Biodiversity & Livelihoods
Climate Change
Environment & Migration
North America
Avaneesh Pandey

Eleven House Republicans, led by Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY), signed a resolution calling for action on climate change. The resolution, made public Thursday, marks a major break from the party line of climate change denial.

“The House of Representatives commits to working constructively, using our tradition of American ingenuity, innovation, and exceptionalism, to create and support economically viable, and broadly supported private and public solutions to study and address the causes and effects of measured changes to our global and regional climates, including mitigation efforts and efforts to balance human activities that have been found to have an impact,” the resolution, which calls for a “conservative environmental stewardship,” reads.

For the complete article, please see the International Business Times.


Climate Change
Climate Diplomacy
Energy
Finance
Global Issues
Laura Merrill and Franziska Funke, IISD

Ten years after committing to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, G20 countries still subsidise coal, oil and gas to the tune of around USD 150 billion annually. Peer review of fossil fuel subsidies help push the G20 forward on this issue, but these reviews need to be followed by action. Subsidy reforms could free up resources that could be channeled back into government programmes and on accelerating a clean energy transition.

Climate Change
Climate Diplomacy
Global Issues
Dennis Tänzler, adelphi

Adapting to climate change and strengthening resilience are becoming priorities for the international community – however, they require greater ambition in climate policy. 107 governments and numerous international organisations have endorsed a call for action on raising ambition at the United Nations Climate Change Summit on 23rd September 2019. Following the summit, the Global Commission on Adaptation will begin its Year of Action to meet the climate challenges ahead. The Year of Action is here to accelerate climate adaptation around the world, to improve human well-being and to drive more sustainable economic development and security.

Biodiversity & Livelihoods
Forests
Minerals & Mining
Central America & Caribbean
Adriana Erthal Abdenur, Igarapé Institute

A new form of organized crime has recently been emerging in the Amazon: illegal mining. Miners fell trees, use high-grade explosives for blasting soils and dredge riverbeds. But the impacts go beyond environmental damage, bringing with it a slew of other social problems. Peace researcher Adriana Abdenur urges policymakers to improve coordination and argues that diplomacy may help prevent further conflicts, corruption and crime.

Conflict Transformation
Water
Global Issues
Benjamin Pohl (adelphi) and Susanne Schmeier (IHE Delft)

Access to water can be a critical resource for cooperation, but also a source of tension. Identifying risks before their onset is crucial for the efficiency and economic feasibility of intervention strategies, but how can these risks be measured? To address this conundrum, adelphi together with several partners convened a side-event at World Water Week, which connected experts developing analytical tools to policy makers in the water sector.