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Sustainable development
PACIFIC,
CARIBBEAN, AND ATLANTIC AND INDIAN OCEAN ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK REPORTS
(UNEP, January 2005) UNEP launched three new environment outlook reports for
the Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic and
Indian Oceans at the recent Mauritius SIDS International Meeting. These
reports illustrate the state of the environment in the SIDS, indicating
significant trends at the national, regional and global levels. The reports
also provide policy guidance and early warning information on environmental
trends.
STATE OF THE WORLD
2005: REDEFINING GLOBAL SECURITY
(Worldwatch, January 2005) The 2005 edition of the Worldwatch Institute’s
flagship publication addresses the issue of global security, and cautions
that the focus on combating terrorism has detracted the world’s attention
from the underlying causes of insecurity, such as poverty, infectious
diseases, environmental degradation, transnational crime, and struggle over
oil and other resources. Chapters focus on the link between human security
and these various issues. The report recommends that the international
community strengthen and broaden international cooperation, support the MDGs
and WSSD targets, and foster environmental peacemaking.
CONFRONTING
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA: ECO-POLITICS, FOREIGN
POLICY, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(UNU, 2005) Edited by Paul
Harris, this book contains a compilation of essays that address the politics
and policy of environmental change and sustainable development in East and Southeast Asia. The book focuses on ways in which
foreign policy and international relations theories help explain ecopolitics
and sustainable development in the region. Case studies cover environmental
diplomacy in East Asia and strategies for sustainable development in
Southeast Asia, including Japanese environmental policy, China’s climate
change diplomacy, the role of NGOs in shaping Thailand’s policies on biodiversity,
international assistance and marine environmental protection in Vietnam,
sustainable development policy in Taiwan, and the role of community-based
conflict management in environmental protection efforts in Papua New Guinea.
C.H.A.O.S.S:
AN ESSAY AND GLOSSARY FOR STUDENTS AND PRACTITIONERS OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL
GOVERNANCE
(Balkema Publishers, 2005)
Authored by Richard E. Saunier and Richard A. Meganck, this book seeks to
provide students, practitioners, policymakers and experts with a guide to the
field of global environmental governance. The first part of the book contains
an essay that challenges “those concerned with the management of our planet
and its inhabitants to understand and accept a vocabulary common to the often
opposing global environmental governance objectives brought forward over the
last fifty years; a vocabulary which in time could help give an affirmative
answer to the question posed by C.H.A.O.S.S. - Can Humans And Other Species
Survive?” The second and third parts of the book provide a glossary of terms
and acronyms, and outline among other things principles of global
environmental governance.
Trade, finance, and investment in SD
CALL FOR
COMMENTS: IISD’S DRAFT MODEL INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT AGREEMENT FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMEN
(IISD, 2005) A
draft model for future international investment agreements that emphasizes
sustainable development has been published. The new model was developed by
the International Institute for Sustainable Development. According to IISD,
the current model for investment agreements was developed almost 50 years
ago, and is ripe for revision. IISD has invited public comments on the draft
model by 7 February 2005.
IMF INVITES
INPUT ON RESOURCE REVENUE TRANSPARENCY GUIDE
The International Monetary
Fund has released a Draft Guide on Resource Revenue Transparency aimed
at assisting countries in tackling challenges relating to the management of
revenues from extracting fossil fuels. The Draft Guide, which
encourages fiscal transparency, is also intended to support the Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative launched at the WSSD. Comments on the raft
Guide should be submitted by 18 February 2005.
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Climate change
THE DEATH OF
ENVIRONMENTALISM: GLOBAL WARMING POLITICS IN A POST-ENVIRONMENTAL WORLD
(Grist
magazine, 13 January 2005) This paper by Michael
Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, which was first presented at a meeting of the
Environmental
Grantmakers Association in late 2004, has been reprinted in the online
publication, Grist. The paper has caused
considerable debate within environmental circles for questioning widely-held
views on environmental politics, lobbying, and influencing politicians, the
media and the public. The paper challenges the “conventional
wisdom” in the environmental community that publicity should not seek to
frighten the public about climate change but instead focus on technical
solutions such as hybrid vehicles. The authors also question whether the environmental
community in the US
has really achieved any lasting success in its efforts to combat global
warming. They suggest that the environmental movement has lost its way,
arguing that “modern environmentalism, with all of its unexamined
assumptions, outdated concepts and exhausted strategies, must die so that
something new can live.”
DISASTER
RISK MANAGEMENT IN A CHANGING CLIMATE
(VARG, 2005) This draft discussion paper was presented as a contribution to
the Kobe World Conference on Disaster Reduction by F. Sperling and F. Szekely
on behalf of the Vulnerability and Adaptation Resource Group (VARG). The
paper discusses interlinkages and differences between disaster risk
management and climate change adaptation, and outlines opportunities and
barriers for collaboration. The authors conclude by proposing as a next step
a programmatic approach allowing for comprehensive communication of natural
hazard and climate risks within the development process.
UNITED
STATES PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE CLIMATE AGREEMENTS: AN ASSESSMENT
(CICERO,
January 2005) This paper from Andreas Tjernshaugen of the Center for
International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO) in Oslo
identifies key obstacles to U.S.
participation in an international treaty to control greenhouse gas emissions.
It also proposes some strategies to overcome such barriers. The paper begins
by describing U.S. climate
policy prior to 2001 and subsequently under President George W. Bush, before
considering why Europe and the U.S. view climate change issues
so differently. This is followed by an examination of barriers to U.S.
participation in an international treaty, the costs of compliance,
competitiveness concerns, and suggestions for strategies that European
governments could adopt.
Water,
wetlands, oceans, coasts
IMPACTS
OF THE TSUNAMI ON FISHERIES, AQUACULTURE AND COASTAL LIVELIHOODS
(FAO, January
2005) This preliminary report on the impacts of the Indian Ocean tsunami on
coastal livelihoods seeks to determine the resources and steps needed to
restore shattered livelihoods in the stricken communities as rapidly as
possible.
INTERNATIONAL
WATER ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES ASIA RELIEF SITE
Responding to the
tsunami relief efforts, IWA has launched a website aimed at enabling
knowledge sharing and specialist help on water-related issues.
WETLANDS AND THE TSUNAMI – WEB
RESOURCE AND E-DISCUSSION GROUPS
The Ramsar Tsunami Reference Group, comprising
Wetlands International, WWF, IUCN, BirdLife International and the
International Water Management Institute, will be coordinating rapid
assessment of the affected areas with involvement and assistance of remote
sensing specialists, interested agencies and organisations. A web resource is
being developed and eight e-discussion groups have been formed on topics
relating to: Impacts of the tsunami on the livelihoods of coastal communities
dependent on natural assets; Wetland species - conservation and management;
Coastal wetland assessment and ecological restoration; Mangroves; Coral reef
and sea grass beds; Integrated coastal zone management; Freshwater wetland
resources impacted by the tsunami; and Coastal reconstruction. If you are
interested in joining any of these groups, please email tsunami@wetlands.org.
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Biodiversity and wildlife
BIOSAFETY
SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS
The proceedings of the Eighth International Symposium on the Biosafety of
Genetically Modified Organisms, held from 26-30 September 2004, in Montpellier, France, are now available online.
The symposium covered a variety of topics, including: commercialization and
biosafety aspects of Bt and other insecticidal crops; biosafety aspects of
virus-resistant transgenic crops; biosafety aspects of the next generation of
transgenic crops, including “pharma” crops; commercialization and biosafety
aspects of GM fish; regulation of GMOs worldwide; and challenges for
biosafety research in developing countries – a North-South workshop.
PAPERS FROM EXPERT
WORKSHOP ON ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING
The papers from an international expert workshop on access to genetic
resources and benefit-sharing (ABS) are now available online. The workshop,
which was held in Cuernavaca, Mexico, from 24-27 October 2004, was co-hosted
by the governments of Canada
and Mexico, and
co-sponsored by Switzerland.
The papers focus on: national access laws, challenges, monitoring and
enforcement issues; access, intellectual property rights and biopiracy; the
vision for and nature of an international regime on ABS; limits and opportunities
for existing intellectual property rights; limits to rights over genetic
resources, derivatives, tangible and intangible property rights; new forms of
sui generis protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge;
indigenous peoples and community-level prior informed consent for accessing
traditional knowledge and genetic resources; and measures to ensure
compliance with the CBD and access legislation.
Forests, deserts, land
THE COST OF
U.S. FOREST-BASED CARBON SEQUESTRATION
(Pew Center
on Global Climate Change, January 2005) This report, written by Robert
Stavins and Kenneth Richards, synthesizes and expands on available
studies of forest-based carbon sequestration in the United States. The authors
analyze the real opportunity costs of using land for sequestration, in
contrast with other productive uses, and examine factors that drive the
economics of storing carbon in forests over long periods of time.
STRENGTHENING THE WEAKEST LINKS:
STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS GLOBALLY
(Conservation International, September 2004) In this study authored by Anita
Akella and Jim Cannon, Conservation International’s Center for Conservation
and Government examines four biodiversity hotspots—Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia
and the Philippines—and presents the first quantitative evidence of how poor
environmental enforcement is in nations that are wealthy in natural
resources. The traditional response to poor enforcement has been to hire and
equip more park guards and raise fines. However, the authors conclude that
this strategy is ineffective by itself because it does not address the entire
enforcement chain—detection, arrest, prosecution, conviction and penalty.
According to Akella and Cannon, the steps that come after arrests often
constitute the weakest link. To request a free electronic copy of this
article in a pdf file, please e-mail Ingrid Neubauer.
“DRYLANDSCOPE”SUSTAINABLE DRYLANDS MANAGEMENT WEBSITE
Drylandscope is a sustainable drylands management
reference and networking website that offers users access to information
through its eLibrary and forums on the following topics: soils, natural systems, managed systems, tools and equipment,
hydrology, landscape level considerations, and livestock. The site contains a
list of relevant web sources and resources, and invites users to submit
additional content.
Waste
management
VITAL WASTE GRAPHICS
(UNEP/Basel
Convention, 2004) Released by UNEP in collaboration with the Basel Convention
Secretariat, Vital Waste Graphics is aimed at raising awareness and
stimulating debate on the global waste challenge. The publication includes
sections on waste generation, the waste cycle, waste management, hazardous
waste, and climate change and waste. The report concludes by urging a
life-cycle approach to waste management, and highlights initiatives such as
the Basel Convention, Zero Waste initiatives and technological research.
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 Click here for a complete
listing of upcoming meetings
Change
of dates:
FOURTH
CSD-13 BUREAU MEETING: 1 February 2005. UN headquarters, New York, US.
The fourth meeting of the CSD-13 Bureau is expected to convene on 1 February
2005. For more information contact: UN Division for Sustainable Development;
tel: +1-212-963-2803; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail: dsd@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev
The following are upcoming meetings recently added to Linkages website:
Sustainable development
WSIS REGIONAL PREPARATORY CONFERENCE IN AFRICA:
2 February 2005 - 4 February 2005. Accra, Ghana.
The theme of the African WSIS Regional Preparatory Conference, “Access -
Africa’s key to an inclusive Information Society,” seeks to prepare for
Africa’s effective participation in the Tunis phase of WSIS to ensure a strategic
and interdependent digital partnership that will promote economic growth and
human development on the continent. The conference aims to develop a common
position and a regional action plan on major ICT issues of relevance to the
continent, including the remaining two unresolved issues of the Geneva phase, namely
Internet Governance and Financing of the Information Society. For more
information contact: Makane Faye, Senior Regional Advisor, Economic
Commission for Africa; tel: +251-1-514534; fax: +251-1-510512; e-mail: wsisaccra2005@uneca.org; Internet: http://www.itu.int/wsis/newsroom/press_releases/wsis/2005/24jan.html
FIFTH CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT AND THIRD WORLD CONGRESS ON COMPUTERS IN
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES: 25 July 2005 - 28 July 2005.
Vila Real, Portugal. This EFITA/WCCA 2005
Joint Conference is intended as an international forum for agriculture
related professionals to exchange information on applications and
developments in the use of information technologies. For more information
contact: Conference Secretariat, EFITA/WCCA 2005; fax: +351-259-350480;
e-mail: efita.wcca2005@utad.pt;
Internet: http://www.agriculturadigital.org/efitaandwcca2005
CHILDREN’S WORLD SUMMIT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: 26 July 2005 - 29
July 2005. Aichi, Japan. UNEP is organizing this
first Children’s World Summit for the Environment, which will be hosted by
the Aichi Prefectural Government, the City of Toyota
and the City of Toyohashi.
The Summit is
a follow-up to the 1992 Earth Summit, and the 2002 World Summit on
Sustainable Development. The meeting will seek to examine how to better
involve children in the implementation of the decisions from these summits.
For more information contact: Japan Organizing Committee; tel:
+81-52-954-6238; fax: +81-52-961-4901; e-mail: info@children-summit.jp; Internet: http://www.children-summit.jp
THIRD WORLD YOUTH CONGRESS: 30 July 2005 - 8 August 2005. Stirling, Scotland.
The congress theme is “Young People working together for a sustainable world
community.” Youth delegates will draw to the attention of governments and aid
agencies how much young people do and are doing to support the achievement of
the UN Millennium Development Goals. This congress will bring together young
development activists and government and UN development professionals to
review best practice in youth led development and devise strategies to
mobilize more young people to take part in them. For more information
contact: Internet: http://www.scotland2005.org
3RD WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONGRESS: 2 October 2005 - 6
October 2005. Torino, Italy. This congress, which will
be taking place in the inaugural year of the UN Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development (DESD), is slated to pave the way for a series of
biennial congresses to follow. For more information contact: The Secretary’s
Office, Istituto per l’Ambiente e l’Educazione Scholé Futuro; tel:
+39-11-436-6522; fax: +39-11-436-6522; e-mail: info@3weec.org;
Internet: http://www.3weec.org/
INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM ON SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT: 11 October
2005 - 13 October 2005. Geneva,
Switzerland.
This multistakeholder platform will comprise three elements: a conference, an
exhibition and a number of workshops/side-events. The objective of the event
is to present innovative solutions in the fields of technologies, governance,
civil society and enterprises from urban areas in both the Northern and
Southern hemisphere. There will be an emphasis on creating partnerships:
public/private; north/south; local/global. For more information contact:
Sofie H. Flensborg, Geneva Environment Network; tel: +41-22-917-8310; fax:
+41-22-797-3464; e-mail: sofie.flensborg@unep.ch;
Internet: http://www.s-dev.org
FAO SPECIAL CONFERENCE ON SMALL
ISLAND DEVELOPING
STATES: 19 November 2005 - 26 November 2005. Rome, Italy.
FAO has announced that it will convene a special conference in Rome during the meeting
of its governing body to review the Mauritius Strategy to Further Implement
the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS. For more
information contact: Nadia Scialabba, Senior Officer, Environment and
Sustainable Development; e-mail: nadia.scialabba@fao.org;
Internet: http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/88821/index.html
GLOBE 2006: 29 March 2006 - 31 March 2006. Vancouver, BC, Canada. Organized by the GLOBE
Foundation, this business and environment event is expected to host nearly
10,000 participants, 2,000 conference delegates, 400 exhibits, 200 speakers
and dozens of international delegations. For more information contact: GLOBE
Foundation; tel: +1-604-775-7300; fax: +1-604-666-8123; e-mail: info@globe2006.com; Internet: http://www.globe2006.com
Biodiversity and wildlife
IUCN WORLD COMMISSION ON PROTECTED AREAS 5TH CONFERENCE
ON PROTECTED AREAS OF EAST
ASIA: 21 June 2005 - 25 June 2005. Hong Kong, China. The conference theme is
Sustainable Management of Protected Areas for Future Generations. For more
information contact: Sylvia Lee; e-mail: asb1@afcd.gov.hk;
Internet: http://www.focp.org.hk
Chemicals and waste management
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON THE 3R INITIATIVE: 28 April 2005 - 30
April 2005. Tokyo, Japan. This conference will
discuss issues relevant to the actions identified in the Action Plan agreed
at the G-8 Sea Island Summit, specifically: the promotion of the 3Rs;
reduction of barriers to the international flow of goods and materials;
encouragement of cooperation among various stakeholders; promotion of science
and technology suitable for the 3Rs; and cooperation with developing
countries. For more information contact: Task Force for 3R Initiative
Ministerial Conference, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry o; tel:
+81-3-5521-8348; fax: +81-3-3593-3636; e-mail: 3R@env.go.jp;
Internet: http://www.env.go.jp/earth/3r/en/index.html
FOURTH SESSION OF THE OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP FOR THE BASEL CONVENTION: 4 July
2005 - 8 July 2005. Geneva,
Switzerland.
The fourth session of the Open-ended Working Group for the Basel Convention
will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 4-8 July 2005.
For more information contact: Secretariat of the Basel Convention; tel:
+41-22-917-8218; fax: +41-22-797-3454; e-mail: sbc@unep.ch;
Internet: http://www.basel.int/
Climate change
CONSULTATIVE GROUP OF EXPERTS: HANDS-ON TRAINING WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL
GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES FOR THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION: 8 February
2005 - 12 February 2005. Shanghai,
China. The
Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not
included in Annex I to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is
holding a workshop on national greenhouse gas inventories for the
Asia-Pacific Region. For more information contact: Lornaliza Mangosing,
UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax: +49-228-815-1599; e-mail: lmangosing@unfccc.int; Internet: http://unfccc.int/meetings/unfccc_calendar/items/2655.php
PANEL ON ADEQUACY, EQUITY, AND REALISM: THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE
POLICY-MAKING POST-2012 AND THE STRUGGLE TO PREVENT GLOBAL WARMING: 26
February 2005. University of Toronto, Toronto,
Canada. This
panel will celebrate the Kyoto Protocol’s official entry into force on 16 February
2005 by convening leading academics and members of civil society with
concerned citizens to consider the future of the global effort to prevent
climate change. The website will be active by the end of January. For more
information contact: Graham Erion; e-mail: graham@erion.ca;
Internet: http://www.geocities.com/post2012
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTERFACES BETWEEN CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC
DYNAMICS: 3 March 2005 - 4 March 2005. Interlaken, Switzerland.
This symposium will consider the linkages between climate and economic
activities, based on the perspective that climate change can be viewed as a
“cycle with four phases: economic activities cause emissions of GHGs, which
cause climate changes, which inflict climate impacts, which feed back to
economic activities and growth.” The symposium will explore the interfaces
between these phases, encouraging a dialogue between experts on each phase.
Specific topics on the agenda include: global climate modeling and
forecasting; valuing climate change impacts, including sea-level rise;
assessing the economic costs of carbon policy; and evaluating technological
options. The symposium is being organized by several organizations and
institutes, including the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research on
Climate (NCCR-Climate) and Bern
University. For more
information contact: Laurent Viguier, EPFL; tel: +41-21-693-3298; fax:
+41-21-693-3840; e-mail: laurent.viguier@epfl.ch;
Internet: http://ecolu-info.unige.ch/~nccrwp4/GEMINI-E3/Interlaken.htm
Forests, deserts, land
CCD BUREAU MEETING: 2 February 2005. Bonn, Germany.
The Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat
Desertification (CCD) is expected to meet on 2 February 2002. Among the items
on its agenda, the Bureau is expected to take a decision on the location for
COP-7. 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
INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR UNFF-5: 28 February 2005. UN
headquarters, New York.
This informal meeting is the result of a decision taken by the UNFF-5 Bureau
when it met on 11 November 2004. The Bureau agreed that to advance
understanding among member States and maintain the momentum generated by the
outcome of the third ad hoc expert group, informal consultations on UNFF-5
would be necessary, particularly with regards to the future international
arrangement on forests. The UNFF-5 Bureau will also be convening in
conjunction with the informal consultations. 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
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL LOGGING: INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE ON BEST
PRACTICE FOR BUSINESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY: 8 March 2005 - 10
March 2005. Hong Kong, China. This initiative in support
of UNFF-5 is being organized by The Forest Dialogue of Yale University, in
collaboration with various other organizations and agencies. For more
information contact: Gary Dunning, The Forests Dialogue Secretariat; tel:
+1-203-432-5966; fax: +1-203-432-3809; e-mail: info@theforestsdialogue.org;
Internet: http://research.yale.edu/gisf/tfd/logging.html
THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOILS OF URBAN, INDUSTRIAL, TRAFFIC,
MINING, AND MILITARY AREAS: 19 November 2005 - 21 November
2005. Cairo, Egypt. Abstracts for this
conference will be accepted until 15 April 2005. For more information
contact: Salah Tahoun, Professor of Soil Science, University
of El-Zagazig; tel: +202-260-1742;
Internet: http://www.eun.eg/suitma
Human development
WSIS REGIONAL PREPARATORY CONFERENCE IN AFRICA:
2 February 2005 - 4 February 2005. Accra, Ghana.
The theme of the African WSIS Regional Preparatory Conference, “Access -
Africa’s key to an inclusive Information Society,” seeks to prepare for
Africa’s effective participation in the Tunis phase of WSIS to ensure a strategic
and interdependent digital partnership that will promote economic growth and
human development on the continent. The conference aims to develop a common
position and a regional action plan on major ICT issues of relevance to the
continent, including the remaining two unresolved issues of the Geneva phase, namely
Internet Governance and Financing of the Information Society. For more
information contact: Makane Faye, Senior Regional Advisor, Economic
Commission for Africa; tel: +251-1-514534;
fax: +251-1-510512; e-mail: wsisaccra2005@uneca.org;
Internet: http://www.itu.int/wsis/newsroom/press_releases/wsis/2005/24jan.html
CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL CAPITAL : 20 September 2005 - 22 September
2005. Buggiba, Malta. The Social Capital
Foundation invites all interested persons or organizations to present a paper
to one or both of its upcoming international, interdisciplinary conference
that will be held respectively on 20-22 September 2005 and 23-25 September
2005. For more information contact: Patrick Hunout; tel: +32-2-653-7340; fax:
+32-2-653-7340; e-mail: secretary@socialcapital-foundation.org;
Internet: http://www.socialcapital-foundation.org/conferences/conference%20on%20social%20capital.pdf
CONFERENCE ON ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY: THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF THE EU: 23
September 2005 - 25 September 2005. Buggiba, Malta.
The Social Capital Foundation invites all interested persons or organizations
to present a paper to one or both of its upcoming international,
interdisciplinary conference that will be held respectively on 20-22
September 2005 and 23-25 September 2005. For more information contact:
Patrick Hunout; tel: +32-2-653-7340; fax: +32-2-653-7340; e-mail: secretary@socialcapital-foundation.org;
Internet: http://www.socialcapital-foundation.org/conferences/conference%20on%20economic%20future.pdf
FOURTH WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE: 7 March
2006 - 15 March 2006. Doha,
Qatar. This
conference will bring together the 189 Member States of the International
Telecommunications Union and nearly 290 development Sector Members, four
months after the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society,
in a forum to consider projects and programmes related to ITC development. It
will also provide guidance for the activities of the ITU Telecommunication
Development Bureau for the following four years by establishing ICT
development priorities, strategies and plans to bridge the digital divide.
For more information contact: ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau; tel:
+41-22-730-5111; fax: +41-22-733-7256; e-mail: bdtmail@itu.int; Internet: http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2005/NP01.html
Intergovernmental organizations
SECOND SOUTH SUMMIT:
12 June 2005 - 16 June 2005. Doha,
Qatar. This
meeting, which scheduled to be held from 12-16 June 2005, in Doha,
Qatar, will review the
implementation of the outcomes of the South Summit that took place in Havana, Cuba
in 2005. For more information contact: Office of the Chairman of the Group of
77; tel: +1-212-963-0192; fax: +1-212-963-3515; e-mail: g77off@unmail.org; Internet: http://www.g77.org/meetings/daily.html
Trade, finance and investment in SD
FORUM ON PARTNERSHIPS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION: 1
February 2005 - 2 February 2005. Paris, France.
The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in collaboration with the
UNDP are convening a Senior Level Forum on Partnership for More Effective Development
Cooperation, based on the “conviction that greater dialogue and mutual
understanding among the world’s principal providers of development
co-operation hold significant promise for progress towards the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs).” The Forum will explore avenues for closer
cooperation and coordination of development cooperation in the South and the
North to enhance their individual and combined impact. For more information
contact: Development Co-operation Directorate; tel: +33-1-4524-8200; fax:
+33-1-4524-8500; e-mail: DAC.Contact@oecd.org;
Internet: http://www.oecd.org/document/49/0,2340,en_2649_33721_34060145_1_1_1_1,00.html
MULTI-STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ON “SOVEREIGN DEBT FOR SUSTAINED DEVELOPMENT:
ISSUES FOR COUNTRIES THAT ACCESS FINANCIAL MARKETS”: 7 March
2005 - 8 March 2005. UN headquarters, New York. This multistakeholder
consultation is organized by the Financing for Development Office, DESA, in
cooperation with ECLAC, UNCTAD, IMF and the World Bank. It will comprise a
series of informal meetings, including panel discussions and interactive
round tables, with the participation of experts from the official and private
sectors, academia and civil society, as mandated by General Assembly
resolution 58/230. For more information contact: Financing for Development
Office, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-2587; fax: +1-212-963-0443; e-mail: ffdoffice@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/09multi-stake-consul-flyer-debt.htm
WTO ANNUAL PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM 2005: 20 April 2005 - 22 April
2005. Geneva, Switzerland. The World Trade
Organization’s 2005 annual public symposium will take as its theme “The WTO
After 10 Years: Global Problems and Multilateral Solution.” Participants from
governments, parliaments, civil society, the business sector, academia and
the media are expected to reflect on the WTO’s first ten years and discuss
the challenges the organization faces looking forward. The WTO’s annual
symposia are intended to stimulate public debate on the WTO. A new report,
The Future of the WTO: Addressing Institutional Challenges in the New
Millennium, is expected to help inform and guide the discussions (see the Key
Publications and Online Resources section for more). For more information
contact: Bernard Kuiten, External Relations Division, WTO; tel:
+41-22-739-5676; e-mail: PublicSymposium2005@wto.org;
Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/events_e/symposium_2005_e.htm
Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING OF TRAINERS ON WETLAND MANAGEMENT: 4 April
2005 - 22 April 2005. Wageningen, The Netherlands. This course aims to
provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary for curriculum
development in the field of wetland management in their own region. The
course will focus on the multistakeholder processes that play an important
role in wetland management and the need for transboundary and cross-sectoral
cooperation to manage the natural resources of a river basin. The course will
be relevant to all climatic zones. For more information contact: Esther
Koopmanschap, International Agricultural Centre; tel: +31-317-495-251; fax:
+31-317-495-395; e-mail: Esther.Koopmanschap@wur.nl;
Internet: http://www.iac.wur.nl/iac/courses/applform_88_05_2005.cfm
57TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION: 20 June
2005 - 24 June 2005. Ulsan, Republic of Korea. Delegates to the annual meeting
of the IWC will continue to discuss the moratorium on commercial whaling,
whale sanctuaries, the Revised Management Scheme, whale killing methods and
other welfare issues, as well as financial and administrative issues. For
more information contact: IWC Secretariat; tel: +44-1223-233-971; fax:
+44-1223-232-876; e-mail: secretariat@iwcoffice.org;
Internet: http://www.iwcoffice.org/meetings/meeting2005.htm
UNECE SEMINAR ON THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF WATER-RELATED ECOSYSTEMS: 27 June
2005 - 28 June 2005. Geneva,
Switzerland.
Organized by the Water Convention Secretariat of the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE), this seminar will address services and
financing for the protection and sustainable use of water-related ecosystems.
For more information contact: Francesca Bernardini, UNECE; tel:
+41-22-917-2463; fax: +41-22-917-0107; e-mail: francesca.bernardini@unece.org;
Internet: http://www.unece.org/env/water/
SEVENTH GULF WATER CONFERENCE: 19 November
2005 - 23 November 2005. Kuwait
City, Kuwait.
This conference aims to review and assess the progress made in the Gulf
Cooperation Council countries towards the adoption and implementation of
comprehensive policies and strategies for integrated water resources management
and their active implementation. For more information contact: Muhammad
Al-Rashed, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and Water Sciences; tel:
+965-483-6100; fax: +965-483-0643; e-mail: gwater7@kisr.edu.kw; Internet: http://www.kisr.edu.kw/conference_details.asp?ID=29
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL WATER HISTORY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE: WATER AND
CIVILIZATION: 1 December 2005 - 4 December 2005. Paris, France.
Organized by the International Water History Association (IWHA), this
conference will address various topics related to water and history, seek to
help advance the theoretical and methodological quality of water history as a
research field, and increase understanding of the role of water in history
and development. The conference's themes include water control, water and
climate, water and conflict, water and health, and a comparative perspective
of river basins. For more information contact: Alv Terje Fotland, IWHA; tel:
+47-55-589-315; fax: +47-55-589-892; e-mail: post@iwha.net;
Internet: http://www.iwha.net/
THIRD GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON OCEANS, COASTS AND ISLANDS:
23 January 2006 - 27 January 2006. Paris, France.
The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands
serves as a platform for cross-sectoral information sharing and dialogue on
issues affecting oceans, coasts and islands, with the goal of achieving
sustainable development in these areas. The Forum also seeks to improve
global, regional, and national policies related to oceans, coasts and
islands. For more information contact: Global Forum Secretariat; tel:
+1-302-831-8086; fax: +1-302-831-3668; e-mail: johnston@udel.edu; Internet: http://www.globaloceans.org/
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