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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3 October 2008: The Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) is co-organizing with the province and the city of
Milan, a Conference on Cities and Climate Change, which is scheduled to convene
from 9-10 October 2008, in Milan, Italy.
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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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2 October 2008: The World Bank has announced an 87% increase in funding for renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) projects and programmes in developing countries in the past fiscal year.
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2 October 2008: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Environment Directorate held a High-Level Parliamentary Seminar on Climate Change in Paris, France, on 2 October 2008.
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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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