By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (IDN) — Delegates to the UN climate conference (COP27) reached a compromise to create a fund for disadvantaged countries coping with climate disasters worsened by pollution, mainly from wealthy nations. The meeting of almost 200 countries, ending on November 20 after two weeks […]
Growing Urbanization Chewing Away Forests in Southern Africa
By Jeffrey Moyo HARARE, Zimbabwe (IDN) — In Harare, the Zimbabwean capital’s medium-density suburb known as Glaudina, where a thick forest used to exist, homes under construction have emerged instead, with the trees vanishing. North-West of Zimbabwe, just outside Lusaka, the Zambian capital, slums and shacks have also, over the decades, replaced the once flourishing […]
COP27: Leaders Launch Global Alliance Against Future Drought Impacts
By Rita Joshi BONN | SHARM EL-SHEIKH (IDN) — Leaders from over 25 countries and 20 organizations have launched the International Drought Resilience Alliance to accelerate action and help countries to be better prepared for future droughts. Drought represents the most serious hazard to livestock and crops in nearly every part of the world, and […]
UN Talks Fail to Finalise High Seas Biodiversity Treaty
By Fermín Koop This article was originally published on China Dialogue under the Creative Commons BY NC ND licence. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (IDN) — While many had hoped this would be the session to do it, after two weeks of talks at the UN headquarters in New York, from August 15 to August 26, member […]
Making Visible the Diverse Values of Nature
By Rita Joshi BONN (IDN) — The way nature is valued in political and economic decisions is both a key driver of the global biodiversity crisis and a vital opportunity to address it, according to a four-year methodological assessment by 82 top scientists and experts from every region of the world.
Global Call to Act on Land Degradation and Drought
By Devendra Kamarajan ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire (IDN) — The 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), concluded in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, has concluded with a united global pledge to boost drought resilience and invest in land restoration for future prosperity.
Tikkun Olam: Preserving the Planet through Cultural Celebrations
By Ikbale Bouziane* MARRAKECH (IDN) — It is common that each religion has its own new year celebrations that mark events or simply cherish the divine orders of days and months. These festivities usually mark the end or beginnings of new cycles of prosperity and being thankful for God’s blessings. However, the Jewish culture celebrates […]
Africa’s Land Restoration Movement Needs a Moon Shot
By Ibrahim Mayaki and Wanjira Mathai Dr Mayaki is the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, while Ms Mathai is the Vice President and Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute. JOHANNESBURG; South Africa (IDN | Africa Renewal) — Six years ago, African leaders recognized that the degradation of 65 per cent of Africa’s agricultural land […]
Hundreds Of Events Mark World Migratory Bird Day
By Rita Joshi BONN (IDN) — People all over the world celebrated on October 9 World Migratory Bird Day, a global campaign that aims to raise awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. Two environmental treaties—the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the […]
Coastal Developing Countries Count on A Sustainable Ocean Economy in the Aftermath of COVID-19
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN | UNCTAD) — Barbados, Belize and Costa Rica are looking beyond the pandemic and climate shocks by developing and implementing national trade strategies strongly linked to resilience, conservation and the sustainable use of their marine resources. A regional experience-sharing workshop held on September 23-24 highlighted the need to adopt, elaborate and […]