POOR COUNTRIES DEMAND US$2 BILLION FROM RICH

Source: International Institute for Environment and Development, 7.04.2009

Nearly 50 of the world’s least developed countries have called on rich nations to meet an eight-year old promise and pay US$2 billion to help them adapt to climate change.

The demand was made at the UN climate change negotiations that are currently underway in Bonn, Germany.

Rich countries promised the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) support for "immediate and urgent" actions on adaptation to climate change eight years ago at the seventh conference of parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Marrakech, Morocco in 2001.

The UNFCCC then created the LDC Fund with voluntary contributions from the rich countries and gave each LDC US$200,000 to carry out a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) to identify the most urgent adaptation actions needed.

So far 39 of the NAPAs have been completed. The costs of implementing all the urgent and immediate adaptation actions identified in them would exceed US$1.6 billion, but the LDC Fund has less than US$200 million and only a handful of the identified projects have been funded.

“The LDCs are demanding that the rich countries pledge up to US$2 billion over the next five years in order to fulfil the promise they made eight years ago,” says Saleemul Huq, senior fellow in the Climate Change Group at the International Institute for Environment and Development.

“The poorest and most vulnerable countries have contributed least to climate change and will suffer most from its impacts,” says Huq. “The rich countries can and must live up to their words and massively increase their funding to compensate the least developed countries.”

INFORMATIONAL EVENT “RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE IN KHORESM OBLAST AND PRIARALIE”

Source: IA Jahon, 7.04.2009

An informational event “Research and Scientific experience in Khoresm oblast and Priaralie”, dedicated to environmental situation and water management problems of Aral Sea basin took place in Bonn, Germany.

The event organized by the Center for Development Research at Bonn University and Society “Germany-Uzbekistan” with support of Uzbek Embassy in Germany , was attended by representatives of a range of ministries and agencies of germany, socio-political, academic circles, as well as mass media.

Director of the Center for Development Research, Prof. Valek in his opening speech noted about the environmental crisis in Aral Sea basin, as well as the problems in distribution and rational management of water resources in the region that have worsened lately.

The scientist noted that Uzbekistan had been closely cooperating with international organizations working on preventing negative consequences of Aral crisis and agreed with the efforts of the government in social protection of population, as well as the initiatives aimed at conservation of biodiversity in Priaralie. He also said that the given global problem can be solved only with active support of the international community.

Following his opening speech P.Valek presented to the audience the project “Economic and Environmental Restructuring of Land and Water Management in Khorezm” which is to be implemented in 2002-2012. Professor noted with satisfaction about the support provided to this project by the Government of Uzbekistan and UNESCO, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany.

Next, the project coordinator in Uzbekistan Dr. J. Lamers informed participants about the intermediary results of implementation mentioning that the tragedy of Aral Sea was the result of short-sighted and irrational policy of the former USSR. According to him improvement of environmental situation in the region would require active participation of the international community, additional resources and investments.

He also noted that foreign and Uzbek specialists working for this project were trying to develop alternative approaches to water and land management that can further be applied in practice.

The scientist has positively said about the measures undertaken by the Uzbek Government on improving of water use efficiency. In this regard he noted on the decision to reduce cotton fields in Uzbekistan by 50 thousand hectares, as well as on establishment of bigger enterprises on the basis of small ones. According to him, these measures allowing to use water resources rationally and effectively will contribute to improvement of socio-economic situation in rural area.

During the event participants have been familiarized with the efforts of Uzbekistan on improving environmental and socio-economic situation in Priaralie, as well as international initiatives in this area. Special attention was drawn to the principal position of Uzbekistan on the issue of using water resources of Central Asian transboundary rivers.

Sharing his opinion about the meeting, Prof. Of Bonn University E.Zurec emphasized that the approaches of Uzbekistan to settlement of water disputes in the region takes into account the priority of international legal norms. In saying so he believes that “interstate cooperation can be effective as long as it builds on the international legal norms”.

Coordinator of “Economic and Environmental Restructuring of Land and Water Resources in Khorezm” project in Germany, A. Mashkhadi said that international legal norms must become the main instrument in settling of disputed issues. In particular, he agreed with the opinion that the issues of using water resources of Central Asian transboundary rivers should be solved based on the results of the international independent expertise taking into account the interests of all population in the region.

Following the speeches a documentary film was shown to participants on theme “Aral: Time of Hope” telling about the consequences of this tragedy and measures taken by the Government of Uzbekistan on improvement of livelihoods of the population living in this region.

"WATER FOR LAND" ECOLOGICAL FORUM HELD IN TASHKENT

Source: CARNet, 7.04.2009

The meeting of journalists, ecologists and documentary filmmakers was held on 31 March in Tashkent. The theme of the forum conducted in the conference hall of the UN Office in Uzbekistan was "Water for Land." The Head of the Information Centre of the UN Uzbekistan Office Nigina Baykabulova said the ecological forum was timed to the Days of Land and Water observed internationally on the initiative of the UN.

One of the issues discussed was the Fifth World Forum on Water Resources held on 16-22 March in Istanbul. Over 25,000 delegates from 192 countries, including Uzbekistan took part in the event. The issues of integrated management of water resources was at the centre of the forum's attention. The theme of the forum was "Unite for water."

"Water for Land" Ecological Forum (sponsored y the Sreda Obitaniya (Environment) Tashkent Information Centre) opens a series of meetings organized for the media. On the screen the journalists will watch new, as well as some of the older but still topical documentaries.

A documentary shows the problem as it is. The filmmakers' commentaries and ecologists' explanations complete the picture. The meetings at the Ecological Film Hall allow the journalists to study the problems and prepare materials for their media agencies. They thereby will address the problem of population's awareness, cultivation of ecological culture, careful attitude of the population to the environment.

During the event a presentation of the new ecology book "Simply writing about environment" (Fourth volume) was held. It was published by the Yangi Asr Avlodi Publishers and prepared by the Environment Information Centre. It includes publications and photographs of professional journalists and ecologists.

"We have successfully printed the fourth scientific book on ecology of Uzbekistan," the head of the project and one of the authors of the book Natalia Shulepina said. "The previous two were titled the same – Simply writing about environment. It reflects the authors' aspirations to write objectively and understandably about a very complex ecological problem. The cover is decorated by children's paintings. They reflect children's vision of the surrounding world, clearly and understandably."

What will be the theme of the next ecological forum? May be it will be adapted to the global climate change, and may be the best practice in utilization of natural resources. The organizers offered the journalists to suggest. The ecological film forum will discuss topical problems that will be of interest to the media and the society.