Felix Dodds comments on sustainable development, coffee & life

On the 29th of October, the University of North Carolina Water Institute and Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future held a webinar for first-time delegates to a Climate COP. The presenters were: Felix Dodds, Adjunct Professor at the UNC Water Institute Jamie Cummings, Woodwell Climate Research Center and Stakeholder Forum Fellow The webinar covered the following topics: The history of climate change negotiations The preparation process of the UNFCCC Outcomes and legacies from COP28 Insights from the UNFCCC Bonn Preparatory Sessions 2024 Key issues for COP29 Expected outcomes of COP29 Looking ahead to COP30 in Brazil Negotiating groups and key participants The importance of attending: a stakeholder engagement case study on a campaign and YOUNGO An overview of what COP29 will look like, including the Blue and Green Zones Discussions beyond negotiations Resources available and dates for 2025 The PowerPoint and transcription can be found here. A recording of the training can be foun...

  Register here:   https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x2ySIDMzQ0CRBJwLOyGBSQ   

 Researchers have sent a l etter to the Parties and Presidents of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, COP29) asking them to initiate processes towards the creation of a much-needed joint policy framework between the CBD and the UNFCCC.  Scientists from #insert your institution# are among the signatories of a letter to the Parties and Presidents of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, COP29) asking them to make high levels of integration between biodiversity and climate change agendas a priority both in the upcoming COP16 and COP29 and in the years to come. The call was signed by over 140 scientists from nearly 50 countries with expertise in climate change and biodiversity, including a previous UNFCCC COP president, Intergovernmental Scie...

Rachel Kyte will support ministers to increase senior international diplomatic engagement on climate and clean energy. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Energy Secretary of State Ed Miliband have announced  Rachel Kyte  as the UK’s Special Representative for Climate. The role, previously left vacant for over a year, has been re-appointed under this administration as part of our ambitions to restore the UK’s role as an international leader on the climate. Ms Kyte is Professor of Practice in Climate Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford and dean emerita of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She has extensive international climate experience with previous roles including Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change as well as Vice President for Sustainable Development at the World Bank and for Busi...

Madrid, October 4: John E. Scanlon AO has been unanimously elected as the new Executive President of the International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL) by its Governing Board. Amongst other roles, he is currently also Chair of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime , CEO of the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation , and former Secretary General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In warmly welcoming Mr. Scanlon as incoming Executive President, ICEL Chancellor and Chief Justice of the National High Court of Brazil, Antonio H. Benjamin said “John brings a unique blend of experience to ICEL, from the courtroom, to river basin management, to global negotiations. He’s been an attorney in legal practice, a political advisor, a chief executive in government, and served in senior roles in the UN”. Chief Justice Benjamin added that “John has been highly influential in the world of e...

  Republished from Future Earth here.   With a “Key Must-Knows in Resilience Science” report, sustainability researchers from across the world are coming together in a new science-policy initiative. The report will inform UN agencies, governments, civil society, and businesses to build resilience to safeguard the planet. Climate change, biodiversity loss, pandemics and conflicts are leading to unprecedented costs for economies, societies and the planet, threatening the future of humanity. In this new global crisis landscape, practicing resilience is critical to manage high uncertainty and turbulence. But in most cases, resilience is used as a general attribute for recovery or as a path to ‘bounce back’ as fast as possible. At Climate Week NYC 2024, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Global Resilience Partnership and Future Earth, announce a new initiative between science and policy with the ambition to integrate resilience science in decision-making and governance. The first outcome...

Below is the obituary posted on digital memory . Before reading I just wanted to say a few words of my own. Bill was a kind and supportive part of the water community who was always helping move forward the agenda and mentoring new people in joining the water community to engage in it. He will be missed by all of us who have spent time working with him and the water community has lost a huge advocate.  OBITUARY William (Bill) Cosgrove (1932-2024)  On September 23, 2024 at his home in Beaconsfield. Devoted husband, partner and best friend to Frances Cosgrove (née Buote). Loving father of Anne-Marie Cosgrove (Juris); Carolee; Christopher-John Cosgrove (Myriam); Sean Cosgrove (Jenny); Ginny Cosgrove (Todd); and Catherine Cosgrove (Philippe). Cherished grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be sadly missed by brothers Paul (Frances) of Brockville, ON, and Ronald (Jane) of Victoria, BC; sister-in-law Suzanne Bulow and brother-in-law Sabin Buote, and by many nieces, nephews, co...