Background:

GLOBE, the Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment, is organizing the G8+5 Climate Change Dialogue in Brasilia, bringing together governments, parliamentarians and the private sector. They want to develop the Roadmap for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s Summit in Copenhagen in 2009, where a post-2012 agreement on climate change must be reached. Following the UNFCCC Summit in Bali in December 2007, where the Roadmap was first approved, GLOBE will submit a GLOBE 2012 paper to the UNFCCC, on February 22, to be considered at its meeting in Bangkok (31 March-4 April). This paper makes key recommendations to reach a post-2012 agreement on climate change. It will be discussed in Brasilia with top leaders from around the world, including the Head of the Environmental Law Programme of IUCN, Alejandro Iza. IUCN will provide GLOBE with feedback on how to better address the links between climate change, ecosystems and livelihoods.

Key Issues:

• Biodiversity and ecosystems are our best allies in the face of climate change, for mitigation and adaptation.
• Forests capture and store carbon and provide local people with livelihoods. They are also vital to preserve species.
• Mitigation targets are clearly needed to limit the global temperature increase to no more than +2° compared with pre-industrial levels, but these targets need to be coupled with effective measures for technology transfer and adaptation for developing countries.
• The option of biofuels as a mitigation measure needs to be critically assessed when looking at the greenhouse gas emissions of the whole cycle of production, as well as its impacts on biodiversity and livelihoods.
• The UNFCCC negotiation process should allow a more equitable participation from all stakeholders, including women, indigenous communities and representatives from developing countries.

Materials for the Media:

Interview: IUCN’s Deputy Director General Bill Jackson reflects on a key meeting about climate change which is getting underway in Brazil.

Why is this meeting in Brazilia so important?
English: Audio [460KB] ¦ Video [1870KB]

What does IUCN hope will come out of the meeting?
English: Audio [1070KB]¦ Video [4590KB]

How serious is the need for action on climate change?
English: Audio [1180KB] ¦ Video [4980KB]

More information:

IUCN and climate change: www.iucn.org/climate

GLOBE: www.globeinternational.org

Spokespeople:

At IUCN: Dr William Jackson, Deputy Director General, IUCN, Email: wjjiucn.org

At GLOBE meeting: Dr Alejandro Iza, Head, IUCN Environmental Law Programme,
Email: alejandro.izaiucn.org

Media team:

Sarah Halls, IUCN Media Relations Officer, Tel: +41 22 999 0127;
Mobile: +41 79 528 3486;
Email: sarah.hallsiucn.org

Brian Thomson, IUCN Global Communications, Tel: +41 22 999 0251;
Mobile: +41 79 721 82326;
Email: brian.thomsoniucn.org