The food people eat around the world is becoming “alarmingly homogenous” according to UN data, even though access to a wide variety of nutritious food has never been greater. That warning comes as the world marks the International Day for…
Category: Mitigation
Climate change is the battle of my life: UN chief
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres saw the frontline of “the battle against climate change” for himself on Thursday, by taking to the tropical waters of the South Pacific off the coast of Fiji, on a solar-powered boat. Mr. Guterres was…
A low-carbon Belt and Road
By Ma Jun and Simon Zadek Beijing – Discussions about climate action nowadays often focus on the largest past and current emitters. But, if one looks to the future, the biggest climate risks and opportunities lie in the more than…
Europe should lead on climate action
By Connie Hedegaard Brussels – Since the massive mobilization effort that preceded the 2009 Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen, the world has begun translating words and intentions into real action on climate change. European leadership – from government,…
A carbon dividend is better than a carbon tax
By Mark Paul and Anthony Underwood Sarasota – Climate change is the world’s most urgent problem, and in the United States, the left, at least, is taking it seriously. Earlier this year, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Senator…
Save the whole planet from climate change in self-interest
Concluding a week-long visit to the South Pacific, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the world’s decision-makers to make “enlightened” choices on climate action because “the whole planet” is at stake. “Over the past week, I have witnessed first-hand…
Stop Tuvalu and ‘the world from sinking’: Guterres
Tuvalu “faces an existential threat from sea-level rise”, the United Nations chief said during his visit to the Pacific island nation on Friday whose highest point is less than five metres above the waves. “We must stop Tuvalu from sinking…
UN chief in New Zealand to step-up climate change fight
New Zealand, May 12(AP/UNB) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in New Zealand as part of a trip to the South Pacific to highlight the issue of climate change. Guterres plans to spend three days in New Zealand where…
Ensuring the ‘lungs of the planet’ keep us alive
Forests are vitally important for sustaining life on Earth, and play a major role in the fight against climate change. With the 2019 session of the United Nations Forum on Forests wrapping up on Friday in New York, we delve…
Cyclone Idai: Time to reassess disaster management
HARARE, Mar 28 2019 (IPS) – It was one of the worst tropical cyclones hit Southern Africa in recent times. Cyclone Idai, which has been characterised by heavy rains and flooding including mudslides in some parts of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi,…
Cities go dark for Earth Hour, bring light to climate change
New York, Mar 31 (AP/UNB) — Cities around the world marked Earth Hour on Saturday by turning off lights at 8:30 p.m. local time in a call for global action on climate change. Earth Hour, spearheaded by the World Wildlife…
Global Compact for safe orderly migration -Objectives
Global Compact for safe, orderly migration – Objectives Collect and utilize accurate and disaggregated data as a basis for evidence-based policies Minimize the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their country of origin Provide accurate and…
A quarter of eligible countries haven’t accessed Green Fund
Interesting findings surface in the evaluation of Green Fund’s readiness programme Kathmandu/New Delhi, 8 March (Prerna Bomzan and Indrajit Bose) – At the 22nd Board meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) held in Songdo, South Korea from 26-28 February,…
Taking the lead in fight against climate change
PARIS, Feb 22 2019 (IPS) – As the grandchild of Jamaican citizens who moved to Great Britain, Monique Taffe says she inherited a tradition of recycling and learned not to be part of the “throwaway culture”, as some environmentalists have labelled…
Govt to give compensation to fire victims: Quader
Dhaka, Feb 21 (UNB) –Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the government will provide compensation to the victims of Chawkbazar fire. Investigation will be carried out into the incident and necessary legal measures would be taken…
Breaking Germany’s Coal Addiction
by Johan Rockström, Owen Gaffney Berlin – Germany is about to break its coal addiction. Last year, the government created a 28-member “coal commission” – comprising scientists, politicians, environmental campaigners, trade unions, and utilities representatives – with the unenviable mandate…
Geoengineering is a dangerous distraction
Carroll Muffett Washington, DC – As concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide surpass 400 parts per million, the costs of the climate crisis – in terms of economic losses, environmental impacts, and human lives – continue to rise. Last October, the…
Only immediate climate action can save the future
by John Scales Avery Only immediate climate action can save the future. If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon. A new book. I have…
Towards a common food policy for the EU
The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) has released a new report: “Towards A Common Food Policy for the EU”. The report maps out a single, time-bound vision for reforming European food systems, realigning the various sectoral…
Indian nationals warned of ‘fake embassy calls’
bahrain – February 06, 2019 Some recent incidents have come to the notice of the Embassy of India in the Kingdom wherein a fake person/agency is making hoax phone calls to Indian nationals on false grounds regarding passport and consular…
Bringing greener pastures back home
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 22 2019 (IPS) – One month on since the Global Compact for Migration was approved, civil society has highlighted the need to turn words into action, supporting those who have been displaced or forced to migrate as…
10 Latin American city Mayors commit to share of Paris Deal
Cities will develop Climate Action Plans that deliver on the objectives of the Paris Agreement, with support from C40 Cities and the UK government.Pledge made at meeting of city officials in Quito, Ecuador. Quito, Ecuador 29 January — Buenos Aires;…
Big emitters in Bd asked to go for rapid mitigation of GHGs
Dhaka, Jan 26 (UNB) – Bangladesh has said big emitters must go for rapid mitigation of GHGs apart from providing financial resources and ensuring technology transfer to the vulnerable countries for their adaptation efforts. “This would be the most effective…
An optimist’s guide to climate change
by Lynn Scarlett Washington, DC – During a recent commute to work, as my car inched along in rush-hour traffic, I watched a heron stalk the banks of the Potomac River. The majestic bird was a timely reminder that nature…
Rule book to implement the Paris Agreement is now a reality
Kicking off COP, the WBG announced a major new set of climate targets for 2021-2025, more than doubling current 5-year investments to around $200 billion in support for countries to take ambitious climate action. It was warmly received during the…
Irrigation best protection to farming against climate change
The changing climate and extreme weather events are affecting agricultural productivity in Africa to such an extent that a panel of experts are urging governments to prioritise and invest in irrigation to ensure food security.
‘Rulebook’ adopted to put Paris climate deal into action
Almost 200 nations, including the world’s top greenhouse gas producers, China and the United States, have adopted a set of rules meant to breathe life into the 2015 Paris climate accord by setting out how countries should report their emissions…
At COP24, nations agree to bring Paris climate deal to life
COP24 closing plenary meeting in Katowice, Poland, 16 December 2018. Katowice, 15 December 2018 – After two weeks of crunch negotiations – with overtime – the almost 200 parties gathered in Katowice, Poland, for the United Nations COP24 two-week climate…
COP24: Day 12 – Negotiations heading into overtime
It’s crunch time in Katowice, on what it supposed to be the last day of COP24, but the talks are heading for an all-nighter. This is not unusual for climate conferences to run late—in fact, they all do. But it…
UN climate talks inch forward, appear headed for overtime
Poland, Dec 14 (AP/UNB) — Agreement on the fine print of the Paris climate accord drew closer Thursday, three years after countries sealed the landmark deal on curbing global warming, but negotiators remained divided on some of the thorniest issues…