Number of questions: [15]
 |
Posted on 03/12/2007 17:28:53 |
|
what is being done to limit the emissions of developing countires?
|
|
manny rodriguez (from United States of America)
|
|
Dear Manny,
The main two sources of emissions that the Convention on Biological Diversity addresses are deforestation and land degradation. Deforestation accounts for more than 20% of anthropogenic carbon emissions while land degradation results in the release of carbon from soils.
In fact, while the African continent contributes less than 8% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions, it remains among the highest emitters per dollar of Gross Domestic Product. This is, in part, linked to agricultural expansion, poor land management and deforestation which, in developing countries, accounted for 32% more greenhouse gas emissions in 2005 compared to 1990.
Parties, including developing countries, have actually committed to reducing these sources already within the forest biodiversity programme of work and the programme of work on the biodiversity of dry and sub-humid lands within the Convention on Biological Diversity. Both of these programmes of work seek to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity while ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of biodiversity resources.
In pursuing these goals, however Parties are also taking steps to limit their emissions.
|
|
Posted on 03/12/2007 17:21:03 |
|
Are there any new problems we should be concerned about in the drylands?
|
|
Zac Charbonneau (from United States of America)
|
|
Dear Zac,
Thank you for your question. In fact the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are all working together to address the threats to drylands from climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation.
In answering another question I have already pointed out some of the expected impacts of climate change on drylands.
With regards to biodiversity loss, to date 2,311 known dry and sub-humid lands species are endangered or threatened with extinction. When considering that 90% of the people living in drylands live in developing countries and are heavily reliant on biodiversity-based livelihoods, the loss of this biodiversity could have disastrous impacts on development.
Finally, in Mexico, more than 45% of soils are affected by degradation - mostly in drylands, while in Zimbabwe, estimates of annual economic losses as a result of soil degradation reach 9% of Agricultural Gross Domestic Product.
These three issues are not new problems however they are reaching the point of becoming a crisis. The recent Global Environment Outlook confirmed the urgent need to act now in order to ensure that biodiversity loss, land degradation and climate change don't prevent us from achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
|
|
Posted on 03/12/2007 10:00:33 |
Dear Jaime,
What is the role of population growth in global warming? I understand that there is a strong corrolation between the increase atmospheric CO2 levels and the increase in Earth's surface temperature. CO2 is a byproduct of human (and other animal) life. In recent years, despite our best efforts through war, ect., population growth has skyrocketted. What effect could this have on the levels of CO2 as they relate to the greenhouse effect?
Percell
|
|
Percell Searcy (from United States of America)
|
|
Dear Percell,
You have touched on a very important issue that is closely linked to one of the objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity - sustainable use. Sustainable use recognizes that we need to ensure that when we fulfill our needs we are not restricting the ability of future generations to do the same. This extends to ensuring that ecosystem services are preserved and that threats to such services are addressed,
In fact, one of the main responses to climate change and biodiversity loss has been the implementation of activities and adoption of habits that reduce the ecological footprint of people. This involves not just individual actions but also ensuring that biodiversity and climate change considerations are fully integrated into sector strategies and development plans.
Since many developed countries have stable or negative population growth, however, the issue you raise of increased population as they impact CO2 emissions, will largely apply to developing countries. It is for this reason that climate change mitigation options in developing countries, such as reducing emissions from deforestation, are receiving so much attention.
|
|
Posted on 03/12/2007 08:42:42 |
Dear Ms Jaime,
Which major issues that have implications for biodiversity / Convention on Biological Diversity would you prefer to be agreed on during the UN Climate Change conference that commence today in Bali, Indonesia?
|
|
Francis Bagambilana (from Tanzania (United Republic of))
|
|
Dear Francis,
Your question is very timely.
There are three main issues on the agenda of the UNFCCC Conference in Bali that are particularly relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity:
1. Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation: this issue crosses over and could compliment the implementation of the forest biodiversity programme of work as long as biodiversity co-benefits are adequately considered.
2. The Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climates change: particularly given (i) the need for biodiversity to adapt to climate change and (ii) the role that biodiversity can play in adaptation.
3. Agreement on a time frame and process for negotiations of a post 2010 climate change mechanism: climate change is emerging as one of the most significant threats to biodiversity. As such, further action for climate change mitigation and adaptation is important not just for the climate change sector but also for biodiversity and biodiversity-based livelihoods.
|
|
Posted on 03/12/2007 06:06:45 |
|
What strategies do you propose for educating policy-makers in your area of specialization ?
|
|
Centre for Environment Education (from India)
|
|
Thank you for the excellent question which is in the forefront of many people's minds.
At the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity one of the main aspects we focus on is drawing the link between climate change and biodiversity-based livelihoods. In particular, the 2010 biodiversity target which includes an indicator on addressing threats to biodiversity from climate change, has been fully integrated into the Millennium Development Goals (specifically MDG 7)
Within the next 30 - 50 years coral bleaching could become an annual event in many small island developing States. This would pose a significant threat to fisheries and tourism in these economies. Likewise, in areas such as Mongolia a 10 to 30% reduction in productivity is expected in the steppe areas as a result of climate change. This will compound current threats to the vulnerable biodiversity in these areas with negative impacts on pastoral livelihoods.
To reach a broader audience, this year on the 22 May the Secretariat supported the celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme of biodiversity and climate change. These celebrations focused on integrating biodiversity - climate change links across sectors in recognition of the fact that climate change and biodiversity are not single-sector issues. In this regard, we are very supportive of awareness raising efforts which focus on mainstreaming.
Good luck in your continuing efforts.
|
|
Posted on 03/12/2007 02:20:00 |
|
Are there any new findings on global warming affecting the ecosystem in the drylands? and
|
|
Zac (from United States of America)
|
|
Thanks for your question Zac,
The fourth assessment report of the IPCC highlights a number of impacts of climate change on biodiversity in drylands including:
• in sub-Saharan Africa between 25 and 40% of mammals in national parks will become endangered while as many as 2% of the species currently classified as critically endangered will become extinct,
• in the Succulent Karoo and Fynbos ecosystems in Southern Africa more than 50% of habitat is expected to be lost by 2050,
Additional scientific studies on individual species include: Quiver trees and Protea in Southern Africa, invasive alien species in rangelands in Australia, and Monarch butterflies in Mexico. These largely focus on shifting habitat and changing migratory paths.
|
|
Posted on 03/12/2007 02:10:05 |
Dear Jaime Webbe,
As a programme officer for climate change what would you say is the main cause for the temperature to rise in parts of the world over the years and especially in area's like the artic? Thank you.
|
|
Matthew Soria (from United States of America)
|
|
The fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presents clear evidence that, between 1970 and 2004, global greenhouse gas emissions rose by 70% with CO2 emissions increasing at the fastest rate.
As a result of this, since the mid-1800s, average annual global temperatures have increased by about 0.74°C. In the Arctic region, temperatures have been increasing about five times faster than this global average with significant negative impacts on biodiversity and indigenous livelihoods in the region.
In fact, over the past 100 years, the thickness of sea ice in the Arctic has decreased by 40% causing a 20% decrease in the average weight of female polar bears. In the Antarctic, reduced sea-ice extent is believed to have caused a 50% decline in emperor penguin populations in Terre Adélie
Beyond the Arctic, as a result of climate change, total available water in the Niger, Lake Chad and Senegal basins has decreased by 40-60%, Australian rangelands have seen greater weed infestations as a result of increased rainfall in some areas and the Mountain pine beetle has cause massive dieoffs in North American forests.
|
|
Posted on 03/12/2007 00:52:19 |
|
i would like to know what is the main focus of your job and what is most imporatnt about it?
|
|
florence williams (from United States of America)
|
|
Dear Florence,
My job actually has two main parts, one on drylands biodiversity and the other on the links between climate change and biodiversity. Given the topic for this session I will focus on the second part – climate change and biodiversity.
There have been a number of recent reports on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and biodiversity-based livelihoods including, for example, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 4th Assessment Report and the Global Environment Outlook. In response to the findings in these reports the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity took a number of decisions regarding actions to (i) protect biodiversity and biodiversity-based livelihoods from the negative impacts of climate change and (ii) ensure that biodiversity issues are considered in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
I am responsible for the cross-cutting issue on biodiversity and climate change which means that I support both Parties and colleagues by providing scientific and policy information on the links between biodiversity and climate change. I also act as the liaison with the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Perhaps one of the most important parts of my job, though, is building awareness of the important links between climate change and biodiversity. This year, for example, the International Day for Biodiversity was celebrated on May 22nd under the theme biodiversity and climate change. If you want any more information on this, we have a lot of material available at:
http://www.cbd.int/programmes/outreach/awareness/biodiv-day-2007.shtml.
|
|
Posted on 03/12/2007 00:35:32 |
|
Is there a lot of carbon in wetlands? Compared to a Forest for example.
|
|
Bertrand Revenaz (from Canada)
|
|
Thank you for your question, in fact peatlands alone contain twice us much carbon as all global forest biomass even though peatlands only account for about 3% of the global terrestrial area.
It is for this reason that the Convention on Biological Diversity is working closely with the Ramsar Convention on wetlands in order to address the links between biodiversity and climate change through a joint work programme.
|
|
Posted on 02/12/2007 20:31:15 |
|
Hello Jaime!! I read your profile and wondered if you could answer a few questions for me about desert issues. There has been much discussion about the dangers of the Sahara desert spreading across Northern Africa, and wondered at what rate this is actually occuring? Is this a result of global warming? Also, is there anything that can be done to slow or stop this growth rate, and how can people within the area learn to deal with this? Thanks very much.
|
|
Cynthia Deitch (from United States of America)
|
|
Dear Cynthia,
According the the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC during the last decades, the most marked climate change has not affected the heart of the Sahara but its southern fringe, the Sahel.
In West Africa, the long-term decline in rainfall from the 1970s to the 1990s caused a 25-35 km southward shift of the Sahelian, Sudanese and Guinean ecological zones in the second half of the 20th century. This has resulted in a loss of grassland and acacia, the loss of flora/fauna, and shifting sand dunes in the Sahel.
These changes have had significant impacts on biodiversity-based livelihoods in the regions, especially amongst pastoralists. With regards to agricultural production, by 2100, parts of the Sahara are likely to emerge as the most vulnerable, showing likely agricultural losses of between 2 and 7% of GDP.duce drier conditions.
In terms of future projections, for the western Sahel, there are still discrepancies between models: some projecting a significant drying and others simulating a progressive wetting. It is important to remember, however, that many climate change models do not consider land-use changes and degradation.
Regardless of the impacts, it is clear that climate change adaptation in the Sahara and Sahel must consider biodiversity resources and the needs and knowledge of indigenous and local communities.
|
|
