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.

Water
Global Issues
Raquel Munayer, adelphi

As part of this year’s online World Water Week at Home, adelphi and IHE Delft convened the workshop "Water diplomacy: a tool for climate action?". The workshop reflected on the role that foreign policy can play in mitigating, solving and potentially preventing conflicts over the management of transboundary water resources, especially in a changing climate.

Forests
South America
Adriana E. Abdenur, Igarapé Institute

The Cerrado, a tropical savannah region located in Central Brazil, is nearly half as large as the Amazon and a deforestation hotspot. Yet little attention is paid to this important biome. That has to change.

Technology & Innovation
Middle East & North Africa
Will Marshall, Fair Observer

China’s Belt and Road Initiative projects may exacerbate the risk of climate-related instability across the Middle East in the long term.

Sustainable Transformation
Global Issues
Emily Wright, adelphi

With the European Green Deal, the European Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen has committed to accelerating decarbonisation in Europe as a major priority. The report "The Geopolitics of Decarbonization: Reshaping European Foreign Relations" shows how the EU’s external relations need to evolve to adequately reflect the political, economic and social outcomes of this process.