Climate Change High on 2007 Global Agenda	The European Commission recently released a comprehensive new energy strategy, seeking to launch the union onto a climate-friendly, low-carbon path. Meanwhile, a consortium of major Asian economies agreed to cooperate on ways to enhance energy security and address climate change, in parallel with efforts to further integrate their trading sectors. Both initiatives took place in early 2007 as meteorologists were taking stock of the unusually warm weather in 2006, and warning that 2007 may bring even more weather anomalies in its wake. Overall, the year will see a number of major climate-related events, including discussions under the German G-8 presidency and the release of a comprehensive assessment of the body of scientific knowledge on climate change. more
Conference Concludes International Year of Desertification	Participants at a conference marking the end of the UN International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD) in December 2006 explored key policy options for reversing land degradation in drylands. While trade was not on the agenda as such, participants highlighted both possible negative impacts of international trade on land management, and trade-related factors that could enhance sustainable practices in drylands. Market incentives, new market opportunities and market access for small farmers and pastoralists -- even at the international level -- could foster investment in sustainable land management (SLM), the experts said. more

In Brief

CITES Lifts Caspian Caviar Ban EU, Indonesia Collaborate To Prevent Illegal Logging Environment Negotiations Low on Priority List of WTO Members EU Member States Back Austrian Ban on Biotech Products FAO: Livestock Diversity Dwindling EU Agrees Mild Cod Quota Cuts

Events    &   Resources
Events	31 January-1 February, Geneva, Switzerland: EXPLORATORY DIALOGUE ON PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT THROUGH TRADE. Convened by the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD in collaboration with ICTSD, this dialogue aims to promote investment in sustainable land management in dryland regions through market access, trade, and knowledge mobilisation. For further information and to register, please contact Marie Chamay, e-mail: mchamay@ictsd.ch or Eleonora Canigiani, e-mail: e.canigiani@ifad.org; internet: http://www.global-mechanism.org/news--events/events/promoting-slm-through-trade-workshop/.
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Resources	STAYING HOME: HOW ETHANOL WILL CHANGE US CORN EXPORTS. By Mark Muller and Heather Schoonover. IATP, December 2006. This report looks at the growth planned for ethanol plants in the US Midwest and their potential impact on corn exports. Corn-based ethanol production in the US doubled between 2001 and 2005, and is likely to double again the next few years. The US already has 100 active ethanol plants capable of producing more than 5 billion gallons of ethanol a year. The US Department of Agriculture has stated that much of the corn for ethanol production will be diverted from exports. To access the report visit http://www.agobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=96658.
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ISSN 1682-0843