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This analytical report identifies the barriers that project managers encountered in the implementation of projects to cut down cement industry greenhouse gas emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa). The document develops recommendations to address these obstacles based on lessons learnt from the Indian cement sector. The study also looks at all existing project proposals and identifies new opportunities in four main areas for CO2 emissions reduction: energy efficiency, waste heat recovery, fuel switch with biomass, and clinker substitution with alternative raw materials.

This activity report introduces the Carbon Finance Assist Program and presents its 2010 goals and activities. The document describes the Program’s operational approach and capacity building component. In addition, it presents the Carbon Finance Assist 2010 project portfolio and its main achievements and lesson learned. 

This activity report introduces the Carbon Finance Assist Program and describes its 2008 goals and activities. The Program’s basic objective is to ensure that developing countries and the economies in transition are able to fully participate in the flexible mechanisms defined under the Kyoto Protocol. Several projects were implemented in 50 countries to support low carbon economic growth, including the promotion of innovative market instruments and the organization of regional carbon forums.

This analytical report provides an analysis of how Mexico could significantly reduce its GHG emissions without hindering economic growth. Beyond Mexico, the report provides useful lessons on low-cost interventions commonly employed in a variety of developing and industrial countries. With climate change at the forefront of global policy, low-carbon development is no longer an option for developing countries and middle-income nations like Mexico.

This analytical report presents the findings and the lessons learned from a case study on low carbon development in Brazil. It identifies opportunities to reduce GHG emissions while fostering economic development. Additionally, it provides technical inputs on ways to assess mitigation potential and conditions for low carbon development in key GHG emitting sectors of the economy. Also available in Portuguese.

This technical document identifies opportunities and related financial, technical, and policy requirements to move towards a low carbon growth path in six emerging economies. The experiences from these developing countries demonstrate the benefit of a structured engagement across a country’s economy on growth and GHG mitigation. The result is a framework for policy, planning, and decision making for GHG reduction investments and the promotion of a low-carbon economic system.

This analytical report presents the lessons generated from the analysis of development priorities and GHG mitigation opportunities in six emerging countries. The document stresses that there are multiple opportunities for developing countries to grow in a sustainable manner. The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) is assembling findings from these six country studies to develop knowledge products (e.g. modeling toolkits, best practices and interactive training countries) to support their exploration of low carbon growth opportunities.

This webpage features carbon maps showing how carbon stocks in Asia, Africa and Latin America overlap with biodiversity hot spots. The maps were produced with the aim of assisting governments in setting priorities for carbon investments. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched carbon mapping publications for Cambodia, Ecuador, Argentina, Nigeria and China on carbon, biodiversity and ecosystem services.

This policy document synthesizes the proposals made by Parties and observer organizations on ways to enhance the engagement of observer organizations. These include a range of proposals in relation to substantive inputs, admissions and access, registration and organizational issues, the role of constituencies, guidelines for participation, and practices taken from other processes. The report also reviews the background of observer engagement in the UNFCCC process, as well as previous consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation of ways to enhance the effectiveness of this engagement.

This analytical report on the Implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) has been released by the UN Secretary-General on the occasion of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). This document considers trends in disasters and disaster risks, and coordination and guidance through the UNISDR.

This document introduces the Health Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change Assessments. These are important as they can provide national level evidence of the linkages between climate and health, improve understanding of local and specific health risks and vulnerabilities, provide the opportunity for capacity building, and serve as a baseline analysis to monitor how health risks may be influenced by a changing climate over time.

This analytical report presents an overview of the science of the links between climate change and human health. It provides an update of the evidence on health risks caused by climate change, describes which populations are most vulnerable, and outlines the actions that will be necessary to protect health from climate change. Although climate change presents a very serious threat to global public health, the key messages of the report are positive. The health sector already has at its disposal a number of effective interventions that would save lives now and reduce vulnerability to climate change in the future.

This activity report summarises the main points discussed during the consultation on Essential Public Health Package to Enhance Climate Resilience in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7-8 September 2010.The consultation aimed to define the core public health functions that should protect populations from climate change impacts. It was attended by representatives from vulnerable countries, the UNFCCC Secretariat, and relevant WHO departments, who broadly agreed on enhancing resilience through linking environment and health surveillance, vector control and disaster risk reduction.

This activity report, which was published on the occasion of the WMO’s 60th anniversary, spells out 60 ways that WMO makes a difference in peoples’ lives. It illustrates the critical role that WMO and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of its 189 Members play in addressing climate change and outlines the impacts of WMO’s activities in diverse sectors such as transport, water and health.

This technical document provides a summary of the Guidelines on Climate Watches  of April 2005, in accordance with the climate watch definition approved by the Commission for Climatology. The aim of this brochure is threefold: 1. To provide a quick reference of common practices in implementing climate watch systems within the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services; 2. To serve as material for WMO workshops dealing directly or indirectly with warning systems against severe weather and climate events; 3. To provide users with a simple description of a climate watch system.

This technical document is part of an annual series published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on the status of the global climate. A key result of the present issue is that the period 2000–2009 was the warmest decade on record since the beginning of modern instrumental measurements around 1850. The document includes inter alia information on regional temperature anomalies, heatwaves and cold waves, droughts, storms and flooding.

This analytical report stresses that AIDS and climate change are two of the most important “long wave” global issues of the recent past, the present and the future. They share similarities, interactions, and present possibilities for a more united response. Yet these links have received little analysis. This paper seeks to address that gap.

This technical document presents issues relating to the transformation of pledges for emission reductions into quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives (QELROs). It provides a brief explanation of this transformation and illustrates the effect that different variables have on it. Chapter II introduces the concepts of QELROs and assigned amounts. Chapter III covers issues relating to the transformation of pledges into QELROs, including the effects of different variables on the resulting QELRO values. Chapter IV introduces additional considerations including which base year is used, the accounting of land use, land-use change and forestry and the implications of efforts and achievements by Parties to date.

This technical document analyses the general methodological issues for estimating the costs and benefits of adaptation options, reviews new studies on the economics of adaptation in light of these methodological issues, and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. Improved understanding and capacity for addressing the costs and benefits of adaptation is an important pillar in implementing enhanced action on adaptation at all levels.

This activity report highlights the successes of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) in the international waters focal area. The SGP offers a community-based approach in international waters management that generates not only global environmental benefits but also increases adaptive capacity for communities and ecological systems. The publication provides a snapshot of successes pulled from the nearly 600 projects in the SGP international waters portfolio.