16 May 2013: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) held a thematic debate, titled “Sustainable Development and Climate Change: Practical Solutions in the Energy-Water Nexus,” which brought together environment and development experts to discuss the linkages among climate change, energy supply and water availability in the context of the post-2015 development agenda.
9 May 2013: The first SIDS DOCK Pacific Regional Meeting reviewed the current work of the first phase of the SIDS DOCK Support Programme and discussed its next phase. SIDS DOCK is an initiative developed by small island developing States (SIDS) for SIDS to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and contribute towards sustainable development with support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.
14 May 2013: The Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA) hosted Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, in a Twitter Chat to discuss the decision adopted at the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UNFCCC on gender. The chat revolved around the following questions: “Why is a gender-sensitive approach part of the climate solution?” and “What are the opportunities to contribute?”
10 May 2013: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a report on the technical workshop on ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation to climate change (FCC/SBSTA/2013/2), which was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 21-23 March 2013. The workshop sought to enhance parties' and expert organizations' understanding of ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation, share best practices and lessons learned, and identify areas for further work.
The Russian Federation has set as the objective of its 2013 Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20): developing a set of measures aimed at boosting sustainable, inclusive and balanced growth and jobs creation around the world. The G20 will look at eight areas in particular in 2013: framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth; jobs and employment; international financial architecture reform; strengthening financial regulation; energy sustainability; development for all; enhancing multilateral trade; and fighting corruption. The G20 brings together finance ministers and central bank governors from 19 countries - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK and the US - plus the EU. The G20 Leaders Summit in September 2013 is preceded by a series of outreach events organized in five streams: think tanks; business; labour; civil society and youth.
The first Forum of the Standing Committee on Finance will take place on 28 May 2013, in Barcelona, Spain. The meeting is expected to address, among other issues: strategic perspectives on climate finance; financing and investment drivers for mitigation activities; and the provision of recommendations and conclusions. Four groups will further discuss: innovative approaches to climate finance; innovative approaches in providing finance for adaptation; the role of local investors in mobilizing climate finance; and tracking climate finance. The meeting is organized upon a request by the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCCC for the communication and continued exchange of information among bodies and entities dealing with climate change finance in order to promote linkages and coherence.
8 May 2013: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report, titled 'Green Economy and Trade: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities,' which argues that an increase in trade in environmental goods and services and certified products can stimulate the transition to a green economy, while such a transition can create further opportunities for increased trade in such products and services.
7 May 2013: Participants at the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Biofuels Conference have assessed the Biofuels Screening Toolkit, which was developed to help ensure the sustainability of biofuels production, in recognition of the potential negative effects of biofuels production on the environment and on food security.
9 May 2013: Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are critical in creating smart sustainable cities and addressing climate change, according to participants at the Eighth International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Symposium on ICTs, the Environment and Climate Change. Participants adopted a 'Turin Roadmap' that calls on ITU to promote smart technologies in cities and develop key performance indicators to assess ICTs impacts in cities and countries around the world.
9 May 2013: The South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), with support from GIZ and the International Partnership on Mitigation and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), organized a regional workshop on tracking mitigation actions in Africa. The event aimed to encourage the sharing of actions that individual African countries are taking and encouraging more countries to take early actions on climate change.
| Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) |
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| Conference Reporting Services (CRS) |
