NTS Bulletin November 2009 (Issue 1)

Issues: KEY ISSUES: SHORTAGE OF H1N1 VACCINES; NATURAL DISASTERS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN ASIA HEALTH SECURITY CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND NATURAL DISASTERS FOOD SECURITY ENERGY SECURITY Note: Please click on the respective titles or headers for the full report. Disclaimer: All links and news reports are correct at the time of publication.

MAIN HIGHLIGHT

Key issues: Shortage of H1N1 vaccines; natural disasters and infectious diseases in Asia (various news sources).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 5,000 lives have been claimed by the novel influenza virus (H1N1). The US has now declared H1N1 as a national emergency. With the start of the second wave of infections, cases have been reported in France, Morocco, Iceland, Turkey, Mongolia and Rwanda. Amid these, there has been a shortfall in H1N1 vaccines, due to manufacturing delays as well as continued debate on the safety of H1N1 and other flu vaccines.

At the same time, the onslaught of natural disasters in Asia has shown to be a breeding ground for infectious diseases. After the recent devastating typhoon in the Philippines, 35,000 persons are still living in evacuation shelters and more than half are suffering from diseases. The most dangerous infection has been leptospirosis, a life-threatening infection that one could get by swallowing or absorbing contaminated water through cuts in the skin. International and local infectious disease experts of the WHO and the Global Outbreak Alert are currently trying to identify the strain of this bacteria and its animal source.

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HEALTH SECURITY

News and Commentaries

• Fang Xuanchang, Jia Hepeng & Katherine Nightingale, ‘How to report a disease outbreak or pandemic,’ SciDev.net, 9 October 2009.
  
• ‘Hospitals must be protected during natural disasters’, International Day for Disaster Reduction, WHO, 14 October 2009.
• ‘Clinical features of severe cases of pandemic influenza’, Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 13, WHO, 16 October 2009.
• Jeffrey Kang, ‘Pooling healthcare’s best ideas’, The Atlanta-Constitution Journal, 19 October 2009.
• Carol Campbell, ‘Swine flu science update: 20 October 2009’, SciDev.net, 20 October 2009.
  
• Karima Anjani, ‘Indonesia says no policy change on bird flu samples’, Reuters, 24 October 2009.
• Jennifer C. Kerr, ‘Bill Gates urges more spending on global health’, Mail Tribune, 28 October 2009.

Papers & Reports

• ’State of the World's Vaccines and Immunization. Third edition’, World Health Organization, 2009.

This publication is a call to action to governments and donors to sustain and increase funding for immunization in order to build upon the progress made so far in meeting the global goals. It focuses on the major developments in vaccines and immunization since 2000.

• ’Foodborne Disease Outbreaks: Guidelines for Investigation and Control’, World Health Organization, 2009.

The investigation and control of foodborne disease outbreaks are multi-disciplinary tasks requiring skills in the areas of clinical medicine, epidemiology, laboratory medicine, food microbiology and chemistry, food safety and food control, and risk communication and management. These guidelines have been written for public health practitioners, food and health inspectors, district and national medical officers, laboratory personnel and others who may undertake or participate in the investigation and control of foodborne disease outbreaks.

• David McCoy, Sudeep Chand, & Devi Sridhar, ‘Global Health Funding: How Much, where it Comes From and Where it Goes’, Health Policy and Planning Journal, vol. 24, no. 6, November 2009.

Global health funding has increased in recent years. This has been accompanied by a proliferation in the number of global health actors and initiatives. This paper describes the state of global heath finance, taking into account government and private sources of finance, and raises and discusses a number of policy issues related to global health governance. Among the findings are that the volume of official development assistance for health is frequently inflated; and that data on private sources of global health finance are inadequate but indicate a large and important role of private actors. It is necessary to track and monitor global health finances channelled by and through private sources, and to critically examine who benefits from the rise in global health spending.

Events and Announcements

Sub-regional Workshop on Aligning Development Policies and Strategies to Achieve MDGs in South Asia, 4 - 6 November 2009, UNESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand.

• Center on Global Health Security – Inaugural Information Evening, Chatham House, London, 12 November 2009.
• 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, organised by the Center for Women's Global Leadership, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, worldwide activities, 25 November – 10 December 2009.
  
• World AIDS Day, 1 December 2009.

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CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND NATURAL DISASTERS

News & Commentaries

• ‘Joint Media Statement of the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment and the 5th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution’, ASEAN Secretariat, 29 November 2009.
• Lisa Friedman, ‘Potholes in road to Copenhagen climate accord widen during Bangkok talks’, The New York Times, 9 October 2009.
• D. Arul Rajoo, ‘Bangkok climate talk ends without progress on major issues’, Bernama, 9 October 2009.
• Fitrian Ardiansyah and Nazir Foead, ‘The new Cabinet and its new climate challenge’, The Jakarta Post, 20 October 2009.
• Peter Heap, Barry Carin & Gordon Smith, ‘Beyond Copenhagen: How to cool the planet’, YaleGlobal, 21 October 2009.
• Cheryl Lim, ‘ASEAN ministers form working group on climate change’, Channel News Asia, 29 October 2009.
• Graciela Chichilnisky, ‘Nothing will happen at Copenhagen until the 11th-and-a-half hour’, The Guardian, 29 October 2009.
• ‘Philippines prepares for typhoon’, The Straits Times, 30 October 2009.

Papers & Reports

• Miriam Pemberton, ‘Military vs. Climate Security: Mapping the Shift from the Bush Years to the Obama Era’, Institute for Policy Studies, August 2009.

This report evaluates the progress of the Obama administration in narrowing the gap between federal expenditures on military as opposed to climate security. The government's most important tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is to set limits on them; Congress is currently working on a framework to do so. This report focuses on the second-most important tool, namely investment. The Obama administration has not yet produced a climate change budget. This report therefore takes a first cut at one, listing all spending directly related to the mission of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• James Mayers, Charles Batchelor, Ivan Bond, Robert Hope, Elaine Morrison & Breana Wheeler, ‘Water Ecosystem Services and Poverty Under Climate Change: Key Issues and Research Priorities’, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), September 2009.

Benefits to people from water ecosystems like rivers, swamps, floodplains and groundwater systems are central to human well-being. But ecosystems are in trouble and various reports have each shown that freshwater ecosystem services are particularly vulnerable. Water problems for poor people are exacerbated by the abuse of ecosystems and global climate change looks certain to increase the stresses and variability they face. This report seeks to highlight some of the critical issues facing water ecosystem services in Africa, South Asia and Latin America and makes recommendations on the research that is needed to fill the current gaps in knowledge and practice.

• James Mayers, et. al., ‘Just Forest Governance: How Small Learning Groups Can Have Big Impact’, IIED, October 2009.

Forests are power bases, but often for the wrong people. As attention turns from making an international deal on REDD to making it work on the ground, the hunt will be on for practical ways of shifting power over forests towards those who enable and pursue sustainable forest-linked livelihoods. The Forest Governance Learning Group (FGLG) – an alliance active in Cameroon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda and Vietnam – has developed practical tactics for securing safe space, provoking dialogue, building constituencies, wielding evidence and interacting politically. It has begun to have significant impacts. To deepen and widen those impacts, FGLG seeks allies.

Events & Announcements

• The ninth session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) and resumed seventh session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA), Barcelona, Spain, 2-6 November 2009.
• IPCC 31st Plenary Panel, Bali, Indonesia, 26-29 October 2009.

Latest Publication

• China, the United States and the Climate Change Challenge, World Resources Institute Policy Brief, October 2009.

By Deborah Seligsohn, Robert Heilmayr, Xiaomei Tan & Lutz Weischer.

This report discusses the successes and challenges to effective regulation in China, outlining the major advances made in implementing effective energy efficiency programs in the past several years. These include targeted programs for both large and small enterprises, specific goals for government officials, and the development of energy statistics infrastructure. It also addresses US competitiveness concerns in relation to the introduction of US cap-and-trade policies, and specific opportunities for enhanced climate change cooperation between the two countries.

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FOOD SECURITY

News & Commentaries

• Steve Baragona, ‘American agriculture campaign says: Know your farmer, know your food’, Voice of America, 7 October 2009.
• ‘Empower women to stem global hunger, say experts’, IRIN, 15 October 2009.
• ‘Somalia: Rival clans "re-arming" over Somaliland farm’, IRIN, 16 October 2009.
• ‘Climate change threatens rice production’, IRRI News, 16 October 2009.
• ‘Global platform for food security revitalized: Member countries agree to reform Committee on World Food Security’, FAO, 20 October 2009.
• Neil MacFarquhar, ‘Food experts worry as world population and hunger grow’, The New York Times, 21 October 2009.
• ‘£2 billion needed for science “Grand Challenge” to help feed the world’, The Royal Society, 21 October 2009.

Papers & Reports

• Committee on World Food Security, ‘Thirty-fifth Session, Rome, Agenda Item III, Reform of the Committee on World Food Security’, 14, 15 & 17 October 2009.

Faced with rising hunger and a weak performing Committee on World Food Security (CFS), member nations agreed at the 34th Session of CFS in October 2008 to embark on a reform of the CFS so that it can fully play its vital role in the area of food security and nutrition, including international coordination. The reform proposals made in this document are designed to redefine the CFS’ vision and role to focus on the key challenges of eradicating hunger; expanding participation in CFS to ensure that voices of all relevant stakeholders are heard in the policy debate on food and agriculture; adapt its rules and procedures with the aim to become the central United Nations political platform dealing with food security and nutrition; strengthening its linkages with regional, national and local levels; and supporting CFS discussions with structured expertise through the creation of a High Level Panel of Experts so that the decisions and the work of the CFS are based on hard evidence and state of the art knowledge.

• Gerald C Nelson, et. al., ‘Climate Change: Impact on Agriculture and Costs of Adaptation’, Food Policy Report, International Food Policy Research Institute, October 2009.

Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Higher temperatures eventually reduce yields of desirable crops while encouraging weed and pest proliferation. Changes in precipitation patterns increase the likelihood of short-run crop failures and long-run production declines. This Food Policy Report presents research results that quantify the climate-change impacts mentioned above, assesses the consequences for food security, and estimates the investments that would offset the negative consequences for human well-being. This analysis brings together, for the first time, detailed modelling of crop growth under climate change with insights from an extremely detailed global agriculture model, using two climate scenarios to simulate future climate. The results of the analysis suggest that agriculture and human well-being will be negatively affected by climate change.

‘Reaping the Benefits: Science and the Sustainable Intensification of Global Agriculture’, The Royal Society, 21 October 2009.

As world population was projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, the report by The Royal Society calls upon the UK to lead international research efforts aimed at increased food production to meet burgeoning demands without damaging the environment. The report examines the vital role that biological science, especially publicly-funded science, must play to intensify food crop production in a sustainable way.

• ‘How to Feed the World in 2050’, Report, Food and Agriculture Organization, 2009.

Do we have the right policies to help ensure that the world's future needs of ensuring sustainable food production are met? What are the priority areas for policy action? The report ‘How to Feed the World in 2050’ outlines main challenges and the actions required to ensure world food security in 2050. In particular, the report stresses both the impacts of climate change on agricultural production and global food security, as well as the mitigation potential of agriculture.

• 'Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in the Developing World: What Will it Cost?' Presentation by Gerald Nelson, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI, 5 October 2009.

Events & Announcements

• 3rd International Rice Congress, Hanoi, Vietnam, 8-12 November 2009.
• World Summit on Food Security, Rome, Italy, 16-18 November 2009.

Latest Publications

• Global Hunger Index 2009: The Challenge of Hunger: Focus on Financial Crisis and Gender Inequality, International Food Policy Research Institute, October 2009.

By Klaus von Grebmer, Bella Nestorova, Agnes Quisumbing, Rebecca Fertziger, Heidi Fritschel, Rajul Pandya-Lorch & Yisehac Yohannes.

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows that worldwide progress in reducing hunger remains slow. The 2009 global GHI has fallen by only one quarter from the 1990 GHI. This report advocates the reduction of gender inequality as part of the solution to global hunger. It compares the 2009 GHI with the 2008 Global Gender Gap Index, which is made up of four sub-indices: economic participation, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival. The evidence shows that higher levels of hunger are associated with lower literacy rates and access to education for women. High rates of hunger are also linked to health and survival inequalities between men and women. Reducing gender disparities in key areas, particularly in education and health, is thus essential to reduce levels of hunger.

• The Poorest and Hungry, Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, 2009.

By Joachim von Braun, Ruth Vargas Hill & Rajul Pandya-Lorch.

This book is not focused on poverty per se but rather is focused on looking particularly at those most deprived in society. It is this focus on the poorest and hungry people that is the major contribution of this volume. In addition, the book features essays by leading policymakers and practitioners who share their views on these key issues and thereby contribute to the diversity of perspectives presented. This edited book seeks to lay out the major issues involved in realizing improvements in the welfare of the world’s poorest people. It is not designed to be read at one sitting; rather it is a “recipe book” for use by policymakers and practitioners as a guide to approaches and options as well as by academics and researchers as an instrument for training and teaching purposes.

• The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2009: Economic Crises - Impacts and Lessons Learned, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), October 2009.

The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2009 is the FAO’s tenth progress report on world hunger since the 1996 World Food Summit. This report highlights the fact that, even before the food crisis and the economic crisis, the number of hungry people had been increasing slowly but steadily. With the onset of these crises, however, the number of hungry people in the world increased sharply. As a result of the global economic crisis, developing countries are facing declines in remittances, export earnings, foreign direct investment and foreign aid, leading to loss of employment and income. This loss of income is compounded by food prices that are still relatively high in the local markets of many poor countries. Despite the financial constraints faced by governments around the world, agricultural investment and safety nets remain key parts of an effective response to reduce food insecurity both now and in the future.

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ENERGY SECURITY

News & Commentaries

• ‘Myanmar says nuclear ambitions are peaceful - Japan’, Reuters, 3 October 2009.
• Nina Suebsukcharoen, ‘Is Thailand heading for a nuclear future?’ The Bangkok Post, 4 October 2009.
• ‘China’s energy efficiency greatly improved’, Xinhua, 4 October 2009.
• Michael Casey, ‘IEA says $10 trillion needed for clean technology’, Associated Press, 6 October 2009.
• Leslean Arshad, ‘PM: Government to be cautious in introducing subsidy for renewable energy’, Bernama, 9 October 2009.
• ‘China drives Asia’s Q3 58% increase in clean-energy spending’, The China Post, 13 October 2009.
• ‘“Four Saudi Arabias” needed to maintain oil-guzzling ways’, The Epoch Times, 20 October 2009.
• Niclas Rolander, ‘Energy: World Bank looks for the cleaner way’, IPS, 25 October 2009.

Papers & Reports

• ‘How the Energy Sector Can Deliver on a Climate Agreement in Copenhagen’, Special early excerpt of the World Energy Outlook 2009, International Energy Agency, October 2009.

The latest World Energy Outlook 2009 (WEO 2009) projected an ominous message to all: climate change impacts would become severe if the world continues on the basis of today’s energy policies. This unprecedented, special early excerpt of the WEO 2009 is contributed by the energy sector to inform the negotiations leading into Copenhagen, by summarizing the results of a fully-updated Reference Scenario and it forms part of a much more detailed study to be published in WEO 2009 in November. It illustrates the scale of energy-related emission reductions consistent with a 450 parts-per-million (ppm) emission trajectory, measures and requisite technologies which could be used to achieve those reductions, the policies involved and associated investments required. In addition, this special excerpt also shows how financial resources for actions in developing countries can be provided through tradable credits and financial transfers.

• V. Thavasi and S. Ramakrishna, ‘Asia Energy Mixes from Socio-economic and Environmental Perspectives’, Energy Policy, vol. 37, no. 11, November 2009, pp. 4240-250.

This paper highlights the current energy scenario in ASEAN countries, India, China, South Korea and Japan – which are the most important regions in Asia as far as socioeconomic development and energy security are concerned – and their effort towards an affordable and sustainable clean energy future. In cognizance of the fact that the expected increase in energy consumption in Asia will also result in an enormous increase in carbon emissions, the authors also discussed the energy policy which could enhance regional energy security and improve environmental sustainability.  

Events & Announcements

• FLNG Project Advancement, Seoul, South Korea, 1-2 December 2009.
• Transmission & Distribution/Smart Grids Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, 1-3 December 2009.
• The International Conference on Energy and Environment 2009 (ICEE2009), Malacca, Malaysia, 7-8 December 2009.

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