Small Island Developing States

The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Monday, 5 December 2016: Global Commons: Solutions for a Crowded Planet Sustainable Ocean Night Launch of Policy Brief: The State of Sustainability Initiatives Review 2016 Making Connections: InforMEA Mainstreaming Agrobiodiversity in Sustainable Food Systems The Financialization of Nature, Climate and Geoengineering Mainstreaming Biodiversity: Contributions from Science to Policy IISD Reporting Services, through its ENBOTS Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage of selected side-events from the UN Biodiversity Conference. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Global Commons: Solutions for a Crowded Planet Presented by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Stockholm Resilience Centre This side event, which was moderated by Inger Andersen, Director-General, IUCN, explored ways of transforming policies and incentives for food production and agricultural sectors towards environmental sustainability. Andersen said the world must find new and better ways to grow food because the Earth is no longer stable enough to allow consistent food production. She underscored that this requires a shift of the global development paradigm to ensure a balance in society, environment and economic systems. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, said the time has come to challenge the Earth’s survival model, adding that we must consider how to “flip” key economic systems that deteriorate our global commons. She noted that the public sector should create incentives for private sector involvement and address the weak links in agricultural supply chains. Alexander Müller, Töpfer, Müller, Gaßner GmbH– ThinkTank for Sustainability (TMG), said we need to revalue food production to ensure nutritional acceptability, emphasizing that agriculture today is driving poor diets and deteriorating the health of populations. Pablo Lomeli, Monsanto, said continued work in research and development is required to ensure we can meet food production requirements, which will rise by 70% in 2050. He remarked that the private sector can influence sustainability in supply chains by ensuring research and development, information sharing and collaboration for sustainable agricultural production. Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Conservation International, stressed institutional arrangements where forests and fisheries under agriculture ministries compromise sustainability since their focus is resource extraction. He stressed the need to address land-use change and to phase out negative incentives, adding that countries are not placing adequate emphasis on Aichi Biodiversity Target 3 (elimination of incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity). In ensuing discussions, participants said the global commons debate should address the loss of genetic diversity due to agricultural expansion. Some called for increased public awareness to influence consumer choices. Some also raised questions regarding the threat of genetically modified organisms to biodiversity, and noted the need to encourage sustainable forest management to resolve conflicts between forestry, agriculture and environmental sustainability. (L-R): Pablo Lomeli, Monsanto; Alexander Müller, TMG; Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Conservation International; Inger Andersen, Director-General, IUCN; and Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF Inger Andersen, Director-General, IUCN said there is need to shift the global development paradigm to create a balance for society, environment and economic systems. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, said daily efforts are required to address key systems that deteriorate our global commons. Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Conservation International, urged for dialogue between agriculture and environment ministries to address biodiversity loss. Pablo Lomeli, Monsanto, said biotechnology is important to ensure food security and tackle hunger in the world. Alexander Müller, TMG, remarked that although small-scale farmers are stewards of biodiversity, they are the poorest people in the world. Contact: Christian Hofer (Coordinator) | chofer@thegef.org More Information: https://www.iucn.org/global-commons Sustainable Ocean Night Presented by the CBD Secretariat, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Christophe Lefebvre, French Marine Protected Areas Agency, and Anne McDonald, Sophia University, moderated this event. Yongseok Kang, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea, announced a Memorandum of Understanding on the Sustainable Oceans Initiative (SOI) between his country and the CBD. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary, welcomed the Initiative, reporting that the importance of oceans, particularly for fisheries, was recognized at the High-Level Segment of CBD COP 13. Elsa Nickel, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany, highlighted that SDG 14 on oceans provides an avenue for progress on oceans conservation. Mario Aguilar Sanchez, National Commission of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mexico, underscored the need to engage fishermen to ensure the success of the objectives of the SOI. Pierre Hele, Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature, Cameroon, said mangrove conservation requires more attention and called for more partnerships for capacity building and experience sharing. Alain de Comarmond, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles, said oceans are key for food security and economic prosperity, and essential for the survival of people in small islands developing states (SIDS). Vivienne Solis, International Collective in Support of Fishworkers, emphasized the need to recognize the contribution and cultural identity of local communities and indigenous peoples in the Initiative, and called for participatory governance models that empower fishermen. Nana Magomola, Chair, South African National Biodiversity Institute, discussed the ecologically or biologically significant marine areas in the Southern Indian Ocean, emphasizing their value includes supporting fisheries and, thus, food security in the region. Gustavo Fonseca, Director of Programs, Global Environment Facility (GEF), noted the GEF’s programme on biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and highlighted a commitment of over US$40 million for marine protected areas. Eva Muller, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), confirmed the FAO’s commitment to the preservation of marine biodiversity, stressing the need to cooperate and collaborate to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Lorna Inniss, Caribbean Environment Programme, UN Environment, drew attention to her organization’s work on marine and coastal biodiversity, and reiterated the need to not only conserve marine biodiversity for conservation’s sake, but also for its commercial value. Sangjin Kim, President, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, noted that all SOI partners are committed to the common goal of sustainable oceans, highlighting the Institute’s partnership with regional seas organizations and other countries. Lefebvre and McDonald then drew attention to the CBD technical series on the Impacts of Marine Debris on Biodiversity focusing on the current status and possible solutions regarding marine debris. Anne McDonald, Sophia University, and Christophe Lefebvre, French Marine Protected Areas Agency Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary Elsa Nickel, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany   Pierre Hele, Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature, Cameroon Mario Aguilar Sanchez, National Commission on Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mexico Alain de Comarmond, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles   Eva Muller, FAO   Jihyun Lee, CBD Secretariat Contacts: Joseph Appiott (Organizer) | joseph.appiott@cbd.int Jan Kleine Buning (Organizer) | jan.kleine@giz.de More Information: https://www.cbd.int/soi Launch of Policy Brief: The State of Sustainability Initiatives Review 2016 Presented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) During this event, participants heard about the methodologies and findings of the State of Sustainability Initiatives Review policy brief on Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS), which summarizes findings of research conducted jointly by IISD and the CBD Secretariat. Panelists highlighted the role of sustainability standards, biotrade and valuation of ecosystem services in supporting conservation. Sabrina Shaw, IISD, presented on the methodologies and conclusions of the policy brief, noting that VSS are “neither the panacea, nor the problem.” Among key conclusions, she noted: the need to ensure voluntary standards are not developed in isolation from the policy making process; and an increased likelihood that standards use CBD-relevant indicators if local stakeholders are consulted. Lorena Jaramillo, UNCTAD, highlighted the work of the: UNCTAD Biotrade Initiative to assist countries in participating in trade with more value-added, native resources; UN Forum on Sustainability Standards to support developing countries in developing sustainability standards; and the Union for Ethical Biotrade’s Biodiversity Barometer to measure consumer attitudes towards biodiversity. Karen Alvarenga, IISD, presented on the Serra da Moeda Project in Brazil, which seeks to value ecosystem services in an endangered ecosystem with the aim of ensuring the integration of ecosystem services into decisionmaking. Examples of such services, she noted, include water provision, carbon sinks, and medicinal and ornamental plants. During discussions, participants considered: the limited potential for biotrade to move beyond a niche market due to high prices; biotrade in Mexico, including of candelilla and aloe vera; perceptions of certification as “the promised land,” as well as a barrier, to trade; local government involvement in ecosystem valuation; and the potential for judicial action for loss and damage of biodiversity through results from ecosystem valuation. Lorena Jaramillo, UNCTAD, highlighted the UNCTAD Biotrade Initiative’s involvement in 3,500 value chains in over 20 countries, with companies working under its criteria and generating over €4 billion in 2015 alone. Stressing that “we can’t value what we can’t measure,” Sabrina Shaw, IISD, said sustainability standards and biotrade initiatives put a value on what we seek to preserve. (L-R): Sabrina Shaw, IISD; Lorena Jaramillo, UNCTAD; and Karen Alvarenga, IISD Karen Alvarenga, IISD, urged considering how much income will be lost if flora and fauna disappear, or if water must be brought in from a different basin. Lorena Jaramillo, UNCTAD, highlighted the UNCTAD Biotrade Initiative’s involvement in 3,500 value chains in over 20 countries, with companies working under its criteria generating over €4 billion in 2015 alone. Stressing that “we can’t value what we can’t measure,” Sabrina Shaw, IISD said sustainability standards and biotrade initiatives put a value on what we seek to preserve. Contact: Sabrina Shaw (Coordinator) | sabrina@iisd.org More Information: http://www.iisd.org/ssi/ http://bichodomatoip.org/projeto/projeto-valoracao-da-biodiversidade-e-dos-ecossistemas-da-serra-da-moeda/ Making Connections: InforMEA Presented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Ramsar Convention At this event, moderated by Eva Duer, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC), UN Environment, panelists and participants highlighted the importance of the UN Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), known as InforMEA. Leo Heileman, UN Environment, noted the challenges faced by MEAs, including the volume of information generated under each MEA, the lack of updates on implementation activities, and challenges with national reporting. He underlined that InforMEA helps fulfill Rio Declaration Principle 10 (access to information, public participation and access to justice). Olivier de Munck, CBD, highlighted the importance of InforMEA in monitoring progress towards achieving global milestones, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. He welcomed the collaboration between MEAs contributing to InforMEA, underlining that InforMEA represents “something bigger than us.” Drawing attention to the value of InforMEA in streamlining national reporting commitments, María Rivera, Ramsar Convention, highlighted the value of the website as an opportunity to demonstrate areas for synergies among MEAs, noting that the tool provides a platform for MEAs to better collaborate on areas of common interest. Calling attention to information fragmentation among MEAs, Anne Teller, Directorate-General (DG) Environment, European Commission (EC), stressed that InforMEA could serve as the platform to address this wide-ranging issue, noting its importance as a “consolidated pillar” that combines all narratives on biodiversity into a coherent message that can be shared outside the biodiversity arena. Duer then noted that all the information contributed to InforMEA is available for use on other platforms, and drew attention to further work in e-learning courses and linking national focal points from different MEAs at the regional level. She highlighted the various features of the website, including treaty texts, MEA decisions and national reports submitted. During discussions, participants considered, inter alia: the value of InforMEA for students; the interaction of InforMEA with non-environmental treaties; how to avoid duplication of national reports submitted for different MEAs; whether InforMEA can assist in compliance obligations; the need to harmonize MEA reporting formats to augment InforMEA’s interoperability; and the need for decentralized reporting systems “talking to each other” to enhance the collective intelligence around MEAs.   (L-R): Olivier de Munck, CBD; Anne Teller, DG Environment, EC; Leo Heileman, UN Environment; Maria Rivera, Ramsar Convention; and Eva Duer, UN Environment Underscoring that InforMEA is being promoted at the national level as part of discussions on the clearinghouse mechanism, Olivier de Munck, Clearing-House Mechanism, CBD, noted that the website can be used to reduce duplication of efforts across MEAs. Underscoring that InforMEA is being promoted at the national level as part of discussions on the clearing house mechanism, Olivier de Munck, Clearing-House Mechanism, CBD, noted that the website can be used to reduce duplication of efforts across MEAs. Eva Duer, UN Environment, announced a call for InforMEA champions to promote the website at the regional level. María Rivera, Ramsar Convention, stressed the need to promote InforMEA at the regional level, noting that it can be used as a mechanism to improve national coordination. Leo Heileman, UN Environment   Anne Teller, DG Environment, EC, noted that InforMEA is more than just a tool; it is a process. Contact: Eva Duer (Coordinator) | eva.duer@unep.org More Information: https://www.informea.org/en Mainstreaming Agrobiodiversity in Sustainable Food Systems Presented by Bioversity International and the European Commission (EC) This side event focused on the Agrobiodiversity Index, an initiative to increase public and private investment in sustainable food and agriculture. Four interlinked dimensions were discussed on agrobiodiversity’s impacts on global food systems, including: healthy diets; resilient and productive agroecosystems; dynamic seed systems; and agrobiodiversity conservation. The event was moderated by Ann Tutwiler, Director General, Bioversity International. She emphasized the critical role of agrobiodiversity in connecting the SDGs and helping farmers adapt to climate change. She noted that the Agrobiodiversity Index will provide policymakers and private investors with easy-to-digest evidence linking agrobiodiversity to global food security, and enable transparent assessment of how countries and companies are contributing to biodiverse agricultural systems. Coosje Hoogendoorn, Access to Seeds Foundation, noted the “three Cs” of creating an index: consultation, creation and communication. She emphasized the importance of developing stakeholder-specific questions and making information accessible. B. Meenakumari, Indian National Biodiversity Authority, noted the need for governments and civil society to increase their emphasis on capacity enhancement for agrobiodiversity conservation, and to create an international agrobiodiversity fund to support communities to engage in ex situ and in situ conservation. Braulio de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, CBD, welcomed the Agrobiodiversity Index as a mechanism to measure trends in biodiversity gains or losses at both farm and landscape levels. He emphasized the importance of simplified methods to measure trends in biodiversity to improve mainstreaming across sectors. During the discussion, participants raised, inter alia: the need for greater detail on how variables within the Index will be measured; the question of how agricultural fiscal policies influence agrobiodiversity; and the need to recognize concentration of corporate power as having a dominant interest in agriculture, and thus the importance of how the Index is framed and by whom. (L-R): Coosje Hoogendoorn, Access to Seeds Foundation; Ann Tutwiler, Director General, Bioversity International; and B. Meenakumari, Indian National Biodiversity Authority Coosje Hoogendoorn, Access to Seeds Foundation, presented the Access to Seeds Index Report, which compares global seed companies’ actions to make improved seeds available to smallholder farmers and to share best practices.   B. Meenakumari, Indian National Biodiversity Authority, emphasized the importance of an integrated approach in measuring agrobiodiversity and the need to “talk the language of farmers.” Ann Tutwiler, Director General, Bioversity International, emphasized the need for an integrated agri-food systems approach, which ensures farmers have access to high quality seeds and diverse and nutritious diets. A slide from Ann Tutwiler’s presentation Participants during the event Contact: Samantha Collins (Coordinator) | s.collins@cgiar.org More Information: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/abd-index-event/ The Financialization of Nature, Climate and Geoengineering Presented by the Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF), ETC Group, and Carnegie Council This side event considered the financialization of nature and issues raised by geoengineering, in the context of climate change, and synthetic biology, in the context of biodiversity. Barbara Unmüßig, HBF, introduced the book, ‘Inside the Green Economy: Promises and Pitfalls.’ Stressing that “there is no evidence” that monetizing nature will help us to protect biodiversity and ecosystems, she highlighted the need for political will to address the main drivers of biodiversity loss, such as the agro-industry. Maureen Santos, HBF, lamented the financialization of nature in Brazil’s new forest code, and called for a rejection of instruments, such as The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) and TEEB for Agriculture & Food (TeebAgriFood), which perpetuate the logic of markets. Lili Fuhr, HBF, said the Paris Agreement’s target to limit climate change to 1.5°C is currently “a double-edged sword” given that it implies the use of negative emissions technologies with serious implications for livelihoods, ecosystems and democracy. She urged CBD parties to send a strong signal to climate change colleagues on the need to consider “real solutions,” instead of “techno-fixes.” Highlighting the major social, environmental and economic implications of geoengineering, Janos Pasztor, Carnegie Council, said there is a need for appropriate governance frameworks on this issue, and called for public guidance on geoengineering research. Silvia Ribeiro, ETC Group, highlighted that 193 countries “that very seldom come to consensus” had agreed under the CBD to take “a precautionary approach to geoengineering” and underlined the need to “strengthen this moratorium.” During the discussion, participants considered, inter alia, whether: financialization of nature can ever work; it is possible to measure the true costs of environmental values; and additional geoengineering research is needed. Panelists also highlighted payment for ecosystem services as altering identities of smallholders and indigenous peoples to providers of environmental services, and that construing climate change as an “abstract global problem” marginalizes the millions of diverse local solutions available. (L-R): Janos Pasztor, Carnegie Council; Lili Fuhr, HBF; Silvia Ribeiro, ETC Group; Barbara Unmüßig, HBF; and Maureen Santos, HBF Maureen Santos, HBF, welcomed the attendance of women and traditional communities at the event, noting that “they are the protagonists of the alternatives.”   Maureen Santos, HBF, welcomed attendance of women and traditional communities at the event, noting “they are the protagonists of the alternatives.” Lili Fuhr, HBF, warned that the land required to achieve the 2°C limit through bio-energy with carbon capture and storage  is at least double the size of India. Janos Pastor, Carnegie Council, said governance does not just imply controls, but entails involvement of different constituencies and information sharing. Participants listening to panelists Contact: Lili Fuhr (Coordinator) | fuhr@boell.de More Information: https://www.boell.de/en/dossier-inside-the-green-economy https://www.boell.de/en/dossier-un-biodiversity-conference-cancun-cbd-cop13 https://www.boell.de/en/dossier-synthetic-biology?utm_campaign=ds_cbd_cop13_en https://www.boell.de/en/dossier-new-economy-nature?utm_campaign=ds_cbd_cop13_en https://www.boell.de/en/2016/11/08/radical-realism-about-climate-change?utm_campaign=ds_cbd_cop13_en Mainstreaming Biodiversity: Contributions from Science to Policy Presented by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity of Mexico (CONABIO) This side event, moderated by Lily Rodriguez, International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), discussed a declaration on behalf of more than 300 scientists, practitioners and policymakers who participated in the Third Science for Biodiversity Forum, held in Cancun from 1-2, December, 2016. Hiroyuki Takeda, IUBS, discussed the importance of the Forum, highlighting, in particular, education for biodiversity conservation. L.S. Shashidhara, IUBS, spoke on the work of the IUBS Citizen Science Programme in fostering educational initiatives to encourage students and teachers to communicate science with local communities. Erie Tamale, CBD Secretariat, noted that some of the solutions proposed by scientists have not yet filtered into the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAPs). He emphasized that NBSAPs serve only as a guide and that opportunities exist for science to interject in their implementation. Rodolfo Dirzo, IAI, stressed that the main objective of the Forum was to discuss contributions of science towards biodiversity mainstreaming efforts of the CBD, under the premise that science should work in partnership with decision makers and other sectors of society to ensure the sustainable use of biodiversity, community development and human wellbeing. Paola Mosig Reidl, CONABIO, identified reflections from participants and the Forum’s most important recommendations, including: the use of conceptual frameworks to address the relationship between humans and nature through both the biological and social sciences; the need to better understand how, when and why ecosystem services are co-produced by social and ecological systems; and considerations of equity and ethics. Anne-Hélène Prieur-Richard, Future Earth, identified three priority activities: educating the scientific community to engage in interdisciplinary science; building a research agenda that is based upon alliances between different actors and perspectives; and building scenarios and models to identify trends which can be integrated into the needs of the Convention. In the ensuing discussion, participants noted: the paucity of science coming from tropical developing countries; the need to go beyond simply translating science for policy, and to co-produce knowledge with people; and innovative ways for encouraging youth to generate science. (L-R): L.S. Shashidhara, IUBS; Hiroyuki Takeda, IUBS; Erie Tamale, CBD Secretariat; Anne-Hélène Prieur-Richard, Future Earth; Paola Mosig Reidl, CONABIO; Rodolfo Dirzo, IAI; and Lily Rodriguez, IUBS Rodolfo Dirzo, IAI, stressed that the identification of synergies and trade-offs for biodiversity requires recognizing multiple values to engage all stakeholders. L.S. Shashidhara, IUBS, noted the need to convey the technical complexity of coupling climate-biosphere systems with lay citizens to share knowledge and bring laboratory science to the field.   Anne-Hélène Prieur-Richard, Future Earth, noted the need to ensure scientists from different departments are “talking to each other.” Paula Mosig Reidl, CONABIO, noted the importance of ecosystem service governance, including a new multidisciplinary approach, which takes social ecosystems into account. Erie Tamale CBD Secretariat, emphasized that science must be integrated into policy from the planning phase. Hiroyuki Takeda, IUBS, described the role of IUBS in supporting bio-education in addressing global issues for conservation. Participants during the event Contact: Ione Anderson (Coordinator) | ianderson@dir.iai.int More Information: http://cop13.mx/en/science-for-biodiversity-forum/ Around the Venue l

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Wednesday, 16 November 2016: Agriculture and Food Security Action Event Climate Resilience for Agriculture and Food Security and Zero Hunger Pan-Canadian Climate Cooperation: High-Level Conference of the Parties Dialogue on Provincial and Federal Climate Action in Canada Ecosystem-based Approach for Climate Change Adaptation in the Maldives IISD Reporting Services, through its ENBOTS Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Agriculture and Food Security Action Event Presented by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO) The session was moderated by Rattan Lal, Ohio State University. Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner, Climate and Energy, underscored that agriculture can simultaneously address poverty, hunger and climate change. He noted that numerous countries have included agriculture in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Aziz Akhannouch, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco, said that those involved in Africa’s agriculture sector are the most affected by climate change, with 70% of the population linked to agriculture. He underscored that existing climate finance is insufficient to address food insecurity. Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, France, emphasized that climate solutions must address agriculture and food security or they are not solutions. He stressed agriculture’s dual role in mitigation and adaptation, noting that organic matter in soils both sequesters carbon and increases productivity. José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, stressed that climate change poses a fundamental threat to food security, noting that 800 million suffer from hunger in the world, with a further 120 million at risk. Pointing to the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) initiative , Emmanuel Faber, CEO, Danone, highlighted the role of local agriculture and said the private sector should embrace it. Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to financing climate-related activities. Mohammed Badraoui, Director General, National Agronomic Research Institute, Morocco, underscored the importance of the AAA initiative’s cross-cutting elements, including technology transfer, capacity building and South-South cooperation. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Natural Resources and Environment, FAO, introduced the FAO’s Global Framework for Action to Cope with Water Scarcity in Agriculture in the Context of Climate Change, which draws on the sector’s existing initiatives, tools and best practices. Pietro Sebastiani, Director General, Development Cooperation, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, in which 132 signatory cities commit to the development of sustainable, resilient and inclusive food chains. Jean-Baptiste Dollé, French Livestock Institute, highlighted the Life Beef Carbon project, which aims to reduce European beef production’s carbon footprint by 15% in the next decade compared to 2015. Johnson Boanuh, Director of Environment, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), launched ECOWAS’ Promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agro-Ecology Transition in West Africa initiative, which aims to enhance food security and resilience in rural communities. Amira Gornass, Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), called for an integration of food security and nutrition concerns into climate change policies. Tabaré Aguerre, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Uruguay, noted Uruguay’s innovative initiative on soil management through the universal soil loss equation. Charles Ogang, President, Uganda National Farmers Federation, emphasized the strategic importance of food security as part of climate change solutions. Saleemul Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, drew attention to the difficulty of measuring and aggregating adaptation. During the discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: depletion of natural resources as a threat to global security; strategies to promote linkages between agricultural investments, policies and practice; and land-grabbing as a driver of food insecurity. From L-R: Emmanuel Faber, CEO, Danone; Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner, Climate Action and Energy; Aziz Akhannouch, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco; Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, France; José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, FAO; and Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner, Climate and Energy, highlighted the role of EU agriculture policy in increasing climate resilience in rural areas. Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, France, highlighted France’s collaboration with FAO. Aziz Akhannouch, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco, underscored the need to put agriculture at the heart of climate negotiations. José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, underscored that climate change is a cornerstone of FAO’s work, noting that FAO has executed more than 500 programmes related to climate change. Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank, called for a redirection of current agricultural subsidies into climate-smart agriculture projects. Emmanuel Faber, CEO, Danone, highlighted a project with 30,000 farmers in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa who get carbon credits for sustainable agriculture practices. Rattan Lal, Ohio State University, moderated the discussion panel. Room view during the high-level segment Mohammed Badraoui, Director-General, National Agronomic Research Institute, Morocco, noted that the AAA initiative is core to six of the 17 SDGs. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Natural Resources and Environment, FAO, highlighted that 90% of NDCs refer to agriculture and 70% to water. Pietro Sebastiani, Director-General, Development Cooperation, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored the importance of sustainable diets and nutrition. Johnson Boanuh, Director of Environment, ECOWAS, said the Promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agro-Ecology Transition in West Africa initiative targets 25 million households by 2025. Jean-Baptiste Dollé, French Livestock Institute, pointed to the fact that more than 2,000 farmers are involved in the Life Beef Carbon project. Tabaré Aguerre, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Uruguay, underscored that it will be impossible to meet the food demands of 9.6 billion people without increasing food production. Amira Gornass, Chair, CFS, said that CFS must bring together diverse stakeholders to develop policy guidance. Charles Ogang, President, Uganda National Farmers Federation, stated that world leaders must “walk the talk” of the Paris Agreement. Saleemul Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, said the scientific community is developing a methodology to measure adaptation. Contacts: Rattan Lal | lal.1@osu.edu More Information: Agriculture and Food Security Action Event Climate Resilience for Agriculture and Food Security and Zero HungerPresented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank and the World Food Programme (WFP) This side event, moderated by Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, World Resource Institute (WRI), concentrated on efforts combining the fights against hunger and climate change, focusing on countries’ experiences, and showcasing the importance of data and financial instruments in facilitating adaptation. David Nabarro, UN Secretary-General’s Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, noted that the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) on zero hunger by 2030 is crucial for achieving all SDGs, and secure economic development. Highlighting the challenge to support investments and climate adaptation, he stressed the need for people-centered, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agricultural systems. Noting that erratic weather patterns, food insecurity and ongoing conflicts make living conditions unbearable for the poorest of the poor in Afghanistan, HRH Prince Mostapha Zaher, Director General, National Environmental Protection Agency, Afghanistan, called for engaging farmers, pastoralists and all stakeholders in a participatory process to address existing and future challenges. Calling for the promotion of integrated farming to combat food insecurity, Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji, underscored, inter alia, the need for: capacity building; utilization of technology; and preservation of local knowledge, focusing on social rather than economic gains. Emphasizing that food security has to do with both access to and supply of food, Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica, highlighted food waste, noting that 10% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US and UK come from the production, transport and preparation of food that is never consumed. Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States Group, noted the need to make agriculture more attractive, bringing youth into the sector, scaling up investments and facilitating finance. Noting that 80% of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are linked to SDG 2, José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, underscored the need for increased finance for the agricultural sector, urging support from relevant agents in a position to provide the necessary funds, such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, called for additional support to: small farmers, focusing on climate-related finance to manage risks, as well as early warning systems; women, noting that when you support women, you invest in the community; and youth, in order to “capacitate” future farmers. Highlighting climate change as a multiplier and accelerator of risks, Carlo Scaramella, Deputy Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, WFP, discussed WFP’s work on early warning systems, enabling anticipation of disasters, early interventions and mitigation of negative impacts.   Stressing that the agricultural sector is responsible for 25% of global emissions, but does not attract more than 3% of overall climate finance, Ethel Sennhauser, Director, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank, underscored the need to continue raising awareness, and use the NDCs as an opportunity to show that the agricultural sector can be part of the solution to climate change. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the role of traditional knowledge as complementary to that of science; investments in the service providers and the community towards climate-smart agriculture; the potential to use old technologies in adaptation efforts; and human rights considerations in food and agriculture, as well as ways to incorporate them in the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). From L-R: HRH Prince Mostapha Zaher, Director General of National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan; Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji; Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica; Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI; and Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States Group HRH Prince Mostapha Zaher, Director General of National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan, invited climate change deniers to visit Afghanistan and witness glaciers’ melting. David Nabarro, UN Secretary-General’s Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, noted that agricultural sectors are leading elements of NDCs. Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji, stressed that “the ways we live and cooperate are going to change.” Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica, noted that “we tend to see the impact of climate change on food security in a linear way, while interactions are far more complex.” Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States Group, discussed ways to make agriculture more attractive to financing institutions. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, said that “development is not something we do for people or to people, development is what people do for themselves.” Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI, noted that the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development require a fundamental paradigm shift to more resilient, sustainable and inclusive production and consumption patterns. From L-R: Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD; José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO; Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI; Ethel Sennhauser, Director, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank; and Carlo Scaramella, Deputy Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and CIS countries, WFP José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, said that the impact of food waste is equivalent to that of deforestation. Carlo Scaramella, Deputy Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and CIS countries, WFP, urged for sophisticated systems at the global, regional, national and community levels to achieve better management of risks. Ethel Sennhauser, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank, underscored that “no other sector than agriculture can claim it can heal the planet.” Contacts: Paula Caballero (Moderator) | Paula.Caballero@wri.org Julia Wolf (Coordinator) | Julia.Wolf@fao.org More Information: www.fao.org/home/en www.ifad.org www.worldbank.org www.wfp.org Pan-Canadian Climate Cooperation: High-Level Conference of the Parties Dialogue on Provincial and Federal Climate Action in CanadaPresented by the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Scott Vaughan, President and CEO, IISD, moderated this event. Eric Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, said the success of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer came from citizen action, political leadership, and innovative power of markets and business. He highlighted that after the US election, there is uncertainty in the climate arena, but called for optimism, noting that 2015 had the most investment in solar and wind. He called for political leadership, noting that if the US is not able to lead, China is ready to do so and will need support from countries like Canada. He stressed that addressing climate change is an opportunity for new jobs, acknowledging that transition to low-carbon development may be challenging at the outset. Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta, noted that the Province has its own carbon pricing architecture in place, including tax rebates and investments in renewable energy. She highlighted that the Province has capped emissions from the oil and gas sector, and underscored that the world must actively listen to working people in order to meet the challenges of transitioning to low-carbon development pathways. David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Quebec, noted that a lot of work on climate was being done by intranational states. He pointed to partnerships with the city of Guadalajara, Mexico, on a cap-and-trade system, as well as with cities in China; noting that the role of intranational states is being recognized through the Climate Group. He drew attention to the adoption of the zero emission standards for vehicles; and noted that all the investment in cap-and-trade is itself leveraging further investment in green development. Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment, Saskatchewan, noted that the Province is geographically large with a population of 1.15 million people, and called for greater global collaboration to address climate change. He highlighted the Province’s technology innovation in the agricultural industry, which accounts for about a third of Saskatchewan’s exports, expounding on specific research and development advancements in the sector. Glen Murray, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario, noted the Province’s interest in working with others to address climate change in a serious way. He stressed the use of market mechanisms, and provided examples of Ontario’s actions, including the circular economy bill and the cap-and-trade bill, stating that these will be instrumental to decarbonizing economies. Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton, said that more than three quarters of Canadians live in urban areas, and welcomed the involvement of municipal governments in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. He underscored the need for carbon pricing, and noted that local governments are critical actors in implementing these policies. Stressing the leadership, innovation and partnerships of local governments, he underscored that local and indigenous voices are critical to addressing climate change. He noted that local leaders in the US should continue to work on climate change even if the federal government does not. Underlining climate action as an opportunity for the country, Catherine McKenna, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Canada, highlighted the efforts made at the local level, including the phasing out of coal in Ontario, zero-emissions vehicles in Quebec and a proposed cap on oil sands emissions in Alberta. She said that COP 22 should celebrate the historic achievements made during 2016, including the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the ICAO announcement, and then make concrete commitments to address climate at the national level. Natan Obed, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, stressed the need for Indigenous Peoples to work with the government on adaptation and mitigation, but noted the distance between the government and the Indigenous Peoples in terms of policy and legislative space. He underscored the expectation that Indigenous Peoples will have a sustained and mutual partnership with the government at climate meetings. From L-R: Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta; David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development; Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment, Saskatchewan; Glen Murray, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario; and Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta, noted that the ideal system to address climate change would be based on an economy-wide carbon price, and reinvestment of the revenues into the sectors that need it most. Scott Vaughan, IISD, moderated this event. Eric Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, urged adopting simpler language in environment discussions, calling for “kitchen conversations on climate,” and noting the name change from “UNEP” to “UN Environment.” Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta, with David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Quebec Catherine McKenna, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Canada David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Quebec, noted significant investments in clean energy and carbon pricing, highlighting that this has spurred jobs growth in the province. Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment, Saskatchewan, noted ongoing climate change mitigation work in coal-fired power plants and in the reduction of methane emissions. Glen Murray, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario, noted that the Quebec-Ontario partnership is a leader in climate action, and underscored the reduction in energy costs in industrial manufacturing from the use of reused resources. Contacts: Scott Vaughan (Moderator) | svaughan@iisd.org More Information: www.iisd.org www.ieta.org Ecosystem-based Approach for Climate Change Adaptation in the Maldives Presented by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS), the Maldives and the University of Milano-Bicocca Francesco La Camera, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Italy, highlighted the importance of working together with small island developing States (SIDS), which must be a priority in addressing climate change. He noted the Maldives faces challenges such as ocean acidification and coral reefs degradation. He underscored that the natural changes taking place are beyond the country’s resilience. Abdullahi Majeed, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Maldives, noted adaptation cost can be reduced by using biodiversity and traditional knowledge. He outlined the Maldives’ initiatives to protect biodiversity, including the creation of a marine protected area (MPA). Majeed underscored that coral bleaching affects livelihoods, economy and biodiversity.  Paolo Galli, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, noted his University’s Marine Research and High Education Center (MaRHE) in the Maldives, bringing together academics from all over the world. He said to halt coral bleaching and coral diseases, we need to gather data and investigate the solutions, including biomolecular ecology and coral defence mechanisms.  Ahmed Waheed, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Maldives, outlined water security challenges faced by the Maldives, which will be increased by climate change, including: water scarcity; traditional dependency on shallow wells for multipurpose water use; water-borne diseases; flooding; groundwater pollution; and saltwater intrusion. He outlined integrated water resource management measures implemented in the Maldives to tackle such challenges.  Salvatore Mazzola, National Research Centre (CNR), Italy, highlighted the impacts of acoustic pollution on marine life, individual animals and entire species. He underscored research and measurements being carried out to further understand the impacts of sound frequency and intensiveness, as well as their effects in the Maldives, the Mediterranean and the Arctic. Valerio Perusini, e-Geos, Italy, noted that Earth observation satellites support climate change monitoring, measuring both climate causes and effects. He said that remote sensing and pixel dimension combined with temporal resolution provide accurate measures and higher resolution of data. Elisabeth Holland, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Fiji, said oceans define the culture and the very being of SIDS populations, delivering livelihoods for families. She noted that her team has supported 120 communities in many SIDS to promote climate resilience and fishery resources. From L-R: Valerio Perusini, e-Geos, Italy; Elisabeth Holland, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Fijj; Paolo Galli, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy; Ahmed Waheed, Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives; and Salvatore Mazzola, CNR, Italy Abdullahi Majeed, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives, emphasized that actions must be implemented combining the Rio Conventions and SDGs. Ahmed Waheed, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives, outlined vulnerability indicators in the Maldives. Francesco La Camera, Director General, Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy, highlighted the Italian tradition of working in partnership with SIDS. Underscoring work on the ground, Elisabeth Holland, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Fijj, noted that oceans define the culture of the SIDS populations. Paolo Galli, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, noted the structural complexity of coral reefs and that they are the habitat for numerous species. Contacts: Vignola Emmanuela | Vignola.Emmanuela@minammbiente.it More Information: www.marinesciences.unimib.it About | 7 Nov | 8 Nov | 9 Nov | 10 Nov | 11 Nov | 12 Nov | 14 Nov | 15 Nov | 16 Nov | 17 Nov | 18 Nov | Summary The Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) © <enb@iisd.org> is a special publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). This issue has been written by Karen Alvarenga, Katherine Browne, Bo-Alex Fredvik, Tallash Kantai, Jennifer Lenhart, Ph.D., Kate Louw, Miquel Muñoz Cabre, Nicole de Paula, and Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D. The Digital Editors are Mike Muzurakis and Liz Rubin. The Editor is Elena Kosolapova, Ph.D. <elena@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The opinions expressed in ENBOTS are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and funders. Excerpts from ENBOTS may be used in non-commercial publications only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at <kimo@iisd.org>. Electronic versions of issues of ENBOTS from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, can be found on the IISD Reporting Services website at http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop22/enbots/. The ENBOTS Team at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, can be contacted by e-mail at <tallash@iisd.org>. Specific funding for coverage of the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, has been provided by the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea of Italy, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) © <enb@iisd.org> is a special publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). This issue has been written by Karen Alvarenga, Katherine Browne, Bo-Alex Fredvik, Tallash Kantai, Jennifer Lenhart, Ph.D., Kate Louw, Miquel Muñoz Cabre, Nicole de Paula, and Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D. The Digital Editors are Mike Muzurakis and Liz Rubin. The Editor is Elena Kosolapova, Ph.D. <elena@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The opinions expressed in ENBOTS are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and funders. Excerpts from ENBOTS may be used in non-commercial publications only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Se.png" alt="FOEN" /> IISD Reporting Services is grateful to the many donors of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) and recognizes the following as core contributors to the ENB: the European Union, the Government of Switzerland (the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)), the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. General Support for the Bulletin during 2016 is provided by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SWAN International, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Funding for translation of the Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government of France, the Wallonia, Québec, and the International Organization of La Francophonie/Institute for Sustainable Development of La Francophonie (IOF/IFDD). Resources for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Website for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Website for Side Events and Exhibits at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Schedule of Side Events at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Overview Schedule for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Host Country Website IISD ENB/ENB+ Meeting Coverage 44th Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-44), 17-20 October 2016, United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok, Thailand Bonn Climate Change Conference - May 2016, 16-26 May 2016, Bonn, Germany High-Level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, 22 April 2016, UN Headquarters, New York IPCC-43, 11-13 April 2016, Headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015, 29 November - 13 December 2015, Paris, France Coverage of Side Events at the Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015, 29 November - 11 December 2015, Paris, France Bonn Climate Change Conference - October 2015, 19-23 October 2015, Bonn, Germany IPCC-42, 5-8 October 2015, Dubrovnik, Croatia Bonn Climate Change Conference - August 2015, 31 August - 4 September 2015, Bonn, Germany Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2015, 1-11 June 2015, Bonn, Germany Coverage of Side Events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2015, 1-11 June 2015, Bonn, Germany 9th Meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board, 24-26 March 2015, Songdo, Republic of Korea IPCC-41, 24-27 February 2015, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya Geneva Climate Change Conference - February 2015, 8-13 February 2015, Geneva, Switzerland Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014, 1-14 December 2014, Lima, Peru Coverage of Side Events at the Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014, 1-12 December 2014, Lima, Peru IPCC-40, 27-31 October 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark Bonn Climate Change Conference - October 2014, 20-25 October 2014, Bonn, Germany UN Climate Summit 2014 - “Catalyzing Action”, 23 September 2014, UN Headquarters, New York Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2014, 4-15 June 2014, Bonn, Germany 12th Session of the IPCC Working Group III (WGIII-12) and IPCC-39, 7-12 April 2014, Berlin, Germany Bonn Climate Change Conference - March 2014, 10-14 March 2014, Bonn, Germany WGII-10 and IPCC-38, 25-29 March 2014, Yokohama, Japan IPCC-37, 14-17 October 2013, Batumi, Georgia IPCC-36, 23-26 September 2013, Stockholm, Sweden Additional IISD Resources CLIMATE-L - A Mailing List for News on Climate Change Policy SDG Knowledge Hub - An online resource center for news and commentary regarding the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Linkages Update - Bi-weekly International Environment and Sustainable Development News © 2016, IISD Reporting Services. 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