The November 2011 edition of AEFJN's Forum for Action is now online. It contains articles on the ethical responsibility of the Church on the climate issue, on the clean up of the Ogoniland oil spills, which will take decades, on the spread of Libyan arms in the Sahel, on the production of medicines in Africa and on the EU's attempt to force African countries to sign EPAs.
The national election campaign officially started the 28th October in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), exactly one month ahead of historic presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for November 28 2011. 41 humanitarian and human rights organizations, among them AEFJN, have expressed concern about the high political tension and deteriorating security situation. They have called upon all Congolese and international actors involved to take urgent measures to prevent electoral violence, better protect civilians and ensure credible, free and fair elections.G8 and climate: what works?
The G8 expressed the importance of ensuring that economies are climate resilient " and its concern to "increase energy security."
The G8, as members of OPEC and EU, supports the carbon capture and storage (CCS) that " can play an important role in transitioning to a low-carbon emitting economy." “Several of us commit to accelerate the CCS demonstration projects and set a goal to achieve their full implementation by 2015.” “We also recognize the potential of bioenergy for sustainable development, climate change mitigation and energy security. We welcome the work of the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) and commit to facilitating swift adoption of voluntary sustainability criteria and indicators, as well as on capacity building activities.” The G8 stressed the funding but within the limits of the commitments made in Bali.
G8 urges " those countries that have not already done so to associate themselves with the Accord and list their mitigation commitments and actions. "
Convention on Biological Diversity this October and in particular we underline the importance of adopting an ambitious and achievable post-2010 framework. We recognize the need to strengthen the science-policy interface in this area, and in this regard we welcome the agreement to establish an Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Finally, considering the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the G8 states "the need to strengthen the science-policy interface" to adopt "an ambitious and achievable post-2010 framework”. [This means that financial support is given to scientific research directed towards political ends.] In this regard, the G8 welcomes "the agreement to establish an Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)."
To read the G8 final declaration:
http://g8.gc.ca/g8-summit/summit-documents/g8-muskoka-declaration-recovery-and-new-beginnings/