Author Archives: Abhishek Nayak 
Behind-the-scenes at COP 15: Tuvalu(!) Makes Big Waves
The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), a grouping of 43 countries particularly vulnerable to climate change, along with 48 other least developed countries backed a new target proposed by Tuvalu yesterday saying a rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels was not negotiable.
Behind-the-scenes at COP 15: BASIC responds to the Danish Draft
As Aaron noted earlier, the Guardian reported on a leaked Danish draft agreement that has seriously miffed the developing world. This draft, being called the ‘Danish text’, squarely ignores some of the most frequently quoted demands of the developing countries and would therefore be unacceptable to the G77.
Behind-the-scenes at COP 15: A Rift in the G-77
The biggest and the most important UN conference kicked off yesterday on an upbeat note with promises by leaders to achieve an agreement that would be adequate to prevent a climate change catastrophe. But day one also saw rifts appear in the G77, the largest bloc consisting of 130 developing countries.
EU’s latest stance on financing climate change threatens Copenhagen deal
The Guardian recently revealed contents of secret documents that show EU plans to use existing aid money to finance developing countries to reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change. This latest stance is in opposition to a key demand from developing countries and is a major threat to the success of negotiations starting next week.
A closer look at the emissions intensity targets of China and India
India today announced that it would reduce emissions intensity by 20-25% from 2005 levels. This announcement comes after much government deliberation on the heels of China’s last week announcement of aiming to reduce emissions intensity by 40-45% from 2005 levels.
Emissions reductions does not have to cost economic growth in the developing world
Under the Kyoto Protocol developing nations are expected to make submissions called as NAMAs (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions) which outline actions that will tilt their economies away from an emissions intensive growth path. All the outlined actions are to be financed fully by developed nations because a key principle recognizes that the ‘economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the developing nation parties’.
Trade issues at Copenhagen
China’s attempt to reduce emissions was faced by unlikely critics. Last week the EU and US filed a complaint to the World Trade Organization against China’s duty on exported metals, aimed at reducing overproduction and carbon emissions.
India lowers emissions goals
In a marked shift from its earlier position the Indian Minster for Forests and Environment, Jairam Ramesh, announced that India now wanted developed nations to target 25% emissions by 2020. He said to Reuters , “If we say, let’s start with 25 percent, that’s a beginning. I’m not theological about this. It’s a negotiation. We have given a number of 40 but one has to be realistic,”.
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Iran; Syria; Internet Governance; Libya; and more
UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano and top aides will travelto Tehran on Sunday for talks with Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, a few days before Iran and world powers meet in Baghdad to discuss the broader nuclear dispute. News of the rare visit came as Western diplomats said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran were making headway towards a framework deal on how to tackle concerns about Iran’s atomic activity.
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Sudan/South Sudan; State of the World Economy debate; International Day against Homophobia; and more
The U.N. Security Council has called on Sudan and South Sudan to reach an agreement on the status of the disputed, oil-rich Abyei border region and extended the U.N. security force’s mission there by six months. The council passed a resolution Thursday calling the situation a serious security threat and demanding the creation of a jointly administered Abyei police force.
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The top United Nations refugee official today voiced his alarm at new inflows of refugees into Rwanda and Uganda, fleeing fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). More than 8,200 refugees have crossed from DRC into Rwanda since 27 April, according to staff of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). These are in addition to the 55,000 Congolese refugees that Rwanda is already hosting.
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Syria: U.N.-Arab League mediator Kofi Annan is urging Syria’s government to accept U.N. conditions for expanding the distribution of humanitarian aid to roughly 1 million Syrians in need of assistance, the United Nations said today. Meanwhile, three vehicles belonging to … Read more
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Sustainable Future Symposium; ICT for Development; IAEA/Iran; Global Financial Transaction Tax; and more
Partnerships and development cooperation among countries will play a key role in accelerating sustainable development, the Secretary-General of the UN Sustainable Development Conference (Rio+20), Sha Zukang said today, stressing that assistance will need to focus on helping developing countries find longer-term solutions to eradicate poverty and transition into a green economy.The two-day Australia High-Level Symposium, “Shaping a Sustainable Future – Partners in Development Cooperation,” which began today, seeks to facilitate an informal dialogue on development cooperation among high-level policymakers, multilateral and civil society organizations, philanthropic foundations and the private sector.
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DR Congo; South Sudan; UNHCR and OIC; and more
Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonovic, today voiced concern over the human rights situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has experienced a recent upsurge in violence. Mr. Šimonovic said he was “appalled” by the heightened levels of recent violence triggered by defections in the Congolese armed forces, including former members of certain militia groups, and welcomed joint efforts between the peacekeepers of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO), humanitarian actors and the authorities to protect civilians and respond to human rights violations.
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Asia-Pacific Human Development Report; Syria; Horn of Africa; UNRWA
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region must find ways to continue to grow economically and lift millions out of poverty while also responding to climate change and environmental concerns, according to UN report released today, which stresses that new methods of production are needed to meet this goal.UNDP’s Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2012 argues that policies and actions in the region will have a global impact as it is home to more than half of the world’s population and half of the planet’s megacities.
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SG on Rio/Post-2015 Development; Syria; Middle East; Global Fund; and more
Appealing for flexibility in reaching agreement on a final outcome document, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today, emphasized the need for Member States to agree on launching a process to establish Sustainable Development Goals ahead of the Rio+20 conference while also announcing the appointment of three co-chairs to his High-Level Panel on Post-2015 Development Planning. We should agree on launching a process to establish Sustainable Development Goals that build on the Millennium Development Goals … find better ways to measure progress that goes beyond Gross Domestic Product …and advance action to improve people’s lives through decent work, social protection and the empowerment of women and young people,” the UN chief said in his address to the UN General Assembly.
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Syria; Guinea-Bissau; UNAIDS; Afghanistan; and more
Amid concerns from the international community over the prospects of a “full civil war” in Syria, the Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan, said today that the ongoing levels of violence and human rights abuses in the Middle Eastern country are unacceptable and the UN observer mission is possibly the only remaining chance to stabilize it.
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Peacebuilding; South Sudan; Indigenous Issues; Rwanda
The United Nations is determined to do everything possible to assist societies torn by war from sliding back into conflict, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told an audience in the United States capital today, adding that while there have been setbacks, peacebuilding remains a crucial element of the world body’s efforts.In a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D. C., Mr. Ban highlighted the work of the UN’s 16 peacekeeping operations and 15 political missions in the area of peacebuilding – a core mandate of the Organization.
