New Roundup: Africa and Rio+20
It has been twenty years since over 170 countries agreed to address questions of inequality, famine and ecological destruction at the first Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Despite some successes in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Africa still faces significant challenges in balancing the three pillars of sustainable development – social, economic and environment. From the outset the continent sought to develop a common position ahead of Rio+20, or the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Yet many of Africa’s priorities will not see progress as the watered down text remains devoid of any ambition and programmes for implementation. News stories reflecting Africa’s position include:
Africa After Rio+20
Africa Consensus Statement to Rio+20
Rio+20: Zuma challenges world leaders
Rio+20: Africa sets sustainable development priorities
Rio+20 African delegates meet in New York to Discuss ‘one voice for Africa’
Africa: Speaking Out at Rio+20
Research Areas
Africa and the International Politics of Climate Change
Emerging Powers, Africa and Natural Governance
South Africa, Climate Change and Environmental Diplomacy
About the Programme
Environmental degradation and the frequency with which the effects of climate change are being felt are increasingly evident. Yet, while attention has been given to the science and economics of climate change, there has been limited engagement on the diplomacy...
Read more...Aims
- consider Africa’s strategic position in the international environmental regime;
- contribute to knowledge development and capacity...
News Roundup
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In The News 12-05-2013South Africa: Steele - 'South Africa Should Do More to Curb Carbon Emissions'
A conference on climate change is underway in Berlin to discuss the need to cut on carbon emissions by developed countries. Despite Africa contributing little carbon emissions, it has suffered the consequences.
Carbon emissions could rise to 58 gigatonnes by 2020 if no drastic action is taken without delay, the United Nations environmental agency (UNEP) said in its Emissions Gap Report 2012. This figure is far above the level scientists say and it is in line with keeping global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit). DW spoke to Melita Steele, Climate Campaigner for Greenpeace Africa.
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In The News 12-05-2013East Africa: Make-Believe Environmental Standards
Tanzania and some East African countries have established environmental standards. It is a good step towards creating a health environment in the East African Region. But it is difficult to believe that Tanzania implements any of the standards.
For example, who monitors the Air Quality Standards for Tanzania in Arusha? In particular, who monitors the presence of the poisonous metal called Lead? Does anybody monitors the presence of harmful quantities of sulfur oxides, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, suspended particulate matters or black smoke based on the limits of pollutant levels specified in the Air Quality Standards for Tanzania? Where are official reports on the status of the substances in the environment? You may ask.
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In The News 12-05-20133 Encouraging Signs of Progress from the Bonn Climate Talks
A slight breath of fresh air entered the UNFCCC climate negotiations this week in Bonn, Germany. Held in the old German parliament—which was designed to demonstrate transparency and light—the meeting took on a more open feel than the past several COPs and intersessionals.
Instead of arguing over the agenda, negotiators got down to work, discussing ways to ramp up countries’ emissions-reduction commitments now and move toward a 2015 international climate action agreement. Reaching these two goals is imperative. It was encouraging to hear delegates make progress across three key issues involved in achieving them:
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