Climate-l.org
Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in cooperation with the
United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) Secretariat
Monday, 23 June 2008 - Issue No. 1
Latest News - Monday, 23 June 2008
UNCCD Highlights Links between Land Degradation and Agriculture on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
17 June 2008: The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) selected “Combating land degradation for sustainable agriculture” as the theme for 2008 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, celebrated on 17 June. On the occasion, UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja highlighted that the conversion of land to “unsustainable uses can exacerbate the vicious circle of land degradation, loss of biodiversity and climate change.” More information.
IFAD Calls for Sustainable Agriculture to Stop Desertification
17 June 2008: In a message on the occasion of UN World Day to Combat Desertification, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) highlighted the role of poor farmers and herders in stopping or reversing land degradation in areas affected by desertification. More information.
G8 Finance Ministers Support Climate Investment Funds
14 June 2008: G8 Finance Ministers, meeting in preparation for the Summit of the G8 Heads of State and Government in Hokkaido-Toyako, met from 13-14 June 2008, in Osaka, Japan, and agreed to the “G8 Action Plan for Climate Change to Enhance the Engagement of Private and Public Financial Institutions.” In their final statement, Ministers supported the launch of new Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) by the World Bank, which will complement existing bilateral and multilateral efforts. More information.
World Food Programme (WFP) Adopts New Strategic Plan to Address Food Crisis
13 June 2008: The WFP Executive Board has adopted a new four-year strategic plan to address hunger needs arising from recent food price increases and shortages, as well as to fight hunger more strategically. More information.
Secretary-General Highlights Climate Change as Key Threat
13 June 2008: Speaking at the UN Association-UK in London, United Kingdom, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave a speech entitled “Securing the Common Good: The United Nations and the Expanding Global Agenda.” More information.
ECLAC Approves the Examination of Socio-Economic Implications of Climate Change as a Priority
13 June 2008: The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) held its thirty-second session from 9-13 June 2008, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Among the thirteen approved resolutions were a number of elements related to climate change. More information.
Guest Article
On the Way to Copenhagen
By UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General
(Photo courtesy of the UN)
It is a particular pleasure to have this opportunity to share some of my thoughts through the inaugural edition of this bulletin – which I hope will become a vibrant medium of communication and exchange in the period ahead – as we each do our part to keep the promise we made in Bali and to realize success in Poznań and then Copenhagen. ... article continues.
By Richard Sherman and Peter Doran, IISDRS
While the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process is the official ‘home’ for climate policy negotiations, the road to Copenhagen will increasingly witness the acceleration of initiatives across the United Nations system and the intergovernmental sphere. System-wide initiatives on climate change reflect a commitment across the UN family to support the UN Secretary-General’s commitment to play a leadership role in supporting the international community’s current efforts to address climate change, using the Bali Action Plan and Roadmap, and to ensure that all parts of the UN contribute to a solution. ... article continues.
More News
Ramsar Standing Committee Addresses Climate Change and Biofuels
6 June 2008: The Ramsar Standing Committee held its 37th meeting from 2-6 June 2008, in Gland, Switzerland. The Committee was charged with making the final preparations for the documents to be considered at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP10), which will take place in Changwon, Republic of Korea, from 28 October to 4 November 2008. During the meeting, the Committee approved for transmittal to the COP a draft Resolution (DR) on climate change and wetlands, and one on wetlands and biofuels. More information.
UNGA Discusses Role of Global Private Investments in Climate Change
9 June 2008: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) considered private investment’s role in mitigating climate change and how climate change, in turn, influences private investment decisions, during this body’s first follow-up to its February 2008 thematic debate on climate change. More information.
Click here to read more news
Reports
Growth Commission Report: Technology is the Key to Coping with Global Warming and Growth
IFAD and UNCCD’s Global Mechanism: Report on Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change and Land Degradation in Viet Nam
UNIDO: Global Renewable Energy Forum Report
IOM Assesses the Impact of Climate Change on Migratory Processes

Click here to read more reports
UNDP-GEF Release Publication on Wind Energy
OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2008-2017
FAO: Background Paper on Financial Mechanism for the Food and Agriculture Sectors
Upcoming Events

Forty-eighth session of the UN Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) Committee for Programme and Coordination: The forty-eighth session of the ECOSOC Committee for Programme and Coordination will be held at UN headquarters, in New York, from 9 June-3 July 2008. The Committee is expected to address UNEP’s new progamme of work and budget for 2009-2010, which includes provision for the implementation of UNEP’s new priorities identified in the Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTS). The MTS identifies a role for UNEP in strengthening the ability of countries to integrate climate change responses into national development processes.

World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Executive Council: The sixtieth session of the WMO Executive Council (18-27 June 2008) is currently discussing climate-related issues under several agenda items. Council members will be invited to express their views on the work plan for the designation process for WMO Regional Climate Centres and on the establishment of a mechanism to facilitate development of climate prediction services for adaptation in developing countries. WMO activities on socio-economic assessments and application of weather and climate services to the health, energy and tourism sectors and urbanization, as well as climate risk management, will also be addressed by the Council.

First Intersessional Meeting of International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships: The First Intersessional Meeting of IMO’s Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships is currently taking place in Oslo, Norway (23-27 June, 2008). The week-long session is tasked with developing the technical basis for the reduction mechanisms that may form part of a future IMO regime to control greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, and a draft of the actual reduction mechanisms themselves, for further consideration by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). The MEPC will meet in London, UK, later this year (6-10 October).
up to top
CLIMATE-L.ORG 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-L.ORG. 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.