Sustainable Energy for All

More than 1.4 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, and 1 billion more only have intermittent access. Some 2.7 billion people – almost half of humanity – rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating.

With leadership from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN-Energy – a coordinating group of 20 UN agencies – is undertaking a new global initiative, Sustainable Energy for All. This initiative will engage governments, the private sector, and civil society partners globally to achieve three major goals by 2030:

Ensure universal access to modern energy services.
Reduce global energy intensity by 40 per cent.
Increase renewable energy use globally to 30 per cent.


In recognition of the importance of energy for sustainable economic development, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.

Sustainable Energy for All

Philippines forest regeneration

CNC report from NEW YORK
Added On June 5, 2011



Forests cover a third of the planets land mass and provide over one and a half billion people with a livelihood.

The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has partnered with the Philippines government to promote ANR (Assisted Natural Regeneration) as a way of regenerating the forests.

Lifestyles has the details.

The ANR technique is simple and above all, cost effective. When a small tree is located, a ring is weeded around it and the surrounding grass is pressed down. Finally, nearby grass is cut away so sunlight can penetrate the area, and trees can grow quickly.

As people begin to understand the fragility of our natural systems, they are flocking to see forests. This means new sources of income, along with increased possibilities for eco-tourism.

Communities also benefit from the forest products they are able to collect. The tropical Pandanus plant is used both as food, and to make dozens of household products.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) PATRICK DUGAN, BAGONG PAGASA FOUNDATION
"All these little fellas that are trying to grow get a chance to grow and you can see the result. These are only two years old. And how many species have you got here, all native species.”

Local women use it to make baskets, now on sale throughout the Philippines. It’s an important source of income and it’s directly tied to the state of the surrounding forests.

Forests provide essential resources for the planet, and when they are destroyed entire ecosystems can go into shock, this is why 2011 has been declared by the UN to be the International Year of Forests.

The International Year of Forests aims to raise awareness of the fact that healthy forests are an important part of guaranteeing sustainable development. Regeneration projects help to ensure that we can continue to celebrate forests well into the future.

FAO is publishing its State of the Forests Report on 2 February 2011 to coincide with the launch of the International Year of Forests.

The report will paint a picture of forests still in declining, especially in Latin America and Africa but will also point to some positive and encouraging trends, mainly in Asia and Near East, which is showing an increase in forest regeneration and replanting projects

Chinese town going green

CNC report from Sichuan
Added On June 5, 2011


As the planet's "carbon clothes", forests are more than providing us fresh air!

When people are trying to make economic benefits out of this natural resource, they are also damaging it at the same time!

That's why this year's World Environment day is calling for people to take care of forests around the world!

And, that is exactly what people in a small town do. The southwest Chinese town has found a balance between environmental protection and economic development----through much struggling!

LIFESTYLES takes you on a green journey to get the story.

Shuimo town is located in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China.

As moutain dwellers, the ethnic group of Qiang people have lived in this town for thousands years along mountain terraces.

Skilled in making granite stone houses, traditional instruments such as leather drums, they have also absorbed various cultuers.

As one iconic element of Chinese culture, the green tea planting is a vital part of Qiang people's green life!


It's an early summer morning at the town's tea planting base. At the altitude of 2000 meters, workers are already picking up tea leaves in the field.

SOUNDBITE: LIU GUANGMING, TEA PLANTER
"We get up at six every morning and start working at 7, this is the best hour of a day to pluck tea leaves. We enjoy the sunshines, the dew on the leaves and the fresh air."

But, that scenery was never seen before. With more than 60 heavy industries once settling here, the town's air was thick with dust, and the tea plantation was heavily polluted.

SOUNDBITE: LI FEI, HEAD OF JIUZHAI TEA FACTORY
"The environment was not good a couple of years ago. The tea leaves were often covered with dusts."

Even worse, the plantation was nearly ruined as the destructive earthquake happened in 2008.

SOUNDBITE: LI FEI, HEAD OF JIUZHAI TEA FACTORY
"When the earthquake happened, I tried to grab something. But the building shaked so heavily, I had to jump out of the window. I was on the second floor and got lucky. But many buildings collapsed in only a few seconds, we watched our home disappearing."

The problem is much tougher than the earthquake itself. After the disaster, the town had to fight for a future. And, they found their way.

SOUNDBITE: QING LIDONG, LOCAL OFFICIAL
"Industry is key to our development. But we cannot allow any more damage on the environment. So what we are aiming at is to develop a green economy, to improve people life as well as protect the environment."

The town used to rely on energy-intensive industries, which had greatly harmed the ecosystem. During the reconstruction, local factories were displacemented or shut down, paving the way for a better ecosystem.

The restoration of the environment also benefits the tea plantation.

SOUNDBITE: LI FEI, HEAD OF JIUZHAI TEA FACTORY
"Our tea's unique taste attracts many customers. We irrigate and make the tea with natural water, which is alkalescent. And that couldn't happen
a few years ago, when the water was heavily polluted."

During the reconstruction, Shuimo Town has found more than one way to bring the place to prosperity. As a settlement for Tibetan and Qiang
nationalities, the town built itself into a tourism spot featuring ethnic minorities cultures.

Long Gang is a hotel owner. At this 600-square-meter place, Long and his wife started a new life after the earthquake took everything from them.

SOUNDBITE: LONG GANG, HOTEL OWNER
"I was sad and hopeless when everything was destroyed by the earthquake.
But people helped us, and the town was rebuilt to be even better."

One of Long Gang's hobbies is Chinese painting. The theme of his works are mainly on the moutains, a typical symbol of traditional arts. He says he feels more relaxed now, as the town's booming tourism gives his hope.

SOUNDBITE: LONG GANG, HOTEL OWNER
"We invested more than 310,000 U.S. dollars to this hotel. That's a lot of money, but we see many opportunities here. I can earn about 500 dollars a
day if the business goes well. So I'm quite optimistic about our future."

The town's restored environment also brought back forests to its people.

Wang Xueming is the head of Huang Jiaping Village, he takes care of his ginkgoes every day, measuring their size, hoping to sell them at a
higher price.

SOUNDBITE: WANG XUEMING, HEAD OF HUANGJIAPING VILLAGE
"The diameter of the tree trunk has reached 20 centimeters. The tree is 10 years old already. Someone offered me 230 U.S. dollars to buy it, but I refused. I'm waiting for the tree to grow bigger. Its price is increasing every year by about 60 dollars."

Ginkgo is regarded as a living fossil as the plant dates back 270 million years. Its fruit has various uses as a food and traditional medicine.

When the forests were restored in the town, Wang Xueming and other villagers started to grow this plant, and business is growing every year.

SOUNDBITE: WANG XUEMING, HEAD OF HUANGJIAPING VILLAGE
" When I was little, my family grew crops and raised pigs, and we were just trying to make a living. But now we are growing ginkgoes, and some of us make 1500 U.S. dollars out of it every year. Our lives are also greatly improved."

And, Wang doesn't forget to plan for a sustainable future.

SOUNDBITE: WANG XUEMING, HEAD OF HUANGJIAPING VILLAGE
"I planted another 280 saplings this years. So after I sell out all the grown trees, I can start over. Also, the ecological balance won't be broken by our business."

Shuimo Town was once home to several heavy industries, which were the major tax sources for the local government. However, decided to going green, the town closed all the industries with huge profits but also heavy pollution.

SOUNDBITE: QING LIDONG, LOCAL OFFICIAL
"We had 63 industrial companies. After the earthquake, 61 companies were closed and transformed into recycling factories, while the other two high-tech companies are now serving the town' tourism industry."

In fact, before tourism industry was created in history, Tibetans and Qiang people have being "performing" for thousands years here. The talent of singing and dancing are considered as basic instinct inherited from one generation to another.

Hence, that's not rare that traditional songs related to topics such as rivers and the mountains can be heard as a part of welcoming ceremony for tourists now.

Yexiranji is quite different from those performers. He is 14-year-old, studying at a middle school in Shuimo Town. As a tibetan, he told CNC correspondent that he would like to personally sing a traditional song about "friend" for the Wolrd Environmental Day.

It is not clear that if the song of "Friend" includes the friendship between human beings and the nature, but the rhythm of diverse ecosystem on the land never stops.

Three years after the earthquake, a greener Shuimo Town has gained itself hope and a bright future.

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP.

Energy-saving targets met

CNC report from Beijing
Added On June 12, 2011

STORY HIGHLIGHTS


World Environment Day
Environment protection and improvement
Chinese town going green

The Chinese government announced on Friday that all provincial-level governments across the country have accomplished their energy-saving targets in the past five years.

According to a government statement, China's energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) had dropped by 19.1 percent during the period between 2006 and 2010.

While its economy grew at a staggering 11.2 percent on average, the country's energy consumption rose just 6.6 percent annually over the past five years,

Among all the provincial-level regions, the national capital of Beijing took the lead in the energy saving.

The city had to consume 58,200 metric tons of coal equivalent for an output of each 1 billion yuan (154 million U.S. dollars) in 2010, compared with 79,200 metric tons at the end of 2005.

China has vowed to make its economy greener and reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 16 percent and lower carbon dioxide emission per unit of GDP by 17 percent during the period between 2011 and 2015. The pledge is parts of the country's efforts to combat climate change.

Environment protection and improvement

Environment protection and improvement

CNC report from Guatemala, Morocco
Added On June 6, 2011

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

India to host Environment Day

It's World Environment Day!


In 1973, the first WED was observed to raise people's awareness of the environment. Since then, various events have been held to call for environment protection.
The Prayer of Rain in Guatemala is an ancient ceremony. But it has taken on new meanings in modern world.
Lifestyles takes you there.

The Prayer of Rain
40 days after the Holy Week every year, Mayan indigenes in Guatemala perform an ancestral ceremony around the Chicabal Lagoon to ask for rain .

The Lagoon, located in the center of Chicabal Volcano, is one of the main natural heritages in Guatemala as well as a sacred place for the Maya people.

Hundreds of people gather to the site to be part of the Prayer ceremony. The ceremony is now no longer just an ancient ritual. It shows more of people's concern for environment protection.

In fact, Guatemala is a country with many natural and archeological attractions of great value. Among them is Takalik Abaj. Let's take a tour there with Lifestyles.

Takalik Abaj lies in the the north of the municipality of El Asintal, southwest of Guatemala. It is one of the most important archeological sites aound the world.

The site had its golden age in the preclassical and classical periods, when the economy and the culture flourished in the area.

It used to be one of the most important commercial centers between 9 century BC and 10 century AD, trading frequently with Kaminaljuyi and Chocola.

Today, after restoration work, more than 80 stone buildings, 200 murals and 12 plazas are opened to the visitors. The architectures and arts there show evident Mayan characteristics with an implication of Olmec style it acquired in early ages.

Groups of archaeologists are working around the area, trying to find more about this ancient site.

Apart from these natural and cultural heritages, people's living environment is also of great concern for many countries. Morocco is one that is operating a program to get rid of the shanty towns in its cities.
Lifestyles has the details.

Morocco started in 2004 a project called "Cities without Shanty Towns". Its goal is to get rid of shanty towns around the country and improve people's living conditions.

The Program is to be carried out in up to 85 cities next year and bring benefits to thousands of households.

It costs a total of 4.85 billion dirhams with a plan to construct 55,000 lodgings and corresponding equipment.The government is coworking with big companies to achieve the goal.

The Program is projected to complete by June 2012.

Protecting our forests from destruction is a major priority of the UN Environment Programme.

World Environment Day

CNC report from United Nations
Added On June 8, 2011

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Environment protection and improvement
India to host Environment Day
Iker Casillas named ambassador

Protecting our forests from destruction is a major priority of the UN Environment Programme.

That is why, to help mark World Environment Day over the weekend, the UNEP turned to actor, conservationist and UN Goodwill Ambassador Edward Norton --- who has made forest preservation a key priority in his work around the world.

Edward Norton may be well-known for his work in movies, but it is his role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity that he is now most proud of.

Since Norton assumed his work with the UN, he has visited a variety of conservation and rural renewable energy projects around the world, including in central Kenya.

SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Norton, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity:
“It’s very important to find ways to articulate to people why biodiversity matters, should matter to them; and in a lot of ways that’s about telling good stories, it’s about being able to go into the world, see programs, see examples of the good and the bad, see examples of negative impacts, loss of biodiversity, see examples of the positive impacts of restoration and preservation of biodiversity, and come back and find a way to communicate that to people in a broad base way.”

While visiting a bio-gas project in Kenya earlier this year, intended to provide a farming community with an alternative to the use of firewood, Norton witnessed how small dairy farmers around the slopes of Mount Kenya are using waste from their cows to produce enough methane to power their houses and farms.

SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Norton, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity:
“One of the ones that really stuck out to me was this biogas project for small dairy farmers around the slopes of Mount Kenya. They are reducing and even eliminating their use of fuel wood from forests by taking these digestors, these drums, and putting the waste from their dairy cows into them and producing so much methane that they power their whole houses, their stoves, their farms and everything. And the guy, there was this guy, you know, the project manager of that, and he was like, I mean, you know, Steven Spielberg was never more passionate and creative than this guy was.”

Since economic development in Kenya is largely underpinned by the quality and integrity of the country’s rich natural resource base, the UNEP reports that environmental change in the form of degradation is threatening its natural resources and affecting Kenyan livelihoods.

SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Norton, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity:
“We are losing this enormous treasury of species that has lots of very specific value to us. Not just holistic or spiritual but actual economic value. It is a genetic database that we are losing. There is an incredible report that’s come out of the UN, it’s called the TEA Report, the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity that really clearly demonstrates that forest ecosystems represent an enormous uncalculated GDP, especially for poor people around the world so that when you clear a forest to create the quote unquote economic gain of a certain kind of industry, you actually wipe out an enormous economic GDP that poor people were extracting in a sustainable way from a forest.”

Norton has been active in garnering support for conservation efforts, serving as a board member and head of the Kenya-based Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust’s New York office.

He also took part in the launch of an innovative social networking platform called Crowdrise to boost participation in charitable work.

Norton became involved in the Trust over a decade ago after visiting its eco-lodge in Kenya.

In 2009, he ran the New York City marathon with a team of Maasai warriors raising $1.2 million for the Trust.

SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Norton, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity:
“Biodiversity is not just this abstract concept in halls of science, it’s the living underpinning of our lives and we are all intimately and directly connected to the services and the resources that biodiversity supplies us in our lives. We are reliant on the web of biodiversity for our lives and I think we have to tell that story better to people.”

According to Norton, figuring out how people in developing countries can thrive and grow without destroying some of the world's most important natural resources is going to be one of the great challenges of the 21st Century

IWMI : Wetlands

More than 3 billion people (around half the world’s population) obtain their basic water needs from inland freshwater wetlands.

IWMI : Wetlands