http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091007/sc_afp/climatewarmingununfccckyoto
At least this week.
torsdag 8. oktober 2009
Norway increase their emission reduction targets
In the new Government platform (Soria Moria II) Norway is increasing their emission reductions targets from 30% to 40% before 2020 (baseline 1990) if this could contribute to a climate deal where the large emission-countries also committ to clear targets.
Will be interesting to see if this will influence China and USA in the ongoing negotiations here in Bangkok. Or if Norway after all is a small player in this ?
Will be interesting to see if this will influence China and USA in the ongoing negotiations here in Bangkok. Or if Norway after all is a small player in this ?
fredag 2. oktober 2009
Disaster Risk Reduction in Indonesia
A Red Cross film that uses documentary and participatory video to look at Community-Based Adaptation to climate change in Jakarta.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEs4VNngDDA&feature=PlayList&p=063309EFBAABF60A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEs4VNngDDA&feature=PlayList&p=063309EFBAABF60A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6
torsdag 1. oktober 2009
Health & climate change
For more information – www.who.int/phe
PROTECTING HEALTH FROM CLIMATE CHANGE -
TOP 10 ACTIONS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Global
1. Advocate for a strong and equitable post-Kyoto agreement. Current and projected stresses on the Earth’s life support systems (food, shelter, water and energy) require a fair, scientifically sound and globally binding commitment to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and stabilize the global climate.
2. Promote the need for a “health-oriented” agreement. Protecting health and well-being should be one of the three main objectives of the new agreement (alongside development and environment); the strengthening of health systems should be named as one of the priority areas for adaptation to climate change; and mitigation measures that bring health and other socioeconomic benefits should be prioritized.
National/local
3. Use your knowledge and authority to make the case for action. Strengthen public and policy-maker awareness of the current and projected adverse and inequitable health impacts of climate change, as well as the potential for significant health benefits and consequent cost savings from well-conceived climate control policies. Work with others to plan adaptation and mitigation strategies.
4. Assess your community and local health system’s capacities to cope. Measure and evaluate the preparedness of your personnel, institutions and systems to deal with country specific threats. Enhance your research capacities to evaluate threats and the effectiveness of interventions.
5. Strengthen your health system’s adaptive capacity. Many of the projected impacts of climate change on health are avoidable or controllable through application of well-known and well-tested public health and health service interventions, such as public education, disease surveillance, disaster preparedness, mosquito control, food hygiene and inspection, nutritional supplementation, vaccines, primary and mental health care, and training. Where these capacities are weak, work with others to strengthen them.
6. Encourage your health institutions to lead by example. Health institutions – as highly visible, high-energy-use centres – can serve as models by reducing their own carbon emissions, improving health and saving money (see www.corporatecitizen.nhs.uk). Seven potential action areas include: energy management, transport, procurement (including food and water), waste disposal, buildings and landscape, employment and skills, and community engagement. Good practice in these areas has been shown to improve staff health and morale, create healthier local populations, stimulate faster patient recovery rates and save money (see www.globalclimate@hcwh.org).
7. Champion the health benefits of greenhouse gas emission reductions (mitigation). Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can be good for health. In countries where cars are the predominant means of transport, shifting to more walking and cycling will lower carbon emissions, increase physical activity (which will reduce obesity, heart disease and cancer), reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths, and result in less pollution and noise. In countries where solid fuels are the predominant form of household heating and cooking energy, changing to cleaner fuels and providing more efficient stoves will lead to fewer illnesses and deaths related to indoor air
pollution.
Personal
8. Learn about climate-related health threats. All health professionals should be provided with general and continuing education modules (see http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/climate_change/en/index.html).
9. Calculate and reduce your own carbon footprint. There is much that we can all do, on a daily basis, to reduce our own contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. To calculate your “carbon footprint” see http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk.
10. Promote these action points among your colleagues. The health sector can take the lead in establishing a global social and economic framework that will promote health, social justice and survival – for current and future generations, both rich and poor, locally and globally.
PROTECTING HEALTH FROM CLIMATE CHANGE -
TOP 10 ACTIONS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Global
1. Advocate for a strong and equitable post-Kyoto agreement. Current and projected stresses on the Earth’s life support systems (food, shelter, water and energy) require a fair, scientifically sound and globally binding commitment to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and stabilize the global climate.
2. Promote the need for a “health-oriented” agreement. Protecting health and well-being should be one of the three main objectives of the new agreement (alongside development and environment); the strengthening of health systems should be named as one of the priority areas for adaptation to climate change; and mitigation measures that bring health and other socioeconomic benefits should be prioritized.
National/local
3. Use your knowledge and authority to make the case for action. Strengthen public and policy-maker awareness of the current and projected adverse and inequitable health impacts of climate change, as well as the potential for significant health benefits and consequent cost savings from well-conceived climate control policies. Work with others to plan adaptation and mitigation strategies.
4. Assess your community and local health system’s capacities to cope. Measure and evaluate the preparedness of your personnel, institutions and systems to deal with country specific threats. Enhance your research capacities to evaluate threats and the effectiveness of interventions.
5. Strengthen your health system’s adaptive capacity. Many of the projected impacts of climate change on health are avoidable or controllable through application of well-known and well-tested public health and health service interventions, such as public education, disease surveillance, disaster preparedness, mosquito control, food hygiene and inspection, nutritional supplementation, vaccines, primary and mental health care, and training. Where these capacities are weak, work with others to strengthen them.
6. Encourage your health institutions to lead by example. Health institutions – as highly visible, high-energy-use centres – can serve as models by reducing their own carbon emissions, improving health and saving money (see www.corporatecitizen.nhs.uk). Seven potential action areas include: energy management, transport, procurement (including food and water), waste disposal, buildings and landscape, employment and skills, and community engagement. Good practice in these areas has been shown to improve staff health and morale, create healthier local populations, stimulate faster patient recovery rates and save money (see www.globalclimate@hcwh.org).
7. Champion the health benefits of greenhouse gas emission reductions (mitigation). Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can be good for health. In countries where cars are the predominant means of transport, shifting to more walking and cycling will lower carbon emissions, increase physical activity (which will reduce obesity, heart disease and cancer), reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths, and result in less pollution and noise. In countries where solid fuels are the predominant form of household heating and cooking energy, changing to cleaner fuels and providing more efficient stoves will lead to fewer illnesses and deaths related to indoor air
pollution.
Personal
8. Learn about climate-related health threats. All health professionals should be provided with general and continuing education modules (see http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/climate_change/en/index.html).
9. Calculate and reduce your own carbon footprint. There is much that we can all do, on a daily basis, to reduce our own contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. To calculate your “carbon footprint” see http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk.
10. Promote these action points among your colleagues. The health sector can take the lead in establishing a global social and economic framework that will promote health, social justice and survival – for current and future generations, both rich and poor, locally and globally.
Women - agents of real change
Today, a march by more than 100 women will focus attention on five key reasons why gender equality should be highlighted in the text of a good climate agreement in Copenhagen.
1. Women are often the key providers of food, water, and fuel in their communities. They provide up to 90% of food crops for the rural poor. They care for children, the sick, and elderly, and oversee the family’s assets. As a result, women have direct knowledge about effective and innovative solutions. They know how to address resource constraints and respond to erratic environmental changes.
2. Women’s empowerment is crucial to sustainable development. Women lead some of the most progressive efforts in response to environmental degradation and climate change impacts, even as their voices are often marginalized. Wangari Maathai started the global Green Belt movement to plant trees in Kenya, and entered into an agreement with the World Bank to reforest regions of Kenya and secure significant emissions reductions -- and that success is only one of many.
3. Women are disproportionately affected by climate change. Women make up an estimated 70% of those living below poverty line; they have less access to resources; and they are more likely to die than men during natural disasters. Additionally, women typically lack access to essential services after disasters strike.
4. Of all the legally binding agreements that resulted from the 1992 Earth Summit, the UNFCCC is the only one not to incorporate gender issues. In contrast, the Convention on Biological Diversity has incorporated a gender plan of action that recognizes women’s traditional knowledge and access to land assets.
5. Women are not adequately represented in the UNFCCC negotiation process. In 2006, the percentage of female heads of delegation was about 15%, declining to a mere 12% the following year. Every global initiative must seek to provide opportunities for women to engage as principal stakeholders and help them build capacity in their communities and countries. Currently there are 23 strong references to women and gender equity in the AWG-LCA INF.2 text. Iceland, along with other Nordic countries, emerged early on as the biggest champion on these issues and they have been joined by strong statements from the African Group and Least Developed Countries, the Philippines and Central American countries.Gender equality is integral to sustainable development and poverty eradication goals, and is essential to effective implementation of Copenhagen’s outcome. Let’s keep building ambitious text on gender.
1. Women are often the key providers of food, water, and fuel in their communities. They provide up to 90% of food crops for the rural poor. They care for children, the sick, and elderly, and oversee the family’s assets. As a result, women have direct knowledge about effective and innovative solutions. They know how to address resource constraints and respond to erratic environmental changes.
2. Women’s empowerment is crucial to sustainable development. Women lead some of the most progressive efforts in response to environmental degradation and climate change impacts, even as their voices are often marginalized. Wangari Maathai started the global Green Belt movement to plant trees in Kenya, and entered into an agreement with the World Bank to reforest regions of Kenya and secure significant emissions reductions -- and that success is only one of many.
3. Women are disproportionately affected by climate change. Women make up an estimated 70% of those living below poverty line; they have less access to resources; and they are more likely to die than men during natural disasters. Additionally, women typically lack access to essential services after disasters strike.
4. Of all the legally binding agreements that resulted from the 1992 Earth Summit, the UNFCCC is the only one not to incorporate gender issues. In contrast, the Convention on Biological Diversity has incorporated a gender plan of action that recognizes women’s traditional knowledge and access to land assets.
5. Women are not adequately represented in the UNFCCC negotiation process. In 2006, the percentage of female heads of delegation was about 15%, declining to a mere 12% the following year. Every global initiative must seek to provide opportunities for women to engage as principal stakeholders and help them build capacity in their communities and countries. Currently there are 23 strong references to women and gender equity in the AWG-LCA INF.2 text. Iceland, along with other Nordic countries, emerged early on as the biggest champion on these issues and they have been joined by strong statements from the African Group and Least Developed Countries, the Philippines and Central American countries.Gender equality is integral to sustainable development and poverty eradication goals, and is essential to effective implementation of Copenhagen’s outcome. Let’s keep building ambitious text on gender.
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