Blue Carbon: 2 Ocean Minutes with Jim Toomey

Blue Carbon: 2 Ocean Minutes with Jim Toomey Keywords: OCEANS Thematic Areas: Climate Change

The Big SHFT: Changing the World with Innovation

The Big SHFT: Changing the World with Innovation

THE BIG SHFT

SHFT is a multi-media platform, founded by film producer Peter Glatzer and actor-activist Adrian Grenier, whose mission is to convey a more sustainable approach to the way we live through video, design art and culture. The Big SHFT, launched on WED, will focus on the trailblazers who are cutting a path to a more sustainable future and greener economy. Directed by filmmaker Gilly Barnes, the 10-part documentary series is presented in conjunction with Ford Motor Company, whose manufacturing innovations forever changed the way that things are made.

"Sustainability is the biggest issue facing business in the 21st century, and the problem will not be solved by one person or group," says Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Company. "How we answer the challenge of the future of mobility will have a lasting impact on generations to come. By partnering with organizations like SHFT, we are able to inspire people to make smart decisions about the products they choose today."

As executive producers of the series, SHFT co-founders Peter Glatzer and Adrian Grenier curate a vast array of topics ranging from food and fashion to urbanization, technology and design.
"Innovation is not dead in America, but it's not just about innovation in industry," says Grenier. It is about innovation of the heart and the spirit. You'll find a lot more social entrepreneurs cropping up in America these days. We're very excited about that. Those are the types of stories we want to highlight."

Keywords:                
UNEP Priority Areas:  climate change |  ecosystem management |  environmental governance |  resource efficiency 

TRAILER:  The Big SHFT: Changing the World With Innovation

If necessity is the mother of invention, then the state of the environment should be driving innovation around the world. And indeed it is.

In our new series "The Big SHFT: 10 Innovators Changing Our World," we team up with Ford Motor Company to profile leading innovators who are shaping new sustainable businesses and influencing positive change around the world.

Apps for Climate: A competition brought to you by the World Bank

World Bank GROUP

The World Bank has released new data and tools on climate change as the latest additions to its Open Data Initiative. The Apps for Climate Competition aims to bring together the best ideas from scientists, application developers, civil society organizations, and development practitioners to create innovative apps using World Bank data.

Apps for Climate

The World Bank has released new data and tools on climate change as the latest additions to its Open Data Initiative.
The Apps for Climate Competition aims to bring together the best ideas from scientists, application developers, civil society organizations, and development practitioners to create innovative apps using World Bank data.
English | Español | Français | العربية |中文

Competition Objectives

This competition challenges participants to develop software applications related to climate change. The applications should serve to raise awareness, measure progress, or to help in some other way to address the development challenges of climate change. Submissions may be any kind of software application, be it for the web, a personal computer, a mobile handheld device, console, SMS, or any software platform broadly available to the public. The only other requirement is that the proposed application use one or more datasets from the World Bank Data Catalog available at data.worldbank.org or the Climate Change Knowledge Portal at climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org.
Applications which best satisfy the competition criteria will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to have their apps featured on the World Bank Open Data website. Competition participants are encouraged to also use other relevant indicators and datasets, and to be creative in exploring approaches for addressing climate change problems.

About Climate Change and Development

Climate change is expected to hit developing countries the hardest. Its effects (higher temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, and more frequent weather-related disasters) pose risks for agriculture, food, and water supplies. At stake are recent gains in the fight against poverty, hunger and disease, and the lives and livelihoods of billions of people in developing countries.
Tackling this immense challenge must involve both mitigation (to avoid the unmanageable) and adaptation (to manage the unavoidable), all while maintaining a focus on its social dimensions.

Resources and reference material

For more information and resources Click here

Related links

• Taking Action on Climate Change
• Data.worldbank.org/climate-change
• Climate Change Knowledge Portal
• Exploring Climate and Development
• Climate app
• Apps for Climate Competition
• Little Data Book on Climate Change

The Durban Ceba Initiative

Durban CEBA

The eThekwini Municipality and the Wildlands Conservation Trust will be profiling a new community climate protection model, the Durban CEBA Initiative, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17/CMP7) to be held in Durban.

Community Ecosystem Based Adaptation

Africanising Adaptation The Durban CEBA Initiative is a partnership between the eThekwini Municipality and The Wildlands Conservation Trust aimed at uplifting local communities by creating ‘green’ jobs for the poor and unemployed, restoring the ecosystems that are important to the welfare of these communities and reducing our collective vulnerability to climate change.

Buy CEBA credits and make a difference Each CEBA credit that you buy will employ one local community member for a day, to undertake a range of climate protection work, such as invasive alien plant (IAP) clearing, ecosystem restoration or community recycling. This work is directed towards both reducing climate change impacts through carbon sequestration and emissions reductions, and in building resilience and adaptability to climate change in vulnerable communities.

So, by buying CEBA credits, you are contributing towards global climate protection, ecosystem restoration, job creation, climate change adaptation and building the green economy. You couldn’t ask for a more sound investment in offsetting your carbon and ecological footprints! Buy CEBA credits here

The 2011 Commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP)

International day for the eradication of poverty 2011

The 2011 Commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) will be held on Monday, 17 October at United Nations Headquarters in New York, focusing on the theme
 

"From Poverty to Sustainability: People at the Centre of Inclusive Development".

 

With global attention focused on the upcoming Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), it is critical to draw attention to the importance of poverty eradication for building sustainable futures for all. People living in poverty face increasingly difficult challenges as climate change, environmental degradation and rising food prices threaten their livelihoods and survival. The path to sustainable development must ensure that people living in poverty are included in decision-making processes, and that concrete action is taken to respond to their needs and demands.

The 2011 IDEP presents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of people living in poverty and to have their voices heard. It is an occasion to recognize that poor people are at the forefront of the fight against poverty and are critical partners for achieving sustainable development. The objective of the IDEP 2011 is to illustrate the important and tangible ways in which people living in poverty can simultaneously protect the sustainability of their environment and break the cycle of poverty, and how these efforts can be supported and scaled up.

In addition to the Commemoration in New York, celebrations of the Day are being organized worldwide. Through resolution A/RES/47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, the General Assembly invited all States to devote the Day to presenting and promoting concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution. 

The Theme in French is: 
"De la pauvreté à la viabilité: les personnes au sein d'un développement sans exclusion."

• Brochure
• Poster
• Postcard 
• Invitation English |  French | Spanish
• Programme

Related organizations and information:

• International Movement ATD Fourth World
• Overcoming Extreme Poverty
• Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
• Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
  

International Day for Disaster Reduction - 13 October

66.5 million children are affected annually by disasters. Because it is difficult for them to cope with unexpected and painful interruptions to their lives, they are often more affected than adults. Victims of disaster and climate change, children and young people can and should be encouraged to participate in disaster reduction and decision making.

Chair’s summary third session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and the World Reconstruction Conference

 

This summary provides the Chair’s assessment of the main points of the deliberations at the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction held in Geneva, Switzerland from 8-13 May 2011.

The Chair`s Summary reflects interventions at the Joint Outcomes Session of the Global Platform on 13 May and subsequent comments on the draft which was open until 23 May. The UNISDR secretariat has endeavoured to reflect most of the comments while at the same time respecting the need to keep the Summary succinct and action orientated.

• View full document [PDF 77.82 kB]
• View full document (in French) [PDF 87.11 kB]
• View full document (in Spanish) [PDF 80.27 kB]
• View full document (in Russian) [PDF 139.54 kB]
• View full document (in Arabic) [PDF 165.77 kB]
• View full document (in Chinese) [PDF 160.92 kB]

Date: 2011

Sources:

• United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat (UNISDR)

Related Links

• News: Call for comments: Chair's Summary of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2011 and the World Reconstruction Conference
• News: 'Disaster risk reduction key to preserving and protecting environment, ensuring sustainable development - Global Platform Chair's summary

Keywords

Themes:

Climate Change, Early Warning, Media, Recovery, Risk Identification & Assessment, Urban Risk & Planning, Governance, Economics of DRR, Structural Safety, Vulnerable Populations

Disaster through a different lens: behind every effect, there is a cause

Behind every effect, there is a cause:

This manual for the media - compiled by journalists and disaster experts who understand that disaster risk reduction is a civic duty, government responsibility, national obligation and a good story - is for reporters and broadcasters who want to know more about those urgent, terrifying and all-too-often tragic moments when the fabric of national and civic government encounters the forces of nature.

It asserts the importance of the role of newspapers, radio, television and other media in creating awareness and disseminating information about disasters. Reporters, commentators and broadcasters, can do more than just inform and raise awareness about disasters. They can make a real difference in the way people think and act, especially now when climate change is recognized as a major challenge that will aggravate our vulnerability to disasters.

The chapters address:

- What you need to know about disaster risk reduction (DRR)
- Disaster risk reduction in the media
- DRR lessons from four disasters: Indian Ocean tsunami; Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines; Hurricane Katrina, USA; Kashmir earthquake, Pakistan
- Useful information on natural hazards
- Disaster risk reduction resources

The conclusion includes: Annexes on a brief history of the evolution of disaster risk reduction, terminology, and how corruption costs lives; a Bibliography.

• View full document [PDF 5.87 MB]
• View full document (in Arabic) [PDF 2.04 MB]
• View full document (in Chinese) [PDF 2.93 MB]
• View full document (in Russian) [PDF 2.85 MB]

Date:

2011

Author(s):

Leoni, Brigitte; Radford, Tim; Schulman, Mark

Pages:

188 p.

Sources:

• United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat (UNISDR)

Keywords

Themes:

Capacity Development, Information Management, Media

Hazards:

Cyclone, Drought, Earthquake, Flood, Land Slide, Tornado, Tsunami, Volcano, Wild Fire

Regions:

Africa, Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania

Unite Nations Secretary-General's Message on World Habitat Day - October 3, 2011

Celebrations in 2011 

Secretary-General's Message on World Habitat Day 2011

This year, World Habitat Day falls during the month when demographers predict our planet’s seven billionth inhabitant will be born.  The future that this child and its generation will inherit depends to a great degree on how we handle the competing pressures of growing population growth, urbanization and climate change.

Experts predict that by the year 2050, the global population will have increased by 50 per cent from what it was in 1999.  Also by that time, scientists say, global greenhouse gas emissions must decrease by 50 per cent compared to levels at the turn of the millennium.  I call this the “50-50-50 challenge”.

Rising sea levels are a major impact of climate change — and an urgent concern.  Sixty million people now live within one metre of sea level.  By the end of the century, that number will jump to 130 million.  Major coastal cities — such as Cairo, New York, Karachi, Kolkata, Belem, New Orleans, Shanghai, Tokyo, Lagos, Miami and Amsterdam — could face serious threats from storm surges.
The nexus between urbanization and climate change is real and potentially deadly.
Cities are centres of industrialization and sources of emissions, but they are also home to solutions.  More and more municipalities are harnessing wind, solar and geothermal energy, contributing to green growth and improving environmental protection.

Local efforts are critical to success, but they must be supported by international initiatives.  We have already seen progress, including the creation of the Climate Change Adaptation Fund and adoption of the action plan to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, known as “REDD plus”.  All countries agree on the goal of limiting global temperature rise to below 2° C.  Developed and developing countries have committed to lower greenhouse gasses in a formal, accountable international agreement.

Now we need to build on these advances.  The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban this December must achieve decisive progress.  Urbanization will be on the agenda at next year’s “Rio+20” United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

On this observance of World Habitat Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to the important journey to a more sustainable future, and let us focus greater attention on addressing climate change in the world’s cities and beyond.

Ban Ki-moon

CGIs Plenary 2011

Tuesday, September 20

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Wednesday, September 21

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Thursday, September 22

FORESTRY - Speeches at forest Indonesia Conference ( Jakarta)

Jakarta 27,September 2011 - Forest Indonesia Conference

Alternative futures to meet demand for food,fibres,fuel and REDD+


Andrew Steer, Special Envoy for Climate Change, The World Bank



Dr Sulilo Bambang Yudoyono, former vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia



Eric Solheim, Norway's minister for Environment and International Development


Jim Paice, Uk's State minister at the Department for Environment,Food and Rural Affairs.


Zulkifli Hasan, Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia



Frances Seymour, Director General of Cifor

Center for International Forestry Research


CIFOR is an international research and global knowledge institution committed to conserving forests and improving the livelihoods of people in the tropics.

The 2011 CGI Annual Meeting

Watch live streaming video from cgi_plenary at livestream.com

• #CGI2011 Leaders Dialogue on Climate Change w/ Pres. Clinton

  8:30 AM - 9:45 AM EDT on Sep 20th, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 A Conversation w/ Pres. Clinton

  10:30 AM - 11:30 AM EDT on Sep 20th, 2011
  Watch Replay

• #CGI2011 Keynote Lunch w/ Antonio Guterres, Dave Eggers & Valentino Achak Deng

  12:00 PM - 1:15 PM EDT on Sep 20th, 2011
  Watch Replay

• #CGI2011 Special Session: Disaster Preparedness

  3:45 PM - 5:00 PM EDT on Sep 20th, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 Plenary: Mega Cities, Mega Challenges

  5:30 PM - 6:30 PM EDT on Sep 20th, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 Conversation w/ Aung San Suu Kyi

  9:00 AM - 10:00 AM EDT on Sep 21st, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 Breakout: Global Nutrition w/ Nicholas Kristof & President Kikwete

  12:15 PM - 1:30 PM EDT on Sep 21st, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 Plenary w/ Pres. Clinton & Pres. Obama

  2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT on Sep 21st, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 Special Session: Voices for Change in the Middle East & North Africa

  3:45 PM - 4:45 PM EDT on Sep 21st, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 Girls & Women Plenary w/ Melanne Verveer, Muhammad Yunus, President Kagame & Michelle Bachelet

  9:00 AM - 10:00 AM EDT on Sep 22nd, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 Breakout: Technologies for Empowerment

  12:15 PM - 1:15 PM EDT on Sep 22nd, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 Special Session: Innovation

  2:30 PM - 3:30 PM EDT on Sep 22nd, 2011
  Watch Channel

• #CGI2011 Closing Plenary w/ President Clinton

  4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT on Sep 22nd, 2011

LIDC: Millennium Development Goal 7: Environment

Millennium Development Goal 7: Environment

Professor Tony Allan, of SOAS and Kings College London, raises the importance of politics and governance as he discusses MDG7s aim of environmental sustainability.