October 2008: The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFRPI) has published three essays addressing critical questions regarding policy responses to the current food crisis. The essays by Joachim von Braun, IFPRI Director General, Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and Namanga Ngongi, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), point to the dangers and pitfalls of misguided policies, but also to the potential opportunities for responding in a way that prevents future crises and ensures food security in the long term. In addition to the most pressing questions of delivering immediate relief to populations affected by hunger and the strategic issues of the long-term stabilization of food production and food markets, the essays also address impacts of current biofuel policies and climate change on agriculture.
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3 October 2008: During a meeting with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner, at UNEP's headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, German Federal Minister for the Environment Sigmar Gabriel announced that his country will increase its funding for the organization's work on clean energy and climate proofing vulnerable economies.
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1 October 2008: The UN-backed Equator Initiative has
announced the 25 winners of the Equator Prize 2008, which recognizes
exceptional leadership in slashing poverty through conservation and sustainable
biodiversity efforts.
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October 2008: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with the
Global Sports Alliance of Japan and Volvo, hosted the 2008 Global Forum for
Sport and Environment in Alicante, Spain, from 4-6 October 2008.
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October 2008: The Third Global Congress of Women in Politics
and Governance will convene in Manila, Philippines, from 19-22 October 2008,
with a focus on gender in climate change and disaster risk reduction.
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1 October 2008: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have released an
updated version of the YouthXchange Training Kit, which seeks to promote
sustainable consumption among youth worldwide. The joint initiative aims to
change purchasing patterns by reducing waste from discarded products such as
mobile phones and outdated fashion, while engaging youth in the fight against
climate change.
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1 October 2008: In an editorial column published on 30
September 2008 in the Washington Times, John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General
for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, stressed the urgent
need for a Green Revolution in Africa to deal, inter alia, with the challenges
of climate change and the food and oil crises.
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30 September 2008: The 180th session of the Executive Board
of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) opened
today and will continue until 17 October in Paris, France. The agenda for the
Board's meeting includes the consideration for approval of a refined UNESCO
strategy for action on climate change.
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29 September 2008: The International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) has announced its Global Standards Symposium (GSS) will convene 20
October 2008, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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27 September 2008: The World Tourism Organization's (UNWTO)
World Tourism Day, which was organized around the theme “Tourism Responding to
the Challenge of Climate Change,” was hosted in Lima, Peru, and celebrated on
27 September 2008.
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