC Press Release]
World Water Day Focuses on Food Security
22 March 2012: The 2012 edition of World Water Day, which is held every year
on 22 March, focused on the theme "water and food security." The official UN-
Water celebrations were coordinated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), who noted
that a 50% reduction in food waste would save 1350 km3 of water per year.
In a statement delivered to mark the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on governments
to “connect the dots between water security and food and nutrition security in the context of a green
economy” at the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).
A number of international organizations used World Water Day as a platform to call for action on
freshwater issues. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) highlighted that:
agriculture uses 70% of global freshwater resources; 66% of the world’s population will face
conditions of water-stress by 2025; and that due to increasing population and climate change, water
demand will rise by 55%. IFAD called for addressing the water issues faced by rural communities
more comprehensively, through integrated water and land management.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighted a project in Haiti to improve flood monitoring
and reduce disaster risk. The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) stressed
the need for less-wasteful water use, underscoring that climate change is predicted to increase water
stress in arid and semi-arid regions, and impact the world’s poor and vulnerable.
The UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) called attention to the newly
released World Water Development Report (WWDR), which predicts a 70% increase in food demand
and a corresponding 19% increase in the water required for agriculture.
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) highlighted the importance of sustainable land
management, emphasizing that preventing land degradation increases water supply and improves
water quality. The World Bank noted the role of large-scale water infrastructure for water storage,
and highlighted the cross-sectoral relationships between water and energy, such as the use of water
to grow biofuel feedstocks and hydropower. [World Water Day 2012 Website] [World Bank
Press Release] [UNCCD Press Release] [FAO Press Release] [UNESCO Press Release]
[UN/ISDR Press Release] [UNEP Press Release] [IFAD Press Release]
New FAO publication - Forest Management and Climate
Change
FAO has the pleasure to provide you with the following publication:
- Forests and Climate Change Working Paper 10. Forest Management and Climate Change: a
literature review This document summarizes knowledge and experiences in forest management as a response to
climate change, based on a literature review and a survey of forest managers. This is part of an FAOled process to prepare climate change guidelines for forest managers. It examines climate change
impacts on forests and forest managers throughout the world. The document also reviews the main
perceived challenges that climate change poses to forests and their managers. It summarizes
experiences in preparing for and reacting to climate change in different types of forests. Finally, it
indicates a number of gaps in enabling conditions (related to knowledge, institutional setting and
culture) that hamper forest managers from responding effectively to climate change and its impacts.
Download: http://www.fao.org/docrep/015/md012e/md012e00.pdf
Please visit the FAO Forest and Climate Change website to access other publications, our
monthly newsletter or information about our work.
http://www.fao.org/forestry/climatechange/en/
ITTO, FAO Workshop Addresses Global Forest Reporting
21 March 2012: The proceedings of a joint workshop organized by the
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the Montreal Process,
FOREST EUROPE, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
to discuss streamlining of global forest reporting, have been released.
The workshop took place in Victoria, Canada, from 18-20 October 2011, to rally recognition of the
continued importance of criteria and indicators processes for sustainable development. In response to
emerging environmental and sustainable development issues, participants agreed to: endorse a joint
statement of collaboration; pursue endeavours to streamline global forest reporting for the 2015
Forest Resources Assessment; improve communication around sustainable forest management (SFM);
and enhance collaboration among the major Criteria and Indicators processes.
In the joint statement, the four organizations underscore that: forests across the globe
face continued pressures, such as continued deforestation and increasing social demands for products
and services; and that forests are increasingly recognized for their important contributions in solving
global environmental challenges, such as climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
They further recognize that their knowledge and experience in tracking and reporting on forest
conditions and trends is of value and relevance to emerging issues such as climate change, bioenergy
and water. [Publication: Proceedings of the Joint Workshop on Criteria and Indicators
Processes]
PACC Project Assesses Climate Vulnerability of Ontong
Java Communities
15 March 2011: The National Management Unit in Solomon Islands of the Pacific
Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project conducted a two-day consultation with
communities of Ontong Java to present the results of the Vulnerability and Adaptation
Assessment carried out in May 2010.
The outcome of the Assessment were presented to the villages of Luaniua and Pelau in Ontong Java.
It identified climate change impacts on livelihoods and proposed adaptation measures aimed at
improving crop yield and increasing agriculture productions for sustainable livelihoods.
In particular, it was proposed to introduce salt-resistant crops and new farming systems applicable to
low-lying communities. Targeted crops include the Giant Swamp Taro, which has been affected by
salt-water intrusion. According to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
(SPREP), the project is now at the stage of procuring materials, equipments and establishing crop
bunks on the mainland ready to be transferred to the demonstration sites in Ontong Java.
PACC consists of 14 member countries and is implemented by SPREP in partnership with the UN
Development Programme (UNDP). PACC promotes climate change adaptation as a key prerequisite to
sustainable development in Pacific Island Countries (PICs), and aims to enhance PICs' adaptation
capacity. [SPREP Press Release]
CCAFS Reports Examine Accessibility of Climate Finance
for Smallholder Farmers
2 March 2012: The Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
(CGIAR) has released two reports that describe the obstacles faced by
smallholder farmers in participating in climate change mitigation activities, and
the finance mechanisms that may be available to engage these farmers.
In "Mechanisms for Agricultural Climate Change Mitigation Incentives for Smallholders," CCAFS
stresses the important role of smallholders in climate change mitigation and adaptation, particularly
considering the large area of land under their management. The report also identifies the risks posed
by climate change to smallholders. It concludes by outlining a framework for integrating smallholders
into large-scale mitigation activities, and recommends actions for a variety of stakeholders. The
framework stresses the need to: identify areas with the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction
potential and relevant stakeholders; examine local socioeconomic conditions; and consider the
potential for GHG mitigation to displace production. The paper provides recommendations for
government agencies in developing countries, multilateral agencies, research agencies, donors, notfor-profits, private finance institutions, and carbon finance and policy makers.
The second report, "Towards Policies for Climate Change Mitigation: Incentives and Benefits for
Smallholder Farmers," concludes that climate finance can be used to overcome barriers that
smallholders face to adopting sustainable agricultural practices. It underscores the mitigation
opportunities to sequester carbon in soil and agricultural landscapes, noting barriers to adoption by
smallholders such as: poorly functioning input and output markets; weak local institutions and
infrastructure; inadequate extension systems; and a lack of credit and insurance. The report outlines
examples of how climate finance can support payment for ecosystem services, carbon markets,
supply chain support or measures that reduce investment risk and attract direct investment into the
change of practices. The report stresses the need for financial incentive programmes to be consistent
with readiness activities at the institutional and regulatory levels. In light of the limited funds, it
concludes by highlighting the importance of involving the private sector. [CCAFS Press Release, 6
February 12] [Publication: Mechanisms for Agricultural Climate Change Mitigation
Incentives for Smallholders] [CCAFS Press Release, 2 March 12] [Publication: Towards
Policies for Climate Change Mitigation: Incentives and Benefits for Smallholder Farmers]
A new web tool has been developed to help improve the
accuracy and extent of land use and
forest cover information
The Geo-Wiki Project is a global network of volunteers who wish to
help improve the quality of global land cover maps. Since large
differences occur between existing global land cover maps, current
ecosystem and land-use science lacks crucial accurate data (e.g. to
determine the potential of additional agricultural land available to grow
crops in Africa). Volunteers are asked to review hotspot maps of global
land cover disagreement and determine, based on what they actually see
in Google Earth and their local knowledge, if the land cover maps are correct or incorrect. Their input
is recorded in a database, along with uploaded photos, to be used in the future for the creation of a
new and improved global land cover map.
We are pleased to announce that the development team led by the International Institute of Applied
System Analysis (IIASA) in Austria launched a NEW Geo-Wiki Competition to raise awareness and
to encourage community involvement in environmental monitoring.
As an incentive we offer co-authorship of a research paper based on the competition results for the
top 10 participants (based on a quality assessment and number of validations) and Amazon vouchers
(totaling 75 Euros) for the top three participants! The competition will end on the 30th of March,
2012.
If you would like to participate in the competition please go to: http://competition.geowiki.org/login.php
Detailed instructions are available on the site.
SPC, FFPRI to Cooperate on Forestry Research
29 February 2012: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has reported
that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Forestry and
Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) of Japan. SPC and FFPRI will conduct
collaborative research activities (CRAs) to identify and provide solutions to issues of tree breeding and
stand improvement in coastal areas.
According to SPC, FFPRI is an independent administrative research organization, which conducts
research on forestry and forest products, contributing to sustainable forest management (SFM). CRAs
are expected to involve the exchange of scientific information and scientific experts. The first CRA
involves research to improve Calophyllum inophyllum (dilo) for wind tolerance, through investigation
of genetic variation distributed in the Pacific region. The research will take into account the need for
trees to adapt to various regional environments and future climate change. [SPC Press Release]
HLPE - Food Security and Climate Change - V0 draft
report available for public feedback and comments
In October 2010, the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) requested its High Level Panel of
Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) to conduct two studies to feed policy discussions at the
CFS Plenary in October 2012 on:
Food Security and Climate Change
and on Social Protection for Food Security.
As part of its report elaboration process, the HLPE is now launching two open electronic
consultations on the Project Team's advanced versions of the two reports (V0 drafts), which
are made available online for public feedback and comments from 20 March 2012 until 10 April 2012.
You are kindly invited to participate in these consultations.
These consultations for the HLPE are channeled through the Global Forum on Food Security and
Nutrition (FSN).
To get the link to the V0 drafts report and to the e-consultation, please visit the HLPE website
www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe, or go directly to the consultation website at FSN.
Climate Change report (V0): http://km.fao.org/fsn/discussions/climate_change_II
Social Protection report (V0): http://km.fao.org/fsn/discussions/social_protection_II
To participate, send your contribution directly to the Forum moderator at [email protected],
or to the HLPE Secretariat at [email protected].
These consultations will be used by the HLPE Project Teams to further elaborate the reports, which
will then be submitted to external expert review, before finalization by the Project Teams under
Steering Committee guidance and oversight. According to the provisions of the Rules and Procedures
for the work of the HLPE prior to its publication the final reports shall be approved by the HLPE
Steering Committee. This is expected to take place at the 5th meeting of the HLPE Steering
Committee (June 2012).
ICTs and Food Security: Connecting the Dots
Within resource-dependant contexts affected by more frequent and intense climatic manifestations,
redefining the approach to food security involves embracing the notions of change and
transformation. This includes the adoption of ‘climate-smart’ practices, the return to ancestral or
indigenous customs, as well as the use of emerging tools and technologies such as Information and
Communication technologies (ICTs), to better prepare for, withstand and recover from climatic
impacts.
This new Blog entry explores the connections that exist between ICTs, food security and resilience. It
provides examples of the linkages that exist between key sectors (agriculture, livestock, fishery and
agroforestry), ICTs (e.g. mobile phones, Internet, radio), and food security.
The analysis argues that the main challenge for ICTs in this field goes well beyond the provision of
information. It lays in ensuring that the knowledge and information that are made available actually
reach the appropriate stakeholders, that they are appropriated by local audiences, and most
importantly, that agricultural producers are able to apply it or act upon it in order to strengthen their
livelihoods.
To read more about the linkages between ICTs and food security, and to comment, please visit:
http://niccd.wordpress.com/
*This Blog is part of the knowledge sharing efforts of a two-year applied research project titled
"Climate change, ICTs & Innovation", led by the University of Manchester with funding support from
Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
UN-REDD Reviews its 2011 Activities
26 March 2012: The UN-REDD Programme has launched its
"2011 Year in Review" report, which provides an overview of
the Programme's achievements at the national and
international levels on activities related to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest
degradation in developing countries, as well as conservation, sustainable management of forests, and
enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD+).
The report highlights the approval of new National Programmes in Ecuador and Nigeria, and the
endorsement of the UN-REDD Global Programme Framework, which lays out seven integrated work
areas through which partner countries will be supported. The report also notes that by the end of
2011, 13 out of the 14 partner countries had begun implementation of their UN-REDD National
Programmes, and the Global Programme support totaled US$48.8 million.
At the international level, the Programme supported the work of the REDD+ Partnership and
participated in climate talks and in new initiatives such as the Oslo REDD Exchange.
The Review also reports on country activities and achievements of the 14 partner countries, namely:
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Papua New
Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Viet Nam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, and Paraguay. The
report further outlines some lessons learned from the different regions, and lists the Programme's
2011 publications that aim to facilitate the sharing of REDD+ experiences.
UN-REDD Programme’s 2011 “Year in Review” report was launched at the Programme's eighth Policy
Board meeting, which took place from 25-26 March 2012, in Asuncion, Paraguay. [Publication: UNREDD 2011 Year in Review]
Issue#28 March, 2012
LESSONS FROM REDD+ FROM HOW TO BECOME A FOREST-ADDING COUNTRY
Ever wonder how a country can turn the corner and increase its forest area? Many of you will have done so and have identified
numerous impediments to attracting investments to sustainable forest management. Recent studies on the role of incentives in
support of sustainable forest management have highlighted the importance of an enabling environment for forest-losing countries
(FLC) to become forest-adding countries (FAC). Most of us are not quite sure what is actually meant by “enabling environment”. So
let’s look at five countries (Chile, China, India, the Republic of Korea and Viet Nam), and explore why they have managed to add
millions of hectares to their forest estates in recent decades, to learn what and what not to do under a REDD+ mechanism. Thi s is
what Hans Gregersen and his three co-authors have done in The Greener Side of REDD+: Lessons for REDD+ from Countries where
Forest Area is Increasing.
The four analysts identify three principle changes – perhaps also viewed as prerequisites – associated with forest transition. The first
one is fairly rapid economic growth, although, as we know, if the primary sector is the predominant engine of growth, we can expect
more instead of less deforestation and forest degradation. The second one is major forest e nvironment problems and/or serious
wood shortages, which unfortunately are frequently a belated trigger of any significant policy reforms – remember the imposition of
logging bans in China, the Philippines and Thailand after massive floods. The third one i s a change in attitudes, where forests are not
viewed as an obstacle to economic development, but as an integral part of sustainable development. This usually happens when
government leaders are convinced – beyond just paying lip service – of the value of the multiple benefits that forests provide.
Major policy reforms have included strengthening the role and rights of indigenous peoples and local communities in forest
management and major tenure reforms. There was also a move towards opening up to the gl obal forest products markets and
liberalization of wood import policies, followed by rapid growth of wood imports. In addition, significant funds were channel ed
towards aggressive and major programs of afforestation, reforestation and restoration of degrad ed lands. As a result countries have
graduated as FACs, with the caveat that around 75 percent of the increase in forest area is made up of planted forests.
Besides the obvious positive effects of these shifts – the five countries added almost 60 million hectares in total to their forest estates
between 1990 and 2010 – some undesirable side effects can be noted. Major tenure reforms did not necessarily benefit poor rural
people, as they were accompanied by sometimes excessive regulatory procedures and cumb ersome bureaucratic processes, as well
as arbitrary policy changes that left smallholders often in limbo. The shift from domestic to imported raw materials meant th at forest
degradation, and frequently illegal logging, were exported which, from a REDD+ perspective, means that we are dealing with
international leakage. Definitely not good for reducing greenhouse gas emissions! And some of the major programs resulted in the
displacement of people and negative impacts on biodiversity.
The authors are very much aware of the pitfalls that can also happen during the implementation of REDD+. They have therefore
concluded the analysis with a number of recommendations to ensure that we end up on the Greener Side of REDD+.
The
full
report
and
a
policy
brief
(also
available
in
Bahasa
http://www.rightsandresources.org/publication_details.php?publicationID=2431
Indonesia)
Go-REDD+ is an e-mail listserv managed by the UN-REDD Programme team in AsiaPacific, based in Bangkok. The main objective of Go-REDD+ is to distribute information,
synopses of research results and activities related to REDD+ in Asia-Pacific, to assist
countries in their REDD+ readiness efforts. Old messages will be archived on the
Regional Activities pages of the UN-REDD Programme web-site. Discussion forum on
Go-REDD+ is available through UN-REDD Programme's online knowledge sharing
platform, www.unredd.net. Please note that you must be a member to join the
Discussion Forum. To request membership, please contact [email protected] with
your name and affiliation. The Go-REDD+ team welcomes feedback, suggestions or
inquiries to [email protected].
are
available
at:
New publication: A framework for integrating
biodiversity concerns into national REDD+ programmes
The CBD Secretariat has supported open access to an article in the journal ‘Biological Conservation’
entitled ‘a framework for integrating biodiversity concerns into national REDD+ programmers’. The
article is posted in English, French and Spanish as an information document for CBD SBSTTA 16
(document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/16/INF/22). It is available at www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=SBSTTA-16.
UN-REDD Newsletter Questions Whether REDD+ Will
Work in Fragile States
14 March 2012: The March issue of Go-REDD+, a newsletter
of the UN-REDD-Programme's Asia-Pacific team, focuses on
whether REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and
forest degradation, as well as conservation, sustainable management of forests and carbon stock
enhancement in developing countries) in its current form can be achievable by all States, and in
particular in "fragile" States.
The article, authored by Alan Karsenty and Symphorien Ongolo, argues that the system of incentives
on which REDD+ is based will not likely work in fragile States where corruption and dominance of
private agendas are rampant. In these cases, the authors argue, REDD+ will only reward corrupt
governments.
Instead, the authors propose that, in these countries, REDD+ should promote long-term capacity
development focused on fundamental socioeconomic transformations, and incentive mechanisms that
directly benefit local economic agents. [Go-REDD+ Newsletter Issue 14, March 2012]
We Need Many Strong, United Voices to Combat
Climate Change
posted on: Monday, April 2nd, 2012
by: Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Inuit environment, culture and human rights advocate, and
former political leader, Ronald Jumeau, Seychelles Ambassador for Climate Change and
Small Island Developing State Issues
To deal with the threats and challenges of climate change we need solidarity. We need to recognize
that no matter where we live, we are one people on a single planet, the only planet that we have. We
need many strong voices speaking together -- the voices of people from all those regions that the
2007 IPCC IV Report identified as “vulnerable.”
We need the Arctic, where the rapidly melting multi-year sea ice is just one symptom of massive
changes now underway. We need the small island developing States (SIDS) like Tuvalu, Barbados
and Seychelles whose homes are threatened with inundation. And we need voices of people who live
in high mountain regions, on deltas and in the vast Savannah of the Sahel.
We need many strong voices, united in their resolve to defend human rights and determined to see
their cultures survive and thrive.
Twenty years. That's how long we have both petitioned the world community to save our lands, our
peoples and ways of life. We have done so in every conceivable manner and with ever-increasing
urgency. Twenty years ago, when we began to experience climate change in our lands and
communities, we began to worry that our children would no longer grow up in a safe and nurturing
environment. We worried too that our ancient cultures, deeply connected to our lands, might not
survive into future generations. Today, our children now experience those changes with us every day,
and join in the appeal for future generations.
It is hard to imagine us coming from more different backgrounds: one from a balmy archipelago in
the Indian Ocean and the other from the cold expanse of the northern tundra. Yet today we join with
our brothers and sisters from other islands and polar regions through the Many Strong Voices
programme[3] — a network of individuals and communities in the Arctic and SIDS connecting for
strategic action on climate change mitigation and adaptation. We reiterate our unequivocal appeal:
The world must take action now to stop climate change and address the damage already done.
Now as we approach the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), we are running out of time. Last year’s climate change negotiations in Durban
produced an agreement to adopt a binding legal agreement on climate change “as soon as possible,
and no later than 2015.”[4]
We heard this kind of pledge leading up to the 2009 negotiations in Copenhagen that produced little
of substance. Indeed, at the time the fact that the negotiation process itself lived on was heralded as
a major victory.
Not to us.
As climate science has advanced, we now know the consequences of the world’s unwillingness to act.
Even once the world agrees to stabilize and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, warming from
gases already in the atmosphere will tragically affect the most vulnerable regions of our planet. Sadly,
as we have seen in places such as the Pacific island of Kiribati and the Alaskan community of
Shishmaref, it may already be too late.
Even if the world forges an agreement three years from now, it will be very difficult to make the deep
GHG emissions reductions that hundreds of scientific studies tell us -- clearly -- that we need to make
in order to keep the world’s global average temperature from rising 2ºC above pre-industrial levels,
let alone the 1.5ºC that the SIDS and a majority of the countries that have signed the UNFCCC are
calling for. And we need to make sure that the rising line of emissions starts to bend down as 2020
dawns or it may be too late for our peoples and lands.
The impacts of climate change may be affecting small island states and remote Arctic communities
with small populations, but they are also affecting hundreds of millions of people in the Ganges,
Indus, Yangtze and other river systems dependent on glacial water for agriculture and drinking. If
you look at it this way, the majority of the world’s population is experiencing the effects of climate
change now.
Let’s be clear. This isn’t a numbers game. Article 3 of the UNFCCC clearly states that countries
“should protect the climate system for the benefit of future and present generations of human kind
on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibility and
respective capabilities.” This means “developed countries should take the lead in combating climate
change and the adverse effects thereof.” We haven’t seen much of this leadership in the negotiating
process.
Other major emitters and emerging economies cannot afford to continue with business as usual.
Now, as the world approaches the 20th anniversary of the Rio Summit where the UNFCCC was
negotiated, much attention is being placed on how to achieve a sustainable future. We would like to
point out that our peoples have overcome innumerable challenges to thrive in our Arctic and island
communities for hundreds and thousands of years. Our cultures are sustainable. But recently, our
elders have been warning us that the changes we witness are unprecedented in our histories. They
see our ice melting and our seas rising and are very concerned about how the next generation will
thrive in the rapidly changing lands of our ancestors. If we lose our ice and our lands, we lose our
cultures — some of the richest on Earth.
Our primary objectives are clear: reduce global emissions to avoid catastrophic warming while
recognizing common but differentiated responsibilities between countries; ensure adequate
adaptation measures are taken in areas facing the adverse effects of climate change now and in the
future; and include human rights protections in the final agreement.
If we can achieve these goals, it will mark a watershed in humankind's ability to look beyond
immediate and parochial interests and to reconnect as a shared humanity. It isn’t that complicated.
All it takes is for us to recognize our common interest and that we are all here on this planet
together. For more information visitwww.manystrongvoices.org or contact John Crump
(john.crump [at] grida.no).
[1]
Sheila Watt- Cloutier is an award winning Inuit environment, culture and human rights advocate
and former political leader who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
[2]
H.E. Ronald Jumeau is the Seychelles Ambassador for Climate Change and Small Island Developing
State Issues.
[3]
www.manystrongvoices.org
[4]
http://unfccc.int/meetings/durban_nov_2011/meeting/6245.php
SPC Assists Tonga in Adapting to Climate Change
16 March 2012: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has announced that
it is providing assistance to the Government of Tonga on adapting to climate
change. The project, part of the Pacific Adaptation Strategy Assistance Program
(PASAP), aims to assess the vulnerability and adaptation to sea level rise in Lifuka, Tonga.
According to SPC, Lifuka, in the Ha’apai island group, has already experienced sea level rise, a result
of an earthquake in May 2006, which caused 23cm subsidence on the western side of the island and
has led to significant coastal erosion. It is envisaged that lessons learned in Lifuka will help other
communities to better plan for climate change adaptation.
The PASAP aims to develop an adaptation strategy to predicted sea level rise and other climate
change impacts. The objective of the project is to equip Lifuka islanders will sufficient skills, as well as
the basic equipment necessary to conduct their own vulnerability assessments, allowing them to
make their own decisions on ways to adapt to sea level rise.
PASAP is an Australian Government-funded programme that aims to enhance country capacity to
assess vulnerability to climate change and develop evidence-based adaptation strategies in partner
countries in the Pacific and East Timor. [SPC Press Release]
GEF SGP Showcases Activities in the Pacific
15 March 2012: A regional meeting for the Global Environment Facility's Small Grants Programme
(GEF SGP) took place in the Pacific to provide training to national officers on the vision and strategy
of the programme and SGP’s results-based management framework.
The meeting brought together national coordinators, sub-regional coordinators, and national focal
points of the GEF SGP from Fiji, Tuvalu, Nauru, Samoa, Kiribati, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Papua
New Guinea and Vanuatu. During the meeting, which took place in Sigatoka, Fiji, from 27 February 2 March 2012, participants discussed ongoing projects, including their experiences with communitybased approaches to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, land degradation,
international waters and chemicals.
The workshop opened with statements by: Delfin Ganapin, Global Manager, GEF SGP; Danielius
Pivoriunas, GEF Senior Operations Officer; Asenaca Ravuvu, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Fiji
Multi Country Office; and Jope Davetanivalu, GEF Operational Focal Point of the Government of Fiji.
Ganapin highlighted GEF SGP's success in the Pacific, noting that the SGP in the region has raised
US$3 million in co-financing from NZAID, as well as US$4 million from AusAID for Community-Based
Adaptation (CBA) to climate change for Pacific Island Countries (PICs).
The workshop also included a ‘market place event’ where SGP Fiji grantees and partners showcased
impacts and results of SGP projects in their various communities. This included: work implemented by
Bird Life Fiji and Site Support Groups (SSGs) in the Natewa Peninsula; advocacy work on turtle
conservation by the Mamanuca Environment Society; as well as climate change resilience and
resource management activities led by Island Development Committees and WWF in the Lau Group.
[GEF Press Release]
Asia-Pacific Forum Focuses on Mainstreaming
Adaptation into Development
13 March 2012: The Second Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum, which
was held around the theme "Mainstreaming Adaptation into Development: Adaptation
in Action," identified transformational change as a tool in building resilience among
Asian and Pacific countries.
The Forum, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 12-13 March 2012, was organized by the
Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform
for Asia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It brought together over 800 participants, including
climate experts, development practitioners, policy makers, and members of NGOs and civil society
organizations. The event showcased knowledge, practices and experiences on adaptation, and
provided a platform for participants to share experiences and link local level adaptation initiatives
with the national and regional levels.
According to ADB, it is estimated that effective adaptation will require around $40 billion per year
through 2050 to cope with climate change in the region. In contrast, estimates for 2009-2010
indicated that only $4.4 billion was available for adaptation activities globally. The Bank is
therefore seeking to mobilize significant funding for climate adaptation to help close regional gaps in
knowledge, capacity and finance. [ADB Press Release] [ADB Background Brief]
New book on the links between Climate, Environment
and Disasters
Emerald Group Publishing Limited recently published another volume in the book series,
Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management, which I thought would be of
interest to list subscribers.
Environment Disaster Linkages is the first book to focus on explicit linkages between the
changing environment and disasters and suggests better approaches towards disaster management.
A ready-reference for field practitioners it combines academic research and field practices and covers
areas such as: elements of environmental entry (water-related disasters, desertification and land
degradation, typhoon risk management, catastrophic flood and forest management, and coastal
issues); impacts of environment and disaster (livelihoods impacts, human health: post-disaster waste
management); and strategies, planning and the way forward (climate change adaptation as a
planning tool, urban planning and land use planning, mangrove management as a coastal planning
tool, and environment disaster education and risk communication).
The online table of contents can be viewed here:
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/books.htm?issn=2040-7262&volume=9
If you would be interested in a review or inspection copy of the book, or if you have any questions,
feel free to contact: Sarah Baxter
Development Editor - Environment and Health Care Management
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Tel. +44 (0)1274 785083
Fax +44 (0) 1274 785244
Email: [email protected]
http://www.emeraldinsight.com
Increasing demand and climate change threaten global
water supplies – UN report
13 MARCH 2012 NEW YORK (UN NEWS CENTRE) ---- An unprecedented rise in the demand for food,
rapid urbanization and climate change are significantly threatening global water supplies, according to
a United Nations report released today, which stresses that a radical new approach to managing this
essential resource is needed to be able to sustain future consumption levels.
The UN World Water Development Report, which will be launched at the World Water Forum in
Marseille, estimates that there will be a 70 per cent increase in demand for food by the year 2050,
leading to a 19 per cent surge in water used for agriculture. At the moment, 70 per cent of
freshwater is already being used for agricultural purposes.
“Freshwater is not being used sustainably, according to needs and demands,” states the DirectorGeneral of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, in the
report’s foreword. “Accurate information remains disparate, and management is fragmented. In this
context, the future is increasingly uncertain and risks are set to deepen.”
The report, entitled “Managing Water under Uncertainty and Risk,” notes that to respond to growing
demand, countries have tapped into underground water sources, with water extraction tripling over
the past 50 years.
However, in some underground basins, water cannot be replenished and is now at critically low
levels.
In addition, climate change will also have a growing impact on water resources as it alters rainfall
patterns and soil humidity, melts glaciers and causes water-related disasters such as floods and
droughts, which impact food production. The report estimates that by 2070, this impact will affect up
to 44 million people all over the world.
The Chair of UN-Water, Michel Jarraud, stressed that “a collective response by the whole international
community” will be needed to tackle the issue. The report emphasizes that without drastic action,
water pressure will exacerbate economic disparities within and between countries, hitting the poor
particularly hard.
“Unless water becomes a more central consideration in development planning, billions of people,
mostly in developing countries, could face reduced livelihoods and life chances,” UNESCO said in a
news release. “Better governance of water resources is required, including investments in
infrastructure from both private and public sectors.”
The report also shows that despite projected increases in water demand, there are still nearly one
billion people without such access, and this number is growing in cities.
“We have much to do before all people have the access to the water and sanitation they need to lead
lives of dignity and well-being,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a video message to the World
Water Forum.
According to the report, sanitation infrastructure is not keeping pace with the world’s urban
population, and more than 80 per cent of the world’s waste water is neither collected nor
treated…..PACNEWS (PINA)
FAO Launches e-Learning Course on Food Security and
Climate Change
21 March 2012: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has launched a
free course that aims to build understanding on how climate change effects agriculture and
food security and practical steps that can be taken to minimize negative impacts.
The course is available through online registration or via CD-Rom, and is aimed at policy
makers and people working within development agencies. It contains training materials that can be
used and adapted for face to face training. In the session on Climate Change Adaptation and
Mitigation in Agriculture, the course identifies people-centered strategies, improved water
management, conserving soil moisture, organic matter and nutrients, and using short-cycle seed
varieties that allow for harvesting before the peak of the cyclone season. The final session on Climate
Smart Agriculture presents insights on how climate smart agriculture can transform agricultural
systems to make them more productive, while preserving the environment. [FAO e-learning course
on Food Security and Climate Change]
Science Communication Workshop, Fiji: Call for
applications
Location: Suva, Fiji
Date: 6 - 8 June 2012
Organisation: SciDev.Net
EN
Applications are invited from science researchers in the Pacific region to participate in a three-day
skill-building workshop on science communication at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Suva,
Fiji, from 6 – 8 June 2012.
The workshop will help participants to build the basic skills in communicating with non-specialists that
are required in a wide range of situations, from making grant applications to delivering public
presentations and interacting with policymakers and the media.
The workshop is being organised jointly by SciDev.Net (the Science and Development Network) and
USP, with financial support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
It will focus on issues such as the use of appropriate language, the need to fit your message to your
audience, and how to structure different types of writing and presentations.
The sessions will cover topics such as:






Why communicate science?
The basics of communicating science to non-scientists
Writing project proposals and reports
Presenting in public
Working with journalists and the media
Writing for the web


Using social media
Interacting with policymakers
The programme will include practical sessions and opportunities for individual feedback.
The event will take place at the main campus of the University of the South Pacific.
15 places are available at the workshop, for which all transportation and accommodation costs for
participants will be covered by SciDev.Net through a grant from AusAID.
Click here for application form [46KB]
Please note that this workshop is restricted to scientists living or working in the Pacific
region
Key objectives
The workshop will provide practical tips on how to communicate more effectively, and guidance on
appropriate ways to respond in situations in which communication skills are required (for example, in
interacting with policy makers or being interviewed by a journalist).
Registration details
Those interested in participating in this workshop should complete the attached application form and
return it to [email protected]. The closing date for applications is: 20 April 2012.
Contact Details
[email protected]
More information
TckTckTck and Climate Nexus Launch Rio+20 Video
Speech Contest
7 March 2012: The TckTckTck campaign and Climate Nexus have launched a "Win
a Date with History" online video speech contest, encouraging young people to
submit short video speeches containing ideas for decisive action on sustainability.
The winner will deliver their speech at the UN Conference on Sustainable
Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) in June 2012.
The aim of the contest is to ensure that at Rio+20, governments agree to bold actions to assure a
sustainable future for everyone. To take part in the contest, which is open to everyone aged 13-30
years, participants can upload 2-3 minute speeches in which they describe their vision for the
future. A short-list will be developed through an online voting system, with the video creators with
the most votes being selected as finalists. A jury will then select and announce the winner on 15 May.
[Date with History Website] [UNEP Press Release]
Asian Development Bank Climate Change on Twitter &
Facebook
For real-time, cutting-edge news, information, and analyses of climate change and development
issues in Asia & the Pacific, please follow the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Climate Change Unit's
Twitter account @ADBClimate
See the feed at https://twitter.com/#!/ADBClimate or on the ADB Climate Change website
http://www.adb.org/themes/climate-change/main
Retweeting and replying to our tweets are encouraged! We're looking forward to starting a dialogue
with you and your organization.
You can also follow David S. McCauley, ADB Climate Change Program Coordination Unit Head
@greenlogical or see his feed at https://twitter.com/#!/greenlogical
For social networking opportunities, longer reads, and a richer web 2.0 source on Climate Change &
Development in Asia & the Pacific, please visit and click "like" on the ADB Climate Change Facebook
page https://www.facebook.com/AsianClimateChange
We'd also welcome your posts,comments, and participation on our Facebook page.
See you online!
ADB Climate Change Unit