Sabina Zaccaro interviews CARLOS SERÉ of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jun 13 (TerraViva) Over the centuries, smallholders have learned to adjust to environmental changes and climate variability. But the climate is now changing too fast and intensely for farmers’ capacity to adapt. Continue Reading

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 12 (IPS/TerraViva) – The thematic battle at the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Brazil next week will be primarily around the new concept of a “green economy” – and how best to define it. Continue Reading

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 12 (IPS/TerraViva) – When world leaders endorse the final plan of action, titled “The Future We Want, at the Rio+20 summit in Brazil next week, a lingering question may remain unanswered: how best can the United Nations transform political platitudes into economic realities? Continue Reading

TerraViva interviews KANAYO F. NWANZE, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jun 11 (TerraViva) With heads of state from more than 120 nations and tens of thousands of civil society and international development experts gathering for the U.N. Summit on Sustainable Development next week, it is accepted wisdom that rethinking agriculture is one of most critical issues facing this and future generations. Continue Reading

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, June 11 (IPS/TerraViva) – The headline in a New York newspaper last March captured the essence of a future potential threat to political stability the world over: “U.S. Report Sees Tensions Over Water.” Continue Reading

By Helen Clark*

UNITED NATIONS, June 8, 2012 (IPS) – The world’s population today is healthier, wealthier, and better educated than ever before. Yet, despite incredible progress, disconcerting realities stubbornly persist. Continue Reading

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 4, 2012 (IPS) – After weeklong negotiations, a meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) to finalise a plan of action titled “The Future We Want” for next week’s Rio+20 summit has failed to reach agreement – and deferred a decision to a final three-day session in Brazil.

Continue Reading

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 1, 2012 (IPS) – As the international community readies for a global mega- conference on sustainable development in Brazil mid-June, the United Nations is determined to practice what it preaches to the outside world: improve resource efficiency and drastically reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions.

Continue Reading

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, May 31, 2012 (IPS) – Canada, in a dramatic political turnaround, has signaled its willingness to recognise water and sanitation as a basic human right.

Continue Reading