Climate Change & Energy

Climate-Responsive Construction

Policy Document

The world population is growing. More and more people need housing and infrastructure for a good life. New settlements and rappidly growing cities further increase this need. At present about 3.5 billion people live in cities. The United Nations predicts that by 2050 this figure will rise to about six billion. The informal settlements that currently house almost one billion people could thus acquire an additional one to two billion inhabitants. Cities in Asia and Africa are expected to experience the biggest increase.

The document can also be ordered by e-mail at:
Silvia.Cottin@misereor.de

Good energy for All!

Publication

Climate Mitigation and Justice in the energy sector. Five perspectives from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Misereor has started a dialogue process on sustainable energy, mitigation in the energy sector and energy justice with partners in 7 countries. Not only clean energy but fair and equal access to resources and energy has been a special focus. Read the key findings.

The document can also be ordered by e-mail at: Silvia.Cottin@misereor.de

Phase-Out 2020: Monitoring Europe’s fossil fuel subsidies

Report

European governments and the EU are handing out more than €112 billion each year to prop up the production and consumption of fossil fuels, despite a pledge to phase out harmful subsidies out by 2020.

A new report by the Overseas Development Institute and Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, where MISEREOR is a member, has for the first time gathered detailed information on the support provided to fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal from 11 European countries and the EU between 2014 and 2016. CAN Europe urges Governments to stop subsidizing fossil fuels and invest into climate friendly development.

Beyond coal

Position paper

Scaling up clean energy to fight global poverty

A change of course. How to build a fair future in a 1.5° world

Publication

Limiting global temperature rise as set out in the Paris Agreement can only be achieved – according to mainstream opinion – by technologies hopefully available in the future. This publication shows practical examples how we can realize a habitable world for all already today, instead of postponing the solutions to the climate crisis.

A successful provocation for a pluralistic global society

Briefing Paper

The encyclical Laudato Si’ – A Magna Carta of integral ecology as a reaction to humanity’s self-destructive course. This background paper explores the potential relevance within a pluralistic society of the important encyclical Laudato Si’ issued by Pope Francis in June 2015.

Climate Policy in Cities without Forced Evictions

Policy Document

Establishing Human Rights Principles in the Urban Agenda. MISEREOR Policy Paper on the 3. UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III).

Global yet Equitable

Report

Combating Climate Change, Enabling Development.

Development and Climate Justice

Position Paper

CIDSE recognises the injustice of climate change, and the threat it poses to human development and global social justice. CIDSE has launched a campaign with Caritas Internationalis to push all countries to agree an effective, equitable and socially just post 2012 climate change agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This paper sets out CIDSE’s policy approach to the negotiations.

The Climate Crisis – People’s Potential and Needs for Adaptation and Mitigation

Report

This report summarises inputs and discussions of a conference organised in India in October 2009 by MISEREOR and Welthungerhilfe in partnership with South-Asian partner organisations. It includes the recommendations that were formulated and that highlight the need to recognise local people’s strategies in adapting to climate change.

Agriculture: from Problem to Solution Achieving the Right to Food in a Climate-Constrained World.

Publication

Guiding Principles and Recommendation for climate policies in regards to agriculture. CIDSE (2012).

Biochar – a Climate Smart Solution?

Report

Various “climatefriendly” agricultural solutions have already been proposed: they include biochar and no-tillage agriculture. Against this background, MISEREOR uses this series of papers to examine whether these solutions actually lead to climate-friendly and equitable agriculture with a clear commitment to a pro-poor approach.

No-till Agriculture – a Climate Smart Solution?

Report

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our globalized world today. The poor population in developing countries will be particularly affected by global warming, of which developed countries are the major drivers. Science clearly indicates that a global temperature rise of 2°C above pre-industrial levels may change the face of the world irreversibly. A range of
mitigation solutions is needed to avoid exceeding the 2°C limit. The need for truly sustainable and climate-friendly development is clear.

No. 1 "Climate-Smart Agriculture – A useful Development Paradigm?"

Paper

To attain the goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C in order to protect those living in poverty from the severe impacts of climate change, sustainable and climate-friendly development in all economic sectors is essential. In the run-up to Rio+20, the Environment Programme (UNEP) has identified agriculture as a sector vital to the process of transformation from “brown” to “green” economies.

No. 2 "Carbon markets in Agriculture – Benefitting the Poor and the Climate?"

Paper

Enhancing food security in a sustainable way without putting the global climate at risk is one of the main global challenges. It is clear that support for farmers is urgently needed. Many argue that carbon markets are a good instrument for the mobilisation of fi nancial resources to ensure climate change mitigation in the agricultural sector while also alleviating poverty and fostering adaptation to the severe impacts of climate change. MISEREOR, based on its 50 years of experience in poverty alleviation, does not share these hopes...

No. 3 "Climate Smart Solution at Stake: No-till Agriculture"

Paper

No-till agriculture is one of the ‘climate-smart’ solutions promoted as a panacea for problems such as hunger and climate change. Several voices advocate no-till as a way to benefit from international climate finance and existing and future carbon markets. But is no-till really a solution to reduce hunger in the world and mitigate climate change? And should no-till farming benefit from existing and future carbon markets?

No. 4 "Climate Smart Solution at Stake: Biochar"

Paper

Biochar is promoted as a silver bullet for various challenges: enhancing carbon sequestration in soils, enriching soils in order to raise yields, and contributing to food security and poverty reduction. In order to spread this technology, many now advocate including biochar and soil carbon in general in a carbon market scheme.

Rights before REDD

Workshop Documentation

MISEREOR Position Paper on the Mechanism Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD +).

Bioenergy

Policy

Bioenergy amid the competing demands of climate change mitigation and poverty reduction.

Energy for the Poor

Statement

What We Expect from Political Decision-Makers.