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
Sustainability RE-LOADED? In the run-up to Rio+20
Discussion on 5 June 2012 at the Kalkscheune in Berlin
Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where countries adopted Agenda 21 - a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection - the world is looking to Rio de Janeiro once more when the UN is bringing together governments, international institutions and major groups for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) during 20 to 22 June 2012 to negotiate the future of the 7 billion people living on this planet. Whether the summit can solve the conflicts of interest of the global players and whether it takes the shift in the past 20 years' debate on sustainabilty into account, is awaited with high expectations.
With the discussion on June 5, FES wants to encourage an open exchange of alternative ideas on society and development for a sustainable future, together with international pioneers of thought like the laureates of the Alternative Nobel Prize.
The keynote address will be held by the director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Professor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber.
- Event in cooperation with Oxfam Germany -
Between Human Rights and Realpolitik? The UNSC’s Limits and Scopes of Action
Public Panel Discussion on June 6th, 2012, at FES Berlin
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the most important body safeguarding international security. Part of its mandate is to deal with domestic human rights violations potentially threatening world peace.
At the same time, the UNSC is a political body putting its’ member states’ interests at the core of its conflict management. For this reason and because of the Council’s wide competences, its composition including five veto powers is highly contested.
On June 6th, 2012, you are invited to discuss the UNSC’s limits and scopes of action with regard to protecting human rights with our international guests.
Please register before June 1st by sending an email to un-sicherheitsrat[at]fes.de
- in cooperation with the German Institute for Human Rights -
Recent Events
Capitalism: Black spot on a Green Economy?
Workshop during McPlanet.com, April 21st, 2012
From 20 to 22 April, the TU Berlin hosted the McPlanet.com Congress. It served as an international platform to debate globalization, sustainability and global justice.
FES organized a workshop entitled „Capitalism: Black spot on a Green Economy?” on Saturday, April 21st, 2012, from 11h30 to 13h30.
Thaís Brianezi, Researcher at the Environmental Education and Policy Laboratory of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Bharati Chaturvedi, Director of the Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, India, discussed the future of Green Economy. A scientific input was presented by Dr. Klaus Jacob, Research Director of the Environmental Policy Research Centre, FU Berlin. The discussion was moderated by Nina Netzer, in charge of International Energy and Climate Policy at FES.
Further information on the workshop at mcplanet.com (German)
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung at the Forum Social Temático
Seminars and discussions at the Forum Social Temático in Porto Alegre/Brasil on January 26/27, 2012
As in the previous years, the activities of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung at the World Social Forum offered a platform for dialogue to trade unions, NGOs and other members of civil society. In 2012 the Forum had a special focus:
The network Social Watch presented 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.
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.
Publications
Lawrence Moss:
The UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court
Towards a More Principled Relationship
The UN Security Council's power to refer potential prosecutions to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in situations outside the Court's treaty-based territorial and nationality jurisdiction helps deter the perpetration of genocide, war crimes and
crimes against humanity everywhere in the world. It is unclear if referral to the ICC has had any effect in preventing the commission of further crimes in Darfur or Libya, and referral was no substitute for the Council's
use of other measures to restore peace and security.
FES International Policy Analysis, March 2012
Katherine Prizeman:
From Preparations to Negotiations for an Arms Trade Treaty
Despite difficult and complex political considerations, there is general support for negotiating an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), set to commence in July 2012, indicating a majority opinion that arms transfers should operate according to a common set of international standards. Prizeman analyses the options for compromise and the investment of political capital, to increase the chances for a robust, legally binding ATT. And she suggests a path for implementation as well as a solid review process for the time beyond July 2012.
International Policy Analysis FES New York, March 2012
A Human Rights-based Approach to Climate Finance
In the context of climate finance, a human rights-based approach ensures that rights considerations are taken into account in the development, implementation, and monitoring of relevant processes and institutions, including the UNFCCC's newly established Green Climate Fund. To advance rights protections in the global climate finance architecture, it is essential that climate finance mechanisms establish institutional safeguard systems that effectively prevent social and environmental harm, promote sustainable development, and maximise participation, transparency, accountability, equity, and rights protections.
FES Geneva International Policy Analysis, February 2012
Transfer Pricing Is a Financing for Development Issue
Transfer pricing refers to the pricing arrangements for transactions between companies that are members of a corporate multinational enterprise. If the method used to determine the fair tax owed to a country by a multinational doesn't reflect the true profits earned in that country, the country is unfairly deprived of revenue. Transfer pricing is regarded as a Financing for Development issue because – without its due tax revenues – a country's ability to mobilize domestic resources for development is hampered.
Perspective FES New York, February 2012
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