Green Climate Fund: Course correction needed?
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is meant to be a new, innovative institution that will directly support climate action in developing countries, with a particular focus on the poorest and most vulnerable who thus far have had little access to climate finance.
Further, the GCF is to do this through projects and programmes that also address sustainable development and bring social, environmental, economic and gender benefits. But last week, at its penultimate meeting before the major United Nations climate summit in Paris, the GCF Board took decisions that flew in the face of this vision for the Fund.
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Volunteers learn to make life-or-death difference in disaster
In April 2013, Redowan Ahmed Srabon, a university student, watched in shock as news of the Rana Plaza factory collapse broke on television. Instead of just following the TV updates, he took a bus from central Dhaka to the factory, on the city’s outskirts, where more than 1,100 workers died and 2,500 were injured.
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Urban volunteers in Dhaka learn to use light equipment during three days of training. Photograph: Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme[/caption]
Srabon, 22 at the time...
Urban volunteers in Dhaka learn to use light equipment during three days of training. Photograph: Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme[/caption]
Srabon, 22 at the time...
EU parliament backs reform of carbon market
The European Parliament approved plans to overhaul the Europe Union’s carbon market, a key part of strategies to curb the EU’s global-warming emissions.
Under reforms due to take effect in 2019, the Emissions Trading System (ETS) will set aside a portion of carbon credits if the surplus of emission allowances on the market exceeds a certain threshold, reports AFP.
The reserve will then be put back onto the market if prices recover.
The Market Stability Reserve (MSR) “is a crucial building block to help ensure that CO2 (car...
The reserve will then be put back onto the market if prices recover.
The Market Stability Reserve (MSR) “is a crucial building block to help ensure that CO2 (car...
Scientists struggle to realize South Asia heatwave
Scientists in India and Pakistan say higher temperatures were just one factor behind the recent heatwaves and other causes have yet to be established.
They say low air pressure, high humidity and an unusually absent wind played key roles in making the heat unbearable but they do not know why such conditions prevailed at this time of the year.
The temperature forecast for the heatwave peak in Karachi last week was 43C, according to meteorologists in Pakistan.
The prediction was accurate but other factors made the heat feel unbear...
The prediction was accurate but other factors made the heat feel unbear...
Climate change a major threat to Bangladesh: Amitav Ghosh
A large part of Bangladesh is likely to disappear due to the impact of climate change, according to noted writer Amitav Ghosh, who wants the international community to put together a plan for the future of the vulnerable country.
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Amitav Ghosh at the Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival in London on Wednesday. (HT Photo)[/caption]
Identifying climate change and its impact as one of the key drivers of large scale migration in various parts of the world, Ghosh,...
Amitav Ghosh at the Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival in London on Wednesday. (HT Photo)[/caption]
Identifying climate change and its impact as one of the key drivers of large scale migration in various parts of the world, Ghosh,...
Green climate fund and the private sector in Bangladesh
As the UN prepares to roll out a multibillion-dollar Green Climate Fund (GCF), it offers greater opportunities to engage the private sector to combat climate change risks. The GCF business model not only aims to raise money from institutional private investors, but also support local, small-scale businesses to invest in climate responsive technologies and ventures.
Small-scale businesses and local financial intermediaries can play a crucial role by joining hands with the public sector to combat climate change, but accessing finance rema...
Small-scale businesses and local financial intermediaries can play a crucial role by joining hands with the public sector to combat climate change, but accessing finance rema...
