CLIMATE-L.ORG

Scientists at UNESCO Forum Call for Action to Halt Rising Acidity in World’s Oceans

2 February 2009: Over 150 leading marine scientists from 26 countries are calling for immediate action by government leaders worldwide to sharply reduce carbon dioxide emissions so as to avoid widespread and severe damage to marine ecosystems from ocean acidification. The call was made with the release of the Monaco Declaration on Ocean Acidification, which was developed by participants attending a UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) symposium on “The Ocean in a High-CO2 World,” from 6-9 October 2008, in Monaco.

CBD Executive Secretary on World Wetlands Day: Climate Change Impacts the Water Cycle

2 February 2009: On the occasion of World Wetlands Day, celebrated on 2 February 2009, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Ahmed Djoghlaf, delivered a message stressing the need for integrated management of land and water. He underlined that this year’s theme, “Upstream-Downstream: Wetlands connect us all,” is well reflected in the CBD programmes of work. Noting that biodiversity in freshwater and coastal wetlands continues to decline at the fastest rate amongst all the major biomes, he highlighted that the main impacts of climate change, as reflected through the impacts of environmental changes on people, are on the water cycle. [The Message]

WMO Bulletin Focuses on “Weather, Climate and the Air We Breathe”

29 January 2009: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its latest Bulletin, which focuses on World Meteorological Day, to be celebrated on 23 March and focused on the theme: “Weather, climate and the air we breathe.”

NATO Secretary General addresses Impacts of Climate Change on Arctic Region

29 January 2009: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer addressed a Seminar on Security Prospects in the High North, underscoring that the Arctic ice cap melting causes changes that will affect the whole international community, and suggested that NATO could contribute to addressing this problem through its participation in relief operations and utilizing the opportunities inherent to the NATO-Russia Council.

UNCTAD Organizing Expert Meeting on Maritime Transport and Climate Change

January 2009: The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is organizing an expert meeting on “Maritime transport and the climate change challenge.” The meeting, which will convene from 16-18 February 2009, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, aims to help identify relevant policy actions for climate change mitigation and adaptation in maritime transport, while furthering other objectives such as transport efficiency, trade facilitation, trade competitiveness and sustainable development.

UNU-IAS Launches Report on Innovation in Responding to Climate Change

10 December 2008: At a side event to the UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Poznań, Poland, the UN University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) launched a new report entitled “Innovation in Responding to Climate Change: Nanotechnology, Ocean Energy and Forestry.”

UNEP’s Climate Neutral Network Gains Participants

7 December 2008: On the sidelines of the 14th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, taking place in Poznan, Poland, the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), a coalition of public, private and governmental entities, has gained new participants. The new participants include: URBN Hotels, China’s first carbon neutral hotel; Tesco Lotus, Thailand’s largest supermarket chain; Rios Tropicales, a Costa Rican eco-adventure company; and the Pacific island nation of Niue. [UNEP Press Release]

Regional Seas Global Meeting Adopts Statement on Impacts of Climate Change on Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

4 December 2008: The 10th Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans convened from 25-27 November 2008, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and addressed issues related to climate change and the Regional Seas Programmes, and adaptation to climate change vulnerability and sea-level rise.

WMO to Organize 2009 Conference on Oceans Observation

6 November 2008: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that a conference on Oceans Observation (OceanObs) entitled “Ocean Information for Society: Sustaining the Benefits, Realizing the Potential,” would take place from 21-25 September 2009, in Venice, Italy.

Ramsar COP10 Adopts Resolution on Wetlands and Climate Change

4 November 2008: The 10th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP10) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, held from 28 October-4 November 2008, in Changwon, Republic of Korea, adopted a resolution addressing the impacts of climate change on wetlands.

Ramsar COP10 Adopts Resolution on Wetlands and Biofuels

4 November 2008: The 10th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP10) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, held from 28 October-4 November 2008 in Changwon, Republic of Korea, adopted a resolution addressing the potential impacts of biofuel production and use on the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

WMO Commission for Hydrology to Review Climate Change and Water Activities

4 November 2008: The 13th session of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Hydrology opened on 4 November 2008 at WMO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and will conclude on 12 November. The Commission for Hydrology shapes the water-related activities of the WMO, and addresses issues related to the basic hydrological observation network, water resources assessment, flood forecasting and management, adaptabili

IMO London Convention Parties Agree on Moratorium on Ocean Fertilization

31 October 2008: The thirtieth meeting of the contracting parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) and the third meeting of the contracting parties to the London Protocol, which met from 27-31 October 2008, at International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London, UK, adopted a resolution on the regulation of ocean fertilization (LC-LP.1(2008)).

First World Summit of Regions Showcases Role of Regions in Tackling Climate Change

30 October 2008: Over 600 participants representing governments, regions and other local authorities gathered in Saint Malo, France, from 29-30 October 2008, for the “First World Summit of Regions, Climate Change: Regions in Action.”

UN Secretary-General Stresses Role of Wetlands in Tackling Climate Change

28 October 2008: In a video message to the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, taking place in Changwon, Republic of Korea, from 28 October-4 November 2008, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the appropriateness of the conference’s theme, “Healthy wetlands, healthy people.”

UN-HABITAT: State of the World’s Cities Report Underlines Coastal Cities’ Vulnerability to Climate Change

23 October 2008: The UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) has launched “State of the World’s Cities 2008/2009: Harmonious Cities,” a flagship report published every two years by the UN agency. The Report indicates that half the world’s population currently lives in cities, and within two decades this proportion will increase to 60%. In relation to climate change, the report finds that many cities are at risk from rising water levels, and more needs to be done now to mitigate the impact this will have on their populations and assets. [UN Habitat Press Release]

UNESCO and IAEA Convene Symposium on Ocean Acidification

16 October 2008: The second symposium on “The Ocean in a High CO2 World” convened from 6-9 October 2008, at the Oceanography Museum of Monaco, sponsored by, inter alia, the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Committee of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO), and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Marine Environmental Laboratory.

IMO Environment Committee Makes Progress on Emissions Regulations for Ships

13 October 2008: The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) held its 58th session from 6-10 October 2008, in London, UK. The Committee maintained momentum in limiting or reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, and made substantive progress in developing technical and operational measures to address these emissions.

IMO Continues Work on Regime to Control GHG Emissions

3 October 2008: The Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is meeting in London, UK, for its 58th session, from 6-10 October 2008. During the meeting, the Committee will continue its work on developing a mandatory regime to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping.

Impacts of Europe’s Changing Climate – 2008 Indicator-Based Assessment

29 September 2008: This European Environment Agency (EEA) report presents past and projected climate change and impacts in Europe, based on approximately 40 indicators, and identifies sectors and regions that are vulnerable and require adaptation.

UNEP Announces Tenth Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans to Consider Climate Change Challenges

September 2008: The Tenth Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans will take place in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from 25-27 November 2008. The objectives of the meeting include discussing key global challenges related to climate change and its relationship with the on-going and future work of the Regional Seas Programmes. In this context, participants will address: climate change and oceans; large marine ecosystems and climate change; and climate change vulnerability and adaptation - adapting to the impacts of climate change on the marine and coastal environment, including sea-level rise. [Meeting’s first announcement]

UNESCO: International Symposium on the Water-Energy Nexus to Convene

September 2008: An International Symposium on ‘Resolving the Water-Energy Nexus’ will be held in Paris, France, from 26-28 November 2008. The Symposium will convene within the framework of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) International Hydrological Programme (IHP) in collaboration with UNESCO’s Renewable Energy Programme, and will be organized by the non-profit association RED-Ethique.

UNEP: World Glaciers Need Better Monitoring

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) launched a new facts and figures report on glaciers and ice caps during a side event on 1 September 2008, in Geneva, Switzerland, during the twenty-ninth plenary session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC29). “Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures” presents recent fluctuations of glaciers and ice caps and underlines an overall trend of glaciers’ retreat. Wilfried Haeberli, Director of WGMS, noted that glaciers are unique demonstration objects of global climate change.

International Congress to Address Anthropogenic Impacts on the Marine Environment

September 2008: The International Congress on ‘Anthropogenic Impacts on the Marine Environment’ is scheduled to take place in Ismal, Algeria, from 27-29 October 2008. The themes to be addressed during the Congress are: the contribution of human activities to the marine and coastal imbalance; means and tools to avoid or mitigate anthropogenic impacts; and global and regional oceanographic data analysis related to the influence of human activities on the marine system. [Conference website]

Nineteenth SPREP Meeting to Address the Implementation of the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015

August 2008: The nineteenth South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Meeting of Officials, which will be held from 4-12 September 2008, in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, will consider a number of climate related matters, including the Action Plan for the implementation of the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015. Participants are also scheduled to examine a Plan for Action on the Pacific Year of Climate Change 2009.

UN to Assist in Establishment of Inter-Agency Climate Change Centre for Pacific Countries

19 August 2008: In a message delivered by Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, to the Pacific Islands Forum summit meeting, which is taking place until 21 August 2008 in Alofi, Niue, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the creation of an Inter-Agency Climate Change Centre for coordinated UN support to Pacific Island Countries and regional organizations, in partnership with the Government of Samoa.

Draft General Assembly Resolution on Threats to Climate Change to International Peace and Security to be Discussed

12 August 2008: The Permanent Missions of Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and co-sponsoring States are convening a discussion on a draft UN General Assembly resolution on the threat of climate change to international peace and security resolution on 15 August 2008, at UN Headquarters in New York, US. Noting that if unaddressed, climate change will lead to security challenges and destroy small islands because of sea-level rise, PSIDS states that the UN Charter charges the Security Council to assess and mitigate this security threat. [UN Journal, 13 August 2008]

Scientific Symposium to Examine Ocean Acidification

August 2008: The Second Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO₂ World, co-organized by the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), is scheduled to take place from 6-9 October 2008 in Monaco.

Draft Ramsar COP10 Resolutions Highlight the Role of Wetlands in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

July 2008: The Ramsar Secretariat has posted the draft resolutions (DRs) that will be considered by parties for adoption at their tenth Conference of Parties (COP10), which is scheduled to take place in Changwon, Republic of Korea, from 28 October to 2008 to 4 November 2008.

Experts Gather to Prevent Destruction of Wetlands and Consequent GHG Releases

21 July 2008: Over 700 experts from 28 nations are gathering at the eighth INTECOL International Wetlands Conference, which is taking place from 20-25 July 2008, in Cuiaba, Brazil, to agree on measures to better manage and slow the decline of wetlands that are among the planet’s most threatened ecosystems.

Coastal Cities Summit: Values and Vulnerabilities

July 2008: The Coastal Cities Summit, which will take place from 17-20 November 2008, in Saint Petersburg, Florida, US, is organized by the International Ocean Institute. It will address the challenges that coastal city leaders face as populations increase, resources are depleted, and the impacts of climate change are felt. The event will focus on climate change, risk and vulnerability, and sustainable development. [Website]

World’s Ports Adopt Climate Declaration

11 July 2008: The World Ports Climate Conference took place from 9-11 July 2008 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and was organized around the theme “World Ports for a Better Climate.”The conference brought together participants representing over 50 ports from 35 countries and concluded with the adoption of the World Port Climate Declaration, in which they committed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve air quality.

FAO Scientific Symposium: Climate Change Will Have Strong Impact on Fisheries

10 July 2008: The International Symposium on Coping with Global Change in Marine Social-Ecological Systems took place from 8-11 July 2008, in Rome, Italy. The Symposium, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics and the European Network of Excellence for Oceans Ecosystem Analysis, brought together over 200 experts and policymakers from around the globe to share experiences and identify key next steps to promote resilience of marine social-ecological systems.

IMO: World Maritime Day for 2009 to Focus on Climate Change

20 June 2008: During its one hundredth Session, which took place in London, UK, from 16-20 June 2008, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed that the theme for the 2009 World Maritime Day would be “Climate change: a challenge for IMO too!”

UNITAR Organizes Workshop on Biodiversity and Climate Change

5 July 2008: The Workshop on Biodiversity and Climate Change took place from 29 June to 4 July 2008, in Kushiro, Japan. It was co-organized by the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Kushiro International Wetland Centre, in partnership with the Japan-UNDP Partnership Fund and the Secretariats of the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Arctic Communities and Small Island Developing States Call for Action on Climate Change

25 June 2008: Many Strong Voices (MSV), a collaboration between Arctic and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that seeks to promote the well-being of these areas vulnerable to climate change, released a five-year action plan on 25 June 2008. The plan calls for action within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), includes a plan for an assessment of adaptation options for SIDS, and seeks to build the capacity of MSV participants and the awareness of the public about climate change. [UNEP GRID ARENDAL Press Release] [The Five-Year Action Plan] [Many Strong Voices website]

European Project on Ocean Acidification Launched

10 June 2008: The European Project on Ocean Acidification (EPOCA) was launched on 10 June 2008. This EU research project is a consortium of over 100 scientists from 27 organizations in nine countries to address ocean acidification. Its goal is to document ocean acidification, investigate its impact on biological processes, predict its consequences for the next 100 years, and advise policy-makers on potential thresholds or tipping points that should not be exceeded.

Ramsar Standing Committee Addresses Climate Change and Biofuels

6 June 2008: The Ramsar Standing Committee held its 37th meeting from 2-6 June 2008, in Gland, Switzerland. The Committee was charged with making the final preparations for the documents to be considered at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP10), which will take place in Changwon, Republic of Korea, from 28 October to 4 November 2008. During the meeting, the Committee approved for transmittal to the COP a draft Resolution (DR) on climate change and wetlands, and one on wetlands and biofuels.

Maldives Prepares for Climate Change

5 June 2008: As part of the UN World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) strategy to implement the recommendations of the Davos Declaration, a project aiming to integrate the Maldives’ tourism into its climate change adaptation activities is underway.

41st Session of the IOC Executive Council to Consider Contribution to UNFCCC Objectives

June 2008: The 41st session of the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which will take place from 24 June-1 July 2008, in Paris, France, is scheduled to consider: the contribution of IOC programmes to achieving the objectives of the UNFCCC; whether there is any need to modify the present arrangements; and the IOC’s intention to continue its close cooperation with the UNFCCC Secretariat.

WMO co-sponsored Workshop on Climate Change and the Offshore Industry to be held in Geneva

May 2008: A workshop on “Climate change and the offshore industry,” co-sponsored by the WMO, Met-Ocean Committee of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission through the Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology, and the World Climate Research Programme, will take place at WMO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from 27-29 May 2008.

Ramsar Oceania Meeting Report Released

May 2008: The report of the regional preparatory meeting of Oceania parties, which took place in Samoa on 10-11 April 2008, has been released. Workshop participants discussed the draft resolution on climate change prepared by the Ramsar Scientific and Technical Review Panel in advance of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP10), scheduled to take place from 28 October to 4 November 2008, in Changwon, Republic of Korea. In relation to the draft resolution on climate change, Australia called for a caucus of Pacific member States before COP10.

Ramsar Secretary General Stresses Wetlands’ Role in Climate Change Mitigation

7 May 2008: Ramsar’s Secretary General, Anada Tiéga, participated in the sixteenth session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD16), which took place in at UN headquarters in New York, US, from 5-16 May 2008. Speaking in a panel on one of the meeting’s thematic topics, drought, Tiéga discussed “Wetland management as a significant land use issue.” He observed that the Ramsar Convention encourages contracting parties and river basin authorities to ensure that wetland ecosystems are managed and restored in order to mitigate the impacts of natural phenomena such as floods, and provide resilience against drought in arid and semi-arid areas. He also stressed that wetland management can contribute to wider strategies aimed at mitigating climate change and desertification, and thus reduce the incidence or magnitude of natural phenomena induced or enhanced by such changes. [Summary of Ramsar Secretary General’s intervention]

Working Group Considers Environmental Impacts of Anthropogenic Activities on Marine Biological Diversity

2 May 2008: Participants to the Second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction have addressed the issue of environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities. A number of developing countries at the 28 April-2 May 2008 meeting in New York, US, organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, expressed concern with ocean-based climate change mitigation activities, highlighting uncertainties regarding their impacts.

Norway, Australia, Marshall Islands and Mexico argued that these activities should be subject to the carrying out of an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

Above - L-R: Co-Chair Ambassador Robert Hill (Australia) and Co-Chair Juan Manuel Gómez-Robledo (Mexico).

Pacific Islands Observing Systems Publishes Second Newsletter

The second issue of Vai Pasifika, the quarterly newsletter of the Pacific Islands Observing Systems that aims to encourage a unified approach to observing the Pacific climate ecosystem, was issued last month.

Articles cover topics including: increasing access to coastal and ocean observations; weather and climate end-user consultation workshops; and aerial photographs showing changing shorelines.

Pacific Islands Observing Systems newsletter | Pacific Island Global Ocean Observing System (PI-GOOS) website |

FAO Stresses Climate Change Implications for Agriculture in the Near East

A new report released at the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (1-5 March 2008) in Cairo, Egypt, finds that agriculture in the Near East is likely to suffer losses because of high temperature, droughts, floods and soil degradation threatening the food security of many countries.

The report suggests that an additional 155 to 600 million people may suffer an increase in water stress in North Africa with a 3° Celsius temperature rise.

FAO Report on “Climate Change: Implications for Agriculture in the Near East” FAO press release, 3 March 2008

Barcelona Convention Parties Adopt Protocol on Coastal Zone Management

The 15th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) and its Protocols took place in Almeria, Spain, from 15-18 January 2008.

Jointly organized by the UN Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) and the Spanish Ministry of the Environment, the Meeting brought together ministers and senior officials responsible for the environment and development in 21 Mediterranean countries and the European Community. A ministerial session convened on 16-17 January to discuss the challenge of climate change in the Mediterranean.

Participants also adopted a series of decisions, including the new Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), and adopted the Almeria Ministerial Declaration setting up the MAP future initiatives in the field of climate change.

Conference website | UNEP/MAP Press Release |

Art Exhibit ‘Melting Ice/A Hot Topic: Envisioning Change’ will travel to UNEP Meeting in Monaco

The Natural World Museum (NWM) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have revealed plans to bring their innovative and highly celebrated art exhibit, “Melting Ice/A Hot Topic: Envisioning Change,” to the Principality of Monaco in for the Tenth Special Session of UNEP's Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum on Globalization and Environment: Financing the Climate Challenge.

Revealing the plans, Achim Steiner, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNEP, said “science informs the mind, music and the heart but art connects with the human spirit. We urgently need to empower all three of these essential human elements if we are to rise to the challenge and seize the opportunities for economic, environmental and social renewal glimpsed through the lens of climate change.” The international exhibit on climate change will be hosted by the Office of Cultural Affairs in Monaco (DAC) from 20 February to 16 March 2008.

UNEP PRESS RELEASE | ART OF ENVIRONMENT |

Launch of the International Year of the Reef 2008 opens with call for greater efforts to combat climate change

Coral reef experts and supporters launched the International Year of the Reef 2008 in Washington, DC, US, with a resounding call for greater efforts to combat climate change to protect the world's biologically complex ocean ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, Kristalina Georgieva, Director of Strategy and Operations of the World Bank's Sustainable Development Network, said “ten years ago, we knew that reefs around the world were severely at risk, primarily from coastal development, overfishing and pollution. Now, climate change has darkened the picture for reefs, and for the tropical developing countries whose economies depend on them.”

NEWS RELEASE | IYOR |