Help Ensure Every Child Born is Wanted
Abstract
The sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out by the UN in 2015 will drive the global development agenda on social, economic and environmental issues for the next 15 years. Out of the stated goals, none specifically refer to population policies. Yet coherent and sustainable population policies, including universal access to sexual and reproductive health rights, are necessary to achieve the majority of the development goals outlined. The Global Policy Action Plan (GPACT) recognises these links, and this paper elaborates on the necessity of coherent and future-proof population policies.
US Vice President Joe Biden visits Duluth
The Gold Winner of the Future Policy Award 2014 to end violence against women and girls was highlighted by US Vice President Joe Biden at an event in Duluth, Minnesota, on October 23. The City’s Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence, which is known as the “Duluth Model”, was recognised as the world’s best policy to end violence against women and girls at the Future Policy Award Ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland on October 14.
Future Policy Award 2014: Ending Violence against Women and Girls
Abstract
The Future Policy Award identifies and celebrates exemplary laws and policies for the most pressing political challenges the global community is facing today. Ending violence against women and girls remains one of the most serious challenges, since it weakens all other efforts towards a future just society. The Award highlights achievements in policy-making and its implementation, as well as visionary new approaches.
Future Policy Award 2014: Duluth Model is world’s best policy
Geneva – 14 October 2015: The “Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence” by the City of Duluth in the US State of Minnesota is the winner of the 2014 Future Policy Award for Ending Violence against Women and Girls. It beat 24 other nominated policies to the prize. The Gold Award is to be presented to Minnesota Representative Michael Paymar from the Minnesota House of Representatives today at a ceremony in Geneva by the World Future Council, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women.
Blue Solutions from Asia and the Pacific
Abstract
This publication features success stories that were presented at the regional forum in Cebu in May 2014, where over 100 practitioners and policy-makers from 17 countries in the Asia-Pacific region gathered to exchange experiences and share knowledge in marine and coastal management and governance.
Sustainable Biochar
In addition to measures for enriching farmland and pastures with ‘conventional’ organic matter, a potentially important additional option is available in the form of ‘Biochar’. Biochar can be produced by pyrolysis (low-oxygen combustion) of organic materials – forest thinnings, sawdust, agricultural wastes, urban organic wastes or sewage solids – and the resulting charcoal-like substance can be incorporated into farmland as a long term carbon storage option. These are ways of producing ‘sustainable biochar’ as opposed to its production from monoculture tree plantations, which is rightly vigorously opposed by an international coalition of environmental groups.
Use of charcoal as a soil conditioner has ancient origins, and is best documented with reference to the ‘terra preta’ soils found in parts of the Amazon. Much evidence now exists that charcoal was mixed by Amazonian Indian cultivators with food- and human wastes to enrich poor and acidic soils. The predecessors of today’s Amazonian Indians left behind ‘terra preta’ soils rich in organic matter in some 10 per cent of the Amazon territory. Research has shown that charcoal incorporated in this way can last in the soil for hundreds to even thousands of years.
Biochar is a more stable nutrient source than compost and manure. The porous quality of the biochar particles can improve soil structure, and harbours a vast variety and quantity of micro-organisms and associated plant nutrients, enhancing fertility and life in the soil, and also helping it to retain moisture – which is very important in an age of climate change.
By ‘pyrolysing’ one tonne of organic material which contains half a tonne of carbon, about half a tonne of CO2 can be removed from the atmosphere and stored in the soil whilst the other half can be used as a carbon-neutral fuel (this equals a quarter of the CO2 absorbed by the plant during its growth). Biochar has the potential to lock the mineral carbon it contains safely away in the soil for centuries. Professor Johannes Lehmann of Cornell University and others have calculated that biochar applications to soil could remove several billion tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere per year.
Bio-char can be produced from many different organic materials, including sewage and urban biomass. At the sewage works in Bingen, Germany, semi-dried sewage sludge is pyrolysed and turned into black granules: the sewage is turned into charcoal. This can then be buried in farm soil and the carbon it contains can thus be prevented from entering the atmosphere. There is no doubt that the billions of tonnes of sewage and green wastes that accumulate in cities every year, if turned into biochar and buried, could greatly benefit the world’s soils soil as well as the atmosphere.
Incorporation of sustainably produced bio-char could be used to reward farmers as carbon stewards, enabling them to enhance their yields whilst also increasing our ability to deal with climate change.
How to achieve 100% Renewable Energy
Abstract
The goal of fully transitioning the world’s total energy mix toward renewable energy sources is no longer a utopian ideal: it is being achieved in a number of places around the world today. Hundreds of jurisdictions across the globe have set 100 % renewable energy (RE) targets and are beginning the journey toward a fully fossil- and nuclear-free society. In the process, these pioneers have been incubators of regionally appropriate best practices and policies.
This policy handbook takes a closer look at these early pioneers to provide inspiration and concrete examples to other jurisdictions that are aiming to embark on the same transformation. It analyzes case studies to identify drivers, barriers as well as facilitating factors and, from these, it derives policy recommendations to finally enable their transfer to other jurisdictions around the world.
Windhoek Declaration
Workshop on Food and Nutrition Security, 21 – 23 July 2014
Concluding Recommendations
After thorough deliberation at the Workshop on Food and Nutrition Security which was enabled by the City of Windhoek, the City of Belo Horizonte (Brazil), the World Future Council and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
We, the Mayors of Namibian Cities, policymakers, technicians, experts, and representatives of civil society organizations have compiled this document with the following recommendations which we strongly feel ought to be implemented by all stakeholders in order to ensure the right to food for all people.
Recognize the urgent need to act now at local and national levels to address the challenges in food and nutrition security our country is facing today and ensure food and nutrition security for future generations.
Commit to engage in a multi-stakeholder dialogue on food and nutrition security governance and interventions at different levels: from local to national, from public to private, including but not limited to civil society and international organisations, and media.
Acknowledge the fact that we need to develop and implement solutions that are fitting for our specific situations, including reviewing the policy and legal framework on national level, developing solutions for financing efforts on local level, and connecting political with technical will.
Commit to harmonize our efforts to tackling food and nutrition security in Namibia and build networks for multi-level stakeholder dialogue, partnerships, capacity building and implementation of follow-up actions.
Engage to realize the concrete recommendations, action plans and time frames that have been developed at the Workshop, especially in regards to the establishment of Food Banks in Namibia and the promotion of urban and peri-urban agriculture and city-region linkages.
Recommend that ALAN facilitates the establishment of an inter-municipal technical task force whose mandate is to engage further relevant stakeholders with the view to implementing concrete recommendations and action plans that have been developed at the workshop.
Windhoek, 23 July 2014
Name
Cllr Agnes Kafula Cllr Muesee Kazapua Cllr Uilika Nambahu Cllr Juuso Kambweshe Cllr Helaria Mukapuli Cllr Hilka Leevi Cllr Emma Taukuheke Cllr Lidia S. Bezuidenhoudt Cllr Ndangi Sheeteketa Cllr Jason Asisno Cllr Eve Massdorp Cllr Carolina Arendse Cllr Ronny Negonga Cllr Gustav IHoaeb Cllr Erastus Kandjimi Cllr Daniel U. Muhuura Cllr Tuarungua Kavari Cllr Matheus Ndeshitita CIlr Julia Shikongo Cllr Paulus Haikali Cllr David lpinge Cllr Isai D. Uuzombata Mr Willian Shenldee Cllr Onesmus Shilunga Cllr Andreas Shintama Cllr Hesikiel Nanyeni Cllr John Viakongo Cllr Charles M. Matengu Cllr Markus Damaseb Cllr Henry Edward Coetzee CIlr Esme S. Isaack Cllr Thyphosa Moloto Cllr Hilda Jesaya Cllr Vaierie Aron Cllr Aila Haufiku Cllr Moses Titus Cllr Kleophas Geingob Cllr Alex Kamburute Cllr Bartholomeus Rooi Cllr Yvonne Bok Cllr Petrus Boois Cllr Christine Garoes Scholtz Cllr S Haikwiyu Cllr Susanna Motinga CIlr Christina lsaaks Cllr Edward Wells Cllr J Khachab Cllr Feitje Basson Cllr Regina Aebes Mr Pete Gurirab Cllr Maria Ganuses Cllr Magdalena Aebes Cllr Franciska Nakare Cllr Livey van Wyk |
Title and Institutions
Mayor of the City of Windhoek Deputy Mayor, City of Windhoek President Mayor Forum Mayor of Swakopmund Deputy Mayor of Luderjtz Mayor of Rundu Mayor of Grootfontein Mayor of Cobabis Mayor of Tsumeb Mayor Ongwediva Mayor of Rehoboth Mayor of Karasburg Mayor of Ondangwa Mayor of Usakos Mayor of Nkurenkuru Mayor of Arandis Mayor of Opuwo Mayor of Outapi Mayor of Eenhana Mayor of Hetao Nafidi Mayor of Karibib Mayor of Okahao MC Chairperson of Oshikuku Mayor of Oshakati Mayor of Ruacana Mayor of Omuthiya Mayor of Okakarara Mayor of Katima Mulilo Mayor of Otavi Mayor of Oranjemund Major of Aranos Mayor of Khorixas Mayor of Otjiwarongo Mayor of Okaha ndja Mayor of Hentjes Bay Mayor of Keetmanshoop Mayor of Outjo Mayor of Marientet Chairperson: Aroab Village Council Chairperson: Gibeon Village Council Chairperson: Gochas Village Council Chairperson: Kalkrand Village Council Chairperson: Matahöhe Village Council Chairperson: Stampriet ViIageCouncil Chairperson: Berseba Villaee Council Chairperson: Bethanie Village Councit Chairperson: Koës Village Council Vice Chairperson: Tses Village Council Deputy Chairperson: Kamanjab VillageCouncil CEO: Kamanjab Village Council Kamanjab Village Council Kamanjab Village Council Chairperson: Leonardville Village Councjl Chairperson: Witvlei Village Council |