By Stephen Minas.

New FPC Research Associate Stephen Minas analyses the China's evolving approach to climate change negotiations from Copenhagen to Cancun and beyond.

Download FPC Briefing: Crossing the river – China and Climate Change (360 kilobyte PDF)

By Dr David Tickner, Head of Freshwater Programmes, WWF-UK, Josephine Osikena.

Understandably, the world has become increasingly preoccupied with risk and insecurity. The uncertainties produced by global challenges such as financial crises, economic slowdowns, health pandemics, the international narcotics trade, terrorism and conflict and indeed the impact of climate change are just a few pressing examples causing concern. However, the earth's environmental resources are increasingly under enormous strain and nowhere is this stress more apparent than in the case of the earth's finite supplies of freshwater.

Full text 

Dr David Tickner, Josephine Osikena (Ed.)

May 2010 Hard copy: £4.95, plus £1 p+p.

Download Tackling the world water crisis (790 kilobyte PDF)

This new FPC publication is being launched to mark World Environment Day (5 June). The report aims to stimulate discussion and debate amongst a wide ranging audience in an effort to promote the centrality of water on today's foreign policy agenda, particularly in light of the increasing environmental shocks and stresses presented by climate change and global population growth. In an increasingly interconnected world, where cooperation is no longer an option but an imperative, how can foreign policy inform and provide a more effective response to improving the management of freshwater while ensuring reliable and sustainable access?

Contributors to the pamphlet include: Rt Hon William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Professor J.A. Tony Allan, King's College, London and School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS); Richard Black, BBC News; Belinda Calaguas, Director of Policy & Campaigns, ActionAid; Fiona Harvey, Environment Correspondent, The Financial Times, Dr Bruce Lankford, University of East Anglia; Bernice Lee, Research Director, Energy, Environment and Resource Governance, Chatham House; David Nussbaum, Chief Executive, WWF-UK; Dr Letitia A. Obeng, Chair, Global Water Partnership (GWP); Dan Smith, General Secretary, International Alert; Dr Martin R. Stuchtey, McKinsey & Company Inc.; Dr Camilla Toulmin, Director, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED); and Stephen Twigg MP, former Director, Foreign Policy Centre.

The report is being launched at the House of Lords on 3 June at 4.30pm. For more information, or to register, please email: events@fpc.org.uk

• Tackling the world water crisis London event

DATE: Thursday 18 November 2010

TIME: 7.00-9.00pm (with a drinks reception to start)

VENUE: Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Westminster, London SW1A 2LW (use public entrance on Victoria Embankment)

Speaker: Dr Donald Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank

Chair: Prof Paul Collier, University of Oxford

In an age of unprecedented national austerity and global insecurity, the global balance of power has shifted from a unipolar to an increasingly multipolar world order, where new global centres of power compete for influence and resources. This transition however, has yet to take real shape and is continuing to undergo a process of evolution that has so far been neither accurately defined, nor confidently articulated. In light of this, could Africa be on the cusp of a long-awaited turning point? How best can African economies and societies navigate through these uncertain times? What does the future hold for a continent juxtaposed with some of the world's fastest growing economies on the one hand, yet on the other, burdened with what appears to be some of the most intractable global development challenges, all of which amplify the state of inequality and poverty across this vast continent?

At this FPC and Citi event, Prof Paul Collier will pose these and other questions to Dr Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank. This will be followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask questions and make comments.

We expect demand to be high for this event. If you would like to attend, please RSVP as soon as possible by email to: events@fpc.org.uk

Download event flyer (230 kilobyte PDF)

26-29 September, Manchester

The Foreign Policy Centre will be hosting a programme of four fringe events at this year's Labour Party Conference in Manchester, with speakers including: Gareth Thomas MP, Shadow DfID Minister; Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow DECC Minister; and Rt Hon Lord Paul Boateng, amongst others. Please see the flyer below for further details about speakers, themes and venues. The events are open to all (though some venues may need Conference accreditation - please check the flyer) and there is no need to pre-register.

Download FPC Fringe Programme - Labour Party Conference 2010 (130 kilobyte PDF)

3-5 October, Birmingham

The Foreign Policy Centre will be hosting five fringe events at this year's Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, with speakers including: Lord Jonathan Marland, DECC Minister and Stephen O'Brien MP, DfID Minister, amongst others. Please see the flyer below for further details of speakers, themes and venues. The events are open to all (though some venues may need Conference accreditation - please check the flyer). There is no need to pre-register.

Download FPC Fringe Programme - Conservative Party Conference 2010 (150 kilobyte PDF)