As we head into
the traditionally slower period of the Northern summer, recent
high-level events have produced plenty of material to contemplate
regarding climate change politics. The latest political declarations
and decisions on climate change targets and actions will play an
important role in shaping negotiators’ expectations in the Bali
Roadmap talks leading to Copenhagen in 2009. Such declarations also
provide strong clues as to the focus that related projects will
pursue in the interim. …
article continues
Lynn Wagner, Ph.D.
Editor, Linkages Update and
MEA Bulletin |
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BASEL CONVENTION COP CONCLUDES IN BALI |
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 Bali,
28 June—The
ninth meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (COP9) to the Basel Convention,
which convened from 23-27 June 2008, in
Bali, Indonesia, adopted more than 30
decisions prepared by the Open-ended Working
Group (OEWG). Decisions addressed, inter alia: the recommendation of the
Ad Hoc Joint
Working Group on Cooperation and
Coordination of the Basel, Rotterdam and
Stockholm Conventions; evaluation of the
effectiveness of the Convention and the new
strategic framework beyond 2010; the budget;
and technical matters. Delegates also
considered the legal interpretation of
Article 17(5), relating to the entry into
force of the Ban Amendment. Switzerland and
Indonesia announced a joint initiative to
convene an informal gathering prior to OEWG7
on substantive issues related to the Ban
Amendment.
More.
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Photo: L-R:
Katharina Kummer Peiry, Executive Secretary of
the Basel Convention; Rachmat Nadi Witoelar
Kartaadipoetra, COP9 President; and Achim
Steiner, UNEP Executive Director |
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ICP9 REACHES AGREEMENT ON MARITIME SECURITY AND
SAFETY |
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 New
York,
28 June—The
ninth meeting of the UN Open-Ended Informal
Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law
of the Sea (ICP9) took place from 23-27 June
2008, at UN Headquarters in New York, US.
Sticking points in the final hours of
negotiations related to the inclusion of
references to illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing and transport of nuclear
waste, although compromise language was
agreed on both of these elements and
delegates forwarded their recommendations to
the UN General Assembly for consideration at
its 63rd session under the agenda item
“Oceans and the law of the sea.”
More.
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Photo: A view of
Friday’s plenary in the General Assembly Hall. |
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UNFCCC WORKSHOP CONSIDERS EMISSIONS FROM
DEFORESTATION |
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Tokyo, 28 June—A
workshop on methodological issues relating
to reducing emissions from deforestation and
forest degradation in developing countries (REDD)
has convened at the United Nations
University in Tokyo, Japan. The workshop,
which was organized by the Secretariat of
the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), took place from 25-27 June
2008. It involved presentations and
discussions on the development of
methodologies specific to REDD (establishing
reference emission levels, scale of
implementation, implications and guidance),
as well as challenges related to estimating,
monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas
emissions from deforestation and forest
degradation, and options for assessing the
effectiveness of actions and criteria.
Participants also discussed needs and
implications related to linking
methodologies and policy approaches.
More. |
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SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FORUM FOR CARIBBEAN HELD |
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Grenada, 27 June—A
regional meeting to consider sustainable
energy for Caribbean small island developing
States (SIDS) has convened at St. George’s
University, Grenada. The First Caribbean
Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF) was held
from 24-26 June 2008, in conjunction with
the Fourth Caribbean Environmental Forum
(CEF-4), and focused on energy efficiency,
energy policy, wind energy production, solar
energy, biofuels, advances in renewable
energy, and financing of renewable energy
projects.
More. |
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