Climate change

This background paper offers for the first time a comparative analysis of the 28 overseas entities of the European Union; its purpose is to establish the current state of existing knowledge on the impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of the European Union overseas entities. It starts with a thematic analysis presenting the transversal threats on overseas entities in the face of climate change.

Recent studies have brought to light a series of interacting and complex relationships, many with negative feedback loops, between HIV/AIDS and the environment. A comprehensive examination of these relationships and analyses of the quality and breadth of the evidence are lacking.

This publication synthesizes information on IUCN's work in this domain, particularly highlighting programmatic work in projects at local and national level, implemented by IUCN's Global thematic and Regional Programmes and Commissions. It serves as an introductory "where we are at" on climate change response in some areas of our work.

In the last decade biodiversity loss and persistent poverty in developing countries have been recognised as major international problems that require urgent attention. However, the nature and scale of the links between these two problems, and between efforts to address them, has been the subject of much heated debate. Understanding the different elements of this debate is critical for the move towards constructive solutions.

This documentary demonstrates that it is possible to rehabilitate large-scale damaged ecosystems, to restore ecosystem functions in areas where they have been lost, to fundamentally improve the lives of people who have been trapped in poverty for generations and to sequester carbon naturally. This approach has been dramatically proven on the Loess Plateau in China, the highland area spanning some 640,000 square km in north central China.

The estimated 500 million people who depend on coral reefs worldwide regularly contend with change. Whether it is the shifting demands of a global marketplace, political upheaval at the national level, shortage of local supplies such as fuel, or fickle weather, the resilience of reefdependent people is often put to the test.

A survey of tourists and tour operators in the Egyptian Red Sea region shows that the industry often misperceives its clients’ environmental sensitivity, putting its own business at risk. Climate change is a growing threat to the tourism industry by making destinations less attractive and jeopardizing major sources of income. The awareness of tourists towards climate change and other environmental issues is likely to be a major driver of their future holiday choices.