Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities.

Forest carbon accounting methods and the consequences of forest bioenergy for national greenhouse gas emissions inventories

While bioenergy plays a key role in strategies for increasing renewable energy deployment, studies assessing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from forest bioenergy systems have identified a potential trade-off of the system with forest carbon stocks. Of particular importance to national GHG inventories is how trade-offs between forest carbon stocks and bioenergy production are accounted for within the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector under current and future international climate change mitigation agreements. Through a case study of electricity produced using wood pellets from harvested forest stands in Ontario, Canada, this study assesses the implications of forest carbon accounting approaches on net emissions attributable to pellets produced for domestic use or export. Particular emphasis is placed on the Forest Management Reference Level (FMRL) method, as it will be employed by most Annex I nations in the next Kyoto Protocol Commitment Period. While bioenergy production is found to reduce forest carbon sequestration, under the FMRL approach this trade-off may not be accounted for and thus not incur an accountable AFOLU-related emission, provided that total forest harvest remains at or below that defined under the FMRL baseline. In contrast, accounting for forest carbon trade-offs associated with harvest for bioenergy results in an increase in net GHG emissions (AFOLU and life cycle emissions) lasting 37 or 90 years (if displacing coal or natural gas combined cycle generation, respectively). AFOLU emissions calculated using the Gross-Net approach are dominated by legacy effects of past management and natural disturbance, indicating near-term net forest carbon increase but longer-term reduction in forest carbon stocks. Export of wood pellets to EU markets does not greatly affect the total life cycle GHG emissions of wood pellets. However, pellet exporting countries risk creating a considerable GHG emissions burden, as they are responsible for AFOLU and bioenergy production emissions but do not receive credit for pellets displacing fossil fuel-related GHG emissions. Countries producing bioenergy from forest biomass, whether for domestic use or for export, should carefully consider potential implications of alternate forest carbon accounting methods to ensure that potential bioenergy pathways can contribute to GHG emissions reduction targets

United in Science: High-level Synthesis Report of Latest Climate Science Information convened by the Science Advisory Group of the UN Climate Action Summit 2019

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. This important document by the United Nations and global partner organizations, prepared under the auspices of the Science Advisory Group of the Climate Action Summit, features the latest critical data and scientific findings on the climate crisis.The Report provides a unified assessment of the state of our Earth system under the increasing influence of anthropogenic climate change, of humanity’s response thus far and of the far-reaching changes that science projects for our global climate in the future. The scientific data and findings presented in the report represent the very latest authoritative information on these topics. It is provided as a scientific contribution to the UN Climate Action Summit 2019, and highlights the urgent need for the development of concrete actions that halt the worst effects of climate change

Climate-Smart Agriculture: What is it? Why is it needed?

In the next 20 years, increasing the productivity and incomes from smallholder crop, livestock, fishery and forestry production systems will be key to achieving global food security. Most of the world’s poor are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, and experience has shown that growth in agriculture is often the most effective and equitable strategy for reducing poverty and increasing food security. Climate change multiplies the challenges of achieving the needed growth and improvements in agricultural systems, and its effects are already being felt. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an approach to dealing with these interlinked challenges in a holistic and effective manner. This brief is intended to give an overview of the approach and its main features, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about it

CCAFS/FAO Expert Workshop on Smallholder Mitigation: Mitigation Options and Incentive Mechanisms. Rome, 7-8 July 2011. Workshop Summary

The Workshop on Mitigation Options and Incentive Mechanisms was held on the identification of incentives for pro-poor smallholder-based mitigation. Its objective was to 1. Explore mitigation incentives to support smallholder livelihoods and food security, addressing: - Costs and benefits of mitigation options at the farm level and barriers for their adoption - Incentive mechanisms and associated institutional arrangements - Mechanisms specifically to reach women and the poor. 2. Develop principles for pro-poor incentives for smallholder farmers and 3. Identify priorities for actions and research

Education and Disaster Vulnerability in Southeast Asia: Evidence and Policy Implications

This article summarizes the growing theoretical and empirical literature on the impact of education on disaster vulnerability with a focus on Southeast Asia. Education and learning can take place in different environments in more or less formalized ways. They can influence disaster vulnerability as the capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from natural hazard in direct and indirect ways. Directly, through education and learning, individuals acquire knowledge, abilities, skills and perceptions that allow them to effectively prepare for and cope with the consequences of disaster shocks. Indirectly, education gives individuals and households access to material, informational and social resources, which can help reducing disaster vulnerability. We highlight central concepts and terminologies and discuss the different theoretical mechanisms through which education may have an impact. Supportive empirical evidence is presented and discussed with a particular focus on the role of inclusiveness in education and challenges in achieving universal access to high-quality education. Based on situation analysis and best practice cases, policy implications are derived that can inform the design and implementation of education and learning-based disaster risk reduction efforts in the region

Application of Multi-Criteria Analysis on Climate Adaptation Assessment in the Context of Least Developed Countries

The developing countries are suffering the most because of climatic variability and they have an enormous backlog in basic infrastructure to protect their cities. In addition, the resources and technical expertise are limited. Therefore, the adaptation measures to protect their cities are needed to be planned and prioritized carefully to reduce the vulnerability simultaneously considering the risk reduction, local constraints and development goals. A framework for prioritization of adaptation measures is lacking in the decision making in this context which could immensely assist in informed and structured decisions during the planning process of adaptation strategies in developing countries. This paper is exploring the potential of Multi-Criteria Analysis as a methodology for climate adaptation assessment in order to prioritize the adaptation measures to be undertaken. Hence in this paper Adaptation assessment is conducted within the framework of Multi-Criteria Analysis methodology which allows both normative judgement and technical expertise in the assessment process. Such a participatory integrated assessment of adaptation options is a new approach in flood management in least developed countries. The assessment framework has been applied and tested at the Eastern fringe of Dhaka city which is highly vulnerable to flooding. Based on the assessment and analysis, adaptive measures are prioritized to enable more effective action

Institutional Linkages, South-South Partnerships and Capacity Building Hands-on Workshop on Objective Climate Forecasts for the Agriculture and Food Security Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa

The institutional linkages, south-south partnerships, and capacity building hands-on workshop on "Objective Climate Forecasts for Agriculture, and Food Security Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa" was conducted between August 31- September 4, 2021, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The workshop brought together more than 50 experts from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS), Regional Climate Centers, Research Institutions, Agricultural and Food Security institutions, and actors from 15 Southern, Eastern, and Horn of Africa nations. Mr. Munesu Munodawafa, the Permanent Secretary of Zimbabwe's Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry (MECCTHI), officially opened the event. The main objectives of the training workshop were to build the capacities of national and regional experts in objective seasonal forecasting, enhance the co-production of reliable and improved climate information and services in the agriculture and food security sector, and establish multi-institutional and multi-stakeholder dialogue and knowledge sharing platform to strengthen institutional linkages and south-south partnerships. The UN Economic Commission for Africa's Climate Research for Development (CR4D) initiative convened the workshop, which is funded by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland through the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) within the Weather and Climate Information SERvice (WISER) Programme, the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security East Africa (CCAFS-EA). ICPAC is a World Meteorological Organizations Regional Climate Center and a specialized institution of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), while CCAFS is a program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Both ICPAC and CCAFS, which have long-standing records of public service accomplishments on climate change in Africa, are members of the Institutional Collaboration Platform (ICP) – one of the three governing arms of the CR4D. Complementing ICP in the governing of the CR4D are the Oversight Board (OB) and the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The CR4D secretariat is domiciled at the lead continental climate think-tank, the Africa Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The workshop participants had the opportunity to practice the procedures developing the ICPAC objective seasonal forecasts. They practiced using Python-based Climate Predictability Tool (PyCPT) and ensemble regression method, which empowered them to generate the national seasonal forecast. Additionally, the co-production session enabled the participants to learn the theory and implications of co-production for generating reliable climate information and services for development and planning in the agricultural sector. To practice the idea of co-production, the participants were divided into five groups. They were provided questions where users, climate experts, agriculture experts, multi-institutional, and multi-stakeholders mixed to dialogue and share knowledge. Group representatives had a chance to present the result, highlighted the importance of such a rich discussion for co-producing climate services, and summarised the main points raised. Besides, they have emphasized the approaches were effective and provided recommendations. Furthermore, the workshop proved highly successful, demonstrating a keen appetite for closer collaboration and further consideration of future activities in similar contexts and content

Are we willing to give what it takes? Willingness to pay for climate change adaptation in developing countries

Climate change adaptation is gaining traction as a necessary policy alongside mitigation, particularly for developing countries, many of which lack the resources to adapt. However, funding for developing country adaptation remains woefully inadequate. This paper identifies the burden of responsibility that individuals in the UK are willing to incur in support of adaptation projects in developing countries. Results from a nationally representative survey indicate that UK residents are willing to contribute £27 per year (or a median of £6 per year) towards developing country adaptation (US$30 and$7 using the World Bank’s purchasing power conversion factors). This represents less than one third of the back-of-the-envelope $100-140 per capita per year that the authors estimate would be needed to raise the$70-100bn per year recommended by the World Bank to fund developing country adaptation. Regressions indicate that WTP is driven mostly by a combination of beliefs and perceptions about one’s own knowledge levels, rather than actual knowledge of climate change. We conclude that, to engage the many different audiences that make up the ‘public’, communication efforts must move beyond the simple provision of information and instead, connect with people’s existing values and beliefs