Least developed countries
The fifty poorest countries have played a negligible role in causing climate change, but will be hit hardest and soonest by its effects, threatening fragile economic and social gains. Two-thirds of the world's poorest citizens live in dry lands, and about half in farm households that are dependent on rain-fed agricultural production. Environmental shifts are already compromising water sources, causing renewed outbreaks of cholera and malaria in some areas, while rice and other crops are at risk from drought in others.
The adaptive capacity of least developed countries (LDCs) is hampered by economic vulnerability, manifested in low incomes, underdeveloped economies, limited infrastructure, and widespread poverty. Climate change will make it even more difficult for these countries to reach internationally-agreed developments goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, by 2015.
DESA supports the Commission on Sustainable Development, and other deliberative and expert bodies, to ensure that the needs of LDCs are fully considered in international and regional development policy. At its 2008 and 2009 sessions, the Commission considered in particular the issues of land management, agriculture, rural development, drought, desertification, and Africa.
Dialogue, research, analysis
- May 2008
- Land management, agriculture, rural development, drought, desertification, and Africa, 16th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
- October 2007
- The relationship between rainfall and human density and its implications for future water stress in sub-Saharan Africa
- March 2007
- Developing index-based insurance for agriculture in developing countries
- Least developed country designation, Committee for Development Policy
Case studies 2007
Facilitating Access to Finance for the Biodiesel Industry in Southern Africa
- Summary:
- Biodiesel is one of the preferred biofuel options in Africa because it is economically viable at small scales, draws on Africa's untapped agricultural potential, maximises employment benefits and it... Learn more
Capacity Building in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Regulation and Policy-Making in Africa
- Summary:
- In recent years, most African governments have seen the setting up of energy sector regulatory institutions as part of broader reforming process aimed at improving the performance of their national ec... Learn more
Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Policy and Action Plan of Liberia
- Summary:
- The project will formulate an RE & EE policy framework to induce investment and market development in the RE & EE sectors of Liberia.The project further intends to provide policy support to develop t... Learn more
Securing Financing for RE/EE Projects in Southern Africa through Gold Standard CDM
- Summary:
- Substantial challenges exist for the commercialisation of smaller RE/EE projects, with financing often cited as a major barrier. This despite there being a significant demand for African Gold Standard... Learn more
Case studies 2006
Aisha Solar Cooking Project
- Summary:
- In 1990, nearly 14,000 refugees from Somalia settled in Aisha refugee camp in a very arid region of eastern Ethiopia, putting a strain on the environment and reducing tree cover as they collected wood... Learn more
Large-scale dissemination of improved stoves in Uganda
- Summary:
- Until the end of 2006, over 200,000 improved household stoves of the Rocket Lorena type have been constructed in the Ugandan districts of Rakai and Bushenyi. The number of disseminated stoves illustra... Learn more
Women in Bulelavata Design and Implement their Own Micro-Hydro System
- Summary:
- The women in Bulelavata, a small, remote village in the Western Solomon Islands accessible only by sea, used to live a subsistence lifestyle typical of women in tens of thousands of other villages acr... Learn more
Women in Bangladesh Make Battery-Powered Lamps
- Summary:
- This project aims at improving the lighting and indoor air quality of rural households by replacing the traditional kerosene lamps with modern fluorescent battery-powered lamps, which have a reduced r... Learn more
Uganda: Solar Dryers Help Women Market their Produce
- Summary:
- Crops in Africa have traditionally been solar dried in order to preserve them. However, crops left outdoors are vulnerable to pests and need an attendant to guard them. Lack of control over the drying... Learn more
Multi-functional Platforms in Mali
- Summary:
- As part of a decade-long initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the multi-functional platform project provides de... Learn more
Partnerships
International Solar Energy Society
- Lead Partner:
- International Solar Energy Society
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- ISES has been serving the needs of the renewable energy community since its founding in 1954. A UN-accredited NGO present in more than 50 countries, the Society supports its members in the advancement of renewable energy technology, implementation and education all over the world. Its goals include: * Towards a Sustainable World:Encouraging the use of Renewable Energy everywhere, through appr... Learn more
Earth Charter Youth Initiative (ECYI)
- Lead Partner:
- Earth Charter Youth Initiative, Earth Charter International
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- Vision From Earth Charter International Council, October 2006: 'We envision the Earth Charter becoming the most widely shared ethical framework for sustainable living and exercising a growing influence on human affairs. We envision recognition and endorsement of the Earth Charter by an ever-increasing number of national and international institutions, including UN agencies, leading to the e... Learn more
Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP)
- Lead Partner:
- Government of Japan - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. - Government of United States of America - U.S. Enivronmental Protection Agency (USEPA) - CLASP Secretariat - UNDP-GEF - United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) - United Nations Foundation (UNF)
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- Energy efficiency standards and labels (S&L) for appliances, equipment and lighting are the most cost-effective means to help countries limit energy demand while stimulating economic growth. The overall result of S&L is to reduce required investments in power plants and reduce fuel consumption for their operation with powerful economic gains (e.g., freeing up capital for investments in non-energy... Learn more
Mediaterre - Global information system on sustainable development
- Lead Partner:
- International Center of Resources and Innovation for the Sustainable Development-CIRIDD (former Association Agora 21) - Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (IEPF - Institut de la Francophonie Numérique - Unité Jeunesse)
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The aim of the project is to create an information and discussion platform for sustainable development that is accessible to the various groups concerned (States and public administrations, local governments and international bodies, associations, the economic sector, scientists and the academic community, and ordinary citizens) by facilitating exchanges and integration of the available data on a ... Learn more
Partnership for Water Education & Research (PoWER)
- Lead Partner:
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The mission of the Partnership for Water Education and Research (PoWER) is to combine the strengths of all partners and enhance the capacity of each partner in order jointly to: - Deliver capable professionals in the water and environment sectors. - Find innovative solutions for water and environmental challenges. - Build up the capacity of institutions and communities with respect to better ... Learn more
Enhanced Application of Climate Prediction in Pacific Island Countries Project
- Lead Partner:
- Government of Australia - Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
- Geographical Scope:
- Sub-regional South Pacific
- Summary:
- This partnership developed from the SPREP Pacific Meteorological Services Needs Analysis Project. project aims to strengthen the capacity of Pacific island countries in climate prediction. It includes Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Solomon Is, Kiribati and Niue. The project aims to upgrade the National Meteorological Services of participating island countries to enable them to provide... Learn more
South Pacific Vulnerability and Adaptation Initiative
- Lead Partner:
- Government of Australia - Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
- Geographical Scope:
- Sub-regional Pacific
- Summary:
- The aim of this initiative is to enable Pacific Island countries to adapt to the future impact of climate change, climate variability and sea-level rise. Consistent with the objectives of the Pacific Island Framework for Action on Climate Change, Climate Variability and Sea Level Rise, the initiative aims to strengthen regional collaboration between relevant multilateral and regional technical ag... Learn more
Enhancement of regional strategy on climate change through the Asia-Pacific Network on Climate Change (AP-Net)
- Lead Partner:
- Government of Japan - Ministry of Environment
- Geographical Scope:
- Regional
- Summary:
- Greenhouse gases emissions from the Asia-Pacific region are increasing while climate change can have serious impact on some countries in the region. In order to implement the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, which is a first step for addressing climate change, the region requires fruitful policy dialogues among countries. Further, it needs to develop and implement a regional strategy addressing cli... Learn more
International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)
- Lead Partner:
- International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) - International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The main objective of ICRAN is to halt and reverse the decline in health of the world 's coral reefs. ICRAN is an innovative and dynamic global partnership of many of the world's leading coral reef science and conservation organizations. The partnership draws on its partners' investments in reef monitoring and management to create strategically linked actions across local, national and global scal... Learn more
My Community, Our Earth (MyCOE) - Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development
- Lead Partner:
- Association of American Geographers
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The general goal of My Community, Our Earth -- Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development is to build geographically literate generations able to use this knowledge in their everyday lives to bring about true sustainable development. In particular, the Program seeks to provide students and international leaders with the opportunity to discover and address real issues in their communities and... Learn more
