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Now More Than Ever: Climate talks that work for those who need them most

The world’s governments are gathering in Cancun, Mexico, for the next round of global climate negotiations amid much apathy and disenchantment with the process. People who hoped to see a fair, ambitious and binding global deal in Copenhagen a year ago left there sorely disappointed. Some are questioning the viability of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to deliver. But now is not the time to walk away from the UN process. Cancun will not see governments cross the finishing line but they can make vital steps to bring that line back into sight. For millions of poor people around the world – those hit first and worst by a crisis they did least to cause – a fair and safe deal to tackle climate change is needed now more than ever.

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PDF icon CANCUN-media-briefing-08-2010.pdf

The New Resource Grab: How EU Trade Policy on Raw Materials is Undermining Development

The European Union is making a big push to help its companies and investors access raw materials in developing countries. A new strategy, the Raw Materials Initiative, coupled with the negotiation of free trade agreements with developing countries, threatens to further constrain the ability of developing countries to promote effective development policies.

This report examines both the EU’s attempt to curb or ban the use of export taxes by developing countries, as well as its attempts to negotiate new rules on investment that will give European companies unprecedented access to raw materials in developing countries.

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PDF icon The new resource grab.pdf

Better returns in a better world: Responsible investment

Some investors have played a leading and progressive role in the climate change debate, and have made valuable contributions in areas such as labour standards, access to essential medicines and bribery and corruption. However, many other issues related to poverty reduction and sustainable development have received little attention, or have been undermined by the actions of other investors. Oxfam launched the Better Returns in a Better World project (BRBW) in November 2008 to understand the barriers to greater investor engagement with this agenda, and to identify how these may be addressed or overcome.

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Brokers Without Borders

Since 2006, more than 2000 people each day have died as a result of armed violence, and thousands more have had their human rights violated and their livelihoods undermined by the irresponsible trade and use of deadly weapons. The current international arms control system is failing to adequately regulate the arms trade and hold arms brokers and dealers accountable for their actions. As a result weapons continue to be transferred into environments where they are undermining development and fuelling human rights abuses. Oxfam has produced this report to examine publically available information about one specific case of illicit arms brokering.

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PDF icon Brokers without Borders Oct2010[1].pdf

The road to olive farming: challenges to developing the economy of olive oil in the West Bank

For thousands of years, the olive tree has been an integral part of the Palestinian landscape: a symbol of Palestinian identity, culture and tradition. The majority of Palestinian farmers are at least partially dependent on olive cultivation.

In a good year, the olive oil sector contributes over $100 million income annually to some of the poorest communities. Olive cultivation also has strong social and political aspects, as the planting of olive orchards is often an attempt to prevent the confiscation of land by Israel or settlers and to protect Palestinian livelihoods.

While the olive oil sector significantly contributes to economic security and generates income and employment, numerous obstacles prevent the sector from realising its full potential. A lack of adequate resources and ineffective sectoral management coupled with environmental factors, poor production and quality practices have caused stagnation in the development of the sector.

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PDF icon the-road-to-olive-farming_0.pdf

Righting two wrongs: Making a new Global Climate Fund work for poor people

Climate change is already negatively affecting the lives and livelihoods of poor men and women. Yet it is estimated that less than a tenth of climate funds to date have been spent on helping people in vulnerable countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. The poor are losing out twice: they are hardest hit by climate change they didn’t cause, and they are being neglected by funds that should be helping them. Climate finance can and must be made to work from the bottom up, particularly for women smallholder farmers.

Starting with the formal establishment of a new Global Climate Fund, decisions on climate finance governance need to set a new direction for a post-2012 era. This paper presents a vision for a new Fund and broader finance system that is effective in meeting the scale of developing country financing needs, and is widely considered – by governments and civil societies – to be legitimate in its decision-making.

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PDF icon Righting_two_wrongs_051010_BN.pdf

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