Resources Archive

It’s been called a perfect storm, the convergence of bad weather, tight supplies and increasing demand that is responsible for driving up food prices across the globe by an average 21 percent in the past year. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization contends that developing countries may end up paying even more. Price volatility and shocks have long been defining characteristics of the world agriculture market. But this year, consumers have seen simultaneous price increases across the board in nearly every commodity. Throughout most of the developed world, higher grocery bills luckily remain only a nuisance, although fears of […]

NUSA DUA, Indonesia — The 13th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Bali over the last two weeks, had it all: anger, frustration, intense politicking, drama, tears, and finally a decision, although it was reached one day later than expected. The final document, nailed down on Saturday, is not the whirlwind of change that environmentalists had hoped for, but rather a gentle breeze that may pave the way to a cooler tomorrow in a warming world. The Bali Roadmap, as the final document is known, is the beginning of a long process that sets 2009 as the […]

A series of recent studies have warned that climate change could exacerbate north-south tensions, increase global migration, spur public health problems, heighten conflict over resources, challenge the institutions of global governance, and possibly shift the balance of power. Although the probability, extent, and urgency of such threats remains uncertain, U.S. policy makers should prudently hedge against them. Developing a range of tools to mitigate and address climate change is essential given the possible advent of at least some of these challenges. Many Western leaders have made clear that they already perceive serious challenges to their national security from these consequences. […]

NUSA DUA, Indonesia — As the 13th meeting of the parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) enters its second and final week, there has been mixed progress on the resort island of Bali, where representatives of some 190 countries have converged to plot a roadmap for mitigating global warming when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. The second week coincides with the arrival of national delegations’ ministers and is meant to seal the deals negotiated by technicians during the first week. However, although most UNFCCC observers would agree with Emil Salim, head of the host […]

This week, world leaders and scientists are meeting in Bali, Indonesia, to articulate a global strategy to deal with global warming. Even though it remains unlikely that major policy initiatives will be announced, the venue provides an important platform to increase U.S.-Japanese leadership on global warming. Historically, U.S.-Japan relations have benefited from multiple layers of bilateral cooperation. As the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship evolves, traditional military and economic cooperation will prove insufficient to guard against malignant stresses in the alliance. The recent meeting in Washington of Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and President Bush provided the foundation for a new pillar […]

DENPASAR Indonesia — There is a double set of expectations in Bali this week, where about 15,000 are expected to converge Monday for the 13th meeting of the parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The meeting begins on Monday and runs through Dec. 14. In the wake of terrorist attacks in recent years, local residents hope that the 12-day conference signals to tourists worldwide that the island is a safe vacation destination. Meanwhile, the movers and shakers of the world’s environmental lobby hope it will pave the way for negotiations toward a new, binding deal to […]