State of gender equality and climate change in Nepal

The State of Gender Equality and Climate Change is a series of reports covering countries across the Asia-Pacific (Vietnam and Cambodia), and Nepal. The report raises awareness about the need for gender-responsive climate action, analyzes gendered impacts of climate change, and suggests ways to enhance and mainstream gender equality into climate-relevant sectoral policies and actions. The objectives of the report are two-fold: 1. To strengthen country-driven processes by presenting more evidence of the links between gender equality and climate change and analysing gendered impacts in the forestry, agriculture, energy, and water sectors; and 2. To provide country-specific recommendations on enhancing gender responsive policy implementation and actions to further augment the integration of gender equality in climate relevant policy areas. The Nepal country report was prepared by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and UN Women.

Conservation compatible energy retrofit technologies: Part I: Introduction to the integrated approach for the identification of conservation compatible retrofit materials and solutions in historic buildings

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), existing European buildings consume about 40% of the total energy consumption in Europe. For this reason, in the last decades, several energy policies have been directed to deep renovation of the existing stock (as last 2018/844). Considering that more than one quarter of all European buildings were constructed before the 1950s, we can assume that many of them are of cultural, architectural, social and heritage values, hence in need of special attention for conservation purposes.

Technology and Management for Sustainable Buildings and Infrastructures

According to a report published in 2019 by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the building sector accounts for 38% of all energy-related CO2 emissions when adding building construction industry emissions. [...]

Environmental Standards in the BRICS: An Analysis of Vehicular Pollution

Since its inception, the BRICS has received attention as a geopolitical challenger to the already established institutions of the Global North. BRICS members have also been vocal on issues concerning global environment. Brazil, India, China and South Africa have raised important issues at international conferences on Climate Change. The article looks at the specific issue of vehicular pollution in the BRICS countries. Vehicular pollution standards already in existence through the United Nations Environment Programme and the most cited and practised standards of the European Union remain the yardstick to be followed around the world. The article looks at the standards set up by the individual BRICS countries. Subsequently efforts of the BRICS as a group are explored through their joint statements. The article argues that despite important players in global vehicle market, the BRICS as a grouping has not been able to formulate any viable alternative standards for vehicular emissions.

Environmental Degradation as an Unprecedented Threat to Human Security in Pakistan

Environmental Degradation over the years has gained significance as a non-traditional security threat and it can be regarded as an unprecedented challenge to the human security in Pakistan as well. This paper analyses the causes the Environmental degradation in Pakistan and also explores the impact of environmental degradation on the various dimensions of the human security. The study incorporates the secondary data in the form of reports published by the World Bank, United Nations Environment Programme, Ministry of Finance & Ministry of Climate Change Pakistan and also the newspapers and online resources. The qualitative methodology has been used to analyze the data obtained through the secondary sources. The paper attempts to establish a linkage between the two existing concepts i.e. environment and human security by testing the hypothesis that environmental degradation is a new and unprecedented threat to the human security in Pakistan which consequently paves the way for policy oriented research in the field of sustainable development.

Classificação de áreas semiáridas e subúmidas secas utilizando diferentes índices climáticos

As delimitações das áreas semiáridas do Nordeste do Brasil e norte de Minas Gerais podem apresentar grandes diferenças conforme os métodos de classificação climática e de estimativa da evapotranspiração potencial (ET0) utilizados. Para demostra esta afirmação de forma quantitativa, nesta pesquisa, delimitou-se as áreas semiáridas usando dois métodos de classificação climática (1) índice efetivo de umidade de Thornthwaite (Im) e (2) índice de aridez do Programa das Nações Unidas para o Meio Ambiente (IaUNEP), enquanto, para a estimativa da ET0 usou-se os métodos de (1) Thornthwaite e (2) Penman-Monteith-FAO (PMF), totalizando quatro diferentes configurações de delimitações de áreas semiáridas. Com a utilização de Im observou-se um aumento do grau de aridez e de áreas semiáridas quando comparado com os resultados obtidos com o uso de IaUNEP. Do mesmo modo, ao usar a estimativa de ET0 pelo método PMF verifica-se um aumento da aridez e das terras semiáridas em comparação com a ET0 calculada por Thornthwaite. Como o método PMF é geralmente reconhecido como um método padrão para estimativa da ET0. Portanto, é possível certificar que o grau de aridez e de terras semiáridas no Nordeste do Brasil são mais elevados do que aqueles mostrados nos estudos com a estimativa de ET0 por Thornthwaite. Classification of semi-árid and sub-humid sreas using different climate indexes A B S T R A C TThe delimitations of semi-arid areas in the Northeast of Brazil and northern Minas Gerais can present great differences according to the methods of climatic classification and estimation of potential evapotranspiration (ET0) used. To demonstrate this statement in a quantitative way, in this research, we used two different methods of climate classification: (1) the moisture index of Thornthwaite (Im) and (2) aridity index of the United Nations Environment Program (IaUNEP), as well as, two methods to estimate ET0: of (1) Thornthwaite and (2) Penman-Monteith-FAO (PMF), totaling four different configurations of delimitations of semi-arid areas. As the use of Im an increase in the degree of aridity and semi-arid areas was observed when compared with the results obtained as the use of IaUNEP. Similarly, when using the ET0 estimate using the PMF method, there is an increase in aridity and semi-arid land compared to the ET0 calculated by Thornthwaite. As the PMF method is generally recognized as a standard method for estimating ET0. Therefore, it is possible to affirm that the degree of aridity and semi-arid lands in Northeast Brazil are higher than those shown in studies with the estimate of ET0 by Thornthwaite. Keywords: Semiarid, climatic classification, potential evapotranspiration

Perspectives on the Use of Coral Reef Restoration as a Strategy to Support and Improve Reef Ecosystem Services

In 2019, the United Nations Environment Assembly requested that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) define best practices for coral restoration. Guidelines led by the UNEP were prepared by a team of 20 experts in coral reef management, science, and policy to catalog the best-available knowledge in the field and provide realistic recommendations for the use of restoration as a reef management strategy. Here, we provide a synthesis of these guidelines. Specifically, we present (1) a case for the value of coral reef restoration in the face of increasing frequency and intensity of disturbances associated with climate change, (2) a set of recommendations for improving the use of coral reef restoration as a reef management strategy, tailored to goals and current methods. Coral reef restoration can be a useful tool to support resilience, especially at local scales where coral recruitment is limited, and disturbances can be mitigated. While there is limited evidence of long-term, ecologically relevant success of coral reef restoration efforts, ongoing investments in research and development are likely to improve the scale, and cost-efficiency of current methods. We conclude that coral reef restoration should not be seen as a “silver bullet” to address ecological decline and should be applied appropriately, with due diligence, and in concert with other broad reef resilience management strategies.

Seasonal investigation of marine litter on beaches of Urla (Izmir/Turkey)

In this study, types and quantities of marine litter in Urla (İzmir) Kum Denizi Beach and Demircili Koyu Beach were determined seasonally between October 2017 and October 2018. At the beaches, marine litter larger than 2,5 centimetres were collected with 3 people along 2-meter lines, which are determined to be parallel to the sea. The collected litters were classified according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP, 2009), quantities were determined and the pollution status of the beaches was evaluated according to the Clean Coast Index. A total of 1,265 litter from Kum Denizi Beach and 2,099 litter from Demircili Koyu Beach were collected. In total, 3,364 pieces of litter weighing 90.81 kg were collected from the two beaches. Among the litters collected, plastic litter was found to be dominant with 2,794 pieces. This was followed by 145 metals, 141 papers, 110 fabrics, 87 foam plastics, 42 wood, 32 glass, 8 other litters and 5 rubber. Given the seasonal averages of the clean coast index values; Kum Denizi Beach was found to be clean and Demircili Koyu Beach was found to be moderately polluted.