The ACT Alliance has called for increasing urgency to address the impacts of climate change. The network of over 140 church and faith based organisations spoke at the weekend in New York as world leaders set out to acknowledge the links between climate change and poverty at the UNGA Post-2015 Summit.
ACT Alliance General Secretary, John Nduna. Photo credit: i.vimeocdn.com
Addressing a parallel event focusing on the role of faith-based actors in sustainable development, the international humanitarian and development network said that the SDGs must steer the world onto a sustainable pathway towards poverty eradication.
“Ending extreme poverty starts with addressing climate change, as a key pillar of our moral imperative,” said ACT Alliance General Secretary John Nduna, addressing faith leaders and political dignitaries. “Mother earth weeps for climate justice. As long as we human beings abuse mother earth, ending extreme poverty will be an illusion.”
“Climate change denies people and communities the ability to overcome poverty,” he continued. “Without rain in sub-Saharan Africa, people cannot grow their food or feed their families. When streets and fields flood in Asia, communities lose their livelihoods and lives. As the sea level rises in the Pacific, people are stripped of their land and risk statelessness. Our leaders must urgently and adequately confront climate change.”
ACT Alliance has engaged in work related to climate justice and sustainable development since 2010, from community mobilisation to high level political engagement.
“While we celebrate the incredible adoption of the SDGs,” said Nduna, “we must now urgently stand together, ready, excited and motivated begin working in partnership with one another for the effective implementation of these goals.”
The negotiations towards the new global development framework continues to build momentum towards the UN climate change meeting (COP21) which will take place in Paris, France, in December.
“The ambition that we see with the adoption of the SDG framework today must translate to concrete action in Paris at COP21,” said Nduna. “Sustainable Development and poverty eradication is largely dependent on the ambition of the climate agreement to be adopted in Paris. Progress on SDGs should encourage parties to come up with a strong, fair and equitable climate agreement.”
The Liaison Group of the Biodiversity-Related Conventions (comprising Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, International Plant Protection Convention, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and UNESCO World Heritage Centre) on the occasion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit holding 25-27 September, 2015 jointly state that, by working together, the world can achieve the future she wants
Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity
Biodiversity and sustainable development are inextricably linked. Biodiversity, at the level of ecosystems, species and genes, forms the foundation of the Earth’s life support systems and provides the services that underpin human lives and prosperity. Our social and economic well-being depends on biodiversity, as does our future.
World leaders are now gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York poised to adopt, after several years of intense discussions, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an ambitious set of universal goals and targets to tackle the challenges facing the world today.
Given its importance for sustainability and human well-being, it is not surprising that biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, including aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and genetic resources, feature prominently in the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, including in poverty eradication, food security and sustainable agriculture, sustainable water management, economic growth, cities and human settlements, sustainable consumption and production, and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. These include Target 2.4, calling on countries to ensure by 2030, sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production and help maintain ecosystems; Target 2.5 on maintaining the genetic diversity of seeds, and ensuring access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge; Target 6.6 which calls for the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes by 2020; Target 11.4 which aims to strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage; Goal 12 on sustainable consumption and production; Goals 14 and 15, which provide extensive targets to protect marine and terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems; and Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.
Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
The implementation phase of the Sustainable Development Goals will provide a tremendous opportunity to mainstream biodiversity and its values into key national priorities and to achieve the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Agreed by 192 governments in 2010 and further reaffirmed in the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012, the Strategic Plan has been recognised as a United Nations-wide framework for action on biodiversity.
John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Photo credit: cities.org
Similarly, the biodiversity-related conventions that the world has agreed to over the last four decades can contribute significantly to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The seven global biodiversity-related conventions work together to harness the benefits of collaboration, and to ensure more coherent, efficient and effective implementation, both bilaterally and through a Biodiversity Liaison Group comprising the heads of their Secretariats. Each of these legally-binding conventions has a different but complementary biodiversity-related mandate. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) provides a broad policy framework, with three objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources; the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, known as the Ramsar Convention, focuses on the conservation and wise use of wetlands; the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) addresses the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats; the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates international trade in listed wild animal and plant species to protect them against over-exploitation through such trade; the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) helps governments protect plant resources from harmful pests; the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) strives to guarantee food security; and, the World Heritage Convention aims to protect and cherish the world’s natural and cultural heritage of outstanding universal value, linking together the concepts of nature preservation and the preservation of cultural properties.
Mechtild Rössler, Director, UNESCO World Heritage Centre
As we embark on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we must ensure that our work is truly transformative and puts this new integrated approach into action. The global challenges we face are cross-cutting issues that will require us to work with many different partners and stakeholders, across different entities, governments and sectors. The decisions taken by Parties to the biodiversity-related conventions represent a ready-made foundation upon which a rapid response to the challenges of sustainable development can be made.
Christopher Briggs, Secretary General, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
All of the biodiversity-related conventions work through partnerships and initiatives with a range of other UN agencies and entities, many of which are focused on economic and social development, natural resource management, trade, security and other areas. Parties have clearly recognized that in order to achieve the goals of these conventions, biodiversity needs to be mainstreamed into other sectors.
The governing bodies of a number of the Conventions will meet over the next 18 months. The seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, to be held in South Africa during September/October 2016, will adopt decisions on regulating access to and trade in wildlife resources, combating illicit trafficking in wildlife, enhancing collaboration with other sectors (e.g. development, trade, transport and tourism) and making more visible the Convention’s contribution to achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held in Mexico in December 2016, Parties and stakeholders will have the opportunity to consider concrete ways to mainstream biodiversity across a variety of sectors and areas including agriculture, forests, fisheries, health and sustainable tourism, and to address next steps related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
By working together, we can achieve the future we want.
Rainstormon Saturdaydestroyed no fewer than 200 residential houses and shops in Zaria City and parts of Sabon-Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The storm also destroyed electric installations and brought down trees to block some streets.
The areas worse hit are Sabon-gari, Samaru, Danmagaji, Wusasa, Kofar Gayan Low Cost Housing Estate and parts of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic temporary site, among others.
A NAN correspondent, who visited the affected areas, saw residents trying to salvage some items, while the debris of destroyed structures were being cleared.
Efforts to speak with the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Zaria Local Government Council, Alhaji Ja’afaru Abbas, were not successful but a top official of the council, confirmed the extensive damage by the storm.
“We have been trying to see how we can assist the victims,” the official said, pleading anonymity.
A cross-section of victims who were interviewed, expressed shock over the incident, describing it as the worst in the past 10 years.
One of the victims, Malam Sani Aliyu, described the development as “the will of God Almighty that no human could have stopped’’.
He appealed to the relevant authorities to come to their aid to cushion the effect of the rainstorm.
Another victim, Alhaji Ilyas Is’haq of Sabongari, said that the disaster came at a time when people had no money at hand, hence the need for the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, to urgently assist the victims.
Malam Mamman Magaji of Wusasa, said that the entire roof of his house was removed, while part of the fence covering the house was also brought down.
Most of the victims are low-income earners, struggling to meet the basic challenges of life.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in New York reaffirmed his Administration’s total commitment to the entrenchment of a fully transparent and accountable public revenue management system in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari addresses the summit at the General Assembly hall during the 70th UN general Assembly on 25th Sept 2015
Addressing the United Nations Plenary Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, President Buhari said that his administration was taking steps to improve and streamline internal generation of revenue, and to plug all loopholes that have led to illicit capital flight from the country.
The President told the gathering that his government was also putting mechanisms in place to prevent oil theft and other criminal practices that are detrimental to Nigeria’s economy.
Applauding the adoption of the Post-2015 Global Development Agenda, President Buhari said that he was very pleased that world leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable development, international peace and security, and the protection of the planet.
“These are really the major issues of the day. For the first time, we have at our disposal a framework that is universal in scope and outlook, with clearly defined goals and targets, and appropriately crafted methods of implementation.
“The Declaration that we have adopted today testifies to the urgency and the necessity for action by all of us. It is not for want of commitment that previous initiatives have failed or could not be fully realised. What seemed to be lacking in the past were political will and the required global partnership to pursue and implement the programmes to which we committed ourselves.
“This Declaration enjoys global consensus. We have agreed to deliver as one and to leave no one behind. This is a promise worth keeping. We have agreed to create viable partnerships and to adopt the means of implementation for the goals and targets of the global sustainable development agenda in all its three dimensions; namely economic, social and environmental.
“The Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) together with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda that we adopted in July 2015, offer us a unique opportunity to address the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“They also provide the basis for a new set of global development priorities to usher in a peaceful and prosperous world, where no one is left behind, and where the freedom from fear and want, and for everyone to live in dignity, is enthroned,” President Buhari said.
Noting that illiteracy, hunger and diseases are associated evils that go hand in hand with poverty, the President urged the assembled world leaders to do everything possible “to eliminate these ills from our midst by 2030 as the Declaration loudly proclaims”.
“The bottom billion that has neither safety nets nor social protection, need to be rescued from their perpetual state of hopelessness, fear and indignity. This is a task that should have been accomplished decades ago. Now that it has fallen on our shoulders to discharge this responsibility, we should do so with the enthusiasm and commitment that is worthy of the cause.
“We must adopt targeted interventions at both policy and practical levels, to address extreme poverty and combat illiteracy, hunger and diseases. We must create viable partnerships that bring together national, regional and global actors with shared objectives to carry this forward.
“We must also create the enabling environments for executing this global agenda, by developing the relevant frameworks for working with different types of partners and constituencies that recognise the contributions of civil society, religious and cultural bodies, private sector, academia and most importantly, governments.
“Just as the relative success of the MDGs was underpinned by national ownership, the Post-2015 and the SDGs frameworks must also be guided by national priorities and ownership. Domestic resource mobilisation supplemented by improved terms of trade between industrial and developing economies should drive the implementation processes in both streams. The facilitation of remittances by migrant and overseas workers, as well as efficient tax collection are needed as complimentary sources of financing for development,” the President said.
He said that Nigeria was proud to have availed her services to the United Nations in co-chairing the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing, whose work contributed in no small measure to the expansion of financing for development strategies.
Only two countries – Pakistan and Afghanistan – remain endemic to this paralysing disease
Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF. Photo credit: ctvnews.ca
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that polio is no longer endemic in Nigeria. This is the first time that Nigeria has interrupted transmission of wild poliovirus, bringing the country and the African region closer than ever to being certified polio-free.
The announcement was made at a meeting of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in New York on September 25, 2015.
The GPEI, the public-private partnership leading the effort to eradicate polio, called this a ‘historic achievement’ in global health. Nigeria has not reported a case of wild poliovirus since 24 July 2014, and all laboratory data have confirmed a full 12 months have passed without any new cases.
As recently as 2012, Nigeria accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide. This success is the result of a concerted effort by all levels of government, civil society, religious leaders and tens of thousands of dedicated health workers. More than 200,000 volunteers across the country repeatedly immunised more than 45 million children under the age of five years, to ensure that no child would suffer from this paralysing disease. Innovative approaches, such as increased community involvement and the establishment of Emergency Operations Centres at the national and state level, have also been pivotal to Nigeria’s success.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan. Photo credit: ALAIN GROSCLAUDE/AFP/Getty Images
The interruption of wild poliovirus transmission in Nigeria would have been impossible without the support and commitment of donors and development partners. Their continued support, along with continued domestic funding from Nigeria, will be essential to keep Nigeria and the entire region polio-free.
Polio, which can cause lifelong paralysis, has now been stopped nearly everywhere in the world following a 25-year concerted international effort. Polio remains endemic in only two countries – Pakistan and Afghanistan. The eradication of polio globally now depends primarily on stopping the disease in these countries. As long as polio exists anywhere, it’s a threat to children everywhere.
Nigeria has made remarkable progress against polio, but continued vigilance is needed to protect these gains and ensure that polio does not return. Immunization and surveillance activities must continue to rapidly detect a potential re-introduction or re-emergence of the virus. After three years have passed without a case of wild poliovirus on the continent, official ‘certification’ of polio eradication will be conducted at the regional level in Africa.
Eradicating polio will be one of the greatest achievements in human history, and have a positive impact on global health for generations to come. Nigeria has brought the world one major step closer to achieving this goal and it’s critical that we seize this opportunity to end polio for good and ensure future generations of children are free from this devastating disease.
Reactions, essentially from the GPEI leadership, have however trailed the landmark development.
Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General (WHO): “The outstanding commitment and efforts that got Nigeria off the endemic list must continue, to keep Africa polio-free. We must now support the efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan so they soon join the polio-free world.”
Dr Ado Muhammad, Executive Director (National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nigeria): “We Nigerians are proud today. With local innovation and national persistence, we have beaten polio. We know our vigilance and efforts must continue in order to keep Nigeria polio-free.”
Dr Matshidiso Moeti (WHO Regional Director for Africa): “Stopping polio in Nigeria has been a clear example that political engagement, strong partnerships and community engagement are the engines that drive the momentum of public health programmes, enabling them to achieve great things. I would like to congratulate everyone, particularly political, religious and community leaders in Nigeria and across Africa, for reaching a year without cases of wild polio.”
Dr Tom Frieden (Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Chairman of the Polio Oversight Board): “This is a clear example of success under very difficult circumstances. It shows we can eradicate polio if proven strategies are fully implemented. Combined with the news of the eradication of type 2 wild polio virus last week, we are moving decisively toward ending a disease that has paralysed tens of millions of children. In this final mile, we must remain committed to providing the resources and the support to the front lines to make this worthy goal a reality.”
K.R. Ravindran (President, Rotary International): “Rotary congratulates Nigeria on its tremendous accomplishment in stopping polio. On behalf of the entire Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we thank volunteers, health workers and parents in communities across Nigeria for their tireless commitment to ensuring every last child is protected against this devastating disease. In the months ahead, their dedication will remain as important as ever, as we work to keep Nigeria polio-free and to eliminate polio from its final strongholds in Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
Chris Elias, President (Global Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation): “This is a significant milestone for the global polio eradication effort and the health workers, government and religious leaders and partners should be proud of this accomplishment. While the progress in Nigeria should be celebrated, it is also fragile. It is critical that Nigeria goes two more years without a case of polio which will require the support of partners, increased accountability at all levels of the program led by President Buhari, and increased domestic funding commitments.”
Anthony Lake (Executive Director, UNICEF): “The removal of Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries is a major victory for Nigeria’s children. It is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Government of Nigeria, local leaders, and front line workers. And it is proof positive that if we work together in partnership to reach every community and immunize every child, we can finish the job of eradicating this evil disease everywhere, once and for all.”
About 193 world leaders will commit to 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Without water, however, these goals cannot be achieved. SIWI, in New York, will further amplify the importance of water to the global development agenda.
The United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda is holding in New York, convened as a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly. One of the 17 global goals (Goal 6) aims to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
SIWI welcomes a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal on water. It is paramount for addressing our world’s water-related challenges. Water’s relevance to the implementation of the goals should not be limited to Goal 6 however. Access to water is a prerequisite for the achievement of the majority of the other goals such as poverty, health, food, energy, climate, and infrastructure.
SIWI Executive Director, Torgny Holmgren, will participate in a high-level event, “Catalysing Implementation and Achievement of the Water-related SDGs,” which will take place on the margins of the summit on Sunday. Speakers include several heads of state, ministers, UNDP Administrator Ms. Helen Clark, Secretary-General of the United Nations Secretary H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon and President of 70th session of the UNGA H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft.
Representatives from the Swedish Government, including Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven and Minister for Environment, Åsa Romson, are attending the summit, and continue to reinforce Sweden’s commitment to sustainable development.
In his opening address at the recent World Water Week in Stockholm, the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, said: “When the international community is shaping a new sustainable development agenda, water management and allocation must be at its heart. Not only as a separate goal but as an essential vehicle for development and health”. SIWI Director of World Water Week, International Processes and Prizes, Karin Léxen, is also attending the summit.
Since 2008, Climate Investment Funds (CIF) have been funding a quiet, billion-dollar revolution aimed at reducing carbon emissions and transforming the economies of countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Mafalda Duarte, Programme Manager of the Climate Investment Funds
And with a number of events this week highlighting the urgency and importance of tackling climate change, Mafalda Duarte, Programme Manager of the Climate Investment Funds, says “the momentum is building on climate action.”
She said: “With the Pope bringing his message to the United States, Climate Week taking place in New York, and the United Nations adopting new goals for sustainable development, the momentum is building on climate action. Climate change affects us all but it’s hitting poor people first and worst. Climate change threatens to wipe out decades of development progress.”
The CIF has been working with partners to support the expansion of investments in renewable energy technologies at an unprecedented rate to stimulate markets and increase energy access in 33 countries worldwide. Close to 60 percent of CIF funding – $4.8 billion – is focused on renewable energy development, especially geothermal Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).
“A low-carbon economy can deliver more jobs, increase growth, and reduce climate impacts. And with our investments in renewable energy – from geothermal to Concentrated Solar Power – the CIF is demonstrating the power of well-placed concessional financing to stimulate climate action,” said Duarte.
Climate change is affecting poor countries disproportionately and in different ways – droughts can destroy a harvest, floods can wreck homes and schools, and extreme weather can have a devastating impact on countries’ economies. So building countries’ resilience to adapt to a changing climate is crucial, says Duarte, adding:
“Attention must be given to managing current and future impacts of climate change to protect lives and livelihoods. With our investments in adaptation, the CIF is well-placed to share lessons on how to help communities and countries not just survive but thrive.”
The CIF is providing 72 developing and middle income countries with urgently needed resources to mitigate and manage the challenges of climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The CIF allocates financing through four funding windows:
The $5.3 billion Clean Technology Fund (CTF)provides middle-income countries with highly concessional resources to scale up the demonstration, deployment, and transfer of low carbon technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable transport.
The $785 million Forest Investment Program (FIP)supports efforts of developing countries to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and promote sustainable forest management that leads to emissions’ reductions and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD +).
The $1.2 billion Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR)is helping developing countries integrate climate resilience into development planning and offers additional funding to support public and private sector investments for implementation.
Manager of the $8.1 billion Climate Investment Funds (CIF), Duarte is over 15 years of work experience and in-depth knowledge in development and climate change. She has been responsible for the design and implementation of several funding mechanisms and new thematic programs. She holds degrees in international relations, economic policy management and climate change.
Bayer CropScience has agreed to pay a $975,000 fine and spend $452,000 on a series of measures to improve chemical storage facilities across the United States over allegations of serious safety violations that helped cause a massive explosion that killed two workers at the company’s Institute/WV plant. Bayer will also spend $4.23 million to improve emergency preparedness in Institute and to protect the Kanawha River.
Flames shot 50 to 100 feet into the air at the Bayer Plant in Institute as explosions rocketed the valley in 2008
Federal investigators found that safety lapses led to the deadly runaway chemical reaction in 2008. A congressional investigation even stated that the explosion “came dangerously close” to compromising an MIC storage tank 80 feet away. Had the residue treater hit the tank, “the consequences could have eclipsed the 1984 disaster in Bhopal/India.”
Environmental groups from the US and from abroad demanded for decades to dismantle the methyl isocyanate (MIC) stockpiles at the plant. MIC killed thousands in a 1984 leak at a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal. By then the Institute factory also belonged to Union Carbide and was regarded as the “Bhopal sister plant”. After Bhopal, other chemical companies stopped storing large quantities of MIC, switching to making the deadly chemical as it was needed.
Prior to the 2008 explosion the Coalition against Bayer Dangers, based in Germany, introduced several counter motions to Bayer´s Annual Shareholder Meetings demanding to stop MIC production in Institute. However, when the Coalition spoke up on the issue four months ahead of the explosion at the shareholder meeting, Bayer CEO Werner Wenning rejected any need for action. The plant allegedly conformed to the “latest safety standards” and had an “excellent incident rate”/Axel Koehler-Schnura from the Coalition against Bayer Dangers comments: “Highly hazardous substances such as phosgene and MIC do not belong in mass production, and certainly not in the vicinity of residential areas. Ever since the company became established, Bayer has endeavored, by exerting pressure and making threats, to suppress information and criticism – also at Institute. The truth and the interests of humans and the environment are left by the wayside.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice announced the settlement on Monday. The proposal would resolve allegations contained in a 13-count civil complaint, filed Monday in federal court in Charleston, that accused Bayer of violations that “caused or contributed to conditions that” led to the explosion and “released extremely hazardous substances into the atmosphere.”
EPA alleged in its complaint that “numerous problems” occurred at the Bayer plant when the company did not comply with its “risk management plan” to prevent chemical releases. For example, EPA said, a new digital control system was installed, but a safety interlock associated with it was not properly engaged at the time of the explosion. Employees were not fully trained to understand or operate the system, and failed to follow procedures for sampling, temperature control and flow safeguards, EPA said.
“The result was an uncontrollable buildup in a treatment unit causing a chemical reaction resulting in the explosion, fire and loss of life,” EPA said. “During the incident, the company delayed emergency officials trying to access the plant, and failed to provide adequate information to 911 operators.”
“The multiple safety failures that existed at this facility that led to a loss of life, demonstrates why safeguards are necessary to protect people’s health and the environment,” said Shawn M. Garvin, administrator of EPA’s Mid-Atlantic regional office in Philadelphia.
The 173-page settlement document outlines seven “supplemental environmental projects” that Bayer will undertake at a total cost of $4.23 million. The largest of the projects is a $3.1 million “West Sump Expansion” to provide additional storage capacity to prevent untreated chemical process wastewater from overflowing into the Kanawha River during heavy rain events, fire-fighting emergencies and chemical process upsets. Other projects aim to improve communications between plant personnel and local emergency responders during plant incidents, provide better training for local firefighters, and ensure proper handling of hazardous materials at local schools.
In its press release, EPA said Bayer will also take “a series of steps to prevent future chemical releases” in West Virginia, Texas, Missouri and Michigan “by improving inspections to identify potential safety issues and standardise safe operating procedures at its facilities…!”
Reports say the much anticipated Climate Action can save lives, cash and create jobs
India stands to reap more green jobs, slash deaths from air pollution and save money from avoided fuel imports should the country embrace an ambitious climate action plan.
India’s contribution towards the global Paris climate agreement, known as an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), could be revealed on Wednesday and is expected to take the form of commitment to reduce the carbon intensity of the entire economy.
According to a new study by NewClimate Institute, which is part of a series and was commissioned by Climate Action Network and the Global Call for Climate Action, if India’s contribution is only in line with current policies, the country will gain no extra benefits.
Save at least USD 23 billion each year in reduced fossil fuel imports.
Prevent in the order of 140,000 premature deaths each year from air pollution.
Create 80,000 additional green jobs in renewable energy by 2030.
Furthermore, if India received money from richer countries, it could scale up its climate action plans, helping to boost global collective efforts to keep warming below 2degC and harnessing more benefits for its people.
Sanjay Vashist, CANSA Director, said it was clear that it is in India’s national interest to lodge a bold climate action plan towards the Paris agreement which is due to be agreed this December.
“The more India does on climate, the more lives will be saved, the more money will be in its coffers and the more decent jobs will be created. If India is supported by rich countries to act in line with its full potential, then it can continue to build on its emerging plan to secure a sustainable development pathway for the country that lifts its most vulnerable out of poverty,” Vashist said.
Srinivas Krishnaswamy CEO, of Vasudha Foundation. Photo credit: c20turkey.org
Another new report from Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), called Ensuring Sustainable Growth for India in a Fair Global Climate Agreement, shows that if India was to do its fair share of the international effort required to keep global warming within the internationally-agreed 2degC threshold, then it would reduce its emissions intensity by 47% by 2030, reaping even more of these benefits for its people, according to Srinivas Krishnaswamy CEO, of Vasudha Foundation, a contributor to the briefing.
“But for that to happen, we have recommended in the report that India should clarify and quantify its requirements for international support to ensure that inclusive growth can occur within climate constraints,” Krishnaswamy said.
“India should therefore put forward scenario-based INDCs that consider different levels of international support and also explain how such support is consistent with equitable global cooperation in an ambitious climate transition. India should provide clear information and the conditions relating to its ‘conditional’ offers, so as to ensure that the offers are matched with finance, clean technology and capacity building – and are therefore achievable.”
The NewClimate Institute study shows that if India accelerated action in line with a trajectory towards 100% renewable energy by 2050 (in line with keeping global warming below 2°C and possibly even 1.5°C), it would:
Save at least USD174 billion annually in reduced fossil fuel imports additional to INDC reductions; a total saving of at least USD197 billion compared to current action.
Prevent in the order of 1.2 million premature deaths each year from air pollution additional to the INDC, totalling 1.3 million less deaths annually compared to current action.
Create approximately 600,000 jobs in the domestic renewable energy sector additional to the INDC scenario, totalling approximately 680,000 more jobs than in the current policies scenario.
With fewer than 100 Sumatran Rhinos surviving in the wild, the species will likely become extinct unless the Indonesian Government urgently implements the Sumatran Rhino recovery plan, warns the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the world celebrates World Rhino Day. The remaining 100 Sumatran Rhinos represent less than half of the population size estimated during the last IUCN Red List assessment of the species in 2008.
Ratu, a Sumatran rhino. Photo credit: animalfactguide.com
Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, the Sumatran Rhino is now presumed extinct in the wild in Malaysia, as announced last month in the journal Oryx. Over the last 50-100 years, the Sumatran Rhino has become extinct in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. According to the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Asian Rhino Specialist Group, the Sumatran Rhino is now only found in a few sites in Sumatra, and only a handful of individuals are believed to survive in Kalimantan, Borneo.
“Malaysia was once regarded as one of the last strongholds for Sumatran Rhinos, thus losing them from this country presents a major blow to the survival prospects of the species,” says Simon Stuart Chair of IUCN’s SSC. “With the ongoing poaching crisis, escalating population decline and destruction of suitable habitat, extinction of the Sumatran Rhino in the near future is becoming increasingly likely. The Indonesian Government urgently needs to develop intensive protection zones with significantly enhanced security enforcement in all sites where Sumatran Rhinos still occur.”
The initial catastrophic population decline in Sumatran Rhinos was primarily driven by poaching for use of horns in traditional medicine, coupled with continued habitat loss and infrastructure development, which has led to fragmentation of key forest habitats of the species. Today, the species’ populations are small and isolated, which lowers their breeding rate, adding to the ongoing threat from poaching. Unable to breed regularly, isolated females are at risk of developing tumours in their reproductive tracts leading to infertility and further exacerbating the decline.
Urgent measures for saving the Sumatran Rhino were agreed in October 2013 at the Asian Rhino Range States Meeting in Indonesia, and have since been used to develop a new recovery plan for the species. The Indonesian Government now needs to allocate funding for the implementation of the plan, and to ensure that a system is in place to make urgent, rapid and bold decisions as the plan is implemented, according to IUCN.
Alongside developing intensive protection zones and consolidating isolated animals into larger populations, managed breeding is one of several key strategies needed to save the species. As part of the global effort to save the Sumatran Rhino, a young male named Harapan, born at the Cincinnati Zoo, will join five other rhinos at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Sumatra’s Way Kambas National Park next month.
“It is hoped Harapan’s relocation will further accelerate conservation breeding of the species in captivity,” says Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Chair of the IUCN SSC Asian Rhino Specialist Group. “But the long-term future of the species will ultimately be decided by the actions of the Indonesian Government and civil society. We need effective collaboration between government agencies and conservation institutions, allocation of significant funds by the Indonesian Government and international donors, as well as strengthened support from the public.”
The Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is the most threatened of all rhino species due to its rapid rate of decline. It is also the smallest and the hairiest species and the only Asian rhino species with two horns.
