Climate change

Why does cod in European seas continue to decline, and could climate change be playing a part?

By the end of this century, natural methane (CH4) emissions from wetlands are projected to increase by up to 80%, compared with the beginning of the century, if no concrete actions are taken to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, a JRC led study finds.

The objective of the workshop was to examine, synthesize and disseminate information from recent studies that investigate how bioenergy and associated technologies may contribute to achieving the reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are needed to meet the WB2 target and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Without integrated policies and international assistance to the less fortunate regions, the pursuit of climate targets could make developing countries slip back on key Sustainable Development Goals.

The EU strategies for energy system integration and hydrogen will pave the way towards a more efficient and interconnected energy sector, driven by the twin goals of a cleaner planet and a stronger economy.

EU environment and climate ministers had a policy debate on the contribution of environmental and climate policies to the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The European Investment Bank on June 11, 2020 approved € 7.5 billion of new financing for projects across Europe and around the world. This includes investment to improve public health, hospital and elderly care facilities and dedicated new business lending programmes to support sectors most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

EIT Climate-KIC’s ‘Extraordinary Post COVID-19 Regeneration Call 2020’ will select projects and programmes with the potential to restructure and regenerate our economies in the wake of the pandemic and in anticipation of future climate, ecological and health crises. Proposed activities must deliver clear outputs by the end of 2020.

The EU is putting in place a common classification system to encourage private investment in sustainable growth and contribute to a climate neutral economy.

MFW4A and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) are hosting a webinar entitled:" Scaling up agricultural insurance – The role of financial institutions and agribusinesses as distribution channels ".

A call for papers is launched to collect contributions on good practices, methods, indicators, and data to identify and manage transboundary impacts. The selected papers will be published in a report focusing on the role of OECD Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development framework to support countries in managing the post COVID-19 by coping with Transboundary impacts and long term effects within a sustainable development context in a more resilient society.

The Uganda-Europe Business Forum, which took place 9-10 March in Kampala, Uganda, brought together over 800 private businesses and investors from Uganda, the EU, and other African countries. During this event, the EU and Uganda also signed an €85.9 million support package to help Ugandan products comply to EU standards in order to increase exports.

The EU wants to deliver on the global challenges which are defined in the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. To do so it will integrate the SDG objectives into what is called the European Semester - an annual review of EU member states fiscal books. They pay special attention to economic and employment questions.

The European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy today proposed the basis for a new strategy with Africa. The communication sets out proposals to intensify cooperation through partnerships in five key areas: green transition; digital transformation; sustainable growth and jobs; peace and governance; and migration and mobility. Based on this document, Europe will engage discussions with African partners towards a new joint strategy to be endorsed at the European Union – African Union Summit in October 2020.

The Commission turns its political objective into a legally binding target, showing people, business and our global partners that we are serious about the green and inclusive transition towards a healthy planet for generations to come.

On Thursday, 27 February, the 10th European Union-African Union Commission-to-Commission meeting was held at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The meeting focused how rural climate efforts can be proved and demonstrated, in order to be recognised by markets, authorities and the wider society.

In the analysis period of January 2020, 5.29 million people, or 45.2% South Sudan's population, are estimated to have faced Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity, of which 1.11 million people faced Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity. About 40,000 people were classified in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) in the counties of Akobo, Duk and Ayod in Jonglei State. Compared with the same time last year, the January 2020 levels of food insecurity reflect a 9% reduction in the proportion of population facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity. Latest finding also indicate that about 1.3 million children under five years as well as 352,000 pregnant or lactating women are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2020. The high morbidity rate is attributed to flooding that has worsened the spread of malaria and unsafe drinking water.

Le Ministre de l'Agro-Industrie et de la Sécurité alimentaire et l'Ambassadeur de l'Union européenne ont signé un nouveau contrat de subvention d'un montant de 100 million de roupies pour la l’agriculture et le changement climatique. Cet appui de l'Union européenne servira à renforcer les capacités du FAREI en matière de recherche pour identifier des produits agricoles mieux adaptés au changement et réduire l'utilisation des pesticides par les agriculteurs.