Category Archives: Politics

Agriculture and Climate: Harvesting the synergies

The Annual General Assembly of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development is currently gathering in Rome where they will discuss the Comprehensive Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). While not a programme intended for adaptation to climate change, the linkages of adaptation to climate with the four pillars of the Programme and make an important place [...]

The Adaptation Fund- Because other financial arrangements are possible!

A very interesting article by Jan Cedergren of Sweden, current chair of that Adaptation Fund Board, highlighting the uniqueness of the Adaptation Fund.
The Adaptation Fund – where is it heading?

The Adaptation Fund (AF) was established under the Kyoto Protocol of the UNFCCC and launched at COP-7 in Marrakech, in 2001. The aim was to finance [...]

Second reading on adaptation widens divides

The second reading on adaptation began with an introduction to the introduction by the Chair, Mr. Michael Zammit of Malta, of his document reflecting comments provided by Parties on the negotiation text during the first reading on adaptation. A second forty-one pages long document was included presenting the textual submissions made by Parties in preparation [...]

Developing countries request focus on concrete actions for action on adaptation in first reading of LCA negotiation text

Some notes from Bonn.
The AWG-LCA completed the first reading of the adaptation chapter of the negotiation text between Wednesday June 3 and Thursday 4, 2009. The chair, Mr. Michael Zammit of Malta, requested Parties to use the first reading to seek clarification, set markets and placeholders, and identify gaps.
The Negotiation Text chapter on adaptation is [...]

Discussions on Adaptation to begin in the Road to Copenhagen

The UNFCCC has begun the reading of the negotiation text in Bonn, Germany. I will be providing some views on the discussion here shortly. Governments have begun to provide their general comments.  For now, a great source of updates on the negotiations can be found here.

A rights-based approach to food

A note from the Commission on Sustaianble Development from the UN in New York. Discussion on land, drought, and agriculture have brought the right to food to the spotlight. Below a statement from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter.More analysis to come…

GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS, VOLATILE FOOD
PRICES, MAKE AGRICULTURAL [...]

Youth provide first contribution to Adaptation Fund

This story brings different feelings: a sense of hope in knowing that people of the world are willing to cooperate and help each other, and a sense of profound sadness in realizing that young people have more holistic morals and sense of responsibility than any of the leaders of industrialized countries negotiating in the UNFCCC.
Crossposted [...]

Are GMOs the answer?

And here they come again, genetically-modified organisms (GMOS) to the rescue!
As soon as a crisis emerges, it seems like GMOs quickly make their way in the discourse. It does not matter how many times they get shut down as false solutions, they come also to the discussion framed as a technological solution to the pressing [...]

Madrid Food Summit: An opportunity to support small farmers

This week world leaders will be gathering in Madrid, Spain to discuss next steps to address the global food crisis that has been hurting millions since last year. The UN estimates that at least 1 billion people are suffering of hunger, and the steps taken last year in the Rome during a similar food summit [...]

It’s a party! Bring the president!

Although I normally reserve this space for adaptation-related information, here is something I need your help with. I need you to help me organize a party. Here’s the deal: The United States has historically contributed the most to global warming, and over the past eight years it’s done the least to stop it. In fact, [...]