Climate Action

Photo: Indigenous environmental activists at COP21 in Paris in December 2015.

After U.S. Elections, Environmentalists Vow to Keep Fighting

By A.D. McKenzie

PARIS (IDN) - As news of Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential elections spread around the world, some of the first reactions came from organisations working to combat climate change: they vowed to fight any attempts to block environmental action or the Paris Agreement.

The date of the elections, November 8, coincided with the second day of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 22) in Marrakech, Morocco, and a range of groups quickly made their positions clear.

“President-elect Donald Trump threatens our environment and we vow to fight him every step of the way,” stated Erich Pica, president of Friends of the Earth U.S.

: A.D. McKenzie; SUSTAINABILITY; Climate Action; 10 November 2016

Photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to journalists on the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Ban Lauds CSOs for Making Paris Climate Accord a Reality

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) – Less than two months before UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon concludes his second term, he has described the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change on November 4 "an emotional moment" for him, "a credit" to all civil society organizations (CSOs), and "historic for the world".

He praised CSOs for their leadership, commitment and engagement, inviting them to "work together to make this world better for all". In rather impassioned remarks, he said: "Today we celebrate, reflect and give thanks. I am deeply grateful to all of you and your organizations – representing millions of people. At a time when civil society is under attack in so many parts of the world, you have shown that citizens’ groups are essential partners for progress."

: J Nastranis; SUSTAINABILITY; Climate Action; 04 November 2016

Photo: Salaheddine Mezouar (left) and Patricia Espinosa (right). Credit: cop22.ma

Celebration & Reality Check as Paris Accord Enters into Force

By Patricia Espinosa and Salaheddine Mezouar

Patricia Espinosa is UNFCCC Executive Secretary and Salaheddine Mezouar, President of COP22 and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco.

MARRAKECH (IDN-INPS | UNFCCC COP22) - Humanity will look back on November 4, 2016, as the day that countries of the world shut the door on inevitable climate disaster and set off with determination towards a sustainable future.

The Paris Climate Change Agreement – the result of the most complex, comprehensive and critical international climate negotiation ever attempted – came into force (on November 4).

: IDN-INPS UN Bureau; OPINION; 04 November 2016

Photo: World must urgently increase action and ambition to cut another 25 per cent off 2030 emissions. Credit: UNEP

Beware of Euphoria as Paris Climate Accord Enters into Force

By Jaya Ramachandran

BERLIN (IDN) - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and independent experts are cautioning against euphoria about the entry into force of the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.

Ahead of the forthcoming meeting of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), known by the acronym COP 22, beginning on November 7 in Marrakech. Morocco, UNEP's annual Emissions Gap report said the world must cut a further 25% from predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions, "to meet the stronger, and safer, target of 1.5 degrees Celsius” global temperature rise.

: Jaya Ramachandran; SUSTAINABILITY; Climate Action; 03 November 2016

Vegetable garden on Albert Waweru’s farm at Kasarani on the outskirts in Nairobi. Credit: Justus Wanzala | IDN-INPS

Africa Transforming Agriculture To Combat Climate Change

By Justus Wanzala

NAIROBI (ACP-IDN) - As Africa grapples with climate change induced extreme weather patterns mechanisms to transform agriculture and ensure food security through adoption of innovative ways are gaining prominence.

In Kenya, like most African countries, small-scale farmers who are the majority are opting for sustainable solutions. One such farmer is Albert Waweru, a retired police officer with 1.75-acre farm in Kasarani on the outskirts of Nairobi. He has 50 dairy cows that produce 290 litres of milk daily. He also rears poultry, dairy goats and has several green houses where vegetables are grown.

: Justus Wanzala; THE WORLD; Africa; 21 October 2016

The Moroccan Presidency of the 22nd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) hosted on October 18-19 the Pre-COP Ministerial Meeting in preparation for the COP22 Marrakech Climate Change Conference, November 7 to 18.

OPEC and UN Climate Officials Move To Build Bridges

By Jaya Ramachandran

BERLIN | BONN (IDN) – OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that are known to have been at loggerheads for nearly two decades appear to be building bridges just a few days after the Paris Agreement reached the threshold for entry into force on October 5.

In the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, Morocco from November 7 to 18, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo visited Bonn to meet with UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa "to enhance cooperation between the UNFCCC and OPEC and exchange views on recent developments".

: Jaya Ramachandran; UN INSIDER; 19 October 2016

Winners of Youth Climate Video Competition: Phuong Vu Hoang (left) and Faouzia Bahloul (right). Credit: UNFCCC.

Raising Youth Awareness of Climate Change

By Rita Joshi

BERLIN | BONN (IDN) - The UN Climate Change Secretariat has launched two initiatives to raise young people's awareness about climate change through videos and photographs.

While winners of the Youth Climate Video Competition were announced on October 6, the deadline for a photo competition has been extended. Works of the winners of this competition too will be exhibited at the upcoming Climate Change Conference in Marrakech from November 7 to 18.

According to a media release by the UN Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC), two young climate activists from Tunisia and Vietnam who tell their inspiring stories of climate action and building public awareness have been selected as the winners of the 2016 Global Youth Video Competition on Climate Change.

: Rita Joshi; UN INSIDER; 17 October 2016

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (second from left) with Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, former President of Iceland, on his left.

Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland Discusses Sustainability

By Lowana Veal

REYKJAVIK (IDN) - With over 2,000 participants, including 400 speakers, the fourth Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland's capital Reykjavik was a hive of activity and networking on everything to do with the Arctic. The event has become the largest Arctic event globally.

The concept of the gathering October 7-9 was devised by Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, who until a few months ago had been President of Iceland and had put considerable time into Arctic matters and climate change. Grimsson still plays a central role in the Assembly.

: Lowana Veal; SUSTAINABILITY; Climate Action; 16 October 2016

Photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre left) during the High-level Event on the Entry into Force of the Paris Agreement. UN Photo/Cia Pak

Ban Ki-moon Poised to Leave Behind a Climate Legacy

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) – Over the past decade, Ban Ki-moon has worked ceaselessly to bring countries together to accelerate the global response to climate change. As he is fond of saying, he has visited communities on the climate frontlines, from the Arctic to the Amazon, and has witnessed how climate impacts are already devastating lives, livelihoods and prospects for a better future.

Some two months ahead of relinquishing his post as UN Secretary-General on completion of the second five-year term on December 31, he will have his efforts rewarded, allowing him to leave behind a valuable legacy.

: J Nastranis; UN INSIDER; 05 October 2016

Photo: India ratifies the Paris Agreement on climate change. The country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin (left), shakes hands with UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson while General Assembly President Peter Thomson looks on in a ceremony held at the UN Headquarters on 2 October 2016. UN Photo/Evan Schneider

India Brings Paris Climate Pact Close to Entry into Force

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) - The ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change by India at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, has brought the treaty's entry into force "tantalisingly" close.

The Agreement, which calls on countries to combat climate change and limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, will take effect 30 days only after at least 55 countries, responsible for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, deposit their instruments of ratification.

With October 2 action by India, which accounts for 4.1 per cent of the emissions, the Agreement only needs slightly more than 3 percentage points to reach the "55 per cent" threshold. The "55 countries" requirement had already been met.