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UN-Water Releases Policy Brief on Climate Change Adaptation

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:42:29 +0000

6 June 2010: UN-Water has released a policy brief titled “Climate Change Adaptation: The Pivotal Role of Water.” The brief is addressed to practitioners and policy makers of water resources management and climate change, as well as sectoral decision makers, and seeks to draw attention to the importance of better water resources management in adapting to climate change.
The brief argues that water resources management should be systematically integrated into national plans and international investment portfolios. It describes: climate change impacts on water; water resources management under present climate variability; adaptation measures for water managers; and guiding principles for the required investments and policy shifts. These principles include: mainstreaming adaptation within the broader development context; strengthening governance and improving water management; improving and sharing knowledge and information on climate and adaptation measures, and investing in data collection; building long-term resilience through stronger institutions, and investing in infrastructure and in well-functioning ecosystems; investing in cost-effective and adaptive water management as well as technology transfer; and leveraging additional funds through both increased national budgetary allocations and innovative funding mechanisms for adaptation in water management. [The Policy Brief]

WORLD URBAN FORUM 5 DEVELOPS RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE INCLUSIVE CITIES

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:08:00 +0000

The fifth World Urban Forum (WUF-5), which took place from 22-26 March 2010, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme “The Right to the City: Bridging the Urban Divide,” was hosted by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the Government of Brazil. The event gathered a record of over 13,700 participants from 150 countries to discuss issues related to the sustainability of cities in the context of rapid urbanization, and a changing climate and environment. During the forum, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka unveiled the World Urban Campaign, which will provide a platform for action for local communities, neighborhoods and leaders to promote democracy and human rights, and enhance global health, food security and energy efficiency.
On 23 March, congress members of several countries participated in a debate on “Parliamentarians of the world about climate changes and human settlements,” coordinated by Peter Goetz, President of the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat. On 25 March, participants engaged in a dialogue on “Sustainable Urbanization: Cities in a Changing Climate,” during which they addressed broad concepts and ideas, and then held thematic open debates on: “Sustainable urbanization: cities in a changing climate,” which presented policies and practices that cities, governments and communities around the world are embracing to address the challenges of climate change; “Reducing vulnerabilities to climate change,” which stressed the need to address climate change impacts within a framework that acknowledges the presence of the urban divide and embraces social inclusiveness; and “Promoting inclusive and environmentally sustainable cities,” which addressed how cities can reduce their carbon footprint and effectively engage the informal sector in low carbon economic growth, while fostering inclusive economic development.
UN-HABITAT, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank jointly launched a Global Greenhouse Gas Standard for cities, which will provide a global and harmonized protocol for quantifying the amount of greenhouse gases emissions attributable to cities and local regions. It is expected that this common methodology for calculating GHG emissions on a per capita basis will support policy and access to finance, allowing cities to compare their performances.
During the closing ceremony, Tibaijuka called on governments and leaders at all levels to “provide the requisite resources and to make investments that will provide sustainable cities in a changing climate.” Participants also considered the recommendations from the World Urban Forum, which will be presented to the UN-HABITAT Ministerial Governing Council, a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly, scheduled to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2011. The Rio Declaration endorsed by participants outlines recommendations related to the need to promote civil society participation and governance to build inclusive policies and cities. The sixth World Urban Forum will be hosted by the Government of Bahrain in 2012.
Links to further information
World Urban Forum-5
UN-HABITAT Executive Director’s speech

UN General Assembly Holds High-Level Dialogue on Water

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:33:51 +0000

22 March 2010: To mark World Water Day, the UN General Assembly held a High-Level Dialogue on the implementation of the International Decade for Action on “Water for Life” 2005-2015, and the realization of the internationally agreed water-related development goals. The Dialogue was held on 22 March 2010, and was organized around panels on: Water and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); Water, Climate Change and Disasters; and Water and Peace and Security.
Opening the Dialogue, Ali Abdussalam Treki, General Assembly President, underlined that water is a “crucial factor in the climate change debate” and noted that the Dialogue provided an opportunity to highlight the linkages among water, climate change and disaster risk management.
Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy Secretary-General, underscored that climate change compounds water-related challenges by increasing the frequency and severity of droughts and floods. She stressed the need to build resilience to extreme events, underlining that it is one of the priorities of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing.
Oqil Oqilov, Prime Minister of Tajikistan, whose Government initiated the International Year of Freshwater and the International Decade for Action “Water For Life,” stated that climate change leads to increased water stresses, especially in arid and semiarid regions.
Speaking via video-link, Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Chair of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, said the current model for reclaiming water should be modernized and made more energy efficient and cost-effective to meet climate change targets and spur green growth.
During the panel on “Water and the MDGs,” several speakers, particularly from low-lying coastal States, emphasized that climate change was undermining water security. Stressing the vulnerability of freshwater supplies to climate change, they underlined the need to address that issue at the 16th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 16) of the UNFCCC, to be held in Mexico at the end of 2010.
The panel discussion on water, climate change and disasters was moderated by Jorge Jurado, National Secretary for Water, Minister and Presidential Cabinet Member of Ecuador. One panellist stressed that disasters happen when communities were ill-prepared, and that the world’s focus must move from disaster response to reducing risk and vulnerability. Speakers on that panel included Abdelkebir Zahoud, State Secretary for Water and Environment, Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment of Morocco; Salvano Briceño, Director, UN International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN/ISDR); and Barbara Frost, Executive Director of WaterAid, UK.
Briceño explained that climate change would affect disaster risk in two ways: through the likely increase in weather and climate hazards; and through increases in the vulnerability of communities to natural hazards. He stressed the need to urgently capitalize on the common concerns of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and to seek the multiple wins of reducing disaster risk, adapting to climate change, and attaining the MDGs and sustainable development.
During the panel on “Water and peace and security,” João Gomes Cravinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, highlighted that human rights of water could not be divorced from the impact of climate change, particularly in cases where people were already suffering from desertification. Noting that adaptation to climate change offers a number of new areas for cooperation, he called for increased international cooperation for sharing water resources. Olcay Unver, Coordinator, UN World Water Assessment Programme of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), highlighted the need to include a water dimension in policies and actions aimed at addressing climate change, the economic crisis and other economic development issues. He noted the absence of a sufficient mitigation and adaptation package in the climate change negotiations, and suggested parties use concepts such as benefit-sharing and common joint projects. [UN Press Release]

World Water Day Celebrated

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:02:32 +0000

22 March 2010: On 22 March, the UN is celebrating World Water Day with the slogan “Clean Water for a Healthy World,” chosen by UN-Water to raise awareness on water quality.

While in the past, water availability has almost always taken the centre stage with the attention placed on quantity, this year an important shift aims to focus on the importance of water quality to sustain healthy ecosystem and human well-being. The World Water Day campaign is a year-long operation harnessing the best UN knowledge and disseminating its messages at local and global levels. The World Water Day website provides arguments and tools aimed at addressing different stakeholders, channeling efforts to reach policy makers and the public at large.
To celebrate the Day, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with UN-Habitat, the UN Secretary-General Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) and the Government of Kenya, are hosting a three-day event at UN headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. During the Day, UN-Water will launch its statement on water quality, a scientific panel will address challenges and responses, and a high-level panel will discuss policy options and actions to improve water quality. The outcomes of the event will be communicated, through a live web-cast, to the UN General Assembly in New York, US, which is also organizing an event to celebrate World Water Day.
UN-Water notes that the impacts of climate change can heavily and easily compromise fragile ecosystems: prolonged droughts can dramatically reduce their ability to dilute polluted water, and with it trigger a chain reaction that can further severely stress, and therefore diminish, their natural functions. It further underlines that coastal ecosystems are greatly at risk: mangroves, coral reefs and sea-grass beds are loosing their role as storm protectors and breeding and nursery grounds. In some regions we are already facing incredibly high risk of extinction for some fish species. UN-Water therefore calls for acting where we can: preventing, reducing and controlling pollution at all level regardless of our role in society. [World Water Day Website] [IISD RS Sources]

AFRICA CARBON FORUM HOPES TO HELP BOOST AFRICA

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:08:00 +0000

The second Africa Carbon Forum, which was held from 3-5 March 2010, in Nairobi, Kenya, sought to help build on growing interest in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in Africa, and concluded with expectations for a boost in Africa’s share of the global carbon market. The Forum was held under the Nairobi Framework, an initiative launched in 2006 to help developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, to increase their participation in the CDM. It was organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UNFCCC Secretariat and the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), and brought together about 1,000 members of the public and private sectors.
Highlighting the prospects for the continent, John Kilani, Director of the Sustainable Development Mechanisms programme of the UNFCCC Secretariat, noted the growing number of projects in Africa and a growing number of countries hosting projects. He added that “some project developers are even prepared to pay a premium for offset credits originating from Africa, no doubt because they are confident in the long-term growth prospects for CDM on the continent.”
Also speaking during the Forum, Henry Derwent, IETA President and CEO, commented that, “Africa Carbon Forum 2010 has been a serious and businesslike meeting of people with African emissions reduction projects and people who want to invest in them. Africa’s slow start in the CDM business seems now to have been more about finding the right ways to structure projects in the sectors that are Africa’s national specialties than about a fundamental incompatibility.” The third Africa Carbon Forum is scheduled to be held in March 2011, in Morocco.
Links to further information
African Carbon Forum website
UNFCCC press release
UNEP press release

IFAD GOVERNING COUNCIL CONVENES 33RD SESSION

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:32:00 +0000

The Governing Council of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) held its 33rd session from 17-18 February 2010, in Rome, Italy, to discuss: the Eighth Replenishment of IFAD’s resources; IFAD’s budget; revisions of IFAD’s lending policies and criteria; progress on the performance-based allocation system; progress on the Global Mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); and a synthesis of the global meeting of the Farmers’ Forum 2010. Among other things, the Council called for investment in smallholders to accelerate progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Link to further information
IFAD Governing Council website

UNWTO LEADERS CALL FOR GREEN ECONOMY SUPPORTING GLOBAL POLICIES

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:37:00 +0000

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Ministers’ Summit convened in London, UK, on 10 November 2009. The Summit called for global policies that are supportive of the travel and tourism industry, recalling that tourism is one of the world’s top job creators and can be a key driver of recovery and the transformation towards the Green Economy. As the global economy recovers, governments were requested not to impose extra burdens on travel, such as fiscal measures, and to maintain stimulus policies in support of tourism as this in turn will contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Link to further information
UNWTO press release, 11 November 2009

UNEP YOUTH CONFERENCE DEMANDS ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:33:00 +0000

The largest ever youth gathering on climate change, the TUNZA International Youth Conference, convened in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, from 17-23 August 2009. The final statement from the Tunza International Youth Conference, entitled “Listen to our voices: the future needs leadership,” requests governments and citizens take action on climate change and commits themselves to work to address climate change.
In the statement, delegates requested governments to, inter alia, agree on a more fair, just and action oriented post-Kyoto agreement adopted and implemented by all countries. It requested citizens to, inter alia, commit to sustainable lifestyles to reduce individual carbon footprints. Delegates also committed to, inter alia, exchange information, connect and promote best practice activities on climate change.
Another outcome from the Conference includes a plan for young people to organize rallies in 100 cities across the world, as part of a major push to persuade governments to seal a meaningful deal at the UN climate change meeting in Copenhagen. The Conference was organized by UNEP, with support from several UN entities including UNICEF, UNFPA, FAO, WMO, UN-HABITAT, UNDESA, UNESCO and the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Links to further information
TUNZA Youth Statement
UNEP press release, 23 August 2009

UNDESA/DSD Capacity Development Workshop Discusses Challenges Concerning Agricultural Development and Climate Change Adaptation

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:21:37 +0000

February 2009: The Capacity Development Workshop on Improving Agricultural Productivity, Water Use Efficiency and Strengthening Rural Livelihoods, took place from 28-30 January 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Division for Sustainable Development (DSD), in collaboration with the UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and brought together representatives from governments, local authorities, UN Agencies and academia to share lessons learned and best practices in combating rural poverty.�

Participants discussed issues and challenges concerning agricultural development and food security, agricultural water management, rural development, land-use planning and management, and the need for adaptation to climate change. The summary of recommendations from the workshop recognizes, inter alia: that climate change poses a threat to the sustainability of agricultural production systems and rural livelihoods; that adaptation needs to be viewed as a part of the coping strategy for poor rural people; the need to encourage mitigating efforts through the sustainable management of land, forests and other natural resources through appropriate incentives to rural people; and the need to exploit the synergies between mitigation and adaptation measures in light of country-specific situations and requirements. The outcomes of the workshop will serve as inputs to the 23-27 February 2009 Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting of 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. [Workshop Website]