Climate Change

Arctic Biodiversity Assessment Report Underscores Significance of Climate Change [viewed]

CAFF15 May 2013: The Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA) report, released at the Arctic Council Ministerial, emphasizes that climate change is the most significant driver in overall Arctic biodiversity change, and that it exacerbates other threats to Arctic biodiversity. Released by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council, the report also calls for an ecosystem-based approach to management, and recommends integrating biodiversity into other policy fields.

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UNFCCC Publishes Workshop's Report on Ecosystem-Based Approaches [viewed]

UNFCCC10 May 2013: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a report on the technical workshop on ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation to climate change (FCC/SBSTA/2013/2), which was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 21-23 March 2013. The workshop sought to enhance parties' and expert organizations' understanding of ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation, share best practices and lessons learned, and identify areas for further work.

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European Commission Adopts Green Infrastructure Strategy [viewed]

European Union 6 May 2013: The European Commission adopted a green infrastructure strategy designed to: promote green infrastructure in the main policy areas; improve research and data, strengthen the knowledge base and promote innovative technologies; improve access to finance for green infrastructure projects; and support EU-level green infrastructure projects.

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UNDP Reports on Environment and Sustainable Development Work in 2008-2012 [viewed]

UNDPApril 2013: The UN Development Programme's (UNDP) Environment and Energy Group (EEG) has released a report, titled ‘Towards Transformational Change: UNDP's Work in Environment and Sustainable Development 2008-2012.' The publication features a collection of stories from around the world in four strategic areas: mainstreaming environment and energy; mobilizing environmental finance; promoting adaptation to climate change; and expanding access to environmental and energy services for the poor.

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CGRFA 14 Report and Decisions Available Online [viewed]

cgrfaMay 2013: The final report of the fourteenth regular session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA 14) of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), including the Commission's decisions, has been made available online.

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Event: 65th Session of the WMO Executive Council Session [viewed]

The 65th Session of the Executive Council (EC-65) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will meet from 15-23 May 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Session is expected to discuss reports, the Global Framework for Climate Services, implementation of the WMO Strategic Plan 2012-2015, resource management, communications and public affairs, and legal matters, among other things. On partnerships, the EC will hear reports on, inter alia: GFCS partnerships; WMO participation in the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Convention on Biodiversity (CBD); WMO involvement in UN Water, in particular in the framework of the International Year of Water Cooperation; developments in establishing new working arrangements with the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme; Report of the Chair of the IPCC; Report on GEO cooperation with WMO; Future Earth Research initiative (ICSU); and MoUs between WMO and relevant international organizations established since EC-64.  

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Event: International Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, Food Security and Climate Change, and Third High-level Roundtable on the ITPGR [viewed]

The Third High-level Roundtable on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) is organized under the patronship of the Government of Indonesia in the context of the International Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, Food Security and Climate Change. The High-level Roundtable will focus on the policy contribution of the Treaty to cope with global challenges related to biodiversity, climate change and food security.  

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Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources Advances in Mesoamerica [viewed]

ITPGR6 May 2013: As part of the 58th annual meeting of the Central American Cooperative Programme for the Improvement of Crops and Animals (Programa Cooperativo Centroamericano para el Mejoramiento de Cultivos y Animales (PCCMCA), held from 22-26 April 2013, working groups were established to address priorities and challenges in adapting to climate change in the region.

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FAO Documents Wildlife Extinction Risks from Climate Change [viewed]

FAOMay 2013: Highlighting the risks posed by climate change to biodiversity, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released a study that documents climate-induced changes to ecosystems and measures to promote adaptation.

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Study Explores Adaptation of Pine Forestry to Climate Change [viewed]

Bioversity International30 April 2013: A recent publication by a group of research institutions, including Bioversity International, documents the results of multi-site trials on pine species that aim to better understand options for choosing optimal species for forestry in the face of climate change.

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