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    UN Systems to Gear Up to Save Farm Sector From Climate Impact
    By Ashok B. Sharma
    The Financial Express

    Monday 11 February 2008

    New Delhi - The United Nations, apprehending that climate change can take a toll on agriculture, water resources, fisheries, forestry, public health and may increase the frequency of natural disasters ... has geared up to formulate appropriate support systems for the countries facing these challenges.

    "The UN systems would work in coordination with the national governments and other inter-governmental bodies. We are preparing a work plan in consultation with all these agencies. It will be deliberated in the UN Chief Executive Board, which will determine a coordination structure with key clusters of activity and specific lead agencies," said the executive secretary of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), Yvo de Boer, who was recently in India. He said global investments to the tune of $ 15 to 20 trillion was needed over the next 25 years to meet the challenges of climate change.

    In a draft document prepared after the Bali conference on climate change, the UN has noted that agriculture was both a source and a sink for greenhouse gases, as well as both a source and a user of energy. Water, land, bio-diversity and terrestrial ecosystem services would become stressed. This would impact food security and the ability to feed a population approaching 9 billion by 2050." Also, climate change impact on marine, coastal, estuaries and freshwater ecosystems is likely to affect many of the 200 million people directly or indirectly dependent on fisheries for their livelihoods, through changes in nature, distribution and productivity of aquatic resources," the draft document said.

    It noted that transport consumes a quarter of the world's energy and accounts for some 25% of total carbon dioxide emissions, 80% of which can be attributed to road transport. Maritime transport carries over 90% of the world trade in volume, which is vital for the world Economy and remains the most environment friendly and energy-efficient mode of transport in specific terms. Though maritime transport may be a small contribution to climate change, legislation and mitigation measures should be taken at the global level on account of its international nature.

    Regarding aviation, the draft UN document said it was a critically important transport mode moving more than 2.2 billion passengers and 40% of global exports by value. Air traffic demand was growing at the rate of 5% to 6% a year. This would cause aviation share in emission to grow beyond its current level estimated at 2% of the global total.

    The draft document suggested that UN systems would extend support in developing alternative eco-friendly fuels and engines for its use.

    Keeping in view, the competition between fuel crops and food crops for land and water use, it said "It would promote research on second generation bio-fuels generated from cellulose, waste and other materials." It would also deepen the understanding of the links among bio-fuels, food security, land, water use and biodiversity.

    Also, the UN systems would support increased carbon sequestration through restoration of degraded lands and through improved agricultural land management. It would develop financial instruments to compensate poor farmers for environmental services they provide by adopting land-use and forestry practices that reduce carbon emissions. It would increase technical support to farmers in developing and implementing alternative agricultural practices.