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Experts Warn Ecosystem Changes Will Continue to Worsen, Putting the Global Development Goals at Risk |
London, 30 March, 2005-- A landmark study, The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) Synthesis Report, released today reveals that approximately 60 percent of the ecosystem services that support life on Earth - such as fresh water, capture fisheries, air and water regulation, and the regulation of regional climate, natural hazards and pests - are being degraded or used unsustainably. Scientists warn that the harmful consequences of this degradation could grow significantly worse in the next 50 years.
The report also confirms that it is the world's poorest people who suffer most from ecosystem change. As a result, the projected degradation of ecosystem services will undermine global efforts to reduce poverty and meet the Millennium Development Goals.
The findings of the MA Synthesis Report affirm the importance of UNEP's work on Poverty and Environment, which aims to raise awareness about the links between ecosystem services and human well-being and, at the country-level, to mainstream environment into poverty reduction strategies. Such mainstreaming will ensure that efforts to reduce poverty are not undermined by the unsustainable use of resources.
Full Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Press Release
UNEP's Response to the MA Findings |
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The Twenty-Third Session of UNEP's Governing Council Recognises the Critical Links Between Environmental Sustainability and Poverty Reduction
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Nairobi, 25 February 2005 -- The Twenty-third Session of the United Nations Environment Programme's Governing Council highlighted the importance of UNEP's work on Poverty and Environment. Ministers discussed the links between environmental sustainability and poverty reduction in depth and emphasized the importance of the UNDP-UNEP Partnership on Poverty and Environment. The GC also adopted a decision showing support for UNEP's work on Poverty and Environment. The decision requests the organisation to "enhance activities in all regions to promote understanding of the linkages between poverty and the environment and, where appropriate, to assist Governments, upon their request, to integrate environmental decision-making into social and economic policy on poverty eradication, in accordance with the mandate of the United Nations Environment Programme and in line with its programme of work."
GC Decision 23/10 on Poverty and Environment
More information on the 23rd Session of the Governing Council
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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Launch Global Partnership on Poverty and the Environment, Partnership on Millennium Development Goals |
Nairobi, 18 January 2005 -- UNDP and the UNEP today pledged to work together to help countries to manage their environments to bring prosperity where poverty now triumphs. In particular, they will set up a partnership to monitor programmes established to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and will ensure that investment through those programmes is carried out in an environmentally-friendly manner and that investment in the environment brings dividends in improved productivity, a reduced burden of diseases and improved living conditions. They also announced the establishment of a joint Global Partnership on Poverty and the Environment. They will work together with countries around the world to ensure that good environmental management leads to improved livelihoods for poor people.
Poverty and Environment Events: January - March 2005
| Dates |
Location |
Description |
| 15 - 17 February |
Gisenyi, Rwanda |
"Integrating Environment Issues and Rio MEAs into Poverty Reduction Policy and Planning in Rwanda" workshop |
| 15 & 16 March |
Bamako, Mali |
National workshop to launch Poverty and Environment Project in Mali |
| 20 & 21 March |
Nouakchott, Mauritania |
National workshop to launch Poverty and Environment Project in Mauritania |
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April-September 2005 |
