Nairobi, Kenya, 1 November
2010 - What do solar loans, sustainable
tourism, tea plantations, forests in Panama
and African financiers have in common?
The answer is quite
simple: all are part of the global solution
to climate change, and part of the United
Nation's Environment Programme's "30
ways in 30 Days" initiative, launched
today.
From today, a month
out from the start of the UN Climate Convention
meeting in Cancun, Mexico, UNEP will release
online case studies to show that solutions
to climate change are available and can
be copied and scaled up around the world.
The examples are just the tip of the iceberg
and highlights in terms of existing successful
climate initiatives and programmes.
UNEP's aim is to show
that across the world, in myriad ways, from
community-based programmes to entrepreneurial
endeavours, solutions are available to help
confront the challenges of climate change
and to help countries, communities and businesses
move towards low-emission climate-resilient
growth.
More could be done if
governments, corporations and communities
scaled up this work. Every country and many
institutions have their own 30 success stories
to demonstrate that action is being taken
across the globe, initiatives that with
funding and technology support can be scaled
up dramatically.
One of the case studies
featured is "Solar Loans for Solar
Homes" in India where more than 60
per cent of Indian households have no access
to reliable electricity supplies and depend
on kerosene for light and on burning dung
and wood for heat.
UNEP's Solar Loan Programme,
a partnership involving the UN Foundation,
Shell Foundation and two of India's largest
banking groups, helped turn on lights in
homes that had previously not had them,
accelerated market penetration of solar
lights in the Indian countryside, and inspired
several similar initiatives in India and
elsewhere.
Other stories coming
up are the "Green Passports" for
sustainable tourism projects showing how
you can be a "green traveler",
the "greening" of tea plantations
in East Africa, carbon financing in Africa
and its massive potential for sustainable
development and successful reforestation
in Panama giving new evidence of the many
opportunities and benefits from sustainable
forests.
To find out more
about these innovative programmes, go to
www.unep.org/unite/30ways today. Come back
to the site once a day until into December
to discover all 30 ways in which UNEP is
working with governments and communities
around the world on projects, big and small,
that put together could save our climate.
