Can forests and agriculture work together to tackle climate change and food insecurity? This is one of the challenges that policymakers will consider during the UN Climate Change Conference starting next week in Doha.
A key event in the international calendar, the UN Climate Change Conference will provide a unique opportunity for the natural resource and agriculture community to share urgently needed solutions for climate change adaption and mitigation. The event includes the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP18) and the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP8).
On the sidelines of the main event CGIAR Consortium members will be involved in providing both the forum and the expertise to allow participants to exchange ideas and identify possible solutions in the key areas of both Forests and Agriculture. Under the banner of “Living Landscapes”, which refers to the interconnections between forests and agriculture and their impacts on people and society, Forest Day 6 (2nd December 2012) will kick off the first of two popular conferences followed by Agriculture, Landscapes and Livelihoods Day 5 which will take place on the 3rd December 2012.
Negotiators at this year’s United Nations Framework Convention Conference on Climate Change of Parties in Doha (COP18) are set to discuss how agriculture can be incorporated into the international climate agenda. Climate smart agriculture, agroforestry, landscape approaches and agricultural intensification — new buzz words in the sector — have all been proposed as possible solutions to the food crisis. However, they are not without their critics. Can they successfully bring together sectors that have often worked in isolation to tackle the current food crisis?
If you are in Doha for the UN Climate talks, register now and join the debate!
www.ForestDay.org and www.AgricultureDay.org
Both events will be webcasted live. Follow the discussions already now via the Twitter #ALLforest hashtag.
Also during the UN Climate Change Conference…
CGIAR Consortium members IFPRI, ICRAF, ILRI and CIFOR will be involved in the following side events:
Achieving Scale in Agricultural Innovation for Climate Change
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Pilot programs & research in agriculture demonstrate great potential for addressing goals of adaptation, mitigation & food security. This event will present and critically discuss large-scale successes in policy, technical & institutional innovation, nationally & globally.
Biofuels – getting rid of the hype
International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF)
Biofuels are necessary to reach the 2°C target but can have negative effects on the environment, food security, and livelihoods. Panelists from research, governments, donors and business will discuss sustainable use of biofuels in the context of development, environment, and climate change. Speakers: ICRAF, IFAD, India, Brazil, FAO, WB
Grasslands climate change mitigation and adaptation potential
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Grasslands cover 26% of the terrestrial surface and store 8% of global carbon, yet the majority are degraded which lends itself to increases in carbon storage while simultaneously increasing productivity (biomass and livestock), food security and nutrition, adaptation capacity, and resilience. Speakers: Government of Mongolia, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA)
REDD+ Stepwise Progress in National Forest Monitoring, MRV, Reference Levels and Assessing Drivers
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
CIFOR and GOFC-GOLD present practical approaches to assessing drivers of DD and relating these to a stepwise approach for developing REDD+ capacity that reflects country circumstances and that will facilitate broad participation, early start-up and the motivation for improvements over time. Speakers: 1. Prof. Dr. Martin Herold /Chair of Remote Sensing Center of Geo-Information Department of Environmental Science, Wageningen University 2. Dr. Louis Verchot / Director, Forests and Environment Programme, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
For more information
The Doha 2012 host country website
Schedule of meetings
Schedule for all Side Events
Forest Day – time to move on (CIFOR DG’s blog; Peter Holmgren)