Biblioteca

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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. 

This analytical report, building on a range of lessons learned in the climate policy arena, examines how stronger sustainability criteria and a wider focus on payment for ecosystem services can provide the pathway to significantly increase the amount of climate financing directed towards the agricultural sector for sustainable development. In particular, it points out that, in order to effectively couple climate financing with strong and measurable sustainable development criteria, there is a need to move beyond carbon as a standalone tradeable commodity, by increasingly valuing the significant range of additional ecosystem and socio-economic services provided by sustainable agriculture practices and programmes that simultaneously address climate concerns and sustainable rural development priorities.

This activity report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the significant progress and achievements made by the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD)’s 14 National Programmes and other partner countries, as well as the international support and outreach provided by the Programme throughout 2011. The report also features high-level testimonials from donors, partner countries and other organizations involved in REDD+, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).

This slide presentation analyzes the linkages between population dynamics such as population growth, urbanization, migration and ageing, and climate change adaptation, with particular focus on Malawi. It presents opportunities for integrating these issues into national and international policy dialogues and planning and evaluation. It includes definitions of common terms.

This manual provides a comprehensive overview of population and climate change adaptation in the form of training materials. The target audiences are policymakers, practitioners and advocates who are seeking a practical, hands-on, understanding of the ways that population and climate change interact. Parts 1-5 introduce training participants to the multiple facets of population dynamics and climate change adaptation, and part 6 presents opportunities for integration through an examination of international and national policy dialogues, adaptation planning and programs, and planning in other sectors. Part 7 provides a comprehensive, annotated compilation of tools and resources that can serve as a detailed reference for policymakers, planners and practitioners seeking to better integrate data and analysis of population dynamics into climate change response strategies.

This slide presentation analyzes the link between population dynamics and climate change. It starts providing a definition of key terms, such as “vulnerability”, “hazard” and “greenhouse gases”. The presentation is then divided in three parts discussing: 1) climate change and development, 2) population and development, 3) population and climate (both adaptation and mitigation). It concludes presenting additional tools and resources.  

This manual elucidates the ways in which population dynamics (growth, composition and distribution) interact with climate change and impact the well-being of people and the planet. The information is presented across a series of training modules and guidelines for trainers. The manual includes four parts on: 1) climate change and development connections, 2) how population dynamics relate to overall development efforts, 3) population and climate change, 4) how the interactions of population dynamics and climate change can be better integrated in international and national policy dialogues. The target audiences are policymakers, practitioners and advocates who are seeking a practical, hands-on understanding of the ways that population and climate change interact so that they can apply that understanding to their work in meaningful ways.

This manual provides operational guidance on how to manage the risk of floods in a transforming urban environment and changeable climate. It argues for a strategic approach, in which appropriate measures are identified, assessed, selected and integrated in a process that both involves and informs the full range of stakeholders. This integrated approach includes: the construction of drainage channels, incorporating “urban greening” such as wetlands and environmental buffers; the creation of flood warning systems; and improved land planning to counter the effects of potential flooding. The guidebook also advocates for a more cohesive information dissemination system involving web-based flood reports and accessibility to hydrological and hydro-meteorological data and for cooperation from various sectors of government, the public sector, civil society, and other organizations.

This booklet reflects on the outcomes of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In particular, it includes 12 questions and answers on forestry, climate change and reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation plus sustainable management of forests, conservation, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+). The responses have been elaborated by eleven climate change and forestry experts gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to reflect on COP16 in November and December 2010.

This policy brief stresses that institutional frameworks that fail to provide incentives to invest in forest management and a succession of high-level national and international priorities in forestry mean that field-level activities are often overlooked. The health and vitality of forests in the Asia-Pacific region and their productivity are often compromised as a result. The document highlights that, with demands on forests increasing and climate change threatening, efforts to maintain ecosystem services and benefits from forests should focus attention on effective management at the field level.

This policy brief highlights that most of the terrestrial biodiversity within the Asia-Pacific region is contained within forests. Protected areas are the mainstay for biodiversity conservation although other forest areas are also important. The document notes that habitat destruction and extraction of high-value species are major threats to biodiversity. Ecosystem stability is based on interdependence among constituent species and with biodiversity loss, resilience to change is reduced. Therefore, it states that awareness raising, stringent environmental impact assessments, and improved law enforcement are required.