Sci-Dev Weekly Update May 7 2013

Accessing technology: the future of tech transfer A UN-led effort to help low-income nations use innovation to adapt to climate change is building up pace, reports Joanna Carpenter. News Policy void could jeopardise UN's energy access goals  Without new policies, universal access to electricity will not be achieved by 2030 and the situation may even worsen for clean cooking, predicts a study.  EN  Huge health inequalities in Latin America revealed  The quality of healthcare available in Latin America varies dramatically from leading-nation Cuba down to struggling Haiti, an index reveals.  EN | ES  Vacant TV spectrum targeted for affordable rural Wi-Fi  The switch to digital TV is freeing up frequencies that could be used to provide cheap wireless broadband services to remote areas.  EN  Global biodiversity panel urged to heed local voices  IPBES, a new biodiversity panel set up to advise policymakers, must include indigenous and local voices, a meeting has heard.  EN  Developing countries to share community-based adaptation experience  The science of community-based adaptation is just emerging, and a new network will aim to share and scale up knowledge.  EN  Basic science may yield crop gains in developing nations  Research into transport mechanisms in plants is leading to innovations for improving crop yields, which are starting to trickle down to farmers.  EN | ES  Female Arab scientists urge defence of women's rights  A conference in Kuwait urges support for efforts to improve networking and the protection of women's rights, which are at risk after the Arab Spring.  EN  Concerns grow over effects of solar geoengineering  The latest studies predict adverse or ineffective outcomes of atmospheric geoengineering, and scientists are calling for better governance.  EN  French centre to use research as tool for development  CIRAD, the French agricultural research centre, has a new strategy that aims for more science partnerships with developing nations.  EN | ES Other News Global ranking reveals innovation gap in South-East Asia  EN  New drug-resistant malaria strains uncovered in Cambodia  EN  Nepal to generate electricity from waste  EN  Economic development 'can restore lost biodiversity'  EN  Chilean coast could provide clues on sea level rise  ES  Central America seeks funding to deal with coffee leaf rust  ES  Brazilians and Chinese ‘have highest awareness’ of biodiversity  ES More NEWS  Opinions Developing nations should avoid 'slow science'  Scientists in developing countries should increase the quality of their research by publishing more good papers, not fewer, says Rafael Loyola.  EN | ES  Asia-Pacific Analysis: Easing megacity congestion  Science may be the only way to keep traffic moving in the region's huge cities as car numbers continue to rise, says Crispin Maslog.  EN More OPINIONS  Features Paving the way for tech transfer  A new UN body to advise nations on climate tech may break the deadlock in the long-running debate on transferring technology finds Joanna Carpenter.  EN  More FEATURES  Asia-Pacific Analysis: Unblocking the region's traffic Science may help ease congestion in the region's megacities, argues Crispin Maslog.