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Climate Change Policy & Practice
Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in cooperation with the
United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) Secretariat
Friday, 8 August 2008 - Issue No. 3
Latest News - Friday, 8 August 2008
SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL LEVEL
Fifteenth SAARC Summit Declaration Addresses Climate Change and Food Security
3 August 2008: The fifteenth Summit meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), held from 2-3 August 2008, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, concluded with the adoption of the Colombo Declaration and the Colombo Statement on Food Security. In the Declaration, entitled “Partnership for Growth for Our People,” the Heads of State and Government reiterate the need for increased regional cooperation in tackling climate change, in particular for capacity building, the development of Clean Development Mechanism projects, and awareness raising. More information.
Non-Aligned Movement Ministers Call for Urgent Action to Address Climate Change
31 July 2008: The fifteenth Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held from 27-30 July 2008, in Tehran, Iran, concluded with the adoption of a document in which Ministers recognize that climate change poses serious risks and challenges, particularly to developing countries, and call for urgent global action in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. More information.
General Assembly President Discusses Climate Change on Latin American Tour
31 July 2008: On his three-country tour of Latin America, Srgjan Kerim, President of the UN General Assembly, discussed climate change with Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, and addressed its importance at a conference on the role of the UN in a globalized world. More information.
Responses to Climate Change Bear Major Development Implications: Monterrey Review Process Draft Outcome Document Released
30 July 2008: The President of the UN General Assembly issued a draft outcome document for the Monterrey Consensus Review Conference where countries would recognize that responses to the climate change problem have “major development implications” and “commit to respond to the additional financial requirements that meet these new challenges with appropriate, concrete international cooperation measures and policies.” More information.
South Africa-EU Declaration on Climate Change Calls for Emission Reduction Targets
25 July 2008: At the conclusion of the first South Africa-EU Summit, held in Bordeaux, France, participants adopted a Declaration on Climate Change in which they agreed on the need to conclude negotiations by the end of 2009 on a strengthened and effective global agreement for the climate change regime post 2012. More information.
Fifth Summit of the Americas’ Draft Declaration Addresses Climate Change
24 July 2008: The Draft Declaration of Commitment for the Fifth Summit of the Americas was presented during a meeting of National Coordinators of the Summit Implementation Review Group, held at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington DC, US. More information.
Guest Article
Biodiversity and Climate Change
By Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Ahmed Djoghlaf
A number of assessments are now identifying climate change as the new great threat to biodiversity. As a result of climate change, up to 88% of reefs in Southeast Asia may be lost over the next 30 years while in the Amazon Basin, more than 40% of plant species studied could face extinction. If the projected rise in sea level occurs, American Samoa could lose 50% of their mangroves and an additional 15 Pacific islands could face a 12% reduction in mangrove cover. ... article continues.
By Richard Sherman and Peter Doran, IISDRS
In late July, the UN General Assembly reconvened two of its reform processes to consider the second-order draft of a Resolution on International Environmental Governance (IEG) and the report of the co-chairs on UN System-wide Coherence (SWC). Both reform processes were initiated following the World Summit 2005 and have been constantly evolving over the last three years. Beyond the obvious relevance of a more coordinated and coherent multilateral order, these processes speak to a pressing issue for the future climate agreement: the need for greater coherence or what we are calling ‘working as one.’ .. article continues.
MULTILATERAL TREATY BODIES
CBD: Brazilian State of Parana Offsets Carbon Emissions of the CBD’s Secretariat Operations
CBD Invites Parties to Nominate Climate Change Experts
CDM Executive Board Report Released
Draft Ramsar COP10 Resolutions Highlight the Role of Wetlands in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
ITTO Provides REDD Projects Overview
UN AGENCIES, PROGRAMMES AND FUNDS
ESCAP Joins “Cool UN” Programme
IAEA Annual Report: Climate Change to Shape Nuclear Future
ITU Telecom Asia 2008 Forum to Address Climate Change
Standards Bodies Urged to Support ITU’s Climate Change Work
UN International Youth Day to Focus on Climate Change
UN to Decrease Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Month of August
UNEP Executive Director Highlights the Postal Sector’s Potential to Reduce its Environmental Footprint
UNDP Promotes Clean Energy Transport at Olympics
WB-UN/ISDR: A Tool for Improving Climate Resilience of Cities
WMO Cooperates in Olympic Games Forecasts
UN SECRETARIAT
UN Secretary-General Addresses the Climate and Food Crisis in a Joint Session of the Mexican Senate and Chamber of Deputies
Highlighting Development, Climate and Food Crises, UN Secretary-General Urges Copenhagen Agreement
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Climate Change Policy & Practice is a knowledge management project for international negotiations and related activities on climate change run by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), which is fully responsible for the content posted on Climate Change Policy & Practice. Information on United Nations activities is provided in cooperation with the UN system agencies, funds and programmes through the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) Secretariat. More information.