Archives for October 2021

How Agriculture, Land Use and Food Systems Can Help the Paris Agreement’s Climate Goals | Taped Live

Today’s episode was recorded live in partnership with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) ahead of COP26 in Glasgow.  

I moderated a panel discussion that takes a deep dive into the Nationally Determined Contributions as they relate to food and agriculture.

The Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, are the backbone of the Paris Climate Agreement. They are what each country brings to the table in terms of their own contribution to climate action. Collectively, it was the goal of the Paris Agreement that the NDCs would add up to put the world on track to limit global warming to under 2 degrees celsius.  

We are not there — yet.   

But in today’s panel discussion a diverse group of experts helps to explain what more can be done in agriculture, land use and food systems to drive ambition in climate change and give a needed boost to the NDCs so they can achieve the Paris goals.      

Panelists:

  • Rebecca Carter, Acting Director, Climate Resilience Practice at World Resources Institute
  • Hans Loth, Global Head of UN Environment Partnership, Rabobank
  • Nkulumo Zinyengere, Agriculture Specialist, World Bank
  • Martina Fleckenstein, Global Policy Manager for Food, Worldwide Fund for Nature

How Can We Achieve Policy Coherence for Climate Security | Climate Security Series

Today’s episode was recorded live in front of a virtual audience and produced in partnership with CGIAR, the world’s largest agricultural innovation network.

It is part of a series of episodes that examine the relationship between climate and security. I moderate a panel discussion in which experts discuss and explain the need for a coherent approach to climate security across multiple policy sectors. Introductory remarks are given by Rob Vos Director of Markets, Trade and Institutions Division, CGIAR who frames the conversation before I moderate the panel.

To view other episodes in this series and to participate in a future live taping of the podcast please visit climatesecurity.cgiar.org.

Panelists:

Richard Klein is Senior Research Fellow and Team Lead, International Climate Risk and Adaptation at the Stockholm Environment Institute

Frank Place  is Director, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets 

Tobee as von Lossow is a Research Fellow in the Sustainability Research Unit at Clingendal 

Sibi Lawson-Marriott is Regional Adviser, Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience and Gender Equality, UN World Food Programme

Humanity Gets A Malaria Vaccine!

On October 6, the World Health Organization endorsed a malaria vaccine for the first time ever. After years of testing, the vaccine was shown to be safe and effective at preventing the deaths of thousands of children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The WHO’s backing of this Malaria vaccine is both a breakthrough in scientific research and an important moment in human history.

Margaret McDonnell, executive director of Nothing But Nets at the UN Foundation, explains why this new malaria vaccine is so promising.

Apple Podcasts  | Google Podcasts |  Spotify  | Podcast Addict  |  Stitcher  | Radio Public 

The Civil War in Ethiopia is Getting Worse

The government of Ethiopia has expelled seven top UN officials from the country. This move comes as the federal government launches a new military offensive against the TPLF — the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. 

William Davison of the International Crisis Group explains how the civil war in Ethiopia has evolved in recent weeks and describes the ongoing calamitous humanitarian impact of the conflict in Ethiopia. 

Apple Podcasts  | Google Podcasts |  Spotify  | Podcast Addict  |  Stitcher  | Radio Public 

Understanding China’s Foreign Policy Making Process

The process by which China makes its foreign policy is often considered to be something of a black box, or at least very difficult for outsiders to discern. 

Suiseng Zhao is a professor of International Studies and director of the Center for China-US Cooperation at the University of Denver. He has written extensively about the tapestry of Chinese institutions that inform foreign policy decision making, and in this conversation explains the key players that shape how Chinese foreign policy is made. 

Apple Podcasts  | Google Podcasts |  Spotify  | Podcast Addict  |  Stitcher  | Radio Public 

Migration, Climate and Security in Latin America | Climate Security Series

Today’s episode was recorded live in front of a virtual audience and produced in partnership with CGIAR, the world’s largest agricultural innovation network. It is part of a series of episodes examining the relationship between climate variability and security.

In today’s episode, I moderate a panel discussion in which experts discuss the relationship between climate variability, migration and security in Latin America. 

The episode kicks off with introductory remarks by Bram Govaerts, Director General, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.  I then ask some questions of our panelists before turning to questions from the audience. 

Panelists:

Javier Aliaga Lordemann  is Senior Climate Change Specialist for The Latin American and Caribbean Network of Fair-Trade Small Producers and Workers (CLAC)

Deissy Martinez-Baron is Regional Program Leader for CCAFS in Latin America, CGIAR

Andrew Harper is Special Advisor on Climate Action, United Nations Refugee Agency

Salvador Fernandez Rivera is Rural Development General Coordinator in the Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development of Mexico

Apple Podcasts  | Google Podcasts |  Spotify  | Podcast Addict  |  Stitcher  | Radio Public