Overseas Development Institute - Theme: Environment and Climate Change

Article in New Statesman - G8 is Gr8?

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:00:00 PDT

This article discusses the results of the recent G8 Summit, some of which may actually prove beneficial, at least on aid, Africa, food prices and the climate.

Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC) Report - Chronic Poverty Report 2008-09: Escaping Poverty Traps

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:00:00 PDT

The 2008-09 Chronic Poverty Report identifies five main traps that underpin chronic poverty â insecurity, limited citizenship, spatial disadvantage, social discrimination and poor work opportunities â and outlines key policy responses to these. It argues that the development of a 'just social compact' between citizens and states must be the focus for poverty eradication. Development actors can nurture such a compact through social protection, public services, effective anti-discrimination action, gender empowerment, economic growth and fiscal policy, and the management of migration and urbanisation processes. It argues that tackling chronic poverty is the global priority of our time and that eradicating poverty by 2025 is a feasible goal â if national governments and international organisations are willing to make the necessary political commitments and resource allocations. To show the human face behind the statistics and policies, the report intertwines the life stories of seven chronically poor people from across Asia and Africa into the report. The descriptions of the lives of Angel, Moses, Txab, Vuyiswa, Bakyt, and Maymana and Mofizul, help the reader to better appreciate the complex and varied causes of chronic poverty.

ODI Online - Blog - Prelude to the Chronic Poverty Report 2008: Escaping poverty traps

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:41:00 PDT

It is clear that many of today's poor will simply stay poor, even if economic growth is sustained. They are caught in one or more of five poverty traps: insecurity of life or livelihood; weak citizenship status; living in a deprived area; experiencing social discrimination; or held back by poor quality work. The second international Chronic Poverty Report, launched next week, shows that the poorest can be included in progress. ...(

Article in Guardian.co.uk - Africa and the G8: what the academics say

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:00:00 PDT

The 2008 G8 summit will take place against the backdrop of a global economic downturn, rising food prices and new heads of government, who are more likely to be concerned with gaining traction at home than making strides on the international scene. However, these trying times present an opportunity for strong leadership on development. In 2008, no country is better placed than Japan.

ODI Project Papers - Background paper - Reading between the lines. Is EU aid in trouble?

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:00:00 PDT

The EU Council meeting on 19 and 20 June represents an important marker in this year of the Call to Action on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). There are some serious issues to consider, including the failure of European donors to meet their commitments on aid, both in terms of the levels of funding and in delivering harmonisation and alignment. Most importantly, however, the future of the MDG project itself will be debated.

ODI Online - Blog - Reading between the lines. Is EU aid in trouble?

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:01:00 PDT

ODI Online - Blog - Reform of the International System: the momentum is building

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:19:00 PDT

The Commonwealth mini-Summit in London is the latest sign that reform of the international system is moving rapidly up the agenda. The Summit discussed reform of the UN, the Bretton Woods Institutions and global environmental governance. On all these, there is enthusiasm among Heads of Government for faster and better coordinated change....(read more)

ODI Publications - Background Note - Where next for TICAD: Building lasting partnerships

Tue, 27 May 2008 17:00:00 PDT

This background note emphasises the important role that TICAD plays in allowing greater African ownership in the development process and mobilising strategic partnerships with Africa from the international community. It then discusses how these core values could provide the driving force behind the policy positions that TICAD IV will develop along its key pillars of âBoosting Economic Growthâ, âEnsuring Human Securityâ and âAddressing Environmental Issues/Climate changeâ. The note ends with suggestions on how the TICAD process could evolve into a more robust mechanism for continuous partnership.

ODI Online - Blog - Tackling the food price crisis: five steps

Thu, 08 May 2008 03:06:00 PDT

The word "crisis" is much abused. But the current food price crisis constitutes a genuine emergency. Urgency in tackling it is essential....(read more)...

Video by the World Development Movement - Can big business really save the planet?

Thu, 01 May 2008 17:00:00 PDT

A response for the online conference - Turning up the HEAT: can big business save the planet. Simon answers three key questions: Does the UK have a responsibility to developing countries facing up to climate change, what the political and commercial responses to climate change and what the wider implications of climate change as a global social justice might be.

ODI in the media - Waco Tribune: Time to plant a garden

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI event - Global Monitoring Report 2008: MDGs and the Environment - Agenda for Inclusive and Sustainable Development

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Publications - Opinion - Mitigating climate change: what impact on the poor?

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

The impact of climate change is of vital importance. But, for the worldâs poor, policies to mitigate climate change may, in the short term, have as much impact as climate change itself. This Opinion assesses four mitigation strategies and their possible impacts on the poor: environmental labelling; green growth strategies; biofuel production and food prices; and forest protection. It focuses on sub-Saharan Africa.

ODI in the media - Article in The Daily Star: 'Biofuel production hits food security?'

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Project Papers - Report - Goverment institutions, public expenditure and the role of development partners: meeting the new environmental challenges of the developing world

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:00:00 PDT

Final report from the 'Budget support, aid instruments and the environment - The country context' study, which examines the linkages between environmental policies and outcomes, public expenditure on the environment and the influence of different modalities of development cooperation.

ODI event - Growth and Climate Change - How do we achieve Green Growth?

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Publications - Working Paper - Exploring the science of complexity: Ideas and implications for development and humanitarian efforts

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:00:00 PST

Despite the complexity and interconnectedness of problems faced in humanitarian and development work, they are often approached in an overly simplistic manner, informed by linear ways of thinking. This paper draws on the science of complexity to outline an alternative approach to analysing and understanding these problems. It explores and explains ten key concepts of complexity science and considers their implications for development and humanitarian work. It concludes that complexity science can enable those thinking about and working on these problems to better understand and adapt to the complexities of the real world. Its findings will be of particular interest to those working on processes of change - be they researchers, policy analysts and advisors, evaluators or managers who are working on change and reform initiatives.

ODI Audiovisual - Video blog - Brussels Briefing - Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD)

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:00:00 PST

Speaking in the second panel of the Brussels Briefing on 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', Leo Peskett (ODI) argues that Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) offers a high potential to further both environment and development. REDD foresees that developing countries would be expected to reduce deforestation and degradation through policies and measures such as agricultural intensification or sustainable forest management in return for payments from industrialized countries. However, as REDD is a market machanism, it presents also risks, among which how to make sure that the financial flows can be be channeled and reach the small farmers.

Source: Euforic.tv - see www.brusselsbriefings.net

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ODI Online - Blog - The view from Davos - Part three: Perspectives on the environmental debate

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:46:00 PST

In the third of four blogs, I consider perspectives in three key areas- biofuels, climate change adaptation and water....(read more)...

ODI Online - Blog - The view from Davos - Part one: Global corporate citizenship in 2008

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:04:00 PST

Last week, I attended the World Economic Forum in Davos. This is the first of four blogs with my reflections and predictions on how the debates will be taken forward in 2008....(read more)...

ODI on... The World Economic Forum in Davos, 2008

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:37:41 PST

ODI staff have prepared videos for YouTube's 'The Davos Question', offering their views on how forum participants could make the world a better place in 2008.

ODI Publications - Briefing Paper - Biofuels and development: Will the EU help or hinder?

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:00:00 PST

Developing countries are heavily affected by global biofuels policies, both as potential producers (for their own use or export) and as consumers (of crops displaced by biofuels and of energy). Because Europe is a major producer of biofuels, with an estimated 10% share of world bioethanol, its policies can have a significant effect on them. Current EU policy is to promote the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport. But schemes for biofuels will not automatically mitigate climate change, since production also adds to greenhouse gases. If the production of biofuel crops requires heavy use of nitrogen fertilisers or if forests are felled to grow biofuel crops, the net effect could be negative. Similarly, the net effect on any producing country will depend on whether biofuels displace other crops (and which ones) or damage the local environment (ODI, 2007). Even when the net impact is positive there will be distributional effects favouring some producers over consumers (and possibly producers of displaced crops).
Despite this inherent uncertainty, we identify changes to EU policy that would not only foster development, but help to cut greenhouse gas emissions. These could be incorporated into the initiatives on renewable energy sources that the Commission will be launching in 2008.

ODI Publications - Opinion - A planetary petroleum 'windfall' fund for carbon abatement technologies

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:00:00 PST

'A 1% levy on global wholesale oil and gas sales could generate US$160 billion over the next five years for research into carbon abatement technologies.'

ODI Audiovisual - Video blog - The Davos Question: Development proofing climate change

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:00:00 PST

Leo Peskett, of the Overseas Development Institute, offers his answer to the Davos Question, discussing how to ensure policies for dealing with climate change are 'development-proofed' - that is, they are built with development in mind and driven by developing countries and the poor.

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ODI Audiovisual - Video blog - The Davos Question: A Planetary petroleum 'windfall' fund for carbon abatement technologies

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:00:00 PST

Michael Warner, of the Overseas Development Institute, offers his answer to the Davos Question, urging the establishment of a Planetary Petroleum 'windfall' Fund to pay for research and development of technologies that reduce the emission of green-house gases into the planet's atmosphere.

See also: ODI Opinion Paper by Michael Warner.

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