US-India Collaboration and Obama’s Climate Crusade

By Vositha Wijenayake
Following a successful visit to China in November that resulted in the US-China joint statement on climate change, last week President Obama concluded negotiations on a five-year MoU on energy security, clean energy and climate change and an agreement to this effect expected as early as possible at a mutually agreed date.


“We need a legally binding agreement, and nothing short of it” – Maldives, New Chair of AOSIS

By Vositha Wijenayake
Maldives was appointed the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) on December 11, 2014. Speaking to CANSA, Head of Delegation for the country Ambassador Ahmed Sareeer, Permanent Representative to UN for Maldives said that it was a great honour for his country to have the opportunity to chair the alliance on an issue such as climate change which is vital for the survival of its people.


Addressing Loss and Damage and Climate Displacement in South Asia

By Vositha Wijenayake and Vidya Nathaniel
Despite both mitigation and adaptation efforts, it is now widely recognised that residual negative climate change impacts, or loss and damage, cannot be fully avoided[1]  increasing the need to focus on addressing climate change.


Indian INDC – Stepping Wisely Into the Future

By Sudhir Sharma and Rixa Schwarz
The recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit of 10 -12November 2014 in China, held a surprise for the climate scene: The USA and China announcement on their intentions for their INDCs. President Obama announced a GHG emission reduction of 26 to 28% by 2025 below 2005 levels.


Climate change and the Post-2015 goals: Passing ships or all in the same boat?

By Anju Sharma
The “post-2015 sustainable development agenda” involves two separate processes – development and climate change – under the UN aegis. No wonder then, that both processes share similar obstacles. A particularly contentious, is the Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle.


The IPCC AR5 and South Asia

By Anam Zeb
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s fifth assessment report (AR5) produced a powerful warning to the world: “If we continue to emit CO2 at the rate at which we are doing, mean global surface temperatures are likely to exceed 2⁰ Celsius.


Low Carbon Development in South Asia: Challenges, Prospects and Prerequisites

By Raman Mehta and Sudhir Sharma
South Asia, which is the most densely populated region in the world, is home to 1.7 billion people, or around 23% of the global population.  The region contributes around 6% of the GHG emissions, the bulk of which emanate from India, which is home to 1.2 billion people.


Providing Space for Climate Equity in the Preparations for Paris: Science-Based Equity Review of iNDCs

By Rixa Schwarz
Who does how much on domestic emission reduction and international support? This is becoming an omnipresent question in the preparations to Lima and Paris. Some countries have started preparing their initial Nationally Determined Contributions (iNDCs) while some wait to see what others offer.  


2015 Agreement: An Analysis on Structure and Bindingness

By Vositha Wijenayake and Vidya Nathaniel 
Edited by Navam Niles

The 21st Session of Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled for December 2015, should set the stage for a new climate change agreement. Ideally, this COP will create a binding universal agreement on climate change with tangible targets affecting all the parties.


Youth Demand Action ahead of the 18th SAARC Summit

South Asian people are more vulnerable because of severe impacts of Climate Change, Disaster and Food Security. Bundle of declarations have been prepared at previous #SAARC summits to fight climate change and natural disasters and to ensure food security, but proper implementation of commitment does not seem to be effective. The street drama will be […]


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