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TB drug candidate advanced into clinical testing

Health

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February 22, 2015

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TB drug candidate advanced into clinical testing

TBA-354 is the first potential tuberculosis drug to advance to Phase 1 trial in six years

The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) has announced the start of the first human trial of a new tuberculosis (TB) drug candidate, designated TBA-354. It is the first new TB drug candidate to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial since 2009.

“There is a critical gap of new compounds for TB,” said Mel Spigelman, MD, President and CEO of TB Alliance. “The advancement of TBA-354 into clinical testing is a major milestone, not only because of the potential it shows for improving TB treatment, but because it is the first new TB drug candidate to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial in six years.”

TBA-354 comes from the nitroimidazole class of chemicals, known for being effective against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis. The class also includes the experimental TB drug pretomanid (formerly PA-824), which is being tested as a component of other novel regimens in multiple clinical trials.

TBA-354 emerged from studies designed to identify a next generation nitroimidazole for TB. TB Alliance conducted the studies in collaboration with the University of Auckland and University of Illinois, Chicago. Once identified, TB Alliance further advanced TBA-354 through pre-clinical development and is now the sponsor of the Phase 1 study.

In preclinical studies, TBA-354 demonstrated more potent anti-bactericidal and sterilizing activity compared to pretomanid. Recruitment is under way to enroll nearly 50 U.S. volunteers for the randomised, double-blind Phase 1 trial, which will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and dosing of TBA-354.

The World Health Organisation reported that 1.5 million people die each year from TB, and more than nine million were diagnosed with the disease. The lack of short, simple, and effective treatments is a significant obstacle to TB control. However, because there is little economic incentive to develop new tools, there are not enough promising drugs in the pipeline, which could hinder efforts to develop the appropriate treatments needed to combat the TB epidemic.

The TB Alliance is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to finding faster-acting and affordable drug regimens to fight TB. It aims to ensure equitable access to faster, better TB cures that will advance global health and prosperity.

The organisation receives support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, European Commission, Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Irish Aid, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, UNITAID, United Kingdom Department for International Development, United States Agency for International Development, and the United States Food and Drug Administration. Additional support for the development of TBA-354 was provided by the Lilly TB Drug Discovery Initiative.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria is rated the third highest (TB) burden country in the world and the number one in the Africa Region.

$7.6 million Mozambique road project to boost transportation in southern Africa

Real Estate

Michael Simire

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February 22, 2015

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$7.6 million Mozambique road project to boost transportation in southern Africa

The Sub-Saharan Regional Pipeline Corporation, Ltd. (SSRPC) recently selected Louis Berger to provide $7.6 million in consultancy services for the rehabilitation of National Road N303 in Mozambique. SSRPC is investing $350 million to transform an approximately 350-kilometer-long narrow and unpaved carriageway into a modern road that crosses the Tete province and ends at the Zambezi River, where Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe have a common border.

The modernised road will be the shortest link to a railway currently under construction between the coal-rich province of Tete and the port of Nacala, the deepest port in southern Africa. The road will offer a more cost-effective transportation solution, increasing the flow of goods and mineral resources, particularly copper exports.

“The rehabilitation of the N303 is vital not only for Mozambique but for the region as a whole,” said Jean-Pierre Dupacq, head of Louis Berger’s operations in Africa. “The modernised road will greatly boost the local economy, which is mainly dependent on coal mining, by allowing the development of local small scale enterprises along the road.”

Overall, this modernisation project will encompass the rehabilitation, widening and/or reinforcement of the road and the existing structures; improvement of the alignment, pavement and signage design; drainage and ancillary works; as well as the rehabilitation of 19 bridges. Louis Berger will be responsible for providing pure design services for the development of feasibility, environmental and social impact assessment and resettlement studies.

Louis Berger has more than 50 years of experience in Africa and 25 years of experience working in Mozambique, where the firm has implemented approximately 50 projects. These public and private sector funded contracts cover a broad range of professional services in the markets of transport, environment, water and sanitation, agriculture, power, telecommunications and health.

The final beneficiary of the road rehabilitation project will be the Government of Mozambique, namely the National Roads Directorate with whom SSRPC entered in a public-private partnership type of agreement.

Zambia secures $129 million loans for water, power

Water & Sanitation

Michael Simire

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February 22, 2015

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Zambia secures $129 million loans for water, power

Zambia has contracted a loan of $15 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for implementation of a water supply and sanitation project in 16 districts of the Western Province.

Most African countries struggle to provide access to water and sanitation to their people. Photo credit: Water Journalists Africa

Chief government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili says government has prioritised the region in accordance with its pro-poor policies.

“The project will contribute to poverty alleviation and improve the health of Zambia’s rural population through the provision of sustainable access to water supply and sanitation. The decision was made in order for Government to remain focused on its pro-poor policies,” he said.

The project, under the national rural water supply and sanitation phase two, will see 16 districts of Western Province have piped water.

Additionally, cabinet has approved the contraction of a loan of $114 million from the World Bank and AfDB for the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam which has developed cracks.

The rehabilitation will be undertaken by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe which co-own the facility.

Kambwili, who is also minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said that that rehabilitation of Kariba Dam is vital to the economy of Zambia and the sub-region and should urgently be undertaken to avoid potential emergency situations.

He said of the $114 million, $75 million is from the World Bank and $39 million is from AfDB.

“Given the large reservoir capacity of the dam, its collapse would result in a catastrophe of huge consequences to economies in the sub-region,” Kambwili said.

He said the funds shall be lent to the Zambezi River Authority to facilitate the commencement of the project.

Kambwili says the walls of the Kariba Dam have cracked posing a serious threat to humans and the economy.

He also said cabinet has approved the appointment of nine members of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) governing board. The tenure of the previous board which was appointed in 2011 expired in October last year.

And Kambwili has defended government’s borrowing, saying it has the capacity to pay back.

“We are borrowing within our limits to pay back. World Bank or AfDB are serious financial institutions which cannot lend money anyhow,” he said.

By Newton Sibanda (Lusaka, Zambia)

Why GMOs are not solution to food production

Cover

Michael Simire

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February 18, 2015

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Why GMOs are not solution to food production

Every January and for almost two decades GM crop proponents celebrate the arrival of report of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech (ISAAA) on commercialised GM crops. The truth is that nothing has changed since they started issuing these reports. They have been making the same claims since 1996: more GM crops, more countries, and more hectares cultivated. Interestingly this is something that ISAAA and the biotech industry see as the ultimate proof of the benefits those crops have for farmers around the world.

This year ISAAA claimed “18 million farmers in 28 countries planted more than 181 million hectares in 2014, up from 175 million in 27 countries in 2013”. When it is said in this manner it would seem that GM crops are infesting the entire planet. However, solid facts indicate that GM crops are still mostly cultivated in a few countries and only a few traits have reached the commercialisation stage.

The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network makes a good interpretative summary of the data put forward by ISAAA and as usual the conclusions of ISAAA report are not must be taken with a pinch of salt. The truth remains that after more than two decades of political and commercial pressures, GM crops are grown only by a handful of countries.

Where does ISAAA’s message come from?

The ISAAA is simply doing the job of their donors. A look at their funders is self-explanatory of the reasons why ISAAA is over-optimistic and often unrealistic in their claims about the acceptability of GM crops. Academic institutions and private sector companies such as Monsanto and Bayer Cropscience sponsor ISAAA. Their funds also come from organisations such as CropLife, and government agencies such as USAID, USDA and even the US Department of State. It is indeed curious to see among the donors the US Department of State, a department that operates the diplomatic missions of the US abroad and is responsible for implementing the foreign policy of the country. In understanding the consistent push to place GMOs on our dining tables it is essential to note that the success of this enterprise (GM crops) is a State matter for the U.S. government.

With those donors it is not difficult to explain why ISAAA very rarely reports any problems with GM crops. If they do at all they simply misreport them. For instance this year ISAAA reports that a drop in cultivation of GM cotton in China is due to low prices and high food stockpile in China. However Xinhua news media says that “China GM crop planting areas declined in 2014 amid heated discussions over safety concerns”.

What next?

2016 will mark the 20th anniversary of the ISAAA report of GM commercialised crops. However, you can bet that there will be no surprises. They will repeat what they have always claimed: more GM crops, more countries, more hectares, more benefits. They will continue their work of convincing the convinced, and serving the biotech industry. At the same time organisations critics of GMOs will have to continue passing the message with the truth behind GM crops and ISAAA. While American citizens desire to have GMO labelling grows, paradoxically their money is spent via the US Department of State and other agencies in organisations like ISAAA and similar to ensure that the truth is hidden.

The politics and the pressures behind selling products of doubtful benefits should raise serious concern with governments in Africa and elsewhere. Scholars and government officials, including ministers in charge of agriculture, should read between the lines in the dubious claims of the biotech industry and their mouthpieces. It is time to call the bluff and tell the ISAAAs of this world that GMOs are not the solution to food production. In this Year of the Soil, we need wholesome food cultivated in agro-ecological ways and not based on toxic chemicals and artificial inputs as promoted by the biotech industry.

Some facts about GM crops in the world that ISAAA does not tell

The world’s GM crops are still grown largely by a handful of countries:

The US, Brazil and Argentina still account for 77% of the total global GM crop acreage.
The top 10 countries that grow GM crops still account for 98% of all the GM crops grown.
The list of top 10 countries growing GM crops remains the same (2010-2014).

Of the 28 countries growing GM crops, many grow few GM acres that account for a fraction of global GM area:

19 countries account for less than 1% of total global GM acreage each
This includes countries such as Sudan, Colombia and Spain, which grow approximately 100,000 hectares of GM crops each.
Many of these countries devote only a fraction of their agricultural land to cultivating GM crops. For example, Sudan’s GM acreage accounts for 0.9% of its agricultural land, Columbia’s 0.2%, Australia’s 0.1%, and Spain’s 0.3%
GM crops are grown on less than 4% of global agricultural land and 13% of global arable land.

There was a global increase of 6.3 million hectares of GM crops from 2013, an increase of 3.6%.

8 countries had a slightly larger area under GM crops, 4 had less, and the rest had the same as in 2013.
The US and Brazil accounted for much of the total increase. The US grew 3 million more GM hectares than the year before. Brazil grew 1.9 million hectares more.
ISAAA says that the US “maintains (a) leadership role” – this means that the US still grows 40% of all GM crops in the world, the same as in 2013.
Four countries – Argentina, China, South Africa and Australia – reduced their overall acreage, also by a very small amount.

By Juan Lopez (for Health of Mother Earth Foundation – HOMEF)

Lekan Fadina: Road to Paris (3)

Climate Change

Michael Simire

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February 17, 2015

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The 21^st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will hold for two weeks at Le Bourget, Paris, France from 30th November, 2015. It is expected that about 40,000 people will attend the global forum.

This piece looks at some aspects of the conference that could impact the outcome and usher in a new phase in the management of the global development agenda.

It is said that morning shows the day. Therefore, the starting point should be to hear from the host country, France. President Hollande said last month that COP 21 would be an opportunity for “all nations of the world to take a new step in favour of human rights through the UN Climate Conference. It is our duty to succeed.” This is a profound statement and clearly shows that all of us must work hard in the interest of humanity and generations unborn towards a common goal.

Recently, the French Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy recently presented the detailed plans on the preparation of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference to the world.

The COP 21 will be a crucial milestone with the goal of achieving a new international climate agreement applicable to all countries. The agreement is to limit global warning to less than 2C in accordance with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCCC) so as to limit human and ecological damage linked to climate change caused by the use of fossil fuel and misuse of natural resources.

The French will Chair the COP and the French government has a duty to ensure the safety of all participants and the success of this historical gathering. The French will be working closely with the current COP President, who is Peruvian.

In preparation for a successful COP the French government is promoting a Paris Climate Alliance in multilateral negotiations based on four aspects – universal legal agreement applicable to all countries national commitments covering control and reduction of emissions, a financial aspect guaranteeing international solidarity with the most vulnerable countries, an “Agenda of solutions” aimed at implementing accelerators to ensure more ambitious progress above and beyond binding commitments.

France is working to be exemplary in combating climate change and it is doing everything possible in this regard. It is holding several informal meetings and bilateral negotiations.

Transition to Green Economy

France is currently processing the bill on the energy transition for green growth which has been adopted by the National Assembly and is currently being debated in the French Senate, The Bill, when passed, aims to achieve environmental excellence with a different facet of the society. The local businesses are making effort to use various financial instruments including the Energy Transition Fund to build a strong market to create green jobs.

France’s commitment to achieving an ambitious agreement at the COP21 in Paris has already contributed to the European Union tacit agreement to a common position. It has also helped in France message of solidarity and interest in global issues. France believes that the most vulnerable countries and population are particularly exposed to the consequences of global warming and a decision in December will help them in the effort to get the world to chart a way out.

The issue of security in the light of recent security challenges in France is being addressed and in this regard the government is working vigorously to ensure that the site Le Bourget provides absolute guarantee of security. The government, the local authorities and others are collaborating to ensure that the delegates have easy access that meets the required requirements for such global events.

The civil society including non-governmental organisations and business are to have their site next to the negotiating area for the delegates of the different countries and accredited observers.

Mobilisation

The government is mobilising everyone. The President is fully involved and ensures that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development has the support of the cabinet. A lot of activities are in place to ensure that all the officials see their work as important part of a long chain that must be together and in this regard the mobilisation of the people and the civil society is accorded high priority.

The last sessional meeting of ADP in Geneva ended on a positive note and France intends to follow-up other rounds, effectively participate in the different meetings and an inter-ministerial team has been assembled for this and the “Agenda for Solutions”.

On the whole a lot of work has been done and the French authorities want to put the country on the high pedestal in the global effort to address the challenges of climate change and do everything possible to ensure that COP21 in Paris is successful.

It is evident that the French government and the people are clearly putting across a good lesson in climate diplomacy by their actions and the way they perceive the next COP. After all, if all countries agree to a global agreement in Paris then France becomes a country of global importance in the climate and related issues.

It is suggested that government and the private sector should work together to ensure that Nigeria plays a major role in the pre- and post-COP meetings and activities as it is clear that the paradigm shift to low carbon economy is here and we need to take advantage of turning the different challenges to opportunities.

By Prince Lekan Fadina (Executive Director, Centre for Investment, Sustainable Development, Management and Environment (CISME). He is a member of the Nigeria Negotiation Team, Africa Group of Negotiators and member, AGN Finance Co-ordination Committee)

Unstable cotton sector struggles to balance cost and benefits

Agric & Biotech

Michael Simire

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February 17, 2015

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Unstable cotton sector struggles to balance cost and benefits

Growing cotton provides livelihoods for an estimated 100 million households in as many as 85 countries. But adverse global market conditions and reliance on large doses of water, fertilizer, and pesticides impose considerable social and environmental costs, writes Michael Renner, senior researcher at the Worldwatch Institute.

Michael Renner. Photo credit: flickrhivemind.net

Although synthetic materials are making inroads, cotton remains by far the most important natural fiber for textiles. In 2013/14, an estimated 26.3 million tons of cotton were produced worldwide.

Cultivating cotton accounts for about three percent of all agricultural water use worldwide. Countries that import cotton or finished cotton products also bring in large amounts of embedded “virtual water” with these imports and have considerable water footprints. Producing a pair of jeans takes an estimated 10,850 litres of water, and a t-shirt takes 2,720 litres.

The legions of small cotton farmers around the world face a set of challenges largely beyond their control. In addition to unfair subsidies (totalling $47 billion between 2001 and 2010 for the United States, China, and Europe), they must deal with health risks from pesticide use and, in some cases, insurmountable levels of debt.

Cotton is a very pesticide-intensive crop (accounting for 16 percent of global insecticide use and 6.8 percent of herbicide use), with potential repercussions, such as pest resistance and adverse health impacts on farmers that range from acute poisoning to long-term effects. Pesticides and fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash) can also leach out of the plant’s root zone and contaminate groundwater and surface water.

Sadly, severe indebtedness has caused an estimated 100,000 cotton farmers in India to commit suicide over a 10-year period. Indebtedness results from numerous factors, including the rising cost of pesticides and genetically modified seeds, low yields due to droughts, and the declining price that cotton fetches on world markets.

Several initiatives exist to improve the social and environmental conditions under which cotton is produced. In organic production, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are replaced with organic substances, soil fertility management, and integrated pest management. Fair trade producers, usually small family farms organized in cooperatives or associations, receive a minimum price covering the average costs of sustainable production, as well as a premium.

One effort, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), seeks to reduce the environmental impact of cotton production, improve the livelihoods of farmers, and promote decent work. In 2013, just 3.7 percent of all cotton was produced in accordance with BCI principles, but the goal for 2020 is to extend this to 30 percent and to involve five million farmers. Such initiatives offer important benefits to cotton farmers. But for the moment, at least, they account for only a relatively small share of the industry.

African ministers catalyse greater investment in agriculture sector

Agric & Biotech

Michael Simire

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February 17, 2015

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African ministers catalyse greater investment in agriculture sector

The Rockefeller Foundation, the African Union Commission and the International Fund for Agriculture Development on Sunday in Rome, Italy launched the ‘Leadership for Agriculture (L4Ag): The Network for African Ministers of Finance and Agriculture’ on the sidelines of this year’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)’s Governing Council Meeting. L4Ag is an exclusive network of Africa’s ministers of finance and of agriculture who are coming together to provide leadership and strategic thinking to transform and energise Africa’s agricultural sector, to position it as a major contributor to economic growth across the continent.

Formed in early 2014, L4Ag aims to promote strategic networking amongst member ministers and stakeholders to increase commitment to investing in agriculture; enable members to share best practices in innovative success cases in Africa for replication in their respective countries; promote a structured approach to agriculture productivity across in Africa; encourage stronger accountability measures for agricultural productivity; and to transform the smallholder farm into a productive unit and the farmer into a businessperson.

The network was first convened by the Rockefeller Foundation at 2014’s Fin4Ag conference in Nairobi, together with the African Union Commission. It is open to membership by all of Africa’s Finance and Agriculture ministers, and currently has a growing membership led by the founding countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea. The network was joined by Ghana, Madagascar, Sudan and Chad at the launch, and together the ministers expressed confidence that it would catalyse the much needed development and investment in Africa’s agriculture. There was also representation from Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe.

“Across Africa, the majority of people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, yet millions of smallholder farmers and their families remain trapped in poverty. Corporates and financial institutions shy away from making greater investments in the sector due to perceived risks,” said Mamadou Biteye, Managing Director of the Rockefeller Foundation Africa Regional Office. “We can change this, and the new Leadership for Agriculture Network will play an essential role by sharing knowledge among African ministers of agriculture and of finance, particularly about national reforms that can transform agriculture towards enhanced resilience and more inclusive economic growth for farmers, communities, and nations.”

“It is only through collective action and investment that we can ensure that Africa’s future includes a vibrant and productive rural economy that begins on the smallholder family farm, which makes up 80 per cent of all farms in sub-Saharan Africa. Investing in the smallholder farmer is investing in the resilience of food systems, the vigour of communities, and the strength of nations,” said Kanayo F. Nwanze, IFAD President. “This ministerial network contributes to the outcomes of the African Union Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation, which calls for partnerships and collaboration at multi-sectoral and multi-institutional level. This underscores the importance of Africa’s finance and agricultural sectors sharing information and working together in order to achieve the goal of a food and nutrition secure, and poverty free Africa,” said H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission.

Together, the Rockefeller Foundation and the AUC already have a number of initiatives in Africa that are aimed at improving the lives of poor and vulnerable people in agriculture and other sectors. In 2014, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation between them in their efforts towards Africa’s progress.

Nnimmo Bassey: Let’s talk about our land

Conservation

Michael Simire

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February 17, 2015

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Nnimmo Bassey: Let’s talk about our land

Although we do know that the environment affects everything we do in life, including how we live and die, we often think that it does not matter what we do to the Planet. Demands for stewardship in relation to how we relate to the gifts of Nature are sometimes regarded as affront to political power wielders and corporate entities that claim ownership of our lands, waters and the several gifts that Nature has endowed us with.

As we approach the rescheduled 2015 election, the thing that matters most to us, our environment, has been pushed to the backseat by the political players who are concerned with how to grab our votes without telling us what they would do with the very thing that supports our lives and livelihoods.

The parties proclaim transformation and/or change. We have seen change. We are living in change. Our waters have been changed into polluted and heavily toxic soups. Our air hangs heavy with noxious fumes. Frantz Fanon famously said: “We revolt simply because, for many reasons, we can no longer breathe.” The truth is that we have got to the point where we can hardly breathe.

Our lands have been transformed into mishmash of toxic dumps. In some places our environment has been almost irreversibly changed from what Nature generously gave to us. Our effort today is to prepare platforms for demanding and for building the real change that we need.

In line with our conviction that the environment is our life Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) is collaborating with our communities in conducting organised conversations on our environment and our environmental re-sources. We salute the resilience of our people as they carry on living in heavily impaired environments and their resolution to tackle the challenges foisted on them by factors that are external to their communities. In keeping with our tradition we stand at one with our people in their struggles to catch at least a whiff of fresh air.

As we engage in these Community Dialogues, we keep in mind the basic principles of Re-Source Democracy as captured in our document of the same title:

Re-source democracy hinges on the recognition that a natural ‘resource’ fundamentally belongs to Nature and secondly to communities of species and peoples who live in the territory or have traditionally held the territory where the ‘resource’ such as forests, rivers or grazing lands exists. Re-source democracy is about stewardship that recognises the right of citizens to establish rules and to act in line with traditional as well as best available knowledge to safeguard the soil, trees, crops, water and wildlife first as gifts of Nature and secondly to enjoy the gifts as necessary provisions that support their lives and livelihoods as well as those of future generations. Re-source democracy calls on us to re-source, to re-connect with Earth – our source of life – and to respect her as a living being with inherent rights, and not just a ‘resource’ to be exploited.

It hinges on pragmatic politics and wisdom that our relations with nature cannot be left to speculators and manipulators of market forces whose drive is to commodify Nature. It ensures the right (and demands a responsibility) to participate in decisions that determine our access to, and enjoyment of nature’s gifts and removes the obstacles erected by the politics of access while providing process for redress. It demands that certain places must be off limits to extractive activities especially when such re-sources are found in fragile ecosystems or in locations of high cultural, religious or social significance in order to support the higher objectives of clean and safe environments to ensure citizens’ wellbeing.

A clear understanding that Mother Earth has the right to regenerate her natural cycles without disruption by third parties should place a burden of protection on all humans. Taking up the defence of our ecology is a mark of enlightened self-interest because when we destroy, or permit the destruction of our environment, we invariably diminish ourselves.

The Community Dialogues (CD) are diagnostic exercises that provide space for community members to go down memory lane, review the environmental situation of their communities and identify areas where actions are inescapable if they are to restore, preserve and defend their heritage.

These Dialogues are not restricted to rural communities but can work well in urban and even in specialised communities such as schools, estates and workplaces. The Dialogues are community driven exercises and participating communities set areas of priority action after the initial diagnostic conversations. To aid these exercises we have prepared a Guiding document that communities are free to adopt and/or adapt.

It is our hope that these Community Dialogues will lead to the formation of ecological defence teams and networks in our communities, something akin to the Ogoni Women Ecological Defenders (OWED) Network that was inaugurated in August 2014 at Bori, Ogoni. From the enthusiastic buy-in and ideas generation prelude to these Dialogues we are confident that they will not be mere talk-shops but veritable platforms for action towards the restoration of damaged community environments and full restitution by polluters and their backers. After the dialogues we will follow up with paralegal, community environmental health and monitoring trainings as may be required.

By Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)

Cautious optimism greets UN Geneva climate talks upshot

Cover

Michael Simire

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February 15, 2015

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Cautious optimism greets UN Geneva climate talks upshot

The UN climate talks in Geneva, Switzerland, closed on Friday, February 13, 2015 with an air of optimism having made progress towards a new agreement that is due to be signed in Paris at the end of the year. According to the Climate Action Network (CAN), the draft agreement seems on track to signal an end to fossil fuel emissions with both Jamaica and Switzerland adding their voices to the idea of a long term goal.

Some members of CAN have, however, been weighing the implications of the outcome of the weeklong forum.

Julie-Anne Richards, Manager International Policy, Climate Justice Programme, stated: “It’s good news countries have given a stamp of approval for a new draft version of the climate agreement that will be the basis of negotiations through the year and that it features a wide range of options to deal with mitigation and to provide support to help developing countries prepare for climate impacts including a loss and damage mechanism.

“There’s been a seachange in the dynamics in Geneva, thanks to the open and consultative approach of the Co-Chairs. Countries also came ready and willing to work. The spirit of Geneva needs to be kept alive, as we move to on to deal with crunch issues like the need to scale up financial support for action and how to treat richer and poorer countries fairly, and loss and damage – which has the potential to be a make or break issue for Paris.”

Tasneem Essop, WWF head of delegation to the UNFCCC. Photo credit: unfccc.int

Tasneem Essop, WWF head of delegation to the UNFCCC, submitted: “All eyes must be on political leaders now, as they are the single most important influence that will shape the final outcome of a new global climate deal in Paris later this year.

“There are important political moments outside of the UN climate negotiation process – at both ministerial and Heads of State level – on the road to Paris where they can demonstrate their intentions, such as the G7, the G20 meetings, and the SDG Summit.

“The first test of political will and influence inside the negotiating process will come in the period from March to June when countries announce their plans to reduce emissions and, we hope, provide financial resources for the post-2020 period.”

Jamie Henn, Strategy and Communications Director, 350.org, disclosed: “As the talks here in Geneva come to a close, people around the world are taking part in Global Divestment Day, a worldwide effort to move money out of the fossil fuel industry and into a clean energy future.

“That’s what these negotiations need to do, as well: send a clear signal to investors that the age of fossil fuels is coming to an end.”

The CAN is calling for a complete phase out of fossil fuel emissions and the phase in of 100% renewable energy by 2050 with sustainable energy access for all.

Geneva: Governments agree negotiating text for Paris climate agreement

Climate Change

Michael Simire

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February 15, 2015

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Geneva: Governments agree negotiating text for Paris climate agreement

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the spirit of Lima transforms into spirit of Geneva en route to the December Climate Conference in Paris

A key milestone towards a new, universal agreement on climate change was reached in Geneva, Switzerland last week following seven days of negotiations by over 190 nations.

Nations concluded the Geneva Climate Change Talks by successfully preparing the negotiating text for the 2015 agreement. The agreement is set to be reached in Paris at the end of 2015 and will come into effect in 2020.

Delegates from 194 countries including Nigeria convened in Geneva to continue work following the Lima Climate Change Conference held in Peru last year, which had produced elements for the negotiating text – known as the Lima Call for Climate Action.

“I am extremely encouraged by the constructive spirit and the speed at which negotiators have worked during the past week,” said Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC.

“We now have a formal negotiating text, which contains the views and concerns of all countries. The Lima Draft has now been transformed into the negotiating text and enjoys the full ownership of all countries,” she added.

The negotiating text covers the substantive content of the new agreement including mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and capacity-building. Countries worked hard to identify the main choices, put their views forward and add more sharpened options to the text.

“The text was constructed in full transparency. This means that although it has become longer, countries are now fully aware of each other’s positions,” Ms. Figueres said.

The negotiating text is available on the UNFCCC’s website (see http://unfccc.int/2860.php) and will be edited and translated into the UN’s official languages. After this, the text will be communicated to the world’s capitals by the UNFCCC secretariat in the first quarter of 2015.

“This fulfills the internationally-accepted timetable for reaching a possible treaty because it alerts capitals to the fact that a legal instrument could be adopted in Paris. It does not, however, set this possibility in stone – it merely opens the door for this possibility. As for the legal nature of the agreement, this will only be clarified later in the year,” Ms. Figueres explained.

In parallel to the negotiating text being communicated to the world’s capitals, its successful construction kick-starts a year of intense negotiations towards the new agreement.

The next step is for negotiators to narrow down options and reach consensus on the content. Formal work and negotiations on the text will continue at the Climate Change Conference in Bonn in June with two further formal session planned for later in the year including in October.

Additionally, ministerial-level meetings throughout the year will include climate change on their agendas and contribute to convergence on the key political choices.

These include the Major Economies Forum; the Petersburg Climate Dialogue and the African Ministerial Conference of the Environment with the upcoming G7 and G20 meetings affording further political engagement on climate change and the Paris agreement.

“These opportunities will help to ensure that countries have opportunities to work with each other at several political levels–what is needed now is vertical integration so that the views of heads of state, through ministers and to negotiators reflects a seamless and consistent view of ambition, common ground and ultimately success in December,” Ms. Figueres said.

TB drug candidate advanced into clinical testing

$7.6 million Mozambique road project to boost transportation in southern Africa

Zambia secures $129 million loans for water, power

Why GMOs are not solution to food production

Lekan Fadina: Road to Paris (3)

Unstable cotton sector struggles to balance cost and benefits

African ministers catalyse greater investment in agriculture sector

Nnimmo Bassey: Let’s talk about our land

Cautious optimism greets UN Geneva climate talks upshot

Geneva: Governments agree negotiating text for Paris climate agreement

TV Report

Video: Boki women on leading edge to end illegal logging

Video: Mercury, silent killer that contributes to biodiversity loss – Stankiewicz

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