Climate Change
Energy
Forests
Land & Food
Private Sector
Asia
South America

As a result of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's ongoing visit to Brazil, China and Brazil Tuesday signed a joint statement on addressing the climate change issue together for a common vision of sustainable development.

According to the statement, both sides recognize that climate change and its adverse effects are the common concern of humankind and one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century, which need to be addressed through international cooperation in the context of sustainable development.

As the world's major developing countries, China and Brazil have undertaken ambitious actions domestically on climate change in such areas as energy efficiency, renewable energy, the forest sector, agriculture and industry. Both sides intend to increase the share of renewable energy in their energy matrices.

The two reaffirmed their commitment to reaching a balanced, comprehensive, equitable and ambitious agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol at the UN Climate Conference to be held in Paris later this year. China and Brazil will work together with other parties, in particular with other BASIC countries which group Brazil, South Africa, India and China, towards this goal, in full accordance with the principles equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

For the complete article, please see Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Dhanasree Jayaram, MAHE

With global climate action stagnating, sustained community-driven initiatives can fill the governance gap and also help mitigate climate-related security risks in South Asia. 

Peter Schwartzstein, Center for Climate and Security

The longstanding dispute over water rights among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia escalated in 2011 when Ethiopia began construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), in the absence of any agreement with downstream Egypt. The GERD dispute offers an alarming insight into just how dangerous future transboundary water disputes may become, particularly in the context of a changing climate.

Adaptation & Resilience
Global Issues
Anne Hammill, IISD

Though focused on climate change, National Adaptation Plans offer important assessments of the risks a country faces and can be valuable in devising comprehensive pandemic response strategies.

Gender
South America
Central America & Caribbean
Adriana Erthal Abdenur, Igarapé Institute

​Women in the region suffer disproportionately from climate impacts, but they also play an essential role in addressing climate change. With the right policy responses, it is possible to reduce security risks and empower women to better address the challenges they face.