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Impact of the biofuel industry in South Africa
Increased biofuel production, driven by the rise in oil prices and the threat of climate change, has also caused the price of food to increase, especially those food crops used in biofuel production such as maize and sugarcane. This paper examines the likely effect of raised prices such as these on South African (SA) consumers, especially on the very poor who are particularly dependent on staples like maize and sugar. The document analyses the present SA biofuels strategy, which it finds to be seriously flawed in its
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Adaptation to climate change in rural societies
The paper gives an overview of the ways in which climate change will impact rural societies, in particular poor farmers in developing countries. It predicts that Africa will be hardest hit because of its heavy dependence on agriculture, existing degraded soils and high poverty and tight budget constraints. The authors cover the following areas and suggest steps that farmers, policy makers, and researchers can take to minimise losses and adapt to climate change: farmers must adapt: details the need for new
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Summary of COP12/MOP2 Nairobi conference on the next steps in the international effort on climate change
This paper documents the key outcomes of the two-week United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Nairobi, November 2006. The aim of the conference was to consider the next steps in the international climate effort. The following topics were discussed: the Montreal Processes future mitigation efforts, with presentations from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), European Commission, Sir Nicholas Stern, China, Brazil and South Africa review of the Kyoto Protocol the
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The need for development projects to be incorporated into climate change adaptation strategies
Over six development agencies are screening their portfolios with the aim of ascertaining the extent to which exisiting development projects already consider climate risks or address vulnerability to climate variability; and identifying opportunities for incorporating climate change explicitly into future projects. This paper assesses this screening process in order to dentify opportunites for development agencies to expand their current focus on integrating adaptation to climate change with development planning
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Outlining the options for our energy future
This report is a summary of the International Energy Agencys latest World Energy Outlook. It focuses on its Alternative Policy and Beyond the Alternative Policy Scenarios a deliberate distinction aimed to spur action by underscoring the impacts on the future of the policy decisions made today. It is written in non-technical language to make it accessible to as wide an audience as possible. The report highlights that early moves to shift towards a more sustainable energy system are more effective and cheaper compared
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Several articles discussing coping strategies for climate change
This issue of ICT Update looks at a few pioneering activities African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries are engaged in to mitigate and adapt to climte change. The lead article is entitled: Coping with climate change, which looks at the impacts of climate change on the mangroves of American Somoa, identifying priority areas in which local capacities need to be enhanced. Three other articles are featured: Hurricanes and Hams: Discusses the role of ameteur radio can play in offering the people
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Policy directions for governments, businesses and consumers to combat climate change
This report asserts that the only way to combat climate change is through decisive, concerted and sustained actions between governments, businesses and consumers, and identifies policy options to achieve this. It explores policy ideas and concepts which will allow to sustain economic growth while transforming the way society accesses, produces and consumes energy. It calls for the development and deployment of leading-edge technologies through partnerships and incentives and an approach to
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Estimating the impact of climate change disasters on children
If children already constitute half of those affected by any emergency, how will they be affected by the growing number of climate change disasters? Using examples of recent disasters and projections of likely impacts of climate change, this report looks at how increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters will specifically affect children. It estimates that over the next decade, up to 175 million children every year will be affected by both 'slow-moving' climate- related natural disasters such as desertification, as
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The authorative state of knowledge on climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability
This report sets out the key policy-relevant findings of the Fourth Assessment (also known as AR4) of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Assessment is of current scientific understanding of impacts of climate change on natural and human systems, how well these systems are able to adapt and their vulnerability. The report addresses issues such as managing freshwater resources, impacts on lake and river systems, food security and agriculture impacts, and human health.
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Report on a strategy for research into adaptation to climate change
This brief is based on a synthesis study of 105 projects completed under the Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS). It proposes a new strategy for research on adaptation to climate change that will both add value to the earlier research and evolve to address knowledge gaps and key questions. The strategy is based on five research themes. The first four focus on providing opportunities for poor people to strengthen their livelihoods through technologies, strategies and
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Integrating climate change-foreign policy for a global climate regime
This report explores ways in which an integrated climate change-foreign policy approach might improve prospects for a more effective global climate regime. Such a regime would be characterised by an international agreement that would see wide global participation following the 2012 expiration of the Kyoto Protocol. The paper advocates a broader framing of the challenges of climate change to reveal new opportunities to align goals across policy areas. It recommends the following: international
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Sustainable technologies in the energy sector
This report discusses the need for a change in the energy sector towards sustainable technologies such as renewable energies sources and efficient decentralised cogeneration. It shows that a business as usual scenario, based on the International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook projection, is not an option for future generations. The writers describe climate change as nothing short of an energy revolution that will require a change in the way that energy is produced, distributed and consumed. The
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Different post-Kyoto approaches, but same result?
This paper presents an overview of approaches for international climate policy after 2012, when Kyoto Protocol expires. The paper addresses the requirement for stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in general and related global emission and concentration levels. Then, it describes and assesses various approaches to further develop the Kyoto Protocol. This paper compares emission allowances for four future approaches contraction and convergence (C&C), common but differentiated convergence (CDC), the Tryptich
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Jobs: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) seeks researcher for CDM programme, Kanagawa, Japan
IGES is implementing a capacity building project for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Environment. The goal of this project is to develop human and institutional capacity in developing countries for the effective utilisation of CDM and JI as tools to achieve sustainable development in these countries while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions world wide. To implement this project, IGES is looking for a researcher. See link to full text for
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Recognising gender differences in decision-making on energy and rural development
This paper discusses links between gender issues and energy within the international sustainable development context. It also presents recommendations on ways of incorporating gender sensitivity into energy and development policies and planning processes. Elements that should be considered in addressing gender and energy linkages include: gender mainstreaming which requires positive action at the policy level, at the programme level and at the organisational level gender
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Conference: Energy access and climate change. The role of the private sector and the World Bank Group. Oslo, May 2007
Greater access to energy is an essential condition for the economic and social development of developing countries. Technologies with limited greenhouse gas emission exist, but new approaches are also required. How can the private sector, the World Bank Group and Norwegian institutions and companies play a part in advocating and implementing effective solutions? The Objective of the conference is to exchange experience and ideas between the World Bank Group and Norwegian institutions, companies and researchers, concerning
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Addressing the effects of climate change on health
This article considers the health impacts of climate change and discusses policies and interventions to address these effects. Many of the most important global killers including malaria and diarrhoea are highly sensitive to climatic conditions, yet a comprehensive strategy to support a public health response is lacking. The paper discusses preventative environmental health interventions including scaling up water and sanitation services and providing point- of-use disinfection; and examines integrated measures
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An economic assessment of the impacts of climate change
This is a summary of the Stern Review, which assesses a wide range of evidence on the impacts of climate change, using a number of different techniques to measure costs and risks. The review states that green house gases need to stabilise to 450-550 parts per million carbon dioxide (CO2), which will require a 25% reduction in emissions by 2050. In order to do this Stern estimates that if no action is taken, the overall cost and risks of climate change will be equivalent to losing at least 5% of global Gross
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Over 50s have the highest carbon footprint in the UK, but also want to do something about it
Known as the baby boomers, this report reveals that the population aged 50-64, have the highest carbon footprint in the UK compared to other age groups. The authors argue that whilst their understanding of the full range of impacts of climate change is often limited, the majority of the over 50s are motivated about climate change. They feel that they should personally take action to combat climate change. However, many feel frustrated with the barriers that prevent them from totally engaging in a low carbon
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Few countries expected to experience catastrophic impacts from sea level rise
This paper assess the consequences of continued sea level rise (SLR) for 84 developing countries divided by region. The aim of this research was to produce a baseline estimate of the impacts of SLR that can be used by policymakers and international development institutions when allocating resources for adaptation to climate change. The following indicators were used to assess SLR impacts: land area affected population affected gross domestic product (GDP) changes urban impact (based on
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TF: Climate Change 
