Sustainable Low-carbon City Development in China
This analytical report summarizes the lessons of the World Bank’s activities related to sustainable urban development in China. It presents overall policy recommendations in low-carbon city development and highlights specific experiences across key sectors, including energy, transport, solid waste, and water. The book also explores cities’ role in climate adaptation and opportunities presented by carbon finance and other global mechanisms to finance low-carbon city development. The intended audience is government officials of municipalities, cities, and townships in China. The lessons presented can also be of interest to other countries and development partners supporting low-carbon urban programs.
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ENG
Organization:
WB, Ministry of Finance of China, National Development and Reform Commission of China
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Finance, Industry, Transport, Energy, Water, Adaptation, Mitigation, Green Jobs/Economy, Chemicals and Waste, Governance – Territorial and Local, Carbon Financing and CDM
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2012
Language:
English
Quantified Economy-wide Emission Reduction Targets by Developed Country Parties to the Convention: Assumptions, Conditions, Commonalities and Differences in Approaches and Comparison of the Level of Emission Reduction Efforts
This technical document presents an overview of the quantified economy-wide emission reduction targets to be implemented by developed country Parties, as well as assumptions and conditions related to individual targets and associated assumptions and conditions related to the ambition of the pledges. It explores commonalities and differences of approaches to measure progress towards the achievement of economy-wide emission reduction targets and discusses the comparison of the emission reduction efforts. This document is intended to facilitate understanding of these assumptions and conditions.
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ENG
Organization:
UNFCCC
Topic:
Mitigation, Economic Analysis
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2012
Language:
English
Current Knowledge on Relevant Methodologies and Data Requirements as well as Lessons Learned and Gaps Identified at Different Levels, in Assessing the Risk of Loss and Damage Associated with the Adverse Effects of Climate Change
This technical document aims to provide an overview of existing methodologies and tools for assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change. In particular, the paper assesses 18 selected approaches, methods and tools in terms of their data and information requirements, strengths, weaknesses, lessons learned, gaps at different levels and relevance for social and environmental impacts, as well as discussing capacity needs for applying risk assessment methods in developing countries. It also considers risk assessment application to decision-making.
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ENG
Organization:
UNFCCC
Topic:
Environment, Adaptation, Risk Reduction/Management, Capacity Development
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2012
Language:
English
Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Agriculture – Priority Framework for Action 2011-2020
This policy document includes a Priority Framework for Action (PFA) for Nepal on climate change adaptation and disaster risk management in agriculture. It draws the actions from the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management (NSDRM) as well as from field experiences. It builds on the strengths and comparative advantage of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) and, at the same time, specific actions are proposed considering the existing gaps and weaknesses. Moreover, the Framework lays out activities for achieving the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) and several other climate change related priorities. The PFA uses an integrated approach by considering short-term (disaster response), short to medium-term (Disaster Risk Reduction) and medium to long-term (climate change adaptation) priorities.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO, UNDP, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Environment of the Government of Nepal, Nepal Agriculture Research Council, Practical Action
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Adaptation, Risk Reduction/Management, Governance – General, Policy Instruments, Capacity Development
Type of material:
Policy Document
Publication date:
2011
Language:
English
Adaptation to Climate-Change in Semi-Arid Environments – Experience and Lessons from Mozambique
This activity report gives an account of the Government of Mozambique/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) led interventions on strengthening smallholder agriculture, community-based natural resources management, and livelihood diversification in the face of current and future climate-related stresses. It provides the rationale behind each of the activities, innovations and successes, but also barriers and challenges encountered over the three-year project period. The lessons learned are critically analysed, and the opportunities for replication and scaling-up, and for filling in some of the gaps during follow-up interventions, explored.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO, UNDP, UNEP, UNHABITAT, UNIDO, WFP, Ministry for the Coordination of Environmental Affairs of Mozambique, OneWorld Sustainable Investment
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Forestry, Water, Adaptation, Gender, Governance – General
Type of material:
Activity Report
Publication date:
2012
Language:
English
Asia Pacific Human Development Report 2012: One Planet to Share – Sustaining Human Progress in a Changing Climate
This analytical report highlights that people in Asia-Pacific will be profoundly affected by climate change. It notices that poverty continues to decline in this region, but climate change may undercut hard-won gains. A shift to lower-carbon pathways is needed. The report outlines where transformation can begin: in cleaner, more efficient production, in fair and balanced consumption, and in both rural and urban areas. It addition, it stresses that, through better institutions, more accurate knowledge and changed attitudes, Asia-Pacific societies can find smarter strategies for adapting to a warmer world.
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ENG
Organization:
UNDP, FAO, IAEA, UNEP, UNESCAP, UNESCO, UNHABITAT, UNICEF, UNWOMEN, WB
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Health, Energy, Adaptation, Mitigation, Green Jobs/Economy, Ecosystems, Human Security
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2012
Language:
English
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Dairy Sector: A Life Cycle Assessment
This technical document assesses the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the global dairy cattle sector. Its overall goal is to provide estimates of GHG emissions associated with milk production and processing for main regions and farming systems of the world. These results aims to help inform the public debate on GHG emissions, and support research, development and extension efforts to improve the sustainability performance of dairy farming. The specific objective of the study is two-fold: 1) to develop a methodology based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach applicable to the global dairy sector; and 2) to apply this methodology to assess, and provide insights about, GHG emissions from the dairy cattle sector.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO, International Dairy Federation, Swedish Institute of Food and Technology
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Land Use Management, Mitigation
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2010
Language:
English
Gender: The Missing Component of the Response to Climate Change
This analytical report analyses the gender dimension of climate change and the policies enacted to mitigate and adapt to its impacts with the aim of developing gender sensitive approaches with regards to mitigation measures, adaptation projects and national regimes. The framework of the study is represented, on the one hand, by the scientific assessment of climate change, with its impacts and associated effects on human and natural systems, and, on the other hand, by the international response to this challenge.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Science, Adaptation, Mitigation, Gender, International Law and Policy, Governance – General, Policy Instruments, Capacity Development, Carbon Financing and CDM
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2006
Language:
English
Instruments Related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and their Potential for Sustainable Forest Management in Africa
This technical document aims to inform African carbon sink experts and the African forestry sector about climate change, the agreements reached, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and of the Kyoto Protocol, the current state of the Clean Development Mechanism, other opportunities for forest conservation, adaptation and mitigation, and about prerequisites for implementation.
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ENG
Organization:
EMG, Cirad
Topic:
Forestry, Adaptation, Mitigation, International Law and Policy, Governance – General, Carbon Financing and CDM
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2003
Language:
English
Climate Change: Implications for Food Safety
This technical document aims to identify potential impacts of anticipated changes in climate on food safety and their control at all stages of the food chain. The purpose is to raise awareness of the issue and to facilitate international cooperation in better understanding the changing food safety situation and in developing and implementing strategies to address them. The food safety issues covered include: agents of food-borne disease with specific consideration of zoonotic diseases, mycotoxin contamination, biotoxins in fishery products and environmental contaminants with significance to the food chain. It also highlights the need for adequate attention to food safety in ensuring preparedness for effective management of emergency situations arising from extreme weather events.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Health, Water, Adaptation, Mitigation, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Human Security
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2008
Language:
English
Terrestrial Essential Climate Variables for Climate Change Assessment, Mitigation and Adaptation
This analytical report reviews the terrestrial Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). Details are provided on why these observations are needed to understand the causes of climate change, analyse the potential impacts, evaluate the adaptation options and enable characterization of extreme events such as floods, droughts and heat waves. It highlights some of the activities being undertaken, the need for the standardization of methods and harmonization of data and the major observational gaps and funding requirements needed to allow countries and international agencies to monitor, implement and report on issues related to climate change.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO, International Council for Science, UNEP, International Council for Science, UNESCO, International Council for Science, WMO, International Council for Science
Topic:
Water, Science, Adaptation, Mitigation, Governance – General
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2008
Language:
English
Rice and Climate Change
This factsheet briefly discusses the link between rice production, food security and climate change and analyzes the potential options for the rice industry sector to contribute to adaptation and mitigation. In addition, it presents the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Rice Programme for adaptation to climate change.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Adaptation, Mitigation
Type of material:
Other
Publication date:
2007
Language:
English
The Genetic Improvement of Forage Grasses and Legumes to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
This technical document stresses that grasslands, while being one of the most important ecosystems in the world, are also a significant source of pollution including the greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide. It considers ways in which genetic improvement of grassland crops can reduce emissions and enhance carbon sequestration. In particular, if focuses on the following areas: reducing methane emissions from ruminant animals by modification of plant composition; reducing nitrous oxide emissions by making the use of nitrogen more efficient both in terms of going from soil to plant and in the animal; enhancing carbon sequestration through plant breeding; reducing emissions from fertiliser production.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Land Use Management, Environment, Mitigation
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2007
Language:
English
The Genetic Improvement of Forage Grasses and Legumes to Enhance Adaptation of Grasslands to Climate Change
This technical document notes that climate change is likely to shift the adaptive regions of most forage species in the long term. Hence there is a need to identify and incorporate the relevant adaptive traits into existing and new forage species in order to maintain and, where feasible, enhance productivity of grassland systems in the face of the changing environmental constraints imposed upon them. The document firstly briefly summarizes the relevant impacts of climate change and then discusses the opportunities for genetic improvement of forage species with respect to several criteria. It also considers future opportunities with respect to grassland design utilizing state of the art approaches in the context of the broad systems level understanding.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Economic and Development Planning, Land Use Management, Environment, Adaptation
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2008
Language:
English
Low Greenhouse Gas Agriculture: Mitigation and Adaptation Potential of Sustainable Farming Systems
This technical document aims to explore the potential for low greenhouse gas emission (GHG) agriculture. It examines current farming practices and incorporates scientific databases from long‑term field experiments as case studies for low GHG agriculture to. Further, it studies the changes that are needed for low greenhouse gas agriculture systems to become a reality. It also elucidates the adaptive capacity of agro-ecological farming system approaches, using organic system case studies from the scientific literature.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Adaptation, Mitigation
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2009
Language:
English
Coping with a Changing Climate: Considerations for Adaptation and Mitigation in Agriculture
This analytical report presents some fundamental issues, challenges and concepts in order to improve policy-makers’ understandings of and preparations for coping with both the causes and the impacts of climate change on food security. It elaborates on the critical considerations including basic ecological principles, assessment of impacts, vulnerabilities, invisible boundaries and suggestions for short-term and long-term policy options, as well as policy-driven strategic thinking for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Water, Environment, Adaptation, Mitigation, Policy Instruments
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2009
Language:
English
FAO Safeguarding the Global Environment: Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change
This brochure stresses that adapting food systems to climate change is essential for promoting food security and poverty alleviation, as well as for the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources. It also presents how the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports countries in addressing climate change, with particular focus on impact assessment and adaptation planning, increasing resilience, strengthening institutions and assisting countries in implementing adaptation priorities.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Environment, Adaptation, Ecosystems, Policy Instruments
Type of material:
Other
Publication date:
2010
Language:
English
Challenges and Opportunities for Carbon Sequestration in Grassland Systems: A Technical Report on Grassland Management and Climate Change Mitigation
This technical document reviews the current status of opportunities and challenges for grassland carbon sequestration and identifies components that could foster the inclusion of grasslands in future climate agreements to enhance longer term adaptation to climate variability. It includes a policy brief to assist policymakers in their development plans.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Environment, Adaptation, Mitigation, Policy Instruments
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2010
Language:
English
Organic Agriculture and Climate Change Mitigation: A Report of the Round Table on Organic Agriculture and Climate Change
This technical document summarizes the output of three Round Table on Organic Agriculture and Climate Change (RTOACC) workshops held to identify available data as well as to pinpoint data gaps that need to be filled in order to develop an organic agriculture methodology for the carbon market that would synergize with general development goals and also potentially benefit smallholders in poor countries. In particular, the workshops addressed: 1) “Data consensus and data gaps related to soil carbon sequestration potential of organic crop and livestock systems”, and “Organic farming systems’ potential for accreditation of a methodology for the carbon market”; 2) “Life cycle assessment of organic food and farming systems: focusing on greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration and methodological challenges and status”; and 3) “Review of progress and follow-up”.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Economic and Development Planning, Land Use Management, Mitigation, Carbon Financing and CDM
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2011
Language:
English
Climate Change and Food Systems Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa
This analytical report demonstrates the possibility of harmonizing agricultural production with the wellbeing of the biosphere. The different chapters capitalize on assessments and experiences such as: lessons learned from Asia’s Green Revolution on agricultural communities; trends in African agricultural knowledge, science and technology; trade policy impacts on food production; conditions for success of water interventions for the African rural poor; and climate change implications for agriculture and food systems. Case studies share the practical experiences, lessons and successes from across Africa, demonstrating that it is possible to produce food sufficiently and at the same time, care for the biosphere. The work presented in this volume stems from a Conference on Ecological Agriculture held in Ethiopia in 2008.
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ENG
Organization:
FAO, Institute for Sustainable Development, Third World Network
Topic:
Agriculture and Food, Economic and Development Planning, Water, Adaptation, Mitigation, Technology, Policy Instruments
Type of material:
Analytical-Technical Document
Publication date:
2011
Language:
English