Archives for December 2008

Last Update in 2008!

Last Update in 2008! We at IISD RS wish you all the best for this holiday season and throughout the coming year.

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UNWTO Conference Stresses Role of Tourism in a Green Economic New Deal for Asia Pacific

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO/OMT) 22 December 2008: The Second UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Conference on Tourism Trends and Outlook for the Asia Pacific took place from 17-19 December 2008, in Guilin, China, and gathered over 100 experts from 25 countries.

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UN Launches Campaign on Internally Displaced Persons, Including Those Affected by Climate Change

IDPs in North Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 18 December 2008: The UN has launched a year-long advocacy campaign to help millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs), which represent 1% of the world’s population, focusing on mitigating the impact of conflict and natural disasters.

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The Global Climate Observing System Reports on its 2007-2008 Activities

Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) 19 December 2008: The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Steering Committee has published a report on GCOS planning and implementation activities during 2007-2008. The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) is a joint undertaking of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Environment Programme, and the International Council for Science.

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UNGA Adopts Climate Change-Related Resolutions

UN General Assembly (UNGA) 19 December 2008: Among 34 development-related actions put forward by its Second Committee (Economic and Financial), the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a number of resolutions reflecting the breadth of the Committee’s agenda, including consideration of the economic ramifications of climate change, and addressing the need for a more equitable international financial system and to bolster developing countries’ resilience to financial risk.

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WMO Helps Bangladesh Strengthen its Agrometeorological Services

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

17 December 2008: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is helping the Bangladesh Meteorological Department to upgrade and strengthen its network of agrometeorological observatories, as announced at the opening of a national seminar on agrometeorology taking place in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Other international organizations such as the World Bank, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme are also participating in the seminar to discuss the country’s need for improved weather and climate data in support of agriculture.

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UNECE Launches Global Energy Efficiency 21 Project

UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

18 December 2008: At a side event held during the 14th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, held in Poznań, Poland, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) launched the Global Energy Efficiency 21 (GEE21) project.

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ITU’s Dynamic Coalition on Internet and Climate Change Holds First Meeting

ITU Climate Change 18 December 2008: The Dynamic Coalition on Internet and Climate Change (DCICC) held its first meeting on 4 December 2008, during the third Internet Governance Forum in Hyderabad, India, which convened from 3-6 December 2008.

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CDM Executive Board Launches Calls for Experts

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) 17 December 2008: The Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has announced four calls for experts, as agreed by the Board at its 44th meeting. The calls are for experts to replace the outgoing members of the CDM Methodologies Panel (Meth Panel), the CDM Afforestation/Reforestation Working Group (A/R WG), and the CDM Small-Scale Working Group (SSC WG), as well as for experts on: coal mine fires; iron and steel industries; adipic acid; production; transport; SF6; uncertainty; and landfill aeration.

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African Ministers Pledge to Develop the Continent’s Water Resources for Agriculture and Energy

Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: the Challenges of Climate Change

17 December 2008: During the ministerial conference “Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: the Challenges of Climate Change,” held from 15-17 December 2008, in Sirte, Libya, ministers from 53 African countries adopted the Sirte Declaration, in which they pledge to promote water development throughout the continent to fully exploit Africa’s agricultural and hydroenergy potential.

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