Environment and Energy

Five communities awarded for climate change, biodiversity initiatives

New York – The Equator Initiative, a United Nations-led partnership that supports grassroots efforts in biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation, announced today five communities selected to receive “special recognition” for the Equator Prize 2008.

The five winners of the special recognition were awarded for their outstanding leadership in adapting to climate change and conserving biodiversity while improving the livelihoods of the community members. The winners embody innovation in astonishing variety, from mariculture to hippo protection, from cotton farming to ethno-tourism, and from beekeeping to water management.

REDD Letter Day for Forests: UN and Norway UNite to Combat Climate Change from Deforestation

New York, 24 September 2008 - Tropical forested countries are stepping up the fight to combat climate change via a pioneering new initiative called the UN-REDD Programme announced today.

The Programme, to be carried out by three United Nations agencies, was unveiled by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Prime Minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg whose government is financing this initial phase in the amount of US$35 million.

Nine countries have already expressed formal interest in receiving assistance through the UN-REDD Programme – Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tanzania, Viet Nam, and Zambia.

Some among them like, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania will “quick start” their efforts through developing national strategies, establishing robust systems for monitoring, assessment, reporting and verification of forest cover and carbon stocks, and building necessary capabilities – with support to others to follow in due course.

In subsequent phases, pilot projects will be rolled out to test ways of managing existing forests in order to maintain their ecosystem services and maximise their carbon stocks while delivering community and livelihood benefits.

Landmark private, public trade fair launched to tap carbon market opportunities in Africa

Africa Carbon Forum latest initiative of Nairobi Framework to boost clean development mechanism projects on continent — IETA, UNEP, UNDP, WB and UNFCCC

(Dakar, 4 September 2008) – To help Africa obtain its fair share of emission reduction projects under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and satisfy growing carbon market interest on the continent, partner international agencies and the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) on Wednesday launched the first all-Africa Carbon Forum in Senegal, under the umbrella of the Nairobi Framework.

The host country, with one CDM project in the validation/registration pipeline, sees potential in the CDM and is eager to scale up participation. "Africa represents a small fraction of the CDM projects worldwide, but this can change. Senegal sees this kind of forum as an effective means to spark that change," said Me Madické Niang, Minister of State and Minister of Justice et Garde des Sceaux, Senegal.

The Nairobi Framework was launched in November 2006 to spread the benefits of the CDM, especially in Africa. Several projects have been launched in Africa, but the continent still accounts for just 27 of the more than 1150 CDM projects now registered in 49 developing countries. That said, the number of projects in Africa is growing, and the projects already in place are expected to stimulate several billion dollars worth of capital investment.

Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN’s top climate change official, was in Dakar to open the forum and expressed his satisfaction with the work to date.

"Combating climate change will take political will, and it will take a great deal of investment. Mechanisms like the CDM are an important means to stimulate that investment, so it’s good to see that Africa is now getting the attention it deserves from the private sector and public sector through events like the Africa Carbon Forum," Mr. de Boer said.

IETA president Henry Derwent said his association of more than 180 international companies "is excited to be the private sector partner, helping to bring on board essential business participation in a landmark, Africa-wide event."

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank and the UNFCCC secretariat have joined to implement the Nairobi Framework. They would welcome more partners, as well as additional support to implement their comprehensive programme proposal. Work to date has been funded, for the most part, from existing resources.

"Almost daily in the news we see evidence that climate change is a serious threat to international development efforts. We need more investment in CDM projects to help ensure climate change doesn’t undermine our efforts to eliminate poverty and reach the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in the least developed countries," said Yannick Glemarec, UNDP–GEF Executive Coordinator.

Under the CDM, projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to sustainable development can earn saleable certified emission reduction credits (CERs). Countries with a commitment under the Kyoto Protocol can use the CERs to meet a part of their obligations under the Protocol.

"A lot of work is being done to capture the benefits of the CDM in Africa. First and foremost we have to make people aware that this mechanism exists, then remove the barriers to participation through capacity-building and private—public sector networking, at events like the Africa Carbon Forum," said Bakary Kante, Director, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, UNEP.

Konrad von Ritter, Sector Manager for Sustainable Development at the World Bank Institute, pointed to increases in capacity development and a growing pipeline of CDM projects, in part thanks to improved coordination under the Nairobi Framework.

"More needs to be done, but we’re beginning to tap the potential of CDM in Africa. We’ve seen an encouraging number of emission reduction purchase agreements signed, including here in Senegal for an innovative CDM programme of activities in rural electrification, and an encouraging level of participation in more and more countries in Africa," Mr. von Ritter said.

UNDP and Transparency International: Ensuring universal access to water

On June 25, UNDP hosted the launch of Transparency International's 2008 Global Corruption Report "Corruption in Water Sector". The event, held at the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium, was opened by Andrew Hudson, the UNDP Water Governance team leader. The presentation of the new report was delivered by Ms. Huguette Labelle, the Transparency International Chair. Then a panel discussion on the significance of the report within the global efforts to ensure universal access to water followed. The audience included representatives of member states, UN and UNDP staff, members of academia and NGO's, and media. Andrew Hudson was interviewed after the event by the Associated Press TV service.

• 2008 Global Corruption Report "Corruption in Water Sector"
• Click here for Andrew Hudson's opening remarks (.doc)

United Nations Climate Change Conference
Bali, 3-14 December 2007 - The Conference, hosted by the Government of Indonesia, brings together representatives of over 180 countries with observers from intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, and the media. The two week period includes the sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, its subsidiary bodies as well as the Meeting of the Parties of the Kyoto Protocol. A ministerial segment in the second week will conclude the Conference. more…