News
Rich countries must maintain commitment to reducing emissions despite slow economy, says Indonesian official
22 Sep 2011
Industrialized nations must do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption, said an Indonesian official speaking at a workshop on climate finance.
Local administrations can manage REDD+ funds autonomously: Govt
22 Sep 2011
Forestry Ministry secretary-general Hadi Daryanto told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the government would not be directly involved in managing Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programs. “We support REDD-related ...See all stories on this topic »
China's new forests aren't necessarily green
21 Sep 2011
When most of Asia is cutting down its forests, China stands apart. In the last two decade the massive country has gained over 30 percent forest cover. However, a new opinion piece by Jianchu Xu, with the World Agroforestry Centre and the Kunming Institute of Botany, argues that China's growing forest is not what it appears to be. The problem, according to Xu, is that the statistics of forest cover include monoculture plantations.
Europe should lift duty on RSPO-certified palm oil to encourage use, says Dutch group
21 Sep 2011
To encourage uptake of palm oil that is less damaging to the environment, the European Union (EU) should lift the import duty on palm oil certified under Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), said a Dutch industry group.
China's new forests aren't as green as they seem
21 Sep 2011
Afforestation in water-stressed regions might provide wind-breaks, and tree plantations offer some carbon storage. But these benefits come at a high cost to other ecological functions. Why the intense focus on forest cover? China has long promoted the ...See all stories on this topic »Nature.com (subscription)
Pacific islanders highlight importance of sustainable forests
21 Sep 2011
REDD+ is a new international mechanism to compensate developing countries for reducing their rate of deforestation and forest degradation and increasing their carbon stocks. Developing countries participate on a voluntary basis. ...See all stories on this topic »
UNEP, Mexico to Cooperate on Green Economy and Low-carbon Development
20 Sep 2011
UNEP signed an agreement with Mexico to help it create a new center for sustainable development that will serve as the linchpin for a Latin American and the Caribbean network for cooperation on such issues as low-carbon growth, transfer of clean technologies and the green economy. UNEP also will assist Mexico in creating a long-term national green economy strategy.
Famine in Africa: Can Reforestation Improve Food Security?
14 Sep 2011
Millions of people across the Horn of Africa are suffering under a crippling regional drought and tens of thousands have died during the accompanying famine. Refuge camps in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia are swelling with the hungry.
A model for the green economy in APEC
14 Sep 2011
Implementation frameworks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) should be operationalized at national and international levels, both to allow developed countries to strengthen their reduction commitments ...See all stories on this topic »