earths day

In just a few weeks, from 9-11 April, the first formal session of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations of 2010 will take place in Bonn, Germany. Countries have been meeting in various informal processes outside the UNFCCC, such as in Paris and Mexico in recent weeks, to progress discussions on a range of issues, and to share thoughts on how to take forward the progress made at Copenhagen. The meeting in April will aim to agree how to progress under the formal umbrella of the UNFCCC in the run up to COP 16 in Cancun in November. On Saturday 27 March 2010 at 8.30pm, WWF want a billion people around the world to switch off their lights for Earth Hour. View Ed Miliband’s video message.
	Foreign Secretary meets Chinese Ministers to foster greater dialogue Britain’s relationship with China should be ‘strategic’ and ‘respectful’, and yet ‘nor should we hide our disagreements when they occur’, said the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, on a visit to China, where he met with Premier Wen Jiabao and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Discussing the global economy, climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and human rights, the Foreign Secretary also took the opportunity to highlight the UK’s innovation, creativity and opportunities for bilateral trade and investment during a visit to Shanghai. Read the Foreign Secretary’s speech.
	World Water Day: Climate change 'a harsh reality' March 22 was World Water Day. Around 900 million people worldwide don’t have access to safe water and around 4,000 people – mostly children – die every day as a result of unsafe water, lack of access to basic sanitation and poor hygiene. In a video interview with Dr Hasan Mahmud, Bangladeshi Minster of Environment & Forests, we discover the reality of climate change for Bangladesh and the ways in which they deal with both floods and droughts.
	110 countries support Accord UN confirms countries representing more than 80% global emissions support Copenhagen Accord. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has described countries’ support for the Accord as a ‘critical step forward’ on international action on climate change, and an ‘important advance’ towards the next major UN climate gathering – COP16 – in Cancun.
	‘More progress than has been recognised’ The Prime Minister has discussed Britain’s role in the world with the Foreign Press Association, citing climate change as one of five ‘great global challenges of our time’. The Prime Minister reflected that ‘despite the disappointment of the Copenhagen meeting, we have made more progress than I think has been recognised.’ Over 80% of global emissions are included in the Copenhagen Accord, and commitments if implemented will see global emissions peaking by 2020.
	Climate science film The British Embassy in New Zealand hosted a screening of The Last Trillion Tonnes, a collaboration between Victoria University of Wellington and Oxford University. The film was billed as ‘Science Speaks’ brings together geological, historical and satellite data with field studies in Antarctica to supercomputers in Europe.
	Climate finance group to meet next week Not sure of the latest on climate finance? The Climate Group spoke with DECC’s Hannah Ryder on what’s next for climate finance and governance following the Copenhagen Accord. Progressing international mobilisation on climate finance, Prime Minister Brown and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles will co-host the first meeting of the UN Secretary General’s High Level Advisory Group on Climate Financing in London next Wednesday.
	From the blogosphere... Shantanu Mitra, blogs on mainstreaming climate change adaptation, from an event chaired by Professor MS Swaminathan, the agriculturalist largely credited with the Green Revolution. Nick Bridge, Counsellor for Global Issues in Washington DC, answers the question ‘why does the UK put so much effort into environmental issues.’
Climate change extras: Listen to podcast of Lord Stern’s ‘Beyond Copenhagen’ address at the London School of Economics, 16 March. UNICEF Youth ambassadors urge importance of young people on climate action Saturday 27 March 2010 at 8.30pm, WWF want a billion people around the world to switch off their lights for Earth Hour. View Ed Miliband’s video message.