7 Things You Need to Know AboutCclimate Risk Insurance

Photo by UN/Logan Abassi

1. Climate risk insurance is a practical and political solution

Climate risk insurance can help protect individuals, small businesses or entire countries from permanent damage caused by the impact of extreme weather events. In the short-term it can reduce the effect of natural disasters and, in the longer term, can contribute to preventive disaster risk reduction.

But climate risk insurance does not only have economic advantages. It is also a political tool that allows countries which are affected by climate change to become more independent; rather than waiting for months, or even longer for international aid to arrive, they are able to manage disaster risk themselves.

MY #COP22 ENDED WITH NEW HOPE TO BABAYERS COMMUNITY IN DODOMA, TANZANIA.

Early last month I wrote blog about My COP22 in Babayu Village, Dodoma, it was the time COP22 was about to start in Marrakech Morocco. I decided to miss Marrakech for good reason that I wanted to leave remarkable footprint to lives of people in Babayu for the memory of COP22 and Nov 19.

As seen on picture, water from Dundo Spring

I devoted my attention, time and power to peoples of Babayu where access to safe and clean water was a daytime dream, the dream that I and my gifted colleagues we agreed to make it true in November 2016. The village was established in 1970 and in 1973 was the last year for Babayers to get safe and clean water from tapes, since then they have been fetching their colored water from springs particularly one known as ‘Dundo’.

MAKING MEMORY FOR #COP22 BY TRANSFORMING RURAL LIVES IN DODOMA, TANZANIA

By Tajiel Urioh,

Is 65 kilometers from Dodoma Town Tanzania where I will have my COP22, The COP that will basically focus on Sustainable Development Goals, especially in all areas of 5Ps (People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace and Partnership). I will not be in Marrakesh, Morocco but I walk on implementation of some of best practices known on addressing and responding to climate variability and changes in Chemba District, Dodoma.

Again, this is November, my birthday month of which I want to leave a green and hope footprint to my people regarding solutions to climate variability and change related challenges.

With fund from UNDP Tanzania, I and my team we dedicate our November to transform lives of more than 500 households in Babayu, Chemba District by making a 1973 promise of water true in November 2016 during COP22. The people of Babayu get their water from a natural source, and local sand dams on dried seasonal water streams. The quality of that water is not good but also such sources are drying fast and population is growing so fast.

According to Elders from Babayu told me that in May 1973, Mwl JK Nyerere during opening of Village Dispensary He made a promise to this community that he clean and safe water will be available but delivery of such promise was not accomplished as per Babayers expectations. With spirit of changing lives of others, I’m leading a team that we are working on supplying clean and safe water to this community after drilling a deep borehole that will be powered by Solar Energy. 

Landmark Climate Change Agreement to Enter into Force

Over 55 Parties covering More Than 55 per cent of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Ratify the Paris Climate Change Agreement

The UN’s top climate official today praised nations across the globe for acting swiftly to bring the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement into force.

“This is a truly historic moment for people everywhere. The two key thresholds needed for the Paris Climate Change Agreement to become legal reality have now been met,” said Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“The speed at which countries have made the Paris’s Agreement’s entry into force possible is unprecedented in recent experience of international agreements and is a powerful confirmation of the importance nations attach to combating climate change and realizing the multitude of opportunities inherent in the Paris Agreement,” she said.

In a statement issued before the threshold for ratification of the Paris Agreement was crossed, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "Strong international support for the Paris Agreement entering into force is testament to the urgency for action, and reflects the consensus of governments that robust global cooperation is essential to meet the climate challenge."

Momentum for action under the Paris Agreement builds with Climate Change events in New York

New York City is a hotbed of climate action this week, with the UN hosting events to enhance the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The eighth annual Climate Week NYC is also being convened from 19-25 September, providing a collaborative space for climate events to support the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

On the 21 st September, 31 countries deposited their instruments of ratification at the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special event to accelerate the entry into force of the historic Paris Agreement. 60 countries have now ratified the Agreement, which requires 55 countries representing 55% of greenhouse gas emissions to enter into force.

European Climate Diplomacy 2016 in Tanzania

To celebrate the European Climate Diplomacy Day, the Embassies of France and Germany, and the EU delegation organized a panel discussion on post-Cop 21 developments and their impacts on Tanzania, followed by a movie screening of “Tomorrow”, hosted by the Goethe Institut.

The Panel

 The panelists were : Hon. January Makamba, Minister for the Environment, Ms Adolphine Kateka, environmental economist working with the University of Dar es Salaam., M. Dennis Mwendwa, Director for the Oil, Natural Gas and Environmental Alliance (ONGEA) and Tajiel Urioh, Climate and Environmental Activist.

European Climate Diplomacy Week: Public Movie Screening and Discussion with Minister Makamba

The German Embassy and the Goethe-Institut together with the EU Delegation and the French Embassy invited to a panel discussion with the Minister for the Environment as well as experts from academia, civil society and media. Afterwards the audience saw the Africa premiere of “Demain” , César award of Best Documentary Film 2016.

Find Full Press Release Here

Source: Germany Embassy to Tanzania

The Least Developed Countries Group Want Early Entry of Paris Agreement

The Chair of the Least Developed Countries group, Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, will be in Bonn for the next international climate meeting from 16-26 May. The Bonn meeting follows the adoption of a new global agreement on climate change in Paris in December, 2015. Parties will now begin negotiating how they will reach the goals set down in Paris. In the lead up to this important meeting, Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu said:

"Reaching global agreement in Paris does not mean we can become complacent. We have drawn the blueprint and we must now begin construction of the rules and procedures that will bring the next phase of our global climate regime to life. A record-breaking 175 Parties united in New York on April 22 to sign the Paris Agreement, demonstrating that we have the political momentum to achieve this."

"Building off current political momentum, the LDCs will continue to push for early entry into force of the Paris Agreement, so that the world can benefit as soon as possible from its implementation."

"Even if current pledges are fulfilled, the world is on a path to over 3 degrees C of warming, well above the global goal of 1.5 degrees set in Paris; and that is without considering that developing countries need support to the tune of $4tn to meet these pledges."

YOU MUST WATCH: Tanzania - 25th Session of Universal Periodic Review

After presentation of Tanzania several countries provided comments on various issues that are taking place. Watch and share comments with us.

List of Countries and name of their representatives commented on Tanzania Report are:-

Tanzania in High-level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement

Remarks by H.E. Mr. Tuvako Nathaniel Manongi Chair of delegation of the United Republic of Tanzania at the national statements of the High-level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement.

MABADILIKO YA TABIANCHI NA AFYA - MLIMANI TV

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE ENERGY ARCHITECTURE PERFORMANCE INDEX (EAPI) 2016.

The Energy Architecture Performance Index (EAPI), developed by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Accenture, aims to provide an additional set of data to help leaders benchmark the current performance of national energy systems, and inform decision-making in the context of the changes under way in the global energy landscape.

The Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report 2016 ranks 126 countries on their ability to deliver secure, affordable and sustainable energy.

Key Findings from the EAPI 2016 Architecture Report Series

The EAPI 2016 reveals strengths and weakness across regions as major economies struggle to take the lead

• Analysis of this year’s top performers demonstrate that there are no clear-cut ‘winners’ or perfect energy architectures. The strong scores of the top performers reveal balance across the energy triangle, but room for improvement is still significant.

• High-performing countries are not confined to a single region. The EAPI points to the strengths of countries beyond the usual suspects, with for example Albania (17th) and Paraguay (21st) boasting fully decarbonized electricity generation.

• Low oil prices are forcing or accelerating subsidy reforms to restore fiscal balance in countries reliant on oil revenues.

• The world’s largest economies still struggle to achieve balanced high performance in their energy systems. With the exception of France (4th), none of the 12 largest countries by GDP made it into the top 10 performers.

Few Ways That Climate Change Hurts You

From floods and droughts to increases in violent conflict, climate change is taking a toll on the planet's population

Floods in Jangwani Dar es Salaam in 2014

It can be easy to think of climate change as a far-off, indirect threat that some future human population will have to overcome. And that even then, the effects of climate change won’t be too bad, or that they won’t hurt people. But as the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, emphasizes, the effects of climate change already can be seen, and members of the current human population already are its victims.

Climate change will hurt and even kill humans in a stunning variety of ways. Here are nine (sometimes unexpected) ways climate change will negatively affect people:

Hatua Stahiki Zitaokoa Afya yako Dhidi ya Athari za Mabadiliko ya Tabianchi

Mabadiliko ya tabianchi ni mabadiliko ya muda mrefu kuanzia miongo mpaka milenia ya muundo wa hali ya hewa ikijumuisha jotoridi, kunyesha kwa mvua, upepo, mgandamizo wa hewa na mielekeo mingine ya tabianchi katika dunia. Kwa zaidi ya 95% mabadiliko ya tabianchi husababishwa na shughuli za binadamu ambazo hupelekea uzalishaji na ongezeko la gesi joto kwenye angahewa na hatimaye kupelekea ongezeko kubwa la joto kama tunaloshuhudia sasa hivi, ukame, majanga ya mafuriko, vimbuka, kubadilika kwa mgawanyo na muda wa mvua kunyesha, kuzuka na kuenenea kwa magonjwa mbalimbali, kuzama kwa visiwa, kuongezeka kwa maji chumvi, kuhama hama na migogoro ya rasilimali kama ilivyo kati ya wakulima na wafugaji.

Matatizo ya kiafya ambayo yanachangiwa mabadiliko ya tabianchi katika kuenea na kutokea kwake ni malaria, homa ya bonde la ufa, denge, kipindupindu, magonjwa ya moyo na mfumo wa upumuaji, kiharusi, saratani, utapiamlo, zika, msongo wa mawazo, udumavu wa watoto, magonjwa ya mfumo wa fahamu. Haya ni baadhi tu ya matatizo ya kiafya ambayo mabadiliko ya tabianchi yana mchango katika kutokea na kuenea kwa kasi zaidi.

Nyanya zikiwa zimekauka shambani huko kishapu Shinyanga.
Picha na Tajiel Urioh, September 2015

Ili uwe na Afya nzuri unahitaji maji safi na salama, hewa safi, chakula bora na makazi salama, lakini vitu hivi vyote vinaathiriwa na mabadiliko ya tabianchi. Kutokana na ukame hali ya uzalishaji wa chakula bora na cha kutosha inazorota kwa kasi, shughuli mbalimbali za uzalishaji viwandani na majumbani zinachangia sana uchafuzi wa hewa na kupelekea matatizo ya kiafya. Upatikanaji wa maji safi na salama unazidi kuwa changamoto kubwa sana kutokana na ongezeko kubwa la joto duniani linalosababishwa na mabadiliko ya tabianchi, ebu fikiri maisha pasipo maji!, maji ni uhai. Leo hii watu wanahama makazi yao kwa kutopenda kutokana na athari za mabadiliko ya tabianchi katika maeneo yao, kwa mfano majanga ya ukame, kuongezeka kwa magongwa, vimbunga, mafuriko, migogoro ya rasilimali na mengiyo, mwisho wa siku haya yote yanathiri ustawi wa afya yako na jamii.

Ten Inconvenient Truths About the Paris Climate Agreement

By Surya P. Sethi 

Surya P. Sethi, India’s former Core Climate Negotiator, writes in The Wire: To those who say the Paris Accord “signals an end to the fossil fuel era”; I say please look at Bloomberg’s commodities page – fossil fuels are being produced in never before quantities and sold at the lowest ever prices in real terms.

With the current pledges we would, by 2023, likely lose the odds of even delivering the less ambitious goal of keeping global warming “well below” 2 °C.

Let me begin by giving credit where credit is due. The French, especially President François Hollande and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, deserve the appreciation of the entire world for successfully avoiding another Copenhagen-like embarrassment. Despite the recent tragic events in Paris, France and its leaders exhibited remarkable resilience and diplomatic finesse in pulling off the Paris Agreement at COP 21.

List of Recent Climate Funding Announcements

A number of climate funding announcements by developed country governments, multilateral development banks and multilateral climate funds have been made in the run-up to and at the COP 21 UN climate change conference.

The secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has compiled the list below from public sources and produced an interactive user graphic to show the essential details of each.

Tanzania in World Geothermal Alliance; Cleaner Alternative Source of Energy

Thirty-six countries gave the official start to an initiative to promote geothermal energy in developing economies as a cleaner alternative to oil, gas and coal.

The Global Geothermal Alliance, launched on the sidelines of the UN climate talks in Le Bourget, aims at a sixfold increase in geothermal electricity production and a tripling of geothermal-derived heating by 2030.

At present, geothermal is growing modestly, at three to four percent per year, providing 12 gigawatts of electricity annually.

But this is just a fraction of its overall potential of 100 gigawatts, according to the industry. Only 24 out of 90 countries with geothermal potential actually use the resource.

The alliance said its members will seek to overcome "political uncertainty" about geothermal and strengthen the industry's skills base.

Statement Made by Tanzania During the the High Level Segment at the Paris Climate Change Conference

STATEMENT BY H.E. BEGUM KARIM TAJ, AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO FRANCE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA AT THE UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CONFERENCE (COP21/CMP11) PARIS, 

FRANCE, 8TH DECEMBER, 2015 

Your Excellency, Mr. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France and COP 21/CMP11 President; Ms. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; 

Excellences, Heads of Delegations; 

Distinguished Participants; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

I bring to you the greetings of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Dr. John Pombe Magufuli, newly elected and therefore could not be here in person nor send a Minister as he doesn’t have a ministerial cabinet yet. We also wish to express our solidarity to the people and government of France following the tragic events of 13th November 2015.

Norway Maintained the Leadership in Climate Finance; to Double its Contribution to GCF by 2020

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has announced plans to scale up Norway’s commitments to the Green Climate Fund.

Norway already pledged USD 258 million to the Fund last year as part of the initial resource mobilization and has now promised to double that figure by 2020, provided that GCF can finance verified emissions reductions in deforestation and forest degradation.

Speaking at the Paris climate conference, Prime Minister Solberg stressed the importance of climate finance and Norway’s support for the Fund.

Is Saudi Arabia the Big Bad Wolf of the Paris Climate Talks?

The oil producing giant blocked efforts in Paris to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Khalid Abuleif, Saudi Arabia’s chief negotiator (Photo by IISD/ENB)

Oil rich Saudi Arabia is leading a campaign to sabotage attempts by countries on the front line of climate change to include an ambitious 1.5C target for global warming in the COP21 agreement currently being negotiated in Paris.

Wealthy nations – including Germany, France and now the United States – have all signalled support for including references to the lower target in the final text, as negotiators reach the end of the first week of negotiations.