At the UN climate conference in Cancun we talked to water expert Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm of the Inter-American Development Bank. The expectations may be low for the present round of climate talks, he told us. But there is something noticeably positive about the COP16 conference: For the first time – and other than only last year at the Copenhagen talks – there's unanimous agreement that climate change is real and that humans are responsible for it, he told us.

Three GLOBAL IDEAS video reports were selected for screening at the Development and Climate Days Annual Film Festival on December 4th and 5th in Cancun, Mexico. You can check them out here:

Green Energy in Guyana

Deforestation is rampant in many countries with rainforests being cleared for industry and agriculture and the mining of natural resources. Guyana is trying a different approach thanks to the government's Low Carbon Development Strategy. It's a revolutionary scheme, which aims to transform Guyana's economy while combating climate change. The plan is to have the international community recognize the financial value of the rainforests and pay compensation for their conservation. The UN has yet to approve it.

Eco-Cooling in Swaziland

Swaziland, a small kingdom in southern Africa, is one of the poorest regions in the world. Most residents depend on farming and cattle grazing for their livelihood. Only a few own cars. They aren't responsible for climate change but Swaziland has been hard hit by the consequences – rising temperatures and drought. Appliances that keep food and medicines cool are hugely important. One of the few factories in the country now produces refrigerators and freezers in an environmentally-friendly way. And the appliances are powered by solar energy.

Energy for the Andes

Many villages in the remote northern highlands of Peru are not connected to the electricity grid. Alternative energy sources are proving a big help. The aid organization "Soluciones Practicas" has installed micro wind turbines in many villages in the Cajamarca region that provide several thousand people with a daily electricity supply. It's helping boost their educational chances, improve communication and facilitate the setting up of businesses. The NGO is hoping to expand in South America.

You have played our new WebDocumentary about Guyana?

Well, then it's up to you to show us what you have learned!

Go to our website…

@ http://bit.ly/guyana_quiz_01

…and answer the first of five questions. 

Until friday we will ask you one question a day. Answering each question gives you five letters. Put them in the right order and you will get a solution word. Send us the word on friday and you will have pretty high chance to win one of the flash drives.

If you have not played the WebDocumentary yet, here's your chance (again): http://bit.ly/WebDoc_Guyana

The whole GLOBAL IDEAS team wishes you the best of luck. And don't forget, there will be ten winners. Take your chance!

(ke)

With the media focus on all the political bickering over a new climate deal at the COP16 conference, it's easy to lose sight of the very real concerns that people from all over the world are trying to bring to the attention of delegates at the Cancun talks. Their messages are urgent, sometimes simple and – some would say – occasionally simplistic. But never boring.

Meet Sri Sri Soham Baba, who's come to Cancun with a message that is certainly clear. Listen to what he told GLOBAL IDEAS about it: