PIFWA Mangrove Educational Center

Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association (PIFWA)

Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association (PIFWA) is one of the local Malaysian NGO working on protecting the benefits of local fishermen and actively conducting the mangrove planting activities. Currently, PIFWA is working with NGOs and government to establish a Mangrove Educational Center.

PIFWA Office

7 years old mangrove after replanted by PIFWA at the abundant Shrimp Pond

PIFWA Mangrove Nursery

Young mangrove plant at the nursery

Mangrove replanting project at Nibong Tebal

Mangrove replanting project at Seberang Jaya

Proposed site for Mangrove Educational Center

Resource:
http://geic.hq.unu.edu/ENV/Files/2008/SPA.pdf
http://geic.hq.unu.edu/ENV/files/InnComm%20Report/case%20study%203%20Malaysia.pdf

PIFWA Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=pifwa&w=8819274%40N04&ss=2&z=m

Penang's Mud Ball Campaign - Sungai Nibong Kecil

Sungai Nibong Kecil Mud Ball Throwing

Sungai Nibong Kecil located at Bayan Baru is one of the polluted river in this Industrial Area. When I was young, I used to catch the mud crab, fishes in that river, chasing the monitor lizard, however, it is seriously polluted now. I am wondering if we can still find any creature in this river.

The Penang State of Malaysia is now turning into leader of Greening Campaign. One of the popular campaign is throwing the EM contain mudball into the polluted river for cleaning purposes. EM™ stands for "Effective Microorganisms™" and was coined by Professor Dr. Teruo Higa, who developed EM™. EM™ consists of a wide variety of effective, beneficial and non-pathogenic microorganisms produced through a natural process and not chemically synthesized or genetically engineered. (http://emrojapan.com/about-em/about-em.html)

In Bayan Baru, the mudball campaign is supported by the company operating in the Free Trade Zone, which show their Corporate Social Responsibility to the local society. It was indeed an encouraging sign for the environmental awareness raising in this area.

Applying the EM Mudball for river cleansing is rather a long term process and need strong and consistent commitment. This will be the real challenge as there is a need to build long-term partnership within the acting parties. In such a case, the leading role of the government is important for the partnership to sustain.

Resource:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/33020658/Should-EM-Mudballs-Be-Used-for-Treating-Rivers-and-Seafro
http://emrojapan.com/about-em/em-products/activated-materials/howtomakeballs.html

Making Mudball for Malaysia
http://www.scribd.com/doc/17521409/Membuat-Em-Mud-Ball-Bagi-Pengurangan-Pence-Mar-An-Melalui-Kitar-Semula-Sisa

Sungai Nibong Kecil

Rubbish Floating on the river

Pollution from domestic discharge

Floating Food Container on the river

Petronas Station at Sungai Nibong Kecil

Oil discharge from the Petronas Station

Stop the Pollution

Environmental Monitoring by PSDC

Blackish water discharge from domestic source

マレーシア・ペナン―漁民とともにマングローブを植える旅

マレーシア・ペナン―漁民とともにマングローブを植える旅

期間：
2010年12月19日（日）～25日（土）　7日間

内容：
マレーシア・ペナンの美しい町並みは、19世紀の英国植民地の面影を今に伝え、世界遺産にも指定されています。中国系、インド系、マレー系住民という多民 族によって構成されるこの地は、食も、建築も、宗教も、言語も多彩です。自然に恵まれ、東洋の真珠ともいわれるこの島は、アジアでも有数の海浜リゾートと しても知られていますが、ここ数年、急激な開発と人口の増加により、河川や海岸の汚染がひどくなってきてもいます。そんななか伝統的な漁法を守り、マング ローブ植林、手長エビの稚魚放流などの環境保全活動に取り組んでいる漁民のグループ（PIFWA）がいます。この開発の波に直面する漁民たちを訪ね、その マングローブ植林に参加し、自然と人間がともに生きていくための知恵や方法を考えます。

＊パルシックは、2010年より、この活動への支援を行っています。

ツアーのポイント：
★世界遺産にも登録されたジョージタウンの街散策
★多文化・多宗教が共生するペナンの魅力的な食事
★東南アジアの環境問題について分かりやすく学べるプログラム

旅行条件：
1.　旅行期間：2010年12月19日（日）～25日（土）
2.　旅行代金：179,800円
＊往復航空運賃（成田⇔ペナン）、
全行程宿泊費、食費、全行程移動費、
入国税・空港税等含む
3.　最少催行人数：5名
4.　出発空港：成田空港
5.　添乗員：なし。プログラム企画担当者が同行
6.　利用ホテル/宿泊先：Cititel Hotel
7.　利用航空会社：マレーシア航空/シンガポール航空
8.　食事 全行程食事付（ホテル食、食堂など）

旅行日程：
■12月19日
成田発/ペナン空港着
■12月20日
（午前）世界遺産に登録された歴史あるジョージタウンの街を、ペナン出身の活動家、アンワール・ファザール氏と散策
（午後）PMペナンの歴史を学ぶ
■12月21日
（午前）漁民団体PIFWAを訪問・PIFWAリーダーや漁民の人々から活動についての話を聞く
（午後）沿岸漁民による伝統的漁法を見学
■12月22日
PIFWAが取り組むマングローブ植林活動に参加
■12月23日
（午前）エビの放流見学
（午後）ペナン市内観光
■12月24日
（午前）ペナン市内観光
（午後）自由行動後、ペナン発
■12月25日
成田着
＊以上は、現地側の都合などによって変更になる場合があります

★第1回申込締切　2010年11月18日（木）

CBD/COP10 side event - Satoyama Governors’ Summit

CBD/COP10 side event - Satoyama Governors' Summit

by GEOC (satoyama@geoc.jp)

Date & Time: 20 October, 2010, 13:15-14:30
Location: Interactive Fair Tent of Japan, Shirotori Park, Nagoya Congress Center 1-1 Atsutanishicho, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi, Japan Access Map »
Language: English and Japanese simultaneous interpretation

*No pre-registration required

Note: This event is free and open to all. Participants with an official accreditation pass for COP10 can enter the venue without pre-registration. For those without an official accreditation pass for COP10 can also attend the meeting by making registration from the online form below. Seating capacity for non-accreditation holders is 100 maximum.

Register Online

Governors, academics and experts will present advanced approaches for appropriate use and conservation of Satoyama and Satoumi, the traditional secondary natural systems maintained by farmers and fishermen for centuries, and their contribution to the revitalization of local communities.

The conclusions of the Biodiversity Governors' Summit on the use of Satoyama and revitalizing local communities, which will be held on 19 October in Nagoya, will be presented at this event for consideration by policymakers, academics, members of business community, NGO/NPOs and citizens participating in the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/COP10).

The establishment of a local biodiversity strategic vision, the implementation of forest management through a specific local tax system, and how we can activate communities which are influenced by the serious impacts of globalization and aging through the development and cultivation of Satoyama and Satoumi ecosystems will be also discussed.

Renewed and creative action on the appropriate use and conservation of secondary natural environments such as Satoyama and Satoumi and their role in revitalizing local communities is particularly timely now and will only become more crucial in a post-COP10 world.

Download:

You can download the poster in pdf format from the link below.
Satoyama Governors' Summit Poster (PDF 1.3MB)

Biodiversity Governors’ Summit (BGS) : Satoyama/Satoumi Use and Conservation - Revitalizing Local Communities

CBD/COP10 related event
Biodiversity Governors' Summit (BGS) : Satoyama/Satoumi Use and Conservation - Revitalizing Local Communities

by GEOC (satoyama@geoc.jp)
Last updated 2010-09-18 17:37:08.0

Date & Time: 19 October, 2010, 15:00-18:00
Location: Midland Hall, 5F Midland Square, 4-7-1 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-Shi, Aichi, 450-6205, Japan Access Map »
Language: English and Japanese simultaneous interpretation

*Pre-registration required

Humanity has been blessed with a wide range of benefits from biologically diverse ecosystems including the provision of food, clothing, wood, pharmaceutical products and natural disaster prevention. Global biodiversity, however, is in serious danger due to human activities such as large scale development, the overexploitation of natural resources, the introduction of alien species, and a lack of appropriate maintenance of secondary nature such as Satoyama which needs to be developed and maintained sustainably.

The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/COP10) will be held in October, 2010 in Nagoya, Aichi. The Biodiversity Governors' Summit, an international symposium, will be held on 19 October in which governors and vice governors from Aichi, Ishikawa, Hyogo, Shiga and Shizuoka as well as academics and experts, will present their approaches and actions for the conservation of Satoyama and Satoumi and its contribution to the revitalization of local communities. Participants will also discuss how we can activate communities which are influenced by the serious impacts of globalization and aging through the development and cultivation of Satoyama and Satoumi ecosystems.

The results of the Summit will be presented to decision makers, academia, business community, NGOs/NPOs and citizens at a CBD/COP10 side event at Interactive Fair Tent of Japan in Shirotori Park on 20th September.

Registration:

Please register by 13 October. We may stop accepting the registration before 13 October when we reach the seat capacity. To register online, please complete the registration form available at the link below.

Register Online

To register by e-mail, please type your (1) Name, (2) Name of your Organization, (3) Sector of your Organization, (4) your region or Nation, and e-mail to satoyama@geoc.jp .

Download:

You can download the poster in pdf format from the link below.
Biodiversity Governors' Summit Poster (PDF 2.0MB)

Farmers in a changing climate: Does gender matter?

Farmers in a changing climate: Does gender matter?

Food security in Andhra Pradesh, India

 

The report provides concrete evidence of how gender roles and gender-differentiated access to resources shape men and women's perceptions and experiences of climate variability, as well as their coping strategies and related institutional support. Recommendations for addressing gender issues in the context of climate change adaptation, particularly with regard to food security and farming-based livelihoods are made; the methodological approach and tools are also discussed in detail.

 

The report is a result of a multi-year research project carried out by an international, multidisciplinary team and can be downloaded here: http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1721e/i1721e00.htm

 

For further information and collaboration, please visit the project website http://www.fao.org/climatechange/54818/en/ and/or contact the authors.

Africa Climate Change Resilience Alliance - ACCRA adaptive capacity framework

The Africa Climate Change Resilience Alliance has launched the consultation version of the ACCRA adaptive capacity framework. 

ACCRA is an exciting and ambitious consortium working to improve our understanding of adaptive capacity. We have developed an innovative 'adaptive capacity framework' which we are consulting on, and we are currently using it as a conceptual tool for research on existing Disaster Risk Reduction, Social Protection and Livelihoods programme interventions in Ethiopia, Uganda and Mozambique. 

The ACCRA framework has the potential to be used in a number of different contexts, and for a range of purposes - for example to mainstream climate change adaptation, for design or evaluation purposes. We are already looking at how it can be used in ACCRA members' policy and programming work, but our ambition is for it to be used much more widely.  We have already consulted extensively with governments, civil society members and of course ACCRA members in Ethiopia, Uganda and Mozambique on our framework. We would now like to hear your views! Please click here to download the consultation document and follow the guidance to send us your comments. 

To find out more about ACCRA, join the ACCRA community at http://community.eldis.org/accra/ and receive updates on our research findings, our policy recommendations and the evolution of our adaptive capacity framework.   

ACCRA is funded by DFID, the Department for International Development. 

The Royal Society new project: People and the Planet

The Royal Society recently launched its new project: People and the Planet: the role of global population in sustainable development and is now seeking evidence to inform the study.

§  The Royal Society science policy centre Population study aims are to provide policy guidance to decision makers and inform interested members of the public based on a dispassionate assessment of the best available evidence. The scope of the study will be global and it will explicitly acknowledge regional variations in population dynamics.  It will consider the implications of population decline as well as growth.

§  We are particularly interested in receiving evidence from the Oceans community on:

§  country/regional population trends (migration, urbanisation, population density etc) and implications for ocean resources;

§  the implications of these trends for national and international sustainable development objectives;

§  evidence relating to human population changes (ie fertility rates, mortality, urbanisation, migration) and interactions/feedbacks with the natural environment and natural resource availability and quality (eg biodiversity, fisheries, etc). Here we are also interested in how the ocean environment and ocean resources can influence population;

§  Case studies or examples of where policies, economics, social or cultural influences have had positive or negative impacts on population at the country or regional level.

More information about the study, and the call for evidence, can be found on our website: http://royalsociety.org/People-and-the-Planet/

 

The original deadline for submissions was 1 October, however submissions are still being accepted.

 

The study is due to be completed in early 2012.

Climate Change Adaptation in Africa

The Climate Change and African Political Stability program at the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law released two new publications on climate change in Africa:

• Locating Climate Insecurity: Where are the Most Vulnerable Places in Africa?: http://ccaps.strausscenter.org/system/research_items/pdfs/19/original.pdf?1286296660
• International Development Assistance for Climate Change Adaptation in Africa: The Aid Scramble: http://ccaps.strausscenter.org/system/research_items/pdfs/35/original.pdf?1286823400
  

The program also recently issued a Call for Papers on Environmental Security for African Scholars, co-sponsored by the Strauss Center, the Institute for Security Studies, and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.  More information is available at: http://ccaps.strausscenter.org/news/article/call-for-papers-on-environmental-security.

IEA releases latest estimates on CO2 emissions from fuel combustion

IEA releases latest estimates on CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion

6 October 2010

In the lead-up to the UN climate negotiations in Cancún, the latest information on the level and growth of CO₂ emissions, their source and geographic distribution will be essential to lay the foundation for a global agreement. To provide input to and support for the UN process the IEA is making available for free download at http://www.iea.org/co2highlights the Highlights version of CO₂ Emissions from Fuel Combustion. This annual publication contains estimates of CO₂ emissions by country from 1971 to 2008 and selected indicators such as CO₂/GDP, CO₂/capita, CO₂/TPES and CO₂/kWh.

FIELD - new paper on Climate Change Litigation

Climate-vulnerable developing nations could use international law to break the current deadlock in the intergovernmental negotiations on climate change by taking industrialised nations to court. Read the new FIELD briefing paper on Climate litigation - summary or full paper at:

http://www.field.org.uk/news/climate-litigation

The publication comes as government officials from around the world gather in Tianjin, China for three days of negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

"A large part of the relevant legal literature suggests that the main polluting nations can be held responsible under international law for the harmful effects of their greenhouse-gas emissions," says the paper's author, lawyer Christoph Schwarte.

"As a result affected countries may have a substantive right to demand the cessation of a certain amount of emissions. In selected cases they also have the procedural means to pursue an inter-state litigation in an international judicial forum such as the International Court of Justice in The Hague."

Schwarte's paper outlines a possible legal argument for such a lawsuit and offers some observations on the potential impacts of bringing a case before an international court or tribunal.

While there are various substantive and procedural legal hurdles, under certain circumstances litigation under public international law would be possible and could become a bargaining chip in the negotiations.

"Today, a credible case for inter-state litigation on climate change can be made," says Schwarte. "Developing country governments are understandably reluctant to challenge any of the big donor nations in an international court or tribunal. But this may change once the impacts of climate change become even more visible and an adequate agreement remains wanting."

FIELD analyzed the current legal discourse and has summarized its findings in a longer working paper, which it has made available online as an open wiki document to allow legal academics and practitioners to comment on, criticise or strengthen the arguments.

"While international judicial organs are unlikely to issue hard hitting judgments, climate change litigation may help to create the political pressure and third-party guidance required to re-invigorate the international negotiations, within or outside the UNFCCC," says Schwarte.

Since the failed Copenhagen summit in 2009, there has been limited progress in the UNFCCC climate negotiations. At the current rate of progress, a new legal framework and ambitious emission reductions look unlikely in the near-term.

As a result billions of extra tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will be released into the atmosphere, and many scientists warn that this means global temperatures could rise by 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Joy Hyvarinen, Director of FIELD says 'Progress in the international climate change negotiations is nowhere near enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a safe level. Something new is needed to push the negotiations forward. Perhaps an international court case could help bring new momentum to the negotiations.'

For more information, please contact:

FIELD

www.field.org.uk
field@field.org.uk

3 Endsleigh Street
London WC1H 0DD
T: +44 (0)20 7872 7200
F: +44 (0)20 7388 2826

UNFCCC CDM International Photo and Video Contest 2010

There are only two weeks to go in the UNFCCC/CDM International Photo and Video Contest 2010. The contest is a great way for registered Clean Development Mechanism projects to present their accomplishments to the world, and a great way to publicize the benefits of this unique mechanism. For photographers and digital video producers, it is a great way to gain international exposure and recognition.

Don't miss this valuable opportunity. Go to <https://cdm.unfccc.int/contest/index.html> to learn more and to submit your photos and videos.

Entries will be accepted until midnight GMT, 20 October 2010.

Thank you and very best regards,
Your CDM Team

Coordination for Climate Change Adaptation

The World Resources Institute is launching an investigation into the formal coordination mechanisms needed for development and implementation of adaptation policy. Our aim is to gather information from experts on climate change adaptation policy on the coordination institutions and mechanisms used in different countries to manage adaptation at the national level. While many of these mechanisms will be new or only half-formed, we hope to explore the variety of mechanisms and contexts at the domestic level.

 

As a part of this process, we have put together a short survey to gather a range of perspectives and experiences surrounding coordination for adaptation. If you have some familiarity with adaptation coordination processes and mechanisms in your country, please complete the survey and share your knowledge. We anticipate that it will take 20-30 minutes to complete this survey and submit your responses.

 

Please take the survey here: WRI Survey on Coordination for Climate Change Adaptation

 

All responses will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used to gather critical data about the range of activities surrounding coordination mechanisms for adaptation planning.

 

The results of this survey will feed into a pair of roundtables, one to be held virtually and one during COP16, during which the issues uncovered by this survey will be explored in greater depth and detail.  This series of activities draws upon WRI's National Adaptive Capacity Framework (http://www.wri.org/project/vulnerability-and-adaptation/nac-framework) and the related ARIA civil society project (http://www.wri.org/project/access-initiative/aria).  It will inform development of the upcoming 2010 edition of the World Resources Report (http://www.wri.org/project/world-resources-report), Decision Making in a Changing Climate. 

 

Thank you in advance for your participation. If you have any additional questions or comments regarding this survey or its related activities, please contact WRI Senior Associate Joe Foti, jfoti@wri.org.

Business and Climate Change Research in Australia

In Australia, as you may be aware, there is a significant amount of discussion going on about the potential for a tax on carbon and the possibility of an emissions trading scheme being introduced ahead of 2013. Lost in the debate is the very real need to build skills capacity, particularly for those energy sectors that are seeing an immense amount of investment – such as renewable energy and technology.

This is the second survey over the last several quarters that looks to see what is happening on the business and industry side. The research looked at whether or not business was prepared for an emissions trading scheme, if they believed a tax on carbon should be introduced, if they believed there were enough skills in the economy to accommodate a rise in green jobs and, importantly, whether they were taking direct action themselves.

The next part of the research will be to look more closely at the actual skills required to support green jobs and what kinds of programs business and industry are undertaking to reduce carbon footprints.

You can download a copy of the survey summary @ http://www.sustaingroup.net/climatesurveyresults

 Some of the quick data from the latest survey:

Quick data

• 63% of respondents remain unsure as to the impact of an emissions trading scheme on their specific industry sector. This is down by only 1% from the previous response of 64%
• 76.8% of respondents do not believe that Australia has the skills base to accommodate a rise in demand for green jobs or a growing green and renewable energy / technology sector. This is up from 63% in the previous survey
• 56.5% of respondents do not believe that the Government should introduce a tax on carbon ahead of a proposed emissions trading scheme (this question has been introduced into the survey and was not asked at the last survey)
• 42% of respondents do not believe the Government should wait for a global agreement on climate change while 40.6% believe they should. 17.4% were unsure.
• 63.8% or responding organisations are already taking direct action when it comes to reducing carbon footprints – this is up slightly from the previous survey which found 59% of organisations surveyed were taking direct action
• In a "balancing" question of what respondents thought of Opposition policy:  64% of respondents remain confused about what the Opposition mean by direct action. This is down from 76% in the previous survey

A Q&A about recent report on state of medium-term climate prediction

I share with you a Q&A with IRI research scientist, Lisa Goddard, who helped to write a report recently released by the U.S. National Research Council called "Assessment of Intraseasonal to Interannual Climate Prediction and Predictability" [download here: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12878]. The report examines the current state of medium-term climate forecasting–over time periods of a few weeks to a few years. It makes suggestions on how these forecasts might be improved.

The International Research Institute for Climate and Society is among a number of institutions that regularly produce climate predictions, such as seasonal or longer-term rainfall and temperature forecasts. These institutions, the report states, could increase the value of such products to decision makers by improving the procedures for archiving and disseminating the information. In addition, the report concludes that making advances in observational capabilities, statistical and dynamical models and data assimilation systems could improve our understanding of key climate processes, as well as improve the forecasts themselves.

Dr. Goddard discusses the publication and some of its key recommendations.

Q: First, why is such a report necessary?

LG: The report was primarily commissioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which wanted an assessment of the current capabilities in seasonal prediction and what additional efforts might improve the quality of forecast information. We know we have some skill in predicting the climate on intraseasonal-to-interannual time scales. For the United States, much of this skill is realized during El Niño or La Niña events. In order to improve our skill, we would not only need better models, but more complete observing systems, as well as better techniques for inserting those observations into the models' initial conditions for prediction. There are other aspects of the climate system that may influence the climate on these time scales, such as the stratosphere or land-atmosphere interactions. These will require much more research, observations, and modeling before the operational community can quantify their impact on intraseasonal-to-interannual predictions.

However, we wrote the report with a broader audience in mind. We included sections on the history of prediction, on how forecasts are made, plus the extensive observations, scientific research and operational efforts required to develop, improve and communicate these forecasts.

Q: The report recommends some "best practices" for improving the utility and accessibility of forecasts to researchers and decision makers. What are the major impediments that prevent the uptake of this information by these groups currently? Is there one best practice that stands out from the rest in your opinion?

LG: In my opinion, creating publicly-available archives of information associated with forecasts is paramount. IRI's experience is that the needs of researchers, decision makers and others who would use climate forecasts, or the model predictions on which they are based, are too diverse and difficult for any operational center to address thoroughly. So making available the data from the models and the observations, as well as what considerations went into the issued forecasts is very important. It allows different communities to tailor or assess the information in ways that are more consistent with their decision processes or risk thresholds.

Q: The report also lays out some key research questions that need addressing if we are to improve our forecasts. Which of these intersect directly with your work and why are they important to answer?

LG: The focus of my research is on how to make the best use of available prediction information, especially to those who might be able to act on that information. This is related to the report's recommendations on improving the development and understanding of multi-model ensemble prediction and merging statistical and dynamical techniques

I think this is an important issue because models are still deficient when it comes to representing some of the characteristics of the climate and its variability. These deficiencies aren't necessarily the same from one model to the next. The better the models and their use of observations become, the more robust the data I have to plug into my own research. So the key research questions that others throughout the climate community are addressing to improve forecasts also intersect directly with my work.

Permalink for this story:http://iri.columbia.edu/features/2010/new_report_state_of_climate_prediction.html

• The full report can be downloaded for free from National Academies Press.

14 Japanese Crested Ibis Chicks Successfully Fledge in Natural Breeding Program | Japan for Sustainability

14 Japanese Crested Ibis Chicks Successfully Fledge in Natural Breeding Program | Japan for Sustainability

UNEP Releases Green Economy and MDGs Brief

20 September 2010: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has released "A Brief for Policymakers on the Green Economy and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," which concludes that investment in clean energy, sustainable transport, forests and environmentally-friendly agriculture is essential to meet the MDGs.

The report was launched at the UN Summit on the MDGs, convening at UN Headquarters in New York, US, from 20-22 September 2010. The report cites several cases where green strategies have paid multiple dividends in respect to achieving the eight MDGs. Case studies include: China’s energy policy, which has fuelled a rise in renewable energy manufacturing and installation; and Nepal’s reversal of 1990s deforestation rates through community-based policies, including setting harvesting rules, product prices and the sharing of profits.

The report also concludes that investing and re-investing in forests would assist in meeting the aforementioned MDGs, and also in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked with deforestation. According to the report providing clean energy underpins the success of many of the Goals, directly in terms of sustainable development, and indirectly if climate change is left unaddressed. The report also recommends subsidies be redirected from fossil fuels to renewable energy technologies, suggesting this would trigger new kinds of employment, faster access to electricity and greater social equity. [UNEP Press Release] [UNEP Brief for Policymakers]

First Spawning of Transplanted Coral Confirmed in Sekisei Lagoon | Japan for Sustainability

First Spawning of Transplanted Coral Confirmed in Sekisei Lagoon | Japan for Sustainability

Japanese Florist Encouraging Customers to Participate in Green Campaign | Japan for Sustainability

Japanese Florist Encouraging Customers to Participate in Green Campaign | Japan for Sustainability

[Newsletter] Japan's Toyama Bay: Working to Restore the Links between Forests, Rivers, and the Sea | Japan for Sustainability

[Newsletter] Japan's Toyama Bay: Working to Restore the Links between Forests, Rivers, and the Sea | Japan for Sustainability

OECD - New Released Papers

OECD has released three papers exploring new issues in carbon markets, including linking emission trading systems and voluntary markets:

Towards Global Carbon Pricing: Direct and Indirect Linking to Carbon Markets (July 2010)
By R.B. Dellink, S. Jamet, J. Chateau and R. Duval
Emissions trading systems (ETS) can play a major role in a cost-effective climate policy framework. Both direct linking of ETSs and indirect linking through a common crediting mechanism can reduce costs of action. This paper analyses the impact of linking emission trading schemes directly and through the use of offsets. Using a global recursive-dynamic computable general equilibrium model, the effects of direct and indirect linking of ETS systems across world regions are assessed. The analysis in this paper shows, however, that the potential gains to be reaped are so large, that substantial efforts in this domain are warranted.

Voluntary Carbon Markets: How can they serve climate policies?
By Pierre Guigon, BlueNext
This paper aims to examine how voluntary carbon markets can provide a valuable contribution to strengthening domestic and international climate policies. The research shows that the several carbon project certification schemes that have emerged in the voluntary carbon market have developed potential innovative solutions to deal with some of the issues faced by compliance markets.
 

Buying and Cancelling Allowances as an Alternative to Offsets for the Voluntary Market: A Preliminary Review of Issues and Options
By Anja Kollmuss and Michael Lazarus, Stockholm Environment Institute
In recent years, businesses, local governments and individuals have set goals for reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases. In addition to directly reducing their own emissions, many of these entities have purchased carbon offsets to help achieve their mitigation goals. Yet establishing offset quality can be difficult, due to issues such as additionality, measurement, leakage, permanence, and verification. This paper explores scenarios under which, as an alternative to offsets, voluntary buyers could instead buy and cancel allowances from compliance markets.

Indonesia- Climate Change Studies

The Indonesian National Climate Change Council (DNPI) has released several studies which show how Indonesia can continue to grow the economy and achieve its greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions targets.

 

The DNPI studies have been developed over the last 18 months and involved more than 150 government, private-sector and NGO participants in sectoral workshops and meetings. It shows the range of emission reduction actions that are possible for Indonesia with

technologies that either are available today or are highly likely to be available in the future.

 

In parallel with the development of the Green House Gas mitigation study, the DNPI is also collaborating with selected Indonesian provincial and district governments to develop green growth strategies. Three provinces, Jambi, Central Kalimantan and East Kalimantan, were keen to work with the DNPI to identify green growth opportunities to boost their economic development while cutting carbon emissions. In addition, 10 more provinces have requested DNPI's assistance to conduct similar studies.

 

Please visit www.dnpi.go.id and click NEWS to see all the studies in English and Bahasa Indonesia.

The direct link is: 

http://www.dnpi.go.id/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=4&Itemid=4

 

Sewage pipes directly connect the home and the environment | Japan for Sustainability

Sewage pipes directly connect the home and the environment | Japan for Sustainability

'Sunflower Project' Provides Experience for Generating Biodiesel Fuel | Japan for Sustainability

'Sunflower Project' Provides Experience for Generating Biodiesel Fuel | Japan for Sustainability

Survey Shows 64.5% Willing to Buy LED Lightbulbs | Japan for Sustainability

Survey Shows 64.5% Willing to Buy LED Lightbulbs | Japan for Sustainability

The Ranking of Green Building in Japan

The Ranking of Japan's Green Building 2010

Following is the list of the ranking of Japanese Green Business Building in Tokyo (calculation based on greenhouse gases emission per m2)

1st Mitsui Sumimoto Insurance Building 中央区新川
2nd Toyota Motors Building 文京区後楽
3rd Mitsui Sumimoto Insurance Building 千代田区神田駿河台

温室効果ガス排出量が少ない実質ランキング上位（1m²当たりの年間）

1位　47.5kg　三井住友海上新川ビル（中央区新川、1988年）
2位　50.3kg　トヨタ自動車東京本社（文京区後楽、1982年）
3位　53.5kg　三井住友海上駿河台ビル（千代田区神田駿河台、1984年）
4位　54.7kg　住友不動産芝公園タワー（港区芝公園、2001年）
5位　55.7kg　日本生命日比谷ビル（千代田区有楽町、1963年）

Source: http://eco.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/column/20100903/104711/?mail

New online Manual of European Environmental Policy

 

 

 

Earthscan launches online Manual of European Environmental Policy

www.europeanenvironmentalpolicy.eu

 

Earthscan has launched the online Manual of European Environmental Policy - the essential tool for all who need to keep pace with EU environmental legislation.

 

Previously published as a loose-leaf binder, the Manual has been restructured to reflect the changes in EU environmental policy-making. The new online format will be the quickest and most efficient way to access analysis of more than 500 Directives, Decisions and Regulations. Special interactive features of the new Manual include a 'magic search', which will search any double-clicked word; share tools and a personalised 'My Manual' account.

 

Jonathan Sinclair Wilson, Managing Director at Earthscan said:

"Environmental policy has been at the core of the EU project and the single market, determining policies for the 27 member governments and regulations for the world's largest trading bloc. The new online, pan-European Manual of European Environmental Policy will enable all those – whether governments, advisors, researchers, business or trading partners – to keep up to date with the most cogent and reliable analysis of policy developments and their implications."

 

The Manual is the result of work, over more than three decades, by policy experts and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) - a leading centre for the analysis and development of environmental and related policies in Europe.

 

www.europeanenvironmentalpolicy.eu

 

Sharing practices on biodiversity and livelihood impacts of climate change

Natureandpoverty.net invites people active in the conservation and development community to share resources & collaborate online at its interactive platform. Please take a few minutes to visit our website: http://www.natureandpoverty.net.
One of our current focus themes is biodiversity and livelihood impacts of climate change: we invite you to become involved and share your experiences.

Natureandpoverty.net provides a platform for practitioners working on ecosystem management and poverty alleviation. Practitioners can connect with people and organizations, share experiences and find tools and resources, gain easy and timely access to experts and benefit from field-based knowledge and insights.

Ownership, engagement and direct interaction among users are key parameters of the Natureandpoverty.net platform. From that perspective the platform has opted for an open and bottom-up approach aimed at establishing an interactive community of practitioners. As of today already more than 675 practitioners are taking part in this network! Be invited to join this network and share your practices via this link

[Newsletter] CO2 Emissions from the Japanese Transport Sector Already Decreasing | Japan for Sustainability

[Newsletter] CO2 Emissions from the Japanese Transport Sector Already Decreasing | Japan for Sustainability

Shibukasa, an Umbrella Lending Service | Japan for Sustainability

Shibukasa, an Umbrella Lending Service | Japan for Sustainability

Mt. Fuji eco village connects to a greener world

Life in a vibrant satoyama forest

New information on Climate Funds Update

New information on Climate Funds Update: up-to-date information on funds plus new page on Fast Start Finance pledges now available

The Climate Funds Update has just completed a comprehensive update on all 21 climate change funds, including information on funds pledged, deposited and disbursed, project-level information and updated tables and graphs. The website also announces a new page which tracks Fast Start Finance pledges made by donor countries. Please visit www.climatefundsupdate.org for more information on funds, and www.climatefundsupdate.org/fast-start-finance for Fast Start Finance pledges.

Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change - Online Courses Begins in September

CSDi is announcing the September launch of a module of four online field courses on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change. These courses begin by introducing basic climate change concepts, and develop as participants identify local community vulnerabilities, investigate appropriate solutions, develop full projects, launch and manage them.

Complete information and course syllabi:
http://www.csd-i.org/adapting-overview/

Online course participants are using our courses to develop real, on-the-ground projects with real communities - both individually and through cross-hemispheric student partnerships. People from 73 different countries have used these courses to develop projects in 2010.

MODULE 340: ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE
OL 341. Adapting to Climate Change: Designing & Funding Community-Based Adaptation Projects.
August 31 - October 25.
Gain an insight into contemporary methods of developing community-based, sustainable, impact-oriented projects. Gain practical field tools and develop a range of skills: facilitating participatory needs assessments, designing projects, and evidence-based activities. Develop a real project in real time.

OL 342. Adapting to Climate Change: Planning for Impact.
November 9, 2010 – December 20.
Imbed impact into your adaptation project design with a powerful set of management tools. LogFrames, detailed budgets, timelines, compelling fact sheets, M&E plans, outcomes and impact. These tools will communicate to donors and stakeholders exactly what you are trying to accomplish and can be used for effective management of the project once funded.

OL 343. Adapting to Climate Change: The Community Focus.
January 11 - February 21, 2011.
What does climate change adaptation mean at the community level? What practical tools are available today for communities to use in adaptation? Conduct a baseline survey. For practitioners who wish to begin working now at the community level to successfully adapt to the challenges that face us.

OL 344. Adapting to Climate Change: Sustainable Implementation.
March 15 - May 2, 2011.
How do you launch and implement a community-centered adaptation project? The importance of community engagement. Developing skill sets for your community to use in the adaptation process. Learning tools: monitoring & evaluation. Community empowerment during project hand-over. Sustainability, follow-up & mentoring.

Complete information and course syllabi:
http://www.csd-i.org/adapting-overview/

Be sure to visit the adaptation working group at CSDi's Development Community. Join colleagues in sharing resources & collaborating online:
http://developmentcommunity.csd-i.org/

For more information please visit:
http://www.csd-i.org/online-learning/

Questions? Please contact:
Online.Learning@csd-i.org

Our World 2.0 Trailer

Ultra-Thin Solar Panel Attachable to Wavy Slate Roofing Launched | Japan for Sustainability

Ultra-Thin Solar Panel Attachable to Wavy Slate Roofing Launched | Japan for Sustainability

[Renewables] The Current Renewable Energy Situation in Japan | Japan for Sustainability

[Renewables] The Current Renewable Energy Situation in Japan | Japan for Sustainability

Japanese Taxi Company Tests Operation of EV Taxis with Switchable Batteries | Japan for Sustainability

Japanese Taxi Company Tests Operation of EV Taxis with Switchable Batteries | Japan for Sustainability

Check the article in JFS

YTL presents Climate Change Week Eco Tips Contest - Share your green tips, and win fantastic prizes!

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Best Regards,

CK Tan