Overview

If not addressed and resolved, environmental problems – water shortages, land degradation, pollution – can become security threats. In this respect the Mediterranean is one of the world’s most vulnerable areas. Its basic climatic and environmental features, combined with its cultural, geopolitical and economic complexity, have high potential for social and political instability.

Vital Ozone Graphics 2.0 - Climate Link is a Resource Kit for journalists, which provides them with the essential visuals, facts, links and contacts to develop ozone story ideas. Graphics and figures can be downloaded and included in articles.  This electronic publication is intended not only to inform and inspire journalists but also to serve as an interesting reference for those who wish to learn more about the Montreal Protocol and ozone layer depletion. 

UNEP and UNITAR are pleased to present to you this overview document outlining the situation regarding the world’s last known exporting mercury mine – at Khaidar- kan in southern Kyrgyzstan. For the past two years, sig- nifcant efforts have been taking place at the international level to assist the Government of Kyrgyzstan and national and local stakeholders to consider options regarding the future of the mine and its associated infrastructure.

A new Rapid Response Assessment report released 14 October 2009 at the Diversitas Conference, Cape Town Conference Centre, South Africa. Compiled by experts at GRID-Arendal and UNEP in collaboration with the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the UNESCO International Oceanographic Commissions and other institutions, the report highlights the critical role of the oceans and ocean ecosystems in maintaining our climate and in assisting policy makers to mainstream an oceans agenda into national and international climate change initiatives

The theme of the 6th issue of Environment and Poverty Times is resource efficiency as a catalyst for a greening of the world economy and its subsequent contribution to poverty alleviation efforts. It points to a few examples of shifts in thinking about economics that may lead to a more sustainable future. It presents practical examples of resource efficiency that contribute to a greening of the economy, highlighting such themes as sustainable energy, waste management, construction and sustainable tourism.

The Uganda Atlas of Our Changing Environment, prepared by the National Environmental Management Authority of Uganda, provides extensive scientific evidence of Uganda’s changing environment. Modelled after Africa: Atlas of our Changing Environment previously published by UNEP, the Uganda Atlas seeks to safeguard the country’s environment and inspire decision makers to action.

A rapid response assessment report released by UNEP to mark World Environment Day 2009 indicates that boosting investments in conservation, restoration and management of natural ecosystems will not only become important, but will provide our best and most effective way to slow down climate change and accelerate sustainable development and the achievement of the poverty-related Millennium Development Goals.

A publication of the UN Environment Programme, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Forum on Forests  that serves as an advocacy tool to promote conservation and sustainable management of the world’s forests through a better understanding of the values they provide in support of global ecological stability, economic development and human well-being.

The report highlights some of the main achievements of ECORA over the last 5 years. The project results represent the efforts of many people and organizations across Russia and the other Arctic nations.

The Environment's Role in Averting Future Food Crises
A new rapid response assessment report released by UNEP warns that up to 25% of the world’s food production may become lost due to environmental breakdown by 2050 unless action is taken.

This book presents the substance of the Climate Change 2007 Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in simplified language and structure.

Environmental management in Uganda was first accorded the attention it deserves with the creation of the Ministry of Environment Protection in 1986. Following this, Uganda realized the need to put in place systems and structures to ensure the management of environmental information.

The case of the Eastern Caspian Region
This report examines the role and impact of environmental factors in securing human safety and sustained development of the eastern Caspian Sea region, including the parts of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan opening onto the Caspian Sea.  

An Overview of the State of the World’s Fresh and Marine Waters
The report presents an overview, through a set of graphics, maps and other illustrations, of the current state of the world’s fresh, coastal and marine waters. It illustrates the causes and effects of trends that threaten our water resources, with examples of areas of major concern and future scenarios for the use and management of fresh, coastal and marine waters.

A new UNEP publication, written and produced by UNEP/GRID-Arendal for World Environment Day 2008, shows how various levels of society can work towards climate neutrality. Written and reviewed by experts from many disciplines and various countries, the book is aimed at a broad audience.

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre, jointly with the Nordic World Heritage Foundation (NWHF) and with the generous support by the Prince Albert II Foundation of Monaco organized the first meeting ever on World Heritage and the Arctic.

The paper features a collection of short articles, maps, graphics and other illustrations that focuses on the complex links between environment and poverty reduction. It describes how natural resources can contribute to economic growth that also benefits the poor.

Merging of Climate Change With Pollution, Over-Harvest, and Infestations in the World's Fishing Grounds
A rapid response report  that maps the multiple and combined impacts of pollution; alien infestations; over-exploitation and climate change on the seas and oceans.

State of Emergency: Illegal Logging, Fire and Palm Oil in Indonesia's National Parks
The survival of orangutans and other rain forest wildlife in Indonesia is seriously endangered by illegal logging, forest fires including those associated with the rapid spread of oil palm plantations, illegal hunting and trade.

We often associate the Caspian Sea with caviar that is legally or illegally finding its way to our tables, but overlook the footprints left by a number of industries installed on shores of the Caspian that are serving the world wealthiest market demands.

The “Global Outlook for Ice & Snow” is a special and unique UNEP report launched to mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2007. Snow and ice, with their large areas but relatively small volumes, are inextricably connected to key interactions and responses in the global ecosystem, including solar reflectivity and ocean circulation.

"Vital Ozone Graphics – resource kit for journalists" is a joint publication of UNEP DTIE OzonAction and GRID-Arendal. It features 30+ new graphics explaining physical, technical, economic and political aspects of the disconcerting process of ozone destruction in the atmosphere and the human action that has been taken to stop the process.

Environmental protection is one of the areas where the Balkan countries still face a big challenge to catch up with their western neighbours. After the 1990s conflicts and the breakup of Yugoslavia, six new Balkan states emerged. 

Vital Climate Graphics Latin America and the Caribbean is a collection of graphics that highlight greenhouse gas emission trends, observational evidence, and projected impacts of warming and adverse weather events in the region.

The publication of this second edition was prompted by the popularity of the first edition and the obvious need for providing updated information to our readers. The contents of this publication are accessible on this web site where all the graphics are reproduced in data formats that could be downloaded for further use.

The fate of the Arctic environment deserves global consideration. The Arctic is the world’s last continuous, undeveloped and unexploited coastal and marine region. It is an area highly unique in terms of its landscape, its peoples and ecosystems; as well as its vulnerability to climate change.

Marine pollution, climate change and the resilience of coastal ecosystems
The ability of coral reefs to survive in a globally-warming world may crucially depend on the levels of pollution to which they are exposed, new findings indicate. 

The second edition of Vital Waste Graphics looks at the lifecycle of products and provides a wealth of data, text and graphics that shed a light on types of waste that are usually hidden to the consumers.

This Atlas illustrates through texts and beautifully rendered maps, graphics and diagrams a holistic and well-researched analysis of today’s global issues and their impact on human population and the environment.  
Written by an international team of specialists, this Atlas illustrates through text and beautifully rendered maps, graphics and diagrams...

Mining for Closure – Policies and guidelines for sustainable mining practice and closure of mines aims to present a basis for action within South Eastern Europe (SEE) and within the Tisza River Basin (TRB) towards the development of corporate practice, regulatory frameworks, governance guidelines and/or financial and insurance markets suitable for the support of a modern mining industry.

A new edition of the Environment and Poverty Times was launched at the World Summit 2005 in New York.  The paper focuses on the vital role of environment in poverty reduction.  It tries to raise critical and constructive voices that point at pitfallls, but also propose solutions.

Recent political developments in Kyrgyztan and Uzbekistan have once again drawn the world s attention to the Ferghana valley. Being the most fertile, densely populated region in the whole of Central Asia, the valley is home for 10 million people living well below US$ 500 a year per capita gross national income, so that 60% of the population is defined as poor.

Special Edition for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction January 18-22, 2005, Kobe, Japan. This edition features a collection of articles covering a wide range of disaster-related issues ranging from prevention early warning and preparedness to relief and reconstruction.

Emerging threats to the water resources and biodiversity at the roof of the world to Asia’s lowland from land-use changes associated with large-scale settlement and piecemeal development.

The publication "Vital Waste Graphics" was initiated by the Basel Convention Secretariat and produced in partnership with the Division of Environmental Conventions (DEC) of UNEP, Grid-Arendal and the Division of Early Warning Assessment-Europe of UNEP. It is being published for the seventh meeting of the Conference to the Parties of the Basel Convention (COP7).

The links between the environment and poverty are complex and often invite misunderstanding. Catchy titles such as "Poverty is pollution" and "Healthy environment, prosperous people" are misleading: they generalize the intricate interrelationships between poverty and resource mismanagement.

The Polar Environment Times No 3 was launched at the Arctic Marine Strategic Plan workshop in Reykjavik, Iceland. The Polar Environment Times features articles from several of the ministers that went to Svalbard in August, views on Antarctica and a story on NATO bombing Saami ranges in northern Norway.

The Arctic has always gripped our imagination. The early explorers who came back from their journeys told the world about a barren land with ice, snow and darkness where they had to fight to survive.

The links between the environment and poverty are complex and often invite misunderstanding. Catchy titles such as "Poverty is pollution" and "Healthy environment, prosperous people" are misleading: they generalize the intricate interrelationships between poverty and resource mismanagement.

The latest report (Third Assessment Report) of the UNEP/WMO Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes a warming of approximately 0.7°C over most of the African continent during the 20th century based on historical records. While the exact nature of the changes in temperature or precipitation, and extreme events are not known, there is general agreement that extreme events will get worse, and trends in most variables will change in response to warming.

Vital Climate Graphics are based on the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization. The IPCC's 1995 Second Assessment Report is widely respected as the most authoritative source of climate change information available.

GRID-Arendal's Cookbook for State of the Environment Reporting on the Internet is a 32-page booklet which provides easy-to-use methodological guidance for the development of electronic environmental status reports. Published on the internet and CD-ROM in 1998.