By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Edible, circular gardens are part of a bigger project to bring a belt of green across the continent of Africa. “Tolou Keur”—circular gardens resistant to drought—are part of Africa’s Great Green Wall project. The project calls for planting papaya and mango trees and a variety […]
Doubts Whether the World Meteorological Organization Will be Reformed
Viewpoint by Maurizio Guerrero* Passblue NEW YORK (IDN) — Back in June 2019, the World Meteorological Organization embarked on an ambitious effort to streamline its internal operations, cut expenses by two percent and realign the organization with “21st-century realities, priorities and dynamics.”
Guiding Coal Companies to Meet the Dual Challenge of Net Zero and A Just Transition
Viewpoint by Noora Puro* AMSTERDAM (IDN) — As the build-up continues to the pandemic-delayed UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), all eyes—and hopefully all agendas—are on how to reach net-zero carbon emissions. And as the International Energy Agency (IEA) made clear in its recent Net Zero by 2050 report, this aim will fall short without a […]
New Zealand’s Climate Aid in the Pacific Comes With Strings Attached
By Matthew Scott* A special feature moved in association with the Asia Pacific Report. AUCKLAND, New Zealand (IDN) — The beach is vanishing, one day at a time. The sea approaches the coastal village. It will not be negotiated with. With seawater flooding the water table, crops that have fed the islanders for centuries are […]
Compelling Need To ‘End Our War on Nature”
By Ramu Damodaran The writer is Chief, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hosted in the Department of Global Communications. This OpEd was first published in #WhyWeCare on April 22. NEW YORK (IDN | UNAI) — “End our war on nature” was Antonio Guterres’s call at the Leaders Summit on Climate convened by President Biden this, […]
Rich Countries, Are You Listening? Pay Up the Climate Debt Owed to Global South!
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A number of African activists were listening in at President Joe Biden’s major climate summit on April 22 at which 40 world leaders were invited. Among the listeners was Kumi Naidoo, special adviser for the Green Economy Coalition’s Social Contract Initiative and Dipti Bhatnagar of […]
The Destruction of the World Heritage Sinharaja Forest
An OPEN LETTER to UNESCO, IUCN and WCPA By Somar Wijayadasa* NEW YORK (IDN) — As a former staff member of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from 1978 to 1995, and as a Sri Lankan, I write this OPEN LETTER to UNESCO, to the International Union for the Conservation of Forests […]
UN Issues ‘Red Alert’ In A Climate Action Report
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — A UN climate action report warns that nations are “nowhere close” to the level of action needed to fight global warming. It urges countries to adopt stronger and more ambitious plans to reach the Paris Agreement goals, and limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, by the […]
Security Council to Focus on Climate Change and Security
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – “Addressing climate-related security risks to international peace and security through mitigation and resilience-building” will be the focus of a high-level open debate which the UK plans to host in February. According to the Security Council Report, the meeting is expected to consider conflict risks, peacebuilding approaches and ways […]
UN Chief Welcomes the US Move to Re-Enter the Paris Accord as Biden and Harris Are Sworn in as New Leaders
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warmly welcomed President Joe Biden’s “steps to re-enter the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and join the growing coalition of governments, cities, states, businesses and people taking ambitious action to confront the climate crisis”. Biden signed an executive order accepting the Paris […]