International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, United Nations Environment Programme http://www.unep.fr/scp/rpanel/pdf/Assessing_Biofuels_Full_Report.pdf A far more sophisticated approach needs to be taken when developing biofuels as an environmentally-friendly energy option a new report concludes. Governments should fit biofuels into an overall energy, climate, land-use, water and agricultural strategy if their deployment is to benefit society, the economy … Continue reading »
Posted on November 16, 2009 …
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme http://www.teebweb.org/ [From Greenwire article] Investing billions of dollars today to protect threatened ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss could result in huge cost savings in the long-term, according to a U.N.-backed report released today… An annual investment of some $45 billion on expanded … Continue reading »
Climate Change Science Compendium 2009
United Nations Environment Programme http://www.unep.org/compendium2009/ [Website] Updated as of Oct. 21 2009 ,the Climate Change Science Compendium is a review of some 400 major scientific contributions to our understanding of Earth Systems and climate that have been released through peer-reviewed literature or from research institutions over the last three years, since the close of research … Continue reading »
Climate Change and Its Possible Security Implications : Report of the Secretary-General
United Nations, Office of the Secretary-General http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/64/350 This is a 29 page primer on possible security threats posed by climate change, including vulnerability, the slowing of development, migration, natural resource competition, statelessness, and international conflict.
Water Related Migration, Changing Land Use and Human Settlements
The UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development http://www.unwater.unu.edu/file/UNW-DPC_Knowledge_Publication_No4.pdf [From introduction] Water - in all its dimensions - affects the ability of people to live and thrive in their environments across the globe. Indeed, water availability and water quality have shaped where people have settled and why people have moved throughout the millennia. Today, water availability … Continue reading »
Blue Carbon : the Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon
The United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization http://dev.grida.no/RRAbluecarbon/pdfs/update/BlueCarbon_print12.10.09.pdf [From press release] In a new report released today, the agencies estimate that carbon emissions – equal to half the annual emissions of the global transport sector … Continue reading »
Global Forest Resources Assessment Portal
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations http://geonetwork4.fao.org/geonetwork/srv/en/fra.home The Remote Sensing Survey portal makes available high-resolution satellite data that can be used to monitor forests and help reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Searchable by country and ecological zone with data going back for some years. It provides access to global sample tiles … Continue reading »
Catalysing Low Carbon Growth in Developing Economies: Public Finance Mechanisms to Scale Up Private Sector Investment in Climate Solutions
Vivid Economics for the United Nations Environment Programme http://tinyurl.com/yhmhrbd [Press release] Ways of triggering multi-billion dollar, low carbon technology investments in developing economies are outlined in a new report today. Experts indicate that investments of around US$500 billion a year will be needed to assist developing countries adapt to climate change while powering low carbon … Continue reading »
Water in a Changing World : The 3rd United Nations World Water Development Report
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization http://tinyurl.com/yln9lna This third UN world water development report has also several side publications, including a case study volume.
Food Security and Agricultural Mitigation in Developing Countries: Options for Capturing Synergies
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations http://tinyurl.com/yhb4ewt [Press release]A new report, Food Security and Agricultural Mitigation in Developing Countries: Options for Capturing Synergies, examines how strategies for climate change mitigation can benefit agriculture, food security, and development. Agriculture not only suffers the impacts of climate change, it is also responsible for 14 percent … Continue reading »
