Assessing the Security Implications of Climate Change for West Africa: Country Case Studies of Ghana and Burkina Faso

Traditionally seen as an environmental and an energy issue, climate change is now also being cast as a threat to international peace and security. Africa, though the least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, is seen as the continent most likely to suffer its worst consequences—a function of the continent’s reliance on climate-dependent sectors (such as rain-fed agriculture) and its history of resource, ethnic and political conflict. The security implications of climate change have become the subject of unprecedented international attention; in 2007 climate change was the focus of both a Security Council debate and the Nobel Peace Prize. There have been some attempts to construct scenarios of the ways in which warming temperatures might undermine security at a global scale. But the country-level security impacts of climate change have been lost in the political rhetoric. Local experts are rarely consulted. This paper is a modest effort to address this research gap. Drawing on field visits and consultations with local experts, this paper explores the extent to which climate change may undermine security in two different countries in West Africa, Ghana and Burkina Faso

Thinking regionally, acting locally Local Governments Take Part in Integrated Water Resources Management

The ‘LoGo Water’ project. ‘LoGo Water’ aims at supporting local governments in the Southern Africa region to actively engage in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Nine institutions and organisations from Southern Africa and the European Union which are specialising in different areas of water management and local government are implement. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 9, 2008
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First Project Meeting for City Selection in India

The first project meeting for City Level Carbon Emissions Reduction Project was organized on 4 March 2008 by ICLEI South Asia in collaboration with the British High Commission, British Council, NIUA at NIUA, New Delhi on March 4, 2008. A team of additional commissioner, deputy commissioners and project engineers represented the cities of Thane, Raj. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 9, 2008
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ICLEI South Asia project staff visited cities for Carbon Remission Reduction

During 25th March - 1st April 2008 ICLEI South Asia project staffs visited the cities of Vijaywada, Thane and Vishakhapatnam, which have been selected as project cities for the Carbon Emission Reduction project following the First Project Meeting held on 4th March 2008 in New Delhi.Three cities selected for implementation of project under the 1st p. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 9, 2008
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ICLEI part of the European Green Capital Jury

On 22 May 2008, the European Green Capital award scheme in Brussels, an initiative coming from 15 European cities and the Association of Estonian cities will be launched officially. Currently, more than 40 major European cities, including 21 EU capitals, are part of this initiative, which marks a city's wish and capability to solve environmental pr. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 9, 2008
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Summit calls for climate targets - BBC Report

By Richard Black, Environment correspondent, BBC News website. European and Japanese leaders at their annual summit in Tokyo in April have called for "ambitious and binding" targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Their statement says curbing climate change will need mobilisation of "unprecedented investments and finance" mainly from the . . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 9, 2008
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China 'now top carbon polluter' (BBC Report)

By Roger Harrabin. BBC Environment analyst. China has already overtaken the US as the world's "biggest polluter", a report to be published in May says. The research suggests the country's greenhouse gas emissions have been underestimated, and probably passed those of the US in 2006-2007. The University of California team will report their work i. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 9, 2008
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SA wine farm tackles climate change

Backsberg is South Africa's first carbon neutral wine estate. Michael Back has made headlines and history in South Africa by becoming the first wine farmer there - and only the third in the world - to be recognised as carbon neutral. "We are rather pleased with ourselves at having managed to do that," he says. "When you see all the issues of the. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 9, 2008
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Public Sector Capacity Building Project: Sustainable Cities in Africa - ICSC Canada

Dates: 2006-2009. This three year CIDA-funded project aims to create sustainable cities that support their human populations and economic base in a prosperous and participatory manner, without degrading the natural environment. The project objective is to address environmental impacts of urbanization in three African cities by increasing the capaci. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 9, 2008
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Announcing the National Geographic GLIMPSE Correspondents Program

If you are a talented storyteller; specialize in writing, photography or video; and will be living or studying abroad in Fall 2008, this is your opportunity! As a Glimpse Correspondent, you will receive a $600 stipend, a professional editor, and the opportunity to be published in National Geographic Glimpse. The application will be ready in mid-May. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 8, 2008
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The World Monument Fund 2008 Watch List - Sites Threatened by Climate Change.

Herschel Island, Canada, home to ancient Inuit sites and a historic whaling town at the edge of the Yukon Territory that are being lost to the rising sea and melting permafrost in this fastest-warming part of the world; Scott’s Hut, Antarctica, a time-capsule of early twentieth-century exploration. Ironically, it is being engulfed by vastly increas. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 6, 2008
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