BANGKOK, Thailand – If Philippine companies’ non-participation in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development is any indication, then it seems like sustainable development is not a priority. Read the rest of this entry »

(Updated 5:06 p.m.) BANGKOK, Thailand — Despite the deadlock in the United States and European debt crisis, sustainable development remains a feasible approach to saving the world from an economic and ecological disaster, participants to the second Sustainable Development Symposium here said on Monday. Read the rest of this entry »

PRIETO DIAZ, Sorsogon — More and more local governments and NGOs are reforesting their coastlines with mangroves. They can learn from this Pacific town how to do it by the hundreds of hectares, both to save the earth and spur the economy. It’s a success story of environment protection leading into different livelihoods. Read the rest of this entry »

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines ranked 97th out of 169 countries in the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)’s annual Human Development Report, which measures quality of life. Read the rest of this entry »

Nagoya, Japan – Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje said he plans to require mining firms operating in the Philippines to engage in the reforestation of denuded or degraded forest areas. Read the rest of this entry »

The Philippines consumes a lot of water, due mostly to its relatively large population of nearly 100 million. Water is used for farm irrigation, for power generation, for sewage and sanitation, for household and industrial use, and for human and livestock consumption, among other things. And all these are adversely affected by seasonal supply problems. Read the rest of this entry »

Brussels, 13rd September (ITUC OnLine):  A new report launched today “Conference News: Workshop on Climate Change, its impacts on employment and labour markets” examining the impacts of climate change on employment, brings together the findings of a group of 50 trade union and university experts on the subject. The report arises from a March 2010 meeting organized in Brussels by the ITUC, the Global Unions Research Network (GURN) and the Bureau of Workers’ Activities of the International Labour Organisation (ILO ACTRAV)

“This report confirms the importance the international trade union movement gives to collecting sound research and assessing the positive effects of climate policies, as well as challenges for workers and their trade unions in tackling climate change.  Knowledge about impacts and policy measures needed to ensure a Just Transition is fundamental to the labour movement’s proactive engagement in climate change debates”, said Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary.

The report summarises the presentations made by researchers at the March event and the discussions which followed. Studies on the transition from offshore oil to offshore wind, industrial policies and green jobs, local strategies for green development and regional approaches are included in the report.  The launch of the report is the first in a series entitled “Conference News” which the ITUC is releasing as part of its work on climate change and the green economy.

“The report confirms that trade unions are in the right track when they call for ambitious climate policies, coupled with strong accompanying policies.  It also constitutes a first step towards more cooperation on climate change between academia and trade unions at the international level”, said Burrow.

The International Trade Union Confederation
Our new Climate Change and Green Economy blog is:

http://www.ituc-csi.org/-climate-change-blog-.html

View the full report here

Haribon Foundation is currently implementing the GOLDEN, or Governance and Local Development of Endangered Forests, Landscapes and Seascapes Project (GF/LS) in Surigao del Sur province, covering Lanuza Bay and two important biodiversity areas (IBAs)—Mount Hilong-hilong and Mount Diwata Ranges. The goal of the project is to protect endangered tropical rainforests and coastal areas in the Philippines. It involves various stakeholders such as the indigenous peoples, women, youth, natural resource dependent families (NRDF), nongovernment organizations, the government and the private sector in the municipalities of Lanuza, Cortes, Cagwait and Tandag. The European Union (EU) and Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (AECID) through Cives Mundi are funding this project. Read the rest of this entry »