Today we're pleased to introduce you to B-SPAN, the World Bank's new Internet-based "web"casting station. B-SPAN is a window into a unique world that offers the public an opportunity to see what is being discussed and debated inside the World Bank on a variety of sustainable development and poverty reduction issues. For many years, the Bank has hosted regular luncheon seminars, workshops and conferences in its Washington headquarters where leading experts from around the world discussed the latest developments in their sectors. Unfortunately, these live events were and are attended mostly by Bank staff members, an audience that represents a only small fraction of the potential viewers interested in participating. B-SPAN seeks to fill this gap by allowing anyone unable to attend an event the chance to watch a webcast of the presentation either live or through an archived Internet file. A new website has been started to archive the video materials for future viewing. Over time, the B-SPAN website will become a virtual library of information on development and poverty issues.
To visit B-SPAN, go to http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/B-SPAN.
B-SPAN makes use of RealPlayer 8 Basic, a free software package that allows viewing of video materials through the Internet. This free version of RealPlayer can be downloaded from the B-SPAN website.
Several recent events are now available on B-SPAN. These include:
Ian Johnson, vice president of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development network, and Robert Watson, co-chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) discuss recent negotiations on climate change at The Hague. Johnson provides an assessment on developments at The Hague, reasons for its failure to broker an agreement, and some perspective on future negotiations.
On Monday (January 22, 2001) Watson and the IPCC issued a stunning report in Shanghai, China which indicated that mounting scientific evidence shows the earth is warming faster than previously expected. "We see changes in climate, we believe we humans are involved and we're projecting future climate changes much more significant in the next 100 years than the last 100 years," Watson said.
The IPCC report is comprehensive, with contributions from more than 500 experts worldwide. It predicts that rising sea levels which threaten low-lying areas, damage to forest and coral reef ecosystems, intense droughts, damage to agriculture and water supplies, higher incidents of malaria and dengue fever will be likely outcomes of continuing trends. The main factor behind the faster than anticipated rise in global temperatures is the reduction of sulfur emissions. Such emissions account for acid rain problems, compelling industrial societies to reduce them. However, sulfur emissions also help cool the earth's atmosphere whereas greenhouse gases prevent heat from leaving the atmosphere, thereby warming earth's temperature.
In his presentation on B-SPAN, Watson presents some of the IPCC's modeling on future scenarios. Key determinants assessed include population growth, economic growth, and changes in technology. The modeling shows a range of plausible outcomes over the next half century: from levels similar to what we experience today to levels that are highly damaging to humans, flora and fauna.
"Governments can play a critical role in placing the right enabling framework to facilitate the transfer of technology," Watson said. "It's not just hardware, it's information and knowledge."
Also online:
Perspectives on law enforcement activities to reduce illegal forestry and logging practices. William Magrath, a senior forestry economist in the Bank's East Asia region provides an overview of work done in Cambodia. In 1997, illegal logging in Cambodia had reached four million cubic meters annually, but experts estimated sustainable harvesting could not exceed a half million cubic meters. This posed a severe threat. Over time, however, Magrath and colleagues worked to change the perspective of regulators and stakeholders by addressing forestry law enforcement on a technical level. In his seminar, based on a paper written with Richard Gandalski, Magrath provides thoughts on what was learned from their Cambodian experiences. The discussion addresses both illegal logging and enforcement problems, and focuses on the policy framework, legislation, and resources needed to structure enforcement activities.
Interviews with the authors of the Bank's Environmental and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) strategies for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
1 - Kevin Cleaver, ESSD Sector Director in the region provides an overview. 2 - Laura Tuck and Csaba Csaka discuss rural development. 3 - Marjory Anne Bromhead analyzes natural resource management. 4 - Konrad von Ritter discusses the environment. 5 - Alexandre Marc talks about social development activities.
An interview (in Spanish) with Fabio Arjona, former Vice Minister of Environment for Colombia. Arjona discusses the state of Colombia's environment and how economic instruments are being used to reduce pollution in his nation.
Richard Klein of the Potsdam Institute, a leading climate change expert, discusses the importance of understanding a nation's adaptive capacity in assessing its planning process for future global warming changes.
We welcome your questions or comments about B-SPAN. If you would like B-SPAN updates to be sent to an interested colleagues, or if you wish to no longer receive updates, please let us know by writing David Shaman at dshaman@worldbank.org. Best wishes.:
