The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee has named President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, as one of the two 2019 Laureates for the Sunhak Peace Prize. The other is Waris Dirie, 53-year-old supermodel and anti-FGM activist.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB)
As an agricultural economist, Dr. Adesina, 58, has been a leader in agricultural innovation for over 30 years. He has contributed greatly to food security in Africa, aimed at improving the lives of millions currently living in poverty, throughout the African continent. The Sunhak Committee acknowledges Dr. Adesina’s achievements in promoting Good Governance of Africa, which boosts Africa’s capacity to feed itself and transform its total economies for generating wealth for millions of rural and poor African farmers.
Chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, Dr. Il Sik Hong, stated: “The Sunhak Peace Prize was established based upon the vision of “One Family Under God.” The 2019 Sunhak Peace Prize gives special attention to peace and human development in Africa.”
Dr. Hong added: “In order for us to build an era of peace and coexistence in the 21st century, we want to encourage continuous development in Africa. Africa is a rising star and its growth will contribute global progress and development throughout the 21st century.”
The Sunhak Peace Prize honors individuals and organisations who have made significant contributions to the peace and the welfare of the future generations. The Sunhak Peace Prize includes a cash prize totaling $1 million. The 2019 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony will take place in February 2019 in Seoul, Korea.
According to the AfDB, Dr. Adesina, a Nigerian, has been a leader in agricultural innovation in Africa for over 30 years, bringing great improvement to Africa’s food security. contributing to Africa’s dynamic growth. His leadership is building stepping-stones for Africa’s dynamic growth.
Dr. Adesina, adds the AfDB, pioneered major transformations in the agricultural field, including expanding rice production by introducing high yielding technologies, designing and implementing policies to support farmers’ access to technologies at scale, increasing the availability of credit for millions of smallholder farmers, attracting private investments for the agricultural sector, rooting out the corrupt elements in the fertilizer industry, and assisting in establishment of major agricultural policies for Africa’s green revolution.
The “Africa Fertiliser Summit,” which he organised in 2006, is said to be one of the largest high-level meetings in Africa’s history that had a focus on solving Africa’s food issues. During the Summit, Dr. Adesina was instrumental in developing the “Abuja Declaration on Fertiliser for the African Green Revolution,” whereby the participants stated their commitment to the “eradication of hunger in Africa, by 2030.”
UN Environment chief Erik Solheim effectively left his role on Thursday, November 22, 2018 after an audit questioning his huge travel expenses triggered an outcry, UN officials said.
Erik Solheim, former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Photo credit: OECD/Michael Dean
The former environment minister of Norway had been at the helm of the Nairobi-based UN Environment Programme (UNEP) since June 2016.
A UN audit found that Solheim had spent nearly $500,000 on travel and that he claimed unjustified expenses at a time when the world body is struggling with shrinking budgets.
His globe-trotting raised accusations that he showed little regard for the environment and efforts to reduce carbon emissions generated by air travel.
Solheim said in a statement that he had received the final report of the audit of his travel expenses on Saturday and that “after deep reflection” had decided to step down.
“As I have maintained throughout this process – I have been and remain – committed to doing what I believe to be in the best interest of UN Environment and the mission we are here to achieve,” he said.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had accepted his resignation which was submitted on Tuesday, November 20.
Dujarric said Solheim had been “a leading voice in drawing the world’s attention to critical environmental challenges” but he did not specify that the audit findings had led to his resignation.
“The secretary-general is pleased to see that UNEP is committed to implementing the recommendations that are found in the OIOS report on the travel office,” he said.
The UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services had questioned the need for such extensive travel by Solheim.
Solheim’s resignation comes ahead of crucial talks opening in Poland on Dec 2 on implementing the Paris climate deal.
UNEP deputy director, Joyce Msuya of Tanzania, has temporarily replaced Solheim while Guterres begins a search for a new environment chief.
The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 said that it had developed 16 new banana varieties, which are resilient to drought and diseases, billed to revolutionise the crop in the east African nation.
Banana tree
Daud Mbongo, a researcher from the Institute of Uyole centre in south-western Tanzania’s region of Mbeya, said that the banana varieties were developed by local researchers in three banana-producing regions of Mbeya, Kilimanjaro and Kagera.
He confirmed that the trait of the 16 varieties is high productivity compared to traditional varieties being planted in various parts of the country.
“The varieties have proved to be resilient to banana diseases and can grow in difficult weather conditions,” he said, when briefing journalists in Mbeya Region.
Ashraf Mgenzi, a researcher from TARI-Maruku Centre in western Tanzania’s region of Kagera, said the study took place in the three research farms owned by TARI in the three predominantly banana-producing regions.
“We have eaten the bananas here to feel the taste; it’s great,” he said.
Tulole Bucheyeki, Director of TARI-Uyole Centre, described the new varieties as a huge relief to farmers because of proven increased yields and resistance to disease and dry weather.
“The varieties have proven to yield bunches weighing between 50 and 60 kilogrammes and that means more food and more money,” Bucheyeki said.
Mariana Cheja from TARI-Uyole, who was among participants, who tasted the new fruits, said farmers in the banana-producing regions in particular and Tanzanians in general have a reason to smile because unlike other crops, banana is both food and cash crop.
“Increased productivity proved in this study plus the resilience to disease and harsh climate, the main setbacks to farmers in the country, mean improved food security and enhanced economies of farmers,” Cheja remarked.
The Federal Government says arrangements have been completed for the issuance of its second Green Bonds in December to facilitate the funding of climate change projects in the country.
Ibrahim Usman Jibril, Minister of State for Environment
Alhaji Ibrahim Jubril, the Minister of State for Environment disclosed this in a statement by Alhaji Saghir Mohammed, the Director of Press on Thursday, November 22, 2018 in Abuja.
The minister, who spoke at a two-day retreat in Lagos, noted that the retreat was designed to sensitise and galvanise the active participation of stakeholders in the issuance process.
He said that the event was equally meant to review the grey areas from the first insurance with a view to consolidating and strengthening the process towards a hitch free second phase.
“The issuance of Green Bonds is one of the ways that the country has adopted to meet its obligations to the Paris Agreement as well as fast track the reduction of emissions in line with the Paris Treaty.’’
With the successful first issuance in 2017, Nigeria became the first country in Africa to take such initiative.
Countries of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) reportedly broke new grounds on Thursday, November 22, 2018 by successfully organising the first gathering of Heads of States and governments completely online at www.vitualclimatesummit.org, setting a precedent for a future of low emissions international fora.
Summit Host, President of the Marshall Islands and Chair of the CVF, Dr. Hilda Heine
The zero-carbon summit, which came as a response to the scientific report by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released last September, aimed at providing a platform for all leaders to commit to raising climate ambition by 2020 to keep warming below 1.5C degrees as agreed in 2015 in Paris and to safeguard vulnerable communities worldwide from runaway climate change.
Pre-recorded video statements, panels and films were screened over 24 hours engaging various audiences over social media. More than 50 countries participated including Costa Rica, Germany, France, Fiji, Philippines, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Palau, Finland, Cambodia, Switzerland, Rwanda, Grenada, Lebanon, Kiribati, Ireland, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sweden, Santa Lucia, Barbados, Haïti, Mongolia and others.
The Summit has been described as an important show of leadership by the Marshall Islands and other countries most vulnerable to climate change, which optimised scarce resources to organise the Summit and build a coalition of frontrunners who will act as the driving force for a decision on enhancement at the upcoming UN negotiations (COP24) in Katowice and the UN Secretary General (UNSG) Summit in September 2019.
The Summit Host, President of the Marshall Islands and Chair of the CVF, Dr. Hilda Heine, announced new and ambitious climate targets becoming one of the first along with Fiji to respond to the Paris commitments and setting an example for other countries to follow to secure survival and protection of vulnerable communities worldwide.
The official outcome of the Summit, particularly the “Jumemmej Declaration” (Marshallese for vigilance against threats) will feed into the agreed mechanism to promote enhanced action by all nations party to the Paris Agreement dubbed the “Talanoa Dialogue” and sends a powerful call to arms to all leaders and non-state actors to enhance ambition by 2020 while emphasising the role of the UNSG Summit in 2019. The Declaration also announces that all CVF countries will enhance their own climate contributions by 2020.
CVF countries attempted to lead by example to emphasise that the transition to clean renewable energy and decarbonised economies that will keep warming below 1.5C is feasible and economically productive.
Although the Summit kicked off a snowball for enhanced commitments, which civil society will keep pushing to build up to a significant size during the climate talks in Katowice through to the UNSG Summit in 2019, many countries missed the intended purpose of the online meeting, either by not participating in the Summit or by failing to present new strong and ambitious commitments. As many speakers in the Summit expressed, enhanced commitments are the only way to safeguard vulnerable and other communities from dangerous climate impacts that are threatening their survival and peace and security worldwide.
The IPCC’s special report was clear. To keep the world safe from climate disasters, countries should take unprecedented actions to cut carbon emissions and a complete phase-out of coal by all members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development by 2030.
The Summit saw the participation of several civil society and organisational leaders including the UN, World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, the Elders, Oxfam, Mission 2020, SEforAll, Greenpeace, the WorldWide Fund for Nature, the World Resources Institute, CARE and others.
Caroline Kende-Robb, Secretary General, CARE International, says: “We will take a giant step towards keeping warming below 1.5C when we realise that women and girls are not only among the most affected but also leading positive change. CARE’s work with communities from Tanzania to Niger and elsewhere proves that climate justice and gender justice go hand in hand as women are initiating income-earning and renewable energy projects that benefit whole communities. A game-changer would be to have locally driven, gender-inclusive humanitarian response with women’s voice at the policy table and the financial means to make their recommendations reality.”
Helen Mountford, WRI Global Director of Economics and Programme Director of the New Climate Economy: “The Climate Vulnerable Forum is an important global moment for leaders to recognise the incredible economic and social opportunities to step-up climate action and achieve together the 1.5oC goal, as well as the mounting risks of delaying action. The latest New Climate Economy report shows that bold climate action can deliver $26 trillion in economic benefits between now and 2030, reduce deaths from air pollution, create jobs, and important new opportunities for women. We need to urgently seize these opportunities. With the announcements they’re making at the summit to enhance their Paris commitments, the CVF countries are providing leadership for the entire world, and as new WRI analysis shows, they can do so in ways that also deliver critical development benefits in energy, transport, and agriculture.”
Josianne Gauthier, Secretary-General, Coopération Internationale pour le Développement et la Solidarité (CIDSE): “The Climate Vulnerable Forum, through its online summit, reiterated a crucial message to the upcoming COP 24: all countries have to step up their climate commitments and urgently make all the possible efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 C. For CIDSE this means engaging society in a real shift in our economies and values to embrace a new system where we can live in balance with nature and in dignity. This requires an ambitious yet possible and needed change in the way we relate to energy, agriculture and to one another. In the panel we have the honor to host within the CVF we will listen to the stories of courageous people during this struggle and our commitment is to walk with them.”
Three endangered black rhinos have died mysteriously this month at Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, a Senior Government Official said on Thursday, November 22, 2018.
Rhinos
“Veterinary officers have taken samples from the carcasses for further investigations,” Narok county commissioner, George Natembeya, said.
The deaths include a two-year-old rhino, a pregnant 16-year-old, and a 37-year-old.
Natembeya said wildlife officials suspect the deaths could be due to a case of plant poisoning and dismissed reports that the animals could have been poached or poisoned, saying all the rhinos at the park are protected.
The deaths come just months after 11 black rhinos died from dehydration after being moved between Kenyan national parks in July.
Those deaths were attributed to salt poisoning as a result of the animals drinking water of high salinity on arrival in the new environment.
Conservationists say there are about 5,500 black rhinos left in the world.
The amount of gases that trap heat in the atmosphere have reached yet another record, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) reported on Thursday, November 22, 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland.
WMO Secretary-General, Petteri Taalas
“There is no sign of a reversal in this trend,” the UN agency said in its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.
Average concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) climbed to 405.5 parts per million (ppm) in 2017, up from 403.3 ppm in 2016.
Levels of methane and nitrous oxide rose as well.
An industrial chlorofluorocarbon gas called CFC-11 has also been resurging, despite an international production moratorium.
According to the WMO, the most likely explanation is production of CFC-11 in eastern Asia.
“Without rapid cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gases, climate change will have increasingly destructive and irreversible impacts on life on Earth.
“The window of opportunity for action is almost closed,” WMO Secretary, General Petteri Taalas, said.
Why are debts in the electricity market so high and how can they be resolved through domestic financing using the Power Sector Recovery Programme?
Can the Put-Call Option Agreement (PCOA) be US Dollar denominated against the Naira to allay fears of international lenders?
What is your opinion on the potential solutions advanced by the consultant and/or what other financial mechanisms or instruments, not considered by the consultant that can be deployed to address domestic financing in the sector?
Are Nigerian deposit money banks (DMBs) interested in becoming involved in green infrastructure finance and what, if any, barriers do they face in addition to those listed by the consultant?
Is carbon, linked to the Paris Agreement, a realistic international export product for the Nigerian green investment markets to generate export revenues for the country?
Participants at the validation workshop in Port Harcourt, Rivers State
These are some of the posers put before a team of climate and energy sector stakeholders who gathered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on November 15 to 16, 2018 to validate two draft reports related to a five-year project titled: “De-Risking Renewable Energy NAMA (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action) for the Nigerian Power Sector”. The project commenced last year.
The project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing and other stakeholders.
The study reports that were put up for validation in Port Harcourt are titled: “Nigerian domestic financial sector reform to unlock low-cost local capital for green investment” and “The development of an MRV mechanism for the Nigerian power sector”.
In the course of the workshop, international consultants (ICs) who prepared the reports were unable to physically attend the forum. They however virtually presented their reports, addressed the gathering and reacted to inquiries.
Delegates, in three groups, addressed the posers and made suggestions and corrections to the reports, which were eventually accepted for validation.
The project has three key components, namely:
Design and development of a power sector renewable energy NAMA supported by De-risking Renewable Energy Investment (DREI) analysis;
Developing Policy and Institutional Framework for private investment in on-grid renewable power generation, and
Demonstration of first commercial on-grid renewable energy project
National project coordinator, Okon Ekpenyong, points out that the overall objective of the project is to assist the government of Nigeria in achieving a transformation in the electricity mix such that at lest 20GW of Nigeria’s electricity is generated by solar PV by 2030. The project, he adds, is expected to contribute to the country’s attainment of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) mitigation targets in the energy sector, with expected direct emission reductions of 205,700 tons of CO2e during the project’s lifetime and additional indirect emission reduction between 6.79 and 9.72 million tCO2e.
“The project also seeks to investigate and propose the various practicable ways of implementing domestic financial sector reform in order to unlock lower cost financing in Nigeria renewable energy sub-sector. In addition to this, the project is to develop Measurement, Reportable and Verifiable (MRV) framework, with appropriate indicators to measure, report and verify the emission reductions that will be generated by investment in low-carbon activities under the NAMA/NDCs,” adds Ekpenyong, and engineer, who is of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).
Bothered by the fact that on-grid renewable energy development, with its high initial capital intensity and requirement for loans and log tenures, faces several barriers to accessing finance, the project promoters conducted a study to analyse the breadth of the Nigerian domestic financial sector. The study examined both the various barriers that exist and incentives that can be put in place. It likewise proposed specific policy reforms that are applicable to Nigeria for green infrastructure investment, as well as a road map or action plan for their implementation.
The project is also expected to develop a framework that will establish accurate measurement and accounting of actual green house gas (GHG) emission reduction from mitigation actions in energy generation and end-use sectors. This is based on the premise that, currently, some on-going energy projects do not consider the critical role of an MRV methodology in assessing the contribution of NAMA implementation to the overall national voluntary GHG emission reduction targets.
“God gave us light to see the beauty of creation. God gave us love to live in fellowship with creation, and God gave us strength to care for creation.”
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba
These are the inspiring words of ACT’s Climate Justice Ambassador Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town in South Africa. He spoke even as leaders from around the world on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 gathered for the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), in the form of a zero-emissions (virtual) summit, to champion climate action and to amplify the voices and efforts of communities on the frontlines of climate change.
The summit is hosted by the current presidency of the CVF, the Republic of the Marshall Islands – regarded as one of the world’s most vocal yet vulnerable countries to climate change. The theme of the forum is “Stepping up climate action to survive and thrive”.
As global commitments to address climate change are said to fall short of achieving the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature target, the findings of the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming further emphasise the urgency for more ambitious nationally determined contributions, including emissions reduction targets.
“We know that our current way of life is not sustainable in the long-term. We know that our extraction of the earth’s resources and related emissions are capable of destroying creation,” said Archbishop Makgoba.
“The world is heating up, and we are seeing frightening effects. Lives of poor and vulnerable people have already been lost,” said Birgitte QvistSørensen, Moderator of ACT Alliance.
With COP24 only 10 days away, the summit presents a political moment for leaders to amplify the alarm on the urgency for more ambitious climate commitments. It will also provide an opportunity for parties to share on their innovative climate initiatives as an expression of solidarity with the climate vulnerable.
“Countries, communities and people who are affected by climate change today need our support. Not only to deal with the immediate challenges, but also for long-term transformation towards a sustainable way of life,” said Archbishop Makgoba.
ACT members and forums are implementing disaster risk reduction and adaptation initiatives in particularly vulnerable communities. ACT is also mobilising communities at the local, national and international levels, investing in capacity building for advocacy on climate justice.
ACT commends the efforts and leadership of climate-vulnerable countries and urges other parties to follow suit.
“I hope that we will see climate champions leading the way, announcing their commitments to take bold and ambitious action. I hope they will inspire us, and I hope that they will join ACT Alliance in our call for more ambitious climate action,” added QvistSørensen.
Renowned naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, is one prominent advocate of an initiative to bring the voice of millions of citizens around the world to the UN Climate Change Conference holding in Katowice, Poland from December 2 to 14, 2018.
Sir David Attenborough
The “People’s Seat” initiative combines digital technology, polling and the involvement of passionate climate change advocates, like Sir David Attenborough, to deliver messages about the need to act on climate change – and to engage people in the growing movement to take climate action.
The initiative comes not long after the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sounded the alarm bells with its special report on 1.5 degrees of global warming, warning that the world is headed towards a warming of over 3 degrees Celsius with current pledges under the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement.
And it comes as governments prepare to finalise the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement at COP24 in Poland and to discuss ways to raise ambition so that its goals can be achieved.
Sir David Attenborough, who will deliver the People’s Seat Address at COP24, based on inputs gathered in the lead-up to the conference, said this was a major opportunity to step up climate action at all levels of society.
“We all know climate change is global problem – and for that it requires a global solution.
This is an opportunity for people from across the globe, regardless of their nationality or circumstances, to be part of the most important discussion of this century; the unprecedented action needed to reach the Paris Agreement targets.
“I encourage everyone to take their seats and to add their voice so that the People’s Address truly represents a mix of voices from across the world,” he said.
The campaign will reach its apex with the People’s Seat Address when Sir David Attenborough will address the COP24 plenary with climate change stories gathered from around the world, collected via social media. The People’s Address will also trigger the launch of the Facebook Messenger “ActNow” Bot on the United Nation’s central Facebook account.
ActNow.bot will make it easier than ever before for people to understand what actions they can take personally in the fight against climate change. ActNow.bot will recommend everyday actions – like taking public transport and eating less meat – and track the number of actions to highlight the impact that collective action can make at this critical moment in our planet’s history.
The People’s Seat concept is endorsed by the Polish Presidency of COP24. Michal Kurtyka, Polish Secretary of State and incoming COP24 President, who said: “The COP24 Presidency encourages openness, listening and the full participation of civil society in global efforts to tackle climate change. This means encouraging the participation on the ground of observer groups in Katowice, showcasing the climate action of multiple stakeholders, and ensuring that COP24 is a digital COP, thereby allowing people around the world to participate to the greatest extent possible and ensuring the greatest possible transparency. In addition, we are pleased that the UN is pioneering the People’s Seat in Poland, a country which prides itself in being innovative and deploying cutting-edge technologies.”
Sir David Attenborough is launching the campaign with a video inviting viewers to share their thoughts on climate change. Over the next two weeks, thousands of influencers from around the world will also use polling and the hashtag #TakeYourSeat on social media to gather people’s experiences and opinions.
Patricia Espinosa, the Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, said: “We are already seeing dramatic impacts of climate change around the world with one degree of warming. COP24 needs to provide a robust response by quickly following through with what governments have agreed to do so that the Paris Agreement can unfold its full potential, namely to finalise its implementation guidelines.”
Alison Smale, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, said: “People need to be empowered in their own lives to be the change that we need for a sustainable world. We welcome the use of cutting-edge technology to help everyone around the world reduce emissions through the Actnow.bot. With this initiative, we are calling on citizens to act in ways that are feasible, fresh and have an impact.”
The initiative was first put forward by Michael Moller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). Geneva is the location of headquarters of several UN agencies focusing on humanitarian issues.
He said: “The challenge to humanity that climate change represents is of such epic proportions that only through collective global action will we have a chance to combat it successfully. Every single human being on our severely stressed planet must take responsibility.
“If we don’t, we all fail with catastrophic consequences. The People’s Seat initiative provides the impulse for seriously ramping up global solidarity, especially among the young who, at the end of the day, are the ones who will have to deal with the mess we have left them with.”
