Tiempo Climate Newswatch

An estimated 1.5 billion people are threatened by land degradation, according to a new assessment from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and partners. "Land degradation also has important implications for climate change mitigation and adaptation, as the loss of biomass and soil organic matter releases carbon into the atmosphere and affects the quality of soil and its ability to hold water and nutrients," observes Parviz Koohafkan from FAO’s Land and Water Division. The FAO cites land degradation as a priority issue, requiring renewed attention by individuals, communities and governments.

The new report from FAO, with the United Nations Environment Programme and World Soil Information, estimates that more than 20 per cent of all cultivated areas, 30 per cent of forests and 10 per cent of grasslands are undergoing degradation. Some bright spots were identified where land is being used sustainably (19 per cent of cropland) or is showing improved quality and productivity (10 per cent of forests and 19 per cent of grassland). Nevertheless, despite the commitment of 193 countries to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, land degradation is worsening rather than improving.

"Just as thousands were drawn to California and the Klondike in the late 1800s, the green energy gold rush is attracting legions of modern day prospectors in all parts of the globe," observed Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Environment Programme, on the release of the latest assessment of clean energy investment trends. "A century later," he continued, "the key difference is that a higher proportion of those looking for riches today may find them."

During 2007, new investment in clean energy reached nearly US$150 billion, a rise of 60 per cent on the previous year. Wind energy gained most of the new funding, over US$50 billion, whilst solar power gained almost US$30 billion. With 31 gigawatts of new installed generation, sustainable energy accounted for almost a quarter of new power capacity globally, about ten times that of nuclear. Describing the trend as "nothing less than a fundamental transformation of the world's energy infrastructure," Steiner stressed that it was critical that "creative market mechanisms and public policy continue to evolve to liberate rather than frustrate this clean energy dawn."

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, has urged developing countries to join the industrialized nations in setting greenhouse gas emissions targets. "All participants, including our country, should set a reduction target in accordance with their own emissions of greenhouse gases," da Silva said ahead of his attendance at this year's Group of Eight (G8) summit.

India will also attend the G8 summit, as will China, South Africa and Mexico. India's position is that industrialized countries should meet their own commitments rather than "pointing fingers at countries like India" and asking developing countries to limit their emissions, according to principal climate negotiator Shyam Saran. The World Bank has agreed to set up new climate investment funds on clean energy and adaptation ahead of the G8 summit, which is being held in Toyako, Japan, July 7-9th. A declaration on climate change, signed by sixteen major economies, including Brazil and India, is expected at the time of the meeting. "What you are likely to see is a large rhetorical statement, saying that everyone is committed to reduce their emissions," observed Phil Clapp of the Pew Environment Group.