IISD Reporting Services at GEF Assembly, 16-18 October 2002, Beijing, China

IISD Reporting Services
at the GEF Assembly-2

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16 October
17 October
SUMMARY

Second Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly
16 - 18 October 2002
Beijing, China

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16 WED

17 THU

18 FRI

SUMMARY

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Highlights from Friday, 18 October 2002

Closing Plenary:

The Second GEF Assembly came to a close ahead of schedule at 1:20 pm today. Participants adopted the Beijing Declaration. A Roundtable of Ministers and other heads ofdelegations, and two panels convened by parliamentarians and NGOs respectively met in the morning.

Closing Plenary:

Assembly Chair Xiang Huaicheng presented the Summary of Second GEF Assembly (GEF/A.2/CRP.2), which was prepared in consultation with the Bureau and the Secretariat, for the Assembly’s adoption. Delegates adoption the Summary, also known as the Beijing Declaration, by consensus. Chair Xiang closed the Second GEF Assembly at 1:20 pm.

In his closing statement, El-Ashry praised China for its hospitality, and regarding his departure from the GEF, said that the “operative word is not goodbye but so long.”

Chair Xiang closed the Second GEF Assembly at 1:20 pm.


Panels:
Parliamentarians on the Global Environment
The Panel of Parliamentarians on the Global Environment was chaired by K.M. Khan (India) and organized by the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE). Delegates heard three presentations followed by a discussion session.

The Panel of Parliamentarians on the Global Environment was chaired by K.M. Khan (India) and organized by the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE). Delegates heard three presentations followed by a discussion session.

Panat Tasneeyanond (Thailand) stated that global cooperation alone could not reverse the trend of environmental destruction and urged all to actively engage in the WSSD Plan of Implementation.

Augusto Baculio (the Philippines) outlined the objectives and operations of several environmental regulations and programmes. Stating that the Philippines has 7100 islands, many without grid-connection, Baculio described proposed legislation aimed at promoting non-conventional energy sources and stimulating the rural economy.
NGO Panel:

Panel was chaired by Liliana Hisas (right) and comprised of representatives of the international and national NGOs.

Esther Camac, on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples, highlighted challenges of ensuring their full participation in the Convention on Biological Diversity process, and called for, inter alia: reviewing impacts of the CBD and other conventions on indigenous peoples; their awareness raising and capacity building; promoting their legal rights to participation and traditional knowledge; and carrying out inventories of the traditional knowledge by indigenous peoples themselves.

Workshop: Youth Employment Summit

Youth Employment Summit (YES) organized an engaging workshop focusing on promoting employment opportunities for youth in the renewable energy sector. The speakers underscored the need for collective and innovative actions to support young people.

Poonam Ahluwalu (YES), noted that investing in young people should be a noumber one priority.	Chona Cruz (GEF), emphasized that new GEF projects must link with youth and vulnerable groups.

Hafsat Abiola (KIND)	Roy Cabonegro (YSDA)