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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, 5 September 2008 - Issue No. 5
Latest News - Friday, 5 September 2008
SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE IPCC’s TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Rajendra Pachauri Re-elected as IPCC Chair
2 September 2008: During the twenty-ninth plenary session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 29), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 31 August-4 September 2008, Rajendra Pachauri, the IPCC Chairman, was re-elected by acclamation. More information.
UNEP: World Glaciers Need Better Monitoring
1 September 2008: 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, during IPCC 29. “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. More information.
IPCC Celebrates Twentieth Anniversary
31 August 2008: The celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and its twenty-ninth plenary Session convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from 31 August-4 September 2008. More information.
UN Secretary-General Calls for Poznan to be a Successful Bridge towards Copenhagen
31 August 2008: In a press conference given on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the IPCC, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the IPCC for its accomplishments and for removing any doubt that climate change was happening with its Fourth Assessment Report. More information.
UNEP Executive Director Addresses IPCC
31 August 2008: Achim Steiner, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director and UN Under-Secretary General, spoke to the IPCC on 31 August 2008. More information.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Stresses the Role of Public Understanding of Climate Change in Reaching Strong Outcome in Copenhagen
31 August 2008: Speaking on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the IPCC and the opening of its twenty-ninth plenary session, Roberto Acosta, Coordinator, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), on behalf of Yvo de Boer, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, underlined the IPCC’s role in global climate change policies and the need for public understanding of climate change to significantly strengthen international action to tackle this challenge and reach an ambitious response in Copenhagen at the UN climate change meeting in December 2009. More information.
Guest Article
Africa’s Climate Roadmap: From Johannesburg through Africa to Copenhagen
By Marthinus van Schalkwyk, President of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, and Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, South Africa
Marthinus van Schalkwyk
“Africa’s Climate Roadmap, from Johannesburg through Africa to Copenhagen” was adopted at the twelfth session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-12), which took place from 7-12 June 2008, in Johannesburg, South Africa. ... article continues.
By Richard Sherman and Peter Doran, IISDRS
Climate change has become a standing item on the multilateral finance and development agenda, and therefore it is fitting that, as negotiators made their way home from the Accra Climate Change talks, finance and development officials arrived to discuss ways to increase the transparency of aid and make it more results-oriented at the third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra. In the run-up to the December 2008 Poznan Climate Change Talks, a number of similar intergovernmental meetings and processes are planned. ... article continues.
UN AGENCIES, PROGRAMMES AND FUNDS
ICAO Statement to AWG-LCA3 Addresses Options to Reduce GHG Emissions from International Civil Aviation
ICAO Addresses its Collaboration with the UNFCCC at AWG-KP6
IFAD’s President Calls for Action on Aid Effectiveness
Latest ITU Technology Watch Briefing Report Focuses on Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
UNEP Executive Director Says Weather Events Underscore Need to “Climate-Proof” Vulnerable Economies
UNEP Releases Booklet on Energy Subsidies
UNPFII Resource Kit on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues Available
UNIDO Director-General Stresses Developing Countries’ Need to Participate in Standardization Process
WHO Report: Closing the Gap in a Generation
WHO/UNEP Inter-ministerial Conference Addresses Climate Change Impacts on Health in Africa
WMO Stresses Role of Climate Prediction in Water Management for Poverty Alleviation
WMO: September Issue of the WCRP Electronic Newsletter Released
World Bank Launches Film Contest on the Social Aspects of Climate Change
MULTILATERAL TREATY BODIES
Encouraging Debates Conclude in Accra
GEF Meeting in West Africa Develops Programme for Access to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Calls on Africa to Express its Views on the Copenhagen Deal
UN SECRETARY-GENERAL
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES
African Green Revolution Conference Addresses Food
Security and Increased Productivity
International Symposium Adopts Declaration on Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia
Nineteenth SPREP Meeting to Address the Implementation of the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015
Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness Convenes
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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.