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GEF SPONSORS
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN CLEAN-UP
The Global
Environment Facility has announced the launch of a three-year, $11
million project to cut pollution in the Western Indian Ocean. The
new project, to be implemented by UNEP, is aimed at strengthening pollution laws,
regulations and cooperation among the countries and islands that
share the ocean.
More.
GREAT BARRIER
REEF BECOMES WORLD’S LARGEST MPA
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has
become the world’s largest marine protected area (MPA) following a
new national zoning plan under which all commercial and recreational
fishing will be banned in 11 million hectares of the marine park.
More.
WSSCC
ANNOUNCES WASH MEDIA AWARDS
The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC),
in collaboration with the International Federation of Environmental
Journalists (IFEJ), is holding a competition for journalists from
developing countries who investigate issues in their countries
related to water, sanitation and hygiene.
More.
TRADE DEAL
ELUDES DELEGATES AS DEADLINE NEARS
Negotiators
discussing an overall framework for the Doha trade round have yet to
reach agreement with a key deadline just days away.
More.
EXPERTS
RAISE REGIONAL CLIMATE FEARS
Severe
droughts in India, malaria and malnutrition in Namibia, flooding in
Nepal and water shortages in Australia are the latest threats
identified in a succession of recent studies on the regional impacts
of climate change.
More.
US-EU
EMISSIONS TRADING URGED
The US and the
EU should negotiate a trans-Atlantic climate trade
agreement setting binding limits on greenhouse gases and
establishing an emissions trading programme between the two
continents, says a former US negotiator.
EU struggles with
internal trading scheme:
Meanwhile, it appears the EU is not yet ready to introduce its own
internal emissions trading scheme, according to a key official.
…while the UK considers
the nuclear option:
In other news, UK
Prime Minister Tony Blair has told a parliamentary committee that
the country may need to increase its reliance on nuclear power if it
is to keep its pledges to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
More.
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GENERAL
ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON STREAMLINING OPERATIONS AND
EXPANDING HOLY SEE
PARTICIPATION
The United Nations General Assembly
recently initiated the first phase of a multi-year plan to
streamline and revamp its operations. The
GA also adopted a resolution expanding the Holy See’s
participation in the work of the UN.
More.
ATHENS OLYMPICS LOSES CHANCE AT ENVIRONMENTAL MEDAL
The Athens 2004 Olympics environmental performance has fallen short
of deserving any medals, according to a recent WWF report.
More.
POPULATION
UPDATE
UN urges greater commitment to women’s rights on World Population
Day: This year’s World
Population Day, celebrated on 11 July, also marked the 10th
anniversary of the International Conference on Population and
Development held in Cairo in 1994.
US joins Latin America and Caribbean in adopting population and
development resolution:
Delegates at the recent ECLAC session adopted a resolution endorsing
a declaration that reaffirms commitment to the principles,
objectives and actions in the Cairo ICPD Programme of Action.
US decides to withhold population
funding: The US administration has decided not to release the $34 million
appropriated by Congress for the UNFPA, funds which according to the
UN organization are urgently needed to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS,
prevent maternal deaths, and provide family planning.
More.
AUSTRALIANS
AWARDED POPULATION PRIZE
Australians John Caldwell and
Catherine Hamlin were recently bestowed the United Nations
Population Award, conferred annually to individuals and institutions
for outstanding work in the field of population and the improvement
of health and welfare of individuals.
More.
UNEP OPENS
OFFICE TO FOCUS ON CARPATHIAN MOUNTAIN RANGE
UNEP
has opened a new office in Vienna to focus on protecting the
Carpathian mountain range and promoting environmental cooperation in
Central and Southeastern Europe.
More.
UNEP
ANNOUNCES RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
UNEP
recently announced that it will work with major institutional
investors to develop a set of globally recognized principles for
responsible investment by September 2005.
More.
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12
AFRICAN COUNTRIES CALL FOR RENEWED BAN ON IVORY TRADE
A call for a full
ban on ivory trade was the outcome of a meeting between
representatives from 12 African Francophone countries. In related news, the
Spanish police have seized 2.9 tonnes of poached African ivory in
Madrid, estimated to have caused the death of 400 elephants.
More.
PROJECT
LAUNCHED TO BOOST CONSERVATION OF CROP WILD RELATIVES
A project aimed at boosting the conservation of wild
relatives of crops has been launched by the International Plant
Genetic Resources Institute and UNEP/GEF.
More.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA TURTLES THREATENED BY UNCONTROLLED TOURISM AND
FUNDING CUTS
The largest population of
Mediterranean loggerhead turtles, nesting on the Greek island of
Zakynthos, will be lost unless the Government of Greece resumes the
funding it withdrew months ago and stops uncontrolled tourism, warns WWF.
More.
GM TREES
DESTROYED IN FINLAND
Four hundred genetically
modified birch trees in eastern Finland were chopped down or torn up
by their roots over the 19-20 June 2004 weekend.
More.
BRAZIL’S
ARMY ENTERS FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DEFORESTATION
Brazil’s Environment
and Defense ministers signed a cooperation pact on 13 July 2004
through which the environment ministry will provide 100 million
reals (more than US$3 million) to the defense ministry for the
services of 100 soldiers and 18 helicopters.
More.
ORGANIC
TECHNIQUES GROW BETTER TOMATOES
Tomatoes grown with organic mulch and less
chemical fertilizer do better than conventionally-grown tomatoes, a
recent study showed.
More.
AIR
CLEANERS INEFFECTIVE AGAINST VOCS
Commercially-available air cleaning
devices, marketed for home use, are ineffective against common
household volatile organic compounds (VOCs), according to a recent
study.
US FILES
FORMAL COMMENT WITH WTO ON EU REACH PROPOSAL
Citing concerns with the EU’s Registration, Evaluation,
Authorization and Restrictions of Chemicals (REACH) proposal, the US has filed a formal comment with the World Trade
Organization’s Technical Barriers to Trade Committee.
More.
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Sustainable development
AARHUS
CLEARINGHOUSE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOCRACY
The
Aarhus Clearinghouse for Environmental Democracy is an online
resource that will be used to collect, disseminate, and exchange
information on laws and practices relevant to the rights of public
access to environmental information, public participation in
environmental decision-making, and public access to justice on
environmental matters. The clearinghouse supports the functioning of
the Aarhus Convention’s compliance mechanism and provides the
Convention’s compliance committee information on national
implementing legislation and practices. It was developed for the UN
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) by
UNEP/GRID-Arendal
with the support of the Government of Norway. Users can search for
information based on “what” the goal is (i.e. access to
information), “how” it is achieved (i.e. policy or procedures),
“who” is doing it (i.e. governments or NGOs) and “where” in the
world it is taking place.
MOBILITY 2030: MEETING THE CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABILITY
(World Business Council for Sustainable Development, July 2004)
Mobility 2030 is the final report of the WBCSD’s Sustainable
Mobility project, which began in early 2000 to develop a clearer
understanding of how developed and developing societies can address
the adverse effects of increasing levels of transport activity.
Twelve international companies – eight automobile, two oil and two
large suppliers – are behind the initiative, which was co-chaired by
Jeroen van der Veer, Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, Shoichiro
Toyoda, Toyota, and Tom Gottschalk, General Motors. The report
identifies seven sustainable mobility goals and establishes a set of
indicators to help measure the effectiveness of the various options.
The seven goals are: ensuring conventional emissions from transport
are not a significant health concern anywhere; limiting greenhouse
gas emissions from transport to sustainable levels; significantly
reducing traffic-related deaths and serious injuries worldwide;
reducing transport-related noise; mitigating traffic congestion;
narrowing the divide in mobility opportunities that exists between
and within different societies and regions of the world; and
preserving and improving existing mobility opportunities. The report
states that some mobility challenges will take up to 50 years to
resolve, and action should start now.
PUTTING PARTNERSHIPS TO WORK: STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR DEVELOPMENT
BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY
(Greenleaf Books, June 2004) This book, edited by Michael Warner of
the Overseas Development Institute, UK, and Rory Sullivan, Insight
Investment, UK, is about partnerships between the private sector,
government and civil society. It presents case studies in
establishing and implementing such partnerships and seeks to
demonstrate how partnerships work, focusing on the oil, gas and
mining industries. The book is based on the work of the Secretariat
of the Natural Resources Cluster (NRC) of Business Partners for
Development (BPD), a research programme that ran from 1998 to 2002,
which sought to enhance the role of oil, gas and mining corporations
in international development and to offer guidance on how
multistakeholder partnerships can be an effective means of reducing
investment risks and of promoting community and regional
development. The programme encompassed partnerships in Azerbaijan,
Bolivia, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Venezuela,
and Zambia. The text’s conclusions relating to business issues faced
by the industries include: maintaining community relations during
periods of investment uncertainty; contributing to community
development; securing the social license to operate; preventing and
resolving disputes with communities and NGOs; creating local
employment and managing retrenchment; contributing to long-term
regional development; and managing the closure of projects.
SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY IN POLICY MAKING: FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S ABUSE OF SCIENCE
(Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), July 2004) This report
investigates several new incidents of abuse of science by the Bush
administration that have occurred since February 2004 when the first UCS
report was released in conjunction with a statement signed by 62
preeminent scientists that charged the Bush administration with
rampant and unprecedented “manipulation of the process through which
science enters into its decisions.” The new report illustrates cases
where science has been censored, distorted, ignored or manipulated,
including in the areas of mountaintop removal mining, endangered
salmon, emergency contraception, NIH Drug Abuse Panel, and the
President’s Council on Bioethics. According to UCS, concern in the
scientific community continues to grow, with over 4000 scientists
having signed onto the statement since the February report was
released. Supporters include 48 Nobel laureates, 62 National Medal
of Science recipients, and 127 members of the National Academy of
Sciences, with representation from both Democratic and Republican
political affiliations.
Forests
VIEWS OF
COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ON ISSUES BEFORE THE UNFF AD HOC EXPERT
GROUP ON A LEGAL FRAMEWORK
(UNFF,
2004)
In preparation for its September 2004 meeting,
the UNFF Secretariat has made available compilations of member
States’ and organizations’ views on the issues before the Ad Hoc
Expert Group on Consideration with a view to Recommending the
Parameters of a Mandate for Developing a Legal Framework on all
Types of Forests. These documents comprise submissions from 13
members States and two members of the Collaborative Partnership on
Forests (CPF). The member States who submitted views include
Burundi, Canada, Egypt, the EU, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico,
New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Switzerland and the US. The UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations (IUFRO) submitted views as members of the
CPF.
Biodiversity
SUMMARY
DOCUMENT OF THE FAO E-MAIL CONFERENCE ON “MOLECULAR MARKER ASSISTED
SELECTION AS A POTENTIAL TOOL FOR GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF CROPS,
FOREST TREES, LIVESTOCK AND FISH IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES”
This
document provides a summary of the main arguments and concerns
raised during the moderated e-mail conference, hosted by the FAO
Biotechnology Forum from 17 November to 14 December 2003.
Eighty-five messages were posted during the conference, with about
60% from people living in developing countries.
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HIV/AIDS:
The following
reports were launched at the recent XV International AIDS Conference
held in Bangkok.
2004 REPORT
ON THE GLOBAL AIDS EPIDEMIC
(UNAIDS)
This 235+ page report presents a global overview of the AIDS
epidemic. It indicates that infection rate in 2003 was the highest
ever, with an estimated 4.8 million people newly infected with HIV.
Some 38 million people are now living with AIDS, with 25 million
residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Half of all new HIV infections are
now found in the 15 to 24 year-old age group. The report looks at the
impacts of AIDS on people and societies, and outlines means of
scaling up HIV prevention, particularly for youth. It also focuses
on treatment, care and support for people living with HIV, and
addresses financing issues and national responses. Annexes contain
country-specific HIV/AIDS estimates and data.
BATTLING HIV/AIDS: A DECISION-MAKER'S GUIDE TO THE PROCUREMENT OF
MEDICINES AND RELATED SUPPLIES
(World
Bank, July 2004) This publication provides a practical, step-by-step
procurement guide to assist developing countries in expanding AIDS patients'
access to anti-retroviral medicines. The book opens
with a chapter on the challenges in scaling up treatment of
HIV/AIDS, and presents a guide to: intellectual property rights;
managing the supply cycle; product selection, quantification and
quality assurance; procurement; and pricing.
ASIA PACIFIC’S OPPORTUNITY: INVESTING TO AVERT AN HIV/AIDS CRISIS
(UNAIDS
and ADB, July 2004) This publication argues that Asia Pacific
countries are at a “make-or-break point" with HIV/AIDS. While
infection is much lower than those of sub-Saharan Africa, the course
of the epidemic in the region, which houses over half the world’s
people, will determine the magnitude and toll of the HIV/AIDS
pandemic in the next decade. This study stresses the need for
Asia-Pacific leaders to tackle the massive shortfall in the finances
needed to establish comprehensive prevention, care and treatment
responses in every country. The publication
concludes with five actions that national governments must take to
prevent the HIV/AIDS epidemic from spreading.
HIV/AIDS AND WORK: GLOBAL ESTIMATES, IMPACT AND RESPONSE
(ILO,
July 2004) This report presents global projections of the impact of
HIV/AIDS on the world’s workforce. Its finding show that about 36.5
million people of working age have HIV and about 28 million
workers will be lost to the world’s labor force by next year since
the beginning of the epidemic. It underscores the twofold impact of
HIV/AIDS on workers - on those infected who will have to drop out
of the workforce and on others who will need to shoulder the
economic burden and the burden of care of those who are dying of the
epidemic. The study also addresses the macroeconomic and social
impacts of the epidemic and outlines policy implications and
responses to the epidemic in world of work.
CHILDREN ON THE BRINK 2004: A JOINT REPORT OF NEW ORPHAN ESTIMATES
AND A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION
(UNAIDS,
UNICEF and USAID, July 2004) This publication presents the most
up-to-date statistics on historical, current and projected number of
children under 18 who have been orphaned by AIDS. The report also
outlines key strategies for a framework for the protection, care and
support of orphans and vulnerable children confronted with HIV/AIDS.
According to the report, the number of AIDS orphans increased from
11.5 million to 15 million in the period 2001-2003, with the
majority of orphans from Africa. The numbers for Asia and Latin
America and the Caribbean have decreased by about 10% since 1990.
SCALING
UP TREATMENT FOR THE GLOBAL HIV PANDEMIC
(National
Academies Press, 2004) This publication presents the challenges and
opportunities of scaling up treatment of HIV. The study notes that
some six million individuals currently need antiretroviral therapy,
but only 400,000 people in developing nations have access to
treatment. Chapters further address lessons learned, principles of
scale-up, managing scaling-up of anti-retroviral therapy, and
recommendations for the way forward, including through partnerships,
technology transfer, and the mobilization of a Peace Corps-like
“HIV/AIDS corps” of technical specialists.
ANALYSIS OF AID IN SUPPORT OF HIV/AIDS CONTROL, 2000-2002
(OECD DAC
and UNAIDS, June 2004) This report presents the results of a review
of data on aid allocations to HIV/AIDS control by donor and
recipient countries. Key findings illustrate that DAC members’ total ODA commitments for HIV/AIDS
control in 2000-2002 were $US 2.2 billion per year. The main
recipient region was Sub-Saharan Africa and the top three recipient
countries were Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda. The United States was the
largest bilateral donor, followed by the United Kingdom. Larger
donors were found to be the main funders of treatment programmes,
which require substantial funding and long-term commitments, while
smaller donors focused more on HIV prevention, but also supported
home-based care and social mitigation activities.
Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts
COLD-WATER CORAL REEFS: OUT OF SIGHT - NO LONGER OUT OF MIND
(UNEP-WCMC, July 2004) Initiated by the Coral Reef Unit at the UNEP
World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), with support from
WWF and the Governments of Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom,
this report presents comprehensive and up-to-date information and
data on marine cold-water coral reefs around the world, including
the documentation of cold-water coral reef damage from fishing, oil
and gas production and exploration and from placement of under-sea
pipelines and cables. The report also makes some 24 recommendations,
including the need for dialogue with the fishing industry and other
stakeholders in the development of regulations and measures for the
conservation, protection and sustainable development of cold-water
coral reefs in waters within and beyond the limits of national
jurisdiction, and the need for more international coordination and
awareness.
IUCN GLOBAL REEF PORTFOLIO
(IUCN, July 2004) Released at the 10th International Coral Reef
Symposium, this report is a synopsis of coral reef activities that
are taking place throughout the organization, within its programmes,
regional offices, and commissions, and in particular IUCN’s Species
Survival Commission and the World Commission on Protected Areas. The
portfolio represents a first step in developing a targeted,
strategic coral reef initiative within IUCN and aims to stimulate
international engagement in emerging coral reef issues. |
Invitations for public comment
MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM
ASSESSMENT REPORTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENTS
Three
global reports on conditions and trends, scenarios and response
options by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) are now
available for the second round of expert and government review.
Involving some 1,500 of the world’s leading experts, the MA is the
largest scientific assessment ever made of the consequences of
ecosystem change for human well-being. The first review round was
concluded in March 2004 with over 6,500 comments submitted by 35
governments and nearly 250 expert reviewers from 45 countries.
Individuals are invited to participate in the second round of review
of the reports. Comments are due on 23 August 2004.
MINING AND METALS SECTOR SUPPLEMENT TO GRI’S SUSTAINABILITY
REPORTING GUIDELINES AVAILABLE FOR COMMENTS
The
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the International Council
on Mining and Metals (ICMM) convened in 2003 a multistakeholder
working group with the purpose of developing a Mining and Metals
Sector Supplement to the GRI 2002 Sustainability Reporting
Guidelines. A draft of the Supplement is now available for public
comment and suggestions on how to improve the document and, in
particular, proposals on the specific wording of indicators are
welcome. The deadline for submitting comments is 23 August 2004. GRI
has also prepared an abridged version of the 2002 Sustainability
Reporting Guidelines that integrates the draft Mining and Metals
Supplement to facilitate ease of use for reviewers and practitioners
and illustrate how the Supplement fits in the context of the GRI
reporting framework. Download the
Supplement and public comment form and the
abridged integrated Guidelines.
GLOBAL - CITY FUTURES - ONLINE SURVEY
Readers interested in the future and quality of “urban” human
habitation on Earth are invited to participate in a global online
survey to express their “preferred city vision.” The purpose of this
survey is to research "humanity’s preferred vision for human
habitation on the Earth in 2100." Information will be collected
until the end of August 2004 and the research will be completed by
December 2004.
Chemicals
management
NEW
INFORMATION GUIDE ON CHILDHOOD PESTICIDE POISONING RELEASED BY FAO,
UNEP, WHO
(FAO,
UNEP, and WHO) This information guide for advocacy and action on
childhood pesticide poisoning was prepared by Lynn Goldman, Johns
Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health (Baltimore, USA).
Highlighting that pesticides cause millions of acute poisonings
every year, and that many victims are children and adolescents, the
report provides information on risk, health effects, exposure
scenarios, and prevention strategies.
2003 OECD
EXICHEM DATABASE OF CHEMICALS-RELATED ACTIVITIES
Released
by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD), the EXICHEM database provides information on current,
planned and completed activities on existing chemicals in OECD
Member countries and other relevant bodies. Envisioned as a “pointer
system,” it lists ongoing chemicals management activities (e.g.
information gathering, testing and evaluation). The goal of the
database is to assist countries in identifying opportunities for
cooperation on specific activities on existing chemicals and to
avoid duplication of work.
THE GLOBAL
PURSUIT OF THE SOUND MANAGEMENT OF CHEMICALS
(World
Bank, February 2004) This World Bank report describes the
international chemicals agenda from a historical perspective. It
summarizes the chemicals problem as well as provides information on
the numerous international agreements and initiatives promoting
chemical safety. The report was written by John Buccini, chair of
UNEP’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Persistent Organic
Pollutants, who led the development of the 2001 Stockholm Convention
on POPs. It is available online in two parts:
p1-67 and
p68-83.
Climate
SOUTH-NORTH DIALOGUE ON EQUITY IN THE GREENHOUSE – A PROPOSAL FOR AN
ADEQUATE AND EQUITABLE GLOBAL CLIMATE AGREEMENT
(Wuppertal
Institute and the Energy Research Centre at Cape Town University)
This publication, produced by 14 climate researchers from both
developed and developing countries, outlines proposals for the
content of a future climate agreement building on existing
international treaties. The report outlines suggestions for how to
approach the issue of climate mitigation, recommending “deep cuts”
in emissions from industrialized countries, and “differentiated
mitigation commitments” for four groups of developing countries. It
also contains recommendations for adaptation policies designed to
address the needs of the most vulnerable countries. The text
concludes with recommendations on the future of the political
process needed to secure such an agreement.
ARCTIC
MISSION - THE CYBERDOCUMENTARY
This
cyber-documentary brings viewers on board the Sedna IV, a trawling
turn research vessel, for a scientific adventure through the Arctic
region in search of signs of climate change. Arctic Mission is an
interactive, educational and entertaining resource that allows
viewers to learn more about climatology and the impacts of global
warming though different online activities. The resource is
available in both English and French.
Trade and
sustainable development
LESSONS LEARNED ON
TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: DISTILLING SIX YEARS OF RESEARCH
FROM THE TRADE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK
(IISD,
July 2004) This book synthesizes lessons learned from the first six
years of the Trade Knowledge Network, a network of researchers in
eight developing countries working on issues of trade and
sustainable development. It provides an overview of issues from a
Southern perspective, and can serve a primer on trade and
sustainable development issues. The chapters address: the
relationship and tension between environment and development;
trade-related environmental standards; green opportunities;
the need for strong domestic institutions for trade and environment
to be mutually supportive; the Southern agenda on trade and
environment; and the need for more research, capacity building.
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Announcements
DSD
RE-OPENS ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR NON-ACCREDITED NGOS INTERESTED IN
ATTENDING THE MAURITIUS INTERNATIONAL MEETING
The
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) has
re-opened the accreditation process for NON accredited NGOs wishing
to attend the International Meeting to review the implementation of
the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small
Island Developing States, to be held in Mauritius from 10-14 January
2005. Applications must be submitted by 1 September 2004. More
information is available at:
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/mgroups/sidsreviewandmajorgroups.htm
Change of dates
SECOND
MEETING OF THE ISP:
2 September 2004 – 4 September 2004. Nairobi, Kenya. The second
meeting of UNEP’s high-level open-ended intergovernmental working
group for the intergovernmental strategic plan for technology
support and capacity-building will now be held in Nairobi from 2-4
September 2004. For more information contact: UNEP; tel:
+1-212-963-8210; fax: +1-212-963-7341; e-mail:
info@nyo.unep.org; Internet:
http://www.nyo.unep.org/
AFRICAN REGIONAL PREPARATORY CONFERENCE FOR CRIC-3:
December 2004. Bamako, Mali. The African regional conference
preparatory to the third session of the CCD’s Committee for the
Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC-3) will convene
in Bamako, Mali in December 2004. The exact dates have not been
announced. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat; tel:
+49-228-815-2802; fax: +49-228-815-2898; e-mail:
secretariat@unccd.int; Internet:
http://www.unccd.int/main.php
Click here for a complete listing of upcoming meetings
The following are
upcoming meetings recently added to Linkages
website:
Sustainable
development
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY IN
PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT:
22 July 2004 - 23 July 2004. New York, US. This meeting is sponsored
by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organized by the
Division for Public Administration and Development Management of UN
DESA, the University of Rome La Sapienza, and the Permanent Mission
of Italy to the UN. The meeting is expected to explore five themes:
the role of universities in promoting sustainable development: a
global strategy; cooperation strategies between universities,
governments and citizens in strengthening democracy and good
governance, locally, nationally and regionally; the role of
universities in leadership development; the role of universities in
the situation of humanitarian crisis and post-conflict
reconstruction: challenges, priorities and prospects; and
experiences on cooperation programmes between universities and other
organizations. For more information contact: Adriana Alberti,
Division for Public Administration and Development Management; tel:
+1-212-963-2299; Internet:
http://www.segretariatosociale.rai.it/INGLESE/agenda/agenda_testiE/22-23_lug_2004.html
2005 WORLD EXPOSITION: 25 March 2005 - 25 September 2005. Aichi, Japan.
Organized under the theme “Nature’s Wisdom,” the first world
exposition of the 21st century aims to present “a model of society
and new directions in the development of cultures and civilizations
by learning from Nature’s Wisdom, realized through a broad range of
interaction among the people of the world.” The Expo, which expects
15 million visitors, will also contain a NGO Global Village to allow
NPOs/NGOs to organize learning programmes directed toward the
development of a sustainable society. For more information contact:
Yukio Kamino, Co-Chair, International Coordination Committee, OISCA-International;
tel: +81-52-569-2108; fax: +81-52-569-2115; Internet:
http://www-0.expo2005.or.jp/en/
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENGAGING COMMUNITIES:
14 August 2005 - 18 August 2005. Brisbane, Australia. The UN DESA’s
Division for Public Administration and Development Management is
partnering with the State Government of Queensland, Australia to
organize this conference on “citizen-government dialoguing for
social justice and social equity.” Among other issues, the
Conference aims to explore “engagement” practices from across the
globe and examine the role of participation in good governance. For
more information contact: Adil Khan, UN Division for Public
Administration and Development Management; tel: +1-212-963-6168;
e-mail:
International.conference@getinvolved.qld.gov.au; Internet:
http://203.15.126.204/Share_your_knowledge/UN_Conference/
Biodiversity and wildlife
SEVENTH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
AND FOLKLORE OF WIPO:
1 November 2004 - 5 November 2004. Geneva, Switzerland. This meeting
is organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization. For
more information contact: WIPO; tel: +41-22-338-9111; fax:
+41-22-733-5428; e-mail:
grtkf@wipo.int; Internet:
http://www.wipo.int/documents/en/meetings/2004/igc/index_7.html
Climate, energy
and atmosphere
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RES AND RUE FOR ISLANDS -
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS:
30 August 2004 - 31 August 2004. Larnaka, Cyprus. This conference
will address issues related to sustainable development for islands
and will present the most recent research in renewable energy
sources (RES) and rational use of energy (RUE), as well as the most
successful policies and local initiatives undertaken to solve
island-specific energy needs. The conference will showcase how
sustainable energy development can foster sustainable economic and
social solutions in the fields of commerce, building, industry,
tourism, and desalination using RES, how islands can reduce their
traditional dependence on energy import, and how R&D and technology
can be developed and transferred to those isolated energy markets.
For more information contact: Conference Secretariat, Cyprus
Institute of Energy, Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Tourism; tel:
+357-2240-9385; fax: +357-2230-4759; e-mail:
cie@cytanet.com.cy; Internet:
http://www.cie.org.cy
ANKARA
CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE:
1 September 2004 - 3 September 2004. Ankara, Turkey. This conference
will focus on potential partnerships involving international and
Turkish stakeholders in light of Turkey’s recent accession to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change in May 2004. It is expected
to raise awareness about climate change domestically, including the
responsibilities and opportunities for cooperation under the UN
climate treaty. For more information contact: Yunus Arikan,
Conference Secretariat; tel: +90-312-287-6721; fax:
+90-312-285-5875; e-mail:
envir@ttnet.net.tr; Internet:
http://www.cevreorman.gov.tr/iklimkonferansi/index_e.htm
CONFERENCE ON DEVELOPING A SECURE AND SUSTAINABLE
TRANS-EUROPEAN ENERGY NETWORK: 22 September 2004 - 23 September 2004. Brussels, Belgium.
This conference will cover the major issues relating to the future
development of a secure and sustainable Trans-European Energy
Network. For more information contact: Dan Craft; tel:
+44-1495-300-012; fax: +44-1495-309-372; e-mail:
dan.craft@euconferences.com; Internet:
http://www.euconferences.com/fraenergy04.htm
EXPERT WORKSHOP ON GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND ABRUPT
CLIMATE CHANGE: POSITIVE OPTIONS AND ROBUST POLICY:
30 September 2004 - 1 October 2004. Paris, France. This workshop
will address the policy implications of abrupt climate change. The
event is taking place at the International Energy Agency’s offices
in Paris, and is by invitation only. For more information contact:
Peter Read, Workshop Convener; tel: +64-6-350-5972; fax:
+64-6-350-5660; e-mail:
pread2@attglobal.net; Internet:
http://www.accstrategy.org
NINTH WORKSHOP OF THE EUROPEAN PH.D. NETWORK ON INTERNATIONAL
CLIMATE POLICY: 15 October 2004 - 16 October 2004. Viterbo, Italy. This
workshop, which is open to Ph.D. students and researchers working in
international climate policy, will provide a forum to present Ph.D.
research ideas and results and engage in discussions with other
students and researchers. For more information contact: Leonardo
Massai, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University; tel: +49-69-7982-8708;
fax: +49-69-7982-8675; e-mail:
massai@jur.uni-frankfurt.de; Internet:
http://www.ku-eichstaett.de/Fakultaeten/WWF/Lehrstuehle/VWF/icp/
Forests, deserts,
land
SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM ON EUROPEAN FORESTS IN ETHICAL
DISCOURSE:
18 January 2005 - 19 January 2005. Berlin, Germany. This research
symposium, organized by Finland’s University of Joensuu, Faculty of
Forestry, and Germany’s University of Freiburg, Faculty of Forest
and Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with the Finnish
Institute in Germany, the SILVA Network and the European Forest
Institute, will consider: ethics and forestry: sustainability,
values in conflict; forests, culture and religions; codes of
professional ethics; and forest sector: corporate responsibility,
fair globalization. For more information contact: Antti Erkkilä,
University of Joensuu, Finland; tel: +358-13-251-3628; fax:
+358-13-251-3590; e-mail:
antti.erkkila@joensuu.fi; Internet:
http://www.forest.joensuu.fi/silva/gfen/berlin/Home.htm
Human development
WORLD HABITAT DAY 2004: 4 October 2004. Nairobi, Kenya. This year's World
Habitat Day will be celebrated under the theme �Cities - Engines of
rural development.� For more information contact: Jane Nyakairu,
Chief, Information Services Section, P.O. Box 30030 Nairobi 00100,
Kenya; fax: +254-20-624-060; e-mail:
whd@unhabitat.org; Internet:
http://www.unhabitat.org/whd/
FOURTH SESSION OF THE PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES:
9 May 2005 - 20 May 2005. New York, US. The fourth session of the
Permanent Forum will focus on the �Millennium Development Goals and
Indigenous Peoples,� emphasizing on the MDGs related to the
eradication of extreme poverty and hunger and the achievement of
universal primary education. For more information contact:
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; fax:
+1-917-367-5100; e-mail:
IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org; Internet:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/index.html
Intergovernmental
organizations
INTENSIVE TRAINING COURSE FOR JUNIOR PROJECT MANAGERS ON EC
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT:
23 August 2004 - 27 August 2004. Keszthely, Hungary. This course is
designed to provide an overall picture of EU programmes and related
EU funding opportunities. For more information contact: Krisztian
Lohr; tel: +36-1-250-6703; fax: +36-1-436-9038; e-mail:
training@geonardo.hu; Internet:
http://www.eucenter.org/training/training_balaton.php
CONFERENCE ON EU LOBBYING 2004:
20 September 2004 - 21 September 2004. Brussels, Belgium. This
conference is for organizations that are interested in lobbying,
wishing to lobby more effectively, establishing an EU public affairs
strategy or updating an existing strategy. Speakers will demonstrate
the correct approach to and highlight the pitfalls in lobbying, and
presentations will look towards the new EU term and beyond,
highlighting trends and future developments for lobbying in the EU.
For more information contact: Gavin Stephens; tel: +44-1495-300-012;
fax: +44-1495-309-372; e-mail:
gavin.stephens@euconferences.com; Internet:
http://www.euconferences.com/fralobbying04.htm
FIRST MEETING OF INTELLECTUALS FROM AFRICA AND THE DIASPORA:
6 October 2004 - 9 October 2004. Dakar, Senegal. Held under the
auspices of the African Union, this meeting aims to �mark a
reawakening of the intellectuals of the African Continent and the
Diaspora, a reawakening deemed indispensable for Africa to build a
respectable place for itself in the comity of nations.� For more
information contact: 251-1-517-844; tel: +251-1-517-700; e-mail:
oauaacd@telecom.net.et; Internet:
http://www.africa-union.org/News_Events/Calendar_of_%20Events/Conference%20des%20Intellectuels/Draft%20Concept%20Paper.pdf
10TH SUMMIT OF THE FRANCOPHONIE:
26 November 2004 - 27 November 2004. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This
Summit will convene under the theme �La Francophonie, a community
that supports sustainable development.� For more information
contact: Secretariat; tel: +226-50-37-43-55; fax: +226-50-37-43-59;
e-mail:
cnof@fasonet.bf; Internet:
http://www.sommet-francophonie.org/ouaga2004/
PROGRAMME ON WORKING WITH THE EU: INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS:
17 October 2005 - 22 October 2005. Brussels, Belgium. This programme
will be delivered by 25 high-level practitioners and EU officials,
comprising real lobbying cases, workshops, workgroup projects,
visits to the EU Institutions, handouts, a copy of the �Practical
Guide to the EU Labyrinth� by Daniel Gu�guen and of the �EU
Information Book 2004� by Amcham EU. The programme costs 4200�
including all refreshments, lunches and dinners with keynote
speakers. Discounts are available for early registrations, NGOs, and
applicant countries. For more information contact: Karolina
Pyka-Roels, Programme Assistant; tel: +32-2-737-7746; fax:
+32-2-732-7525; e-mail:
info@eutraining.be; Internet:
http://www.eutraining.be
EU FUNDING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS SEMINAR:
25 October 2005 - 26 October 2005. Brussels, Belgium. This two-day
seminar will focus on how to make the most of the European grants
and loans, through practical methodologies on identifying
programmes, finding partners, evaluating budgets, and submitting
proposals. The programme costs 1200� including all refreshments,
lunches and dinner. For more information contact: Karolina
Pyka-Roels, Programme Assistant; tel: +32-2-737-7746; fax:
+32-2-732-7525; e-mail:
info@eutraining.be; Internet:
http://www.eutraining.be
Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts
NINTH INTERNATIONAL LIVING LAKES CONFERENCE:
26 September 2004 - 2 October 2004. British Columbia, Canada. This
conference will focus on sustainable tourism and corporate social
responsibility for water ecosystems. Coordinated by the Global
Nature Fund, the Living Lakes network aims to protect lakes,
wetlands and freshwater reservoirs worldwide. For more information
contact: Udo Gattenloehner, Global Nature Fund, Fritz-Reichle-Ring
4, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; tel: +49-0-7732-9995-80; fax:
+49-0-7732-9995-88; e-mail:
info@globalnature.org; Internet:
http://www.globalnature.org/canadaconference/
INTERNATIONAL COURSE ON AFRICAN WETLAND MANAGEMENT:
13 October 2004 - 23 November 2004. Naivasha, Kenya. Aimed at
providing knowledge and skills necessary for the management of
wetland sites, this international training initiative for wetland
managers is a Ramsar Convention-endorsed programme, designed along
Ramsar Management Guidelines. This six-week residential course costs
US$3000. For more information contact: The Principal, Kenya Wildlife
Service Training Institute P.O. BOX 842, Naivasha, Kenya; tel:
+254-50-202-0577; fax: +254-50-202-1328; e-mail:
kwsti@kenyaweb.com; Internet:
http://www.kws.org
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