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Norway multi-faith summit explores avenue to curb deforestation

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Norway multi-faith summit explores avenue to curb deforestation

Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Daoist and Jewish leaders to join with indigenous forest guardians to express moral commitment and explore faith-based mobilisation to end deforestation

King Harald V of Norway
King Harald V of Norway

For the first time, leaders from many of the world’s religions will meet in Oslo, Norway to discuss the spiritual and ethical responsibility they share to protect rainforests, one of the planet’s most vital life-support systems.

Besieged by growing global demand for commodities, tropical rainforests are being cleared at a perilous rate, with an area the size of Austria chopped down each year, according to experts.

The meeting, which will take place Monday, June 19, 2017 in the presence of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, will discuss how to activate the collective moral influence of religious communities across the planet. Based on sheer numbers, they could prove decisive in protecting the world’s last standing rainforests.

There is growing consensus among the world’s religions that environmental concerns are closely linked to social justice, a position reinforced by Pope Francis’ Laudato si and high-level declarations from many other faiths about the spiritual imperative of protecting the planet and its most vulnerable people.

The multi-faith summit marks the first significant engagement by the world’s religions with an issue that climate scientists and development experts argue is a lynchpin for global efforts to address climate change, poverty, food insecurity and violations of human rights.  It also heralds the first time that religious leaders from a broad spectrum of faiths will work hand-in-hand with indigenous peoples, the historical guardians of rainforests, on an action agenda to end deforestation.

Hosted by Vidar Helgesen, the Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, the meeting is being convened by Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in cooperation with the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University, GreenFaith, Parliament of the World’s Religions, Religions for Peace, the REIL Network, and the World Council of Churches.

Among the questions to be addressed at the event are:

  • How do religious and spiritual teachings support the care and protection of rainforests, and how do they relate to environmental, socio-cultural and economic justifications for ending deforestation?
  • How can religious and spiritual communities contribute to the battle to protect rainforests and stop deforestation? What are the specific actions on the ground undertaken by spiritual groups and mainstream religions to protect forests?
  • Where are forests most under threat and what do spiritual and religious leaders, and their communities and constituencies, propose to do to protect them?
  • What can indigenous forest communities teach that can help influence a world that judges the value of forests through the lens of price, utility, or efficiency?
  • How does this initiative complement and add to other interfaith efforts?
  • Why are the Norwegian government and civil society convening this event? Why now?
  • What are the planned next steps for this initiative?

Indigenous peoples leaders to grace the event are: Sônia Guajajara, National Coordinator, Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil – APIB (Brazil); Joseph Itongwa, executive Committee Member, Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee – IPACC (Democratic Republic of Congo); Abdon Nababan, Vice Chairperson, National Council, Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago, AMAN (Indonesia); and Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The religious leaders include: H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel, Exarch, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Christian); Dr. Nanditha Krishna, Founder, The C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation (Hinduism); Abbot Phra Paisal Vongvoravisit, Co-Founder, Sekiya Dhamma (Buddhism); Sir Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee and Director, Heilbrunn Institute for International Interreligious Understanding (Judaism); H.E. Monsignor Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor, Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (Catholic); Bishop Emeritus Gunnar Stålsett, Honorary President, Religions for Peace (Lutheran); Dr. Din Syamsuddin, Chairman, Center for Dialogue and Cooperation Among Civilisations (Islam); and The Right Reverend Bishop Pierre W. Whalon, Bishop-In-Charge, Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe (Episcopal).

Interfaith leaders are: Reverend Henrik Grape, Coordinator, Working Group on Climate Change, World Council of Churches; Reverend Fletcher Harper: Executive Director, GreenFaith; Dr. Kusumita Pedersen, Vice Chair, Parliament of the World’s Religions; Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker: Director, Forum on Religion and Ecology, Yale University; and Dr. William F. Vendley: Secretary General, Religions for Peace.

Academics and experts: Lars Løvold, Director, Rainforest Foundation Norway; Dr. Antonio Donato Nobre, Visiting Scientist at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and Senior Researcher at the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA); and Frances Seymour, Distinguished Senior Fellow, World Resources Institute.

Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana win $7m renewable energy projects award

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Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana win $7m renewable energy projects award

Winners of the 2017 $7 million Access Co-Development Facility (ACF) competition have been unveiled. The announcement was made on Thursday, June 8, 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmark by Access Power , a developer, owner and operator of renewable power projects in emerging markets, in partnership with EREN Renewable Energy, a global independent power producer.

ACF
The winning entries entailed solar, hydro and wind power projects

The three winning projects, hailing from Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana, were selected from a technologically and geographically diverse pool of 82 entrants from 23 countries after having presented to a live panel of industry expert judges. The panel based their final selection on the commercial, technical and environmental merits of the projects presented, as well as the local regulatory environment and capability of the project teams.

The winners will share the $7 million as well as technical support and expertise provided by the ACF, an innovative funding and support platform for renewable energy projects in Africa.

This year’s winners are:

  • Tanzania: 30MW, Kondoa, Solar PV project
  • Rwanda: 9.7MW, Rukarara, Hydro project
  • Ghana: 48MW, Winneba, Wind project

When completed, the projects will collectively provide over 85MW of electricity, enough to power more than 420,000 homes and business across Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana. The winners were announced at the 19th annual Africa Energy Forum, following a presentation by the five shortlisted developers to a panel of expert judges.

Reda El Chaar, Executive Chairman of Access Power said: “We are very excited to begin working with today’s winners in partnership with EREN and help bring their projects to fruition. Each of these projects has the power to dramatically improve the lives of the communities around these renewable energy facilities.

“By partnering with us, these local entrepreneurs will gain access to not only our pot of $7 million but also our network of contacts and technical experts, underlining the unique nature of the ACF in creating a clear route to market.”

The winning projects will now enter into Joint Development Agreements with Access Power, who will take an equity stake. Winners will also be able to leverage Access Power’s organisational, financial and technical knowledge, as well as access to our network. They will also receive assistance with the funding of third-party development costs including feasibility studies, grid studies, environmental and social impact assessments and due diligence fees.

This year’s competition was notable for the dominance of solar, with just under half of this year’s entries and three of the five shortlisted projects falling under the category, but also for the high number of applications from countries with low levels of electrification. Of the 23 countries represented in this year’s edition, 18 have electrification rates below 30%. This year’s application process also further highlighted the rise of East and West Africa as hotspots for renewable energy development, with nearly 80% of all applicants hailing from both sides of the continent.

Gabon creates 20 marine protected areas

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Gabon creates 20 marine protected areas

President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon announced on Monday, June 5, 2017 in a speech delivered at the United Nations headquarters that his government has created a network of 20 marine protected areas, consisting of nine marine parks and 11 aquatic reserves covering 26% of the nation’s territorial waters.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba
President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon

“As I have often argued, we cannot approach sustainable management solely from the point of view of conservation. On the contrary, we must also tackle this issue through rational use of the environment in order to give more meaning to its preservation by the people who live in it”, said the President.

The creation of these areas had been preceded by the approval of the project by the Head of State, who is also President of the Strategic Committee of the National Marine Council, the body created in April 2014 with responsibility for formulating national marine policy.

An innovative initiative on the African continent, the creation of this network of marine protected areas confirms President Ali Bongo Ondimba’s commitment to preserving the environment, as well as to implementing effective and sustainable management of the nation’s marine natural resources. The policy aims to rehabilitate fish stocks, increase the sustainable production of the available fishery resources and protect the marine environment, and will have multiple positive outcomes for the people of Gabon.

With a network of 13 national parks, representing true treasures of global biodiversity, and more than 800 kilometres of coastline, Gabon – more than 90% of which is covered with forest – is seeing a significant acceleration of its sustainable development policy under the determined drive of President Ondimba.

This policy is based on a new model of socio-economic development that is beneficial both to the Gabonese population and to the international community. Its practical implementation can be seen, in particular, in the signing of major environmental agreements such as the Paris Agreement, signed in the context of the COP21 summit.

An exemplary country in the field of sustainable development, Gabon had the honour, in January 2017, of being chosen to coordinate the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

During his term in office at the head of CAHOSCC, Ali Bongo Ondimba intends to continue the work of his predecessor, the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, and “to open up new areas of development in this field that are so crucial to our future in the face of climate change.”

Figueres emerges Global Ambassador of Under2 Coalition

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Figueres emerges Global Ambassador of Under2 Coalition

Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and Convenor of Mission 2020, was on Thursday, June 7, 2017 announced as Global Ambassador of the Under2 Coalition – a leading network of international sub-national governments that are working together to find shared solutions to climate change.

Christiana Figueres
Christiana Figueres

The announcement was made in Beijing, China during the Under2 Clean Energy Forum – a side event of the eighth Clean Energy Ministerial, The forum explored, through a series of high-level roundtables and keynotes, how sub-national governments and businesses can work together to deliver the Paris Agreement, following the announcement of the US intention to withdraw.

The event brought together high level delegates from across the world, including Governor Edmund. G Brown, State of California; Rachel Kyte, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Sustainable Energy for All; and Katie Hill, Head of Global Supplier Clean Energy Programme, Apple.

Figueres said: “I’m delighted to have been named as Global Ambassador for the Under2 Coalition. It has never been more important for states and regions to work together to help promote clean energy economies and limit global temperature rises. To give us the best chance of staying below two degrees of warming, we will need to bend the curve of emissions by 2020, so I look forward to playing an active role in raising awareness of the Coalition’s ambitions.”

Set up in 2015 by the States of California and Baden-Württemberg to galvanise sub-national leadership on climate change, the Coalition now encompasses 175 governments, spanning six continents and 35 countries, comprising over 1.2 billion people and more than US$28.8 trillion of the global economy. Coalition signatories are committed to either reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 80% to 95% below 1990 levels or limit emissions to less than two metric tons per capita annually by 2050.

Governor Brown, a founder of the Coalition stated: “Christiana Figueres has been a strong ally in the global effort to curb carbon pollution and we welcome her work to expand our Under2 Coalition to even more cities, states, regions and countries throughout the world.”

Also at the event, states and regions reaffirmed their commitment to climate action. Five new endorsers and signatories to the Under2 Coalition were announced, including Denmark, the State of Chhattisgarh (India), Region of Brittany (France) and South African Provinces KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.

Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group, said: “While the Trump administration is talking about the credibility of Paris, the rest of the world is moving on to action and delivery. States, regions and businesses are leading actions to limit warming and they are already seeing the economic and health benefits.

“Today’s announcement of the continued growth of the Under2 Coalition, with new signatories and Christiana as Global Ambassador demonstrates the continued momentum.”

Ulla Tørnæs, Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, said: “I am pleased that Denmark now formally is an endorsing partner of the Under2 Coalition. Achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement will require strong action at all levels – not least at local and regional levels. Regions have a decisive role to play in moving the political ambitions from Paris into real action. The Under2 Coalition has already built a strong coalition of regions behind this work, which I very much welcome, especially in light of recent developments. The need for strong alliances working to achieve the climate targets is more needed than ever.”

Mahesh Gagda, Minister of Forests, Law and Legal Affairs, Government of Chhattisgarh, said: “Today our world is facing the big challenge of climate change and we all bear the burden of sharing the responsibility of addressing it. A challenge of this magnitude cannot be fought only at the national level. I am of the firm belief that sub-national collaborations between state governments and provinces, provides a great opportunity to further bridge the gap between nations, their people and culture. Chhattisgarh State will undertake all possible efforts to fulfill India’s NDC commitment. Let us all resolve to contribute our bit in the fight against climate change.”

Dominique Ramard, Vice President, Brittany, said: “Brittany, as a French and European region is deeply committed to climate protection. It is an engagement for the planet as well as a robust business strategy that provides guidelines for the transition to a more sustainable society.”

Anton Bredell, Provincial Minister for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Western Cape, said: “The decision to join the Under2 Coalition of global provinces, states and regions committed to driving ambitious climate action was not a difficult one as it aligns with the Western Cape Government’s aspiration of being a low carbon province.”

T W Mchunu, Premier, KwaZulu-Natal, said: “The signing of this Under2 MoU signals our commitment in implementing the Paris Agreement as signed by our national government. Work that led to this Paris Agreement began in our very own city of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal in 2011 when we hosted COP17.”

The Under2 Clean Energy Forum was hosted by The Climate Group, in partnership with the State of California, the People’s Government of Sichuan Province and the Energy Foundation.

Ronaldo retains wealthiest athletes’ top list

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Ronaldo retains wealthiest athletes’ top list

Portugal captain and Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, who topped the Forbes magazine list for the first time 12 months ago, has retained the position as the highest-paid sports person for the second successive year.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo

He is worth staggering earnings of $93 million (£72.05 million), according to Forbes annual list of the world’s 100 wealthiest athletes.

The 32-year-old saw his earnings rise by $5 million (£3.87 million) a year on, a £44. 8 million salary from his club Real Madrid, whilst £27 million came from endorsements.

Second in line is basketball star LeBron James who pocketed $86.2 million (£66.79 million) in 2017, whilst Ronaldo’s fierce rival Lionel Messi took home $80 million (£61.98 million).

Also on the top five list is tennis star Roger Federer, earning $86 million (£49.5 million) in fourth position, while another basketball heavyweight, Kelvin Durant, earns $60 million (£49.58 million) in fifth position.

The list of elite athletes consists of players from 11 different sports.

Basketball dominates with a record 32 NBA players among the top 100, up from 18 in 2016, followed by Baseball with 22, and American football with 15 and football with nine.

The top 100 athletes earned a total of $3.11 billion (£2.4 billion) over the last 12 months, a slight decrease from last year’s earnings of $3.15 billion (£2.43 billion).

By Felix Simire

Overfishing, reef decline threaten Pacific, Caribbean island fisheries – IUCN

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Overfishing, reef decline threaten Pacific, Caribbean island fisheries – IUCN

Overfishing and the degradation of coral reefs across the Caribbean and Pacific islands are pushing many fish, including food sources like tunas and groupers, towards extinction, according to two regional Red List reports published on Thursday, June 8, 2017 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

red snapper
Overfishing: In the Caribbean, the vulnerable red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is among the threatened species targeted by fishers

The Conservation status of marine biodiversity in the Pacific Islands of Oceania Red List report includes assessments of 2,800 marine species across the 22 island states and territories of Oceania, from Papua New Guinea to the Cook Islands – a vast, species-rich but largely unexplored area. The report shows that 11% of all assessed marine species in the region are threatened with extinction, including fish that are important food sources.

The Conservation status of marine bony shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean Red List report includes assessments of 1,360 marine bony shorefishes – a group that includes most fish species found near the shore – across 38 Caribbean countries and territories. Around 5% of marine bony shorefishes in the Caribbean are threatened, the report shows, due to overfishing, invasive lionfish predation and the degradation of coral reefs and estuaries, which provide habitats and feeding grounds for many species. Species threatened by overfishing are commonly associated with reef habitat.

“These new reports ring alarm bells for marine life across the Pacific and Caribbean, hard-hit by unsustainable fishing and the destruction of habitats. These are the latest in a series of IUCN Red List reports covering more than half of the global ocean, which collectively reveal a looming threat to life below water. It is essential that we use this new science and analysis to effectively conserve marine resources, which provide us with food, enhance our health, sustain the global economy and protect us from the worst effects of climate change,” says IUCN Director General, Inger Andersen.

In the Pacific islands of Oceania, around a third of reef-building coral species are threatened with extinction. Overfishing and the destruction of habitats – including coral reefs – are causing the decline of many fish species, the report’s authors warn. For example, four species of grouper, which are an important food source, are listed as Vulnerable – with populations affected by overfishing and the degradation of nearshore habitats, including mangrove, seagrass and reef habitats.

In the Caribbean, the vulnerable red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and the Endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) are among the threatened species targeted by fishers. Fewer individual coral species – around a fifth – are threatened with extinction in this region, although overall Caribbean reefs are in worse shape than those in Oceania due to human pressures adding to the effects of ocean warming. Various local- to broader-scaled threats are flattening reefs across much of the Caribbean, particularly affecting the Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis). These endemic, branching corals, which are among the most important reef-building coral species in the Caribbean and vital for the survival of reefs, are both classed as Critically Endangered.

“We know that well-managed marine protected areas can increase the resilience of marine species in the Caribbean and the Pacific in the face of mounting threats. In an extremely species-rich region dominated by Small Island states, inter-governmental cooperation between countries should be boosted to ensure protected areas are managed effectively, and destructive fishing practices are minimised,” says Kent Carpenter, manager of the IUCN Marine Biodiversity Unit.

Some species, such as the vulnerable migratory bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) need larger, more geographically inclusive marine protected areas for effective conservation, the report recommends. Other recommendations include using IUCN Red List data to identify and conserve threatened species ‘hotspots’, improving resources for regional fishery agencies, and protecting spawning areas for species of key socioeconomic importance.

Islanders in both the Pacific and Caribbean regions rely heavily on reef fisheries and other marine resources for food security and income generation. In Oceania, fish consumption rates are high at about 50 kg annually per person, as compared to about 8 kg for people living in continental areas such as Australia.

The release of the two reports coincides with the on-going UN Ocean Conference in New York, where IUCN has been calling for urgent action on climate change and marine plastic pollution.

The Conservation status of marine biodiversity in the Pacific Islands of Oceania Red List report can be accessed here.

The Conservation status of marine bony shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean Red List report can be accessed here.

Hawai’i emerges first U.S. state to enact Paris Agreement law

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Hawai’i emerges first U.S. state to enact Paris Agreement law

In a show of support for the Paris climate agreement, Gov. David Ige and Hawai’i county mayors and representatives on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 gathered for the signing of two bills and a mayors’ agreement that support the commitments and goals of the Paris climate accord.

David Ige
Gov. David Ige of Hawai’i signs the Paris Agreement related bills into law

Hawai‘i is the first state in the nation to enact legislation that implements portions of the Paris agreement.

Gov. Ige signed SB 559 (Act 032) which expands strategies and mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide in alignment with the principles and goals adopted in the Paris agreement.

The governor also signed HB 1578 (Act 033) which establishes the Carbon Farming Task Force within the Office of Planning to identify agricultural and aquacultural practices to improve soil health and promote carbon sequestration – the capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change.

“Hawai‘i is committed to environmental stewardship, and we look forward to working with other states to fight global climate change. Together, we can directly contribute to the global agenda of achieving a more resilient and sustainable island Earth,” said Gov. Ige. “The Hawai‘i State Legislature understands the importance of taking action, and I applaud its work this session to ensure that we continue to deliver the island Earth that we want to leave to our children.”

“The measure adopted relevant sections of the Paris agreement as state law, which gives us legal basis to continue adaptation and mitigation strategies for Hawaii, despite the Federal government’s withdrawal from the treaty,” said Sen. J. Kalani English, senate majority leader who introduced SB 559.

In addition, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and representatives for Hawai‘i Island Mayor Harry Kim, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, and Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho signed a statement declaring their commitment to continue supporting of the Paris agreement.

California, China sign agreement on climate, cleantech

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California, China sign agreement on climate, cleantech

The government of California and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology announced on Monday, June 5, 2017 that they would work together to develop clean energy technologies, cooperate on emissions trading and explore other “climate-positive” trade and investment opportunities.

gov-jerry-brown
Governor Edmund Gerald Brown of California

California and China agreed to establish the California-China Clean Technology Partnership, designed to drive innovation and commercialisation in areas such as carbon capture and storage, clean energy, and advanced information technology that could help cut greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Tuesday statement.

“The challenges are big but so too is the commitment – the commitment of Jiangsu Province with California and China with the people of America. We’re going to get it done. Nothing will stop us,” Governor Edmund Gerald Brown said. “Green is not only gold, green is our future – China, California and America and the other countries of the world are all working for the prosperity of the people.”

The Governor’s remarks came on World Environment Day at the International Summit of New Environmental Protection Technology in Nanjing on Monday.

Brown told reporters on the sidelines of the event that the failure of leadership from the United States was “only temporary” and said science and the market would be required to get past it.

Joint pledges by China and the United States ahead of the Paris talks helped create the momentum required to secure the Paris Climate Change Agreement, and included a promise by China to establish a nationwide emissions trading exchange by this year.

Brown said last week that he would discuss linking China’s carbon trading platforms with California’s, the biggest in the United States.

Expert advocates overhaul of governing processes within Ghana’s natural resources sector

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Expert advocates overhaul of governing processes within Ghana’s natural resources sector

A Ghanaian environmental legal expert has called for a new governance approach for the sustainable management and use of the nation’s natural resources.

GIMPA
Mr. Clement Akapame of GIMPA’s Law Faculty and an Associate of ClientEarth, delivering a keynote presentation on the topic: “Governance Challenges in the Natural Resources and Environment Sectors,” at a ceremony to outdoor Tropenbos Ghana (TBG) in Accra on Wednesday, May 31, 2017

This, he says, will require interactions among structures, processes and traditions that determine how power and responsibilities are exercised, how decisions are taken, and how citizens or stakeholders engage.

The expert, Clement Kojo Akapame of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Law Faculty, explained that this new mode of governance, based on collaboration and interaction, provide an authentic approach to dealing with challenges of the natural resources sector.

He was delivering a keynote presentation on “Governance Challenges in the Natural Resources and Environment Sectors,” at a ceremony in Accra last Wednesday, May 31, 2017 to outdoor Tropenbos Ghana (TBG), a civil society organisation (CSO) and launch its 10-year Strategic Plan.

Mr. Akapame, who is also an Associate of ClientEarth, a group of environmental lawyers, further highlighted the disorderliness within the legal regime of the natural resources sector, saying: “The current legal framework … is a perilous quagmire of constitutional obligations fleshed out through substantive and procedural provisions in various Acts of Parliament such as the Forest Act dating back to 1927 and most recently the Timber Resources Management Legality Regulation of 2012.”

He advocated a reorganisation of the sector’s governing processes towards the proposed new governance approach based on the principles of integration, coordination, transparency, inclusiveness, fairness, and legitimacy.

The Learned Professor was emphatic in demanding a new course for the sector. “…The charting of a new course in the management of natural resources, where we will de-balkanise institutions and processes, break down silos in our policy and law making process…”

He made reference to the words of Theodore Roosevelt that “the nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets, which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value…”

And, on that note, Mr. Akapame wondered, “Are we in a position to say that the governance mechanism we have put in place will ensure such handover tot eh next generation?”

At the same event, a representative of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Accra, Fred Smiet, also made presentation on the topic: “Civil Society as Partner in Development,” and cited the on-going media campaign on galamsey or illegal mining in Ghana as a very good example of the role of civil society in national affairs.

He said the process has been a collaboration between media and other civil society groups evidenced by many organisations who gathered proof of environmental destruction and damage, which the media published and continue to do so to date.

Mr. Smiet observed that “for years government did not act decisively. Now after months of a sustained campaign in the media, government feels compelled to act… members of Parliament, traditional leaders, Ministers, the President, have all swung into action.”

He stated: “This is a good example of the role of civil society,” but was quick to add, “… in the future civil society needs to keep up the effort, if government starts to show signs of complacency in enforcing mining regulations.”

The diplomat further highlighted the need for strategic partnership in the CSOs approach to issues, saying, “The Government of The Netherlands has challenged CSOs to work together in strategic partnership to lobby more effectively.” This is because “a combination of civil society partners is often more effective, since it combines different skills and has a more powerful voice.”

Touching on TBG, Mr. Smiet said it is a member of a Strategic Partnership known as the “Green Livelihood Alliance.” This partnership seeks to lobby, advocate, dialogue and dissent on the values of two forest landscapes in Ghana namely: The Atewa Forest Landscape and the Densu Delta.

He said that, together, the partnership would present a powerful voice that cannot be ignored on issues that pertain to the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen who live and depend on these landscapes.

TBG has been evolved out of Tropenbos International (TBI) Ghana, with its head office at Wageningen, The Netherlands that has been implementing national and multi-country projects including the EU-Funded project on illegal chain saw milling.

Like all good societal entities that make time to pause for reflection to re-strategise and re-position themselves for more effective delivery, TBG is now positioned as a legally autonomous organisation, poised to function “as a legal Think Tank in the forestry sector” both locally and internationally within the next 10 years.

It has a vision to become “a leading organisation that influences forest policy and practice for enhanced livelihoods and sustainable development,” in the country.

Accordingly, TBG will be pursuing strategic objectives including identifying emerging themes and cross-cutting issues in forestry for policy analysis and advocacy; and creating networks for strategic partnerships and collaboration in research, advocacy and capacity building.

These are contained in TBG’s Ten-Year Strategic Plan that was launched earlier in the ceremony by the Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry, Benito Owusu Bio. He welcomed the on-going reform process of TBG to enable it impact positively on the forestry and the environment sectors in the years to come.

Mr. Bio said this was a crucial development in view of the major challenge facing Ghana’s forestry sector: “… how to restore degraded forest lands to benefit people and the environment, and make forestry a more competitive land-use.”

He stressed that government was not only interested in forest benefits, but also greatly committed to its sustainable management and has therefore come up with various initiatives.

These include the National Plantation Development Programme, the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade/Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT/VPA) and the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), being pursued by the Ministry as some of the initiatives, “meant to strengthen our arms in dealing with deforestation and forest degradation,” he said.

The Deputy Minister acknowledged the immense contribution and support of donor partners like the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the Dutch government for funding forestry sector projects and especially for supporting Tropenbos activities in Ghana.

He was certain that government’s commitment to forest restoration and sustainable forest management coupled with the rich experiences and knowledge of TBG, will contribute to turn things around in the sector.

Board members of the TBG were also introduced and inducted into office by Nana Tawiah Okyere of also of GIMPA’s Law Faculty and Taylor Crabbe, an environmental legal consortium.

The seven member board members are: Professor Alfred Oteng-Yeboah of the University of Ghana, Legon; Professor Victor Agyeman, Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Akwasi Agyei Yeboah, a Private Plantation Developer and former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources; and Mrs. Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, Associate Executive Director of Wacam.

The others are Mrs. Juliana Asante Dartey of a ASNAP; Raphael Yeboah, a Professional Forester and Legal Practitioner; and Musa Abu-Juam, Technical Director Director in-charge of Forestry at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

On behalf of the Board members, Prof. Oteng-Yebaoh, who is the Chairman, expressed his gratitude for their election to steer the affairs of the new TBG. He described it as “a heavy responsibility … as it marks a new beginning for the group that is still re-engineering itself.”

Prof. Oteng-Yeboah pledged that they would work alongside the 17 goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are guiding the global development agenda for the next 50 years. He said in discharging their duties, “we will depend on what is available, look back to the past for reference and formulate solutions to address tomorrow’s problems.”

For his part the Executive Director of TBG, Kwabena Nketiah, said in its new posture, his organisation would have to adapt and remain relevant as a localised non-profit organisation and independent entity in its governance, funding and operations.

But the TBG will not be completely severed from its mother organisation.  Mr. Nketiah said it would still share in the vision and branding of TBI.

By Ama Kudom-Agyemang, Accra, Ghana

Kuwait ratifies Nagoya Protocol, becomes 100th party to treaty

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Kuwait ratifies Nagoya Protocol, becomes 100th party to treaty

Kuwait on Monday, June 5, 2017 ratified the “Nagoya Protocol on Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation”, an agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), bringing the total number of Parties to 100.

Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait

The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Protocol builds on the access and benefit-sharing provisions of the Convention by establishing predictable conditions for access to genetic resources and by helping to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of these resources. Adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, it entered into force on 12 October 2014.

Dr. Cristiana Pașca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said: “This is an important milestone for the Nagoya Protocol and the Convention on Biological Diversity. I congratulate the Government of Kuwait for taking the world to 100 ratifications of this important Protocol in the service of sustainable development.”

Kuwait also ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity on June 5, 2017 and became the 171st party.

Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and entering into force in December 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.

With 196 Parties so far, the Convention has near universal participation among countries. The Convention seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments, the development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous and local communities, youth, NGOs, women and the business community.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing are supplementary agreements to the Convention.

The Cartagena Protocol, which entered into force on September 11, 2003, seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. To date, 171 Parties have ratified the Cartagena Protocol.

The Nagoya Protocol aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies. It entered into force on October 12, 2014 and to date has been ratified by 100 Parties.

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