Climate Change threatens the Sustainable Development Agenda, says UN boss

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has emphasized the unprecedented and growing threat of climate change to the global sustainable development agenda.
 

Speaking at a high-level meeting, he observed the threat to peace and prosperity and said “addressing climate change is a massive opportunity that cannot afford to miss”.

Read and watch the statement of the UN Head…

First, climate change is an unprecedented and growing threat – to peace and prosperity and the same in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Second, Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide continue to rise. They are now topping the critical threshold of 400 parts per million.

Last year was once again the hottest on record.  The past decade has also been the hottest on record.  Sea ice is at a historic low; sea levels at a historic high.

This trend is indisputable.  There is no longer any doubt.  Human activity is causing dangerous global warming.

This is not a question of opinion.  Scientists around the world have been sounding the alarm for years.  Their work has been reviewed and endorsed by all the world’s governments through the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

We are dealing with scientific facts, not politics.  And the facts are clear.  Climate change is a direct threat in itself, and a multiplier of many other threats.

We face serious risks across the whole of the 2030 Agenda. Food security is under threat around the world due to more droughts.  With food insecurity, we must add economic insecurity as scarcities of staple crops cause price surges.

Water insecurity is also growing around the world.  One-third of the world’s population already lives in countries experiencing water stress.  As water gets more scarce, it threatens to become a catalyst for conflict.

Climate change is a menace to livelihoods, to property, and to business, not least insurance companies.  Wildfires are becoming more common.  So too are floods and other extreme weather events.  

Sea level rise threatens the existence of low-lying nations and cities from Miami to Mumbai.

The seas are also being affected by acidification and coral bleaching, threatening the whole marine food chain.

All these risks mean poverty will worsen and people will be forced to move from degraded lands to cities and other nations.  That is why military minds around the world take climate change very seriously indeed as a threat multiplier with direct consequences for peace and security.

So when we see a threat, what should we do?  It is very clear that we should act.

Action has been slow coming, but just over a year ago, in Paris, the world acted decisively.

The Paris Agreement on climate change is unique in its universality.  Every single government signed it.  

After it was adopted in December 2015, the Agreement entered force in less than a year.  To date more than 130 Parties have ratified it, and the numbers are growing monthly.  The United Nations is committed to helping all Member States to implement the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.

The countries that supported the Paris Agreement are the same that adopted the Sustainable Development Goals – they comprise all United Nations Member States.

And the reason for this consensus is clear: all nations recognize that implementing the 2030 Agenda goes hand-in-glove with limiting global temperature rise and increasing climate resilience.

Every month, ever more countries are transforming their pledges into national climate action plans.

Cities and businesses are also taking a lead.

And why?  They not only recognise the threat, they also see the clear benefits of working to limit global temperature rise.

And they are evidence that, even if some national governments backtrack on commitments, the combined efforts of sub-national authorities, business and civil society will create an unstoppable momentum.

They know that climate action is not only the right thing to do, it is good for business and the bottom line. 

Not only is action now far cheaper than the cost of inaction, it can unlock vast potential economic growth in all regions and for all people.

And this is my second point.  Tackling climate change is a tremendous opportunity.

That is why we see almost daily announcements being made by countries, ranging from renewable energy projects to climate-related laws, designed to keep temperature rise well below 2 degrees and as close to 1.5 degrees as possible. And that will only be achieved by massive action.

Earlier this month, Singapore announced plans to introduce a carbon tax in 2019 to cut emissions and spur clean technology and innovation.  

And, while the G20 finance ministers recently omitted to mention climate change, I understand that carbon pricing will be a key part of the G20 Summit in Germany in a few months’ time.

In March we learned that solar power grew 50 per cent in 2016, with China and the United States in the lead.  Globally, investment has grown by a factor of six in a decade to almost $300 billion dollars.  The acceleration has been particularly striking in emerging economies. 

Around the world, over half of new power generation capacity now comes from renewables.  In Europe, the figure is more than 90 per cent.  

In the United States and China, new renewable energy jobs now outstrip those created in the oil and gas industries.  Globally, over 8 million people work in the renewables sector.

This year, Saudi Arabia announced plans to install 700 megawatts of solar and wind power.  The Asian Development Bank has signed a new $109 million-dollar financing package for geothermal power generation in western Indonesia supported by Japan.  And industry experts predict India’s solar capacity will double in 2017 to 18 gigawatts.

So the trend is clear, the world is moving towards a green economy.  Governments and business increasingly understand that there is no trade-off between a healthy environment and a healthy economy.

We can have both. Green business is good business. Renewables are one example.  Energy efficiency is another.

The International Energy Agency has identified that investing in energy efficiency could boost cumulative economic global output by $18 trillion dollars.  This is more than the total outputs of the United States, Canada and Mexico combined.

As we work towards Sustainable Development Goal 7 to provide clean, affordable and efficient energy for all, it is clear that the world will need to invest massively.  Estimates predict future spending on energy infrastructure alone will total some $37 trillion dollars.

So, given the facts about youth unemployment, air pollution and climate change, surely it is common sense to put that money where it will create the most jobs, deliver the biggest health care savings and have the most impact on global warming.


In other words, it makes sense to invest in combatting climate change for a sustainable future.
Excellencies,

If we want to protect forests and life on land, safeguard our oceans, create massive economic opportunities, prevent even more massive losses and improve the health and well-being of people and the planet, we have one simple option staring us in the face.

Climate action is a necessity.  It is also a clear opportunity to advance all our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

How we go about it can be the subject of scientific and political debate.  But there is no question that we must act, urgently and decisively, now.

That was the verdict of all the world’s governments in Paris in December 2015.
And it remains the only viable way to safeguard peace, prosperity and a sustainable future.
Thank you.

Watch the video on webtv.un.org

Petition: Stop European Hijacking of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative!!

African Civil Society under the ambit of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) is petitioning the European Union (EU) and France to ensure the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) succeeds.
 

The organization wants all partners to champion the cause of a truly African-led and people-centred approach to renewable energy on the continent.

Below is the content of the petition:

We, the undersigned representatives of African civil society, express our deep concern regarding efforts by the European Union and France to hijack the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), an African-owned and African-led initiative endorsed by all 55 African Heads of State to scale up renewable energy on our continent.

AREI was launched by the African governments with the support of African citizens during COP21 in Paris, with the goal to provide at least 10 billion watts (10GW) of new and additional renewable energy to Africa’s peoples by 2020, and put the continent on course to add at least another 300 GW and achieve universal access to energy for all Africans by 2030.  It was supported by $10 billion in pledges for 2015-2020 by developed countries in Paris.

AREI as defined in its framework, principles and work plans is a unique initiative. It is aligned with our values of people-centred approaches, community rights, equity and a bold vision of Africa taking a global lead towards flourishing societies powered by clean, renewable energy.

Since Paris, an Independent Delivery Unit was set up to deliver in accordance with AREI’s people-centred principles and approaches. The expectation was that a Board with Heads of State representing each African sub-region would be established, supported by a technical committee involving broad representation and participation by civil society

AREI’s integrity and promise of bringing light and energy to Africa’s people is now being gravely threatened by the efforts of the European Union and France for premature, undue approval of ‘their’ projects and seeming attempts to co-opt the initiative to serve their ends, supported by a small handful of Africans.  At a Board Meeting convened in Conakry on 4 March, we understand the European Union and France have:

·       Publicly “announced the preparation of 19 new renewable energy projects, with a total potential investment of €4.8 billion” (EU press release 4 March) – when they are actually claiming to provide a mere 1/16th or €0.3 billion of this amount, not all of which is for “new projects” or even for “renewable energy”, and with no clarity whether any of these are “additional’” efforts.    

       

·       Managed to have rammed through the Board for adoption these partly EU-funded projects, despite the express objections from some African countries and institutions, and contrary to the principles of African ownership that would expect project priorities and proposals to stem directly from African countries

·       Ignored and bypassed AREI’s own evaluation process in accordance to its criteria – developed with African and northern government, civil society and other stakeholder inputs. These require all projects be assessed in line with AREI social, environmental, gender and other principles and safeguards before any approvals can be made

·       Claiming Board memberships when they seem to have only been invited to the meetings (AREI minutes of the first inaugural board on 29 January) and contrary to the idea there should be one developing and one developed non-African country in the Board.

·       Pushed for the imposition of EU technical experts to supposedly take control of AREI core documents to be consistent with European interests

All the above seems to have caused the Head of the Independent Delivery Unit, a prominent and well-respected African, to declare his resignation.

These actions have been enabled by one or two African states while the interests of the majority of States, and of Africans, have been set aside.

PACJA has called for all partners in government, academia, faith-based, labour, gender, environmental, community-based organizations, national coalitions and regional and international networks to join us in championing a truly African-led and people-centred approach to renewable energy on our continent. AREI needs to succeed.

Click the link below and support the petition.

https://www.change.org/p/we-the-undersigned-representatives-of-african-civil-society-express-our-deep-concern-regarding-eff-stop-european-hijacking-of-the-africa-renewable-energy-initiative

Reconsider the impact of trees on water cycles and climate, Scientists ask

Forests and trees play a major role on water cycles and cooler temperatures, contributing to food security and climate change adaptation. 

In recent decades, the climate change discourse has looked at forests and trees mostly as carbon stocks and carbon sinks, but now scientists are calling for more attention on the relation between trees and water in climate change.

Scientists suggest that the global conversation on trees, forests and climate needs to be turned on its head: the direct effects of trees on climate through rainfall and cooling may be more important than their well-studied capacity of storing carbon.

A new publication and a symposium try to shed new light on the debate.

The research paper Trees, forests and water: Cool insights for a hot world compiles older knowledge and new research findings pointing at the important effects of trees on helping to retain water on the ground and to produce cooling moisture, which in turn have a positive impact on food security and climate change adaptation.

Authors are also participating in a two-day virtual symposium hosted by FTA, the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry. On the occasion of the International Day of Forests (March 21) and World Water Day (March 22), this webinar will serve to discuss the findings of the paper and to new areas of research about the linkages of forests with water and climate.

Trees for food security and climate change adaptation

“The role of trees widens,” said the Director of FTA, Dr Vincent Gitz. “This is very important in the context of the Paris Agreement, which recognized climate change is not only about mitigation, but also about adaptation.”

“The influence of trees on water cycles has important consequences on the global agenda for food security and climate change adaptation, at different scales,” Dr Gitz explained. “With trees, there is no tradeoff between adaptation and mitigation, but a synergy.”

“Carbon sequestration is a co-benefit of the precipitation-recycling and cooling power of trees. As trees process and redistribute water, they simultaneously cool planetary surfaces,” said Dr David Ellison, lead author of the study.

“Some of the more refined details of how forests affect rainfall are still being discussed among scientists of different disciplines and backgrounds. But the direct relevance of trees and forests for protecting and intensifying the hydrologic cycle, associated cooling and the sharing of atmospheric moisture with downwind locations is beyond reasonable doubt.”

Science collaboration for climate

This emerging area of research combines the knowledge of many fields of science: biology, chemistry, climate science, geology, hydrology and social science.

The paper and symposium are a good example of interdisciplinary research and collaboration which is necessary to address the issue of climate change adaption from multiple science and policy angles

World Bank Group announces record $57 Billion for Sub-Saharan Africa

World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, has announced a record $57 billion in financing for Sub-Saharan African countries over the next three fiscal years.

This follows a meeting with G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, after which Kim then left on a trip to Rwanda and Tanzania to emphasize the Bank Group’s support for the entire region. 

The bulk of the financing – $45 billion – will come from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group’s fund for the poorest countries. The financing for Sub-Saharan Africa also will include an estimated $8 billion in private sector investments from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a private sector arm of the Bank Group, and $4 billion in financing from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, its non-concessional public sector arm.

In December, development partners agreed to a record $75 billion for IDA, a dramatic increase based on an innovative move to blend donor contributions to IDA with World Bank Group internal resources, and with funds raised through capital markets. 

Sixty percent of the IDA financing is expected to go to Sub-Saharan Africa, home to more than half of the countries eligible for IDA financing. This funding is available for the period known as IDA18, which runs from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2020.

“This represents an unprecedented opportunity to change the development trajectory of the countries in the region,” World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said. “With this commitment, we will work with our clients to substantially expand programs in education, basic health services, clean water and sanitation, agriculture, business climate, infrastructure, and institutional reform.”

The IDA financing for operations in Africa will be critical to addressing roadblocks that prevent the region from reaching its potential. To support countries’ development priorities, scaled-up investments will focus on tackling conflict, fragility, and violence; building resilience to crises including forced displacement, climate change, and pandemics; and reducing gender inequality. Efforts will also promote governance and institution building, as well as jobs and economic transformation. 

“This financing will help African countries continue to grow, create opportunities for their citizens, and build resilience to shocks and crises,” Kim said.  

While much of the estimated $45 billion in IDA financing will be dedicated to country-specific programs, significant amounts will be available through special “windows” to finance regional initiatives and transformative projects, support refugees and their host communities, and help countries in the aftermath of crises. 

This will be complemented by a newly established Private Sector Window (PSW)—especially important in Africa, where many sound investments go untapped due to lack of capital and perceived risks. The Private Sector Window will supplement existing instruments of IFC and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) – the Bank Group’s arm that offers political risk insurance and credit enhancement – to spur sound investments through de-risking, blended finance, and local currency lending.

This World Bank Group financing will support transformational projects during the FY18-20 period. IBRD priorities will include health, education, and infrastructure projects such as expanding water distribution and access to power. The priorities for the private sector investment will include infrastructure, financial markets, and agribusiness. IFC also will deepen its engagement in fragile and conflict-affected states and increase climate-related investments.

Expected IDA outcomes include essential health and nutrition services for up to 400 million people, access to improved water sources for up to 45 million, and 5 GW of additional generation capacity for renewable energy. The scaled-up IDA financing will build on a portfolio of 448 ongoing projects in Africa totaling about $50 billion. Of this, a $1.6 billion financing package is being developed to tackle the impending threat of famine in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions.

How Ghana can benefit from nuclear energy

Ghana has a long track record of efforts to create a stable energy mix with different energy sources. The country has gone through a number of phases starting with diesel generators and stand-alone systems to hydro energy dams and thermal stations powered by oil or gas.

Nevertheless, the evolution in energy mix made little to help to overcome regular fluctuations in the power supply. An electricity crisis, unfortunately, has already become one of the most pressing issues to be solved by Ghanaian government as the increasing demand by industrial sector and developing infrastructure needs sustainable and secured energy sources.

The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) in 2014 estimated that Ghana would lose between $320 million and $924 million per year in productivity and economic growth respectively due to the power crisis.

This power crisis has different manifestations. Firstly, not every Ghanaian citizen has an access to the electricity. According to a statement made by the then Ministry of Power, around 80% of population can enjoy benefits of electricity, and in rural areas, this figures are 60%. Indeed, in comparison with other Sub-Saharan countries that is sound data, but in order to sustain development it is not enough.

Ghana’s annual energy demand is set to grow by 10 to 15% when supply generally does not meet set targets and lags behind. The expanding industrial sector, rapid urbanization, the growth of the middle class, and growing incomes, together with overall population growth (about 2.3 % per annum), have become major drivers of increasing electricity demand.

Moreover, power crisis manifests itself in inadequate power supply infrastructure, over-reliance on thermal and hydropower and gas, high cost of fuel for electricity generation, transmission and distribution losses.

Currently Ghana relies on thermal plants, which cover main base load demand. At the same time hydropower is used as a load-following source of energy. Thermal power has grown from 330MW in year 2000 to above 2,000MW at present and will continue to dominate the national energy mix.

Overall hydro generation provides, approximately between 35% and 45% of the installed capacity and approximately 36% of energy supply. Further relying on rainfall to supply water to the dams to generate electricity may not be quite optimal due to changing climate patterns.

Thermal power plants fueled by oil and gas also have soft spots. One of the drawbacks of these stations is their inability to attain and sustain full and secured generation capacity due to limited and expensive fuel supply.

While Ghana has committed itself to universal electricity access and become a dynamic economy, the real challenge that the country needs to resolve is to ensure that energy supply is reliable and adequate.

In this case, nuclear energy development can be a perfect solution. Nuclear power is a cost-effective and reliable base load power source. In countries that opted for nuclear energy it has ensured uninterrupted power supply for 60-80 years at a predictable price which does not depend on the volatility of global prices for energy resources. For instance, if the price of uranium doubles, the final cost of electricity generated by nuclear power will only increase by roughly 5%, which cannot be said about conventional energy sources.

At the same time, nuclear energy is a key component of a clean and sustainable energy strategy. Today nuclear generation makes it possible to avoid the emission of over two billion tonnes of CO2 each year.

Nuclear energy can address the competing needs for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, economic development and energy security. A wider deployment of nuclear power will reduce the cost of achieving emissions reductions, and increase the chances of meeting climate change objectives.

Nuclear is recognized as a crucial mitigation technology and many more developing countries are planning to use nuclear generation to meet their emission reduction and energy supply objectives all over the world.

Today energy generation by nuclear power has proven to be one of the safest in the world. After Fukushima accident, modern nuclear plans have all necessary requirements set by the IAEA. In particular modern energy units have balanced mix of multi-level active and passive safety and security systems. One of the main features of modern reactors is its simple design which has a combination of active and passive safety systems which do not require the nuclear plant’s staff intervention in case of emergency for several days.

For instance, innovative Russian reactors have unique in the world passive heat removal system, hydrogen recombiners and active zone “core catcher”. This “catcher” is located in concrete vault under reactor vessel and ensures the melt localization, which excludes possibility of its spillover out of the reactor vessel at the plant under any circumstances. The evidence over six decades shows that nuclear power is a safe means of generating electricity. The risk of accidents in nuclear power plants is low and declining.

Nuclear power is the only large-scale energy-generating technology which takes full responsibility for all its wastes. Nevertheless, virtually the amount of radioactive wastes is very small relative to the waste produced by fossil fuels like coal and oil. Used nuclear fuel may be treated as a resource since it contains uranium and some other fissionable transuranium elements that can be recycled in nuclear reactors to produce energy.

Safe methods for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste are technically proven. Some modern nuclear technologies are capable of reusing nuclear waste making it possible for nuclear industry to become non-waste industry at all. Russia successfully implements recycling of materials from once-used nuclear fuels thus saving the natural uranium resources.

Additionally, Ghana’s active development of nuclear industry can emerge high-tech clusters which would integrate different industries, advance in medicine, science and technology. All that will create well-paid jobs and attract foreign investments.

A sustainable energy mix with nuclear power will contribute immensely to the national economy and business to embark upon the way of dynamic progress, increasing their competitiveness and attractiveness on a global level. Nuclear power technology is widely recognized to be the prerequisite of sustainable energy development and this is in the focus of the International Nuclear Energy Agency Activity.

Ghana’s current electricity experiences are detrimental to economic growth and development. In order to combat the current energy challenge faced by country, Ghana needs access to affordable and reliable base load nuclear power.

Apart from securing sustainable, low-cost and clean energy, nuclear industry creates thousands of jobs in various fields. For instance the implementation of the Kudankulam NPP construction project in India has led to the creation of more than 10,000 jobs in the region where the plant operates, not to mention new jobs in equipment-manufacturing companies.

Globally, an average nuclear power plant generates nearly $16 million in local tax revenue per year. This has a direct benefit regarding development of schools, hospitals, roads and other important infrastructure.

Developing nuclear energy has other positive implications like foreign investments in technologies and innovations, improved terms of domestic trade and production.

Stable and balanced energy mix will allow Ghana to meet set targets of GDP and economy growth to become a strong emerging African economy and pioneer of new technologies development. In addition to that, introduction of nuclear power will definitely lead to increase of the national intellectual potential. It is the nature of this technology that combines recent achievements in science and engineering.

Ghana has already made significant steps forward towards nuclear energy. In 2008, Ghana's government officially announced plans to introduce nuclear energy. The Government has enacted its nuclear energy comprehensive law which allows for the establishment of an independent nuclear regulatory body, the Ghana Nuclear Regulatory Authority. Establishment of an independent national nuclear regulator is an essential prerequisite for the establishment of a nuclear power program.

The IAEA for its part in ensuring that all nuclear power programs are developed in a sustainably safe, secured and safeguarded manner has completed, in January 2017, a successful Phase One (1) Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review mission for Ghana, ahead of a government decision planned for 2018 on the introduction of nuclear power.

In June 2015, Ghana signed a nuclear co-operation agreement with Russia to enable the development of contractual and legal frameworks for co-operation between the two countries in the sphere.

It also enables the promotion of Russian technology in West African markets and the practical start of joint nuclear projects. This year Russian Rosatom nuclear corporation and Ghana’s Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) already held first meetings of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) as part of implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the peaceful use of atomic energy as of June 2, 2015.

The meeting agenda included all key issues related to the preparation for the implementation of Ghanaian own nuclear power program: infrastructure, staff training, financing, technical issues related to construction of facilities for the joint projects and regulation in the nuclear power industry.

All this proves that Ghana seriously considers the nuclear option as a vital prerequisite for sustainable and technological development. It also should be borne in mind that balanced energy mix will allow Ghana to become electricity export leader in the region and a role model for neighbor countries.

By:

Daniel Agyeman Wordson, Research Scientist and Manager, Nuclear Program Management Centre of Nuclear Power Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC).

Prof. Vladimir Artisiuk, Vice-Rector, Rosatom Central Institute for Continuing Education & Training.

Scientists to detail progress and challenges regarding global cassava threats

The world’s top cassava experts are gathering in Nigeria to report progress on developing new varieties of cassava with higher yield and nutritional content. The meeting will take place on March 14-16, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in Ibadan.

“Africa produces more than half of the world’s cassava — about 86 million tons from over 10 million hectares,” said Chiedozie Egesi, IITA-based project manager of the Next Generation Cassava Breeding (NextGen Cassava) project, who also works to biofortify cassava with essential micronutrients. “But disease pathogens and climate change threaten cassava production and jeopardize the income and food security of smallholder farmers. Since 2012, scientists on the NextGen Cassava project have been working to significantly increase the rate of genetic improvement in cassava breeding and unlock cassava’s full potential.”

Cassava is a clonally propagated crop and seed set is difficult. New varieties with enhanced productivity and nutritional traits typically take up to 10 years to develop.

Scientists on the NextGen project are focused on giving breeders in Africa access to the most advanced plant breeding technologies to deliver improved varieties to farmers more rapidly.

“Partners of NextGen Cassava are using a state-of-the-art plant breeding approach known as genomic selection to improve cassava productivity for the 21^st century,” said Ronnie Coffman, Cornell professor of plant breeding and genetics, director of International Programs, who is the principal investigator on the multi-partner grant.

Genomic selection shortens breeding cycles, provides more accurate evaluation at the seedling stage, and gives plant breeders the ability to evaluate a much larger number of clones without the need to plant them in the target environment. Using genomic selection, new releases of cassava are ready in as little as six years.

“The best clones from NextGen Cassava genomic selection efforts are in Uniform Yield Trials this year and are due to be released to farmers in the next two years,” said Egesi.

Cassava is predicted to be one of the few crops that will benefit from climate change because it requires few inputs and can withstand drought, marginal soils and long-term underground storage. A cash and subsistence crop, the storage roots of this perennial woody shrub are processed, consumed freshly boiled or raw, and eaten by people as well as animals as a low-cost source of carbohydrates. No other continent depends on cassava to feed as many people as does Africa, where 500 million people consume it daily.  “The purpose of NextGen Cassava project is to improve the cassava breeding process making it faster and more efficient to produce the varieties farmers need,” said Peter Kulakow, cassava breeder at IITA, Ibadan.

In 2012, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom (DFID) under its UK Aid program invested $25.2M to improve the staple crop’s productivity and build human and technical capacity for plant breeding in sub-Saharan Africa.  

The five-year project, led by Cornell University, works with 10 institutional partners across six countries on three continents: Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI/USA), Embrapa (Brazil), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT/Colombia), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA/Nigeria), National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI/Uganda), National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI/Nigeria), University of Hawaii (USA), U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, and U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute. Most recently, NextGen Cassava has expanded to include Tanzania, partnering with the Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute (LZARDI).

The partners share cassava data, expertise, and information on a publicly available website (www.cassavabase.org).

In addition to reporting on the latest genomic information from cassava sequencing to improve productivity and yield, project partners will discuss progress on incorporating cassava germplasm diversity from South America into African breeding programs, training the next generation of plant breeders, and improving infrastructure at African institutions.

Campaign against food waste and overeating launched in Ghana

Ghana’s Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS) has launched a project to help minimize the misuse and waste of food among the populace.

Dubbed "Campaign Against Food Waste and Overeating", the project is to encourage Ghanaians to make judicious use of available food at their disposal.

Though there is no readily available statistics, it is believed that most Ghanaians waste more food than they consume. 

The two key components of the project are to reduce food waste and over-eating which contribute to about 20 percent of the world food being lost.

At the launch of the project, Executive Director of CCCFS, Mahmud Mohammed-Nurudeen, enjoined the citizenry to eat less animal products, and help reduce the global growing trend of food insecurity.

He said students particularly have a pivotal role to play in the prevention of food waste to help prevent damage to the environment.

"If we continue to throw away food and litter around, then we are just preparing a dangerous environment for the future generations," he said. 

The project is also part of efforts to reduce the billions of tonnes of food lost to ensure everyone has access to a safe, affordable and nutritious diet.

According to scientists at the University of Edinburgh, the world population consumes around 10 per cent more food than it needs, while almost nine per cent is thrown away or left to spoil.

The researchers at the University examined ten key stages in the global food system including food consumption as well as the growing and harvesting of crops to quantify the extent of losses.

According to the research, almost half of harvested crops or 2.1 billion tonnes are lost through over-consumption, consumer waste and inefficiencies in production processes.

They found out that, almost 20 per cent of the food made available to consumers is lost through over-eating or waste.

Livestock production is the least efficient process, with losses of 78 per cent or 840 million tonnes, the team found. Some 1.08 billion tonnes of harvested crops are used to produce 240 million tonnes of edible animal products including meat, milk and eggs.

This stage alone accounts for 40 per cent of all losses of harvested crops, researchers say.

Dr. Peter Alexander, of the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences and Scotland's Rural College, who led the study, said: "Reducing losses from the global food system would improve food security and help prevent environmental harm. Until now, it was not known how over-eating impacts on the system. Not only is it harmful to health, we found that over-eating is bad for the environment and impairs food security."

The Centre for Climate Change and Food Security has therefore taken upon itself to educate young Ghanaians, especially students, on the need to avoid food waste and overeating. 

The project was launched as part of the Centre's seminar on the theme: "Today's Climate, Who Should Be Concerned?" held at the University for Development Studies UDS, Wa campus in the Upper West Region. 

Ghana Bureau Chief for ClimateReporters, Kofi Adu Domfeh encouraged students to show more concern in the protection of the environment. 

He said the students can be agents of change in educating Ghanaians about the effects of the changing climate. 

He cited an instant where a farmer at Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo region lost all his crops due to prolonged drought.

Mr. Domfeh also challenged the students to begin a campus campaign on environmental tidiness.

CCCFS has been recommending and implementing policies to safeguard the environment and protect farmers’ livelihoods. 

The Centre also embarks on research works that seek to address issues of climate change, food security and agribusiness.