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G8 LEADERS URGED TO FOCUS ON MDGS;
SUMMIT SPOTLIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAQ, TAKES ACTION AGAINST PROLIFERATION OF WMDs
Leaders of the Group of
Eight industrialized nations were urged by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and by NGOs of their
countries ahead of the G8 Summit held recently in Sea Island, Georgia, US, to
prioritize the MDGs. While discussions focused on Iraq and combating terrorism, the
Sea Island Summit produced a number of environment and sustainable
development-related outcomes. More.
WORLD PUBLIC OPINION POLL STATES THE “WORLD IS NOT
GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”
Sixty percent of respondents
to a poll of people from 19 countries between November 2003 and February 2004
said the world is not going in the right direction, and views of the US were
the most powerful predictor of this assessment. More.
WOLFENSOHN CALLS FOR MORE ENVIRONMENT AID
World Bank President James Wolfensohn recently highlighted that progress on the
environment has been “alarmingly slow,” stating that developed countries are
assuming too little responsibility for addressing the world’s environmental
problems. More.
ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITY INDEX LAUNCHED
An Environmental
Vulnerability Index (EVI) aimed at enabling small island developing States
(SIDS) to better understand their vulnerability and progress toward more
sustainable development was launched recently. More.
ATHENS OLYMPICS SIGNS ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENT
The Athens Olympics
Organizing Committee signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UNEP recently
committing to a number of initiatives to green this summer’s Olympic Games. More.
MDGs
HIGHLIGHTED ON INTERNATIONAL BIODIVERSITY DAY
International
Biodiversity Day was
celebrated recently on 22 May under the theme “Biodiversity: Water, food and
health for all.” More.
INTERNATIONAL
TRADE RULES FOR SEAHORSES ENTER INTO FORCE
On 15 May 2004, trade regulations for all 33 species of seahorses
entered into force under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). More.
GOVERNMENTS
PROPOSE NEW CITES TRADE RULES
The
CITES Secretariat has received over 50 government proposals for new rules on
international wildlife trade, in preparation for CITES COP-13 to be held in
Bangkok, Thailand, from 2-14 October 2004. More.
EU AND IUCN ANNOUNCE COUNTDOWN
CAMPAIGN TO HALT BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN EUROPE
On 25 May 2004, European
stakeholders, including the European Commission, the Irish Presidency of the
EU and IUCN, launched the Countdown 2010 campaign to halt the loss of
biodiversity in Europe. More.
PARTNERSHIP DELIVERS SEED MONEY FOR
AMAZON PROTECTED AREAS FUND
WWF officials recently presented
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva with a check for $500,000 in seed money for the
Amazon Regional Protected Areas (ARPA) trust fund. More.
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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2004
Under the theme - Wanted!
Seas and Oceans: Dead or Alive? - citizens,
organizations, local councils and governments across the globe took part in
this year’s World Environment Day celebrations. The theme, chosen by UNEP,
addresses the state of the world’s oceans, seas and coral reefs, which are
increasing tainted by untreated wastewater, air-borne pollution and
industrial effluent, and rapidly declining global fish stocks. More.
UNEP LAUNCHES
GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION FOR WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND DATA
Marking World Environment Day, UNEP’s Global Environment Monitoring Systems Water
programme (UNEP-GEMS) launched its “Great Water Quality Data Drive,” an
initiative aimed at improving the scientific basis for global water
assessments, particularly for inland aquatic environments. More.
UN-HABITAT AND GREEN CROSS PROMOTE
NEW WATER CONVENTION
UN-HABITAT Executive
Director Anna Tibaijuka met recently with former
Soviet leader and Green Cross International President Mikhail Gorbachev at
the Barcelona 2004 Forum in Spain
to discuss the possibility of creating a new international convention on
water as a basic human right. More.
WETLAND AMBASSADOR CAMPAIGN IN
MEKONG AND YANGTZE BASIN UNDERWAY
Entitled “Living Rivers:
From the Mountains to the Sea,” the Wetland Ambassador initiative works by
engaging university students to conduct projects on important wetland issues
and themes. More.
INDIAN FILM ON
WETLANDS WINS ECOCINEMA FESTIVAL AWARD
Indian film director Surabhi Sharma won the
Ramsar/MedWet award at the fourth International
Environmental Film Festival for his film, Aamakaar,
the Turtle People. More.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO SAVE WILD
BAMBOOS, REPORT SHOWS
Half of the world’s 1,200
wild bamboo species are in danger of extinction because of forest
destruction, a global study undertaken by the International Network for
Bamboo and Rattan and UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre indicated. More.
WWF STUDY LINKS SEA TURTLES TO
INCREASED REVENUE, POACHERS JAILED IN THE SEYCHELLES
Marine turtle-related
tourism brings in almost three times as much money
as the sale of turtle products such as meat, leather and eggs, according to a
study prepared by WWF on the economic aspects of marine turtle use and
conservation. More.
SOUTH AFRICA ADOPTS NEW
BIODIVERSITY ACT
South Africa
officially adopted its new Biodiversity Act on 31 May. The Act regulates the
sharing of benefits derived from biodiversity with local communities,
protects traditional knowledge and regulates bioprospecting. More.
COD STOCKS
COULD SOON DISAPPEAR, WWF WARNS
Cod
stocks have declined dramatically over the last decades and could disappear
by 2020, according to a report released by WWF. More.
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WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM LAUNCHES
“AFRICA WATER PROJECT EXCHANGE”
The World Economic Forum
launched a matchmaking service to create public-private partnerships for the
delivery, conservation and management of water projects in Africa.
More.
POOREST COUNTRIES NEED AID TO TRADE, SAYS UNCTAD
REPORT
The world’s least developed
countries need a combination of increased aid and trade liberalization to
avoid sinking further into poverty, according to a new UNCTAD report. More.
ANCIENT GAS “BELCH” THROWS UP CLIMATE CLUES
An enormous release of gas
into the atmosphere from the Atlantic Ocean
tens of millions of years ago could provide insights into today’s global
warming, according to experts. More.
NEW STANDARDS LINK CLIMATE CHANGE WITH
BIODIVERSITY, POVERTY
A new set of standards for
certifying land use projects that tackle climate change also successfully
address biodiversity and poverty issues, according to their publishers. More.
BIG BUSINESS WARMS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Multinational corporations
are taking more interest in climate change and its potential impacts,
according to a new report. More.
EU
APPROVES GM CANNED MAIZE, LIFTS MORATORIUM
On
19 May, the European Commission approved the sale of a GM sweetcorn,
putting an end to the de facto moratorium on GM products that has been
in place in the EU since 1998. More.
CANADIAN SUPREME
COURT RULES AGAINST FARMER IN BIOTECH CASE
The Supreme Court of Canada recently found Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser guilty of violating Monsanto’s patent on a gene
creating resistance to glyphosate, the active
ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. More.
ENVIRONMENTAL
CAMPAIGNERS URGE WTO TO DISMISS BIOTECH CASE
Friends of the Earth
gathered over 100,000 people and 544 organizations representing 48 million
people to sign a petition to the WTO. More.
MONSANTO STOPS RESEARCH ON GM WHEAT
In a decision hailed by
environmental, consumer and farmer groups, Monsanto, the world’s largest
seller of GM seeds, announced it would defer efforts to introduce Roundup
Ready wheat, until other wheat biotechnology traits are introduced. More.
HIGH LEVELS OF PBDES
FOUND IN BREAST MILK IN CANADA
A study conducted by Health Canada has
revealed that the breast milk of Canadian women contains the second highest
levels in the world of PBDEs, chemicals used as
flame retardants in electronic products and furniture. More.
NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
EFFECTS OF CHEMICALS ON CHILDREN’S INTELLIGENCE AND BEHAVIOR
A new report from WWF argues
that chemicals in the environment have severe impacts on children’s
intelligence and behavior, and could be linked to autism and Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. More.
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Sustainable development
YEARBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL
CO-OPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 2003/2004
(Earthscan, 2003/2004) Prepared by the Norway-based Fridtjof Nansen Institute, the Yearbook
provides a practical and informative guide to major international environment
and development instruments and organizations. Comprising a combination of
analysis and factual reference material, the Yearbook aims to present
the international community’s position on specific environment and
development issues, the main obstacles to effective multilateral solutions,
and ways to overcome them. Analytical papers examine current issues and key
themes in the international environment and development arena, such as those
concerning global governance, management of plant genetic resources, and
management of regional transboundary water resources.
Updated annually, the reference sections contain an extensive listing of
international and regional environment and development agreements, each
outlining the objective, scope and status of an instrument, its affiliated
instruments and organizations, Secretariat contact and budget details, rules
and standards, and monitoring and implementation procedures among other useful
information. The reference sections also include a listing of key
intergovernmental organizations, such as the CSD, FAO, GEF, IMF, IMO, UNEP,
World Bank and WTO, and non-governmental organizations, such as CAN, FoEI, ICC, IUCN, TWN, WBCSD and WWF. The objectives,
Secretariat and decision making details, activities, budget and main
publications are outlined for each organization. Initially published in 1992
as the Green Globe Yearbook, the publication has been known as the “Yearbook of International Co-Operation on Environment and
Development” since 1997. A Chinese version of the book has been available
since 1995, and a condensed web version has been published since 1997. The Yearbook.
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO
EMPLOYING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER / SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER FOR UNIVERSITIES
AND COLLEGES
(Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, 2004) Prepared
by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) in
partnership with the Higher Education – Environmental Performance Improvement
(HEEPI) project, this resource is aimed specifically at colleges and
universities looking to hire Environmental Managers or Sustainability
Officers. This guide provides best practices concerning issues such as: the
role and responsibilities of an Environmental Manager; budgets; line
management; appointment costs; skills, qualifications and experience; where
to advertise; interviews; and examples of job specifications/ advertisements.
The guide.
PARTICIPATORY
APPROACHES, METHODS AND TOOLS
(May 2004, FAO) This resource CD was
produced by the FAO Participation Website Team and includes a field tools
database of participatory approaches, methods and field tools, developed or
applied by FAO and other organizations. It also includes a selection of FAO
documents taken from the Participation Website’s annotated library database.
To receive the CD-ROM contact Bernd.Seiffert@fao.org.
PARTICIPATORY
PROCESSES TOWARDS CO-MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN PASTORAL AREAS OF THE
MIDDLE EAST
(May 2004, FAO) This training of trainers sourcebook, authored by
Dawn Chatty, Stephan Baas and Ania Fleig, is based on the principles of participatory methods
and approaches. It draws from experiences, including four participatory
workshops, related to the “Range Rehabilitation and Establishment of a
Wildlife Reserve in the Syrian Steepe” project, as
well as the authors’ work in a variety of pastoral regions of the world. This
resource outlines a progressive and sequential set of skills that the authors
find useful in promoting the technical and sociological skills required to
enhance a participatory process. The sourcebook.
Trade and investment in sustainable
development
INVESTMENT
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A GUIDE TO THE USE AND POTENTIAL OF
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS
(IISD, 2004) This report offers an overview of the features, as well as
some of the shortcomings, of international investment agreements. It argues
that the agreements should be designed to promote sustainable development
through foreign investment. The report.
HEALTHY
FISHERIES, SUSTAINABLE TRADE: CRAFTING NEW RULES ON FISHING SUBSIDIES IN THE WTO
(WWF, June 2004) This new publication by WWF argues in favor of amending
rules set down by the World Trade Organization to eliminate subsidies that
cause overfishing. The new book proposes regulating
subsidies programmes “on a fishery-by-fishery basis.” It also advocates an
approach that takes into account the difficulties faced by developing
countries, and supports the involvement of regional fisheries bodies. The
book’s release occurs at a time when the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules is
trying to tackle the issue of subsidies. The book.
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Climate
change
CLIMATE
CHANGE AND HUMAN HEALTH: RISKS AND RESPONSES
(World Health
Organization, 2004) Edited by A.J. McMichael et
al, this book considers the risks to human health posed by climate
change. The book looks both at current and future adverse impacts on human
health, and how societies can lessen these impacts through adaptation
strategies and by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Each chapter tackles a
different aspect of the problem. More.
Human development
WSIS
2003 SOUVENIR BOOK: CONNECTING THE WORLD - HELPING THE WORLD COMMUNICATE
(ITU, 2004) The International Telecommunication Union has published a
commemorative book on the first phase of the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) that took place in Geneva
in December 2003. The publication contains: statements from the opening
session of the Summit; WSIS documents,
including the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action endorsed by
175 countries; a concise background of the WSIS process; and a picture
gallery of the Summit
and its preparatory process. The book.
Intergovernmental organizations
INTEGRATION
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS INTO OTHER POLICY AREAS: A STOCKTAKING OF THE
CARDIFF PROCESS
(European Commission, June 2004) This report evaluates the progress of
the Cardiff process launched by the European Council to integrate
environmental considerations into other EU policy decisions. The nine sectors
that have produced integration strategies since EU leaders met in Cardiff in 1998 are
agriculture, transport, energy, industry, internal market, development,
fisheries, economics and finance, and foreign affairs. The report, inter
alia, highlights the significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions
from the transportation sector, calls on the EU to promote environmental
concerns in WTO and other trade negotiations, and suggests a number of
recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the Cardiff process. The report will be
forwarded to the European Council and contribute to preparations for the 2004
Environmental Policy Review and the EC’s 2005 report to the Spring European
Council. The report.
Water,
wetlands, oceans, coasts
MONEY TALKS:
ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF MARINE TURTLE USE AND CONSERVATION
(WWF, 2004) According to a new economic study by WWF, marine turtle
tourism brings in almost three times as much income as killing turtles for
their meat, leather and eggs. World marine turtle populations are in steep
decline in many areas, particularly in developing countries, as nesting
beaches are converted to holiday resorts, turtles and their eggs are
over-harvested for food and turtles are accidentally caught and killed in
fishing nets. Six of the world’s seven marine turtle species are endangered
or critically endangered. Comparing 18 sites in Africa, Asia, Latin America
and the Caribbean, the study confirms what many have suspected all along –
sea turtles are worth more to local communities alive than dead. The study.
TUNA
FARMING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: THE BLUEFIN TUNA STOCK AT STAKE
(WWF, June 2004) WWF has released a new report that criticizes European
Union subsidies that aid the expansion of tuna farming in the Mediterranean, an activity that WWF believes will lead
to the commercial extinction of the already overexploited and highly
endangered bluefin tuna. According to the
international conservation organization, up to €19–20 million of public funds
have been allocated to the tuna farming industry in EU Mediterranean waters
since 1997. The report.
REPORT:
EUROPEAN TRAWLERS ARE DESTROYING THE OCEANS
(Oceana, 2004) Oceana, an international foundation dedicated to ocean
protection, has released a report on the commercial and ecological impact of
European trawlers on the world’s oceans. According to the report, some 15,000
trawlers, which make up only 10% of the EU’s
fishing fleet, are responsible in part for the collapse of world fishing
stocks and the increasing number of fish species being threatened with
extinction. The report.
INTERNATIONAL
WADER REPORT
(IWSG, June 2004) The International Wader Study Group (IWSG) has
published a review of the status of 131 populations of 55 species of
migratory waders (shorebirds) in Africa and Western
Eurasia. The report contains accounts for each of the species
and their populations, summarizes current knowledge of population status and
trends, and offers extensive analyses on thematic, taxonomic and geographic
status and issues. The report.
NEW PMC WEBSITE TO FOCUS
ON WETLANDS
The Participatory Management Clearinghouse on Natural Resources (PMC) has
recently launched a new version of its website. This joint initiative of the
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, and the
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency has been set up to
facilitate the sharing of information concerning participatory management of
natural resources, while disseminating Ramsar and IUCN field experiences on
the topic. The PMC website.
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Biodiversity
and wildlife
LIVING
MODIFIED ORGANISMS: NEW GUIDELINES FOR RISK ASSESSMENT
(FAO, April
2004) Adopted by the governing body of the International Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC), the new guidelines for risk assessment determine whether a
living modified organism poses a hazard to plants. The guidelines aim to
assist countries in reducing the risks of releasing LMOs
that are weedy and could seriously harm crops and plant ecosystems. The guidelines.
BIODIVERSITY
BENEFITS PEOPLE
(UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, May 2004) Created by
UNEP-WCMC as a contribution to the celebration of the International
Biodiversity Day (22 May), this online audio presentation outlines the
dangers that threaten fragile ecosystems and identifies the benefits, goods
and services human beings acquire from natural resources. It aims to increase
knowledge about biodiversity and its benefits and can be used by educators
and the media. The presentation.
BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN
FOOD PROCESSING: CAN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES BENEFIT?
(FAO, June 2004) Published as the background document for a FAO
electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture to be held from 14
June to 11 July, this document aims to provide an overview of the application
of biotechnology to the processing of food, including beverages, produced
from agriculture. It provides an introduction, outlines the current status of
biotechnology in food processing, and considers some issues specifically relevant
to developing countries, such as socio-economic and cultural factors,
intellectual property rights and commercial opportunities. The document.
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED
ORGANISMS PUBLIC ISSUES EDUCATION PROJECT
Developed by Cornell University, the GEO-PIE Project
aims to create objective educational materials exploring the scientific and
social issues associated with genetic engineering. The Project includes
online resources on: the traits of GM products; overviews of the risks and
benefits of genetic engineering; market-related issues; and an overview of
the US
regulation. The Project.
Forests,
deserts, land
UNCCD WEB SITE MAKEOVER
The website for
the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) took on a new look on 8
June 2004. In addition, in preparation for the 10th anniversary of the
adoption of the convention on 17 June 2004, information highlighting this
event has been added, along with links to the latest documents released by
the Secretariat. The website.
THE
CONTRIBUTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES TO THE FIGHT AGAINST DESERTIFICATION
(June 2004, UNCCD Secretariat) This report, prepared by ENDA TM Energy
Programmes and financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), discusses “lessons learned from
projects and programmes promoting the use of renewable energy to improve
access to water and the sustainable use of biomass in the Sahel.”
Major lessons presented in this 25-page paper include: concentrating more on
wood substitution options and methods of securing rational energy use is
paramount; photovoltaic and wind pumping have garnered the most encouraging
results in terms of thwarting desertification by broadening access to water;
and it is vital to effectively combine the development of renewable energies,
the promotion of income-generating activities and the fight against
desertification and poverty. The paper also proposes a strategy for
developing countries exposed to the effects of desertification during the
International Conference on Renewable Energies, held in Bonn, Germany
from 1-4 June 2004. The paper.
ILLEGAL
LOGGING, CONFLICT AND THE BUSINESS SECTOR IN INDONESIA
(Adelphi Research and InWEnt - Capacity
Building International, December 2003) This 80-page report by Esther
Schroeder-Wildberg and Alexander Carius of Adelphi Research considers four main questions:
how extensive is illegal logging in Indonesia; what are the social,
environmental, and conflict impacts of current logging patterns; what role do
forestry businesses play in forest-related conflicts; and what types of
policy measures and instruments are available for addressing illegal logging,
related conflicts, and business sector involvement? The report’s conclusions
include the finding that “conflict prevention in Indonesia has to go beyond
measures that address only the business sector, such as the promotion of
stakeholder meetings and awareness in companies, to deal with larger
structural conditions, such as regulation of timber industry, law
enforcement, land rights, and codes of conduct (accountability and transparency).”
The report also details the proceedings of an expert workshop on “Environment
for Peace: The Role of the Business Sector,” for which the report was
originally prepared. The report.
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Announcements
INTERNATIONAL
MEETING FOR THE 10-YEAR REVIEW OF THE BPOA FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF
SIDS: Previously
scheduled for August/September 2004, the Mauritius International Meeting is
now planned for 10-14 January 2005 (see A/58/L.63 at http://ods-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/LTD/N04/378/38/PDF/N0437838.pdf?OpenElement).
If deemed necessary following the second round of informal informal SIDS consultations, the dates of which are to be
determined, the International Meeting will be preceded by two days of
informal consultations to be held from 8-9 January. For more information
contact: Diane Quarless, UNDSD, SIDS Unit; tel:
+1-212-963-4135; fax: +1-917-367-3391; e-mail: Mauritius2004@sidsnet.org;
Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/sids/sids.htm
2004 WORLD WATER WEEK PROGRAMME AVAILABLE
The programme for the 2004 World Water Week in Stockholm to be held from
15-21 August 2004 is now available at: http://www.siwi.org/downloads/WWW-Symp/2004_Water_Week.pdf
Held under the theme “Drainage Basin Management Regional
Approaches for Food and Urban Security,” this year’s Stockholm Water
Symposium will focus on urban water issues and future food requirements. In
addition to the Symposium, the Stockholm World Water Week will also comprise
plenary sessions, panel debates, side events and 24 independently organized
seminars.
 Click here for a complete listing of
upcoming meetings
The
following are upcoming meetings recently added to Linkages website:
Sustainable
development
YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT SUMMIT
(YES) CAMPAIGN MILESTONE CONFERENCE 2004: 4 October 2004 - 7 October 2004. Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico.
The Youth Employment Summit (YES) Campaign is a decade-long campaign aimed at
creating productive and sustainable employment for young people in their
native countries. This year’s Summit
will consider, inter alia, successful social entrepreneurship programmes in
HIV/AIDS, renewable energy, rural development, ICT and other emerging sectors
for youth employment. For more information contact: Gustavo Payan; tel: +1-617-618-2743; fax: +1-617-618-2937;
e-mail: gustavo@yesweb.org; Internet:
http://www.yesweb.org/mexico/index.html
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ERADICATING POVERTY THROUGH PROFIT: MAKING
BUSINESS WORK FOR THE POOR: 12 December 2004 - 14 December
2004. San Francisco, California,, US.
Keynote addresses, panels, workshops and other presentations during this
international conference organized by the World Resources Institute (WRI)
will focus on private sector approaches to development and ask how business
can “do good and do well” at the same time. For more information contact:
World Resources Institute; tel: +1-202-729-7600; fax: +1-202-729-7610;
e-mail: PovertyConference@wri.org;
Internet: http://povertyprofit.wri.org/
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON BUILT ENVIRONMENT ISSUES IN
SMALL ISLANDS STATES: 14 August 2005 - 19 August 2005. Kingston, Jamaica.
The conference is being hosted in the context of the WSSD, the recognition of
the special circumstances of SIDS, and the role of academic institutions in
this international framework. The event will focus on issues effecting the
built environment. For more information contact: David Harrison, Dean,
Faculty of the Built Environment, University
of Technology, Jamaica;
tel: +876-970-2242; fax: +876-970-2242; e-mail: daharrison@utech.edu.jm; Internet: http://www.cdera.org/cunews/uploads/utech_conf_aug2005.pdf
THIRD WORLD CONGRESS ON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE: 3 October
2005 - 7 October 2005. Nairobi,
Kenya. Held
under the theme of “Linking Production, Livelihoods and Conservation,” this
conference aims to build and strengthen the role of conservation agriculture
in the attainment of socio-economic development and sustainable natural
resource management. For more information contact: Martin Bwalya,
Congress Sectretariat; tel: +263-4-334395; fax:
+263-4-332853; e-mail: mbwalya@africaonline.co.zw;
Internet: http://www.act.org.zw/Congress/congress.htm
Biodiversity and wildlife
INTERNATIONAL CHATHAM
HOUSE CONFERENCE ON CONSUMERS, FARMERS AND FOOD: RECONCILING THE FUTURE:
5 July 2004 - 6 July 2004. Chatham
House, London, United Kingdom. Organized by the
Royal Institute of International Affairs, this conference will provide a
forum for debate on issues relating to consumers’ concerns about biodiversity
and the environment, animal welfare, food safety and GMOs.
For more information contact: Dino Ribeiro; e-mail:
dribeiro@riia.org; Internet: http://www.riia.org/Agriculture2004
GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITIONAL MEDICINE: 16
March 2005 - 18 March 2005. Johannesburg,
South Africa.
This conference is organized by the Africa First LLC of Minnesota, USA, in collaboration with South Africa's
Ministry of Health, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the
Association of Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association, the National Maori
Health Providers Association of New Zealand and others. For more information
contact: William Danquah; tel: +1-651-646-4721;
fax: +1-651-644-3235; e-mail: info@africa-first.com;
Internet: http://www.africa-first.com/iktm2005/index.htm
Climate and atmosphere
CONFERENCE ON
THE CDM IN CHINA: 1 July 2004 - 2 July
2004. Beijing, China. This conference on the
“Clean Development Mechanism in China:
Taking a Proactive and Sustainable Approach” is being organized or supported
by government departments and agencies from China,
Germany and Switzerland.
The conference will take up issues raised in a two-year study on applying CDM
methodologies and on the potential for using CDM projects in China. For
more information contact: Duan Maosheng,
CDM Conference Committee; tel: +86-10-6277-2596; fax: +86-10-6277-1150;
e-mail: duanmsh@mail.tsinghua.edu
Forests, deserts, land
MEETING ON EVALUATING FORESTRY INCENTIVE AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES IN
EUROPE-CHALLENGES TO IMPROVE POLICY EFFECTIVENESS: 10 October
2004 - 12 October 2004. Warsaw,
Poland. This
meeting is organized by the Forest Research Institute in Warsaw (FRIW), and
the European Forest Research Institute (EFI), with financial support from the
Commission of the European Communities, DG - Research. The meeting’s
objectives are to: provide a forum for dissemination of project results,
discuss project results and the state of the art in the field of policy
evaluation and analysis, discuss further research needs and challenges in
policy evaluation and development, and facilitate future research
co-operation and networking. For more information contact: Brita Pajari, Conference Manager, European Forest Institute;
e-mail: brita.pajari@efi.fi;
Internet: http://www.efi.fi/events/2004/effe_conference
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE ROLE OF FORESTS FOR COMING GENERATIONS:
PHILOSOPHY AND TECHNOLOGY
FOR FOREST
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (FORCOM2004): 17 October 2004 - 22 October
2004. Utsunomiya, Japan. This symposium will seek
to present and exchange state-of-the-art scientific as well as practical
results and techniques relating to forest resource management among
researchers, federal officials, practitioners and local stakeholders. For
more information contact: Naoto Matsumura, Mie University; tel: +81-59-231-9507; fax:
+81-59-231-9517; e-mail: forcom2004@fecsun.kankyo.tohoku.ac.jp;
Internet: http://fecsun.kankyo.tohoku.ac.jp/FORCOM/first/greetings
22ND SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL POPLAR COMMISSION: 28 November
2004 - 9 December 2004. Santiago,
Chile. The
theme of the 22nd session of the International Poplar Commission (IPC) is
“The Contribution of Poplars and Willows to Sustainable Forestry and Rural
Development.” The IPC meets every four years and is a statutory body of the
UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Poplars and willows are used
extensively to combat desertification, rehabilitate degraded lands, provide
carbon sinks and produce wood products in forestry and integrated
forestry-agricultural land-use systems. Associated study tours will visit Chile and Argentina to support the theme.
For more information contact: Graciela Andrade, International Poplar
Commission, Forestry Department, FAO; e-mail: Graciela.Andrade@fao.org;
Internet: http://www.fao.org/forestry/ipc2004
Human development
WHO FOURTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH: 23 June
2004 - 25 June 2004. Budapest,
Hungary.
Organized by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, this Conference will focus on addressing the
health impacts of degraded environments on children. Held under the theme
“The Future for Our Children,” this conference will convene ministers of
health and of the environment as well as major stakeholders. European
ministers are expected to reach consensus and make political commitments to
ensure safer environments for children, through the adoption of a Conference
declaration and of a children's environment and health action plan for Europe. For more information contact: Elaine Price,
Technical Officer; tel: +45-39-171-473; fax: +45-39-171-878; e-mail: ecp@euro.who.int; Internet: http://www.euro.who.int/budapest2004
PREPCOM-1 OF THE TUNIS
PHASE OF THE WSIS: 24 June 2004 - 26 June 2004. Hammamet, Tunisia. This prepcom
will review issues that will form the focus of the Tunis
phase of the Summit,
and will consider the process leading to the second phase of WSIS. For more
information contact: http://www.itu.int/wsis/contact/index.html; Internet: http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/hammamet/index.html
Intergovernmental organizations
BRUSSELS IN A
DAY: AN INTRODUCTORY SEMINAR FOR PEOPLE HAVING A PROFESSIONAL INTEREST IN THE
EU: 17 June 2004. Brussels,
Belgium. This
seminar is aimed at providing participants with practical, day-to-day
knowledge of EU Public Affairs. The programme will cover: a presentation of
the European Institutions and the EU decision-making process; a visit to the
European Parliament; and a Lobbyist toolbox on how to identify the key
players, manage a legislative monitoring, and write a position paper. A
French session will be held on 9 September 2004. For more information
contact: Lucyna Gutman-Grauer,
Executive Director; tel: +32-2-737-7746; fax: +32-2-732-7525; e-mail: info@eutraining.be; Internet: http://www.eutraining.be/index.asp
23RD SESSION OF THE UNEP GOVERNING COUNCIL/GMEF: 21 February
2005 - 25 February 2005. Nairobi,
Kenya. The
23rd session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environmental
Forum is due to be held from 21-25 February 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya.
For more information contact: Beverly Miller, Secretary for UNEP Governing
Council; tel: +254-2-623431; fax: +254-2-623929; e-mail: beverly.miller@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org
Trade, finance and investment
UNEP FI RENEWABLE ENERGIES FINANCE FORUM: 27 September 2004. Budapest, Hungary.
Organized by UNEP FI in collaboration with Green Power Conferences, this
finance forum will examine the different options concerning how finance can
be provided for renewable energy projects, what the opportunities and
barriers for financial institutions are when dealing with renewable energy
projects and how risk management activities can be improved. For more
information contact: tel: +423-663-029-144; Internet: http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/events/green_power_events.htm
2004 TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE INVESTING CONFERENCE: 11 November
2004 - 12 November 2004. Amsterdam,
Netherlands.
This conference will focus on triple bottom line investing and growth, with
particular focus on SRI-issues for asset management, banking, and insurance
industries covering topics such as the Equator Principals and environmental
risk assessment, and financial sector initiatives dealing with climate
change. A roundtable discussion panel involving the pension fund leaders in Europe that are opening up their large funds to SRI
will also be convened. For more information contact: Robert Rubinstein; tel:
+31-20-428-6752; fax: +31-20-778-5504; e-mail: robert@tbli.org; Internet: http://www.tbli.org/index.html
Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK WATER WEEK - BUILDING PARTNERSHIP FOR WATER IN
AFRICA: 1 July 2004 - 3 July 2004. Tunis, Tunisia.
The African Development Bank will host its first water week aimed at creating
synergy between the various actors and identifying appropriate means to
accelerate the access to water resources for African populations. Water and
sanitation are critical components of the ADB Group's poverty reduction
strategy, which placed the sector at the center of its strategic plan for the
2003-2007 period. For more information contact:
Jeannette Ndongo; tel: +216-7110-3404; fax:
+216-71-332-695; e-mail: j.ndongo@afdb.org;
Internet: http://www.afdb.org/water/water_week.htm
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