Developing countries (including China) are expected to account for more than 90% of global energy growth in the next 30 years. The U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) is addressing the urgent need for sustainable, clean economic growth in these regions with the release of its Climate Change and Development Strategy for 2012.
In the coming year, pilot countries of the Climate Investment Fund's (CIF) "Forest Investment Program" (FIP), including Burkina Faso, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo, can expect to see additional support for their REDD+ activities in the form of a Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. The proposed design of the mechanism was approved by the FIP Trust Fund Committee at the CIF Governing Bodies Meetings from 31 October to 4 November 2011 in Washington, D.C.
Deforestation in the northern parts of the U.S. can cool down the Earth rather than contribute to global warming, according to a study published Wednesday.
Cutting trees north of 45 degrees latitude — and leaving open spaces — can increase sunlight reflection and thereby decrease heat absorption, according to researchers at Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. The 45 degree point is halfway between the equator and the North Pole and roughly follows the Canadian/ American border which is nearly 49 degrees.
The governing body of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council yesterday (November 9, 2011) approved an unprecedented large work program worth half a billion US dollars within the fifth replenishment cycle of the GEF.
The Forestry Department of FAO and the National Forest Programme Facility have initiated a joint effort to assist countries address emerging policy issues related to forests and climate change through integrating climate change considerations into national forest programmes.
This report attempts to address the main issues which influence how bamboo should be seen within the climate change context. Chapter 1 gives a global overview of bamboo and its importance to global and local economies, societies and environments and its potential in dealing with the climate change challenge, and Chapter 2 describes the mechanisms that have been created to tackle climate change, and examines how bamboo fits within these.
If no major policies or strategies are changed in the forest sector and trends outside it follow the lines described by the IPCC B2 scenario, consumption of forest products and wood energy will grow steadily and wood supply will expand to meet this demand (see Figure 24). All components of supply will have to expand, especially harvest residues (Reference scenario).
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Risoe Centre has launched the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) Pipeline and Analysis Database. The database contains all submissions from developing countries and countries with economies in transition to the UNFCCC for NAMAs.
ScienceDaily (Aug. 15, 2011) — A new study shows that as climate change enhances tree growth in tropical forests, the resulting increase in litterfall could stimulate soil micro-organisms leading to a release of stored soil carbon.
The research was led by scientists from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the University of Cambridge, UK. The results are published online in the journal Nature Climate Change.
