cop21

Assessing and Addressing: Accelerating the End of Hunger

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Mr. Hongbo’s opening statement highlighted the recent adoptions of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the climate change agreement in Paris. Progress has been made since Copenhagen, such as halving the proportion of undernourished people in the developing regions and lifting more than 1 billion people out of extreme poverty. This commission provides a platform for Member States to deliberate on social policies to advance social development.

Ms. Bas introduced three reports of the Secretary-General. The first, E/CN.5/2016/3, “examines key linkages between the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and provides examples of policies that leverage the synergies among them.” The second, E/CN.5/2016/2, notes the “significant progress that African countries have made to eradicate poverty and hunger, improve education and health outcomes, as well as improving agricultural productivity and investing in critical infrastructure,” while also noting the critical challenges that persist with “over 40% of sub-Sahara Africa’s population still living on less than $1.25 a day.” The third, A/71/61-E/2016/7, “highlights recent family trends and emphasizes the need for access to justice through fair family laws.”

Ms. Mayce said that a central focus in all development efforts should be to  increase equitable access to the goods and services of the global community. “If poverty is to be alleviated in any lasting way, inequality in all its dimensions – from education to opportunity and from discrimination to dignity – must be addressed.” Mr. Sarki emphasized family, that “poverty, inequality, education, health, housing, water and sanitation have direct linkage with the family, hence the importance of emphasizing the centrality of the family unit in the implementation of the 2030 development Agenda.”

Opening Session of the 54th Session of the Commission for Social Development

Conference Room 4, February 3, 2016

Speakers: Mr. Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Daniela Bas, Director, Division for Social Policy and Development, DESA; Ms. Margaret Mayce, “Civil Society Declaration”, Chair of the NGO Committee on Social Development; H.E. Mr. Virachai Plasai, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand; H.E. Mr. Paul Alex Menkveld, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations, on behalf of the EU; H.E. Dato Abdul Ghafar Ismail, Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the UN, on behalf of ASEAN; H.E. Dr. Carolina Stanley, Permanent Representative of Argentina; Vice-Minister Juan Eduardo Faúndez, Chile; H.E. Mrs. Mihaela Ungureanu, Deputy Minister, President of the National Authority for Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Protection and Elderly; Mr. Sylapov Muhammetseyit, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection and Population, Turkmenistan; Permanent Representative from the Russian Federation; Sr. Marlon Aguilar-George, Jefe de Planificación y Relaciones Internacionales de México; Ambassador Usman Sarki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Nigeria; Mr. Marlon Aguilar, Head of Planning and International Affairs, Ministry of Social Development of Mexico, SEDESOL; Ana Martinez de Luco, SURE WE CAN

Written by: WIT Representative Alex Margolick

Photo Credit: Unknown

Green and Blue Growth: Protecting our Oceans and Ourselves

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During a meeting on Oceans Day, Professor Turley spoke about ocean acidification. Already, the ocean has absorbed 28% of atmospheric CO2 which is causing the pH of our water to decrease. By 2100, average increase in temperature of water will grow by +3.2C. Even with a CO2 target of 2 degrees, the ocean is still at a moderately high risk level. From the ocean’s perspective, the 2 degree target is more of an upper limit than an ideal goal.

Sir King stated that without further action after Paris, we are faced with risks from rising climate change and sea levels. Calcutta, New York, and Shanghai will not be livable if we continue to act as we are.

Dr. Jarraud said that the Philippines has 1.2 cm of sea level rise per year, much higher than global average. We need to develop risk service initiatives and strengthen ocean and atmosphere observation systems.

Dr. Semedo: Currently, fisheries support 10-12% of global population including many coastal communities. However, availability of modern fish is predicted to decrease by 40% in tropical countries. Her 3 priorities:

  1. Improve management and use of aquatic resources by implementing FAO code of conduct for responsible fishing.
  2. Develop well-planned and -managed sustainable agriculture.
  3. Strengthen resilience of fisheries and agriculture in coastal communities.

Ambassador Friday talked about investing in a blue economy. In the Caribbean, due to hurricanes, countries are experiencing a very high level of indebtedness. In Grenada, debt servicing is costing 40% of the operating budget every year. We need to get islands to where they have enough economic growth that they can adapt and invest in their own resilience. Grenada has come up with duplicatable investment ideas worth over 1 billion dollars, and wants to share them.

Addressing the Effects of Climate Change on Oceans and on Coastal and SIDS Populations: The Scientific Evidence, Scenarios, and Choices for Decisionmakers.

Dec 4, 2015, 12:05 – 1:00 PM, COP21, “Green Zone”, Le Bourget, Paris, France

Speakers: H.E. Dr. Angus Friday, Ambassador to the United States, Grenada; H.E. Ms. Yuriko Koike, Member, House of Representatives, Japan; Prof. Carol Turley, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK; Sir David King, Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative for Climate Change, United Kingdom; Dr. Michel Jarraud, Secretary General, World Meteorological Organization; Dr. Helena Semedo, Deputy Director GEneral, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Dr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat; Prof. Hans Portner, Co-Chair, Working Group II (Impacts and Adaptation), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and Professor, Marine Biology, Alfred Wegener Institute and University of Bremen

Written By: WIT Representative Alex Margolick

Cities and Decarbonization:An Atmospheric Reality Check

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Mr. Sachs began by saying that we now know that we can no longer have a fossil fuel energy system. We have exceeded our carbon budget. Reaching 2 degrees celsius is already a dangerous place, but it will be extremely hard to stay below that number. We have to decarbonize the world’s energy system, which means not small changes but big changes. By 2070 we need to be a carbon neutral society globally; how can we accomplish this? This means zero emission vehicles. Gas is a dead end; we need solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, carbon capture or other zero emission energy sources. Stockholm will get to zero emissions by 2040, compared to NY which will reduce by 80% by 2050.

Mr. Sachs said that the strategies humanity needs to focus on Deep Decarbonisation Pathways Projects, which, according to its website, is “a global collaboration of  energy research teams charting practical pathways to deeply reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their own countries. It is predicated on taking seriously what is needed to limit global warming to 2°C or less.” It aims to get down to 1.5 tonnes CO2 emissions by 2050 and 0 by 2070. He ended by asking countries to submit not only INDCs but also DDPPs.

Ms. Wanngard spoke next on behalf of her city, Stockholm. When asked for three key pieces of advices to give to other cities, she answered with the following: to build a terrific carbon neutral public transportation system. If you have a housing shortage, make sure the builders build climate neutral structures. Finally, make sure universities, government, and public sector have the proper technological innovations.

COP21 ICLEI “TAP Talk” with Jeffrey Sachs

December 3, 2pm – 2:30pm.

Agora Hall, Cities and Regions Pavilion, Le Bourget (“Green Zone”), Paris, France

Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University; Monica Fein Mayor of Rosario, Argentina; Karin Wanngard, Mayor of the City of Stockholm, Sweden; Monika Zimmermann, Deputy-Secretary General, ICLEI

Written by: WIT Representative Alex Margolick

Photo Credit: Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project