Key Issues and Information Resources

Sustainable
Agri-Food Production
and Consumption
Forum

	Introduction
	Agri-food Production and Bio-diversity
	Water Use and Water Pollution
	Energy
	Climate Change
	Food Safety and Biotechnology
	Use of Chemicals
	Desertification
	Trade and Environment
	Consumption
	Make a link to your web site

KEY ISSUES AND INFORMATION SOURCES -
Climate Change

Human activities are releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels are used to generate energy and when forests are cut down and burned. Methane and nitrous oxide are emitted from agricultural activities, changes in land use, and other sources. Artificial chemicals called halocarbons (CFCs, HFCs, PFCs) and other long-life gases such as sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) are released by industrial processes. Furthermore, automobile exhaust fumes indirectly generate Ozone in the lower atmosphere, expanding greenhouse gas levels. Increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions cause climate change.

Greenhouse gas emissions are generated throughout the agri-food production and consumption chain. For example, up-stream agricultural activities such as livestock production and land preparation release greenhouse gases. Fertilizer production contributes to climate change through the generation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Energy consumed in the transport of agricultural products and food processing is another source of greenhouse gas emission. Refrigeration facilities used for food processing, storage and retail can release greenhouse gas emission if the CFCs contained in the equipment are not replaced.

Climate change, in turn, can become a major threat to agri-food production and supply. According to information provided by the climate change convention secretariat, the impact on crop yields and productivity will vary considerably. Added heat stress, shifting monsoons, and drier soils may reduce yields in the tropics and subtropics, whereas longer growing seasons may boost yields in northern Canada and Europe. This will increase the challenge of ensuring equal access to food world-wide.

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Information resources provided by various stakeholders:

The UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (UN/ECE)

is a forum where the countries of North America, Western, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia come together to forge the tools of their economic co-operation.

Organisation web site: http://www.unece.org/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/ - It has a specific section dedicated on the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution as the first internationally legally binding instrument to deal with problems of air pollution on a broad regional basis. It was signed in 1979 and entered into force in 1983. Go on this page if you want to find more information on the convention and its protocols.

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO)

the World Meteorological Organization coordinates global scientific activity to allow increasingly prompt and accurate weather information and other services for public, private and commercial use, including international airline and shipping industries. WMO's activities contribute to the safety of life and property, the socio-economic development of nations and the protection of the environment. WMO has a good searchable library system which covers a wide variety of topics.

Organisation web site: http://www.wmo.ch.

THE FOOD AGRICULTURE ORGNIZATION (FAO)

established a Sustainable Development Department that aims to be a global reference centre for knowledge and advice on biophysical, biological, socio-economic and social dimensions of sustainable development.

Organisation web site: http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.fao.org/sd/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm - Here, in particular, you can find Global Climate Maps.

UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

is the international response to climate change. The negotiation of the convention started in 1990. In 1992, the convention was signed by 152 countries and entered into force on 21 March 1994.

Organisation web site: http://www.unfccc.de/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.unfccc.de/resource/index.html - The secretariat of the convention provides official documents, a climate change information kit, country information, greenhouse gas inventory date, etc.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC)

The role of the IPCC is to assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change. It does not carry out new research nor does it monitor climate related data. It bases its assessment mainly on published and peer reviewed scientific technical literature.

Organisation web site: http://www.ipcc.ch.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.ipcc.ch/activity/sprep.htm - You can find special reports on specific topics produced under the guidance of one or more working groups. For each special report a Summary for Policymakers translated into all UN languages is prepared.

THE USA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

aims to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment (air, water, and land) upon which life depends through the development of different projects and research programs. In particular, the EPA Global Warming Site aims to present accurate information on the issue of climate change and global warming in a way that is accessible and meaningful to all parts of society.

Organisation web site: http://www.epa.gov/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/ - The USA has based its climate change policies on the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which has provided an authoritative international consensus on the science of climate change. The Global Warming Site also relies on the work of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP).

The CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK (CAN)

forms a true international NGO consortium. It includes international groups and national organisations sharing a common concern about climate change and wishing to co-operate on these issues. It is presently composed of seven regional focal points managed by existing NGOs.

Organisation web site: http://www.climatenetwork.org/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.climatenetwork.org/eco/ - Here, you can find the latest news on climate change on the CAN Newsletter.

The WORLD RESOURCE INSTITUTE

provides information, ideas, and solutions to global environmental problems, including natural resources management.

Organisation web site: http://www.wri.org/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.wri.org/climate/index.html - The WRI has developed a research area dedicated to Climate Change, to identify opportunities to reduce the risk of global climate change in ways that drive sustainable economic development world-wide.

THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH (UCAR)

is a consortium of 63 Member universities with doctoral programs in the atmospheric and related sciences, 20 Academic Affiliate institutions, and 38 International Affiliates. On its site you can find links to these organisations managed by UCAR: the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the UCAR Office of Programs (UOP).

Organisation web site: http://www.ucar.edu/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.esig.ucar.edu/ijas/ijasno2/buckland.html - On the ESIG site you can find different publications about the implications of climate change in food production. For example, you can find the article "Implications of Climatic Variability for Food Security in The Southern African Development Community". Also, the NCAR manages the Environmental and Societal Impacts Group (ESIG) [http://www.esig.ucar.edu/], which studies environmental change to gain insights into how decision makers might better understand and cope with impacts associated with the complex relationship of the atmosphere, environment, and society.

THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC)

This portal is a central source for substantive work and information resources regarding climate change. Use the navigation on the left to find information based on the key issues within climate change or select a specific type of resource. For a detailed search use the advanced function on the right.

Organisation web site: http://www.ipcc.ch/.

CLIMATE AND GLOBAL DYNAMICS DIVISIONS (CGDD)

The mission of the Climate and Global Dynamics (CGD) Division is to understand Earth�s climate system and to develop the capability of predicting the evolution of the climate system to the degree possible. The web site speacks about: Climate of the Twentieth Century and Future Climate, Biogeochemistry, Chemistry, and Climate, Natural Variability and Predictability in the Climate System, Variability of the Tropical Oceans and Global Atmosphere, Paleoclimate and Variability (Past Global Change), Dynamics and Predictability of Weather and Short-term Climate Variations and Resources, Community Support, Education. The Climate Change Research (CCR) Section uses appropriate climate system models to study the response of the Earth system to a variety of forcings, including changes of carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases and aerosols.

Organisation web site: http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/index.html.

� 2000 - United Nations Environment Programme