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We would like to express our respect to the valiant members of the rescue services from Japan and across the world, and to the members of the Japan Self Defense Forces, for their extraordinary efforts in response to this disaster.

The situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plants is grave and we commend the brave and tireless work of those involved in trying to respond.

To all the people of Japan, we are deeply impressed by the calm resilience you have shown in the face of such adversity. The entire world is watching and willing to offer you support in these troubling times and in the days that follow.

I would like to repeat the assurances of the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations stands by the people of Japan and we will do anything and everything we can at this very difficult time.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, Senior Adviser to the Minister, Ministry of Environment, Japan, who delivered a keynote lecture on "Japan's Policy on Climate Change and Biodiversity". He concluded his remarks with the final note that "climate change and biodiversity are inter-linked; 'adaptation' and 'REDD' [reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation] are a major bridge between the two subjects; knowledge sharing is a key. Financial mechanisms should be developed in a timely manner, and the UN system is expected to play an important role in addressing these challenges."

The 2011 UN-CECAR spring courses, which will run until 25 March at UNU-ISP, cover a range of issues on sustainability and adaptation to climate and ecosystems change. Course topics include climate and atmospheric science, impacts assessment, climate and society, ecosystems resilience, risk and uncertainty, integrated solutions for mitigation and adaptation, mainstreaming adaptation into development planning, and community-based adaptation. Students also will receive practical training in the use of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) for climate and ecosystems change research.

Each course is worth 2 credits and comprises of 30 hours of teaching time. A number of universities have agreed to allow the transfer of credits for students who successfully complete the courses. Students also will be awarded a Certificate of Completion and receive an academic transcript from UNU-ISP.

The courses are being attended by 34 students from 25 countries; of these, 14 students are registered at a university for their master's degree, 14 are registered as Ph.D. students, and 6 are researchers or professionals associated with an academic programme on climate change issues.

The students will present their learning experiences at a closing symposium organized in conjunction with a closing ceremony on Friday, 25 March.

UNU-ISP Postgraduate Courses on Building Resilience to Climate Change

Dr. Douste-Blazy explained how an increasing need for solidarity in an ever more interdependent world led to the creation of UNITAID. The organization is an innovative mechanism to raise additional funds for global health and complement efforts to increase treatment for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in developing countries. To support it, a new tax was incepted in France as of 30 July 2006: a one Euro tax which is levied on the plane tickets of all passengers departing from France with each Euro funnelled into UNITAID. Dr. Douste-Blazy then provided examples on how UNITAID does make use of the funds it receives, highlighting the development of appropriate antiretroviral drugs for children and a joint programme with UNICEF to minimize mother-to-child transmission of HIV. In the past four years, 14 other countries, including four from Africa, have shown solidarity by adding a one dollar tax to their plane tickets. Together, these countries have assisted UNITAID in raising more than two billion dollars.

Dr. Douste-Blazy concluded his lecture by encouraging Japan to join UNITAID in this act of world solidarity. Audience members were invited to show their solidarity by writing to their local newspapers and encouraging the adoption of this innovative financing mechanism for development.

A video of Dr. Douste-Blazy's lecture, including the question and answer session that followed, can be viewed on UNU's video portal.

Lecture Video - English / Japanese

Lecture Video - French Part 1

Lecture Video - French Part 2

Dr. Hill referred to his experience in using life-cycle assessment to understand the impact of corn ethanol production and use in the United States to reveal problematic aspects of current US energy policy. He focused particularly on the expectations surrounding biofuel benefits.

Political disturbances abroad, and their effects on oil prices, have made Americans wary of their current dependence on foreign oil. Biofuels have therefore gained much attention in the USA in recent years, mainly because they are perceived as a means of achieving energy independence through the production of locally renewable fuel.

Furthermore, biofuels have been touted as a "green energy" alternative that can mitigate climate change as well as reduce the risk of environmental disasters associated with fossil fuel production (such as recent oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico).

These issues, combined with the complex political reality within the USA, have brought biofuels to the forefront of the American national energy policy debate. It is estimated that as much as 40 per cent of the total current maize (corn) production in the USA is used to produce corn ethanol to fuel cars.

According to Dr. Hill, however, the research and the policies that promote bioethanol have some problems. This is due partly to the misuse of the results of past life-cycle assessments, and partly to the lack of current studies using appropriate life-cycle assessment methodologies.

The US Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 stipulates targets for renewable fuel production by 2022, but these targets only consider greenhouse gas reduction. While some research may indicate that corn ethanol emits lower levels of greenhouse gases than gasoline, this is very much dependent on the conversion technology used during the production and use of bioethanol. In addition, life-cycle assessments focusing on greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels sometimes fail to account for the full set of impacts from production to combustion.

In his presentation, Dr. Hill argued that if the entire life cycles of gasoline and ethanol are to be compared properly, then the direct and indirect land use change associated with biofuel expansion must be factored in the life-cycle assessments. In fact, depending on the location and the previous land use regime, he said, it could take decades — or even centuries — before the carbon debt from ethanol production can be repaid.

Furthermore, by focusing solely on the projected reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, US biofuel policies disregard other important impacts on human health and ecosystems. Current biofuel policies, for example, fail to consider the human health costs associated with biofuels' detrimental impact on air quality (particularly from particulate matter).

To close his presentation, Dr. Hill identified areas in which his research could collaborate with the work that UNU-IAS carries out in ecosystem services and biodiversity.

Dr. Hill is contributing to a forthcoming book, tentatively titled Biofuels in Developing Nations: Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts, that is being edited by Dr. Stromberg and Dr. Alexandros Gasparatos, a JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellow.

The study's findings "clearly underline the need for monitoring systems to pin-point where these aquifer pollutants are coming from," said UNU-INWEH Senior Research Fellow Chris Metcalfe. "Prevention and mitigation measures are needed to ensure that expanding development does not damage the marine environment and human health and, in turn, the region's tourism-based economy," he added.

The study, part of UNU-INWEH's Caribbean Coastal Pollution Project, was conducted with the cooperation of Amigos de Sian Ka'an, a local nongovernmental organization.

Among the groundwater pollutants found by the study were illicit drugs (cocaine and its post-digestion "metabolite" form, benzoylecgonine), chemicals from pharmaceuticals (including painkillers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen) and personal care products (deodorants, perfume, toothpaste, hand-sanitizing lotion, etc.), caffeine, and a metabolite of nicotine.

The study points to pit latrines, septic tanks and leaking sewer lines as the likeliest sources of these pollutants, noting only one-third of the area is served by municipal wastewater treatment systems.

Pesticide applications (such as on golf courses) and run-off from highways and other paved surfaces are also sources of groundwater contamination.

The researchers note that the district has "a general lack of expertise and equipment for monitoring or tracking sources of pollution", and that there are "few administrative links between those responsible for water and coastal management and the labs that generate the (monitoring) data".

Among the countermeasures recommended by the study are the installation of impermeable liners beneath golf courses and other turf-covered areas to restrict the leaching of contaminants, nutrients and pathogens; lined and impermeable drainage canals, retention ponds and treatment systems; measures to minimize aquifer contamination from hard surface runoff; adequate wastewater treatment infrastructure; a halt to injections of treated sewage into saltwater below the freshwater aquifer; implementation of an integrated approach to coastal zone management; and protection of all remaining mangroves, which serve to buffer coastal areas from pollution.

Without integrated approaches to protecting and managing the aquifer, the UNU-INWEH study warns, "the tourism-based economy of the Maya Riviera region will not be sustainable over the medium to long term".

Prof. Thakur's presentation was part of the UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues Series organized by UNU Press. He covered the challenges that the dark forces of globalization pose to the international system: from arms trafficking in West Africa to armed insurgencies in South Asia to the upsurge of jihad in the age of globalization.

While acknowledging the undeniable benefits of globalization for large populations in countries like China and India, Prof. Thakur made it clear to the capacity audience in Elizabeth Rose Hall that "the benefits and costs of the global economy have not been evenly shared". His thought-provoking comments generated a lively question and answer session.

The seminar was followed by a reception in the UNU bookstore, where Prof. Thakur was on-hand to sign purchased copies of his co-edited book.

The 2010 Think Tank Index rankings are distilled from almost 5,500 nominated think tanks in every region of the world, and based on a worldwide survey of some 1,500 scholars, journalists, policy makers and peers from almost 120 countries. The survey is conducted annually by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

"Even though we know that such rankings have to be taken with a grain of salt, we are very pleased that the United Nations University was evaluated so positively," said UNU Rector Konrad Osterwalder. "It confirms the success of our continuing efforts, as an academic and research organization within the United Nations, to serve as a bridge between the UN system and the international academic and policy-making communities."

The judgment criteria for the rankings included an institution's ability to retain top-level analysts and scholars, the richness and rigor of its research, its access to policy makers, and its ability to influence policy decisions in such diverse domains as international security, globalization and governance, the international economy, the environment, poverty reduction, and global health.

Dr. James G. McGann, Director of Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program and Assistant Director of the International Relations Program, University of Pennsylvania, introduced the 2010 Think Tank Index at UN Headquarters on 18 January 2011. A video of his presentation will be appended here as soon as it is available.

2010 Global Go-To Think Tank Ranking Report (1.9 MB)

20 Jan. UNU Media Release (222 KB)

The aim of the GREEN project is to achieve an understanding of the likely directions of the emerging global governance structures, and of Europe's place in them. Is a multi-polar world with Europe as a pole is a possibility, or might an alternative scenario — such as a shift to a trans-Pacific locus of power, or a "depolarization" and fragmentation of authority — marginalize Europe's global role?

The research will be theoretical and policy-oriented, and will encompass an interactive dissemination strategy to assure feedback from its target publics.

The GREEN project will be undertaken by a consortium of European partners (from Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the UK) with a strong track record of collaboration on these issues. Leading institutions from Argentina, Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, South Africa and the USA will play a hub-and-spokes role for their regions.

The UNU-IIST delegation, represented by Director Peter Haddawy and Senior Research Fellow Zhiming Liu, was warmly received by Mr. Kou Ming, Assistant Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department, and Mr. Dong Zhifeng, Director of the Economic Affairs Department.

Prof. Haddawy introduced the strong and unique position of the United Nations University as both an academic institution and a part of the United Nations.

"Given the special position and superior reputation of the institute, we invariably collaborate with the top universities in the world and promote Macao in turn", said Prof. Haddawy. "UNU-IIST, for example, is establishing a joint Ph.D. programme with the University of Pisa in Italy, which is one of the strongest universities in computer science in Europe."

Mr. Kou Ming said that he believed UNU-IIST can perform a more crucial role in the development of Macao and China, and assured the delegation that the Liaison Office will assist as a channel of communication.

"The Macau SAR government is aware of the overwhelming weight carried by the gaming industry in the local economy, whereas we hope the rest can grow too," Mr. Kou Ming said. "There are some 30,000 small and medium-size enterprises in Macao which have the potential to grow regionally, especially in the Pearl River Delta. What they need now is an improvement on skill and management; to this end, I believe UNU-IIST can provide talents and technology."

In "The Rise of Large Farms: Drivers and Development Outcomes", the featured article in the November/December issue of the WIDER Angle online newsletter (UNU-WIDER), Derek Byerlee and Klaus Deininger examine the trend toward large farms and the potential development impacts.

The authors note that while growing private-sector interest in agriculture presents an opportunity for developing countries to capture much-needed access to capital, modern technology and new markets (and thereby spur agricultural growth and employment), the reality is that development outcomes to date often have been less favourable than expected, with investments infringing on the rights of traditional users and negatively impacting local communities.

Other concerns addressed in the article include the negative effect of a growing inequality in land ownership on broad-based rural development and growth, the detrimental environmental impacts (especially where land expansion occurs at the expense of forests), and the harmful effects of land speculation and inadequate technology on potential financial and economic benefits. Early investments in Africa, for example, often failed, while many recent acquisitions have not resulted in action on the ground.

The article goes on to discuss the factors behind the trend toward increasing farm size. These include the efficiency of plantations for some crops; the role that large farms play in opening new agricultural frontiers; recent innovations in crop breeding, tillage and information technology that favour large farms; and the effect of demands by buyers in high-income countries for certification of social and environmental sustainability.

The authors note that large farms have emerged partly in response to policy distortions or market failures related to availability of infrastructure, technology, finance, property rights and insurance. Where markets do not work well, large firms comprising many operational units can reduce transactions costs and risks through vertical and horizontal integration.

In terms of the policy implications, the authors conclude that providing a level playing field is the best way to ensure family farms can continue to compete, and to enhance social and environmental outcomes. To take advantage of rising private investment in farming, countries need to design rural development strategies that fit factor endowments and provide opportunities for small-holders and job creation, with special attention given to policy frameworks that provide rights to current users and the capacity to implement such policies.

Read the full UNU-WIDER article here.

Prof. Bob Deacon, first holder of the UNESCO–UNU Chair on Regional Integration, Migration and Free Movement of People.

The UNESCO–UNU Chair on Regional Integration, Migration and Free Movement of People will creatively address the opportunities and challenges of regional integration, including the social dimension of regional integration and migration. A particular focus will be on the free movement of people within South Africa and the southern African region.

This UNESCO–UNU Chair will engender collaboration between a variety of partnerships and networks. The aim is to produce a set of orientation guidelines for local representatives highlighting the main problems that have to be addressed with regard to the free movement of people, and effective responses that may be implemented in different contexts.

By bringing together academics as well as representatives of governments, and regional and non-governmental organizations, and private-sector organizations, this UNESCO–UNU Chair will function as a think tank and bridge builder, sharing its expertise to contribute (through research, training and capacity building) to making tangible the free movement of people in the southern African region by decreasing contentious debates and implementing an open problem-solving communication process.

The UNESCO–UNU Chair on Regional Integration, Migration and Free Movement of People will join a number of other chairs and networks established cooperatively by UNESCO and UNU over the past two decades. These include the UNESCO–UNU Chair in Plant Biotechnology, Beijing University (China, 1992); UNESCO–UNU Chair in Cultural Rights, Universidad de Palermo (Argentina, 1994); UNESCO–UNU Chair/Network on Global Economics and Sustainable Development, Colégio do Brasil (1996); UNESCO–UNU Chair on the Concept and Practice of Zero Emission in Africa, University of Namibia (1996); UNESCO–UNU Mobile Chair in University History and Future, Universidad de Palermo (Argentina, 1997); Mediterranean Network on Water Resources, Sustainable Development and Peace, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis (France, 1999); and UNU–UNITWIN Network of Africa-Asia University Dialogue for Educational Development, Hiroshima University (Japan, 2010).

The appointed Council members serve six-year terms. In 2010, fourteen new members (serving 2010-2016) joined ten incumbent members (serving 2007-2013).

On day one of its three-and-a-half day session, the Council heard and discussed the Rector's annual "State of the University" report, the financial overview of the University and the UNU Strategic Plan 2011-2014.

The Council also considered a range of strategic issues, including the UNU postgraduate programmes and related quality assurance framework and manual, the "twin institutes" initiative, and other ongoing and new initiatives (including the establishment of two new institutes: the UNU International Institute on the Alliance of Civilizations (UNU-IIAOC) in Barcelona, Spain, and the UNU Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) in Dresden, Germany).

Prof. Dr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente of Mexico, Chair of the UNU Council. Photo: Aki Goto

Day two was devoted to committee meetings that focused on the operation and activities of the global UNU institutes and programmes and on general financial and administrative issues.

Day three consisted of a closed plenary session in the morning, followed by an afternoon visit to the University of Tokyo for a campus tour and a discussion of tertiary education in Japan, and an evening reception hosted jointly by the Rector and the Government of Japan at Roppongi Hills in the evening.

On the final day, the Council heard and discussed the committee reports and conducted a variety of business, including approving a range of draft resolutions.

The Council re-elected Prof. Dr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente of Mexico as Chair of the Council for 2011.

Ms. Bokova also answered questions from members of the audience on such topics as cultural heritage, the role of youth and UNESCO's activities.

After Ms. Bokova's lecture, there were presentations by Won Jung Byun, chief coordinator of the Regional Centre of Expertise on ESD Tongyeong, Republic of Korea, and by Hirofumi Abe, Dean of the Graduate School of Environmental Science, Okayama University. These were followed by a lively discussion, chaired by UNU Vice-Rector Kazuhiko Takeuchi.

Later in the day, Ms. Bokova attended a meeting with the heads of the UN agencies based in Japan. At that meeting, Ms. Bokova and UNU Rector Konrad Osterwalder signed an agreement establishing a new UNESCO-UNU Chair in Regional Integration, Migration and Free Movement of People. This Chair will be based at the UNU Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) in Bruges, Belgium.

Symposium webcast

Text of Ms. Bokova's lecture

Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

Achieve Universal Primary Education

Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

Reduce Child Mortality

Improve Maternal Health

Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Develop a Global Partnership for Development