The 2007-2008 Human Development Report Launched in Juba – “Southern Sudan committed to fighting climate change”

Juba, 30 January 2008: the United Nations Development Programme in Southern Sudan launched the Global Human Development Report 2007/2008, under the theme: Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world.

The launch presentations discussed the Report’s emphasis on the need to dramatically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases worldwide and the need to adapt to changes in the climate that are now unavoidable. Participants of the event emphasized that in Sudan, where 70% of people depend on natural resources for their livelihood, the impact of climate change could be devastating.

Professor Scopus Dima, Representative of the Government of Southern Sudan and advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, underlined in his keynote briefing that Southern Sudan is experiencing serious environmental challenges as a resulting from the civil war which ended in 2005. He highlighted that Southern Sudan is faced with environmental degradation stemming from heavy deforestation and resultant soil erosion leading to unstable rain falls and poor harvest. Professor Dima said “Sudan is already experiencing the effects of global warming expressed in repeated droughts, increased desertification, serious flooding and rainfall swings.”

Attending and speaking on behalf of the Government of Southern Sudan, Mr. Deng Yai of the Presidency Office, Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) stressed the commitment of the GoSS to address the issues raised in the Report, and said “the Government is committed to fight climate change, to protect our precious natural resources and to succeed in development for all the people of Southern Sudan”.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Jerzy Skuratowicz, UNDP Sudan Country Director highlighted that climate change has become a political and social issue in many parts of the world adding that climate change impact can be reversed through cooperation of governments and civil society organizations and institutions worldwide. Mr. Skuratowicz also commended the participation of and support from the Government of Southern Sudan and the media in the launch event.

Mr. Jafet Enriquez, Deputy Country Director/Head of UNDP Office in Southern Sudan, said the this year HDR commissioned by UNDP focuses on key development issues related to the climate change, and provides innovative analysis and policy proposals for developing countries in particular.

Mr. Clive Bates, UNEP, Programme Manager, said “Climate change is adding to the existing pressures on the environment of Southern Sudan and we should expect more impacts like the loss of vegetation and fertile soil, more serious flooding, reduced agricultural output and a higher likelihood of drought and crop failure.” Following the recent establishment of UNEP office in Khartoum, Mr. Bates also talked of future plans to have a sub-office in Southern Sudan.

The HDR 2007/2008 report was presented by Ms. Hanan Mutwakil, Environment Analyst in UNDP Sudan, while Mr. Nagmeldin Gotbi, Environment Specialist at the Higher National Council for Environment in Sudan, described Sudan’s role in the international response to climate change and updated delegates on recent developments in the international negotiations. .

The launch was organized by UNDP Office in Southern Sudan with contributions from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Presidential Affairs, UNDP’s national team and the UN Environment Programme. Representatives of the Government of Southern Sudan, civil society organizations, diplomatic corps, UN agencies, international organizations and academia attended the event.

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For more information, please contact:

Joseph Tabani , Communications Analyst, UNDP Sudan : joseph.tabani@undp.org
For information on the HDR please visit: http://hdr.undp.org/

Or visit UNDP Sudan website at: www.sd.undp.org

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.