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This activity report consists of a fact sheet presenting UN system’s concerted activities to help people and communities in countries, especially those particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, to manage climate-related risks in their efforts to achieve sustainable socio-economic development.

This analytical report presents the concerted action taken by the UN system to assist people and communities in developing countries to adapt to climate change through: (i) risks, impacts and vulnerability assessment; (ii) adaptation planning, including creating an enabling environment; (iii) the implementation of adaptation measures, which includes UNISDR’s work on climate change related disaster risk reduction and risk sharing; (iv) awareness raising; and (v) knowledge sharing and facilitate learning. 

This activity report provides a synthesis of 37 actions in the areas of education, training and awareness-raising undertaken by Nairobi work programme partner organizations, and highlights the results obtained and lessons learned. It also intends to inform Parties of the knowledge and resources being provided by Nairobi work programme partners through the wide variety of adaptation actions in these areas.

This analytical report explores several questions concerning the complexity of designing and implementing REDD+ in three articles that look at the challenges around the application of free, prior and informed consent in stakeholder engagement for REDD+, the multiple ecosystem-based benefits of REDD+ beyond carbon, and measuring, reporting, verification and monitoring for REDD+.

This analytical report is the first biennial global assessment of disaster risk reduction prepared in context of the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). It provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the natural hazards menacing humanity and new and arresting evidence on how, where and why disaster risk is increasing globally. Drawing on detailed studies, the report urges a radical shift in development practices, and a major new emphasis on resilience and disaster planning.

Outreach is a multi-stakeholder magazine which is published daily at COP16.The purpose is to provide a platform for presenting the opinions of various stakeholders on different issues related to climate change.

This analytical report synthesizes the information provided by Parties and relevant organizations on the preparation and implementation of national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs), including on accessing funds from the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). It provides a review of the status of implementation of the least developed countries work programme, NAPAs and the operation of the LDCF. It includes experiences gained and lessons learned in the preparation and implementation of NAPAs and on accessing funds from the LDCF, as well as challenges, barriers and possible areas for improvement.

This activity report provides a summary of the five regional training workshops on the implementation of national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) conducted by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and its agencies in the period 2009–2010. The five workshops focused on providing participants with hands-on training in the design and preparation of proposals for the implementation of adaptation projects identified in NAPAs, and in the subsequent submission of these proposals to the GEF to receive support under the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). In addition, the workshops addressed barriers and challenges faced by least developed country Parties in accessing funding under the LDCF.

This technical report spotlights the size of “emissions gap” between where countries might be in 2020 versus where the science indicates they need to be. According to the report, countries have the chance to reduce emissions to 49 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020, 60% of the reductions needed to keep global temperatures under a 2ºC rise, if Copenhagen Accord pledges are fully met. This would leave a gap of around 5 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent to be bridged over the next decade. Reflecting on the results of the report, recommendations are provided.

The aim of the tool is to fill a knowledge gap within the CDM and provide CDM stakeholders with an overview of technologies, the applicable methodologies and a general perspective, through concentrated statistics of all CDM project types in any given sector. The tool aims to provide: easy access to a complete overview of all methodology options based on the specific project characteristics; easy access to general economic sector overviews, the relevant technologies applied in a given sector for emission reductions and statistics on CDM projects in the sector; and a discussion forum that provides a platform for practitioners to exchange experience on the practical application of methodologies for specific technologies.

This analytical report estimates that the emissions contribution of the waste sector is roughly 3-5%, but notes that reliability of calculation methods and data between countries vary, with uncertainty ranging from 10-30% in developed countries to 60% in developing countries. The report stresses that the waste sector is well placed to cut its contribution to global man-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and even become an emissions saver. It presents recommendations and highlights the potential to decouple waste production from economic growth through Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects focusing on landfill gases.

The analytical report analyzes the technology transfer claims made by project participants in the project design documents (PDDs) of the 4,984 projects that were in the CDM pipeline as of 30 June 2010. The findings of the study show the extent of technology transfer, as well as the change that has occurred as the use of the CDM by host parties matures. The study also shows the change in the rate of technology transfer over time as the use of the CDM matures. It indicates that technology transfer was more common during the early years of the CDM than it is today.

This activity report facilitates the identification of priority mitigation and adaptation measures by the participating countries, in line with their national sustainable development strategies, and how these measures can be effectively supported financially by public and private sector funding, multilateral initiatives, carbon markets and other sources of funding or investment.

This atlas presents a visual account of Africa’s endowment and use of water resources, revealed through 224 maps and 104 satellite images as well as some 500 graphics and hundreds of compelling photos. The atlas gathers information about water in Africa and its role in the economy and development, health, food security, transboundary cooperation, capacity building and environmental change into one comprehensive and accessible volume.

Outreach is a multi-stakeholder magazine which is published daily at COP16.The purpose is to provide a platform for presenting the opinions of various stakeholders on different issues related to climate change.

Outreach is a multi-stakeholder magazine which is published daily at COP16.The purpose is to provide a platform for presenting the opinions of various stakeholders on different issues related to climate change.

Outreach is a multi-stakeholder magazine which is published daily at COP16.The purpose is to provide a platform for presenting the opinions of various stakeholders on different issues related to climate change.

This analytical report highlights the crucial importance of carbon sequestered in coastal wetlands and submerged vegetated habitats like seagrass beds for climate change mitigation. Coastal wetlands, such as mangroves, tidal flats and salt marshes, along with seagrass beds sequester large amounts of carbon within their plants and especially in the soil. Degradation of these habitats – as a result of drainage, conversion and reclamation – can result in substantial and ongoing emissions of greenhouse gases. However, these natural carbon sinks and the emissions resulting from their degradation and loss remain largely unaccounted for within the UNFCCC. 

This technical document examines the scope and potential for wood fuels to replace fossil fuels thereby contributing to climate change mitigation in three countries – Brazil, India and Mexico. The potential for and implications of wood fuel development for climate change mitigation is analyzed. The publication also presents the current woodfuel offset mechanisms in place and their relative emissions reduction potentials.

This analytical report explores the scope and potential for woodfuels to replace fossil fuels thereby contributing to climate change mitigation. The implications of woodfuel development for mitigation, the current woodfuel offset mechanisms in place and their possible emissions reduction were analysed. Many barriers have been identified that preclude the full use of this mitigation potential. Policy reforms to encourage environmental sustainability, increased productivity, improved infrastructure and planning are stressed as essential elements for large-scale implementation.