Day: November 11, 2022

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Environmental crime-biodiversity-climate nexus critical to address: COP27 side events co-organized by UNODC

Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt), 11 November 2022 – For the past week, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been attending the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh. The conference is the world’s largest annual gathering on climate action, in which solutions are sought to improve solidarity between countries in meeting the commitments laid out in the Paris Agreement.

At the two side events on the biodiversity-climate nexus that UNODC co-organized with other partners at COP27, ecosystem-based climate mitigation was addressed, along with the need to address crimes affecting the environment as part of strengthening the resilience of ecosystems so that they can withstand climate change.

On Wednesday 9 November, UNODC and fellow panellists discussed solutions and consolidated approaches to addressing deforestation, and the role of a strong justice system in curbing the deforestation and corruption driving the loss of natural resources. The discussions took place through a side event entitled ‘Roles of the Congo Basin rainforest, protected areas, biosphere reserves and world heritage sites in climate change resilience and SDG implementation in Central Africa’.

This session underscored the global importance of Central Africa’s vast and rich natural resources in the fight against climate change, including the Congo Basin, the world’s only remaining net carbon sink, which is increasingly under threat from deforestation, wildlife and timber trafficking, and other pressures.

UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly spoke about the Office’s work to address deforestation, illegal logging, wildlife and timber trafficking. She emphasized how the environmental degradation-climate change-crime nexus is a self-sustaining cycle. By deteriorating livelihoods, climate change creates a fertile ground for armed and organized crime groups to extend their influence and territory. As a result of their illegal business activities, trafficking in natural resources accelerates deforestation and further exacerbates climate-related insecurity.

The event UNODC organized today in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), ‘Ecosystem-based climate mitigation to protect people and planet – raising the ambition for nature’, discussed the way forward for increasing ecosystems’ resilience to climate change. This event sought to raise the ambition to curb deforestation and biodiversity loss made at COP26 – the previous UN climate change conference held in Glasgow, UK – in order to advocate for reinforcing the biodiversity-climate nexus at COP27.

Ecosystems can provide up to one third of emissions reductions needed to keep warming below 2°C. This event highlighted key approaches to increasing ecosystems’ resilience. These included: safeguarding and enhancing Earth’s carbon sinks while protecting human rights; expanding and promoting the role of youth in preventing corruption linked to biodiversity and climate change; and collaboration across environmental and climate authorities, and with maritime actors and the justice system.

At this event UNODC and WWF launched the discussion paper Crimes that Affect the Environment and Climate Change, which includes eight priority recommendations for mitigating or reversing negative trends in biodiversity loss. Addressing the event, Johan Bergenas, WWF’s senior vice-president of oceans, said: “New and innovative partnerships are critical to taking on climate change and its connections to crimes that affect the environment. WWF is proud to partner with UNODC to build capacity.”

Ms. Waly added that “to protect our planet and its inhabitants and support nature’s ability to mitigate climate change, commitments are important, but not enough. We must scale up action to combat crimes that affect the environment. Now more than ever before, we need to transform our relationship with nature and protect ecosystems from criminal exploitation.” UNODC’s research paper on Illegal Wildlife Trade and Climate Change was also presented at the launch.

Both events were opportunities for UNODC to share key messages for the COP27 biodiversity day, to take place next Wednesday, November 16. All thematic days for COP27 can be found in the official programme.

COP27 will continue until 18 November, with UNODC also co-organizing two further events concerning how combating plastic pollution and illegal trafficking in waste can help reduce carbon emissions and promote a circular economy.

For more information on COP27, please click here for the UN Climate Change website or here for the site of the Egypt COP27 Presidency.

Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

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UN Talks on Russia Grain, Fertilizer Exports End Without Breakthrough

U.N. chiefs held talks with Russian officials Friday on the Black Sea agreements about exporting grain and fertilizers, eight days before one of the deals is set to expire, but no settlements were reached.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths and Rebeca Grynspan, head of the U.N. trade and development agency UNCTAD, met a high-level delegation from Moscow, led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin. The talks took place behind closed doors at the U.N. Palais des Nations headquarters in Geneva and finished by midafternoon.

“The discussions updated on progress made in facilitating the unimpeded export of food and fertilizers, including ammonia, originating from the Russian Federation to global markets,” a U.N. representative said. “The U.N. team briefed on steps taken to facilitate payments, shipping insurance, and access to EU ports for grains and fertilizer, among others.”

10.2 million tons exported

Two agreements brokered by the U.N. and Turkey were signed July 22. The first was to allow the export of Ukrainian grain blocked by Russia’s war in the country, while the second was on the export of Russian food and fertilizers despite Western sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

The 120-day Black Sea Grain Initiative runs out November 19, and the United Nations is seeking to renew it for one year. Moscow, however, has not yet said whether it will agree to that.

It has complained that the second agreement exempting its fertilizers from sanctions, which is due to run for three years, is not being respected.

“The U.N. calls on all actors to expedite the removal of any remaining impediments to the export and transportation of fertilizers to countries most in need,” the U.N. representative added.

Ukraine is one of the world’s top grain producers, and the Russian invasion had blocked 20 million metric tons of grain in its ports until the safe passage deal was struck.

Until Thursday, 10.2 million tons of grains and other foodstuffs had been exported from Ukraine under the deal, relieving some fears about a deepening global food security crisis.

Very serious implications

The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization said the implications could be very concerning for global food security if the deal is not renewed.

“We see it as an important initiative that has improved food availability,” said Boubaker Ben Belhassen, director of the FAO’s markets and trade division.

“However, should we be in a scenario that nobody wants to see, that there is a termination of the deal, I think the situation could be really difficult and the implications could be very serious,” he told reporters via video link from Rome, where the FAO is based.

He pointed to global food security, prices, availability and food staples.

Ben Belhassen said that in the short term, prices would increase, especially for wheat, maize and sunflower seed oil, while availability of grains on the global market would go down.

There could be a heavy impact on countries that depend on Black Sea imports, notably in the Middle East and North Africa.

Source: Voice of America