A “strong signal” detected by a radio telescope in Russia that is scanning the heavens for signs of extraterrestrial life has stirred interest among the scientific community.
A “strong signal” detected by a radio telescope in Russia that is scanning the heavens for signs of extraterrestrial life has stirred interest among the scientific community. Photo credit: AFP Photo/Ye Aung Thu
“No one is claiming that this is the work of an extraterrestrial civilisation, but it is certainly worth further study,” said Paul Gilster, author of the Centauri Dreams website which covers peer-reviewed research on deep space exploration.
The signal is from the direction of a HD164595, a star about 95 light-years from Earth.
The star is known to have at least one planet, and may have more.
The observation is being made public now, but was actually detected last year by the RATAN-600 radio telescope in Zelenchukskaya, Russia, he said.
Experts say it is far too early to know what the signal means or where, precisely, it came from.
“But the signal is provocative enough that the RATAN-600 researchers are calling for permanent monitoring of this target,” wrote Gilster.
The discovery is expected to feature in discussions at the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, on September 27.
“Working out the strength of the signal, the researchers say that if it came from an isotropic beacon, it would be of a power possible only for a Kardashev Type II civilization,” Gilster wrote, referring to a scale-system that indicates a civilisation far more advanced than our own.
“If it were a narrow beam signal focused on our Solar System, it would be of a power available to a Kardashev Type I civilisation,” indicating one closer to Earth’s capabilities.
Gilster, who broke the story on August 27, said he had seen a presentation on the matter from Italian astronomer Claudio Maccone.
“Permanent monitoring of this target is needed,” said the presentation.
Nick Suntzeff, a Texas A&M University astronomer told the online magazine Ars Technica that the 11 gigahertz signal was observed in part of the radio spectrum used by the military.
“If this were a real astronomical source, it would be rather strange,” Suntzeff was quoted as saying.
“God knows who or what broadcasts at 11Ghz, and it would not be out of the question that some sort of bursting communication is done between ground stations and satellites,” Suntzeff said.
“I would follow it if I were the astronomers, but I would also not hype the fact that it may be at SETI signal given the significant chance it could be something military.”
Mr. Javier Manzanares has become the Executive Director ad interim of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Secretariat. Mr. Manzanares, the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer, was appointed Executive Director ad interim by the GCF Board at its June meeting and takes up the role following the conclusion of the term of the current Executive Director, Ms. Hela Cheikhrouhou, who is taking up a new assignment in Tunisia.
Javier Manzanares
The GCF was established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the goal of supporting climate resilient and low emissions development in developing countries. To date, the Fund has mobilised more than $10 billion in resources and committed $424 million in projects and programmes.
Hela Cheikhrouhou, outgoing Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund. Photo credit: gettyimages.com
The GCF Board Co-Chairs, Ewen McDonald and Zaheer Fakir, congratulated Ms. Hela Cheikrouhou on her appointment as Minister for Energy, Mining and Renewables in the new Tunisian Government and, on behalf of the GCF Board, wished her well in her new role.
Mr. Manzanares will be the Executive Director ad interim until such time as the current selection process for a permanent Executive Director is complete.
Climate change is already putting production and cost pressures on the supply of coffee in significant parts of the world’s “bean belt” of coffee producing countries.
Selective coffee cherry picking on farms in the Kiambu district of Kenya. Climate change is posing a threat to coffee production. Photo credit: afkinsider.com
Increasing temperatures and extreme weather events will cut the area suitable for production by up to 50 per cent, erode coffee quality and increase coffee prices for consumers, according to The Climate Institute’s “A Brewing Storm: The climate change risks to coffee report”, released on Monday.
“Over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed around the world every day, with nearly half of Australians drinking coffee regularly,” said CEO of The Climate Institute, John Connor. “Yet coffee is just one of a multitude of things increasingly subject to negative climate impacts, and its negative flow-on effects.”
“Our A Brewing Storm report, commissioned by Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand, researched available information on climate risks to coffee, and should give a jolt to Australian coffee consumers and provide more reason for urgent climate action.”
World coffee production has more than trebled since the 1960s to supply the $19 billion trade that continues to deliver a five per cent increase in consumption annually. Yet, between 80 and 90 per cent of the world’s 25 million coffee farmers are smallholders who are among those most exposed to climate change. They generally live and work in the “bean belt” which comprises around 70 mostly developing countries, including Guatemala, Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia and Indonesia. Climate change threatens their world, the report says.
“Without strong climate action, the areas suitable for growing coffee could halve in a few decades, pushing production upslope, away from the equator and into conflict with other land uses, such as nature conservation and forestry. By 2080 wild coffee, an important genetic resource for farmers, could be extinct.”
Heightened temperatures and rainfall have already increased the incidence of disease and pests affecting yields and quality. In already hot countries, more warming will also increase burdens on the physical and mental health of producers, labourers and communities – with clear productivity consequences.
“Companies such as Starbucks and Lavazza, as well as the International Coffee Organisation, have already publicly acknowledged the severity of climate risks,” Connor said. “Consumers are likely to face supply shortages, impacts on flavor and aromas, and rising prices.”
Recognising the impact of climate change, Fairtrade is working with commercial partners and coffee farmers on climate focused projects. These projects seek to prevent more greenhouse gases from being produced and provide technical and financial support for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
“There are things we coffee drinkers can do to assist,” said Connor. “The first step is to learn about these issues and the steps being taken by Fairtrade and others; the second is to take real action by choosing to buy only the brands that are carbon or climate neutral, provide a fair return to farmers and their communities while helping to build their capacity to adapt to climate change; third is to demand climate action from the coffee companies and our governments to ensure all products, business models and economies are carbon or climate neutral.”
John Connor said The Climate Institute’s recently released National Agenda for Climate Action provided a blueprint for Australian businesses, communities and governments to get to carbon neutral and to go even further.
“Without reliable access to water, almost no Sustainable Development Goal will be achieved. To make that happen, we must ensure water’s centrality to the entire Agenda 2030. This will show the power water has a connector.”
Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director of the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) (left); Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Margot Wallström; and Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Angel Gurría, separately making presentations at the opening of the 2016 World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, on Monday, August 29, 2016
Those were the words Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director of the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), on Monday in Stockholm, Sweden while formally opening opening the 2016 World Water Week (WWW), which is the 26th in the series.
According to him, Water connects not only sectors, but also nations, communities and different actors.
Water can be the unifying power, the enabler for progress in both Agenda 2030 and the Paris climate agreement,” said Holmgren.
Themed: “Water for Sustainable Growth”, the 2016 WWW is gathering some 3,000 people from over 120 countries in the bustling Swedish capital city.
With water crises being listed as one of the top global risks in the coming years by the World Economic Forum, and a rapidly growing world population putting pressure on scarce water resources, seeking solutions to the world’s many complex water challenges is becoming ever more urgent for the researchers, policy-makers, and representatives of civil society and the private sector meeting in Stockholm.
Addressing the opening session, Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Margot Wallström, reinforced the message that water is a connector and an enabler in realising the SDGs.
“Successful realisation of Goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda will underpin progress across many of the other goals, particularly on nutrition, child health, education, gender equality, healthy cities and healthy water ecosystems and oceans,” Wallström stated.
Mayor of Stockholm, Karin Wanngård, underlined the role cities need to play in realising the development agenda.
Wanngård said: “Cities represent a large portion of future growth. We have the job growth, the universities, the creative ideas. We also face the biggest emissions, the social problems, and housing shortage.
“Our participation in the struggle for sustainable solutions is key for global success. And that means a growing responsibility, a moral responsibility towards future generations and their ability to live in cities where it is possible to work, live in security, breathe the air and drink the water.”
Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Angel Gurría, said that water, from having been a subject that was rarely discussed with urgency, has come to the front and centre of international deliberations.
“Water now has the place it needs to have in international priorities,” said Gurría.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress – believed to be the world’s largest and most inclusive environmental decision-making forum – will meet in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi from 1 to 10 September 2016 to define the global path for nature conservation for the years to come.
Hawaii, the 50th and most recent state of the United States of America, is hosting the IUCN’s World Conservation Congress 2016 in September 1 to 10
Over 8,300 delegates from 184 countries, including Heads of State and other high-level government officials from various organisations, are expected to attend the IUCN Congress.
The forum will be held under the theme “Planet at the crossroads”, emphasising that nature conservation and human progress are not a zero-sum game, and that credible and accessible choices exist that can promote general welfare while supporting and enhancing our planet’s natural assets.
This will be the first time the IUCN Congress will be hosted by the United States, home to over 100 IUCN member organisations.
Key issues that will be discussed at the event include wildlife trafficking, ocean conservation, nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and private investment in conservation.
At the Congress, IUCN’s 1,300 member organisations – some of the most influential government and civil society organisations from more than 160 countries – will collectively decide on actions to address the most pressing and often controversial conservation and sustainable development challenges.
Around 100 motions are expected to be adopted by the global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs, which will then become IUCN Resolutions or Recommendations calling third parties to take action.
Some of the motions to be voted on at the IUCN Congress were listed to include:
Victims of the recent flood that occurred in Bachaka town of Gudu local government area (LGA) of Sokoto State on Monday received a donation of relief materials worth N5 million from the member that represents Gudu/Tangaza Federal Constituency, Isa Kalanjeni.
Relief materials
The relief materials donated to alleviate the suffering of the victims include 300 bags of cement, 30 bundles of roofing sheets, rubber mats, plastic buckets and kettles.
“I visited to personally commiserate with you in your most trying times. My donation is not in any way a compensation for your huge losses because only God is capable of compensating you,” he said.
Calling on the victims to regard the disaster as an act of God, Kalanjeni disclosed that he had reported the incident to the House Committee on Disasters.
“I have also written to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its action,” he added.
District Head of Bachaka, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi, commended the lawmaker and promised that the items would be distributed judiciously.
On behalf of all other beneficiaries, Ibrahim Gatari and Sambo Abdullahi also commended Kalanjeni and promised to make proper use of the materials.
Alcoholic beverage maker, Guinness Nigeria Plc, is partnering with international charity organisation, WaterAid Nigeria, to construct two solar-powered water facilities at Gwam in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The venture aims at improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the community.
L-R: Country Director, Water Aid Nigeria, Dr. Michael Ojo; Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Sesan Sobowale; International Chief Executive, WaterAid, Ms. Barbara Frost; and Commissioner for Water Resources, Bauchi State, Alhaji Mohammed Ghali Abdulhameed, at the commissioning of water and sanitation facilities constructed by Guinness Nigeria Plc in Gwam, Bauchi State
The Guinness Nigeria/WaterAid Gwam water facility, which was recently unveiled at a colourful ceremony, is one of two major water schemes which the brewing bigwig has delivered this year in collaboration with international not-for-profit partners, and the 34th site for the Guinness Nigeria, Water of Life initiative in Nigeria.
Some 20,000 people will benefit from the water scheme, which comprises two solar-powered boreholes and two blocks of toilets.
Guinness Nigeria’s Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, at the occasion reiterated the company’s commitment to initiatives that improve access to safe water. In his remarks, he noted that Guinness Nigeria would continue to play a leading role in promoting water stewardship in Nigeria. He thanked Water Aid for its transformational work in promoting health and hygiene in the country.
Sobowale said: “Diageo’s water blueprint articulates the role we will play as a business to tackle a wide range of water-related issues both in Nigeria and globally. In furtherance of this blueprint, Guinness Nigeria has prioritised interventions that improve access to safe water especially in communities that face acute water scarcity.
“We have also invested in technologies that help us manage our water use. The construction of the Gwam water scheme is in furtherance of our efforts to help more Nigerians access clean drinking water. Our hope is that by improving access to clean water, we can help people in Gwam community improve their hygiene and overall wellbeing.”
Also speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Bauch State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Mohammed Ghali Abdulhameed, expressed the state government’s gratitude over the newly-constructed facility. He submitted that the water facility would support the state government’s drive to improve health and hygiene for its citizens.
“This intervention is indeed timely and commendable. Water is an absolutely essential resource that is vital for the health and wellbeing of our citizens. We, the people of Bauchi State, are therefore delighted that Guinness Nigeria and WaterAid have joined forces to improve access to safe water in our state. We are immensely grateful for this intervention” he said.
Chief Executive, WaterAid International, Ms. Barbara Frost, underscored WaterAid’s vision to help create a world where everyone, everywhere has access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. She said: “It is great to see that the Bauchi State Government, Guinness Nigeria and WaterAid are working collaboratively to tackle the challenge of water scarcity in Bauchi State. I would like to thank the government of Bauchi State for creating a conducive environment that has enabled WaterAid to implement its programmes in the state. WaterAid will continue to partner various stakeholders in Nigeria to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation.”
Last year, Guinness had executed similar water projects in the Adigbe area of Ogun State and in 10 communities across three local government areas of Cross River State.
In February this year, Guinness Nigeria announced that, in furtherance its flagship “Water of Life” scheme, it would be partnering with WaterAid Nigeria and Oxfam, two leading international NGOs, to improve access to safe water in Nigerian communities that face severe water scarcity.
Two separate validation workshops held recently Abuja, the federal capital city, and Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State, displayed an increasing stakeholder ownership of the National Framework Strategy and Cross River State REDD+ Strategy development process.
The forums likewise set the stage for a somewhat vital next-phase for the UN-REDD Programme in the country.
While the pilot site, Cross River State, is rounding off the Readiness phase, two new states – Nasarawa and Ondo – will soon be welcome into the UN-REDD+ fold.
Participants at the Abuja validationPhilip Bankole, Director of Forestry in the Federal Ministry of Environment (standing); Cross River State Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Alice Olok Ekwu (left); Mandisa Mashologu, Deputy Country Director (Programmes), UNDP Nigeria (second right); and Senior Regional Technical Advisor – United Nations Development Programme/UN-REDD+, Elsie Attafuah… in AbujaCross River State Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Alice Olok Ekwu (standing); Philip Bankole, Director of Forestry in the Federal Ministry of Environment (centre); and Mandisa Mashologu, Deputy Country Director (Programmes), UNDP NigeriaParticipants in AbujaParticipants in CalabarSenior Regional Technical Advisor – United Nations Development Programme/UN-REDD+, Elsie Attafuah, at the opening ceremony in CalabarGov. Ben Ayade with other dignitaries on the high table, in calabar
Two separate validation workshops held recently within two weeks in Abuja, the federal capital city, and Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State, have set the stage for a somewhat vital next-phase for the UN-REDD Programme in Nigeria.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, dressed as a Green Police, delivering a speech at the Calabar validation exercise
While the Abuja forum entailed a national authentication of the draft REDD+ document, the Calabar workshop focused essentially on state-related issues, endorsing the Integrated Analyses for the pilot REDD+ programme for Cross River, which is the first state to host the UN initiative in the country.
Following the corrobration of the study analyses (national framework as well as state), Cross River State will embark on the development of a REDD+ strategy that will both inform the national strategy and serve as model for other states, particularly Ondo and Nassarawa states, which have been named as new programme sites.
According to participants, the strategy comprises policy reforms, investment priorities, and a related REDD+ implementation framework, with due monitoring and safeguard systems, as called for under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The strategy also intends to enhance the value of standing forests and to incentivise sustainable forest management through a multi-stakeholder approach and a green development perspective.
State officials are excited about the development, even as Cross River is gradually coming to the end of the REDD+ readiness phase, preparatory to embracing the implementation stage.
REDD+, which stands for Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, is a global initiative designed to pay groups or countries for protecting their forests and reducing emissions of greenhouse gas pollutants, especially carbondioxide (CO₂).
Governor Ben Ayade, while commending the UN-REDD+ for the pilot programme in his state, added that “Cross River is REDD+ ready, we have started the Green Police, and the garment factory is ready to produce 3,000 uniforms.”
According to him, the state has been working for the past four years to drive the process, adding that there is political will and commitment to address environmental issues in the state.
Ayade noted that people have been denied access to the forests in the past eight years, saying the time to reap the result of their patience has come.
“People have been kept off from the forest for eight years, UN-REDD, please I’m in hurry to get these people off,” the governor said.
Describing the state as a forest, he disclosed that there is a Green Bill in the works that seeks to prosecute any house that does not have four trees standing. He urged the UN to focus on aggressive tree planting.
He added that he has attested to a Bill to put an end to use of charcoal in the state and implement the use of rice husks to provide briquette to replace charcoal.
On the controversial Super Highway, he said that, being “an enlightened governor”, he had it well thought, and that the controversy generated was needless. He added that all the corridors of the Super Highway would be protected.
Commissioner, Ministry of Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Alice Ekwu, said the state habours about half of what is left of Nigeria’s rainforest and so was qualified for the REDD+ programme.
Ekwu explained that the programme has been on ground for the past four years and that much as happened in preparing the state for REDD+ readiness stage, which the meeting was set to conclude and move to the investment phase.
She commended the UN-REDD+ Programme for using the state as pilot scheme in the country, saying: “Cross River State is the firstborn of UN-REDD+ in Nigeria.”
Senior Regional Technical Advisor- United Nations Development Programme/UN-REDD+, Elsie Attafuah, who represented the UNDP, in her remarks, commended the federal and Cross River governments on the pilot programme, saying the UN system is committed to the REDD+ programme.
Attafuah noted that climate change presents one of the most compelling challenge and that “together we can do something about it”.
In Abuja the validation workshop on “Integrated Analyses for REDD+ Strategy for Nigeria” provided a unique opportunity to discuss key drivers of deforestation, and policy measures to address them through the REDD+ strategy.
“In Nigeria, Cross River holds the highest amount of the remaining forests and is a major national asset and biodiversity hotspot,” stated Dr Ekwu.
Mandisa Mashologu, Deputy Country Director (Programmes), UNDP Nigeria, described the REDD+ strategy as an opportunity for Nigeria to bring transformational and systemic change to forest management and protection.
Nigeria’s UN-REDD Programme has been urged to make better use of online publications as well as social media platforms in order to effectively communicate and increase awareness on its activities.
Cross River State Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Alice Olok Ekwu (standing), with the FAO Representative on REDD+, Dr Rabe Mani, during the workshop
This call formed part of the outcomes of a three-day “Capacity building workshop of selected and strategic media professionals on REDD+” that held recently in Calabar, Cross River State.
Specifically, the gathering listed web-based publications such as EnviroNews Nigeria, Premium Times and Sahara Reporters as online media that should be prioritised in this regard, adding that the programme’s accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and others should also be created so as to improve communication and create awareness.
REDD+, which stands for Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, is a global initiative designed to pay groups or countries for protecting their forests and reducing emissions of greenhouse gas pollutants, especially carbondioxide (CO₂).
After extensive deliberations as well as the presentation of about seven papers in three days, the forum called on the media to research to understand the local context and relate REDD+ communication to local realities and facts.
Similarly, the REDD+ programme was asked to identify and use appropriate traditional modes of communication to enhance REDD+ communication. It was likewise called upon to involve relevant influencers or opinion leaders in the programme to increase awareness and promote behaviour change.
Both parties – REDD+ programme and the media – were however told to keep REDD+ communication simple. This, they were asked to do, by defining acronyms and technical terminologies to enhance understanding and improve communication.
While being called upon to develop innovative approaches to report its activities regularly to create more awareness, it was also recommended that REDD+ should partner with media managers/executives to enhance information dissemination on the programme.
The Programme is also to build and sustain relationship with media personnel (such as reporters, presenters, camera men and producers) to enhance information dissemination on the programme.
It was also agreed that the Programme should build the capacity of media personnel on REDD+ issues to sustain knowledge and improve communication.
Cross River State Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Alice Olok Ekwu, while declaring that the state government is committed to the UN-REDD process, however said: “We need to work harder. I’m encouraged by what I’ve seen during the course of this three-day workshop. We will do all in our capacity to take UN-REDD to the very next level.”
The FAO Representative on REDD+, Dr Rabe Mani, commended the gathering for the enlightening deliberations as well as the state government on efferts made towards realising the REDD+ process. He urged the authorities not to rest on their oars, moreso now that the Programme is about to transit from the readiness to the implementation phase.
