Hot Enough to Fry an Egg!

Have you ever felt weather so hot that you could fry an egg on the sidewalk? There is so much energy from the Sun hitting Earth everyday that it could cook every last egg on the planet! Harnessing that energy is a vital part of creating a more sustainable future, from massive solar power plant complexes, like the planned "solar tower" of Australia, to smaller scale projects like solar powered vehicles. Today, the United Nations Development Program has partnered with the Global Environment Facility, the European Union, and the Chilean government to harness the power of the sun, prevent deforestation and bring renewable energy to local communities in northern Chile.

The people who live in these communities traditionally relied on wood to fuel their stoves, but thanks to UNDP are now embracing solar ovens as a way to rehabilitate their damaged environment. The overcutting of firewood in northern Chile has accelerated deforestation, drying up already-arid lands. Solar ovens bring an eco-friendly alternative to cooking needs, and lay the foundations for greater renewable energy use in the future. But UNDP is not just providing solar ovens, it is training locals to construct their own ovens so that they may pass the knowledge on to others in the community. Alejandra Alarcon, National Coordinator of the UNDP Small Grants Programme’s Global Environment Facility, stressed the importance of providing not just the materials but the know-how, "The only way to see long-lasting results is if people can build their own ovens and share the knowledge with other communities.”

To learn more about solar ovens in Chile, and how they are sparking green-change and green-entrepreneurship click here

Tennis in Chernobyl?

The UN got a little help from a tennis player last week in raising awareness for its new program in Eastern Europe. The UN will allocate $2.5 million to help people who are still affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. The UN initiative will provide assistance to communities in a region home to 5 million people that cuts across three different countries. Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova urged for an international effort to assist in rebuilding affected areas. Sharapova, a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program, has a personal connection to the Chernobyl disaster. A huge area was affected by radiation, and her parents were forced to relocate just before she was born. Sharapova said of the 23rd Chernobyl anniversary, “We must continue to work with the same goal in mind: bringing life back to normal for all the people touched by the disaster.”

In order to help dispel fears and misinformation, the UN will provide education and training to a wide range of civil society actors; including teachers, medical professionals, media, and community leaders. The program will also focus on giving advice about health risks and healthy lifestyles. The work will be a collaboration between the United Nations Development Program, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization.

Click here to see the video.

Going dark for Global Warming

Saturday, March 28, at 8:30 pm, tens of millions of people in hundreds of cities around the world came together once again to make a bold statement about climate change, by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour.

Earth Hour was first celebrated two years ago in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million people and thousands of businesses turned out their lights, allowing the message about climate change to shine brightly (or not!).

88 countries and more than 4,000 cities joined Earth Hour 2009, a huge increase from the 35 countries that participated for Earth Hour 2008. One billion "votes" was the stated aim for Earth Hour 2009. Among the participants in 2009 was, for the first time, the United Nations headquarters in New York City!

An example of the energy saved was the Canadian province of Ontario, outside of Toronto, which saw a decrease of 6% of electricity while Toronto saw a decrease of 15.1% (nearly doubled from 8.7% the previous year) as many businesses darkened, including the landmark CN Tower.

Swedish electricity operator Svenska Kraftnät recorded a 5% decrease in consumption. This equals approximately half a million households out of the total 4.5 million households in Sweden.

For more information or pictures click here or here.

Cutting Emissions and Saving Forests

Forests are one of our planet’s most precious resources. Unfortunately they are easily lost, and often must compete with other agricultural enterprises. Slowing deforestation is a frontline battle in the fight against climate change. Accounting for over 17 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation is second only to the energy sector as the largest source of emissions. Because of harmful practices like over-logging and slash and burn agriculture, the rate of deforestation has averaged 13 million hectares between 1990 and 2005. That’s more than 24 million football fields every year, mostly in the tropics! To take on this enormous challenge, the UN Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Program (UN-REDD) supports nations as they implement sustainable forestry management programs which offer both environmental and economic benefits to their citizens.

UN-REDD has just approved $18 Million in funding to support the programs of five new nations that are ready to take on the challenge. Senior government representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania and Viet Nam recently came together to discuss and share plans on how to reduce emissions and save precious forest ecosystems. They join the four other pilot program nations of Bolivia, Panama, Paraguay, and Zambia which are already participating.

To find out more about how the UN is saving forests and fighting climate change click here

Wind farms? What's next? Cloud farms?

Wind farming is a fantastic way to work your green thumb without all the strenuous digging, messy fertilizing or daily watering! But crop rotations can become a hassle.

Wind farms are on the rise in the Philippines. After completing the 33-megawatt wind farm in Ilocos Norte – currently the largest in Southeast Asia – Northpoint Wind Power Corp. plans to build a larger 40MW facility in Cagayan.

The Filipino government has shown support for wind power initiatives and aims to harness 200MW to 400MW from wind energy in the next 15 to 20 years. They also passed the Renewable Energy Bill, which will help attract investors to projects focused on lessening dependence on traditional fossil fuel.

The UNDP-Global Environment Facility is assisting in project preparation and in securing loan guarantees.

For the full article, go here. For more information about the UNDP-GEF, go to their website.

How UNDP is Lowering Oil Prices with Buffalo

Tractors are becoming too expensive due to fuel prices; therefore, buffalo are again being widely used for ploughing, for manure in light of expensive chemical fertilizers, and also for cash when needed.

“King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has for years said buffalo were integral to a sustainable agricultural policy and since 2000, Thai NGOs, with the UN Development Programme's (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme, have been working with farm groups to boost output and cut back on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The buffalo has been crucial to that strategy” according to IRIN.

From 2000, the programme began donating buffaloes to 11 different communities throughout Thailand. In batches of 10 to 27, they have over time led to sizeable numbers of offspring on farms throughout the country.

Environment for Sustainable Development

Did you know that the UN Environmental Program is bettering the world for all global citizens? Since its inception in 1972, UNEP has served as the voice of the environment, partnering with governments, NGOs, media, and the private sector to help developing countries while minimizing environmental damage for future generations.

Before the UNEP, the number of governments with environmental ministries was only at 58. Now, there are over 200 governments dedicated to protecting their environments! Nationally protected areas have increased 5 fold, and both the Elephant and Rhino species have been brought back from very near extinction. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, established by UNEP, shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore for their efforts to build up greater knowledge about climate change. A UNEP partner program, green.tv, has also established a television channel which brings high quality campaign and conservation videos to a worldwide audience. In an age where climate change is affecting both developed and developing countries alike, UNEP's work touches us all.

To learn more, visit UNEP's website above.

Check out green.tv at http://www.green.tv

2.6 Billion People: That's a lot

Today we urge you to read this posting on the New York Times blog which talks about the UN Water team's efforts to deal with the 2.6 BILLION people who don't have access to sanitation.

Preparing Farmers for the battle against Climate Change

Lennart Bage, the President of the United Nations' International Fund for Agricultural Development, recently announced that the organization will spend $100 million in US dollars over the next five years to help farmers in Vietnam overcome the adverse effects of climate change.

The program will focus on improving the rural-investment environment, while developing rural businesses and expanding market access for the poor.

"The challenge is to define a comprehensive strategy. We have to know what the most important thing is to do first, what brings the most efficiency in cost/benefit as resources are limited," Bage said, adding that money needed to be spent on improving infrastructure, such as dams, roads and dykes.

Since 1993, IFAD has given Vietnam loans totalling to $163 million.

A PRO PLANET PROPOSAL

Environmental sustainability and ecologically friendly practices have been a hot topic of discussion among world leaders. As global climate change becomes a stronger public policy priority, the United Nations decided to declare this year, 2008, the International Year of Planet Earth.

This month, almost 100 countries will ratify their membership to adhere the UN General Assembly’s decision. These countries have decided to venerate the goals of the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which include encouraging environmentally conscious actions.

The involved UN agencies and partner nations are teaming up with the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) to use the expertise of some of the brightest earth scientists worldwide. Help sustain and increase interest in planet-friendly affairs by learning more about the International Year of Planet Earth.

Big Supermarkets Shop Locally to Reduce Poverty

Thanks to the International Fund for Agricultrual Development, shoppers in Mozambique can now purchase local produce in Shoprite, the largest suppermarket chain in Mozambique.

As people around the world are starting to be more concerned with the carbon footprint of their food, eating locally produced food is becoming more important to consumers. This is a boon to small scale farmers in Mozambique who are getting back on their feet after years of conflict with the help of the United Naitons.

Click here to read more!

8.7 Million Reasons for Hope

The United Nations understands better than most organizations that you cannot deal with aspects of a crisis in isolation. In the case of Sudan, it's becoming increasingly clear that environmental problems have a huge impact on the growing humanitarian crisis. Most recently, devastating floods have left 150,000 people homeless, with the potential to affect many more.

To respond to crises of this kind, the UN created the Central Emergency Response Fund. CERF functions as a stand-by fund to enable timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. $8.7 million from this fund has been allocated to the crisis in Sudan in order to help 1.5 million people.

Response to this disaster has also brought out the best in UN coordination. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are working together to use their allocated funds to respond to all the needs of the flood victims. From health care to access to food and water, the UN has it covered.

Even though disasters of this kind are difficult to predict, the UN has a clear mechanism for obtaining funds and necessary resources to help people on the ground as soon as they need it.

Save the Environment, Save Sudan

Competition over resources. Environmental degradation. Deforestation. Lack of clean water. All this on top of a massive refugee and humanitarian crisis. These inflictions cannot be dealt with in isolation of one another if peace and prosperity is to return to Sudan.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is rightly bringing increased attention to the environmental challenges facing Sudan, which play a significant role in the ongoing conflict within the country. The agency assessed that “Sudan is unlikely to see a lasting peace unless widespread and rapidly accelerating environmental degradation is urgently addressed.”

Thanks to UNEP's comprehensive environmental assessment, we know what the main problems are. What Sudan needs now is a solution that deals with all of these problems in a coordinated manner. In conducting this study, UNEP participated in community hearings to consult with local people on what they deemed to be their greatest needs and challenges. Future action will hopefully combine feedback from these hearings and best practices from a variety of UN agencies operating in Sudan.

One thing that can be agreed on from the start is the need for action now.


Watch this video for an excellent overview of UNEP's Sudan project.

Give Them Grants and They Will Conserve

The locals of Baan Mae Korn, a small community in Northern Thailand, attempt to sustain a traditional, untouched lifestyle. However, established farming practices are damaging the local ecosystem. This degradation is caused mainly by the unsustainable growth of cash crops that cause erosion and pollute surrounding water sources.

This is just the kind of project the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) of the UNDP frequently takes on to simultaneously help communities and protect the environment.

GEF’s Small Grants Programme has provided funds to the inhabitants of Baan Mae Korn to install biogas collectors (a renewable source of energy) in their homes. Biogas is produced from pig manure and can be used instead of wood for cooking. This means less deforestation and more time for locals to concentrate on sustainable farming practices.

GEF also encourages local farmers to move away from cash crops such as corn in order to grow organic produce, which increasingly fetches great prices at market.

For more details, see this UNDP Press Release.

Don't ignore Desertification

The UN University in Bonn, Germany, has recently released a report drawing attention to desertification as a mounting environmental crisis. Desertification occurs as a result of overexploitation of the land by unsustainable irrigation practices and is compounded by the devastating effects of climate change on arable soil.

The study warned that lack of arable land may displace over 50 million people within the next 10 years. And not only that, but 1/3 of the world's population - concentrated in the poorest regions - are also potential victims.

What can be done: The report urges synchronization of development and environment priorities at the national level. The study suggests that sustainable management of drylands is the most important step that can be taken now. One approach is providing alternative livelihoods to dryland dwellers. The study's lead author, Zafaar Adeel explains, "we need to provide alternative livelihoods [to dryland dwellers]- not the traditional cropping based on irrigation, cattle farming, etcetera - but rather introduce more innovative livelihoods which don't put pressure on the natural resources."

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is one of the UN Environmental Program's initiatives to assess the impact of different aspects of climate change. It is then up to policymakers to incorporate this information into the national agenda.

Support for Live Earth

Climate change needs attention now! This is the message behind Live Earth, a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on July 7 that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people. Participating cities are New York, London, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and Hamburg.

This movement, spearheaded by Al Gore and Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, is designed to trigger a response to issues such as global warming and the negative impact climate changes will have on the poorest populations of the world.

The UNDP is a major sponsor of the event. In collaboration with the UN Environment Program (UNEP) the UNDP works to spread awareness about the importance of addressing Millennium Development Goal 7, which is to "ensure environmental sustainability."

Proceeds from Live Earth will support a new campaign being launched to combat the climate crisis. This campaign will be led by the Alliance for Climate Protection and other international environmental NGOs. The goal of this campaign will be to mobilize organizations, businesses, governments and individuals to combat global warming.

Paying attention to the Arctic

According to Sheila Watt-Cloutier, "Ice represents life" in the Arctic communities of Canada. This Inuit activist has recently won the UNDP's Award for Excellence in Human Development.

Watch this video for an interview in which she describes the importance of preserving the Arctic, especially given its impact on global climate change.

More Development Awards

The UNDP has recently announced the recipients of its 5 Human Development Awards, which are granted every 2 years. These awards honor National and Regional Human Development Reports that successfully influence development policy. These reports are prepared by national teams in UNDP Country Offices.

The 2006 awards were given to teams in:

1. Costa Rica, Excellence in HD Innovations-Concepts OR Measurement
2. Chhatisgarh, India, Excellence in Participation and Capacity Building Process
3. China, Excellence in Policy Analysis and Influence
4. Guinea-Bissau, Excellence in Support of the Millennium Development Goals:
5. Asia Pacific, Excellence and Innovation across HDR corporate principles for a Regional HDR

In 2006, the UNDP HD Report focused on water and its impact on poverty. This year, the theme will be 'Human Development and Climate Change,' one of the greatest challenges facing the UNDP in the upcoming decades.

An Award for Activism

Congratulations to Ms. Sheila Watt-Cloutier for winning the prestigious Mahbub ul Haq Award for Excellence in Human Development.

According to UNDP, the award is presented every 2-3 years to a leader who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to furthering the understanding and progress of human development in a national, regional or global context.

Ms. Watt-Cloutier fits the bill. As an Inuit activist and political leader, she has fought tirelessly to raise global awareness about climate change on behalf of the Arctic communities of Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Russia, which are suffering from global warming effects. Ms. Watt-Cloutier also helped launch one of the world's first international legal actions on climate change, contending that unchecked gas emissions from the US violated Inuit cultural and environmental rights. Her inspiring leadership has brought global attention to global warming. It is now up to the world's leaders to take action.

Ms. Watt-Cloutier is also nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Environmental refugees

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) called for far greater action on climate change yesterday during events of World Environment Day, established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to raise global awareness of the environment and boost political attention and action. This year's theme is Melting Ice: A Hot Topic? though all aspects of climate change have recently climbed to the top of UNDP's and other UN agencies agendas.

Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP observed that climate change is “magnifying existing disparities between rich and poor” and “aggravating tensions over fragile or increasingly scarce natural resources” such as productive land and freshwater. “It increases the potential to create a new class of displaced people known collectively as environmental refugees,” Mr. Steiner warned.

Climate change is affecting the living conditions of those in the poorest countries of the world. By creating awareness and practical programs, UNEP has a chance to curb these negative side effects.