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: In accordance with Decision IX/1 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the
CBD Secretariat has invited parties, other governments and relevant
organizations to supply information on various aspects of agricultural
biodiversity conservation, including lessons learned about the conservation and
sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity, for consideration in climate
change adaptation and mitigation planning and cross-sectoral planning in
agricultural areas.
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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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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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29 September 2008: This European Environment Agency (EEA) report presents past and projected climate change and impacts in Europe, based on approximately 40 indicators, and identifies sectors and regions that are vulnerable and require adaptation.
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29 September 2008: During the ninth Indo-EU summit, which took place on 29 September 2008, in Marseille, France, India and the EU agreed to expand their cooperation in the field of nuclear energy and environmental protection. They also reviewed the 2006 Joint Action Plan and agreed to add
several new areas of cooperation, including in the field of exploitation of solar energy in India and civil nuclear research and development including in fusion energy.
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September 2008: The next UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture, to be held from 10 November to 7 December 2008, will address the potential role that agricultural biotechnologies can play for bioenergy production in
developing countries, in particular liquid biofuels.
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24 September 2008: The first UN Private Sector Forum on the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Food Sustainability convened on the
side of the opening of the UN General Assembly, to further business commitment
towards the MDGs and serve as platform to articulate business perspectives on
actions needed for their achievement.
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24 September 2008: The International Labor Organization
(ILO), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), International Trade Union Confederation
and the International Organization of Employers have released the first
comprehensive study on the emergence of a “green economy” and its impact on the
world of work.
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23 September 2008: In his speech to the opening of the
General Debate of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly, UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon recalled that the global food, energy and financial crises, as well
as the challenge of climate change, demand global solutions.
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