Governments are meeting in Paris to reach a new climate change agreement that aims to keep global average temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) – the level beyond which there will be irreversible impacts.
Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has made clear that the longer the world delays in tackling climate change, the higher the risks and costs. The next couple of decades are critical.
Halting the growth in global emissions and putting them on a downward path so as to prevent climate disruption is possible, but necessitates a transformation of the global economy that not only addresses climate change, but also powers new growth.
“We are at a defining moment for the future of our planet and its peoples,” said Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). “Urgent action is needed to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions, invest in adaptation and build resilience to the growing impacts of our rapidly warming world.”
“Shifting to a low-carbon and resilient trajectory will require coordinated, integrated solutions to catalyse transformation of three key economic systems: energy—how we power our homes, offices and industry, and move goods and people from one place to another; cities—how we live; and food production—how and where we produce food, and what we eat,” Ishii continued.
The 21st meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) holds from 30 November to 11 December 2015. It is expected to be a turning point, which sends a loud and clear signal to citizens, markets and the private sector that the transformation of the global economy is inevitable, beneficial, and already underway.
“Based on our quarter century of experience and a wide network of partners, the GEF is well-placed to support this transformation,” said Ishii.
As a financial mechanism of the UNFCCC, the GEF is supporting developing countries’ shift towards a low-emission development path. Besides its ongoing support to countries in their UNFCCC obligations (such as national communications and biennial update reports), the GEF has also provided financial support to 46 countries as they prepared their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, and stands ready to help make these “investment plans” operational.
In Paris, the GEF will also be actively supporting the 12 action tracks of the so-called Lima Paris Action Agenda to showcase coalitions, partnerships and integrated approaches for action on the ground in areas such as buildings, forests, transport and private finance.
“Rooted in our role as a financing mechanism of the UNFCCC and other key international agreements, the GEF’s resources help catalyse action and direct larger-scale financing flows toward low-carbon and resilient investments,” said Ishii. “We support partnerships at local, national and regional levels around integrated solutions in areas like energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable cities, land degradation, deforestation, food security and resilience.”
Governments, the private sector and civil society are taking action on climate change because it is in their interest to do so. Ahead of Paris, almost all countries, as well as states, cities, business and investors, have come forward with the most comprehensive set of pledges and plans ever seen to reduce emissions and bolster resilience.
Paris is a huge opportunity to demonstrate political ambition and action on climate change. But, what happens after is as, if not more, important.
The newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals recognise that the health of the global commons is essential for a thriving world,” said Ishii. “A strong climate agreement backed by action on the ground will help us achieve the SDGs. But with the underlying drivers of degradation still at play, our efforts must only intensify.”
Environment Minister, Mrs Amina Mohammed, will lead a 41-member team, comprising negotiators, representatives of civil society organisations and legislators to the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) starting next week in Paris, France.
Unlike the previous conferences where a large chunk of the delegation comprised persons with limited relevance, the minister stated on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at a media briefing in Abuja that the list had been thoroughly reviewed to ensure that only those who have something to offer were included.
She said, “I know the delegation has always been an issue in terms of the size and the relevance at these meetings. That is a legitimate and important question that Nigerians should ask. We are going to the conference with a 41-member negotiating team, members that would attend, not only intergovernmental negotiations, but also represent Nigeria at the side events which are numerous.
“We have reviewed the delegation and I paid attention to who goes and for how long we go. I am committed to the fact that every member of this delegation comes back with dividends on climate change agenda. I am satisfied that we have a competent set of professionals and key stakeholders. We have included our colleagues from the National Assembly to shape the understanding of environment issues.”
While saying the country was yet to submit its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the UNFCCC, she pleaded with Nigerians for more time to enable the new administration study the document. She added that the process anywhere in the world requires incredible amount of expertise and time.
The minister further explained that since it was a document that would shape the nation’s pattern of development, care must be taken to ensure that it was perfect and enduring.
Her words: “The process of preparing INDCs requires incredible amount of expertise. It has to be put in a sensible way that will generate the partnership that we get from outside to implement our INDCs. The remaining countries who have submitted their INDCs, they have not been in the best shape they should be. They will have to go back after the COP to address them.
“We are trying to put our best foot forward. Nigerians should give us a little more space, because the cabinet is just coming into place and we also have to own the INDC because we are the one that will implement it. And I can assure you we will do that.
“I would not imagine Nigeria will produce an INDC that will not be serious about its implementation over the next three to four years in the first instance. Remember our INDCs will go on for a couple of decades. There are commitments there to the percentage we want to look at in terms of our emission reduction strategies, the degree to which we want to invest domestically on a number of issues and areas of priority. All of that will be known in a couple of days,” she added.
Nigeria is one of the about 192 countries expected to participate in the UNFCCC conference aimed at achieving a new universal climate change agreement. Indeed, the summit’s objective is to achieve, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, a legally binding and universal agreement on climate from all the nations of the world.
Nigeria, in the INDC, is proposing to reduce carbon emissions by at least 50 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. It is likewise considering 30 per cent energy efficiency in industries, homes, businesses and vehicles, and increased use of natural gas in generators and renewable energy.
Besides putting a stop to gas flaring, the country outlines plans to capture and process hitherto flared associated gas. It will give priority to climate-smart agriculture, while setting standards for appliances, generators and buildings.
If executed to the letter, all proposals in the INDC are expected to lead to an estimated $4.5 billion benefits to the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigeria is taking appropriate steps to turn its abundant gas resources into veritable catalyst for development as the nation’s gas potential might be in excess of 600 trillion cubic feet.
President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo credit: informationng.com
The President said this at the 3rd summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran, Iran on Monday.
Buhari said the country was taking the steps because natural gas was fast evolving as the fuel of choice for sustainable development in view of its impressive suitability for environmental protection and lower cost of supply in comparison with fossil fuels.
He, therefore, charged the leadership of the GECF to take appropriate steps towards sustaining the pricing of gas at the international market for the benefit of member countries.
He said the stability of the energy and financial market was critical to ensuring investments in current and future natural gas projects.
“It is therefore imperative that the GECF plays a significant role towards energy security by driving the formulation of a sustainable pricing mechanism that will guarantee fair and reasonable for both producers and consumers,” he added.
President Buhari noted that for decades, Nigeria focused on the development of crude oil like other oil producing countries.
He said: “Our current National Proven Gas Reserve Base is 188 Trillion Cubic Feet. But our actual gas potential may be in excess of 600 Trillion Cubic Feet.
“With this great potential, Nigeria is taking appropriate steps to turn its abundant gas resources into veritable catalyst for development.”
President Buhari also called on the forum to foster technical and economic cooperation among member states.
According to him, Nigeria remains the hub for natural gas supply in West African sub region with the construction of 681-kilometre West African Gas Pipeline, which currently transmits gas from the country to neighbouring countries of Benin, Togo and Ghana.
He said: “Nigeria is among the world’s top five exporters of Liquefied Natural Gas and we recently celebrated the 3000th export cargo milestone.
“Similarly, we have asserted regional prominence by becoming the hub for natural gas supply in the West African sub-region through our leadership role in the development of the 681km West African Gas Pipeline, which currently transmits gas from Nigeria to neighbouring countries of Benin, Togo and Ghana.”
Buhari also charged the forum on the need to deploy research and development initiatives towards technology innovations in exploration and development processing, logistics and marketing for the benefit of member countries.
He also charged the member countries to ensure that the exploration of gas resources was done in a sustainable manner so as not to jeopardise the security of the future generation of member states.
Buhari called on them to ensure optimum gas reserves replacement and work towards ending routine gas flaring in the shortest possible time.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the forum and the Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, called for cooperation of member states to get maximum benefits from the natural resources.
The Secretary of the Forum, Seyed Hossein Adeli, informed the meeting that Azerbijah had indicated interest in joining the body as an observer.
Adeli noted that the body had begun to command international recognition and credibility.
Adeli, however, stressed the need for member countries to build mutual understanding and address the common challenges facing gas producing nations.
Within eight years of intervention in its Community-Led Total Sanitation programme, 13,000 communities in Nigeria had attained Open Defecation-free status, so says the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Open defecation. Photo credit: spynewsafrica.com
Kanaar Nadar, UNICEF’s Chief of Water Sanitation and Hygiene, made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja at a national stakeholders workshop on Draft Hygiene Promotion Strategy and Guidelines.
Nadar said: “From our report on pre-intervention activities in 2008 and now, we have seen that out of 200,000 communities in the country, 13,000 are open defecation free.
“It is however important that Nigeria scales up access to sanitation and hygiene practices to prevent possible outbreak of preventable diseases in the country.”
Nadar said Nigeria could achieve its target of meeting the National Roadmap of Ending Open Defecation by 2025, if it put policies in place to encourage behavioural change in sanitation and hygiene.
He said a survey carried out by UNICEF in some selected communities in Nigeria showed that there was gap between knowledge and attitude in hygiene promotion practice.
According to the UN official, the gap can be reduced with the propagation of proper hygiene promotion messages in the media.
Nadar noted that in the past, Nigeria had sanitary inspectors who carried out enforcement of hygiene practices.
He stressed the need to encourage such practice to reduce possible outbreak of preventable diseases.
CLTS, Nadar said, is an approach aimed at promoting collective behaviour change in communities.
He added that CLTS focuses on instigating change in sanitation behaviour rather than constructing sanitation infrastructure such as toilets.
“When toilets are built, the communities should know the importance of using them,” he said, adding that Nigeria needed to scale up its hygiene promotion strategies to become social norm among the populace.
The chief of WASH noted that due to the disproportionate distribution of wealth in the society, poor persons were 36 times more likely to defecate in the open than rich individuals.
He stressed the need for stakeholders at the workshop to develop simple, better, cost-effective messages that would enable more Nigerians change their behaviour in the promotion of hygiene promotion.
Samuel Ome, the Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, stressed the need for Nigerians to embrace good hygienic practices at all times.
Ome recalled that the Federal Government was a signatory to the Ngor Declaration from the just concluded African Sanitation Conference in Dakar and the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals.
According to Ome, these policies were aimed at scaling up sanitation and hygiene through deliberate removal of barriers to sanitation and hygiene problems.
Only 25 individuals of the Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) are thought to be left in the wild. Photo credit: theguardian.com
Only 25 individuals of the Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) are thought to be left in the wild, confined to a small patch of rainforest on Hainan island in south China. Similarly, around just 50 of Northern sportive lemurs (Lepilemur septentrionalis) remain in their native Madagascar.
This about sums up the plight of 25 primate species believed to be critically endangered.
Compiled by 63 experts from across the world, the report of the world’s 25 most endangered primates was launched at Singapore Zoo on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 with guests from national and international conservation and research organisations.
It is the latest edition of ‘The world’s 25 most endangered primates’ report, which is updated every two years.
Assembled by the Primate Specialist Group of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission (SSC), Bristol Zoological Society, the International Primatological Society (IPS), and Conservation International (CI), new additions to the list include Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) and Lavasoa Mountains dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus lavasoensis), both of which are threatened by habitat loss.
The main threats to primates are habitat destruction, particularly from the burning and clearing of tropical forests – which results in the release of greenhouse gases causing climate change – the hunting of primates for food, and the illegal wildlife trade.
“The world’s primate species are at great risk with more than half of the species threatened with extinction on The IUCN Red List,” says Simon Stuart, Chair IUCN Species Survival Commission. “We are currently re-assessing all primates and there is great concern that the situation may be getting even worse for many of these iconic and important species. Locally implemented projects to protect the Northern sportive lemur and Alaotra gentle lemur were announced in October by SOS – Save Our Species – an initiative managed by IUCN, yet much remains to be done for other species.”
The list, which has been drawn up by primatologists working in the field who have first-hand knowledge of the causes of threats to primates, includes five primate species from Madagascar, five from Africa, 10 from Asia, and five from Central and South America, all of which are in need of most urgent conservation action.
“This research highlights the extent of the danger facing many of the world’s primates,” says Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Director of Conservation at Bristol Zoological Society and a world-leading primatologist. “We hope it will focus people’s attention on these lesser known primate species, some of which most people will probably have never heard of, such as the Lavasoa Mountains dwarf lemur from Madagascar – a species only discovered two years ago – or the Roloway monkey from Ghana and Ivory Coast, which we believe is on the very verge of extinction.”
“Some of these animals have tiny populations remaining in the wild and support and action to help save them is vital if we are to avoid losing these wonderful animals forever.”
Madagascar and Vietnam both have large numbers of highly threatened primate species. In Africa, the genus of the red colobus monkeys is under particular threat, as are some of the howler monkeys and spider monkeys of South America. All of these species are relatively large and conspicuous, making them prime targets for bushmeat hunting.
“The purpose of our Top 25 list is to highlight those primates most at risk, to attract the attention of the public, to stimulate national governments to do more, and especially to find the resources to implement desperately needed conservation measures.” says Dr Russell Mittermeier, Chair of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and Executive Vice Chair of Conservation International “ In particular, we want to encourage governments to commit to desperately needed biodiversity conservation measures.”
“What is more, beyond the great scientific interest of primates, there is increasing evidence that certain species may play a key role in dispersing the seeds of tropical forest tree species that have a critically important role in mitigating climate change – a particularly noteworthy consideration given the upcoming conference of the parties of the climate convention in Paris.”
“This report makes scary reading for primatologists and the public alike, and highlights where we as conservationists must focus our attention over the coming years.” says Dr Schwitzer. “However, it also demonstrates the growing importance of collaboration between the international conservation, research and zoo communities in the protection of species and habitats.”
“At Bristol Zoological Society we will continue our conservation and research with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of the conservation activities, as well as increasing our understanding of these, and other, Critically Endangered species.”
Munich, Germany-based European insurance and asset management firm, Allianz, has announced that it will pull the plug on investments in coal companies and increase investments in wind energy. Allianz is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, managing €2 trillion. They estimate the decision will result in a shift of €4 billion.
350.org Europe campaigner Nicolò Wojewoda comments: “As the world’s largest insurance company, Allianz knows a thing or two about risk – and there’s no greater risk for the climate than continuing to invest in an industry that is wrecking the planet. Divestment from coal is a heartening first step; ultimately, however, 80% of all fossil fuel reserves need to stay in the ground to avoid dangerous and irreversible climate change.”
350.org Europe campaigner Nicolò Wojewoda. Photo credit: tcktcktck.org
“The global move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy is gathering pace in the lead up to the climate summit in Paris. More and more institutions ban investments in fossil fuels with Allianz being the biggest investor to join the movement yet,” he continues.
As of September, more than 400 institutions managing $2.6 trillion had made divestment commitments. In the lead-up to the climate negotiations, that number is now approaching 500 institutions including major investors such as Allianz and the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund.
The divestment campaign aims to weaken the fossil fuel industry’s political influence by getting more and more institutions to cut their ties to these companies. Decisions of large investors like Allianz however also hit the industry’s financial stability. It sends a clear signal to investors that the world is rapidly moving away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy.
The divestment movement is modelling what we need countries to do during the climate summit in Paris: stop investing in fossil fuels and invest in a just transition to 100% renewable energy. Over the two weeks of the summit, activists and investors will gather at different events to build on the momentum of the campaign.
The transformation of the Congo Basin timber trade into one significantly influenced by 20 key Chinese trading companies offers a golden opportunity to contribute significantly to tackle illegal logging in the world’s second largest rainforest, according to a new Greenpeace East Asia and Greenpeace Africa report, Opportunity Knocks.
Rashid Kang, Head of China Forest Campaign, Greenpeace East Asia. Photo credit: media.licdn.com
“The health of the second ‘lungs of the earth’ is the responsibility of the whole world. But it is now China that holds the key to reigning in the illegal logging trade which does them so much damage,” said Rashid Kang, Head of China Forest Campaign, Greenpeace East Asia.
The Congo Basin rainforest holds 53% of Africa’s total carbon stocks. Its preservation is an important Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) component in the lead up to the COP21 climate talks. Yet it is increasingly under threat from forest destruction, and attempts to control this are consistently undermined by widespread illegal practices and corruption in forestry sectors throughout the region.
In 2012 China surpassed the European Union as the largest importer of Congo Basin wood. By 2014 the trade was concentrated in the hands of a small group of influential Chinese companies, the largest 20 of whom accounted for 71% of all logs exported from the region. Eight of these companies are state owned.
Opportunity Knocks includes analysis of 11 years of Chinese customs data records and documents the results of interviews conducted by Greenpeace East Asia with the most important Chinese importers of Congo Basin logs. It concludes that these companies play a game of calculated ignorance and are unwilling to improve their due-diligence procedures.
The report also reveals that three of the companies have their supply chain contaminated with illegal wood or are directly involved in illegal logging activities. Given the size of the trade and the quantity of illegal wood exported from the Congo Basin, this is likely just the tip of the iceberg.
Unlike fellow key markets, the US and the EU, China does not yet have binding legislation that prohibits illegal timber being placed on its markets. The government currently relies on companies to self-regulate their own buying processes and supply chains.
“There is an urgent need for China to introduce mandatory measures akin to the European Timber Regulation and US Lacey Act,” said Victorine Che Thoener, Project Leader, Congo Basin Forest Cluster, for Greenpeace Africa. “With this, we could see historic steps forward in the fight against illegal logging and a strengthening of Africa-China partnership.”
Greenpeace East Asia and Greenpeace Africa call on the Chinese government to introduce strong legislation to prohibit the import of illegally sourced timber. As an interim measure, the government should demand that Chinese importers of Congo Basin logs, particularly the 20 most influential, strictly follow due diligence and ensure the legality of their operations. China should also strengthen its cooperation with the countries of the Congo Basin, the EU and the US to clean up the global supply chain and stop the trade in illegal timber. Meanwhile, the governments of the Congo Basin should put in place stronger measures to deal with illegal logging in their respective countries and work closely with international partners to monitor and combat the exportation of illegal logs.
Large deposits of Sargassum seaweed on coastal sites may seem drastic to several West African countries but converting this environmental challenge into economic gain is just one element of a three-point strategy experts are considering to win on both counts.
According to Wikipedia, Sargassum is a genus of brown macroalgae (seaweed) in the order Fucales. Numerous species are distributed throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world, where they generally inhabit shallow water and coral reefs, and the genus is widely known for its planktonic (free-floating) species.
“The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), therefore, challenge you experts here gathered to propose an adaptive management strategy of seaweed in West Africa,” Abou Bamba, the regional coordinator of the Abidjan Convention, said at the opening of the meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The Abidjan Convention Secretariat convened a three-day meeting that ended 13 November to debate the options. The experts were marine scientists, oceanographers, and policy analysts from the private and public sectors. They decided that the first action needed was to identify all the significant seaweed depositories in West Africa. Then, affected communities could be trained on transforming the weed into economically valuable items.
The experts may have been thinking of existing examples worldwide where a seeming seaweed menace has been used to economic advantage. In Namibia, which lies within the Abidjan Convention area, “Afrikelp” is dried, sold as fertiliser, and helps to hold soil. This brown seaweed, scientifically known as Ecklonia maxima, is the one that is washed up on the beaches of West Africa and Namibia.
In South Africa, the cold water seaweed Porphyra is used to feed abalone, a human edible mollusk which can also be used to make buttons, buckles and other decorative items. In Europe, brown seaweed has been used as animal feed. Seaweed extracts have been also applied to fruit, vegetable, flower crops and even cosmetics. It may be possible to use seaweed as fuel.
Such uses of seaweed offer livelihood possibilities to communities in the worst affected West African countries: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. These countries have asked the Abidjan Convention for help in dealing with the issue.
The Freetown meeting was the first response to that call for aid. The meeting accepted the broad plan of a three-prong regional strategy to exploit the Sargassum. Primarily, this strategy rests on establishing an early warning system to track the movement of the weed by satellite. The Abidjan Convention would have to rely on a partner able to provide this service. Making business out of the weed is the other prong of the strategy. It calls for identifying ways in which the Sargassum can be used locally, and training of communities in techniques for its transformation – the third prong.
The regional strategy also calls for establishment of an early warning system through use of satellites images, from GRID-Arendal and other partners, to inform coastal communities and national authorities on when the seaweeds would be washed ashore and their expected volume.
An important element of the strategy is the establishment of an information management system for the Sargassum. Although the meeting did not specify where this system will be housed, it might be feasible for universities and marine institutions in the region to feed data to the Abidjan Convention’s Ad Hoc Science and Technology Committee.
The strategy also calls for research into the biochemistry and physiology of the Sargassum; the establishment of a regional research facility to study the factors contributing to its spread; and a study on the social and economic impacts of the algae. Here, too, many universities and marine institutes in the sub-region could host this regional facility, without need to erect a specialized institution, and report through the Ad Hoc Committee of Science and Technology. The committee’s brief is to provide governments with science-based information and suggest courses of action to deal with the many marine and coastal environmental concerns to the region.
The regional strategy is supported by a broad set of recommendations. Among them is holding annual expert group meetings. At these gatherings experts would build knowledge on the Sargassum, exchange information, and encourage application of best practices in dealing with the algae. Presumably, though, such information sharing and increased knowledge can already be fed into the information management system and to a Science and Technology Committee, thereby sharing expertise amongst affected countries.
Each of the affected countries have been encouraged to obtain at least one seaweed clearing machine. This would clean up the beaches and collect the weed efficiently and make it easier to be transported to sites for conversion into useful commodities. It is this aspect in which the private sector is being encouraged to invest in the value addition process.
The causes for the unusual bloom in Sargassum are not known. However, the suspicion is that warming of ocean temperatures; increased levels of sewerage and marine litter discharge; increased maritime traffic and oil drilling activity may all be contributing or causal factors.
Holding together all interventions in solving West Africa’s Sargassum problem needs regional coordination. The Abidjan Convention provides that platform given it is the only existing political, legal and institutional regional framework for the Oceans that bring together the Atlantic coast countries of West, Central and Southern Africa. Therefore, the experts’ recommendation that an additional protocol of the Abidjan Convention be accorded on the Sargassum seems the logical next major step forward to ensure the operationalisation of a common regional strategy in the collection and management of seaweeds in West Africa. “We shall unlock the economic potential of Africa’s coast,” Bamba said at the close of the meeting.
Federal regulators last Thursday in the US approved a genetically engineered salmon as fit for consumption, making it the first genetically altered animal to be cleared for American supermarkets and dinner tables.
A genetically engineered salmon from AquaBounty Technologies, rear, with a conventionally raised sibling roughly the same age. Photo credit: Paul Darrow for The New York Times
The approval by the Food and Drug Administration caps a long struggle for AquaBounty Technologies, a small company that first approached the F.D.A. about approval in the 1990s. The agency made its initial determination that the fish would be safe to eat and for the environment more than five years ago.
The approval of the salmon has been fiercely opposed by some consumer and environmental groups, which have argued that the safety studies were inadequate and that wild salmon populations might be affected if the engineered fish were to escape into the oceans and rivers.
“This unfortunate, historic decision disregards the vast majority of consumers, many independent scientists, numerous members of Congress and salmon growers around the world, who have voiced strong opposition,” Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, said in a statement.
Within hours of the agency’s decision on Thursday, one consumer advocacy group, the Center for Food Safety, said it and other organisations would file a lawsuit challenging the approval.
The AquAdvantage salmon, as it is known, is an Atlantic salmon that has been genetically modified so that it grows to market size faster than a non-engineered farmed salmon, in as little as half the time.
“The F.D.A. has thoroughly analyzed and evaluated the data and information submitted by AquaBounty regarding the AquAdvantage salmon and determined that they have met the regulatory requirements for approval, including that food from the fish is safe to eat,” Bernadette Dunham, director of the agency’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement.
F.D.A. officials said on Thursday that the process took so long because it was the first approval of its kind. People involved in the application suspect that the Obama administration delayed approval because it was wary of a political backlash.
The officials said the fish would not have to be labeled as being genetically engineered, a policy consistent with its stance on foods made from genetically engineered crops. However, it issued draft guidance as to wording that companies could use to voluntarily label the salmon as genetically engineered or to label other salmon as not genetically engineered.
Despite the approval, it is likely to be at least two years before any of the salmon reaches supermarkets, and at first it will be in tiny amounts.
Ronald Stotish, the chief executive of AquaBounty, which is majority-owned by Intrexon Corporation, said he was delighted and somewhat surprised by the approval after all this time. “We had no indication that approval was imminent,” he said in an interview.
Mr. Stotish declined to say what the plans were for bringing the fish to market, other than that the salmon would not be in stores immediately because it would take about two years for even these fast-growing salmon to reach market size. It is also not likely there will be much of the salmon on the market because the approved production facility, which is in Panama, has the capacity to produce only about 100 tons of fish a year — a tiny amount compared with the more than 200,000 tons of Atlantic salmon the United States imports each year.
Mr. Stotish said he did not know if approval was still needed from Panama to export the fish.
It is not clear how well the salmon will sell. Some leading supermarkets have already said, in response to the vocal opposition, that they have no plans to sell it.
The fish are supposed to be raised inland in contained tanks to lessen the chances that they will escape into the wild. AquaBounty and its supporters say this will also be less stressful on the environment than using pens in the ocean. And it could eventually allow the fish to be raised in the United States, rather than being imported, as most farmed Atlantic salmon is.
For now, however, the fish are being raised in Panama, from eggs produced in Prince Edward Island, Canada. If the salmon were bred or raised elsewhere, for marketing to Americans, that would require separate approvals.
However, moving beyond Canada and Panama seems to be the plan, according to a regulatory filing by AquaBounty a year ago. It said at that time that after winning F.D.A. approval it would look to build a hatchery in the United States and expand the one in Canada to sell more eggs to fish farmers, who would then grow the salmon to market size. AquaBounty said it might also grow salmon from the eggs itself. In addition to the United States, it said it eventually hoped to sell the salmon in Canada, Argentina, Brazil and China.
The approval could help other efforts to develop genetically modified animals. Scientists and biotechnology industry executives have complained that the long, unexplained delay in approving the salmon was a deterrent to the field. Several other attempts to develop genetically engineered animals for consumption, like a pig whose manure would be less polluting, have fallen by the wayside.
Now, however, there has been a surge of interest in developing new genetically altered farm animals and pets because new techniques, including one known as Crispr-Cas9, allow scientists to edit animal genomes rather than add genes from other species. That has made it far easier to create altered animals.
Scientists in China, for instance, recently created goats with more muscle and longer hair. Researchers in Scotland used gene editing to create pigs resistant to African swine fever. It is not yet clear whether animals created this way would fall under F.D.A. regulation.
The AquAdvantage salmon contains a growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon and a genetic switch from the ocean pout, an eel-like creature, that keeps the transplanted gene continuously active, whereas the salmon’s own growth hormone gene is active only parts of the year. The company has said the fish can grow to market weight in 18 to 20 months, compared with 28 to 36 months for conventionally farmed salmon.
Opponents of the fish say that if the bigger fish were to escape, they could outcompete wild salmon for food or mates. Among the opponents have been members of Alaska’s congressional delegation, who say they are worried about the effects on the image and health of wild salmon.
“This harebrained decision goes to show that our federal agencies are incapable of using common sense,” Representative Don Young, a Republican, said in a statement.
But some scientists have dismissed these concerns. William Muir, a professor of animal sciences at Purdue University, said the fish posed no risk to the environment. “In contrast, the current practice of using wild caught salmon as a food source is not sustainable; our oceans are overfished,” he said in a statement. “This development provides a safe and sustainable alternative.”
The F.D.A. said on Thursday that there were multiple physical barriers in the Canada and Panama facilities to prevent any escape. The salmon are also made sterile to prevent reproduction in the event they do escape, although the sterilisation technique is not foolproof.
The F.D.A. regulates genetically engineered animals as veterinary drugs, using the argument that the gene inserted into the animal meets the definition of a drug. Critics have branded this an inadequate solution intended to squeeze a new technology into an old regulatory framework. They say the F.D.A. is not as qualified as other government agencies to do environmental assessments. The White House is now reviewing the entire framework for regulating genetically engineered products.
The F.D.A. said that to approve the salmon, it determined that the fish was safe to eat, that the inserted genetic elements did not harm the fish itself, and that the company had adequately proved that the salmon grew faster.
AquaBounty, which is based in Maynard, Mass., has long struggled to raise enough money to stay in business. It is now about 60 percent owned by Intrexon, a company started by the biotechnology entrepreneur Randal J. Kirk to pursue synthetic biology, a term for sophisticated genetic engineering.
Intrexon has also acquired the company that developed a recently approved genetically modified apple resistant to browning and a British company working on genetically modified insects, such as mosquitoes that might be tested in the Florida Keys as a way to prevent dengue fever. Shares of Intrexon rose nearly 4 percent Thursday, closing at $36.65.
On November 28 and 29, hundreds of thousands of people around the world will take to the streets in more than 2,000 events in 150 countries to turn up the heat on leaders heading to the Paris Climate Summit.
Frontline community representatives, unionists, faith leaders, and families will call on politicians to forge an ambitious new global climate agreement this December that speeds up the just transition from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy and protects vulnerable people from worsening climate impacts. The people’s call for leadership will be harder and harder to ignore.
With the major march in Paris cancelled due to security concerns following the horrific terrorist attacks which occurred there on November 13, French activists are calling for people around the world to march in their name, in solidarity with them.
Ultimately, citizens’ voices will be heard throughout the Paris Climate Summit which runs from November 30 to December 11, 2015 – including in the streets of the French capital as activists explore creative ways forward. The Summit is set to deliver a comprehensive climate agreement which should scale up the transition to 100% renewable energy.
The Global Climate Marches happening around the world will be a symbol of the unshakeable resolve of the movement working for a safer, fairer and cleaner world.
Highlights include:
Schoolchildren will be joined by Thom Yorke from the band Radiohead, singer songwriter and activist Charlotte Church, fashion designer and campaigner Vivienne Westwood, actor and political activist Vanessa Redgrave, poet, spoken word artist and playwright Kate Tempest, singer-songwriter, musician and activist Peter Gabriel, and the band Massive Attack in the London march
In India, Global Climate Walks are planned in seven cities featuring yoga, biking, and marching. The main activity will be in New Delhi, where on Sunday morning, people from across society will join together for the climate.
In Kampala, Uganda, 500,000 people are expected progress through the city led by popular local leaders and celebrities and topped off with a concert, all while Pope Francis is in town.
Across The Philippines, over 20 events, marches, and rallies are planned. In Manila, 20,000 people are expected to converge in Quezon City as part of a broad march with six contingents: climate-impacted communities, faith organization, youth, labor, anti-coal and renewable energy.
More than 60 events are planned across China with students coming together for a series of events including round table discussions, bike rides, screenings and more. While in Hong Kong, Taipei and Seoul hundreds are taking to the streets to demand a just transition to 100% renewable energy. And in Vietnam, a big climate music festival is planned, bringing together more than 1500 youth.
In Japan, major actions will happen in both Kyoto and Tokyo. Each march will feature several live performances, as well as a mass photo action where people will come together as individuals to form one collective image.
Across the United States, marches will take place across the country — from Los Angeles to Austin, to Washington, DC up to New York City, thousands will gather in creative, art-filled actions in the name of climate justice.
Events are planned in Egypt’s two largest cities (Cairo and Alexandria) where thousands will be running to raise awareness on climate impacts and call for urgent climate action.
In Ottawa more than 10,000 will be marching for climate solutions and justice, while in Vancouver indigenous leaders will be heading a march joining the global call for climate action.
Sâo Paulo, Brazil will see a huge gathering on Paulista Avenue where the representatives of different movements will bring forward their climate solutions. The congregation will start marching towards one of the city´s iconic parks where speeches and music will cap off the day.
In Germany, the streets of Berlin will throng with people calling for a 100% clean, renewable future and a quick phase-out of coal.
In Australia, climate marches are being organised around the country. While in New Zealand there will be a marches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
In Lagos, Nigeria, the Climate Aid Initiative will lead the People’sClimateMarchLagos procession that takes off from the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat through Awolowo Road to the office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who will be presented a climate petition. It will however hold on Monday, November 30.
