Millions of people in the developing world are being hit first, worst and hardest by the devastating effects of climate change – a problem that they did not create. Oxfam Ireland and others campaign for a fair, safe and legally binding climate deal because climate change is an issue of global justice and human rights.

There are many other viewpoints though on why climate change should be addressed.  Here is a brief look at a military perspective on climate change and national security in the US;

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has issued a statement urging rejection of attempts by climate sceptics to undermine efforts to reach a global climate deal.

Ki-moon also offered support for the much maligned Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) by calling on environment ministers to disregard the exaggerated shortcomings of the 2007 IPCC report and not allow negotiations to be derailed further.

For all you iPod lovers out there, a handy new app is available for free from Skeptical Science, designed to counter some of the most popular arguments used by climate sceptics.

Go on! Go on! Go on! Will you not have a cup of Fairtrade tea! Yes, it’s that time of the year, Fairtrade Fortnight, when we take stock of what’s in our kitchen cupboards and what we buy every day as consumers.

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Agency thanks public for over-whelming generosity

International aid agency Oxfam today announced that its Humanitarian Haiti earthquake appeal was closing due to the over-whelming generosity of the public worldwide.

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Oxfam’s Climate Change blog has been nominated in the 2010 Irish Blog Awards under Best News/Current Affairs Blog.

We face some stiff competition from high profile bloggers such as David McWilliams and Edel Coffey but it is fantastic to just be nominated.

The nomination is a welcome pat on the back for everyone involved with the blog and we would all like to say a massive thank you to the readers who nominated us for the award.

Best of luck to all nominees and congratulations to all involved with the awards.

Go on! Go on! Go on! Will you not have a cup of Fairtrade tea! Yes, it’s that time of the year, Fairtrade Fortnight, when we take stock of what’s in our kitchen cupboards and what we buy every day as consumers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Earlier today, Yvo De Boer announced that he is resigning from his role as Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC.

On hearing the news, Senior Climate Advisor for Oxfam International, Antonio Hill, said;

De Boer’s tenure at the helm of the UN climate negotiations will be remembered as an extraordinary period – when climate change went from being one of many environmental concerns to a standing item on the agenda of political leaders across the globe.

Though de Boer moves on world leaders have barely started the job of tackling the climate crisis. With the lives and livelihoods of billions at stake they could learn much from de Boer’s perseverance as well as his uncompromising commitment to do what’s necessary – not just what’s easy.

A new Oxfam report entitled Reaching Tipping Point? Climate Change and Poverty in Tajikistan states that unless immediate action is taken to mitigate the effects of climate change, the food security and livelihoods of the people of Tajikistan could be seriously eroded by 2050.

The report outlines how over the past 60 years, there has been a temperature rise of 1.0-1.2 degrees in parts of the country and the number of days per year that the temperature has reached 40 degrees has increased.  Also, the country’s glaciers are retreating and this could lead to greater water shortages and disputes in the wider region.

Oxfam is calling for action at the community, national, regional and international level.  There is a need for climate change responses to be integrated across government departments and disaster risk reduction programmes must be strengthened.

Tajikistan like many other countries will need support from rich nations to achieve such goals.  Negotiations must get back on track to achieve a fair, ambitious and legally binding climate change deal.

Read the report and find out more.

The government of Bangladesh is refusing to accept £60 million from Britain to help it adapt to the impacts of climate change.

It has been reported that the Department for International Development (Dfid) is insisting that the money is chanelled through the World Bank.  Bangladesh claims that unfavourable strings and conditions will be attached if the World Bank is involved and would prefer the money to be provided via the UN.  In addition, officials in Bangladesh are concerned that the £60 million is not new money but rather will potentially drain resources from other projects in the country that Dfid are currently providing funding for.

Currently the countries are facing a stalemate over the involvement of the World Bank and the matter will be discussed in a two-day meeting in Bangladesh this week.

Should Britain withdraw the money if Bangladesh maintains its opposition or would it be better for all involved if the World Bank was not part of the process?

A joint press conference is being held today by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, British Prime minister Gordon Brown and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi.

The press conference has been arranged to announce the launch of a new high-level Advisory Group on Climate Financing.

Tune it at 12:30 GMT today and watch it live.