This study presents the unique features that distinguish the Partnership in the international climate governance architecture and documents main deliverables of the International Partnership on Mitigation and MRV. It summarises lessons learnt during five years of the Partnership’s existence and poses questions for identifying the role of the partnership following the adoption of the Paris Agreement by outlining possible next steps in the Partnership’s activity.
A low-emission transition will require profound changes in terms of infrastructure, business models as well as individual habits. In order to support this process adelphi, WiseEuropa and the Institute for Sustainable Development launched a Polish-German discussion on the benefits of a low-emission economy for local development. The discussion paper draws on this exchange, and offers a basis for further reflection about selected benefits based on evidence from Germany and Poland.
In a recent paper published by Climatic Change, Nick Obradovich conducts the “first-ever” investigation into the relationship between rising global temperatures, electoral returns, and climate change. Using data from more than 1.5 billion votes cast across electoral contests held in 19 countries, he found that when the annual average temperature for a country rose above 70°F, there was a “marked” decrease in the number of votes received by incumbent officeholders.
In a paper released by PNAS, Nina von Uexkull, Mihai Croicu, Hanne Fjelde, and Halvard Buhaug argue that the lack of consensus among researchers working on the connection between climate change and conflict is tied to the inadequate attention given to “the context in which droughts and other climatic extremes increase the risk of violent mobilization.” This is an essential consideration in order to move beyond broad generalizations and identify group motivations and vulnerabilities.
Climate change is a decisive global challenge which, if not urgently managed, will put at risk not only the environment but also world economic prosperity, development and, more broadly, stability and security. Africa’s vulnerability to climate change is exacerbated by a number of non-climatic factors, including hunger, high prevalence of disease, widespread poverty, chronic conflicts, high dependence on rain-fed agriculture, low levels of development and low adaptive capacity.
Both international trade and climate policy are integral parts of countries’ overall foreign policy challenges. A comprehensive understanding of their interconnection and how to make use of trade policy instruments in ramping up climate action can therefore be seen as a crucial element of successful climate diplomacy.
At the Habitat III conference in Quito, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat) launched, ‘Addressing Climate Change in National Urban Policy,’ a guide developed to assist all national urban policy stakeholders to better understand the intersection between national urban policy and climate change. While urbanization has brought great benefits and opportunities, cities are a major contributor to climate change.
The World Economic and Social Survey 2016 by the United Nations Department on Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) adds to the debate over challenges to successfully implementing the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
With this Briefing Book the Climate and Security Advisory Group (CSAG), a voluntary, non-partisan group of U.S.-based military, national security, homeland security, intelligence and foreign policy experts from a broad range of institutions, composed a list of recommendations which a new U.S. administration should consider in terms of climate change and security.
Climate change is projected to produce more intense and frequent extreme weather events, multiple weather disturbances, along with broader climatological effects, such as sea level rise. These are almost certain to have significant direct and indirect social, economic, political, and security implications during the next 20 years. These effects will be especially pronounced as populations continue to concentrate in climate-vulnerable locales such as coastal areas, water-stressed regions, and ever-growing cities.