Climate Change

Awareness, Action, Adaptation

UNU and Climate Change

During the UNU G8 Symposium on innovation and climate change held in July this year, we filmed interviews with some of the world's leading climate science and policy experts including James E. Hansen, Gwyn Prins, David Steven, Alex Evans, Shuzo Nishioka, and Ted Nordhaus.
Watch in high definition on the UNUChannel.

I am convinced that this challenge, and what we do about it, will define us, our era and, ultimately, our global legacy. It is time for new thinking.

—UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
31 July 2007, New York

Background

Rector Konrad Osterwalder:

All must innovate in this time of climate change
Asahi Shimbun, July 4 2008

What price an environment bailout?
Japan Times, October 24 2008

UNU and the Bali Climate Change Conference (144 KB PDF)

In accordance to its mandate, the United Nations University is primarily engaged in enhancing and sharing knowledge through research and training, specifically in environmental and human security issues, including vulnerability to climate change and alternatives for adaptation.

UNU has been actively supporting through its centers, programmes and publications, relevant research on the various causes and effects of global warming, the development of viable solutions and their implementation.

Our work falls into three broad categories:

Research

UNU's research is focused on customizing global knowledge for local solutions. Our joint research programs look at disaster risk reduction and financial instruments for recovery, ecosystem management, water and food security, migration, and community action.

Capacity Building

Adaptation to climate change requires national and local measures and initiatives. UNU capacity building aims to provide the necessary training and skills for professionals and the higher education sector, empowering them to take leadership in such programs and effect local change.

Outreach

UNU's global network of researchers disseminates information and raises awareness of climate change by organizing workshops, conferences, and education programmes, publishing books and websites, and participating in the global dialogue with UN, private and civil society, and government partners.

Events

Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies: Post-2012 Options

2008.10.28, 4:00 to 5:30 pm at UNU-IAS in Yokohama. Part of the Climate Change Lecture Series on Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies.

International Conference on Environment, Forced Migration and Social Vulnerability

2008.10.09–11, Bonn, Germany. Organised by UNU-EHS and the Environmental Change and Forced Migration Scenarios project.

Selected Publications

UNU Press

Climate Change in Asia: Perspectives on the Future Climate Regime
Edited by Yasuko Kameyama, Agus P. Sari, Moekti H. Soejahmoen and Norichika Kanie

Countries in Asia have particularly high stakes in the intense and growing international debate over the future climate change regime.

UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security

Control, Adapt or Flee: How to Face Environmental Migration?
Fabrice Renaud, Janos J. Bogardi, Olivia Dun and Koko Warner

Part of the UNU-EHS InterSecTions series, this issue explores an issue where "the interlinkage of environment and human security is nowhere else more pronounced."

GEIC

Innovative Climate Change Communication – Team Minus 6%
Chun Knee Tan, Akinori Ogawa and Takashi Matsumura

This working paper is highlighting the importance of effective communication strategies to increase the public awareness on climate change issues. The study was focused basically on the climate change campaign strategies at developed countries, in particularly Japanese “Team Minus 6%” campaign. Successful climate change campaign is attributed to its communication strategies and attractive content. The lesson learned from successful campaign can help to duplicate the experience at other part of the world.