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Loading ...Support for an Agreement on REDD
Thursday, September 24th, 2009It’s interesting to see the high-level support expressed at the Summit on Climate Change by the Latin American nations of Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana for an internationally-agreed mechanism for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in the post-2012 climate change accord to be negotiated later this year in Copenhagen. However, conspicuous by their […]
Estimating the Cost of Climate Risks for Developing Countries
Monday, September 14th, 2009From the Global Environment Facility (GEF): Climate Change Risks could cost Developing countries up to 19% of GDP by 2030 Report says action on climate adaptation may significantly reduce losses and increase economic sustainability. A report from the Economics of Climate Adaptation Working Group released today indicates that climate risks could cost nations up to […]
World No Tobacco Day 09: CARICOM Agrees to Ban Smoking in Public Spaces
Saturday, May 30th, 2009From the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat: CARICOM HEALTH MINISTERS AGREE TO CURB SMOKING IN PUBLIC SPACES The Caucus of Ministers of Health have endorsed a recommendation for the banning of smoking on public spaces as a public good and regional goal, as the Region intensifies its efforts to tackle Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), under the Port […]
Jagdeo: Let Us Be the Model
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009President Jagdeo Addresses the CSD High-Level Segment – photo courtesy Earth Negotiations Bulletin The High-Level Segment of the 17th Session of United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-17) opened today with a series of speeches in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) hall. Despite its moniker, most of those speaking at the High-Level Segment only had […]
Guyana Launches Consultations on Consumer Protection Legislation
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009[Temas Observation: I have just one question: Why did it take nearly three years for the President to float this legislation again?] From the Guyana’s Government Information Agency (GINA): Consultation begins on Consumer Protection Legislation – to ensure consumers rights are protected Steps are currently being undertaken by the Commerce Ministry’s Consumer Affairs Division to […]
Finally, a Chance for a Global Mercury Accord / Por fin, un chance para un acuerdo global sobre el mercurio
Saturday, February 21st, 2009When the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Governing Council (GC) considered and agreed on the draft decision on chemicals management, including mercury, this past Thursday, I was in the room. It’s difficult to say which emotion filled the conference room more — joy or excitement. There was plenty of both. This decision had been many years […]
Economic Growth Model is Rapidly Transforming/Degrading the Amazon
Thursday, February 19th, 2009From the UN Environment Programme (UNEP): A Strong Impact is Made on the Amazonia by its Economic Growth Model However, responses by the governments of Amazonian countries indicate that efforts are under way on concrete action to deal with their environmental challenges. The population is increasing, reaching a level of 33.5 million inhabitants in 2007. […]
Gates Foundation to Fund Fight Against “Neglected” Diseases / Fundación Gates dona millones para combatir enfermedades “olvidadas”
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009From the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): Gates Foundation Grant Will Boost Fight against “Neglected” Diseases New Funds Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Efforts to prevent, control and eliminate “forgotten” tropical and other infectious diseases in the Americas received a new stimulus with the announcement of a $34 million grant by […]
Eradicating an Ancient Disease
Monday, January 26th, 2009Leprosy. What images does that word invoke for you? The stories of ostracized lepers from the Bible, Torah or Koran? The scenes involving isolated “leper colonies” from Papillon or Motorcycle Diaries? How much do you know about it? Is it very contagious? (No.) Is it curable? (Yes.) Hasn’t it disappeared except for isolated communities in […]
The Ecoclubs Movement in Latin America and the Caribbean
Friday, January 2nd, 2009A couple of years back, while I was working on a series of posts for the Green Team about Dominican cities attempting to come to grips with their litter problems, I ran into some local news posts about how the mayor of La Vega attributed some of his success in cleaning up that city to […]