12 January 2017: The past weeks’ capacity-building and technology development and transfer-related activities have contributed to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on a range of issues, including energy efficiency and renewables, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR). This Update outlines some of these initiatives.

IMO Builds Capacity to Enhance Energy Efficiency in Maritime Shipping, African Youth Trained on Renewables

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that Shanghai and Trinidad and Tobago had been selected to host regional Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) – MTCC-Asia and MTCC-Caribbean, respectively. The MTCCs were established as part of the Global MTTC Network (GMN) project titled ‘Capacity Building for Climate Change Mitigation in the Maritime Shipping Industry.’ Funded by the EU and implemented by IMO, the project seeks to enable developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS), to effectively implement energy-efficiency measures by providing technical assistance and capacity building, and promoting technical cooperation. Three further MTCCs will be established in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific to form a global network. [IMO Press Release]

The training programme conducted by UN-Habitat, in partnership with the Government of Nigeria aims to contribute to the implementation of SDGs 1 (No poverty), 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and 11 (Sustainable cities and communities).

In December 2016, the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), in partnership with the Government of Nigeria, conducted training for 125 Nigerian youths in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, as well as green entrepreneurship and enterprise development. According to Adejoke Adefulire, Government of Nigeria, the training programme aims to contribute to the implementation of SDGs 1 (No poverty), 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and 11 (Sustainable cities and communities). [UN-Habitat Press Release]

CSA Promoted in Africa, Asia

Other recent initiatives have built CSA capacity in West Africa and Nepal.

A workshop for students enrolled in the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) Master’s programme on climate change and energy at Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey, Niger (UAM), addressed climate change, agriculture and food security, utilizing a specialized curriculum on CSA developed by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). [CCAFS Press Release] [WASCAL Website] [Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey Website]

CCAFS has reported on the outcomes of a three-day workshop on the climate-smart village (CSV) approach, which had convened from 12-14 September 2016, in Nepal, bringing together nearly 100 representatives from various CGIAR centers, development partners and CCAFS regions. Among others, the projects sought to use the CSV approach to scale up CSA in Nepal. [CCAFS Press Release]

Trainings Build Capacity on Climate Action, DRR

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) conducted the Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) international “training of trainers” in Dakar, Senegal, from 21-23 November 2016, which aimed to enhance participants’ capacity to implement the “whole-institution approach” to climate change in schools. The meeting brought together teachers and national project coordinators from Brazil, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Namibia, Oman and Senegal. The training of trainers is part of an ASPnet project piloting the implementation of the whole-institution approach to education for sustainable development (ESD), with a focus on climate change. [UNESCO Press Release]

The UN Office for DRR (UNISDR) Global Education and Training Institute conducted a workshop for disaster risk management (DRM) professionals from across the Americas titled ‘Implementing the Sendai Framework: Formulation of Disaster Risk Reduction Plans’ in Panama City, Panama, on 29 December 2016. Participants took stock of how best to craft and implement DRR strategies and share the lessons learned. [UNISDR Press Release] [Sendai Framework on DRR]

CTCN Makes Progress on Climate Change Monitoring in South America, Sustainable Water Delivery in Africa

The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), the implementation arm of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, which provides free technical assistance to developing countries on climate technology issues, published an update on its ongoing projects in Kenya and Chile:

Upcoming UNITAR Courses to Look Out For

In the coming months, the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) will conduct a number of climate change-related trainings, including: