The Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the Bogor Agricultural Institute (Institut Pertanian Bogor or IPB) have extended their scientific and technical cooperation for another five years. CIFOR and IPB’s partnership, which started in 1997, contributes to science and development in Indonesia. The new agreement extends the existing bilateral agreement between both institutions through November 2021.
Director-General of CIFOR, Peter Holmgren
The ongoing collaboration between CIFOR and IPB will equip Indonesia with new knowledge on forests and science.
Existing areas of cooperation include the exchange of professors and scholars as well as conducting joint research projects. In particular, both institutions have shared knowledge and best practices related to landscapes and the link between forest management and the Sustainable Development Goals.
To recognise the renewal of this partnership, CIFOR’s Director General, Dr. Peter Holmgren, and IPB’s Rector, Dr. Herry Suhardiyanto, signed a memorandum of understanding at a formal ceremony held at IPB’s Darmaga Campus in Bogor, Indonesia, on February 17, 2017.
“This is a key partnership for CIFOR, not only in Indonesia, but also globally, as our joint research with IPB helps us understand the fundamental importance of sustainable landscapes for people and the environment – and for overall sustainable development,” expressed CIFOR’s Director General Peter Holmgren. According to IPB’s Rector, Dr. Herry Suhardiyanto, “there is a clear need to undertake collaborative research engaging Indonesian and international researchers on aspects related to the interface between science and policy.” Dr. Suhardiyanto expressed that “joint activities of CIFOR and IPB will provide excellent knowledge and effective policies to support recent national development priorities such as peatland restoration, social forestry, renewable energy and rural development.”
Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Patricia Espinosa, on Thursday, February 16 2017 in Bonn, Germany thanked a group of nearly 20 countries for their leadership in fully paying their 2017 contributions – in line with the agreed financial policy – that support the important work of the UN climate body.
Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The contributions are crucial for enabling the organisation support the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement at speed and scale while assisting to catalyse ever higher climate action by all relevant stakeholders, including regions, territories, cities, businesses, investors and citizens.
Ms. Espinosa said: “I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to these Parties for their leadership by contributing in full by January 1, 2017 and look forward to more coming forward in the coming weeks and months. If this UN entity is to rise to the challenges and opportunities identified by governments, sufficient funding delivered in a timely and predictable manner, is vital for the planning and delivery of these mandates and initiatives.”
“The impacts of climate change are accelerating around the world, and it is essential that the response of the international community also accelerates. The Paris Agreement has entered in force and additional ratifications are happening every month. With the timely contributions of countries, we can fulfill our responsibilities to Parties and increase momentum for climate action in order to meet the transformational aims and goals of the Agreement,” she added.
The assessed funding by Parties underpins the day-to-day operations of the UNFCCC as it also takes forward planning for the annual May meetings and the UN Climate Conference in Bonn (COP23) in November 2017.
Countries that have fully paid their 2017 contribution by 1st of January 2017 are listed to include: Albania, Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, Eritrea, Finland, Guyana, Kazakhstan, and Mauritius.
Others are: Netherlands, New Zealand, Palau, Poland, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Slovakia, and Vanuatu.
The Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) has been listed among the United Nation’s several exemplary actions that support the UN Sustainable Goals and the G20 programme.
The metaphoric Great Green Wall will provide sustainable alternatives for millions of young people considering migrating from poverty-stricken areas in Africa’s Sahel region. Photo credit: theodysseyonline.com
This is coming even as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Bonn, Germany on Thursday, February 16 2017 to engage with G20 foreign affairs ministers on the issues of Africa and sustainability. It is the new UN chief’s first visit to Bonn since taking office this year.
The foreign affairs ministers are preparing for the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit that will take place in Hamburg, Germany, in July this year. The focus is on achieving the 2030 Agenda and on greater cooperation with Africa with the aim of maintaining peace, eliminating extreme poverty and achieving sustainable development while addressing the environmental and climate change challenges at the heart of the 2030 Agenda.
The mandate of the United Nations in Bonn (UN Bonn) “Shaping a sustainable future” is said to focus on policies and actions to address these challenges.
One of such is the GGWSSI, an African-led initiative to create a new “World Wonder” of greenery that runs 8,000 km long and 15 km wide from east to west Africa along the Sahel, with a view to improve land productivity and vitality, as well as “growing solutions” for livelihoods.
The UN describes the Great Green Wall initiative as a powerful vehicle that brings 13 countries together to create local jobs and economic opportunities to safeguard the livelihoods of the local people in the long term and sequester carbon for global environmental resilience.
These countries are: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan.
The GGWSSI is being implemented by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Another major UN Bonn action borders on advancing the Paris Agreement, which entered into force last year and has set the world on a path towards low carbon development and greater resilience to climate change.
The secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is preparing to host the next major UN climate change conference (COP23) in Bonn in November 2017, and will take place under the Presidency of Fiji.
The global forum will advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Part of the work of the UNFCCC secretariat is to showcase inspiring examples of climate action, including under its “Momentum for Change” initiative.
Other actions include:
Online Volunteering
Every year about 7,000 UN Volunteers (UNV) on site and about 12,000 UN Online Volunteers help impact positively around 5.7 million beneficiaries. Get involved via UN online volunteering allows organisations and volunteers to team up to address sustainable development challenges – anywhere in the world, from any device.
Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development
Leading thinkers, policy-makers, business leaders and civil society activists will in March 2017 gather in Germany for the first ever Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development, to chart new thinking and generate actions towards the world’s biggest development challenges at the World Conference Centre in Bonn.
Assessment on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production
Among the findings of this first IPBES thematic assessment – the result of two years of intensive work by 77 experts from around the world – was that up to $577 billion of annual global food production relies directly on pollinators, but that 16% of vertebrate pollinators are threatened with extinction. With key messages and a range of suggested policy actions to safeguard pollinators, the Assessment speaks very directly to the priorities of the G20 Working Group on Agriculture and the T20 Taskforce on Ending Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture. Among the next IPBES assessments already underway is one on land degradation and restoration – which will also align very closely with G20 and T20 policy priorities.
United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security
The mission of the Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) is to carry out cutting edge research on risks and adaptation related to environmental hazards and global change. Its experts have recently concluded the largest national household survey into climate change and migration in the Pacific, with the newly-published results providing a valuable insight into the themes of resilience and adaptation.
Groundbreaking research also analyses the interplay between environmental and societal factors in the Mekong Delta, Nepal and Bangladesh. Additionally, through the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative, UNU-EHS experts contribute to the G7 Initiative on Climate Risk Insurance.
Leading through Learning
The UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development was established to respond to the comprehensive learning, training, and knowledge management needs of UN staff and external partners in the context of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement. To this end, the Knowledge Centre supports the policy and operational work of the UN through the development of learning tools, platforms for interaction and a mature set of learning offerings for UN staff.
European Environment and Health Process
The European Environment and Health Process, driven by the World Health Organisation (WHO), sits within the context of system-wide strategic planning, implementation and reporting of the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, to ensure coherent and integrated support for implementation across countries, sectors and United Nations fora.
The platform focuses on Sustainable Development target 3.9 and on another 16 Sustainable Development Goals that have the greatest potential to protect and improve health and well-being under pressure from global environmental change, including climate change; demographic changes such as longevity, migration and urbanisation; and emerging global economic and technological developments.
The UN Bonn is made up of 18 organisations covering a broad UN mandate that includes climate change, land degradation, volunteerism, biodiversity and ecosystem services, wildlife conservation, health, human security, disaster risk reduction, tourism, as well as education and training and satellite-based information systems.
The organisations support governments and peoples to find answers and ways to achieve a sustainable future by promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and their conservation for future generations, and the global fight against poverty.
The world dumps the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute, the United Nations heard on Wednesday, February 15 2017 at the start of a two-day meeting to prepare for this June’s Ocean Conference that will aim to help safeguard the planet’s oceans and help them recover from human-induced problems.
Healthy oceans have a central role to play in solving one of the biggest problems of the 21st century – how to feed nine billion people by 2050. Photo news: FAO
“When leaders from across Governments, international organisations, civil society, the private sector, and the scientific and academic communities, gather together in New York, from 5-9 June for The Ocean Conference, we will be witness to a turning point,” the President of the UN General Assembly, Peter Thomson, told the participants, who also included the Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and the Minister for Fisheries of Fiji, the countries co-hosting the conference.
“We will witness the point in history when humanity truly began the process of reversing the cycle of decline that accumulated human activity has brought upon the Ocean,” Mr. Thomson added.
The high-level Oceans Conference aims to get everyone involved in conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 14.
The UN has called for voluntary commitments to implement Goal 14 and on Wednesday launched an online commitment registry which has its first three commitments – the Swedish Government, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and Peaceboat, a non-governmental organisation. The site will be up through the end of the Conference, which starts on World Environment Day, marked annually on 5 June, and includes 8 June, celebrated as World Oceans Day.
The voluntary commitments “underscore the urgency for action and for solutions,” said Under-Secretary-General Wu Hongbo, who heads the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs and serves as the Secretary-General of the Conference.
Addressing participants today, Mr. Wu said preparations for the Conference are “on track.”
“The health of our oceans and seas, and the future wellbeing of our planet and our society, demand no less,” he said.
In addition to pollution, The Oceans Conference and SDG 14 address overfishing, as well as acidification and increasing global water temperatures linked to climate change.
Discussing the problems ahead of today’s preparatory meeting, Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden, Isabella Lovin said in a video log on Twitter that the Conference could be a “chance of a lifetime” to save the oceans under enormous stress.
“We don’t need to invent or negotiate something new, we just need to have action to implement what we already agreed upon,” she said in reference to the expected ‘Call to Action’ that will result from the Conference in connection with stopping illegal fishing, stopping marine pollution and addressing the special circumstances of small island developing States.
Representing one of the many small island nations struggling with these issues, the Minister for Fisheries of Fiji, Semi Koroilavesau, urged Conference participants to make voluntary contributions, saying the oceans are of “utmost importance” to his country.
Solar developers installed a record 14.6 gigawatts in the U.S. last year; almost double the total from 2015 and enough to make photovoltaic panels the largest source of new electric capacity for the first time.
Renewable energy: A Solar Energy System at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Photo credit: UNIFIL
Solar energy information, Solar water heater, Alternative energy sources. Solar panels on rooftops and fields accounted for 39 percent of new generation last year, according to a report released on Wednesday, February 15 2017 from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association. That beat the 29 percent contribution from natural gas and 26 percent from wind.
The surge is further evidence that solar power has become an important part of the U.S. energy mix, even as President Donald Trump pushes for wider use of fossil fuels. The solar industry employs 260,000 people and accounted for 2 percent of all new U.S. jobs last year, and Republican and Democratic governors from 20 states sent the White House a letter on Monday saying that clean energy is an important economic driver.
“What these numbers tell you is that the solar industry is a force to be reckoned with,” Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. “Solar’s economically winning hand is generating strong growth across all market segments.”
Total installations surged 95 percent from 2015, led by large fields of solar arrays, which generally cost less than putting panels on rooftops. Utility-scale development increased 145 percent last year, the most in the industry, as costs became increasingly competitive with power produced from gas, according to the report.
Smaller-scale solar also increased, with residential rooftops up 19 percent and community solar projects exceeding 200 megawatts.
That growth will continue, with total installed capacity in the U.S. expected to reach 105 gigawatts by 2021, up from about 38 gigawatts today, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Solar is also reaching new areas, according to Justin Baca, SEIA’s vice president of markets & research. Installations grew last year in 31 of the 40 state markets that SEIA tracks, including areas that haven’t traditionally been solar strongholds such as Alabama.
“We don’t expect to see many years with nearly 100 percent growth that we had in 2016,’’ Baca said. “But we see a future where lower-level stable growth is achievable.’’
Victory came the way of the Cross River forest, concerned communities and environmental activists on Wednesday, February 15 2017 as the state government announced the reversal of its order revoking ownership of land extending to 10km on either side of the proposed 260 km Superhighway.
Flashback: President Muhammadu Buhari unveiling the plaque with Governor of Cross River, Prof. Ben Ayade, during the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the 260km Superhighway from Calabar to Northern Nigeria on 20th Oct 2015. Photo credit: vanguardngr.com
In a press call in a national newspaper, the hitherto defiant state governor, Ben Ayade, appear to have succumbed to local and international pressures over the hugely controversial and unpopular road project.
The call, signed by the state Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Dr. John Inyang, on behalf of the government, reads: “After due consultation with relevant bodies and stakeholders, the Cross River State Government through the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development hereby reverses the earlier revocation order published in the Punch Newspaper edition of Friday, January 15, 2016 and the Nigerian Chronicle edition of Friday 22nd January, 2016 specifying the revocation of 10km span of either side of the centre line of the proposed 260km Superhighway road project.
“Accordingly, acquisition of right-of-way for the proposed road project and payment of compensation shall be limited to the 70m span of the road corridor.”
While environmental activist, Nnimmo Bassey, described the reversal as a “significant victory for Cross River forest communities”, government officials say it is rather a demonstration of the fact that Senator Ayade is a listening governor and is intended on removing all obstacles and making sure that the superhighway project is completed.”
Rita Iyke-Uwaka, an environmentalist, stated: “This is a great milestone for forest advocacy and community rights in Nigeria. Indeed, our collective rights and fights for environmental justice was not in vain! God bless great minds who fought night and day particularly Nnimmo Bassey for the great support he gave and great role he played directly and indirectly to make this happen.”
If the news making its round is anything to go by, then Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, may not be in charge of the club next season.
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger
Some club supporters have been mounting pressure on the Gunners boss, calling on him to step down.
Wenger has been in charge of the North London club for 21 years, but there is now a definite split among fans over whether he should remain or leave.
In other to meet up with demands of the fans, reports say the club management has penciled down four possible names to replace Wenger at the end of the season.
Top on the list is Newcastle manager, Rafael Benitez, who appears to be leading the Magpies charge back to the Premier League.
Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Tuchel is next, while Luis Enrique at Barcelona is another and Monaco’ s Leonardo Jardim makes the fourth.
But the CEO of Borussia Dortmund, Hans-Joachim Watzke, said speculation linking head coach Tuchel to Arsenal is “completely fictional stuff”, while Tuchel said he is unaware of the interest from Arsenal, stressing that he was happy at the Bundesliga club.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League game, which saw Bayern Munich destroying Arsenal 5-1, seems to have vindicated some Arsenal fans that they need a change of manager.
For Wenger and his team, who has severally crumbled in familiar fashion when it mattered most, a seventh successive exit from the competition in the round of 16 now appears all but inevitable.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a new National Health Policy aimed at promoting the health of Nigerians while accelerating socio-economic development in the country.
Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole
Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made this known on Wednesday, February 15 2017 in Abuja when he briefed State House correspondents in Abuja on the outcome of the FEC meeting, which was chaired by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Adewole said that the policy, which was initially approved by the National Council on Health, was extensively deliberated by the council before the final approval.
According to him, the policy is the third health policy in the history of Nigeria.
The first National Health Policy was in 1988, while the second policy was produced in 2004.
Adewole said: “This new policy will provide directions necessary to support the achievements of significant progress in terms of improving the performance of the national health system.
“It also lays emphasis on primary healthcare as the bedrock of our national health system in addition to the provision of financial risk protection to all Nigerians particularly the poor and most vulnerable group.
“This administration is reputed for being pro-poor and we are quiet committed to alleviating the problem of the poor Nigerians, the poor masses, the vulnerable the unemployed and the disadvantaged.”
The minister also explained that, before arriving at the new health policy, his ministry constituted a technical working committee, chaired by former Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, “to look into the country’s context, the challenges, what went wrong in the past and how we can reposition the health sector”.
According to the minister, the policy captures the essentials of ensuring the reduction of maternal and child mortality, wider immunisation coverage and better control and prevention of public health emergencies.
He said that the new policy would make Nigerians proud of the nation’s health system.
Adewole announced that his ministry would be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Union (EU), who will be intervening in the nation’s health facilities in the 774 local government areas of the federation.
On the recent claim of discovery of medical cure for HIV/AIDS by a professor of veterinary medicine and clinical virology, Adewole said his ministry was awaiting the final report from the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research.
It will be recalled that Prof. Maduike Ezeibe of Veterinary Medicine and Clinical Virology Department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia in Abia State, was reported to have developed a drug that eliminated the deadly virus in some patients.
Ezeibe claimed that the drug, which was produced with “Aluminium Magnesium Silicate”, had the clinical ability to “reach all cells’’ and make HIV “a conquered organism”.
He said the drug was successfully tested on 10 persons living with HIV.
Adewole said: “On the issue of the HIV, we are yet to get the final report from the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research.
“But what is clear is that those activities were carried out without a valid ethical approval. As you may be aware, nobody is entitled to conduct any experiment or research on human being without an ethical approval.”
The World Bank has urged Nigeria to put in place the right policy framework that will improve and enable the private sector drive the $140 billion investment required for climate change in the country.
Benoit Bosquet, Practice Manager for Environment and Natural Resources at the World Bank, with Environment Minister, Amina Mohammed, during a previous engagement in Nigeria
This was disclosed by the World Bank executive, Benoit Bosquet, at the second leg of the Climate Change Knowledge Immersion workshop in Kaduna on Wednesday, February 15 2017. The Knowledge Immersion Workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Department for Climate Change and the World Bank.
According to Mr Bosquet, the Nigerian private sector can harness the required funds for investment to address the impact of climate change in the country. “Nigeria needs $140 billion to achieve its climate change commitment and control its impact on the country through the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of Paris Agreement. These are investments that are driven by the private sector, therefore government must put in place policies that will support the investment,” he said.
Mr Bosquet, who is the Practice Manager for Environment and Natural Resources, disclosed that “globally the private sector is making more of the needed investments than the public sector” hence the need for policies that enhance the private sector to make such investments in Africa’s largest economy.
“In order to take effective climate action, which means both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, Nigeria needs about $140 billion by 2030. This is underpinned by Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution and studies conducted by the World Bank in 2013. Action is technically feasible and economically beneficial but the sooner it is undertaken, the better.”
“The longer it will take to undertake climate action, the more expensive it will be,” he warned.
He also warned that Africa is very vulnerable to climate change and climate change will worsen Nigeria’s vulnerability if not addressed in time. “Nigeria needs to build resilience now for the harsher climate of the future. If not addressed in time, climate change can worsen Nigeria’s vulnerability to weather swings, and limit its ability to achieve and sustain the objectives of Vision 20:2020.”
The World Bank has projected that climate change could increase poverty headcount by 100 million in 2030. “Climate change and poverty are intimately related. The poor will be affected the most, in particular, women, children and elderly citizens,” he added.
To address climate change impact in Nigeria, Bosquet suggested “zero deforestation by 2020, best practices of agriculture, renovating of three to five percent buildings per year, good public transportation system and low carbon industrialisation.”
With the falling cost of investments in green technology, the World Bank expert affirmed that these investments will pay off due to its “negative cost benefit.” Examples of such very positive benefit of climate change investment is the falling price of solar photo voltaic panels which now cost about $1 per unit as against $4, some four to five years ago.
He also advised that the benefit of early action to deal with climate change outweighs the cost, saying “action today is tomorrow safe”.
The World Bank is already supporting some projects on addressing the impact of climate change across Nigeria with interventions such as climate smart agriculture, climate resilience for coastal area and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
The workshop, which had “Accelerating Climate Change resilience to carbon development in Nigeria” as its theme, had in attendance officials from state Ministries of Environment across northern Nigeria, major stakeholders and students.
“It is highly encouraging to see so many youth represented here at the workshop in Kaduna. They are the leaders of tomorrow and will ultimately shape the future of our climate within Nigeria and globally,” he concluded.
An increasing number of developing countries – Mexico, China, Turkey, India, Vietnam, Brazil, and South Africa – are emerging as leaders in sustainable energy, with robust policies to support energy access, renewables and energy efficiency, according to a new World Bank Report.
Riccardo Puliti, Senior Director and Head of Energy and Extractives at the World Bank
“RISE will be an invaluable tool for policymakers, helping them to identify and bolster policies and regulations that spur the kind of investments needed to extend access to modern, affordable and reliable energy for all,” said Riccardo Puliti, Senior Director and Head of Energy and Extractives at the World Bank.
The report was produced as a contribution toSustainable Energy for All. Rachel Kyte, CEO and Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General on Sustainable Energy for All, said: “The world is in a race to secure a clean energy transition – one that will deliver energy services for everyone, create jobs, ensure health care and education, and allow economies to grow. Increased use of renewable energy is a key element in that transition.”
She added: “RISE offers policymakers and investors the most detailed country-level insight yet into how we can level the playing field for renewable energy worldwide. Smart policy can accelerate this transition.”
While many of the countries surveyed in RISE have embraced the sustainable energy agenda, the report identifies important policy gaps across all regions, and highlights opportunities for rapid progress. Sub-Saharan Africa is the world’s least electrified continent, where 600 million people still live without electricity. As many as 40 percent of sub-Saharan African countries surveyed by RISE have barely taken any of the policy measures needed to accelerate energy access, compared to less than 10 percent of Asian countries. Exceptions include Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda which have strong policy frameworks.
RISE assesses where additional efforts are most needed – both developed and developing countries need to pull their weight. Among the top 10 high-impact countries for renewable energy and energy efficiency, all have relatively robust policy frameworks in place. The same cannot be said for the top 10 high-impact countries for access – both Nigeria and Ethiopia still need to make much progress in policies and regulations. The report notes that in order to improve electricity access, there must be a better balance between making power both affordable for customers without undermining the financial viability of the utilities that need to invest to provide service.
The report highlights that, in many countries, policymakers are not paying nearly as much attention to energy efficiency as to renewable energy, particularly in the developing world. Energy efficiency measures are usually the most cost-effective way of greening the energy sector. Examples like Vietnam that prioritised energy efficiency in its sector planning in response to high demand growth in the 1990s, show how much progress can be made in this area. Yet the majority of countries still need to adopt basic regulatory measures like appliance labeling, building codes, and equipment performance standards.
While RISE serves as a global energy policy scorecard, an upcoming, complementary World Bank report – Global Tracking Framework – will track how countries are performing on sustainable energy goals. The Framework will be released at the Sustainable Energy for All Forumfrom April 3-5, 2017.
