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Sustainable
development
EXPLORING THE
LINKS: HUMAN WELL-BEING, POVERTY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(IISD, 2004) Exploring the
Links sets out to: demonstrate how human well-being is dependent upon
ecosystems and ecosystem services; identify barriers and drivers that prevent
the poor from using these ecosystem services to improve their well-being, in
essence perpetuating poverty; and identify policy response options to remove
the barriers, re-design or even introduce new intervention strategies to
allow the poor to improve their well-being through an ecosystem approach.
MANUAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY: THE EU
AND BRITAIN
(Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), August 2004) This Manual
provides a comprehensive source of information on European Union
environmental policy. It contains, inter alia, an introductory chapter
on the making of EU environmental policy, and chapters covering issues such
as water, waste, air, climate change, harmful substances, radioactivity,
wildlife, impact assessment and planning, financial and economic instruments,
and international conventions. Appendices provide a complete list of all
legislation contained in the Manual, details of all relevant proposals
currently being negotiated in the EU, an insight into what to expect from the
Commission in the near future, and a list of web
resources. New chapters address topics such as emissions trading, energy
taxation, and GM issues, including traceability and labeling, food and feed,
and transboundary movements. To view the Manual for free visit the weblink before 20 October with the username: TEMP and
password: ONLINE
SUSTAINABLE
TOURISM
(WIT press, 2004) The papers in this book seek to explore issues concerned
with achieving environmental, social and economic sustainability of tourism,
and are derived from an international conference on this topic. Papers are
grouped under the following headings: tourism impact; tourism strategies;
sustainable tourism; ecotourism; cultural tourism; coastal issues; tourism
and protected areas; tourism, infrastructure, transport and hotels; surveys
and analysis; IT in tourism.
Human development
GLOBAL
EMPLOYMENT TRENDS FOR YOUTH 2004
(International Labour Organization, August 2004)
This ILO report highlights labor market trends for youth, including trends
in: the youth labor force, youth employment; youth unemployment; and
discrimination within the youth unemployed population. The report indicates
that about half of the world’s jobless are young people between the ages of
15 and 24, and underscores the significant role of tackling youth
unemployment in contributing to the global economy and achieving the MDGs.
Trade, finance and investment
IISD INVESTMENT REPORT NOW
AVAILABLE IN SPANISH
The International Institute for Sustainable Development has just released
the Spanish version of its recent report on investment agreements and
sustainable development: Inversiones y desarrollo sustentable: Una guía referente
a la utilización actual y al futuro
potencial de los acuerdos internacionales sobre inversiones. The report
catalogues some of the problems associated with current investment treaties,
and considers what an international investment agreement would look like if
it hewed to the broader goal of achieving sustainable development.
UNEP-FI AND GRI SEEK COMMENTS
ON ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) are inviting contributions to the
development of the GRI Financial Services Sector Supplement (Environmental
Performance), in particular on a set of 15 draft indicators, designed to
assist financial institutions worldwide to report on the environmental
impacts associated with retail banking, commercial and corporate banking,
asset management and insurance. A Working Group, which first convened in
September 2003, will meet for a fourth time to review the feedback from this
public consultation process in October 2004. The deadline for contributions
is 20 September 2004.
INVESTMENT TREATY ARBITRATION RESOURCE
WEBSITE
A new website has recently been launched on investment treaty disputes. The
site, which was created by Andrew Newcombe of the University of Victoria
in Canada,
provides information on arbitration decisions dealing with investment treaty
disputes.
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Climate and forests
THREE
PUBLICATIONS ON HARVESTED WOOD PRODUCTS
(July/August 2004)
Three reports have recently been published on the complex issue of harvested
wood products under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its
Kyoto Protocol. The first, Harvested Wood Products – A Beginning Guide to
Key Issues, was prepared by New Zealand climate change expert
Murray Ward. The report is intended as a primer for those following the
climate change negotiations who are not necessarily experts on carbon sinks
and land use, land-use change and forestry issues. Ward seeks to put the
issue in the broader policy context, and considers some possible approaches
for accounting for harvested wood products beyond the Kyoto Protocol’s first
commitment period. A second recent paper on the same subject has also been
prepared in recent weeks. Approaches for inclusion of harvested wood
products in future greenhouse gas inventories under the UNFCCC, and their
consistency with the overall UNFCCC inventory reporting framework, was
prepared by K. Pingoud, B. Schlamadinger
and several other experts from various institutions in Europe, North America,
and Australia.
A third paper, by Daniel L. Martino of Uruguayan environmental services
company Carbosur, is entitled A Negative View of
Dakar Approaches for Reporting and Accounting Carbon in Harvested Wood
Products. All three reports were released ahead of a planned UNFCCC
workshop on the subject taking place in Lillehammer,
Norway from
30 August to 1 September. Ward’s
paper; Martino’s paper; Pingoud et al‘s report; and the UNFCCC
Secretariat’s harvested
wood products website.
Biodiversity and wildlife
PROMOTING CITES-CBD COOPERATION AND
SYNERGY
The proceedings of
an international workshop on synergies between CITES and CBD, held from 20-24
April 2004, on the Isle of Vilm, Germany,
are available online. They identify opportunities for greater synergy in
implementation and include background papers on related issues. Cross-cutting
mechanisms are identified, including sustainable use, access and
benefit-sharing, and linking site-based, thematic and species-based
approaches.
BILATERAL INVESTMENT
AGREEMENTS: AGENTS OF NEW GLOBAL STANDARDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RIGHTS?
(GRAIN, August 2004) Authored by Carlos M. Correa, this study was
commissioned by GRAIN as an independent exploration of the implications of
bilateral investment agreements on intellectual property rights (IPR)
protection standards. Among others, the study reviews the status of genetic resources
in investment agreements. It concludes that these agreements go beyond
international norms and that their “most favored nation” clauses contribute
to a global elevation of IPR protection standards. The author suggests that
biological materials collected under an access permit may be considered the
“property” of the collector who may claim protection as an investor with
regard to the materials.
GMOS
AND BIOSAFETY: A BACKGROUND PAPER FOR DECISION-MAKERS AND OTHERS TO ASSIST IN
CONSIDERATION OF GMO ISSUES
(IUCN, August 2004) Prepared by the IUCN Environmental Law Centre, with Tomme Young as the lead author and contributions from
many others, this paper was commissioned by IUCN’s
Director General and Council as a response to a call from the second World
Conservation Congress held in October 2000, in Amman, Jordan. It reviews: the
controversy surrounding GMOs, including scientific,
economic, policy, and socio-cultural issues; cross-cutting principles; and
the institutional framework. It also includes a series of recommendations on
responsible decision-making regarding biosafety and
GMOs.
Deserts and land degradation
UNCCD:
A CARRYING PILLAR IN THE GLOBAL COMBAT AGAINST LAND DEGRADATION AND FOOD
INSECURITY
(UNCCD, JULY 2004) This paper was prepared by members of the UNCCD
Secretariat as background for the San Rossore
meeting “Climate change: a new global vision,” which took place in Pisa,
Italy in July 2004. The paper reviews linkages between land degradation and
desertification and food insecurity, and identifies coping strategies and policy
challenges. It describes the UNCCD’s approach to
combating land degradation and mitigating the effects of drought, including
food insecurity. Finally, it suggests the field of forests and forest
ecosystems as an area in which the concerns of all three Rio Conventions can
be addressed and proposes cooperation and fostering synergies through the
development of projects in this field.
THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST: A REFERENCE GUIDE FOR
CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT(Daniel & Daniel, 2004) This
reference guide provides among other things detailed data on the
state of the forests in Russia’s
Far Eastern region. The 486 page guide, which includes contributions from
over 90 scientists, contains: maps and brief descriptions of the region’s
protected areas and conservation hotspots; analyses of the forestry,
fisheries, oil and gas, and mining sectors; and information on indigenous
peoples, legal issues, major conservation issues, forest investment and
trade, sustainable development. and much more.
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Water,
wetlands, oceans, coasts
MEETING THE MDG DRINKING-WATER AND
SANITATION TARGET: A MID-TERM ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS
(WHO/UNCIEF, 2004) A new report by the Joint Monitoring Programme on Water
Supply and Sanitation (JMP) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), provides the latest estimates and
trends on how countries are making progress on their national commitments to
improve international water and sanitation goals. According to the United
Nations, a billion people worldwide lack clean drinking water and about 2.6
billion go without basic sanitation. The report, the first of the mid-term
reports on progress towards achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), contains detailed new information on progress by region and by
country and cites some improvements, particularly in the delivery of potable
water, but points out population gains may render moot any progress made thus
far. With the exception of sub-Saharan Africa,
the world is well on its way to meeting the drinking water target by 2015,
but progress in sanitation is stalled in many developing regions.
UNEP
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BARENTS SEA
(UNEP-GIWA, 2004) The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global
International Waters Assessment (GIWA) has launched a new report indicating
that increased exploration activities of petroleum resources, offshore
developments and the shipping of oil and gas along the coasts represent
significant potential threats to the Barents Sea’s
vulnerable arctic ecosystem. According to the report, the development of
these oil and gas deposits will increase oil transport to 40 million tonnes by the year 2020, and will correspondingly
increase the pressure on the Northern Sea Route (which crosses the Barents
Sea) by a factor of six. As a consequence, the risk of accidental oil spills
is expected to increase in the near future. The report also identified the
overexploitation of fish stocks, invasive species and pollution as other
major threats to the Sea. In response to the problems identified, the report
recommends that new regulations for different sectors should be adopted and
enforced, along with rigorous adherence to existing international
environmental agreements.
WATER, AGRICULTURE AND YOU
(Rodale Institute, 2004) New research released by The Rodale Institute and
funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection shows that
by composting manure, farmers can significantly improve the quality of water
entering America’s watersheds. Based on a decade-long study, the report,
Water, Agriculture and You, demonstrates that compost provides optimum
nutrient levels for crop growth while simultaneously minimizing non-point
nutrient pollution of ground and surface waters. The Rodale Institute
research also documents that the use of organic farming practices reduces
agricultural water pollution by up to 75%, improves quality in surface and
ground waters, and benefits water quality in downstream marine environments.
CATCH
FISH NOT TURTLES USING LONGLINES
This new booklet
by the Hawaii-based Blue Ocean Institute, together with the UNEP Regional
Seas Programme and the Indian Ocean-South East Asian (IOSEA) Marine Turtle
Secretariat, offers tips on using new kinds of hooks and fishing methods as a
way of conserving rare and endangered migratory marine turtles. The booklet
also gives eight key tips on how to handle a snagged turtle in order to
maximize its chances of survival. These include advice on how to remove an
ingested hook and how to treat a turtle until it can be released.
WETLANDS
PROFESSIONAL PLATFORM
The Platform, a joint initiative of the Institute for Inland Water Management
and Waste Water Treatment (RIZA) and the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water
Education, offers news and information on wetland management and restoration.
It also provides space for wetland professionals worldwide to interact,
exchange information, and announce events and training opportunities.
WATER FOOTPRINT SITE
The UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education has launched a new website
dedicated to assessing ‘water footprints’ – the total volume of water that is
used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the
nation. The website also provides definitions of concepts, research results,
downloadable publications and links to other relevant websites.
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Announcements: Change of dates
THIRTEENTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: 11 April 2005 - 22 April
2005. New York, United States. CSD-13 will be a
“Policy Year” to decide on measures to speed up implementation and mobilize
action to overcome these obstacles and constraints for the thematic clusters
of water, sanitation and human settlements. For more information contact:
Federica Pietracci, Major Groups Programme
Coordinator, UN DSD/DESA; tel: +1-212-963-2803; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail:
pietracci@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/
GLOBAL WASH FORUM RESCHEDULED: 29 November 2004 - 3 December
2004. Dakar, Senegal. The Water Supply and
Sanitation Collaborative Council’s (WSSCC) first Global WASH Forum has been
rescheduled to take place from 29 November to 3 December 2004. This Forum
aims to draw lessons on the success of water, sanitation and hygiene
programmes, sector reforms and development partnerships in poverty
eradication, and to strengthen regional and national partnership initiatives
aimed at attaining the relevant goals of the WSSD and the MDGs. For more
information contact: Forum Manager; tel: +41-22-917-8657; fax:
+41-22-917-8084; e-mail: wsscc@who.int;
Internet: http://www.wsscc.org/dakar
IMF CHANGES DATES FOR ANNUAL MEETINGS: 2-3 October 2004. Washington, D.C.
The IMF and the World Bank had initially scheduled their 2004 annual meeting
for 4-5 October, but the events will now be held during the weekend from 2-3
October. According to the IMF, “The schedule is being consolidated to these
dates to enable the IMF and the World Bank group to conduct their meetings so
that they take into account the needs of the institutions and the District of Columbia.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security raised its assessment of a terrorist
threat, and said that the World Bank and the IMF, as well as several other
key financial institutions based in New
York were potential targets for attack. The IMF
said the change in dates will not affect the actual agenda of the meetings.
More information is available at: http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040805-012407-7603r.htm
 Click here for
a complete listing of upcoming meetings
The
following are upcoming meetings recently added to Linkages website:
Sustainable
development
SIDS EXPERT MEETING ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN
SIDS: 30 August
2004 - 3 September 2004. Singapore,
Singapore.
This meeting is organized by the University of West Indies Center for
Environment and Development, UNDP, DESA/DSD, and the Singapore Environment
Institute. For more information contact: UNDESA/DSD; tel: +1-212-963-2803;
fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail: dsd@un.org;
Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/calendar/calendar.htm
FIRST INTERGOVERNMENTAL PLENARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT (IAASTD): 30 August
2004 - 3 September 2004. UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
Sponsored by FAO, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, the World Bank and WHO, this meeting
will consider the IAASTD’s objectives, goals and
outputs, structure and approach, and various issues relating to its global
and sub-global components, principles and procedures, budget, and bureau. For
more information contact: Elizabeth Masibo, UNEP
DEWA; tel: +254-20-624-575; fax: +254-20-624-269; e-mail: Elizabeth.Masibo@unep.org;
Internet: http://www.agassessment.org/index.html
SEMINAR ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION THROUGH TOURISM: 7 September
2004 - 9 September 2004. Arusha, Tanzania.
This second capacity-building seminar on sustainable tourism and poverty
alleviation, for Eastern and Southern African countries, is part of the World
Tourism Organization’s special programme for Africa
with a new focus on poverty issues, in line with the UN Millennium
Development Goals. For more information contact: Ministry of Natural
Resources and Tourism, P.O. Box 9352, Dar es
Salaam; tel: +255-22-213-2302; fax: +255-22-211-3082; e-mail: tourism@africaonline.co.tz;
Internet: http://www.world-tourism.org/regional/africa/events/events.htm
57TH ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE: MDGS – CIVIL SOCIETY TAKES ACTION: 8
September 2004 - 10 September 2004. UNHQ, New York, US.
This year’s DPI/NGO Conference aims to support worldwide efforts to mobilize
civil society behind the Millennium Development Goals. Plenary sessions are
organized to present an overall picture of the MDGs - speakers will assess
the current status of the MDGs, address obstacles that threaten their
realization, share innovative approaches to partnerships and discuss civil
society campaigns that are effective at stimulating broader public awareness
and support for replicable and sustainable programmes and campaigns. For more
information contact: Department of Public Information, NGO Section; tel:
+1-212-963-6842; fax: +1-212-963-6914; e-mail: info@UNdpiNGOconference.org;
Internet: http://www.undpingoconference.org/
MEETING ON ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE PEACE: FINDING PATHS TO
ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEMAKING - WATER, FORESTS, AND MINERALS: 16 September
2004 - 19 September 2004. Wilton Park,
Sussex, United Kingdom.
Development Minister Hilary Benn and UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer among others will speak at this meeting on
environment, development, and sustainable peace. The conference will
emphasize positive theories and examples to counter the persistent focus on
negative linkages among threats to the environment, development, and peace.
Discussions will tackle questions such as: What can we learn from a decade of
intensive analysis and debate about “environmental security”?; How do the
North and South view the challenges differently?; What are positive examples
of environmental peacemaking between neighboring countries?; How can we
assure funding for promising initiatives?; and What lessons can we learn from
exemplary case studies on water, forests, and minerals? For more information
contact: Sandry Koo,
Conference Administrator; tel: +44-1903-817765; fax: +44-1903-817162; e-mail:
sandry.koo@wiltonpark.org.uk;
Internet: http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/web/welcome.html
ACTION AGAINST HUNGER AND POVERTY – WORLD LEADERS MEETING: 20
September 2004. UNHQ, New York.
Hosted by the Government of Brazil, this meeting will bring world leaders
together in an effort to galvanize political support for the implementation
of viable financing mechanisms for effectively reaching the MDGs. For more
information contact: Internet: http://www.mre.gov.br/ingles/politica_externa/temas_agenda/acfp/presentation.asp
INTERACTIVE SEMINAR ON POWER & PARTNERSHIPS: DEALING WITH POWER, CONFLICT
AND LEARNING IN THE FACILITATION OF COMPLEX MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PROCESSES: 27 September 2004. Wageningen, The Netherlands. This seminar will
confront the challenge that ‘learning orientated’ multistakeholder processes
fail to adequately consider power and conflict issues and hence are founded
on naïve assumptions about social and political change. Drawing on
internationally-experienced, conflict management and mediation experts, the
seminar will link a theoretical overview with practical examples and conflict
management skills. For more information contact: Femke
Griffioen; fax: +31-317-495-395; e-mail: Femke.griffioen@wur.nl; Internet: http://www.iac.wur.nl/iac/courses/msp_seminar_sept2004.htm
18TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFORMATICS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION -
ENVIROINFO 2004: 21 October 2004 - 23 October 2004. Geneva, Switzerland.
This IT and environmental protection event is organized under the theme of “Sh@ring.” It will include, among others, presentations on
environmental information systems, state of the art web technology, GIS,
remote sensing, health and environment, and environmental risk. For more
information contact: Jean-Philippe Richard; tel: +41-22-917-8632; fax:
+41-22-917-8029; e-mail: jean-philippe.richard@grid.unep.ch;
Internet: http://www.enviroinfo2004.org
EUROPEAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR
SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES: 17 October
2004 - 20 October 2004. Mariánské Lázne, Czech Republic. This event is the
third of a series of World Tourism Organization regional conferences aimed at
providing forums for discussing the opportunities and challenges of setting
up and operating certification systems. For more information contact: Sarka Tittelbachova, Chief,
Congress Unit, Tourism Department, Ministry for Regional Devel;
tel: +420-224-861-572; fax: +420-224-861-348; e-mail: titsar@mmr.cz; Internet: http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/conf/cert-czech/eng.htm
UN SYMPOSIUM ON HYDROPOWER AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: 27 October
2004 - 29 October 2004. Beijing,
China.
Organized by DESA/DSD, World Bank, Government of the People’s Republic of
China, this Symposium will focus on, inter alia, the: strategic importance of
hydropower for sustainable development; benefits and concerns regarding
existing dams and hydropower facilities; and principles and processes for
hydropower development. The Symposium is expected to lead to: a better
understanding of the role and potential of hydropower in promoting
sustainable development; and a road map consisting of principles, policies,
modalities to be applied in hydropower projects, which can assist developing
countries in mobilizing technical assistance and support from international
organizations and bilateral donors. For more information contact: Kui-Nang Mak, Chief, Energy
& Transport Branch, UN DSD/DESA; tel: +1-212-963-8797; fax:
+1-212-963-4340; e-mail: makk@un.org;
Internet: http://unhsd.icold-cigb.org.cn/english.html
COURSE ON PARTICIPATORY PLANNING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION, LEARNING FOR
IMPACT: 7 November 2004 - 27 November 2004. Makere University, Uganda. This course focuses on
how to design and institutionalize participatory planning and M&E systems
in projects and programmes for continuous learning and enhanced performance.
Particular attention is paid to the relationship between management
information needs and responsibilities and the planning and M&E
functions. Another similar course is scheduled for 7-15 February 2005 in Wageningen, the Netherlands. For more information
contact: Cecile Kusters; fax: +31-317-495-395;
e-mail: Cecile.kusters@wur.nl;
Internet: http://www.iac.wur.nl/iac/action/ppmeuganda.htm
WORLD TOURISM FORUM FOR PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (WTF): 1
December 2004 - 3 December 2004. Salvador,
Bahia,
Brazil. The
first WTF Annual Summit seeks to offer a rich and diversified programme of
technical and mobilizing events - meetings, lectures, panel discussions,
workshops and seminars. Fairs and Exhibits will showcase solutions and best
practice examples, proposals, investments, business initiatives, new products
and services. For more information contact: e-mail: info@worldtourismforum.org;
Internet: http://www.worldtourismforum.org
SEMINAR SERIES ‘M&E ON THE CUTTING EDGE’ - LINKING LEARNING AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TO STRENGTHEN IMPACT ASSESSMENT: 16 December 2004. Wageningen, The Netherlands. This seminar aims to
link M&E expertise inside development organizations with external experts
in an opportunity to deepen questions such as: How can accountability-focused
and learning-driven processes be integrated in M&E thinking and
practice?; When are accountability and learning mutually exclusive?; What do
funding agencies expect of accountability and learning processes?; and How do
development organizations cope with the tension between these two processes?
For more information contact: Seerp Wigboldus; fax: +31-317-495-395; e-mail: seerp.wigboldus@wur.nl; Internet: http://www.iac.wur.nl/iac/courses/seminar_accountability_dec2004.htm
COURSE ON GENDER, ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE, AGRICULTURE AND LEADERSHIP: 7
February 2005 - 25 February 2005. Wageningen,
The Netherlands.
The training programme is designed for co-coordinators, senior staff,
managers, gender experts, trainers and consultants who are required to
incorporate gender perspectives into agricultural and rural development
organizations and programmes. For more information contact: Hettie Walters; fax: +31-317-495-395; e-mail: Hettie.walters@wur.nl; Internet: http://www.iac.wur.nl/iac/courses/module.cfm?code=55/00/2005
Biodiversity and wildlife
12TH INTERNATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM: 17 October
2004 - 22 October 2004. Santiago,
Chile. Held
every four years, this scientific conference is among the largest
international conferences in the biotechnology field. For more information
contact: tel: +56-2-232-8942; fax: +56-2-232-2856; e-mail: ibs2004@eventotal.cl; Internet: http://www.conicyt.cl/IBS2004/
Climate and atmosphere
SYMPOSIUM: INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE REGIME BEYOND 2012 -- LONG-TERM GOALS
AND NEAR-TERM ACTIONS: 9 September 2004. Tokyo, Japan.
Organized by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES),
together with the National Institute for Environmental Studies, this
symposium seeks to discuss the near-term actions that can be taken as part of
long-term efforts to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere. For more information contact: National Institute for
Environmental Studies (NIES); tel: +81-29-850-2430; fax: +81-29-850-2960;
e-mail: aishima.chie@nies.go.jp;
Internet: http://www.iges.or.jp/en/event/
17TH WORLD LP GAS FORUM: 29 September 2004 - 1 October 2004. Berlin, Germany.
This Forum will feature over 25 high-level presentations on topics such as
the LP Gas Market, the new European Union, taxation on LP Gas, autogas and new technologies. For more information
contact: Colloquium; tel: +33-1-44-641-515; fax: +33-1-44-641-516; e-mail: worldlpgas@colloquium.fr;
Internet: http://www.worldlpgas.com
WORKSHOP ON TRANSPORTATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE: 12 October
2004 - 13 October 2004. Baltimore,
Maryland,, United
States. This workshop aims to bring
together experts from academia, government, business, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations to discuss the future of transportation
against the backdrop of global climate change. The workshop will consider
regional and global trends, new technologies for vehicles and fuels, air and
marine transport, and near-term measures that could contribute to longer-term
strategies on climate change. The workshop is being organized by IPIECA. For
more information contact: Tim Stileman, IPIECA;
tel: +44-20-7633-2388; fax: +44-20-7633-2389; e-mail: tim.stileman@ipieca.org; Internet: http://www.ipieca.org/downloads/climate_change/TCC_Workshop/Information.pdf
RIO 05 CONGRESS – WORLD CLIMATE AND ENERGY
EVENT: 15 February 2005 - 20 February 2005. Rio
de Janeiro and Fortaleza, Brazil.
The Rio 5 event will take place from 15-17 February 2005 in Rio
de Janeiro and from 18-20 February 2005 in Fortaleza, Brazil. This event aims to bring
together experts from the scientific community, industry and the public
sector to discuss research, policies and products relating to sustainable
energies. For more information contact: Vanessa Espi,
Organizing Committee; tel: +55-21-2233-5184; fax: +55-21-2518-2220; e-mail: info@rio5.com; Internet: http://www.rio5.com
Forests, deserts, land
UNECE/FAO WORKSHOP ON ILLEGAL LOGGING AND TRADE OF ILLEGALLY-DERIVED
FOREST PRODUCTS IN THE UNECE REGION: 16 September 2004 - 17
September 2004. Geneva, Switzerland. This Joint UNECE/FAO
workshop will discuss the extent and causes of illegal logging in the UNECE
region. For more information contact: Forestry Officer – Marketing, Timber
Branch, UNECE; fax: +41-22-917-0041; e-mail: ED.Pepke@unece.org; Internet: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/docs/sem/2004-1/sem-2004-1.htm
JOINT SESSION OF THE UNECE TIMBER COMMITTEE AND FAO EUROPEAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION MEETING: 5 October 2004 - 9 October 2004. Geneva, Switzerland.
The agenda for this joint session includes a policy forum, a business session
and a study visit. The main items to be discussed in the policy forum are:
forest products market developments and prospects; long term challenges for
forest and timber policies and institutions in a wider Europe; forest law
enforcement and governance: a significant problem in the UNECE region?; and
the future role of the Timber Committee and the European Forestry Commission
in the international forest policy dialogue. For more information contact:
UNECE, Timber Branch; tel: +41-22-917-1234; fax: +41-22-917-0041; e-mail: info.timber@unece.org; Internet: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/
EXPERT MEETING ON TRADITIONAL FOREST-RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF RELATED INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS: 6 December 2004 - 10
December 2004. San José, Costa Rica. This meeting is
organized by the International Alliance of Indigenous Tribal Peoples of
Tropical Forests. For more information contact: Annabel Pinker; tel:
+66-53-904037; fax: +66-53-277645; e-mail: iait@loxinfo.co.th;
Internet: http://www.international-alliance.org
UNFF-5: 16 May 2005 - 27 May 2005. New York, US.
The fifth session of UNFF is scheduled to be held from 16-27 May 2005, in New York. This meeting
will represent the conclusion of the UNFF’s five
year mandate, where delegates will discuss the future of the UNFF, among
other things. For more information contact: Elisabeth Barsk-Rundquist,
UNFF Secretariat; tel: +1-212-963-3262; fax: +1-917-367-3186; e-mail: barsk-rundquist@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/forests
Human development
49TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: 28 February
2005 - 11 March 2005. UNHQ, New
York, US.
CSW-49 will be focusing on two thematic issues as outlined in its multi-year
programme of work: the review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform
for Action and the UNGASS outcome document entitled “Women 2000: gender
equality, development and peace for the 21st century”; and current challenges
and forward looking strategies for the advancement and empowerment of women
and girls. For more information contact: e-mail: daw@un.org;
Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/49sess.htm
UN Inter-agency activities,
intergovernmental organizations
FIRST INTERGOVERNMENTAL PLENARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT (IAASTD): 30 August
2004 - 3 September 2004. UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
Sponsored by FAO, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, the World Bank and WHO, this meeting
will consider the IAASTD’s objectives, goals and
outputs, structure and approach, and various issues relating to its global
and sub-global components, principles and procedures, budget, and bureau. For
more information contact: Elizabeth Masibo, UNEP
DEWA; tel: +254-20-624-575; fax: +254-20-624-269; e-mail: Elizabeth.Masibo@unep.org;
Internet: http://www.agassessment.org/index.html
EIGHTH MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT GROUP (EMG): 1 September
2004. Nairobi, Kenya. The EMG will meet to
discuss aspects its programme of work for 2004, including environmental
capacity building, sustainable procurement and environmental management
programmes for the UN system, and reporting requirements for the 59th session
of UNGA and the 23rd session of UNEPGC. For more information contact:
Internet: http://www.unemg.org/download_pdf/EMG8/8_2agenda.pdf
Trade,
finance, investment in sustainable development
ACTION AGAINST HUNGER AND POVERTY – WORLD LEADERS MEETING: 20 September 2004. UNHQ, New York. Hosted by
the Government of Brazil, this meeting will bring world leaders together in
an effort to galvanize political support for the implementation of viable
financing mechanisms for effectively reaching the MDGs. For more information
contact: Internet: http://www.mre.gov.br/ingles/politica_externa/temas_agenda/acfp/presentation.asp
GEF SEMINAR ON RESOURCE ALLOCATION FRAMEWORK: 27 September
2004 - 28 September 2004. Paris,
France. This
seminar, which seeks to further advance work on the development of a resource
allocation framework for the GEF, is convened by the GEF Secretariat in
response to a GEF Council decision taken at the May 2004 meeting on
Performance-based Framework for Allocation of GEF Resources. For more
information contact: GEF Secretariat; tel: +1-202-473-0508; fax:
+1-202-522-3240; e-mail: Secretariat@theGEF.org;
Internet: http://www.gefweb.org/Whats_New/whats_new.html
2004 ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE IMF AND WORLD BANK GROUP: 2 October
2004 - 3 October 2004. Washington,
DC, United
States. The IMF and the World Bank had
initially scheduled their 2004 annual meetings for 4-5 October, but the
events will now be held during the weekend from 2-3 October. The IMF said the
change in dates will not affect the actual agenda of the meetings. For more
information contact: Annual Meeting inquiries; tel: +1-202-473-7272; fax:
+1-202-623-4100; e-mail: bfcoffice@worldbank.org;
Internet: http://www.imf.org/external/am/
CSR ASIA CONFERENCE: 14 October
2004 - 15 October 2004. Hong
Kong, China.
This conference will focus on managing corporate responsibility in Asia. For more information contact: Cal Foster, Ethical Corporation magazine;
tel: +64-21-418-408; e-mail: cal.foster@ethicalcorp.com;
Internet: http://www.ethicalcorp.com/asia2004
OECD GLOBAL FORUM ON INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT: INVESTMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT -
FORGING PARTNERSHIPS: 19 November 2004 - 21 November 2004. New Delhi, India. This OECD event will
explore how governments can enhance their business environments and maximize
the benefits of investment. In particular, sessions will focus on: the OECD
initiative on a Policy Framework for Investment as an operational tool to
promote investment for development; promoting corporate responsibility -
defining the roles of government and business; and maximizing ODA - synergies
for development. For more information contact: Mehmet
Ögütçü, Head, Non-Members Liaison Group and OECD
Global Forum on International Inve; e-mail: Mehmet.Ogutcu@oecd.org; Internet: http://www.oecd.org/document/56/0,2340,en_2649_33763_32233656_1_1_1_1,00.html
PARIS 2005: SECOND HIGH-LEVEL FORUM ON HARMONIZATION AND ALIGNMENT FOR AID
EFFECTIVENESS: The international
development community, including senior representatives from partner
countries, bilateral and multilateral donors, will meet in Paris in early
2005 at the Second High-Level Forum on Harmonization and Alignment for Aid
Effectiveness - HLF-2. HLF-2 will be a critical opportunity for the
international community to assess progress in implementing harmonization and
alignment on the ground, to identify ways to accelerate and scale-up
implementation, and to sustain and enhance the momentum for and political
commitment to fundamental changes that enhance aid delivery. Achieving these
objectives would be a key contribution toward the implementation of the
Monterey Consensus and to attaining the Millennium Development Goals. More
information is available at: http://www.aidharmonization.org/ah-wh/secondary-pages/Paris2005
Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts
E-CONFERENCE ON REGULATING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE POOR:
6 September 2004 - 3 October 2004. electronic
conference, Internet. This e-conference is part of a UK Department for
International Development funded research project that seeks to help water
regulators with the necessary technical, social, financial, economic and
legal understanding or framework to enable them to require, facilitate and
monitor the early achievement of the universal service obligation. The forum
does not seek to develop a blueprint for the “perfect,” pro-poor regulatory
system, but rather to share insights with regulators around the world,
helping them to protect the interests of those who are in urgent need of
water services that are both affordable and responsive to their needs. For
more information contact: Richard Franceys; e-mail:
r.w.a.franceys@cranfield.ac.uk;
Internet: http://www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk/iwe/projects/regulation/
GLOBAL WASH FORUM 2004 - WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE FOR ALL - SOLUTIONS
AND ACTIONS, LOCAL AND NATIONAL: 29 November 2004 - 3 December
2004. Dakar, Senegal. Organized by the Water
Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), the first Global WASH
Forum aims to draw lessons on the success of water, sanitation and hygiene
programmes, sector reforms and development partnerships in poverty
eradication, and to strengthen regional and national partnership initiatives
aimed at attaining the relevant goals of the WSSD and the MDGs. For more
information contact: Forum Manager; tel: +41-22-917-8657; fax:
+41-22-917-8084; e-mail: wsscc@who.int;
Internet: http://www.wsscc.org/dakar
FIFTH RAMSAR EUROPEAN REGIONAL MEETING: 4 December 2004 - 8
December 2004. Yerevan, Armenia. The European regional
meeting will focus on the implementation and effectiveness of the Rasmar Convention on Wetlands. For more information
contact: Estelle Gironnet, Ramsar Secretariat; tel:
+41-22-999-0170; fax: +41-22-999-0169; e-mail: Europe@ramsar.org; Internet: http://www.ramsar.org
15TH ANNUAL WATER INDUSTRY CONFERENCE: 7 December 2004. London, UK.
This conference, sponsored by the Economist conference services, aims at
bringing together water industry experts for a day of networking,
intelligence-gathering and high-level debate on how to operate in
international water markets and how to address measures needed to ensure that
the industry maintains its financial profile. For more information contact:
Emma Cunis, Economist Conferences; tel:
+44-207-830-1020; fax: +44-207-931-0228; e-mail: emmacunis@economist.com; Internet: http://www.economistconferences.com/roundtable/public/con_common.asp?rtID=660&area=2&preview=&rtRegion=4&fprevrt=
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON AFRICA WATER LAWS - PLURAL LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORKS
FOR RURAL WATER MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA: 26 January 2005 - 28
January 2005. Gauteng,
South Africa.
This workshop will compare ongoing national policy and legal reform in
Africa, and their direct and indirect impacts on small-scale rural water
development, use, and management, as well as discuss general and
site-specific recommendations and guidelines for water management and legal
pluralism that foster sustainable development for the poor in Africa. For more information contact: Barbara van Koppen, International Water Management Institute; tel:
+27-12-845-9100; e-mail: b.vankoppen@cgiar.org;
Internet: http://www.nri.org/waterlaw/workshop.htm
ASIAN WETLAND SYMPOSIUM 2005: 6 February 2005 - 9 February
2005. Bhubaneswar,
India.
Jointly organized by the Indian Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ramsar Center Japan,
Chilika Development Authority, the Government of Orissa, the symposium aims to synergize cooperation among
all stakeholders to achieve the wise use of wetlands in Asia
and the Pacific. For more information contact: AWS Secretariat India; tel:
+91-674-243-4044; fax: +91-674-243-4485; e-mail: ajit@chilika.com; Internet: http://www.aws2005.com/index.htm
RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE: 19 May 2005 - 20 May 2005. Budapest, Hungary.
Supported by the European Commission's Directorate-General for the
Environment, this conference will focus on river basin planning and
management particularly with respect to the European Water Framework
Directive, which requires progressive protection and enhancement to rivers,
lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and wetlands by 2015. For more information
contact: Sue Frye, ICE Conferences, Institution of Civil Engineers; tel:
+44-20-7665-2315; fax: +44-20-7233-1743; e-mail: sue.frye@ice.org.uk; Internet: http://www.riverbasinmanagement2005.com/
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WATER ECONOMICS, STATISTICS AND FINANCE: 8
July 2005 - 10 July 2005. Rethymno, Crete, Greece.
This international conference will focus on the economic, financial and
statistical aspects of water and sanitation. Planned by the IWA Statistics
& Economics Specialist Group, this conference seeks to make a major contribution
to the transfer of knowledge from research to practice covering the entire
water cycle, ultimately influencing major policy decisions. For more
information contact: Konstantinos Tsagarakis; e-mail: iwa@econ.soc.uoc.gr;
Internet: http://www.unesco.org/water/water_events/Detailed/814.shtml
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