Professional Documents
Culture Documents
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 3
Solar loans for rural homes
Indian solar loan
programme “Solar lights are a long cherished dream of rural
folk who often have no power, or only power
supplies that are at best irregular. They are one
product that can meet aspirations of people living
below the poverty line. It is a good business
opportunity for the bank.”
Mr P G Ramesh, Chairman,
Pragathi Grameen Bank,Bellary,
Karnataka, India
THE PROBLEM:
More than 60 per cent of Indian
households lack access to reliable
electricity supplies and depend on
kerosene for light and on burning dung
4 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
and wood for heat. Solar power is an obvious and elsewhere. In 2008 the programme won Indian programme generated $6.7 million in
alternative in a sunny country such as India, the Energy Globe Award. commercial financing for solar home systems.
but high initial costs put it beyond the reach of Are these sorts of programmes enough to
most households, and lack of access to credit WHAT UNEP DID: change the finance sector’s view of clean
means the technology has been the preserve UNEP and the UNEP Risoe Centre’s work with energy? UNEP experience has been that once
of only the wealthiest. Millions of urban and Canara and Syndicate banks and their rural loan portfolios move beyond 10,000 units,
rural poor have been condemned to the risk of Grameen affiliates proved it was possible banks begin to view the sector as a viable
respiratory disease that results from solid fuel to help the rural poor to access clean and commercial credit market and will generally
burning. Lack of electricity is also a powerful affordable energy. By harnessing free market develop it further. Getting past this 10,000
barrier to economic and social development. forces, the programme created a model for threshold could help accelerate renewable
similar schemes elsewhere in the developing energy uptake in many countries.
THE SOLUTION: world.
In 2003 UNEP’s Indian Solar Loan Programme www.unep.org/unite/30Ways
worked with two of India’s largest banking THE BIG PICTURE: www.uneptie.org/energy/activities/islp
groups in two southern states, to start the The programme was the first at UNEP to
lending market for household photovoltaic show that obstacles to bank engagement in
systems. The programme provided technical clean energy can have more to do with soft
support and training, as well as an interest market development barriers and perceptions
rate subsidy that allowed the banks to soften than underlying economics. Banks in many
the cost of loan financing. While the banks developing countries have sufficient capital
did not profit directly from these subsidies, to begin lending but the relative newness of
the project helped them become first movers renewable energy technologies, together with
in a new market for rural financing which inconsistencies in the quality of the products
saw almost 20,000 solar home systems and services offered by different vendors,
financed between 2004 and 2007. Subsidies can make lending difficult. In these situations
were gradually phased out to align with the development community needs to shift
other banks entering the market lending on away from traditional credit line approaches
commercial terms. Consumer credit realized and instead focus on more subtle incentive
latent demand, with over 50 per cent of programmes that help banks set up their first
rural sales in the two states credit-financed loan portfolios and gain experience with the
by the end of 2007, accelerating market clean energy sector. This approach is also
penetration of solar lights in Southern India cost effective – for instance the $900,000
and inspiring several similar initiatives in India in interest subsidies that UNEP put into the
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 5
Holidays for a
living planet
Oscar Wilde
6 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
can do to make tourism sustainable. Through has implemented more than 40 projects
THE PROBLEM: travel guides, websites and other activities, and agreed on policy recommendations for
We go on holidays for pleasure, to discover
the campaign helps tourists minimize their mainstreaming sustainable tourism. It is now
new horizons, to relax, to meet people footprint by choosing the least polluting form of being transformed into a more permanent
and to learn about different cultures. But transport, finding low-impact accommodation entity – the Global Partnership for Sustainable
it’s easy to forget about the impact of our options, improving their energy efficiency at Tourism – which has 19 country and 21
holiday on our destination or the planet. Yet destinations, offsetting the inevitable carbon organization members.
tourism accounts for 5 per cent of global emissions of their trip, and acting to help
CO2 emissions, and projections show improve livelihoods in host communities. THE BIG PICTURE:
that, if we take no action now, emissions National Green Passport campaigns are in Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries,
could triple by 2035. There is tremendous place in Brazil, Ecuador and South Africa generating close to 11 per cent of global GDP
variation across tourism segments and (where 100,000 Green Passports were and about 8 per cent of jobs worldwide. In
within individual trips. For instance, long distributed to visitors during the 2010 FIFA some developing countries tourism brings
haul travel accounts for just 2.7 per cent World Cup); and campaigns are about in almost 10 per cent of foreign exchange.
to begin in Costa Rica and Israel. Brazil’s Sustainable tourism has significant potential
of all tourist trips, but contributes 17 per
campaign has been so successful that it was to alleviate poverty and help countries move to
cent to global tourism emissions; and while
recently recognized as one of the country’s the green economy that will be essential if we
34 per cent of all trips are made by coach are to avert irreversible climate change. Paraty,
and rail, these make up just 13 per cent most prominent advertising campaigns.
a city in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro,
of emissions. Technological innovation is implementing Green Passport principles on
(particularly in energy efficiency) has
WHAT UNEP DID:
UNEP produces Green Passport travel a pilot basis. Brazil’s Environment, Tourism,
considerable potential to reduce tourism’s guides in English, Portuguese and Spanish, and Education ministries, in partnership with
environmental impact, but will not be and hosts and updates the internal Green a committee of community leaders, local
enough to achieve absolute reductions in Passport website that helps travellers make politicians and tourism representatives, are
energy use and emissions. Both structural sustainable choices, providing information in working to improve Paraty’s sustainability
change (by the industry) and behavioural Chinese, English, French, German and Greek. as a destination by promoting capacity-
change (by tourists) will be necessary. UNEP hosts the International Task Force on building in the tourism industry; undertaking
Sustainable Tourism Development, which aims environmental education and community-
THE SOLUTION: to unlock the positive power of demand through based initiatives; certifying hotels; and
The Green Passport Campaign, an initiative raising tourists’ awareness of their potential developing waste reduction schemes. This
of the UNEP-hosted International Task Force to contribute to sustainable development by work recently paid off when Paraty became
on Sustainable Tourism Development, aims to making responsible holiday choices. The listed as a World Heritage Site.
introduce travellers to some of the things they task force, led by the French Government, www.unep.org/unite/30Ways
www.unep.fr/greenpassport
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 7
The power of a
cup of tea
Greening the
tea industry
in East Africa
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THE PROBLEM: Over a period of 20 years, this project THE BIG PICTURE:
Tea in East Africa provides jobs and is expected to invest in 82 MW of small About 1.6 billion people lack access
livelihoods, but also uses a lot of energy. hydropower plants, as well as benefit more to modern energy, and huge capital
The tea sector employs around one than a million tea farmers, their households, investments will be required in the coming
million people and indirectly supports communities and associated enterprises. decades to meet the world’s increasing
approximately four million. Burundi, Kenya, energy demands. UNEP is working to
Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and
WHAT UNEP DID: ensure that these investments are made in
Using $2.8 million from the Global
Zimbabwe together produce 28 per cent of an environmentally friendly way. Although
Environment Facility, UNEP is providing
the world’s tea. But tea is energy intensive: renewable energies can meet the world’s
technical support for the development of
it takes 8 kWh of energy to process one present and projected demands, too often
environmentally friendly business solutions.
kilogram of finished tea, compared with mainstream financiers still consider them a
Pre-feasibility studies for 19 projects in
only 6.3 kWh for the same amount of niche technology, making the challenge of
Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and
processed steel. In parts of East Africa, scaling up financing to this sector a difficult
Uganda identified a need for additional
power is not only expensive, but also one. UNEP is working to change that.
investment of close to $22 million to
unreliable, and power fluctuations can have
implement six demonstration projects.
severe consequences, so many tea factories www.unep.org/unite/30Ways
Supported by local banks and UNEP funds,
have been forced to install standby diesel http://greeningtea.unep.org
hydro electricity plants are being developed
generators to meet their needs.
in key tea areas of Kenya, while the Dutch
THE SOLUTION: Government is helping finance a facility
The tea estates’ location in the hills – in in Rwanda. Plans are being finalized for
areas with high annual rainfall and all- more plants in Tanzania and Malawi.
season river flows – make them ideal sites UNEP also supported preparation of feed-
for hydropower projects. With the support in tariff policies for renewable energies
of the Greening the Tea Industry project, in Kenya and Tanzania. Under these
feasibility studies for eight sites have been policies, national grid utilities are obliged
completed, and up to six small hydropower to buy renewable energy from all eligible
stations will be built as demonstration participants and to promote investment in
projects. Any surplus hydropower will hydropower.
be used to provide electricity for nearby
villages that have no grid connection.
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 9
Banking on Africa’s
green economy
“ACAD’s training seminar was an eye opener for the immense opportunity that carbon financing
presents to development financiers.”
10 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: overcome the risk aversion that is often a THE BIG PICTURE:
About $84 billion was invested through consequence of a lack of understanding. About $500,000 has been used as seed
the Clean Development Mechanism in Through a package of mechanisms that finance in 2010, with an average loan size
684 emerging market emission reduction includes transaction cost sharing, technical of $60,000. More than 100 participants
projects worldwide in 2009 through the, assistance to project developers, and from financial institutions across Africa
but Africa took only 2 per cent of the training of financial institution staff, the have taken part in ACAD’s training events,
total. A combination of perceived better African Carbon Asset Development Facility while more regional investor outreach
returns in markets such as China and (ACAD) aims to kickstart the African carbon and mobilization activities are planned.
India, together with disproportionate market. ACAD already supports a dozen innovative
concerns about corruption and political projects that will create 85 million carbon
unrest, has kept Africa lagging behind
WHAT UNEP DID: credits worth more than $1.2 billion by
In 2009 UNEP launched ACAD, a
in global carbon markets. Additionally, 2012, and save around five million tonnes
financing platform that aims to help African
the unfamiliarity of foreign investors and of carbon emissions over 20 years. One
banks and eco-entrepreneurs unlock
African banks with this market, and a lack such project is the solar and pedal-powered
the potential of the continent’s nascent
of risk capital, has held the financial sector rechargeable LED lights produced by Nuru
green economy, through education and
back from bankrolling good projects. But Designs that are transforming life in rural
seed funding for replicable projects that
green energy infrastructure projects and Rwanda, by enabling children to study,
demonstrate innovative, locally appropriate
businesses can deliver the new livelihoods home-based businesses to operate, and
market solutions to low-carbon growth
that Africa badly needs. The burgeoning households to function after dark, as well
and development. ACAD’s partnership
carbon market offers a real opportunity for as reducing emissions. ACAD’s training
approach is based on experience gained
development: the challenge is how to get seminars and educational toolkits can be
through previous programmes designed
good projects off the ground. scaled to be appropriate to any institution
to improve carbon investment capacity in
and to be replicated across the continent.
THE SOLUTION: sub-Saharan Africa. The ACAD Facility is
As a continent of developing economies, a public-private partnership supported by
funding from the German Federal Ministry www.unep.org/unite/30Ways
Africa has an unparalleled opportunity www.acadfacility.org
to build prosperity on green and of Environment within the framework of the
International Climate Initiative. www.uneptie.org/energy/activities/acad/
sustainable foundations, avoiding many index.htm
of the mistakes more developed countries
have made. Helping African financial
institutions understand carbon finance can
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 11
Native trees are
the bee’s knees
Copyright © Keegan Eisenstadt
12 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: diverse stream of products and benefits. thus reducing pressure on land. This will
For decades, Panama’s native forests Working with partner Futuro Forestal, make more land available for potential
have been cleared by commercial timber the project has purchased abandoned native species reforestation, and provide
harvesting and subsistence farming. This grasslands at two sites on Panama’s Pacific scope for replicating the project elsewhere
land is generally cultivated for a few years coast and planted them with a mix of 50 in the country and in wider Central
and then sold to local cattle ranchers and endangered non-commercial native species America. The scheme’s integrated planting
the pattern repeated elsewhere. Cattle and teak, helping to restock vulnerable system helps create diverse habitats for
ranching causes soil compaction and tree species and provide diverse habitats ocelots, spider monkeys, hanging colonies
erosion, and prevents natural vegetation for local fauna and flora. As of 2010, the of weaver birds, threatened mangroves and
regrowth. This contributes to decreasing soil project has sequestered 140,000 tonnes of orchids, and connects patches of secondary
productivity and soil regeneration capacity, CO2. forest. Recent biodiversity assessments in
in turn limiting future land use options. This the project area revealed several species
destructive cycle has led to widespread soil
WHAT UNEP DID: from the 2007 IUCN Red List. The project
UNEP set up the Climate Neutral Network is already the area’s biggest employer
degradation and deforestation.
in 2008, an internet based forum for the and offers employment benefits to some of
THE SOLUTION: exchange of strategies and initiatives to the most marginalized of Panama’s rural
The barren wasteland left by ranching cannot reduce carbon footprint, share knowledge, population. Additionally, workers receive
reforest itself because of poor soil condition create opportunities for technology transfer, training in literacy, computing skills, field
and sparse surrounding vegetation. Into and promote the global transition to low- monitoring, fire control, irrigation, nursery
this unpromising scenario steps Clear carbon societies. ClearSky joined in January techniques, integrated pest management
Sky Climate Solutions with the Panama 2010, and the extensive international reach and other forestry techniques.
Native Species Reforestation Project, which of the Climate Neutral Network has given
converts low-productivity grasslands into ClearSky the opportunity to engage with www.unep.org/unite/30ways
diverse multi-species forest plantations to other businesses and organizations that www.clearskyclimatesolutions.com
rehabilitate ecosystems, protect habitat are interested in becoming climate neutral www.unep.org/climateneutral
and produce timber, leading directly to a while increasing global exposure of this
reduction in carbon emissions. The sale of project’s benefits.
carbon credits generates income, resulting THE BIG PICTURE:
in sustainable and complex plantation Cattle ranching remains an important part of
ecosystems that contain multiple species, Panama’s economy but large ranchers are
have multiple uses, and that produce a intensifying and mechanizing production
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 13
Cooking away
climate change
From Haiti to Nigeria, improved
stoves help development and fight
climate change
14 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
where UNEP is working to ensure there is helping inhabitants of the Guinea Savannah
THE PROBLEM: adequate, long term investment in natural Zone replace their traditional fireplaces with
Apart from contributing to deforestation, it is
resource management and clean energy efficient stoves. This project is registered under
estimated that inefficient stoves are responsible
as the country rebuilds in the wake of the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development
for close to 25 per cent of emissions of black
natural catastrophe. Similarly, the Nigerian Mechanism (CDM), under which projects can
carbon: particles more commonly known as
Developmental Association for Renewable earn certified emission reduction credits by
soot. According to research carried out by the
Energies is helping people in the Guinea reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
UNEP supported Atmospheric Brown Cloud
Savannah Zone of Nigeria to save money
project, black carbon could be a significant THE BIG PICTURE:
by reducing the amount of wood they need
factor in the climate change currently being UNEP’s work is contributing to the
for cooking by replacing their traditional
experienced. Like other small island nations, international effort coordinated through the
fireplaces with efficient stoves. Demand
Haiti is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects new Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves,
for forest resources has fallen, conserving
of climate change, a vulnerability made more which aims to have 100 million households
valuable biodiversity and ecosystem services,
acute by the almost total loss of forest caused switch to clean cooking stoves by 2020. With
reducing CO2 emissions from wood burning,
largely by demand for wood for cooking. UNEP among its founders, the alliance aims
and leaving trees standing to act as carbon
Forest resources in Nigeria are similarly to improve livelihoods and combat climate
sinks.
under pressure, with the Guinea Savannah change by creating a thriving global market
Zone of the country suffering from extensive for clean and efficient stoves. The Nigerian
deforestation and desertification. Buying and
WHAT UNEP DID:
With support from the governments of Ireland cookstoves project alone is expected to save
collecting wood puts a strain on households more than 300,000 tonnes of carbon over its
and Norway, UNEP is working with the
and on forest resources, threatening 10-year lifetime, and is likely to earn $3.13
Haitian Government to identify opportunities
ecosystems and biodiversity, contributing to million in saleable certified emissions. There
for investment in clean energy. This includes
climate change, and increasing communities’ is huge potential for introducing affordable
more efficient biomass fuelled cooking stoves,
vulnerability to flooding and landslide caused and efficient stoves in developing countries,
which provide multiple social, health and
by soil erosion. matched by the availability of funding for
environmental benefits. A national strategy
for improved stoves is under development, this type of project under the CDM. Efficient
THE SOLUTION: as is a Haiti Improved Stoves Working wood fuel stoves, built locally, have also
Promoting a switch to more efficient stoves created employment and freed up people’s
Group – a low cost forum for coordinating
is an important part of efforts to address the time (especially for women), which can now
and promoting improved stove initiatives. In
environmental and climate impacts of severe be devoted instead to income generating
Nigeria, in partnership with the Nigerian
deforestation. By reducing the amount of activities.
Developmental Association for Renewable
charcoal households and businesses need,
Energies, the United Nations Framework
pressure is taken off forest resources. This is www.unep.org/unite/30ways
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is
particularly crucial in a country like Haiti,
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 15
No place like home to
walk the talk on climate
change
Buildings and climate change – creating
solutions
“The emission reduction potential in the building sector at an assumed carbon cost of US$20 per tonne CO2 equivalent is larger than
the combined potential in industry, transport and forestry.” IPCC 4th assessment report, fig 4.2
16 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
Buildings and Climate Initiative (SBCI) is techniques, used local materials wherever
THE PROBLEM: a platform for international cooperation to possible, and ensured that its solar panels
Buildings are responsible for more than
address the sustainable buildings agenda will generate, on average, as much electricity
one third of global energy use and are through policy advice, capacity building, as the building and everyone working there
– in most countries – the largest source R&D, and tools development. Believing that consumes. Plans to create awareness among
of greenhouse gas emissions. Building there’s no place like home to ‘walk the talk’ on staff of the need for behavioural change, and
related emissions were estimated at 8.6 climate change, UNEP’s new headquarters in regard for the environmental impact of their
billion tonnes in 2004 – a figure that could Nairobi is designed to become energy neutral actions, are in place.
almost double by 2030 – yet available through the combined impacts of solar power
technologies could cut energy consumption generation, maximizing natural lighting and THE BIG PICTURE:
in new and old buildings by between cooling, switching to the most efficient IT SBCI’s work in aligning efforts that will
30 and 50 per cent without significantly solutions and technology, and introducing enable policymakers and building sector
increasing investment costs. This technology a set of rules for office operations. Other stakeholders to apply life cycle approaches
is little used owing to the fragmentation sustainability features, such as rainwater in all new and refurbished buildings
and relatively short investment perspectives harvesting, water recycling, state-of-the- worldwide has made a global impact. In
that prevail in the building sector. The art lighting and water treatment systems, developing countries alone, an investment
challenge is to mainstream sustainability improved waste management, and the use of of $90 billion in energy efficient buildings
and energy efficiency, encouraging a life environmentally friendly building materials, is expected to generate savings of over
help make the building the first of its kind $600 billion in avoided energy costs. There
cycle approach to building construction,
in Africa and an international showcase for is global potential for energy efficiency in
design and refurbishment.
sustainable buildings. buildings, and associated health, safety
THE SOLUTION: WHAT UNEP DID: and economic benefits. An estimated 3.6
Smart design, improved insulation, low energy billion tonnes of greenhouse emissions
Working with a wide range of partners in the
appliances, high efficiency ventilation and can be avoided through energy efficiency
public and private sectors, as well as with sister
heating/cooling systems, and the behaviour measures in buildings by 2050 at net zero
UN organizations such as UN-Habitat and
of building users can have a significant cost, and significantly greater savings at
UNDP, UNEP’s SBCI is developing a proposal
impact, but systemic change demands moderate cost.
for a common carbon metric, which will
more. Governments must establish a policy
allow consistent and comparable reporting
framework that rewards life cycle approaches
on the climate performance of any building www.unep.org/unite/30ways
to energy, water and resource efficiency in the
anywhere in the world. To minimize the www.unep.org/sbci
building sector, supported by tools that allow
environmental impact of its own new building,
the effect of sustainable building measures to
UNEP has employed a range of green building
be measured and verified. UNEP’s Sustainable
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 17
Life’s a beach
“For the first time, we have a tool that enables government agencies to
make more informed decisions about land use and development that
accounts for the role of ecosystems, such as sea grasses, in reducing risk.”
18 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
restore them. Project partners have used the
THE PROBLEM: THE SOLUTION: RiVAMP results to advocate for improved
Jamaica is vulnerable to tropical cyclones Coral reefs and sea grasses play an important protection and management of ecosystems,
and rising sea levels, and its diverse role in mitigating beach erosion, but their particularly along the coast.
ecosystems and rich biodiversity are under role is not well understood, and the services
pressure from population growth and they provide are not valued. The Risk and THE BIG PICTURE:
a strong international tourism industry. Vulnerability Assessment Methodology With sea levels forecast to rise and extreme
Tourism contributes around 5 per cent of Development Project (RiVAMP) uses evidence weather events predicted to intensify,
Jamaica’s GDP, but the country’s main based spatial and statistical analysis to improving protection and management of
tourist asset – its beaches – are literally being demonstrate the role of ecosystems in reducing ecosystems - particularly along the coast
washed away. Between 1968 and 2006 disaster risk. This data supports policymakers - is an important part of national strategy
in land use planning and in natural resources for sustainable development, disaster risk
one of the island’s main tourist beaches
and disaster management, by providing reduction and adaptation to climate change.
eroded by between 0.5m and 1m per year.
them with the information they need to Both the PIOJ and UWI are committed to
Beach erosion is driven by multiple factors, make decisions that support sustainable applying the RiVAMP methodology in other
including worsening storms in the region development through improved ecosystem parts of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean
and sea level rise, as well as development management. region. Because the RiVAMP approach is
activities and unsustainable livelihood evidence based and works through multi-
activities such as overfishing, fishing with WHAT UNEP DID: stakeholder consultations, its findings have
dynamite, and farming practices that result The RiVAMP methodology combines applied a high level of local ownership and send
in chemical run-off to shorelines and reefs. science, stakeholder consultations and clear messages to policymakers regarding
These activities also have a negative impact interviews, optimizing data by complementing the importance of sustainable ecosystem
on coastal ecosystems, particularly coral technical and quantitative analysis with local management in reducing vulnerability to
reefs, sea grasses and mangroves, which knowledge and experience. Working with disasters and climate change. UNEP plans to
in turn exacerbates beach loss. Population the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the adapt the methodology to other ecosystems
growth and migration to high risk urban Institute of Sustainable Development at the – such as mountains and highlands – that
and coastal areas exposes more people to University of the West Indies (UWI) and others, are also vulnerable to the impacts of climate
the risk of natural hazards, threatening life UNEP demonstrated that, although submarine change.
and livelihoods, particularly in small island slopes and wave intensity play a part, coral
reefs and sea grasses play the main role in www.unep.org/unite/30ways
developing states (SIDS) such as Jamaica,
mitigating beach erosion. Quantifying the
where coastal ecosystems directly or http://postconflict.unep.ch/publications/
role of ecosystems for shoreline protection in
indirectly support much of the population. RiVAMP.pdf
addition to their contribution to livelihoods
provides a strong incentive to protect and
www.grid.unep.ch/RiVAMP
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 19
Breathing life into the
Clean Development
Mechanism
20 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: frameworks in Bolivia and elsewhere, and
WHAT UNEP DID: its knowledge tool – the CDM Pipeline –
The Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development UNEP established the CD4CDM project
Mechanism (CDM) was designed to help has grown into one of the main guides to
with partners including the World Bank,
industrialized countries reduce the cost of carbon market development. CD4CDM’s
several regional energy and environment
complying with carbon emission targets capacity building activities mean that
centres in developing countries, and with
and at the same time boost sustainable 5000 people, including policymakers and
$12.5 million funding from the Dutch
development in developing countries. But funders, are now more aware of climate
Government. UNEP helped 19 countries to
it soon became clear that many smaller change and so are more likely to support
create Designated National Authorities –
developing countries needed help to benefit national mitigation actions. The project has
the bodies required to validate and register
fully from new carbon market opportunities. proved itself capable of replication in many
CDM projects. Some 1800 individuals,
Because they lack the institutional capacity countries and on many scales.
including 400 from the finance sector,
to identify, analyse and implement projects have been made aware of the CDM and
under the specific rules of the CDM, poor www.unep.org/unite/30ways
its benefits. UNEP also set up the CDM
countries risk missing out on huge earning www.cd4cdm@risoe.dk
Bazaar, a web based information sharing
and green development potential. www.CDMpipeline.org
platform for buyers and sellers of Certified
www.cdmbazaar.org
Emissions Reductions, and Regional
THE SOLUTION: Carbon Forums that bring together buyers
For developing countries to make the most and sellers in Africa, Latin American and
of this opportunity, appropriate business the Caribbean. The regular African Bankers
and regulatory environments need to be Forum ensures local financial institutions
created, and individuals must be equipped have a good understanding of the CDM.
with the skills to design CDM projects. UNEP continues to build on the success
Since its inception in 2002, the CD4CDM of this project, with support from, among
(Capacity Development for the Clean others, the EU, France, Denmark, and
Development Mechanism) has provided Spain.
an extensive programme of training and
knowledge support in the financial and THE BIG PICTURE:
other sectors and has created 840 CDM Egypt, Ivory Coast and Mozambique
projects in developing countries. ratified the CDM during the life of the
CD4CDM. The project was instrumental in
the development of legal and regulatory
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 21
Small is beautiful in
northern Togo
Helping Togo adapt to
water shortage under a
changing climate
“In a changing climate where crops are often washed away by floods, the
practice of farming and market gardening in the dry season provides additional
income to women’s groups and youth. Rehabilitation of water reservoirs will help
reduce rural poverty.”
22 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: WHAT UNEP DID: THE BIG PICTURE:
Togo is one of several countries with a With funding of $100,000, two dams As a result of this rehabilitation project,
northern region that borders the Sahara were rehabilitated, involving excavation, local communities have an increased
Desert, and the people of the north have enlargement, reinforcement and repair understanding of the role of plants and
for years used earth water reservoirs for of dykes, pipe strengthening, and forests in conserving water and soil, and
their own use and to water their livestock development of channels to feed fish have been encouraged to landscape water
in times of drought. But many of the dams ponds. Overall storage capacity was points with appropriate vegetation cover
in these poor, rural areas have fallen into increased by more than 40 per cent, and to reduce evaporation and encourage
disrepair and, with desert encroachment the project yielded reliable economic data biodiversity renewal. Togo’s Ministry of
and accelerating climate change, are no and concrete adaptation information that Water Resources has gained a tool to help
longer adequate, threatening the health will guide future interventions. The joint manage water policy under a changing
and development of the local population. UNEP and UNDP programme uses funding climate, supported by more informed
from the Government of Denmark to make communities and local authorities that
THE SOLUTION: big differences in developing countries that understand the importance of small dam
Small is often beautiful in terms of are on the climate front line. Working with rehabilitation, and can see the impact of
adapting to climate change. In July 2009 the Togo Government, local authorities, such interventions on people and their
the Climate Change and Development – community leaders, and the private sector, livelihoods. The data on costs extracted
Adapting by Reducing Vulnerability (CC the project showed how small, flexible and from the project will not only enable such
DARE) programme responded to a request targeted support can deliver significant schemes to be put into practice on small
from Togo’s Department of Village Water change. This includes improving access or large scales elsewhere in Togo and
Supply for financial and technical support to water for local communities, enhancing across Africa, but will also allow them to be
to help the authorities and communities of understanding of climate change and the implemented at a significantly reduced cost
Savanne District in northern Togo improve planning and activities necessary to adapt and with locally sourced materials.
their understanding of climate change to it, and providing valuable data for bigger
adaptation, undertake the rehabilitation interventions elsewhere in the country. www.unep.org/unite/30ways
of selected water reservoirs, and then use www.ccdare.org
the information and expertise gained to
develop a proposal for the rehabilitation of
all water reservoirs in Togo.
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 23
Daring to
make the
difference
Relocation and
rehabilitation:
climate change
adaptation in
Rwanda
THE PROBLEM:
“The success of the CC DARE programme in Rwanda Once home to populations of chimpanzees
is exemplary and will serve as a model for CC DARE and Golden Monkeys, the sloping terrain
cooperation in other countries.” of Rwanda’s Gishwati Forest has in recent
decades suffered severe environmental
degradation, which has been exacerbated
Danish Environment Ambassador, Ms. Margit Thomsen
by devastating climatic disasters.
Landslides, floods and torrential rain
have claimed lives, demolished human
settlements, and destroyed thousands of
hectares of forest and farmland. The 1994
24 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
genocide displaced many thousands of planning that is vital for moving communities new carbon sinks in Gishwati. The success
people, which led to further land clearing and rehabilitating land. The project also of the project has helped Rwanda leverage
and extensive degradation as desperate developed manuals that enabled a proper other funds, including $15.9 million from the
people were forced to settle on steeply assessment of land use – guiding communities UNFCCC Least Developed Country Fund and
sloping land in this densely populated and authorities on carbon sequestration, UNDP, among other sources, and enabled
country. high value crops, soil resilience, sustainable other climate change adaptation programmes
farming systems, bridging periods of food in the country to make substantial savings.
THE SOLUTION: insecurity, and strategies to cope with climate There is enormous potential for the project to
The joint UNEP and UNDP Climate Change variability. The programme attracted national be replicated elsewhere in Rwanda. There are
and Development – Adapting by Reducing Government interest and acted as a catalyst plans to share the knowledge and experience
Vulnerability (CC DARE) programme for larger interventions. The relocation of the project has generated with other central
provided Rwanda with funding to develop communities to safer areas was implemented African countries to encourage the approach
a Land Suitability and Land Use Plan. This by local government and supported by on a small or large scale beyond Rwanda’s
helped guide the relocation of human national budgetary allocation, demonstrating borders.
settlements from high risk zones, as well as the partnership and devolution of power that
the rehabilitation of vacated land, in order to can fast track the implementation of climate www.unep.org/unite/30ways
reduce the vulnerability of local communities change adaptation while keeping actions www.ccdare.org
and ecosystems. Risk assessments showed that within national development programmes.
if further erosion of the Gishwati forest was
to be avoided, 43 per cent of the terrain –
THE BIG PICTURE:
The updated Land Suitability and Land
around 2844 hectares – should be used for
Use Map and Plan for Gishwati has had
pasture, forest plantation and fruit trees. Of
an enormous impact, paving the way
this 1393 hectares should be preserved and
for innovative action on climate change
invasive human activities forbidden.
adaptation in Africa’s most densely populated
country. The initial investment has enabled
WHAT UNEP DID: the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture to access
CC DARE showed that small, flexible and
$25 million from the Government of Rwanda
targeted funding works. Working with the
for the resettlement of returnees displaced by
Rwandan Ministry of Environment, local
the 1994 genocide, and for the rehabilitation
government, districts and communities,
of land where the risk of landslides and
and with $150,000 in funding from the
flooding is greatest. Rehabilitation will, in turn,
Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNEP
enable Rwanda to play a bigger role in global
provided timely and focused support for the
carbon trading through the establishment of
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 25
The billion tree campaign
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 27
Protecting gorillas,
one meal at a time
Efficient stoves combat
deforestation in gorilla
habitat
“By supporting this innovative Gorilla Organization project, the UN Year of the Gorilla has
created a permanent legacy. Distributing fuel-efficient stoves not only helps safeguard the
gorillas’ habitat, which is shared by us, but it also addresses the major challenges of climate
change and poverty.”
28 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: gorillas and many other species. The project to be invested on developing livelihoods;
Mountain Gorillas are facing extinction. also benefits public health by reducing health is improving as a result of reduced
Fewer than 750 individuals remain, and the incidence of lung disease. By the end wood fuel use; and children, freed from
demands on their forest home and the of 2008 almost 500 stoves had been time consuming firewood collection, can
abundant natural resources it offers – produced, with a further 250 produced in go to school. The environmental benefits
including food, water and wood for timber 2009. The stoves are sold for a token $2 are also considerable. A reduction in fuel
and fuel – is threatening the survival of each – less than the cost of production – consumption in one of the Africa’s most
the species. For the gorillas in Virunga to encourage the sense of ownership that densely populated regions is making a
National Park, in the east of the Democratic ensures stoves are used and maintained. significant contribution towards the fight
Republic of Congo, the problem has been The funds generated have been reinvested against climate change. And, crucially, as
exacerbated by decades of civil war and in the project, and regular workshops demand for firewood and charcoal falls
unrest, with displaced human populations involving local communities and authorities and reliance on forest resources diminishes,
adding to pressures on the forests. promote the many benefits of using fuel deforestation eases. The project gives the
Impoverished communities living around efficient stoves. critically endangered Mountain Gorilla
gorilla habitat are forced into the protected population a chance to prosper, and the
parks to collect wood to produce charcoal
WHAT UNEP DID: rich biodiversity of the Virunga National
UNEP’s Convention on Migratory Species Park – a World Heritage Site – a chance
for cooking. As well as the devastating
designated 2009 the Year of the Gorilla. to flourish.
impact on the forests, collecting wood is
The fuel efficient stoves project was one of
hazardous and time consuming, and the
several projects UNEP funded in recognition www.unep.org/unite/30ways
noxious smoke produced by burning it
of its significant role in tackling one of www.yog2009.org
threatens human health.
the most immediate threats to the future www.gorilla.wildlifedirect.org
THE SOLUTION: survival of Mountain Gorillas by reducing
At the beginning of 2008 the Gorilla deforestation.
Organization in partnership with African THE BIG PICTURE:
NGO, AIDE-Kivu, launched a project to Fuel efficient stoves are helping to tackle
encourage the use of fuel efficient stoves. three of the world’s greatest challenges:
Using simple technology, the stoves reduce poverty, climate change and loss of
consumption of firewood and charcoal by biodiversity. More than 3500 people have
up to 75 per cent, which in turn reduces already benefited from this initiative. Less
human pressure on the forest habitat of money is being spent on fuel, allowing more
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 29
Mounting a defence against
climate change
CC DARE promotes climate change
adaptation in Xai-Xai, Mozambique
“Through the CC DARE programme the communities of Xai-Xai have acquired knowledge
on how to tackle adaptation to climate change. The concrete demonstration given by this
programme has not only helped to strengthen the capacity of the people of this city but will
also help provide the socio-economic information needed for future analysis of the impacts
of climate change. These are the kind of actions we want in this city, in this country and in
Africa.”
“
Mrs Rita Muianga, Mayor of Xai-Xai
30 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: the structure. Local people and authorities economic information and data that will
The impact of a tropical rainstorm on learnt about climate change adaptation, help model the impact of climate change
coastal cities can be devastating. Houses about the importance of maintenance and, on coastal cities elsewhere in Mozambique
and schools are washed away, enormous most importantly, about the impact of small, and across the developing world, enabling
gullies appear on slopes, and roads simply targeted interventions made real through suitable adaptation action to be taken, with
disappear in the deluge. This shattering collective action. resulting savings in both time and money.
impact is worsened by increased run-off
caused by deforestation and consequent
WHAT UNEP DID: www.unep.org/unite/30ways
UNEP and UNDP, with funding from www.ccdare.org
inland soil erosion, and by climate change
the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
that threatens to bring rising sea levels and
implemented a programme to demonstrate
more extreme weather events. For coastal
concrete adaptation action at the
cities, such as Xai-Xai in Mozambique,
community level. In the case of Xai-Xai this
which sits on the banks of the Limpopo
meant partnering with the city council, the
River as it meets the Indian Ocean, facing
Centre for the Sustainable Development of
the grim aftermath of storms may become a
Coastal Zones, and with the people of the
more frequent event.
city, to provide technical assistance and
THE SOLUTION: to support the establishment of communal
The Climate Change and Development – committees to mitigate and prevent erosion
Adapting by Reducing Vulnerability (CC and soil degradation.
DARE) project helps introduce sustainable THE BIG PICTURE:
techniques to adapt land use practices At a cost of less than $50,000, there has
to increasing rainfall under a changing been a transformation in community and
climate. In Xai-Xai this has meant training authority understanding of the relationship
youth and women’s groups to make and between the chronic erosion problems
maintain hollow building blocks, which that plague the city and climate change.
are then used to construct a retaining Crucially, it has also led to an increase
wall along one of the city’s main roads to in capacity to mobilize community action
counter water erosion. Once completed, the to protect against climate change, and
wall was planted with grasses and shrubs develop strategies to adapt to it. The
that help retain soil as well as beautify Xai-Xai project has also provided socio-
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 31
“In the next few decades, close to two billion vehicles will be
added to the global fleet – if we do not address this growth and
ensure that cleaner, more efficient transport solutions are available
and adopted, the subsequent growth in pollutant and CO2
emissions will overcome global mitigation efforts in other sectors.
We now have ready the technology and policies that can double
auto fuel efficiency.”
32 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: acting now to help these countries evaluate THE BIG PICTURE:
The transport sector accounts for and apply the wealth of knowledge and GFEI aims to encourage countries to
approximately one quarter of all energy technology available to make their growth commit to achievable but ambitious
related CO2 emissions, a figure set to rise greener. Cutting fuel consumption in half by vehicle sector emissions reductions that will
to one third by 2050. By then, the world’s increasing fuel and vehicle efficiency would contribute to a 50 per cent improvement in
vehicle fleet will have tripled, with over 80 reduce global emissions of CO2 by over vehicle efficiency worldwide by 2050: the
per cent of that growth occurring in the one gigatonne a year – effectively capping 50 by 50 campaign. The initiative aims to
developing world. There is an urgent need to them at current levels – and would also cut achieve an international impact, with the
find a way to reconcile legitimate aspirations oil import bills by over $400 billion (based potential to deliver dramatic savings in both
for mobility and an ambitious reduction on an oil price of $100 a barrel). emissions and costs through its approach. If
in CO2 from cars. With unprecedented successful, the 50 by 50 campaign will save
growth in motorization worldwide in the
WHAT UNEP DID: two billion tonnes of CO2 per year by 2050,
UNEP teamed up with road safety,
next few decades, governments in both and simultaneously generate hundreds of
environmental protection and sustainable
developed and developing countries need billions of dollars of cost savings, especially
mobility campaigners, the FIA Foundation,
to act to stem the expected exponential to oil importing countries and consumers.
the International Energy Agency, and the
rise in emissions. Developing countries are It would also support further improvements
International Transport Forum, to form the
currently ill-equipped to take full advantage in air quality and in safety benefits related
GFEI. This is the first global initiative to
of the available technology and policy to lighter vehicles, which would reduce
offer developing countries access to the
approaches to reducing greenhouse gas the incidence of injury to pedestrians and
practical technology and policy expertise
emissions from transport. non-motorized traffic. Manufacturers could
to lower greenhouse gas emissions from
also anticipate cost savings from greater
the road transport sector. UNEP’s support
THE SOLUTION: on the ground allows countries to access
efforts to achieve global harmonization of
The average fuel economy of the global regulatory systems that should be cheaper
the best available knowledge, training and
light duty vehicle fleet can be improved by to comply with than the current patchwork
resources to evaluate the technology and
at least 50 per cent by 2050, relative to of different systems.
policies available to them, and to see what
2005 levels. But realizing this improvement
has worked in the other parts of the world.
will require a global approach – and this www.unep.org/unite/30ways
This hands-on approach is being pioneered
includes involving developing countries, www.50by50campaign.org
in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Chile and Costa
only a handful of which currently have
Rica.
any policies on vehicle fuel efficiency. The
Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) is
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 33
Inspiring low carbon
economies and societies
UNEP’s Climate Neutral Network
“The Climate Neutral Network will be an important contribution to the development and promotion of
carbon neutral economies. It will facilitate the role of market based solutions and economic regulatory
measures to combat climate change.”
34 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
transition. CN Net participants are pioneers
THE PROBLEM: WHAT UNEP DID: in climate neutrality, and have adopted some
As the global community has become In February 2008, UNEP launched the of the most innovative and ambitious climate
progressively more aware of the need Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), a neutral strategies in the world:
for concerted and coordinated action to web based platform to showcase strategies • Costa Rica aims to be climate neutral by
address climate change, innovative action and initiatives to reduce carbon footprints, 2021, when it celebrates 200 years of
has emerged at all levels of society and provide opportunities for knowledge independence.
across the global economy. The challenge, sharing and technology transfer, and • Fujifilm Group has embraced the goal of
however, is to harness such innovations promote the global transition to low carbon climate neutrality by setting challenging
– from local solutions and grassroots economies and societies. Almost 250 emission reduction targets at its six factories
initiatives, to cutting edge technologies governments, regions, cities, companies in Japan.
developed by multinational corporations and organizations from around the world • The Norwegian city of Arendal is already
and think tanks – to identify and leverage have joined CN Net, each of them required climate neutral, and has committed to
what works. The further challenge is to to publish a climate neutral strategy on reducing its emissions by 90 per cent within
accelerate and scale-up these diverse the CN Net website. CN Net contributes 10 years.
solutions. • The region of Wenjiang in south west China
directly to UNEP’s goal of improving the
aims to become a zero carbon emission city
understanding of climate change science
THE SOLUTION: by 2015, through a greening programme
and its use in sound policy making, and
Encouraging and cross-fertilizing the and emissions monitoring. Over 450 high
on enhancing the general understanding polluting enterprises have been either shut
ideas and initiatives that are springing up of climate change by communicating key down or upgraded since 2000.
all over the world is a priority. Doing so climate change messages. • French development NGO Planète Urgence
will help ensure that these ideas can be
offsets all emissions from its operations,
replicated and leveraged as inspirations THE BIG PICTURE: provides financial incentives for employees
to sustain coordinated global efforts to Some 140 of CN Net’s participants are
to reduce their emissions, and carries out
combat climate change. These ideas should companies, including some of the world’s
reforestation projects in developing countries.
be encouraged as viable independent best recognized brands, such as Microsoft,
initiatives, while also being recognized as Dell, Cable & Wireless, Deutsche Post DHL,
Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bank, Puma,
www.unep.org/unite/30ways
providing support to multilateral political www.unep.org/climateneutral
Skanska, Bayer AG, Japan Airlines, Toyota
efforts to combat climate change.
and News Limited. CN Net participation has
also grown markedly in the developing world:
half of the countries that have committed to
CN Net are emerging economies or those in
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 35
A regional model for
global reforestation
“UNEP’s partnership with the Appalachian Regional Restoration Initiative has energized our tree
planting efforts on the three quarters of a million acres of degraded lands in the Appalachian coalfields
that could be available for reforestation. With an army of citizen volunteers from ARRI partners, we hope
to make a significant contribution to UNEP’s goal of planting a tree for each one of the 320 million US
citizens.”
Dr Patrick Angel, Senior Forester/Soil Scientist, US Department of Interior
36 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: across Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, million - or even 125 million - trees can
In spite of being endowed with a wealth Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, be transformative. Reforestation under
of natural resources, the Appalachian and West Virginia. Offering economic ARRI will produce a carbon sink to help
region of the eastern United States has long benefits for investors and employment mitigate the effects of climate change,
struggled with poverty. The area is home to opportunities for local people, trees also sequestering between three and five times
some 23 million people, but the exploitation minimize soil erosion, remove carbon more carbon than grassland, while giving
of Appalachia’s coal reserves has left a dioxide from the air to fight climate change, additional benefits such as biodiversity,
scarred and damaged landscape in an provide wildlife habitat and diverse plant soil and water conservation, and reducing
area whose forests support some of the species, provide watershed improvement, forest fragmentation. The benefits for
highest biological diversity in the world’s and are a resource for recreational activities landowners include increased timber
temperate regions. In a region facing such as hiking and camping. value, tax incentives, the possibility to lease
high unemployment and environmental for recreational purposes, and carbon
degradation, increasing local wealth
WHAT UNEP DID: sequestration credits. Providing alternative
Inspired by UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign, livelihoods based on ecosystem services
while sustaining biodiversity and aiding
ARRI pledged to plant 38 million trees will create additional jobs and add vitality
the recovery of damaged ecosystems is a
over a three year period. In support of this to a region plagued by unemployment.
solution to multiple challenges.
partnership, UNEP helped volunteers plant Appalachian communities will enjoy better
THE SOLUTION: trees on an abandoned mine site – an flood control, the restoration of native forests
The Appalachian Regional Restoration event which led to the creation of a green for culture and recreation, and additional
Initiative (ARRI) was created in an effort jobs proposal to stimulate the economy tax revenue. The ARRI project is testimony to
to reforest active and abandoned mine of Appalachia and reap the ecological the synergies that effective partnerships can
lands. Since 2004, some 60 million trees benefits of a region-wide reforestation effort. achieve, and is an example of a solution
have been planted on about 87,000 acres ARRI is a capacity building effort between that can be replicated in many other areas
in Appalachia under ARRI’s guidance. The UNEP, the US Department of the Interior’s of the world on a small or large scale,
excitement and energy generated by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and limited only by available resources and
project has resulted in the Green Forest Enforcement, and the San Francisco based ambition.
Works for Appalachia, which proposes Baum Foundation.
planting 125 million trees over the next THE BIG PICTURE: www.unep.org/unite/30Ways
five years, creating more than 2000 green If in one year the average tree inhales 12 www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign
jobs and restoring forests on approximately kg of CO2 and exhales enough oxygen
70,820 hectares of barren mine lands for a family of four, then the impact of 38
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 37
“The average Norwegian business or city administration can reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by two tonnes per employee using the
Climate Partners approach.”
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 39
Creating the climate for change
in Sudan
Combating climate change in Sudan
“UNEP’s greening campaign and awareness raising efforts have really helped create a more tangible
image which has helped our students relate to climate change. More and more trees need to be planted
around Central Equatoria to make up for the negative impacts of climate change on ecosystems and
people.”
40 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
and research capacity to detect biological,
THE PROBLEM: THE SOLUTION: physical and chemical fluctuations as a result
Until the late 20th century the Sahel – a Managing the environment to address of climate change. UNEP has also contributed
transitional zone that stretches across the climate change and human impact is to UN efforts to develop a recovery strategy
African continent, straddling the boundary critical to achieving lasting solutions for the for Darfur, which includes integrated water
between the Sahara desert to the north Darfur region. One solution is to promote resource management, technology transfer,
and savannah lands to the south – was a combination of improved fuel efficiency, community environmental management and
characterized by baobab and acacia trees greater use of alternative energy, and well support to environment ministries.
and sparse grass cover. Today, climate managed fuel woodlots to prevent further
change and resulting desertification is depletion of forest resources in Sudan. Another THE BIG PICTURE:
changing this picture. Rainfall in Darfur is to empower communities by promoting The impact of natural resource scarcity,
local ownership and involvement as a key to degradation and climate change in Sudan
has become more erratic and there is
sustained environmental rehabilitation and is poorly understood. The capacity building
mounting evidence that variable rainfall
protection. Strengthening national capacity that constitutes an important part of UNEP’s
across the country has caused significant in areas such as adaptation investment work in Sudan is helping to address this, to
stress on both pastoralist and farming strategies, and mapping and modelling water provide a basis for the comprehensive long
communities – particularly in West Sudan supply and demand, will ultimately enable the term planning that is vital if there is to be any
and Kordofan – affecting water supplies Sudanese Government to develop a robust hope of sustainable peace in the country.
and aggravating conflict. Armed conflict national adaptation policy. UNEP is working to help the Government of
for much of the past 50 years has added Sudan better understand the potential impacts
to Sudan’s environmental degradation, WHAT UNEP DID: of climate change and to incorporate climate
and conflict over scarce natural resources UNEP implemented the Darfur Alternative considerations into long term development
is a destabilizing influence in some parts Energy Project, which assesses and promotes plans, particularly for agriculture and water.
of the country. The result is dense urban alternative energy sources. The Keep Juba
populations and inflated economies in Green campaign, launched by UNEP in June www.unep.org/unite/30ways
parts of the country which, in turn, have 2010, is working to reverse deforestation www.unep.org/conflictsanddisasters/
created an insatiable demand for timber and renew greenhouse gas sinks by UNEPintheRegions/CurrentActivities/
for fuel wood, charcoal and brick making. working with local communities to plant one Sudan/tabid/294/language/en-US/
Increased energy demand is now a major million trees over the next 12 months. With Default.aspx
driver of environmental degradation in support from the Governments of the United
Sudan, in particular the loss of forest cover, Kingdom, Italy and the United States, UNEP
leaving communities more vulnerable to the helped the Sudanese Government to draft
environmental policy and legislation that will
effects of climate change.
enhance national monitoring programmes
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 41
Sugar sweetens the deal for
renewable energy
Cogeneration for Africa Project
“Cogeneration is an obvious investment for many industries. Biomass waste from industrial
processing is commonly burnt for heating and steam. By adding a turbine, the waste steam
also makes electricity and often doubles the energy you can get from the waste.”
42 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: and their dependants in Kenya, Ethiopia, the country’s electricity needs. The UNEP
Most of rural Africa has little or no electricity. Malawi, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Harnessing Carbon Finance to Promote
While many African countries rely on fossil Swaziland, promoting more than $300 Sustainable Forestry, Agro-Forestry and
fuels or hydroelectric generation for their million of cogeneration investment and Bioenergy report (2009) estimates that,
national needs, at the local, rural level installing 40MW of generating power in based on existing sugarcane production,
most households must burn biomass – six years. And because cogeneration is cogeneration could contribute an
generally wood or charcoal – to cook and so profitable, the project expects to set the additional 16.2 per cent power capacity
to warm their homes. African populations stage for accelerated investment in coming in Kenya, 23.7 per cent in Malawi, and a
are growing, and so is the demand for years. remarkable 144.5 per cent in Swaziland.
electricity. The search is on for low cost, There are plans to increase the scope of the
renewable, indigenous fuels that will cut
WHAT UNEP DID: project elsewhere on the continent through
UNEP implemented Cogeneration for capacity building, and technical and
greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce
Africa, with $5.25 million in funding investment support.
energy costs and dependence on imports.
from the Global Environment Facility, in
THE SOLUTION: partnership with the African Development www.unep.org/unite/30ways
Cogeneration – the simultaneous production Bank and the African Energy Policy http://cogen.unep.org
of heat and power – can help meet African Research Network. To date, the project has www.afrepren.org/cfa
energy needs. The waste products of sugar, influenced policy on the sale of renewable
pulp and paper, wood processing, coffee, energy to national grids in Kenya and
maize, rice, sisal, palm oil and other crops Tanzania; conducted workshops on
can be turned into electricity, generating technical and financial issues; supported
substantial additional profits for the feasibility studies and the identification of
industries themselves and the farmers who potential cogeneration investments; and
provide the feedstock. In East and Southern concluded nine cooperation agreements
Africa, where dependence on hydropower with agro-industrial project developers in
is high, biomass can supplement power Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi to
needs when rivers and dams are low, build cogeneration facilities.
and help reduce the need for emergency THE BIG PICTURE:
diesel, coal or oil fired power generators. Cogeneration for Africa builds on the
The Cogeneration for Africa project aims success of cogeneration in Mauritius, which
to reach around 10 million sugar farmers currently provides close to 40 per cent of
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 43
Going where utilities
fear to tread
Enterprise Development
(AREED)
44 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
cooking stoves that have helped offset an Inefficient domestic cooking devices, such
THE PROBLEM: estimated 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide as three stone stoves, together with fuels
For people living in rural communities in some
emissions. Toyola Energy has diversified into with poor burning characteristics, such as
parts of Africa there is simply not enough
solar lanterns and has created more than humid wood, charcoal and dung, result in
energy to go around. In a world focused on
200 jobs. The company’s success is now so incomplete combustion, which in turn leads
using less energy, these people need more:
widely recognized that this year Suraj Wahab to significant emissions of black carbon –
they need access to a reliable fuel supply to
was named Africa’s Energy Personality of the particles more often known as soot. Inefficient
cook with, and to heat and light their homes.
Year. More than 30 companies in five African cooking stoves are estimated to be responsible
A person in sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest
countries owe their existence to AREED. for 25 per cent of black carbon emissions.
energy consumption in the world, consuming
Also, use of wood fuel and charcoal causes
just one thirtieth of the energy of an average
North American. Many communities are a
WHAT UNEP DID: a high and often unsustainable demand for
With backing from the UN Foundation and wood, leading to deforestation and forest
long way from the supply grids of energy
national partners, UNEP launched AREED in degradation, and black carbon emissions
companies, and local businesses have
2000 in Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania cause severe respiratory and pulmonary
difficulty attracting finance. So, how can these
and Zambia. Since then: diseases. By focusing on innovative, small
people access significantly more energy,
• More than 500 entrepreneurs have scale energy financing, AREED makes an
while minimizing any additional greenhouse
received enterprise development training impact on climate change, biodiversity and
gas emissions?
to create or improve their businesses. ecosystem conservation, and on human health
• Close to $2 million has been invested and development.
THE SOLUTION: in 31 businesses that provide energy
Enter AREED – African Rural Energy Enterprise
services for water pumping, water heating www.unep.org/unite/30ways
Development. This UNEP programme supports
and cooking. These businesses supply www.ccdare.org
innovative energy entrepreneurs with business
liquid petroleum gas, wind powered water www.uneptie.org/energy/activities/reed/
development services and access to capital.
pumps, solar photovoltaic power systems,
When Suraj Wahab and Ernest Kyei wanted areed.htm
energy efficiency technology, solar crop
to start a small business selling efficient
dryers and solar water heaters.
cooking stoves near their homes on the fringe
• More than 224,000 people in
of Ghana’s capital, Accra, they could not get
44,000 households now have access to
a loan from any of the local banks. They turned
cleaner energy.
to AREED, got professional help to prepare a
business plan, and eventually secured a loan THE BIG PICTURE:
for $270,000. Four years later, their company, About 1.6 billion people lack access to
Toyola Energy, has supplied 50,000 homes modern energy, and rely on traditional
in six regions of Ghana with energy efficient biomass use for heating and cooking.
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 45
Green neighbourhoods span
the globe
One Planet Communities
THE PROBLEM: particularly in developed countries, where
people consume a large proportion of
THE SOLUTION:
Buildings are responsible for more than BioRegional works in partnership with
one third of global energy use and in the planet’s natural resources. A shift to
property developers across the globe,
many countries are the largest source of sustainable lifestyles is essential if we are to encouraging them to think holistically about
greenhouse gas emissions. Where and make the significant cuts in greenhouse gas sustainability. Since only green lifestyles in
how we live are urgent sustainability issues, emissions that our climate needs. combination with green buildings can deliver
46 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
“It’s time to stop planning for energy efficiency and start in poorer parts of the world. One Planet
planning for zero impact. It’s time to move past ‘green’ Communities developments are springing up
and embrace truly sustainable development. One Planet around the world and its principles being
Communities has given us the framework to do just that. applied to the retrofit of existing communities
in public housing in London and elsewhere.
One Planet Communities range in size from
Geof Syphers, Chief Sustainability Officer, hundreds of dwellings to large scale, mixed
CoddingEnterprises use communities such as the 2000 home
(Developer of Sonoma Mountain Village, Sonoma Mountain Village in California, the
mainly commercial 350,000 m2 development
a One Planet Community in California) of Barangaroo in Sydney, to entire cities such
as Masdar in the UAE, where a Sustainability
Action Plan has been produced based on
One Planet principles.
the dramatic reduction in carbon emissions create opportunities for technology transfer, www.unep.org/unite/30ways
we need, BioRegional created the One Planet and promote the global transition to low- www.bioregional.com
Communities programme, using the ten One carbon societies. BioRegional is part of UNEP’s
www.unep.org/climateneutral
Planet principles, which cover zero carbon and 250 member, and through it, has been able
waste, sustainable transport, materials, food, to share its ideas and work with some of the
water and land use, with regard for culture, world’s leading companies and organizations.
equity, health and happiness. These principles Six of the eight Sustainable Communities and
inform the design, construction, governance, Cities referred to in 2010’s UN-DESA report
community engagement and long term estate Trends in Sustainable Development: towards
management of the One Planet Communities, sustainable consumption and production
which are expanding in five continents and are part of the One Planet Communities
providing homes for around 100,000 people. programme.
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 47
Greening the blue
Making the United Nations a more
sustainable organization
“Greening the Blue brings together the latest information about what the UN
system is doing and offers suggestions for individuals and organizations to
get involved to help make our organization and its activities a beacon for
environmental sustainability.”
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 49
Maps for a greener
REDD+
50 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: based activities. UNEP works closely with
THE SOLUTION: geographic information system specialists
Deforestation and forest degradation To help countries understand REDD+ and
caused by agricultural expansion, logging, in national and provincial institutions in
to recognize and tap its potential, the
and other human activities, contribute many developing countries, to gather and
UN-REDD Programme offers assistance
around 17 per cent of global greenhouse collate information which provides spatial
in several ways, including capacity
gas emissions. REDD (Reducing Emissions analysis tools in support of REDD+ strategy
development, governance, engagement of
from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) development.
Indigenous Peoples, and technical support.
is a mechanism aimed at creating a financial One of the key tools it offers is a carbon THE BIG PICTURE:
value for the carbon stored in forests, mapping capability that shows the carbon At the global level, the UN-REDD Programme
offering incentives for developing countries stored in ecosystems, highlighting areas seeks to build consensus and knowledge
to reduce emissions from forested lands and of significant biodiversity and ecosystem about REDD+ and raise awareness about
invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable services importance, and threats to the importance of including a REDD+
development. REDD+ goes beyond forests themselves. This is a very visual mechanism in a post-2012 climate change
deforestation and forest degradation, representation of the many factors that agreement. It also provides opportunities
and includes the role of conservation, must be taken into account in decisions on for dialogue between governments, civil
sustainable management of forests and forest carbon management. Used together society organizations and technical experts,
enhancement of forest carbon stocks. with other decision support tools, it helps to ensure that REDD+ efforts are based on
Forests play a central role in the global countries to develop national REDD+ science, and that they take into account the
carbon balance, but they also provide strategies that maximize the development views and needs of all stakeholders. The
a multitude of other services alongside potential that forests provide. UN-REDD Programme supports countries in
carbon storage. Forests contain over two- their efforts to integrate multiple benefits into
thirds of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, WHAT UNEP DID: their REDD+ strategies and development
and are a source of vital ecosystem services The UN-REDD Programme is a partnership plans. Replicable initiatives such as the
which provide people with food, water, between FAO, UNDP and UNEP, that spatial analysis activities help to ensure that
fuel wood and regulatory services such as helps developing countries to prepare and forests continue to provide multiple benefits
climate and flood regulation. But there is implement national REDD+ strategies and for livelihoods, conserve the planet’s
insufficient awareness of the potential of mechanisms. Through the programme, biodiversity, and act as important carbon
REDD+, and countries often lack the tools UNEP provides financial, technical and stores.
to implement it in ways that deliver all these strategic support to the development www.unep.org/unite/30ways
forest benefits. of national REDD strategies, aimed at www.un-redd.org; www.uneptie.org/
reducing the rate of carbon loss from land energy/activities/mapping
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“The work carried out by the International Environmental Technology Centre
has already revealed great opportunities of resource recovery and consequent
economic and environmental gains from improved waste management”
Converting agricultural
biomass waste into energy
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Bus rapid transit and pedestrian improvements
in Jakarta
“Jakarta has become a role model for cities of other countries in dealing with pollution that
causes global climate change, and will be an example to other developing countries in
reducing carbon dioxide emissions.”
54 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
paths and bike rental, regulations on a gas fuel supply for buses; planning feeder
THE PROBLEM: minimum of three passengers per car during bus services to the BRT; and designing travel
In an increasingly urbanized world, more
peak hours, bus priority at crossroads, and demand management measures that integrate
and more people are taking to crowded enhanced walking areas, has been used to the busway with non-motorized transport to
roads in their cars to go about their business get people out of their cars and into buses and improve overall efficiency.
and daily activities. Traffic congestion is the onto bikes. The Transjakarta Busway was used
bane of many lives, and also contributes by some 250,000 people per day in 2009, THE BIG PICTURE:
to air pollution, reduced road safety, an 11 per cent increase on the previous year. A dozen cities in Indonesia have launched
unnecessary fuel consumption and loss of This resulted in a saving of more than 36,000 bus improvement projects that are based
workplace productivity. The International tonnes of CO2 emissions. The estimated fuel on Jakarta’s BRT. Modern and cost effective
Energy Agency has estimated that fuel savings by busway users amounts to 91 billion bus systems have transformed cities into
consumption and CO2 emissions from the Indonesian rupiahs (about $100 million). more liveable environments. BRTs can be
world’s cars will roughly double between constructed within the budgets of most
2000 and 2050. Worldwide, cars account WHAT UNEP DID: municipalities. UNEP’s work on BRTs in
UNEP, with support from the Global Jakarta, Dar es Salaam and Cartagena has
for close to half the transport sector’s CO2
Environment Facility, contributed technical, resulted in the publication of a comprehensive
emissions. The pressure on the transport
institutional and legal assistance, together step-by-step guide to BRTs. The Bus Rapid
infrastructure is huge, and is expected Transit Planning Guide covers everything from
to worsen. In Jakarta, Indonesia, the with more than $5.8 million towards the cost
of planning, designing and implementing project preparation to the implementation of
population grew from 3.9 million in 1970 these cost effective transport solutions.
to 7.6 million in 1990, and is expected to the busway. UNEP’s support helped to kick-
grow to 17.2 million by 2015. All these start a public transport transformation in
Jakarta, helping to maximize the use of the www.unep.org/unite/30Ways
people will need access to transport of www.uneptie.org/energy/activities/brt
busway (over 1 billion passenger-kilometres
some kind, in order to go to work and
were travelled in 2009) to encourage a
school, to shop, socialize and thrive. shift away from private car use in order to
achieve significant cuts in greenhouse gas
THE SOLUTION: emissions. A range of work has been done
A full bus is far more efficient than one or to improve efficiency of the transport system
two people in every car. With this in mind, and to achieve environmental benefits,
Jakarta’s authorities developed the city’s Bus including: integrating multiple bus operators
Rapid Transit (BRT) system, reallocating city into the new system; developing integrated
centre road space to improve public transport e-ticketing; improving revenue collection;
services. A combination of bus lanes, bike facilitating access to compressed natural
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 55
“As soon as the CASCADe programme had started,
we made progress in all our projects. CASCADe made
local and international experts join forces”.’
Planting a seed
for climate
protection
56 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: By supporting replicable projects in the developers and communities in Africa still
Unsustainable use of forests causes forestry, agriculture and bioenergy sectors, require substantial assistance to overcome
approximately 17 per cent of greenhouse CASCADe is opening up opportunities technical barriers and to access finance, so
gas emissions globally. It also causes for African participation in the CDM and UNEP is planning a follow-up programme.
degradation of ecosystems and loss of voluntary carbon markets, while linking This will support agroforestry, afforestation/
biodiversity, threatens local livelihoods, buyers and sellers and facilitating regional reforestation and bioenergy projects; soil
and has serious impacts on many of the cooperation. carbon conservation and REDD+ projects
world’s poorest people. In Africa, around such as improved forest management; and
600 million people rely on forests and WHAT UNEP DID: introduction of efficient stoves and charcoal
woodlands for their livelihoods. Despite the The CASCADe programme is implemented produced from sustainable organic
rapid growth of carbon finance transactions, by UNEP and the UNEP Risoe Centre, materials like agricultural waste, rice and
projects in sub-Saharan Africa are often supported by FFEM (the Fonds Français coffee husks, and invasive weeds.
ignored because of a misconception that pour l’Environnement Mondial). It has
the region has limited potential. provided technical assistance to more than www.unep.org/unite/30ways
20 projects in community reforestation, www.cascade-africa.org
THE SOLUTION: commercial forestry, energy efficient www.uneptie.org/energy/activities/
The Clean Development Mechanism, cooking stoves and fish smokehouses, and cascade
established under the Kyoto Protocol, allows bioenergy, and has avoided deforestation
industrialized countries to receive carbon in seven African countries. Targeted
credits for financing carbon mitigation and institutional support has strengthened
sequestration projects in less developed national regulatory frameworks for carbon
countries. Since 2007 UNEP’s CASCADe – finance projects and established a strong
Carbon Finance for Agriculture, Silviculture, francophone African network of technical
Conservation and Action against experts.
Deforestation – programme has been
helping Benin, Cameroon, the Democratic
THE BIG PICTURE:
The success of CASCADe’s pilot projects
Republic of Congo, Gabon, Madagascar,
provides a framework for the programme’s
Mali and Senegal to generate carbon
expansion into other countries, while its
credits by providing technical support and
contribution to national and international
training to project developers, communities
policy debates is helping shape a
and national climate change institutions.
more inclusive climate regime. Project
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 57
Heating up the
renewable energy
debate
“The study revealing the best well sites has reduced drilling costs and increased production. Initially, wells
were shallow and produced between 1 and 5 MW but with UNEP’s study we have been able to identify
others that are much more productive. Now the average well is 3000 metres and produces between 5 and
15 MW.”
Cyrus W. Karingithi, Assistant Manager, Resource Development, KenGen
58 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: the Rift Valley, improvements in imaging in the wider region. In addition, the project
Affordable, reliable energy is a powerful and interpretation have increased the has provided sustainable capacity in these
enabler of social and economic chances of hitting steam, and made it advanced techniques at KenGen’s Olkaria
development, but high oil prices, drought, easier to identify wells of high generation facility.
unprecedented population increase and potential. Through its sustainable, value
added approach, the project has helped THE BIG PICTURE:
healthy economic growth mean most The project has already shown its regional
of Africa faces an acute energy crisis. technology transfer and capacity building
potential, with KenGen using its expertise to
Located on the Great Rift Valley, Kenya by training KenGen scientists and
help Rwanda, Eritrea and Zambia assess and
boasts massive geothermal potential – as technicians, and has managed to increase
develop their geothermal resources. Since the
high as 7000 MW by some estimates power generation and supply reliability JGI project has exceeded all expectations,
– and is eager to make more use of this while simultaneously reducing costs and UNEP and the World Bank initiated a
sustainable form of indigenous energy benefiting the environment. Emissions of regional project in six East African countries
against a background of diminishing CO2 from geothermal electricity plants – Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania
hydropower resources, unstable oil prices are 2000 times lower than those from and Uganda – to tap into the Rift Valley’s vast,
and dwindling biomass. But high up front equivalent fossil fuel plants. unexplored geothermal potential. The African
costs and the substantial risks involved in Rift Geothermal (ARGeo) project, supported
geothermal development have meant only WHAT UNEP DID: by UNEP through a GEF contribution of
The JGI project improved geophysical $17.75 million, will provide a platform for
a fraction of Kenya’s geothermal potential
data interpretation techniques and accelerated geothermal development and
has been exploited.
provided state of the art equipment for investment. Initial estimates are that these
exploration, using Micro Seismic (MEQ) investments could lead to 891,458 tonnes
THE SOLUTION: of CO2 emission savings per year, and up
In 2002 UNEP began working with the and Magneto Telluric (MT) surveys and
analysis to identify promising new drilling to 17.8 million tonnes over 20 years. It is
National Power Generation Utility of expected that these pilot projects will generate
Kenya (KenGen) on the Joint Geophysical sites. UNEP, with funding from the Global
additional interest in geothermal technologies
Imaging (JGI) for Geothermal Reservoir Environment Facility (GEF), contributed $1
and that this sustainable resource will be
Assessment project, with the aim of million towards total costs of $2.7 million.
exploited in all the countries that border the
lowering geothermal development costs by Duke University of North Carolina, USA, Rift.
improving the interpretation of geophysical collaborated on the project, which has
data, so reducing the number of expensive, resulted in substantial savings on proposed www.unep.org/unite/30ways
unproductive wells. Working at KenGen’s development of geothermal resources in www.kengen.co.ke/index.php?page=busi
Olkaria facility near Lake Naivasha in Kenya, and there are plans to replicate this ness&subpage=cgeothermal
www.gdc.co.ke
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 59
Maldives take the lead
on ozone and climate
protection
Providing assistance to
developing countries to
phase out ozone-depleting
chemicals and achieve climate
benefits
60 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
governments and the private sector to engage replacements are adopted. The Maldives
THE PROBLEM: in developing innovative technologies, and is a participant of UNEP’s Climate Neutral
The Montreal Protocol has been successful in
for developed and developing countries to Network (CN Net). CN Net has highlighted
phasing out the production and consumption to a global audience the Maldives’ initiatives
engage in technology cooperation.
of ozone depleting substances, in particular to reduce emissions of harmful gases, and has
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons, WHAT UNEP DID: encouraged others to adopt similar strategies.
which, as of January 2010, are no longer The Republic of Maldives is one of the countries
produced. But some replacement chemicals at the forefront of this drive to embrace climate THE BIG PICTURE:
such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) benefits through phasing out ozone-depleting The achievements of the Montreal Protocol
– whose use is rapidly increasing in the substances. With the assistance of UNEP and over its 20 year history in phasing out the
refrigeration, foam, solvent, aerosol and UNDP, the country made an historic decision production and consumption of ozone-
firefighting sectors – while significantly less to phase out HCFCs by 2020 – ten years depleting substances are well known. So
ozone-depleting than CFCs, have very high ahead of the Montreal Protocol phase out far the consumption of 98 per cent of all
global warming potential, of up to 2000 schedule – in line with the country’s carbon the chemicals controlled by the Protocol has
neutrality policy and as part of a wider shift been phased out, with the additional benefit
times that of carbon dioxide.
towards green growth and development. The of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In
its role as an implementing agency, UNEP
THE SOLUTION: Maldives developed the world’s first national
OzonAction is assisting almost 100 countries
Estimates suggest that phasing out HCFCs phase out plan, specifically targeting this
group of chemicals, including a commitment to to prepare HCFC Phase out Management
and their by-products could result in significant
phase out HCFCs in air conditioning systems Plans (HPMPs), with a focus on establishing
climate benefits – around 18 gigatonnes of
in nearly 100 tourist resorts dotted around the accurate and comprehensive baseline data,
CO2 equivalent between 2015 and 2050.
many islands that make up the Maldives. By and creating awareness about technology
There is also an opportunity to gain significant
leading the way in discontinuing the use of options and co-benefits with climate. UNEP
additional climate benefits from improved
HCFCs early, the Maldives has shown that also supports and promotes information
energy efficiency and other replacement
an early phase out is possible and practical, sharing about non-HCFC technologies and
technologies. However, achieving these
and it is hoped that other countries may policies through its Regional Networks, and
potential climate benefits depends on the
follow this lead, to achieve climate and ozone is using its Information Clearinghouse and
replacement technologies selected and can
benefits. Compared with a ‘business as usual’ awareness raising activities to help developing
only be attained if low – or zero – global
scenario (which assumes a continued increase countries control consumption of these harmful
warming potential alternatives replace HCFCs.
in HCFC usage of 8 per cent per year) this substances.
In September 2007 the Parties of the Montreal
Protocol agreed to work towards phasing phase out could result in the prevention of www.unep.org/unite/30Ways
out HCFC production and consumption emissions in the Maldives of up to 5.7 million www.unep.fr/ozonaction
in developing and developed countries. tonnes CO2 equivalent between 2013 and www.unep.org/climateneutral
This provided an historic opportunity for 2030 if low to zero global warming potential
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 61
Getting solar panels
out of hot water
62 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
THE PROBLEM: WHAT UNEP DID: THE BIG PICTURE:
While solar powered water heaters are an Prosol – a joint initiative between UNEP, Around the world, demand for energy
obvious energy saving solution in hot and the Italian Ministry for Environment, Land will continue to grow with population
sunny countries, the cost of buying them is and Sea, and the National Agency for expansion and economic growth. Energy
prohibitive for many people. Banks often Energy Conservation – has helped more from renewable sources will be crucial. In
know little about this clean technology than 105,000 Tunisian families get their Tunisia, the Government has encouraged
so loans are not widely available, even hot water from the sun, based on loans of solar energy by making solar water heaters
though a solar hot water system can pay over $60 million, a substantial leverage on eligible for the energy subsidy previously
back the investment in as little as four years, Prosol’s initial $2.5 million cost. Its success provided only to LPG. By 2008, Prosol had
offering years of ‘free’ hot water after that. has led the Tunisian Government to set an helped avoid 214,000 tonnes of carbon
An average four person household with ambitious target of 750,000m2 of solar dioxide emissions, raising the prospect
an electric water heater is responsible panels for 2010-2014, a goal that would of Tunisia being paid for saved emissions
for producing about eight tonnes of CO2 represent solar coverage comparable to that under the Clean Development Mechanism.
emissions annually – almost double that in Spain or Italy, with populations several The project’s success has spawned a solar
generated by a typical modern automobile times higher than Tunisia’s. Many jobs have water heating programme for homes in
– while a solar water heater can save the been created, as 42 suppliers and more Montenegro, and also EGYSOL, a project
cost and emissions of 12 bottles of LPG than 1000 installation companies have targeting the tourism and services sector in
every year. sprung up to service the solar market. The Egypt.
tourism and industry sectors are also now
THE SOLUTION: involved, with 47 hotels engaged by late www.unep.org/unite/30ways
The solar water heater market in Tunisia 2009, and there are plans to encourage
showed a dramatic increase when low industry to make greater use of the sun’s
interest loans were made available to energy. A project is now underway to
householders, with repayments collected make photovoltaic energy available to an
through regular utility bills. This reduced the additional 15,000 households in Tunisia
risk for local banks, while simultaneously through a similar loan and repayment
showing borrowers the impact of solar scheme.
heating on their electricity bills.
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 63
UNEP’s work on UNEP supports countries to develop
their capacity to provide all the services upon
which a multitude of sectors, communities
REDD strategies and to test innovative and people depend. Healthy ecosystems are
climate change REDD pilot projects, including essential for sustainable economic prosperity
consideration of co-benefits such as and provide defence against the negative
biodiversity and livelihoods in REDD effects of climate change.
UNEP’s vision and work on strategy and action.
climate change Because investing in adaptation solutions
Climate Change (UNFCCC) and tailored to based on the use of ecosystem services is
What if we could build green economies the needs of Member States and a growing one of the most effective ways to address
powered by clean energy? What if the most number of requests on how best to realize a the multiple challenges of vulnerability
vulnerable communities were equipped with green economy for the 21st century. and poverty, UNEP focuses on ecosystem
the resources to build resilience against based adaptation (EBA). UNEP is
extreme weather conditions? What if one of UNEP is helping countries to strengthen their helping vulnerable communities adapt to
our planet’s greatest natural carbon sinks, resilience to climate change, move towards climate change through good ecosystem
our forests, was managed as a critical long low carbon societies, reduce emissions from management practices, and their integration
term sustainable resource, rather than a short deforestation and forest degradation, and into climate change strategies and
term source of profit? And what if decision improve understanding and awareness of development plans, with particular attention
makers and the general public alike had climate science. To support the achievement on Africa, Small Island Developing States
better access to, and deeper understanding of these goals, UNEP has three main and mega-deltas. UNEP works with countries
of, the latest climate science? UNEP is priorities, that match the organization’s skill to assess vulnerabilities, develop policies,
working to make this vision a reality. set, experience and mandate to the needs and incorporate cost effective preventative
of developing countries: ecosystem based actions into national development processes.
With more than 20 years of experience adaptation, clean tech readiness, and As a Multilateral Implementing Entity under
working on climate action, policy and REDD+. the Adaptation Fund, UNEP supports
science, UNEP has implemented a range
of climate change solutions that have led to
proven policy shifts or results on the ground, Resilience to a changing As a science based organization, UNEP
works to provide relevant climate
showing that the costs of taking action climate change science and information
are often much lower than inaction, while for decision making to national
bringing multiple benefits for communities Ecosystem based adaptation policymakers and negotiators, major
and ecosystems. UNEP’s work on climate groups, civil society and the private
change is shaped by the negotiations under Climate change is affecting the functioning sector.
the United Nations Framework Convention on and integrity of ecosystems and challenging
64 | 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS
countries in developing and presenting adopt new and more efficient technologies (FAO) and the United Nations Development
concrete adaptation priorities to the Fund. and so are at risk of missing the energy Programme (UNDP), has created the
UNEP (with UNDP and the World Bank) also revolution. UNEP has chosen to focus its work UN-REDD programme to help countries
aims to support countries in establishing their on clean tech readiness, and works with develop national REDD strategies, finance
National Implementing Entities to facilitate countries to ensure that information, policy approaches and support institutions. The
direct access to the Adaptation Fund. and financial barriers to low carbon and core of UNEP’s REDD activities is reducing
efficient energy technologies are removed, emissions while generating hundreds of
Low-carbon growth positioning these cleaner alternatives as the millions of dollars that could be used by
foundation of national economies. Helping communities to improve management of
Clean tech readiness countries develop low carbon growth forests, shift the forest sector to alternative
strategies and plans is an important element development pathways, and support
of this support. biological diversity and livelihoods.
Investing in low carbon energy alternatives
and reducing emissions from inefficient
Reducing Emissions from Through its REDD+ work, UNEP is helping
energy use offer the best ways to achieve
countries make the case for REDD,
immediate and sustained reductions in Deforestation and Forest developing transformative national strategies
greenhouse gas emissions. UNEP is helping
Degradation (REDD) to address deforestation, conducting financial
countries to assess emissions reduction
assessments and leveraging additional
opportunities and make sound policy,
REDD+ investment, all aimed at reducing the rate of
technology and investment choices that
carbon loss from land based activities.
promote clean and renewable energy sources
and energy efficiency. UNEP is also taking The forest sector accounts for about 17 per
action to stimulate private sector involvement, cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Understanding and
and to phase out obsolete technologies and mainly through deforestation. In addition, the
combined ecological services from forests,
awareness of climate science
deploy cleaner ones.
including carbon sequestration, are worth
UNEP’s science and outreach programme
Many developing countries and countries billions - perhaps trillions - of dollars to local
focuses on improving understanding of
in transition are ill-equipped to choose and and global economies annually.
climate change science and its use in sound
policymaking, and on increasing general
Since succeeding with REDD is vital for the
awareness and comprehension of climate
UNEP helps countries reduce their effectiveness of any future climate agreement,
vulnerability and use ecosystem change issues by communicating key
UNEP, in partnership with the United
services to build resilience against the messages.
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
impact of climate change.
30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS | 65
UNEP supports countries to make the
transition to low carbon growth and
green economies by promoting access
to finance and scaling up clean and
renewable energy sources, energy
efficiency and conservation.
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