Tiempo Climate Newswatch

The United Nations has launched a multi-billion dollar partnership, TerrAfrica, to combat desertification in Africa. The aim of the new initiative, which involves, governmental, intergovermental and non-governmental organizations, is to increase the scale, efficiency and effectiveness of investments towards sustainable land management. "It promises to be a real shot in the arm to restoring the health of the continent's fragile lands and overcoming the seemingly relentless slide," said Klaus Toepfer, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. He referred to estimates that every dollar invested in anti-land degradation measures can garner a $US3 return.

Sixty-six per cent of the African continent is classed as desert or drylands and 46 per cent is at risk from desertification. Community involvement in fighting desertification will be a priority. "The challenge is to not only mobilize the communities on this issue, but to include them so they become part of the elements of change," according to Kenya's deputy environment minister Wangari Maathai. TerrAfrica was launched during the annual meeting of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Nairobi, Kenya.

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Background

• ABC News Online
• allAfrica
• UNEP

• Fact sheets on desertification, UNCCD
• On the Web: Drylands and desertification

Rising ocean temperatures around Antarctica are threatening populations of penguins, whales and seals, according to new data from British scientists. Commenting on the findings, Lloyd Peck of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) said that "the sea temperature is going up in a way that wasn't predicted and this makes me more worried for the marine animals. The evidence we've got and the models we've been looking at said sea temperature was not likely to change much in the Antarctic. A one degree increase puts us into the region where the animals are pushed to one end of their biological, physiological and ecological capabilities."

BAS scientists Michael Meredith and John King found that sea temperatures west of the Antarctic Peninsula have risen 1.2 degrees Celsius during the summer months since 1955. Salinity in the surface layers of the ocean has also increased, affecting the formation of sea ice. "Both the temperature and salinity trends are in a direction that will act to reduce future sea ice production. Since a reduction in ice cover was important in the instigation of these trends, they constitute positive feedbacks," they report in Geophysical Research Letters.

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• Guardian

• BBC

The government of Indonesia has launched a National Commission for the Clean Development Mechanism to promote emissions reduction projects. The Environment Ministry has estimated that the country could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from 300 million to 125 million tons by 2012. "Imagine how much a company could earn if one ton of emission reduction is worth US$5. It's good for the businesses, our environment and the stability of the world's climate," said State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar.

A partnership between the South African government and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) that will address the threat of climate change has been announced. The partnership between business and government will draft national guidelines for the collection and management of national greenhouse gas emissions data. BUSA President Patrice Motsepe said that his organization "understands the importance of economic growth that does not mortgage our future for the sake of short-term profit, and we will work with Government to ensure that we address the challenges of climate change together."

More information

• Jakarta Post
• AllAfrica

• On the Web: Clean Development Mechanism
• On the Web: Emissions trading