MDG7: Ensure environmental sustainability

'The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.’

Psalm 24:1

1.7 billion people have gained access to safe drinking water since 1990. Yet 884 million people worldwide still do not have access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets or latrines.

Target 1: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources.

Target 2: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss.

Target 3: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

Target 4: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.

We are active in Kenya and are focussing on this MDG.

GM Crops: Solution or

The debate over whether to accept or avoid genetically modified crops rages on. Clive James, founder and chairman of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), believes that GM crops could significantly help the achievement of the MDGs, particularly due to their ability to optimise crop productivity. To read his arguments, click here. To take part in the debate, leave a comment at the bottom of the post.

Resilient People, Resilient Planet

The UN’s panel for Global Sustainability released a report entitled “Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing” on 30^th January, in preparation for the highly profiled Rio+20 conference to take place in Brazil this June. The report strengthens the possibility of establishing a set of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) to be put into place after 2015. Click here for an article summarising the reactions and recommendations of NGOs, or click here to download the full report.

Support for Nigerian Farmers

Farmers in the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) of Nigeria have received assistance to help develop farming methods and procedures, in accordance with the FCT Millennium Development Goals program. Particularly supported by the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP), the scheme aims to ensure that citizens are engaged in the development of their nation. Read more about the scheme and its goals here.

Progress in African Agriculture

Africa has made significant steps in its recent agricultural development. Of particular note are the closure of Ghana’s yield gap, a new fund for increased productivity of Rwanda’s hillside farming, a boom in Burkina Faso’s cotton trade, new research into the sector from South Africa, and the planting of 26 new seed varieties in Tanzania. Read more about the African success story here.

The doubled worth of biodiversity

Conserving biodiversity hotspots could earn poor people worldwide up to $5bn a year, a new study has shown. Currently, populations are often not paid for trying to conserve these areas, which if maintained could provide clean water, valuable resources and even contribute to pollution reduction. Although many of the effects of this conservation, entitled “ecosystem services,” would be invisible, the study led by a team from Conservation International is confident of their far-reaching benefits. A PDF version of Global Biodiversity Conservation and the Relief of Poverty can be found here; or read a summarizing article from the Guardian.

First Draft of Rio+20 Declaration Published

The UN has published the much-anticipated first draft of its environmental declaration for the Rio+20 Sustainable Development conference to be held in Brazil this June (20^th-21^st). The document, which strengthens the agreements made at the Earth Summit of 1992, would establish new aims and objectives for post 2015. The draft declaration can be viewed here.

2011 Human Development Report

The United Nations Development Committee launched the 2011 Human Development Report on 13^th December. The report focuses on sustainability and equity, and highlights the relationship between environmental degradation and social inequality. It concludes with a call for bold new approaches to global development financing and environmental controls. To download a copy of the report, click here.

World Toilet Day 2011

Saturday 19^th November marked the 10^th anniversary of World Toilet Day, designed to promote awareness of sanitation-related illnesses and improve toilet facilities in developing nations. One focus this year was the unequal progress in other domains; for example, whilst billions of people globally have mobile phone contracts, 4,000 still die daily from sanitation-related diseases. To read a CNN report on the need for better toilet facilities, click here.

Communicating the science of climate change

How do scientists convey to a poorly informed public the truth about climate change and its consequences? Read the following article for fascinating insights into public perceptions and communication strategies.

Read more:

UN hails Ecuador’s progress towards Environmental Sustainability

 A project set up by the government in Ecuador, in collaboration with the UN, has been feted for the progress it has made towards achieving MDG7.  The Yasuni rainforest has the highest biodiversity in the world, and officials in Ecuador are seeking to protect it and its inhabitants.  To read the UN Secretary-General’s recent comments click here, or to discover more about the project click here.

Moving Planet

Eco-warriors from all around the globe rallied together on 24^th September to hold a variety of events on climate justice.  Watch some highlights:

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