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Solutions being done/results of solutions?

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Solutions being done/results of solutions?

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Paraguay has a growing pollution problem. Many of the country's rivers suffer from toxic dumping. Tanneries are particularly harmful by releasing mercury and chromium into rivers and streams. Runoff from toxic chemicals used by farmers also seep into Paraguay's waters. These issues are man made and it impacts the whole country because if they continue to drink the toxic water they will die. Many people have tried to donate money to Paraguay but nothing is helping them receive clean and fresh water.

https://borgenproject.org/water-crisis-in-paraguay/

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What are some environmental issues we currently face?

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What are some environmental issues we currently face?

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Some environmental issues that India faces currently are air, chemical and oil pollution, poor management of waste, and soil degradation.

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Deforestation, poaching, and illegal animal trade.

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These environmental issues are caused by humans. It is suggested that the growth of India's population is the primary cause of India's environmental degradation.

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Italy experiences very alarmingly high amounts of air pollution, water pollution, and poor waste management. 

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Italy experiences very alarmingly high amounts of air pollution, water pollution, and poor waste management. 

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Italy: Environmental Issues, Policies and Clean Technology

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Italy is famous for its large boot-shaped peninsula jutting down into the Mediterranean Sea from Southern Europe.

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Caused by humans.

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Air pollution, lack of clean drinking water and deforestation. 

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Air pollution, lack of clean drinking water and deforestation. 

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Brazil has drastically reduced deforestation in the Amazon over the last 5 years. Between 2005 and 2010, Brazil's deforestation average dropped 67%. Brazil's intelligence services have helped police crack down on more animal poachers.

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A macaw rescued from traffickers in a cage at Cetas, a recovery center for wild animals, near Rio de Janeiro. According to non-governmental organization Renctas, 38 million wild animals are poached from the forest every year in Brazil.

Blue-and-yellow macaws from Amazonia, green parrots, monkeys, turtles, anacondas and pumas: wild animal trafficking is a very lucrative business that spares no species in Brazil, including those facing extinction.

"According to our estimates, 38 million wild animals, 80 percent of them birds, are poached from the forest every year in Brazil and nearly 90 percent died during transport," said Rauff Lima, a spokesman for the non-governmental organization Renctas (National Network to Fight Trafficking of Wild Animals).

But Renctas says the traffickers don't worry about the losses as the sale of a single specimen can earn them a profit in an industry now worth nearly $2 billion a year, the most profitable illegal trade after arms and drugs.

In 2001, the organization released the first national report on wildlife trafficking.

In that year, the last wild Little Blue Macaw -- considered one of the world's most endangered species -- disappeared from the northeastern state of Bahia and today only 70 others remain in captivity around the world.

"They are held by private collectors who acquired them illegally," Lima told AFP.

On average, federal police seize 250,000 wild animals per year and the Brazilian environmental agency Ibama captures another 45,000 during controls that have been significantly stepped up in recent years.

Two Brazilian black-tufted marmosets rescued from traffickers in a cage at Cetas, a recovery center for wild animals, near Rio de Janeiro. On average, federal police seize 250,000 wild animals per year.

At Cetas, the Rio Wildlife Screening Center, which is linked to Ibama, veterinarian Daniel Neves cares for 1,600 animals, many of which were rescued in starving or sick conditions from Brazilian poachers.

Located in a wooded area some 75 kilometers (45 miles) from downtown Rio, Cetas resembles a zoo. Macaws are homed in a vast cage, or "flight corridor," where they can move relatively freely ahead of their future release.

Nearby, some 700 bird cages are stacked up precariously on top of each other.

The animals "remain in quarantine until their health improves," explained Neves. "The aim is to release them into the wild but we succeed for only 20 to 30 percent of them."

The macaws could be sent to zoos but these are already overcrowded, according to the veterinarian, who says Brazil should pass legislation to make animal adoption easier.

"It's a real problem because they (the macaws) are no longer able to fend for themselves in the wild," Neves told AFP.

Brazil, Latin America's largest country with a land area of 8.5 million square kilometers (3.2 million square miles), is considered to have the greatest biodiversity on the planet.

It has 530 species of mammal, 1,800 bird species, 680 different kinds of reptiles, 800 amphibian species and 3,000 varieties of fish.

According to the environment ministry, 627 species now face extinction, a threefold increase in 15 years.

Hunting animals is banned in Brazil, as is holding any wild animal in captivity except in the rare cases of authorized breeding.

With increasing help from Brazil's intelligence services, police have succeeded in tightening the noose on the traffickers, choking off some of the profits from their illegal trade.

To buy a green parrot on the black market or a tucan poached from the wild costs less than 100 dollars while it is worth ten times more in a legal store.

(c) 2012 AFP

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Brazil cracks down on lucrative wild animal trade

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Blue-and-yellow macaws from Amazonia, green parrots, monkeys, turtles, anacondas and pumas: wild animal trafficking is a very lucrative business that spares no species in Brazil, including those facing extinction.

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The people of India are impacted "A collapse of agricultural output and severe shortages of potable water may influence 114 million residents in India."

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Solutions being done/ results of solutions?

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Solutions being done/ results of solutions?

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Malthus suggested positive and preventative forced control of human population, along with abolition of poor laws.

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Iran faces many issues such as drought, overpopulation, war, air pollution, extinction of species, erosion, and a lack of water and natural resources. Drought leads to a decrease in farming and food production as well as Iran's lack of water for drinking and other uses. Drought is also caused by over farming and using too much water through irrigation. Erosion is another effect of over farming. Overpopulation is also a cause of Iran's depleted resources, as well as pollution from overcrowded areas.

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What are some environmental issues we currently face?

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What are some environmental issues we currently face?

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limited water resources around the country, oil spills and hazardous waste

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Deforestation, mangrove degradation, coral reef destruction, and air pollution.

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These environmental issues are mainly caused by humans primarily excessive waste production and population density. 

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These environmental issues are mainly caused by humans primarily excessive waste production and population density. 

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Air pollution, water pollution, and deforestation, and soil pollution. 

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Air pollution, water pollution, and deforestation, and soil pollution. 

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2799473/#:~:text=China's%20environmental%20problems%2C%20including%20outdoor,residents%20to%20significant%20health%20risks.

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Air pollution, deforestation, various categories of threat to endemic species and climate changes. Several environmental organizations operating in Serbia have protested the government's handling of these issues.In 2020, the environmental initiative Do Not Let Belgrade D(r)own launched a petition against cutting down of trees in the Košutnjak forest.

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Caused by humans.

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They are building vertical gardens to emit more oxygen, implement artificial aquifers to combat lack of drinkable water and installing a bike sharing program to reduce carbon emissions.

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They are building vertical gardens to emit more oxygen, implement artificial aquifers to combat lack of drinkable water and installing a bike sharing program to reduce carbon emissions.

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The environmental issue that worried Italians the most in 2019 was waste management. Other popular environmental concerns were air pollution and global warming. According to a survey conducted by Ipsos in 2019, over 40 percent of Italian respondents indicated that these environmental issues were the most relevant problems that Italy faces today. Indeed, introducing measures to defend the environment was one of the Italian government's most urgent matters according to Italian respondents.

Real emergency

Lately, awareness of climate change seems to be rising in Italy. In 2019, two-thirds of Italian respondents notably stated that the world was facing a real emergency. Indeed, these respondents declared that a point of no return had been reached. Such concerns in the country can be illustrated by the Fridays for Future demonstrations. In a recent survey, most Italian respondents believed that these demonstrations could positively impact the general awareness of climate change.

Individual responsibility

Although awareness of climate change is rising, the question of personal or governmental responsibility remains. In 2019, a vast majority of Italian respondents declared that they could, individually, make a real impact on the environment. Overall, whilst environmental skepticism remained to this day, Italians were mostly aware of the necessity of environment action.

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Italy: most concerning environmental issues 2019 | Statista

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The environmental issue that worried Italians the most in 2019 was waste management. Other popular environmental concerns were air pollution and global warming. According to a survey conducted by Ipsos in 2019, over 40 percent of Italian respondents indicated that these environmental issues were the most relevant problems that Italy faces today.

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Air pollution, climate change, litter, waste, and soil contamination are all environmental issues that are created by human activity. These issues affects mountainous regions, country’s grassy lowlands, and people with serious health problems, like heart and lung diseases. The UK's government has enacted a number of policies at the environmental issues, including lowering carbon emissions and water conservation.
https://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=535
https://www.acre.com/blog/2018/07/5-sustainability-issues-affecting-UK

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They plan to reforest degraded forests and up the amount of forests by 32% by 2030.

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deforestation and air pollution caused by humans, government action is not of much help with stopping deforestation

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deforestation and air pollution caused by humans, government action is not of much help with stopping deforestation

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Italy is trying to lessen carbon emissions and also conserve water and reduce waste

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Italy is trying to lessen carbon emissions and also conserve water and reduce waste

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The ADU-500 Data Logger is an ultra-low power, wireless RTU with data logging and alarming capabilities. The battery-powered RTU integrates two analog inputs, three digital inputs, one pulse counter input and several excitation options for powering measuring transducers.

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Italy: Environmental Issues, Policies and Clean Technology

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The ADU-500 Data Logger is an ultra-low power, wireless RTU with data logging and alarming capabilities. The battery-powered RTU integrates two analog inputs, three digital inputs, one pulse counter input and several excitation options for powering measuring transducers.

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Finland's main environmental issues are air and water pollution, and the preservation of its wildlife.

Finland's cities produce  2.8 million tons of solid waste per year. The nation has 107 cubic kilometers of renewable water resources with 82% used for industry and 17% used in domestic and urban areas. Care is taken to protect the flora and fauna of the forests, which are of recreational as well as economic importance. Closed hunting seasons, nature protection areas, and other game-management measures are applied to preserve threatened animal species. As of 2001, 5.5% of

Finland's total land area was protected. In 2001, 4 of the nation's 60 mammal species and 4 of its 248 breeding bird species were threatened, as well as 1 type of freshwater fish. Endangered species include the Siberian sturgeon, European mink, and the Saimaa ringed seal. As of now the small country has been doing many things to help preserve the water and the wildlife and continues to do so.

https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Finland-ENVIRONMENT.html#ixzz6lzXNau5x

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For air pollution, the government is trying to clean the air and energy. Currently they have a program working on rreducing coal consumpation, reduce cardon dioxide emissions, and more.

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For air pollution, the government is trying to clean the air and energy. Currently they have a program working on rreducing coal consumpation, reduce cardon dioxide emissions, and more.

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https://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2020/06/21/china-fighting-air-pollution-and-climate-change-through-clean-energy-financing

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There was a nuclear disaster at a power plant in 2011, so the country took initiatives to get rid of nuclear power plants. To phase the power plants out, they allowed companies to burn more coal which then lead to significant air pollution. In 2018 around 40% of the country's electricity was powered by coal, which also led to deforestation. So instead they're trying to work on using renewable energy, like incorporating solar energy. In 2017, Germany was able to generate 36% of it’s electricity with clean energy generation alone which was a big jump from the 4% back in 2016.

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China's air pollution is being blamed on coal, 

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China's air pollution is being blamed on coal, 

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In 2018, a study by the World Health Organization said there were 45.3 air pollution-related deaths for every 100,000 people in the Philippines. It was the third-highest in the world, after China's 81.5 pollution-related deaths and Mongolia's 48.8 deaths per 100,000 people. whats causing this isssue? The main source of pollution is untreated domestic and industrial wastewater. Only one third of Philippine  river systems are considered suitable for public water supply.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_the_Philippines#:~:text=The%20main%20source%20of%20pollution,the%2019%20major%20river%20basins.

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These issues are all caused by humans. War between humans creates emissions of carbon and spreads trash. It also takes away from efforts towards helping the Earth. Air pollution and a lack of resources is also an effect of humans. When there are too many humans, resources are used to quickly and species are pushed out of their habitats and driven to extinction. Additionally Iran's current government is not concerned with environmental issues and puts no resources towards sustainability or decreasing pollution. Furthermore, the government arrests most conservationists for speaking against the government's wishes further limiting efforts to fix Iran's environment.

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North Korea has experienced deforestation for decades. Because of this they are having extreme weather such as large scale flooding, droughts, land slides, etc.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/with-widespread-deforestation-north-korea-faces-an-environmental-crisis/#:~:text=The%20past%20decade%20has%20brought,And%20also%20hunger.

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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311504414_Environmental_Challenges_in_Today's_Iran#:~:text=Abstract,to%20Iran's%20current%20environmental%20crisis. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2020/11/how-iran-destroying-once-thriving-environmental-movement/

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These issues were caused by humans.

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Deforestation (and resulting soil erosion), air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution.

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The main cause for the deforestation are timber production and firewood consumption. Self-sufficiency in food production is a policy which adds to the problem.

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These issues affect both humans and animals. With there being limited water there isn't much for drinking. With the oil spills many animals are being harmed.

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Caused by humans due to overpopulation.

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Many animals are being impacted. There are over 16 endangered species in Chile as of 2001. In addition, there are 18 threatened bird species and 4 threatened freshwater fish species.

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Many are being effected by this environmental issue due to the impact of extreme weather. Damaging crops, killing livestock as well as hunger.

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Chile has done a lot since the early 2000s to stop deforestation. A market-based forest conservation scheme was started in the early 2000s and has conserved 15 square miles of forest between then and 2016. They also started the Forest Stewardship Council and encouraged businesses to participate in Fair Trade (coffee and organic produce). To stop pollution, Chile joined the Paris Agreement. They have lowered pollution by taxing vehicle emissions, which lowered carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air by 30% between 2015 and 2016. Santiago has also started "Santiago Respira" which has a goal of decreasing global emissions by 60%. Finally, Chile has committed to the Breath Life Campaign, which has a goal of reaching the World Health Organization air quality standards by 2030.

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In attempt to prevent flooding and soil erosion,  international assistance has been made for reforestation initiatives, however they need further economic support.
https://lcluc.umd.edu/hotspot/deforestation-north-korea

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Solutions being done/results of solutions?

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Solutions being done/results of solutions?

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The government signed and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

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https://www.ly.undp.org/content/libya/en/home/ourwork/environmentandenergy/in_depth.html

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For deforestation, soil and water pollution, they are tied together as when a tree is cut down, it will hurt the soil and cause desertification and water to be lost. It is caused by humans who illegally cut trees down. To solve the problem, activists band together to get the Chinese government to stop the illegal loggers. China has also worked on policies and laws like the Forestry Law (1998), and worked with programs like Natural Forest Protection Program.

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For deforestation, soil and water pollution, they are tied together as when a tree is cut down, it will hurt the soil and cause desertification and water to be lost. It is caused by humans who illegally cut trees down. To solve the problem, activists band together to get the Chinese government to stop the illegal loggers. China has also worked on policies and laws like the Forestry Law (1998), and worked with programs like Natural Forest Protection Program.

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http://chinaenv.colgate.edu/deforestation/general-deforestation-in-china/

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Boxes 1-3: https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Chile-ENVIRONMENT.html#:~:text=Chile%20%2D%20Environment&text=Chile's%20main%20environmental%20problems%20are,in%20the%20last%2030%20years.
Box 4:
https://news.mongabay.com/2016/02/market-based-conservation-programs-slow-deforestation-in-chile-study-finds/
https://www.ccacoalition.org/en/blog/chile-takes-action-air-pollution#:~:text=The%20Government%20has%20also%20managed,6'%20standards%2C%20says%20Mena.

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Agricultural clearing, overgrazing, over fishing/illegal fishing, pollution. People clear a lot of land in Australia for agriculture use, and too much is dangerous for the environment they clear it from. Fishing is very popular in Australia, which leads to low numbers of some species, and fishing without the proper permits. As in most urban areas around the world, many heavily populated parts of Australia have pollution issues.
https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_offices/australia/environmental_problems_in_australia/

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While national efforts to reduce global warming emissions in the United States have flagged, one tropical developing nation, Brazil, has made dramatic strides-without receiving much attention for its success. Detailed analyses of publicly available satellite photos show that Brazil has reduced deforestation in the Amazon enough over the past five years to lower heat-trapping emissions more than any other country on Earth. This success demonstrates the enormous potential of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation as well as conserving and re-growing tropical forests (the international effort known as REDD+).

REDD+ was proposed by developing countries in 2005 as an international strategy by which tropical countries would reduce deforestation (which is responsible for about 10 percent of all global warming pollution) and be compensated by wealthy nations for any resulting economic losses. Two of the strongest initial supporters of the concept were Norway, which pledged $2.5 billion for the effort, and Brazil, which announced a national plan to reduce its deforestation rate 80 percent by 2020 (compared with its average rate over the decade 1996-2005) and later made this commitment part of its national law.

Between 2005 and 2010, Brazil nearly met its goal-a full decade ahead of schedule. Data from 2009-2010 showed that Brazil's area of deforestation, which averaged 19,508 square kilometers (km2) per year during the baseline decade of 1996-2005, had dropped 67 percent, to just 6,451 km2. UCS analysis of this change, using a formula for converting deforested area to CO2 emissions based on the work of the research institute IMAZON, estimated a reduction in Brazil's global warming pollution of nearly 1 billion tons.

Norway has committed $1 billion to compensate Brazil for its emissions reductions; the first payment of $110 million was made in 2009. And unlike the case with "offset" funding (whereby corporations in industrialized nations pay for emissions reductions in tropical countries and, in exchange, are permitted to emit more heat-trapping gases in their own countries), there will be no corresponding increase in Norway's emissions as a result of its commitment to Brazil.

Thus, the cooperation of these two countries has already achieved a reduction in global warming pollution comparable to the reductions that both the United States and the European Union have only pledged to achieve by 2020. This means it is no longer necessary to talk about REDD+ as a proposal or a set of future actions-we can now see how REDD+ works, and that it can be remarkably successful.

What is even more impressive is that Brazil has achieved this success while simultaneously increasing agricultural production and significantly reducing hunger and poverty. During the last decade the country has enjoyed a high rate of GDP growth and exported large amounts of beef and soy despite the world recession. Moreover, through social programs such as Fome Zero (Zero Hunger) and Bolsa Familia (Family Allowances), Brazil has lifted more than 10 million of its citizens out of poverty and substantially lowered rates of hunger and malnutrition.

How it was done

Brazil's dramatic reduction in deforestation is the result of several different efforts. First, at both state and federal levels, the country greatly expanded its network of indigenous reserves and protected areas (including sustainable-use reserves), which now encompass more than half of Brazil's Amazon forest. Just as important, these reserves have been effectively protected. Indigenous peoples now control 20 percent of the Brazilian Amazon, and their collective land tenure rights have been reinforced by official titles and the support of the state in stopping illegal encroachment by non-indigenous ranchers, farmers, and miners. Strong enforcement of logging laws, including seizures of illegal timber, closing of illegal sawmills, and jailing of the perpetrators (including government officials who had been taking bribes to look the other way), has shown that the government's commitment to stopping deforestation is real.

Brazil's citizens played a critical role in pushing their government to go further and in exerting pressure for change on the businesses that are the main agents of deforestation. The Zero Deforestation campaign, for example, which was launched in 2008 by a broad coalition of environmental, indigenous, rubber-tapper, human rights, and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), played an important role in pushing the federal government to act. In 2006 and 2009, Brazilian NGOs also conducted widely publicized exposés of the role the soybean and beef industries have played in deforesting the Amazon; the resulting publicity led to commitments from those industries not to sell products raised on deforested land.

More recently, the presidential campaign of former Environment Minister Marina Silva, who received 20 percent of the vote as the Green Party candidate, showed the breadth of support for stopping Amazon deforestation rapidly. Research institutes such as IPAM and IMAZON have been important in monitoring progress and showing how ranchers, farmers, and loggers can increase their productivity in ways that make deforestation unnecessary.

Brazil's reductions in deforestation are impressive, but further progress is by no means guaranteed. Indeed, the last two years have seen a backlash from the Brazilian Congress's "ruralista" bloc, which is attempting to weaken the Forest Code. Furthermore, increases in world soy and beef prices along with proposals to develop new roads and dams in the Amazon would create new pressure for deforestation, requiring increased efforts just to protect the progress made so far.

Sharing the credit

Brazilian political leaders including Marina Silva, former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, and the governors of several Amazon states deserve credit for this accomplishment, as do the Brazilian NGOs that created the political dynamics that encouraged governments and businesses to act. Now, with the national plan to end deforestation clearly ahead of schedule, the Zero Deforestation campaign is pushing for a new goal of zero deforestation by 2015.

Norway, too, played a vital role in creating an economic incentive for Brazil's actions (even though Brazil absorbed a majority of the costs). Norway's funding of REDD+ for the first five-year period reflects a financial investment that goes far beyond that made by any other country, amounting to about $100 per year from each Norwegian citizen. Both Brazil and Norway-the former tropical and developing, the latter boreal and developed- have provided examples to the rest of the world that are worth emulating. They have shown how we can act to deal with global warming if we have the political will to do it.

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Brazil's Success in Reducing Deforestation

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While national efforts to reduce global warming emissions in the United States have flagged, one tropical developing nation, Brazil, has made dramatic strides-without receiving much attention for its success. Detailed analyses of publicly available satellite photos show that Brazil has reduced deforestation in the Amazon enough over the past five years to lower heat-trapping emissions more than any other country on Earth.

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Soil fertility has declined because of over cultivation and agricultural land has been lost to urbanization and desert winds.

The nation's beaches, coral reefs, and wildlife habitats are threatened by oil pollution.

Egypt has been trying to preserve its environment and address climate change by introducing electric buses, boosting renewable energy and trying to ban plastic bags.

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Question Eight: How can national-level governments learn from the private sector and encourage investment and decision making to promote the public good in a changing climate? Egypt is a typical example of a developing country that is highly vulnerable to climate change and faces numerous threats to its economic, social and environmental sustainability - including energy, water, and food security. This causes enormous fundamental pressures on Egypt's competitiveness, and presents a growing threat to national security. These threats are fueled by a growing population and rising associated demand, coupled with the constraints of a finite resource base. The authors go on to describe SEKEM's approach to addressing climate change by applying biodynamic agricultural methods, the company's comprehensive management approach to sustainable development, and the need for Egypt to adopt a national Green Transformation strategy.
Today the world is facing multiple crises - economically, socially and environmentally.

Every year, the United Nations and representatives from the private and civil sector convene to find solutions to climate change and its threats to economies and livelihoods. Very recently, the annual conference was held in Cancún, Mexico. Expectations to reach a consensus breaking the political and financial deadlock were low. The outcome shows however that the international process to stem climate change is still alive and ongoing.

Developing countries are particularly affected by climate change as they are mostly located in regions that are more susceptible to its impact. In addition they typically lack the financial resources and technological expertise for adaptation to climate change or its mitigation.
Egypt and Climate Change
Egypt is a typical example of a developing country which is highly vulnerable to climate change and which faces numerous threats to its economic, social and environmental sustainability. This causes enormous fundamental pressures on Egypt's competitiveness. These pressures can also be described as growing threats to national security. They are fueled by a growing population and growing demand coupled with the constraints of a finite resource base and could develop into genuine crisis situations if not quickly and decisively addressed. These pressures include:

Energy Security - Unsustainable use of energy resources is one of the major reasons for environmental degradation and climate change. The consequence is energy scarcity and rising energy prices which increase poverty, strain national budgets and jeopardize Egypt's competitiveness for the future.
Water Security - Global warming results in sea-level rise due to the melting of glaciers and arctic ice. Consequently, the world's fresh water resources decline while salt water intrudes into underground reservoirs. Egypt is particularly susceptible due to its low-altitude Nile Delta.
Food Security - Limited water and agricultural land coupled with population growth and other factors are creating mounting pressure on Egypt's ability to provide food for its people in the future.
Climate Change - Declining precipitation levels, changing weather patterns, and rising seas in the Nile Delta are slowly but steadily making a difficult situation worse, especially in the area of food and water.
The Need for Jobs - Egypt's young population is hungry for work, and Egypt needs to generate over one million new jobs every year for its growing workforce.
The Poverty Gap - With millions still living under the poverty line defined by the United Nations, Egypt must lift the standard of living for those most in need.
The Financial Crisis - The continuing impact is being felt around the world hitting national budgets hard also impacting the availability of investment capital and development aid.

Companies are very much affected by the scarcity of available resources and they cannot survive in the future if they cannot predict and adapt to major trends like climate change.
SEKEM and Climate Change
SEKEM's approach to climate change encompasses both adaptation and mitigation. Our group of companies applies biodynamic agricultural methods, a premium quality method of organic agriculture. Biodynamic Agriculture has lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional agriculture and a higher potential of carbon soil sequestration. A 100% conversion of global agricultural land to organic agriculture would transform the agricultural sector from a significant contributor to climate change into a net carbon sink. The mitigation potential of agriculture - meaning its future risk reduction potential - is therefore high.

With regard to adaptation, SEKEM is already taking action to reduce risks and limit the damage caused by climate change. Biodynamic Agriculture is superbly placed to improve the odds for climate change adaptation - notably through diversification, water efficiency, resilient crops and increased drought and flood resistance. Like this, SEKEM reduces its own risk of operating in an environment that is highly vulnerable to climate change and at the same time can be a business role model that provides solutions for one of the world's most prevalent challenges.

In its Sustainability Balanced Scorecard (SBSC) system - the Sustainability Flower (SF) - SEKEM keeps track of indicators relevant to the above mentioned challenges but also to sustainable development in general. The SF is a communication and information management tool symbolizing the concept of sustainable development in its four dimensions (ecology with its six sub-dimensions, societal life, cultural life, and economic life). Each dimension has several performance aspects, and different performance indicators (based on the Global Reporting Initiative standard) with specific targets. Adaptation is addressed with indicators such as "assessment of water usage" and "energy savings".

SEKEM uses the SF as a communication instrument for all its stakeholders (clients, employees, customers, investors, business partners, media etc.) in order to build an ethical / responsible image of the company, and to serve as a role model for other organizations which aim to implement a sustainable development approach. As a strategic management tool for collecting data on SEKEM's economic, social, cultural, and environmental performance the SF helps to align the organization with its vision, mission, and policies. Most importantly it supports management in setting targets, measuring progress, and identifying room for improvement. The contribution of individual SEKEM companies to the overall sustainable development of the SEKEM Holding becomes clearer and more transparent after applying the Sustainable Development Scorecard (SDS) - also on an individual company level.

SEKEM constantly strives to increase its adaptation and mitigation potential through its own research and development efforts carried out by its scientists. Furthermore, SEKEM will soon complete the construction of the Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, an institution solely dedicated to developing the awareness and capacities of its students to effectively tackle our major developmental challenges such as climate change.

To increase leverage, SEKEM also engages on a political level to lift sustainable solutions such as organic agriculture onto the national agenda. SEKEM is engaging with both national and international stakeholders such as the UNFCCC climate negotiations, the World Future Council (on future finance, sustainable cities etc.), the UN Global Compact (water, climate change, etc.), and the World Economic Forum (social entrepreneurship, food security, social innovation, etc.). On a national level SEKEM's networks are also closely linked to national movements and initiatives towards a more sustainable future and the transition of Egypt into a low-carbon economy.

In summary, SEKEM has recognized climate change not only as a challenge but as a business opportunity to increase its competitiveness. Sustainability is a factor not only desirable in human terms but necessary in order to successfully cope with risks that urgently question "business-as-usual behavior". It encapsulates the essence of what national-level governments can and should learn from the private sector.

Existing national strategies in Egypt across sectors and ministries reveal a remarkable awareness of the value of a "Green Transformation" to Egypt's competitiveness and future development prospects. The Egyptian National Competitiveness Council (ENCC), a non-governmental organization, is a leading organization in pushing the Green Transformation of Egypt forward. SEKEM supports and shares expertise with the ENCC. The Green Transformation consists of an integrated package of technologies, policies, and behavior changes designed to promote greater innovation, efficiency, cost reduction, shock resilience, and job creation by focusing strategic attention and investment on the following areas: Water Conservation; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Sustainable Agriculture; Eco-Cities; Eco-Villages; Eco-Tourism; Green Industry; Green Transport; Waste to Energy; Poverty Alleviation Programs; Programs to Increase Equity.

Many strategy documents include "green" elements such as water conservation, renewable energy, or eco-tourism. However, these existing strategies do not cover the need for a more integrated approach that puts a Green Transformation at the center of planning for economic competitiveness.

Egypt's strategic priorities in the area of Green Transformation should not be framed in terms of marginal savings or efficiency improvements. They need to be framed in terms of job creation, climate resilience, energy independence, poverty reduction, and other major national goals - for these are the benefits that Green Transformation approaches are now known to deliver.

A Green Transformation approach should be seen as a modern, strategic response to Egypt's needs today in an ever more demanding global economic arena, and in the era of global climate change. Egypt still has the opportunity to be a regional and even global leader in the race to create efficient, competitive, "green" economies. In fact, if it does not choose this path future prospects for the country are difficult to put into optimistic terms.

These are some of the consequences Egypt will face if it continues down a conventional development road without integrating a "Green Transformation" approach into its national strategy for competitiveness:

* Loss of energy independence
* Inevitability of conflict over water
* Vulnerability to climate change
* Lost / locked-in capital investment (into non-green assets)
* Threat to key industries such as tourism

The establishment of a national strategy for Green Transformation must begin with a vision - just like many companies have a vision or organizational culture. Key decision-makers as well as ordinary citizens must be continuously encouraged to imagine a better, greener, more competitive future for the nation. Good vision needs to be specific and Egypt's vision should include clear objectives tied to visible and credible strategic pathways for achieving those objectives. They should also include extra-financial indicators for success. The entire program should be supported by continuous public education and communication. Every possible channel and creative means should be employed to keep the vision of a Green Transformation present in the public eye.

It is apparent that there are many parallels between the private sector and national-level governments with regard to the challenges and opportunities of a changing climate. It is however also fact that national-level decision-makers have to deal with a more complex web of factors. Still, the state has to take a more passive role in order to allow the civic, private, and public sector to interact and collaborate better. This needs the right mix of incentives and forms of private-public-partnership. An integrated approach is key. Governments have to support the private sector in their climate change adaptation measures while synergies and common policies have to be identified. The cooperation between SEKEM and the ENCC, and again that of the ENCC and the government is an example of such an integrated approach. Here lies the greatest potential to overcome global challenges such as climate change.

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By [Helmy Abouleish](/node/40295/#abouleish), [Matthias Keitel](/node/40295/#keitel), and [Philipp Maximillian Boes](/node/40295/#boes) - SEKEM** --------- Question Eight: How can national-level governments learn from the private sector and encourage investment and decision making to promote the public good in a changing climate?