Topics
Democracy-Building and Elections
Global support for democratisation processes remains, as an element of peace-keeping...
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Globalisation
Political and social goals have long been out of reach of purely national solutions under conditions of globalisation...
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Global Peace and Security Policy
Since the attacks on 11 September security policy issues have returned to the top of the global agenda...
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International Energy and Climate Change Policy
Combating climate change by immediate and drastic emissions reductions ...
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Human Rights
Democracy, social justice and solidarity are the focus of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung's social-policy work...
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Gender
Modern democracy is inconceivable without equal rights...
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Global Trade Union Policy
The world economic crisis poses the greatest challenge faced by the international trade union movement...
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Compass 2020
The "Compass 2020" project represents the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung's contribution to a debate on Germany's aims, role and strategies...
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SUGGESTED READING: GLOBAL POLITICS
Mearns, Robin/ Norton, Andrew (eds.)
Social Dimensions of Climate Change. Equity and Vulnerability in a Warming World
Suggested by Constanze Koitzsch
Steadily increasing temperatures, rising sea-levels as well as frequently occurring natural disasters are some of the most urgent challenges for humanity in the 21st century. The ongoing climate change does not only present a threat to the global ecosystem but does also aggravate the living conditions of the poorest, intensify social inequalities and can therefore – under certain circumstances – exacerbate already existing social conflicts.
In the volume edited by Robin Mearns and Andrew Norton, climate change is examined against the background of a just and social development – an approach that, according to the editors, has so far been neglected in the debate on climate change. Hence, they identify an important research area, but equally emphasize that – e.g. with regard to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals – this topic should also be made accessible for political debate.
The starting assumption is that not only climate change itself causes social inequalities, but that measures of adaptation and mitigation can also involve (unintended) negative consequences for the social development of a state. In the first section of the book those relations are analyzed in different policy areas. Even if a direct correlation between climate change and migration or between climate change and the outbreak of armed conflicts has not yet been empirically verified, it becomes evident that changing climate conditions can – influenced by other variables – accelerate such processes. Besides, it is emphasized that existing gender inequalities will be reinforced if gender-specific consequences of climate change are not adequately considered. This means: gender-blind strategies of adaptation will further deteriorate the situation of women and thus impede their empowerment.
In the second section of the book several authors depict that strategies of mitigation and adaptation are often developed and implemented without integrating local institutions, without including well-established local strategies and without considering special needs of particular groups. Therefore, an adaptation to climate change is hampered and developmental improvements as well as progress in poverty reduction strategies are undermined – a situation which is essentially criticized by the book. Consequently, it is demanded that measures of adaptation and mitigation are better incorporated in existing development and poverty reduction strategies. Likewise, the authors accentuate that development cooperation alone is not sufficient to successfully cope with climate change and its consequences. Unfortunately, it remains unanswered, how a coherence between climate and development policy, especially with regard to social justice, can be achieved. Although, the authors above all give some recommendations for action in the second part of the book, the reader would sometimes like to see concrete examples. Nevertheless, the book definitely provides a valuable overview of the social dimensions of climate change. It is desirable for this volume to stimulate further research on and discussions about the social consequences of climate change and the current climate policy in order that – also with regard to the current climate negotiations – failures of the past are not repeated.
For more information on this book
Printable version of this recommended reading
Latest News
Upcoming Events
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung at the Forum Social Temático
Seminars and discussions
beim Forum Social Temático in Porto Alegre/Brasilien am 26. und 27. Januar 2012
As in the previous years, the activities of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung at the World Social Forum offer a platform for dialogue to trade unions, NGOs and other members of civil society. In 2012 now, the Forum has a special focus:
The network Social Watch will present its Social Watch Report 2012 on sustainable development, which contains reports from 66 countries and also introduces first findings of the Civil Society Reflection Group on Global Development, who demands a comprehensive redefinition of Global Governance.
Equally important is the upcoming Rio+20 Summit, of which one of the possible outcomes will be a process towards the adoption
of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a new framework for development and international cooperation, replacing the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) after 2015 to move away from neoliberalism.
Programme flyer with times and locations
go to Forum Social Temático website
FES Human Rights Prize 2011 for Arab activists
FES Human Rights Award 2011 for Slim Amamou (Tunesia) and Khaled Mohamed Said (1982-2010, Egypt)
Panel Discussion and Award Ceremony on 19 September 2011
With its Human Rights Award 2011, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung wishes to honour two important players and symbolic figures as representatives of the protest movements and fights for freedom in Tunisia and Egypt. In bestowing its Human Rights Award on Slim Amamou and Khaled Said the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is honouring their commitment and their courage, to claim basic human rights in their countries. The award ceremony took place on 19 September 2011 at the FES in Berlin, the laudation was held by Dr. Joachim Gauck, Chairperson of the Association ”Against Oblivion – for Democracy”. For the late Khaled Said, his sister Zahraa Kassem accepted the award for him.
continue to the Human Rights Award website
FES Podcast on UN Peacekeeping
The FES Berlin workshop “New horizons and old problems for UN Peacekeeping”, which took place on July 7, 2011 aimed at facilitating the discussion about the recent developments in UN peacekeeping. International experts debated in three panels (one of them public) about the progress of the New Horizon initiative, launched by DPKO and DFS in 2009. Two issues were defined by FES in advance to be the focus: the rapid deployment of forces and the protection of civilians.
Please read a first overview of the main insights and points of discussion by Christian Stock, University Erlangen-Nürnberg.
Listen to our podcast that was produced alongside this workshop and that provides an overall overview of the discussions during the day and comprehensive summary of the main points of discussion:
...and the podcast "to go": download here
In addition, five audio-interviews with experts from the workshop elaborating on crucial issues for UN Peacekeeping are available here.
FES Article at Yale Global Online
The Morning After Fukushima - Part 1
by Nina Netzer
Two months after the earthquake and nuclear accidents in Fukushima, the debates on the future of nuclear power continue unabated. The events in Japan mark a watershed that could clear the way for a globally sustainable structure in energy policies.
Read more about these findings in an article by Nina Netzer, that was published at the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization of Yale University:
Publications
Sandra Borda und Carlos Castillo:
Colombia in the UN Security Council
This paper analyzes Colombia’s foreign policy strategies by examining the country’s behavior in the UN Security Council. Colombia’s re-election as a non-permanent member in 2011 raises the questions of how the country will position itsself in terms of global security issues and which its priorities are. Even if Colombia is no longer unrestrictedly aligned with the positions of other countries, it will have to adopt a clear, long-term strategy for insertion into the international system, apart from being the spokesperson for Latin American countries.
FES Perspective, December 2011
The Security Council’s Credibility Problem
2011 was ultimately a disappointing year for the Security Council. It played a central role in international response to the crises in Libya and Côte d’Ivoire at the start of the year, but lost momentum as its members fell out over the Libyan war and Syrian crisis. The Council has lost credibility for reasons that are viewed differently from Western and non-Western perspectives. In 2012, members of the Security Council should enhance their own menu of crisis management options, taking into account that also some of the non-permanent members, like Germany or India, could play a more important role here.
Perspective FES New York, December 2011
Labour Conditions in the Global Supply Chain
What Is the Extent of German Corporate Responsibility?
Due to the questionable efficacy of voluntary measures of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) the paper argues for the necessity of effective legal means with regard to human and labour rights violations by business. The author analyses the current legal bases for claims before German courts for human rights abuses committed by the subsidiaries or suppliers of German corporations. To offer remedies for those affected by negative corporate activities, she argues for the clarification of standards of duty of care for corporations as well as the expansion of existing tort law provisions and shows ways and means to achieve this.
FES International Policy Analysis, December 2011
Disarmament and Arms Control: Showdown at the UN in 2012?
In 2012 the global arms control and disarmament machinery will be at a crossroads: A series of crucial disarmament and arms control-related processes in 2012 require high-level, energized efforts by states to overcome the UN disarmament and arms control architecture's deadlock. A universal Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) must be the result of negotiations next year. It should be as ambitious as possible, but to have any legally binding and substantial ATT is better than to have none. The coming year will also be decisive for the future of the UN Conference on Disarmament. In turn, progress in the field could free resources that are needed to address other pressing issues of global governance such as sustainable development, climate change, and the economic and financial crisis.
FES Perspective, November 2011
For our publication series, click here.