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Sustainable
development
NEW EU DIRECTIVE ON RIGHT TO
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION BECOMES BINDING
Europeans now not only have the freedom, but also the right to access
environmental information, following the entry into force of the new directive
on public access to environmental information.
ARAB
MINISTERS LAUNCH GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
The Arab Good Governance for Development Programme was recently launched at a
Ministerial meeting in Jordan.
GLOBAL CENTER FOR INNOVATION,
DEVELOPMENT PLANNED
The United Nations University and a Dutch University
have announced plans to establish a major global research center focusing on
innovation and development.
ALCAN PRIZE INVITES ENTRIES
The Alcan Prize for Sustainability is inviting
entries for its 2005 award.
Trade
REGIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS APPROVED
Members of a regional free trade group have signed two agreements aimed at
strengthening environmental protection in the region.
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Climate, energy
CELEBRATIONS, PROTESTS MARK KYOTO
ENTRY INTO FORCE
Celebrations, protests and lively debates in the media marked the entry into
force of the Kyoto Protocol as a legally-binding international treaty on 16
February.
Bush Administration Pressure Grows: Meanwhile, the Bush administration,
which rejected the Protocol in 2001, has received widespread criticism in
recent days.
Experts debate post-Kyoto strategies: A Forum held at the European
Parliament recently debated future climate strategies and considered the
challenges faced by the EU in keeping up its global leadership in the area of
climate change.
India, Britain Announce Climate Research Pact: Kyoto’s entry into force also coincided with an
announcement that the UK
and India
will collaborate on climate research.
SCIENTISTS HIGHLIGHT HEALTH FEARS,
OCEAN RISKS
Climate change is set to bring a series of health crises, according to
experts at a major science gathering held in Washington, DC.
It is also believed to be causing profound changes to the world’s oceans that
are threatening many plant and animal species.
BUSH TALKS CLIMATE CHANGE WITH
EUROPEAN LEADERS
US President George Bush has held talks on climate change with his European
counterparts during his latest diplomatic visit.
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Tsunami update
REGIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEMS UPDATE
Indian Ocean: High-level
policymakers from countries most affected by the recent tsunami-disaster
convened in Tokyo to understand how Japan’s
tsunami early warning system operates.
Caribbean: A group of experts from the Caribbean region also met
recently to discuss a regional tsunami early warning system. Mexico has also
recently reported that it will look into setting up its own tsunami warning
system.
Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts
FISHERIES HIT HARD BY TSUNAMI, BUT
BUILD-UP OF EXCESSIVE FISHING CAPACITY MUST BE AVOIDED
Local fisheries in Southeast Asia were hit hard by the December tsunami
disaster, with FAO estimating that losses in fisheries and aquaculture total
as much as US$520 million. FAO has also cautioned against building-up of
excessive fishing capacity in reconstruction efforts.
WATERBIRD CONSERVATION AWARD
ANNOUNCED
A new award has been created that will recognize institutions and individuals
contributing towards waterbird conservation.
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Sustainable development
GEO
YEARBOOK 2004/5
(UNEP, February 2005) Prepared in response to a UNEP Governing Council
decision adopted in 2003, the annual Global Environment Outlook (GEO) Year
Book highlights significant environmental events and achievements, and aims
to raise awareness of emerging issues. In addition to tracking issues at the
global and regional levels, the 2005 Year Book flags two emerging
environmental challenges: the emergence and re-emergence of infectious
diseases and their links to environmental change; and abrupt climate change,
its effects on ocean salinity and potential impacts on ocean circulation. The
feature focus of the 2004/2005 Year Book spotlights the links between gender,
poverty and environment. The book also dedicates a chapter on indicators to
reflect the trends for major global and regional environmental issues
addressed under the GEO reporting process, including atmosphere, disasters,
forests, biodiversity, coastal and marine areas, urban areas and freshwater.
AFTER THE TSUNAMI: RAPID
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
(UNEP, February 2005) Prepared by UNEP’s Asian
Tsunami Task Force, this report summarizes the interim findings from ongoing
environmental assessments in some of the tsunami-affected countries,
including India, Indonesia, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka,
Thailand and Yemen. In addition to the environmental assessments, the report
offers recommendations for reconstruction and restoration measures designed
to ensure long-term sustainability. It stresses that mainstreaming
environmental concerns is a prerequisite for sustainable reconstruction, and
that environmental management should take as its point of departure the need
to involve and engage the affected population.
FINAL
REPORT OF THE REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIES AND INDICATORS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ARAB REGION
(UNDESA, 2005) This report presents the proceedings from the 12-14 December
2004 Workshop on National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS) and
Indicators of Sustainable Development, which was organized to support
countries from the Arab region in their efforts to develop NSDS and
indicators. The meeting convened in Cairo, Egypt.
MDGs
EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT ON
MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: 2000-2004
(EC Directorate-General for Development, November 2004) The report provides
information on the extent to which the EC has focused its strategies,
development policies and instruments on the implementation of the Millennium
Declaration and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The report outlines how the EC contributes to progress towards the MDGs, and
lists further actions currently anticipated to promote their implementation.
Trade
MATRIX
ON TRADE MEASURES PURSUANT TO SELECTED MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS
(WTO, 2005) The Secretariat of the World Trade Organization has prepared a
note containing a matrix on trade-related measures relating to selected
multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs).
Prepared in consultation with various MEA secretariats, the note covers 14
agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, as well as several
chemicals-related treaties.
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Climate, energy
CLIMATE
CHANGE AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
(Tiempo, Issue 54, January 2005, pp. 18-22) In the
January 2005 issue of Tiempo, Hannah Reid
and Mozaharul Alam
consider how climate change will impact on the MDGs. The authors argue that climate
change will make meeting the MDGs more difficult. However, they also suggest
some practical examples of activities that meet “both climate change and
development objectives.”
THE
ORGANIZATION OF GLOBAL NEGOTIATIONS: CONSTRUCTING THE CLIMATE CHANGE REGIME
(Earthscan, 2005) This new book by Joanna Depledge considers the complex and well-coordinated negotiations
needed to produce and build upon the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change, as well as the Kyoto Protocol and the Bonn and Marrakesh
Accords. The author highlights some lessons and implications for other
complex and far-reaching negotiations, such as the WTO process, and
identifies six “key elements that determine organizational effectiveness as a
necessary condition for successful outcomes."
BUSINESS
CONSEQUENCES OF THE EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME
(CEPS, February 2005) This report by Christian Egenhofer,
Noriko Fujiwara and Kyriakos Gialoglou
examines the effects the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is likely to have on the
business environment. While focusing on the 2008-12 period, the report also
considers likely impacts beyond 2012. The report is published by the Centre
for European Policy Studies.
Chemicals management
THE
TIP OF THE ICEBERG: CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION IN THE ARCTIC
(WWF, February 2005) WWF has released a new report highlighting increases in
chemical contamination in the Arctic environment. The report analyzes the
levels of industrial and agricultural contaminants in the Arctic, considering
toxic substances such as polychlorinated napthalenes
(PCNs), brominated flame
retardants (BFRs), perfluorooctanesulfonate
(PFOS), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), short-chained
chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs),
and pentachlorophenol (PCP). The report presents evidence that chemical
contamination is increasing exponentially in arctic marine mammals and bird
species, and that these increases can be expected to continue. It argues that
precautionary chemicals legislation, such as the EU’s
REACH proposal, is necessary to address these contamination problems.
Wetlands
REVIVING
WETLANDS – SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WETLANDS AND SHALLOW LAKES
(GNF, 2005) The Global Nature Fund has released this guidebook for the
preparation of a wetlands management plan. The guidebook notes that the
management of different resources such as water or tourism is a complex task
that requires balancing social, ecological and economical considerations. In
addition to offering information about resource management, this book
contains the insights from international experts accompanied by descriptive
case studies. The 134-page publication has been published in four languages
(English, German, Spanish and Greek). In addition, an instructional movie has
been produced for DVD. The EU LIFE programme sponsored the production of
these materials.
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Forests, deserts, land
LIFE
AFTER LOGGING: RECONCILING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND PRODUCTION FORESTRY IN
INDONESIAN BORNEO
(CIFOR, 2005)
This book, written by Erik Meijaard et al.
and published by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), shows how logging affects wildlife
in Borneo and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, and makes recommendations on how
to conserve it. The authors suggest that logging companies should design their
roads and trails to: avoid dividing the forest into too many fragments, keep
out hunters, make smaller gaps in the forest, prevent slashing of vines and
ground cover, and minimize soil disturbance.
FOREST
CERTIFICATION AND GOVERNMENTS: THE REAL AND POTENTIAL INFLUENCE ON REGULATORY
FRAMEWORKS AND FOREST POLICIES
(Forest Trends, 2004) This paper, authored by Gerardo Segura, examines the
experience of four countries that have made an effort to promote forest
certification. The paper also considers the implications for achieving the
goals of policy and regulatory frameworks, and makes recommendations on how
to move forward in the next decade.
THE
LAST FRONTIER: ILLEGAL LOGGING IN PAPUA AND CHINA’S MASSIVE TIMBER THEFT
(EIA/Telapak, 2005) This Environmental
Investigation Agency (EIA)/Telapak report reveals details
of a recent investigation into the smuggling of merbau,
a hardwood used mainly for flooring. The report tracks the merbau smuggling, which begins in the forests of Papua
and involves middlemen in Jakarta, Singapore and Hong Kong, to the
rapidly-expanding timber processing factories of China. The report reveals
that such smuggling has persisted in spite of a December 2002 Memorandum of
Understanding signed by the governments of Indonesia and China to combat
illegal trade in forest products.
Biodiversity
SCIDEV.NET UPDATES GM CROPS DOSSIER
SciDev.Net has updated its dossier on GM crops with two new policy briefs
examining challenges for developing countries and regulation for
transboundary transport of GMOs.
Human development
WORLD
POPULATION MONITORING 2003: POPULATION, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
(UNDESA Population Division, 2004) This report underscores the interlinkages
between education and population, and their effect on national development.
The report examines a range of topics, including: population trends;
education and entry into reproductive life; the interrelationships between
education and fertility; education, health and mortality; education and
international migration; and monitoring progress in meeting international
goals.
REPORT OF
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON WORLD DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS
This report (E/CN.9/2005/8) provides an overview of world demographic trends,
including trends in population size and growth, urbanization, population
ageing, fertility and contraception, mortality and international migration.
The report highlights that world population reached 6.5 billion in 2005, that
the 7 billion mark could be reached in 2012, and that world population could
stabilize at about 9 billion people in the long-term. It notes the diversity
in expected population growth among regions and countries, with population in
African and Asian countries expected to increase greatly in the coming
decades, and population in some developed countries to significantly decline.
The report notes that half the world’s population is expected to live in
urban areas by 2007, and that the proportion of elderly people is expected to
continue rising throughout this century.
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 Click here for a complete listing of upcoming meetings
Change
of dates / Dates recently announced:
INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR UNFF-5: Previously scheduled
for 28 February 2005, this informal meeting has been postponed. The Bureau
will consider a new date and more information will be provided shortly. The
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.
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
ITTO WORKSHOP ON PHASED APPROACHES TO CERTIFICATION: 19 April 2005 - 21 April
2005. Bern, Switzerland. This workshop of the International Tropical Timber
Organization (ITTO) will seek to promote the use of phased approaches to
certification in tropical timber exporting developing countries. For more
information contact: Manoel Sobral
Filho, ITTO Executive Director; tel:
+81-45-223-1110; fax: +81-45-223-1111; e-mail: itto@itto.or.jp; Internet: http://www.itto.or.jp
THIRD PART OF THE UN CONFERENCE ON THE NEGOTIATION OF A SUCCESSOR AGREEMENT
TO THE INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER AGREEMENT, 1994: 27 June
2005 - 1 July 2005. To be announced. The Third Part of the UN
Conference on the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the International
Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, is scheduled for late June and early July
2005. For more information contact: UNCTAD Secretariat, Intergovernmental
Affairs and Outreach Service; tel: +41-22-917-5809; fax: +41-22-917-0056;
e-mail: correspondence@unctad.org;
Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=2256&lang=1
The following are upcoming meetings recently added to Linkages website:
Sustainable
development
1ST NRG4SD GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 10 March 2005 - 12 March 2005. Lake Toba, Indonesia. Convening under the theme “Global
Partnership on Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Post-Disaster
Settlements,” this meeting will be the first gathering of the nrg4SD General
Assembly. Participants will have opportunities to forge partnerships at the
regional level within the UN system on areas such as disaster early warning
systems, and rehabilitation and reconstruction of post disaster settlements.
The meeting will also focus on translating WSSD and MDG commitments into
actions. For more information contact: Maudhy S. Kisdharwanto, Summit Secretariat; tel: +62-21-7388-0888;
fax: +62-21-7388-8172; e-mail: nrg4SD@LTS2005.net;
Internet: http://www.dambaintra.org/toba.html
ECE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATION MINISTRIES ON EDUCATION
FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: 17 March 2005 - 18 March 2005.
Vilnius, Lithuania. This ECE regional initiative seeks to contribute to the
UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2015). The meeting,
which will launch the Decade in the UNECE region, is expected to adopt the
Strategy for ESD and decide on the framework for its implementation. For more
information contact: Ella Behlyarova, Environmental
Affairs Officer, ECE; tel: +41-22-917-2376; fax: +41-22-917-0107; e-mail: Ella.Behlyarova@unece.org;
Internet: http://www.unece.org/env/esd/HLmeetMarchl2005.htm
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY 2005: 23 March 2005. Numerous locations
worldwide. The theme for World Meteorological Day 2005 is “Weather, climate,
water and sustainable development.” Organizers will focus on the contribution
of national meteorological and hydrological services to sustainable
socio-economic development, environmental protection and poverty alleviation.
For more information contact: WMO Communications and Public Affairs Office;
fax: +41-22-730-8027; e-mail: cpa@wmo.int;
Internet: http://www.wmo.int/index-en.html
MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: CAN REGIONAL FRAMEWORKS HELP SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT?: 24 March 2005. New York, United
States. This conference is being organized by United Nations University (UNU)
in collaboration with the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
For more information contact: Meeting organizers; e-mail: unuona@ony.unu.edu; Internet: http://www.unu.edu/hq/rector_office/events2005/events2005.html
MEETING ON THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ALMATY PROGRAMME OF ACTION: 29 March
2005 - 31 March 2005. Almaty, Kazakhstan.
This meeting will take place from 29-31 March 2005 in Almaty.
For more information contact: OHRLLS; tel: +1-212-963-7778; fax:
+1-917-367-3415; e-mail: OHRLLS-UNHQ@un.org;
Internet: http://www.un.org/ohrlls/
SECOND MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE UNECE CONVENTION ON ACCESS TO
INFORMATION, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS (AARHUS CONVENTION): 25 May 2005 - 27 May
2005. Almaty, Kazakhstan. The meeting will review
the progress achieved in the Aarhus Convention’s
implementation and will reflect on and plan for future challenges. The
meeting will also discuss the main developments that are taking place at both
global and regional levels in relation to principle 10 of the Rio Declaration
on Environment and Development and how the experience with the Aarhus Convention may contribute to efforts to make
further progress in other regions. For more information contact: Ella Behlyarova, Environmental Affairs Officer, ECE; tel:
+41-22-917-2376; fax: +41-22-917-0107; e-mail: Ella.Behlyarova@unece.org;
Internet: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/mop2.htm
UNU/UNESCO CONFERENCE ON GLOBALIZATION AND EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT: 27 June 2005 - 28 June 2005. to be confirmed,
Japan. This meeting, which will take place in Japan in late June 2005, is
being organized by the UNU Centre/UNU-IAS. The venue is to be confirmed. For
more information contact: Katsunori Suzuki, UNU;
e-mail: k_suzuki@ias.unu.edu;
Internet: http://www.unu.edu/hq/rector_office/events2005/events2005.html
Biodiversity and wildlife
CBD SBSTTA-11: 5 December 2005 - 9 December 2005. Montreal,
Canada. The eleventh meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical
and Technological Advice is scheduled for 5-9 December 2005, in Montreal,
Canada. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat; tel: +1-514-288-2220;
fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org;
Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=SBSTTA-11
FOURTH MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUP ON ARTICLE 8(J) AND ABS-4: March
2006. Spain. The fourth meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Working Group on Article
8(j) and Related Provisions is scheduled to convene in March 2006, in Spain.
Dates and venue are to be confirmed. It will be followed by the fourth
meeting of the CBD Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit
Sharing. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat; tel: +1-514-288-2220;
fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org;
Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/meetings/default.aspx
CBD COP-8 AND BIOSAFETY COP/MOP-3: 8 May 2006 - 26 May 2006. to
be confirmed, Brazil. The eighth meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties
is scheduled to meet from 8-19 May 2006, in Brazil. This meeting will be
followed by the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the
meeting of the Parties to the Biosafety Protocol, which will meet from 22-26
May 2006. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat; tel:
+1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/meetings/default.aspx
Chemicals management
SAICM PREPCOM-3: 19 September 2005 - 24 September 2005. Vienna,
Austria. The third meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the development
of a Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) will be
held in Vienna, Austria from 19-24 September 2005. Regional SAICM
consultations for the following regions are being organized from February to
May 2005: Africa (Saly, Senegal, 15-18 March);
Asia-Pacific (Bangkok, Thailand 4-7 April); Latin American and Caribbean
(GRULAC) (Punta del Este, Uruguay, 27-29 April);
and Central and Eastern European (Ljubljana, Slovenia, 17-19 May). For more
information contact: UNEP Chemicals; tel: +41-22-917-8111; fax:
+41-22-797-3460; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch;
Internet: http://www.chem.unep.ch/saicm/
Climate, energy
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY 2005: 23 March 2005. Numerous locations
worldwide. The theme for World Meteorological Day 2005 is “Weather, climate,
water and sustainable development.” Organizers will focus on the contribution
of national meteorological and hydrological services to sustainable
socio-economic development, environmental protection and poverty alleviation.
For more information contact: WMO Communications and Public Affairs Office;
fax: +41-22-730-8027; e-mail: cpa@wmo.int;
Internet: http://www.wmo.int/index-en.html
22ND SESSIONS OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODIES TO THE UNFCCC: 16 May
2005 - 27 May 2005. Bonn, Germany. The twenty-second sessions of
the Subsidiary Bodies (SB-22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) is scheduled to take place from 19-27 May 2005, in Bonn,
Germany. Following an agreement at the tenth Conference of Parties to the
UNFCCC in December 2004, SB-22 will be preceded by a “Seminar of Government
Experts,” which will seek to promote an informal exchange of information on
actions concerning mitigation and adaptation, and on policies and measures
adopted by governments supporting implementation of existing commitments
under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol. The Seminar is scheduled for 16 and 17
May. For more information contact: UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000;
fax: +49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int;
Internet: http://unfccc.int/files/parties_and_observers/notifications/application/pdf/notice_po_050216.pdf
RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCE ASIA FORUM: 15
June 2005 - 16 June 2005. Hong Kong, China. This forum aims to
provide networking opportunities for the financial community to learn about
renewable energy issues. For more information contact: Sarah Ellis, Green
Power Conferences; tel: +44-870-758-7808; e-mail: sarah.ellis@greenpowerconferences.com;
Internet: http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/events/RenewableFinanceAsia.htm
2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY WORKSHOP: 5 July 2005 - 7 July
2005. Kyoto, Japan. Themes to be covered at this year's workshop include
managing uncertainty and abrupt climate change, UNFCCC/Post-Kyoto regimes and
technological responses to climate change. For more information contact: Leo Schrattenholzer; tel: +43-2236-807-225; fax:
+43-2236-807-488; e-mail: leo@iiasa.ac.at;
Internet: http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/ECS/IEW2005/index.html
NORDIC BIOENERGY CONFERENCE: BIOENERGY 2005: 25 October
2005 - 27 October 2005. Trondheim,
Norway. The conference will provide an opportunity to discuss options for
increasing biomass in Europe significantly by 2010. Delegates will consider a
range of relevant issues, including the future market for bioenergy
and new technology for the efficient use of biofuels.
For more information contact: Silje Schei Tveitdal, Norwegian Bioenergy Association; tel: +47-23-365870; e-mail: post@nobio.no; Internet: http://www.bioenergy2005.no
FIRST MEETING OF PARTIES TO THE KYOTO
PROTOCOL AND ELEVENTH CONFERENCE OF PARTIES TO THE UNFCCC: 28 November
2005 - 9 December 2005. Montreal, Canada. Canada is hosting the
historic first Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (MOP-1), which is
taking place in conjunction with the eleventh session of the Conference of
Parties (COP-11) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
For more information contact: UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax:
+49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int;
Internet: http://unfccc.int/meetings/unfccc_calendar/items/2655.php
Forests
INTERNATIONAL EXPERT MEETING ON INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL MECHANISMS: SEARCHING
FOR VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO SECURE A BASIS FOR THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF
FORESTS: 29 March 2005 - 1 April 2005. San Jose, Costa Rica.
This country-led initiative in support of UNFF-5 will convene from 29 March
to 1 April 2005, in San Jose, Costa Rica. Meeting outcomes are expected to
include: an exchange of successful experiences on financial and economic
instruments and mechanisms to enhance sustainable forest management; the
identification of mechanisms to further enhance and promote North-South and
South-South cooperation; and the identification and consolidation of
partnerships among interested parties to promote the use of innovative
financial and economic instruments. For more information contact: Ricardo Ulate, UNFF Focal Point, Ministry of Environment and
Energy, Costa Rica; tel: +506-257-8475; fax: +506-258-1614; e-mail: rulate@fonafifo.com; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/forests/gov-unff.html
GLOBAL FOREST AND PAPER SUMMIT 2005: 1 June 2005 - 3 June 2005.
Vancouver, Canada. This Summit is intended to bring together senior
executives from forest and paper companies with government policy makers to
discuss key issues and challenges facing the sector globally over the next
decade. As part of this event, the 18th annual PricewaterhouseCoopers Global
Forest and Paper Industry Conference will take place on 1 June. It will be
followed by �Vision 2015: The Global Forest and Paper Industry's Coming
Decade� on 2-3 June. For more information contact: Forest Products
Association of Canada; tel: +1-604-775-7300; fax: +1-604-666-8123; e-mail: info@globalforestpapersummit.com;
Internet: http://www.globalforestpapersummit.com/main.cfm
Human development
ROUNDTABLE ON BEIJING+10:
REVIEW, APPRAISAL, IMPLEMENTATION: 24 February 2005. UNHQ, New York. The
UN Division for the Advancement of Women, UN Department of Economic and
Social Affairs, and the NGO Committee on the Status of Women are organizing
this roundtable in preparation for the 49th session of the Commission of the
Status of Women. For more information contact: Mich�le
Burger, Division for the Advancement of Women; tel: +1-212-963-3154; e-mail: burger@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/news/news2005/ngo-csw-roundtable.pdf
GRANT INSTITUTE�S GRANTS 101: PROFESSIONAL GRANT PROPOSAL WRITING WORKSHOP:
30 March 2005 - 1 April 2005. University of London, London, UK.
This course provides an intensive introduction to the process, structure, and
skill of professional proposal writing. For more information contact: The
Grant Institute; tel: +44-11-213-817-5308; e-mail: info@thegrantinstitute.com;
Internet: http://www.thegrantinstitute.com
XXV IUSSP INTERNATIONAL POPULATION CONFERENCE: 18 July
2005 - 23 July 2005. Tours, France. Organized by the International
Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), this conference will
include a special UNFPA session on �ICPD Vision: How Far Has the Eleven-Year
Journey Taken Us?� and discussions on the future of Europe's population.
Meetings of the IUSSP members General Assembly will also take place during
the conference. For more information contact: IUSSP; tel: +33-1-56-06-21-73;
fax: +33-1-56-06-22-04; e-mail: iussp@iussp.org;
Internet: http://www.iussp.org/France2005/index.php
COURSE ON MANAGING LEARNING IN DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL CHANGE ORGANIZATION:
8 August 2005 - 20 August 2005. Y.C. James Yen Center, Silang, Cavite, Philippines.
This two-week course addresses the quest for learning within organizations,
focusing on the links between organizational vision, image and learning. It
will make use of tools to help participants reflect on their organization's
learning potential and provide them with a range of tools and methodologies
for documenting practice based learning. Participants will prepare an action
plan at the end of the course. For more information contact: Training
Associate, Education and Training Program, Regional Center for Asia, Internationa; tel: +63-46-414-2417; fax: +63-46-414-2417
local 2; e-mail: Education&Training@iirr.org;
Internet: http://www.iirr.org
Intergovernmental organizations
SIXTIETH SESSION OF THE UNECE AND UNECE EIGHTH SPRING SEMINAR: FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
IN THE UNECE REGION: 21 February 2005 - 25 February 2005.
Geneva, Switzerland. The 60th session of the UNECE will convene from 22-25
February 2005 in Geneva. It will be preceded by the ECE Spring Seminar, which
will focus on �Financing for development in the UNECE region: Promoting
growth in low-income transition economies.� The seminar will address:
strategies for development and growth; economic integration and trade; and
financial management and sustainable growth in resource-rich economies. For
more information contact: UNECE; tel: +41-22-917-1234; fax: +41-22-917-0505;
e-mail: info.ece@unece.org; Internet:
http://www.unece.org/commission/2005/60th_index.htm
XXXVII MEETING OF THE SUMMIT IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW GROUP (SIRG): 9 March
2005 - 10 March 2005. Buenos Aires, Argentina. This meeting will
comprise three plenary sessions, a civil society consultation, and an
inaugural session. Plenary sessions will focus on social development
commitments, challenges of implementing mandates related to the theme of the
Fourth Summit of the Americas, and guidelines for the Plan of Action of the
Fourth Summit of the Americas. The SIRG, composed of national coordinators
from country participants of the Summit Process, is responsible for
coordinating and following up on the implementation of the mandates emanating
from the Summits of the Americas. The Fourth Summit of the Americas will take
place the first week of November 2005 in Mar del Plata. For more information
contact: Summits of the Americas Secretariat; tel: +1-202-458-3127; fax:
+1-202-458-3665; e-mail: summitcso@oas.org;
Internet: http://www.summit-americas.org/events/XXXVII_SIRG/CSOInvitationENG.htm
FOURTH SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS:
1 November 2005. Mar del Plata, Argentina. The theme of this Summit, which is
scheduled to take place during the first week of November, is �Creating
employment to confront poverty and strengthen democratic governance.� For
more information contact: Summits of the Americas Secretariat, Organization
of American States; tel: +1-202-458-3127; fax: +1-202-458-3665; e-mail: summit-info@oas.org; Internet: http://www.summit-americas.org/NextSummit_eng.htm
Trade,
finance, investment
FORUM ON INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIP, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND FAIR TRADE: 8 March 2005 - 10 March
2005. Lyon, France. This Forum, which will focus on opportunities for
small-to-medium enterprises and industries in Africa, will be held in French.
For more information contact: ADEA-R'seau Afric Partners; fax: +33-4-72-73-43-87; e-mail: afric-partners@wanadoo.fr;
Internet: http://www.classe-export.com/services/africpartners/prog2005_ADEA.pdf
RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCE ASIA FORUM: 15
June 2005 - 16 June 2005. Hong Kong, China. This forum aims to
provide networking opportunities for the financial community to learn about
renewable energy issues. For more information contact: Sarah Ellis, Green
Power Conferences; tel: +44-870-758-7808; e-mail: sarah.ellis@greenpowerconferences.com;
Internet: http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/events/RenewableFinanceAsia.htm
Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts
WORKING CONFERENCE WOMEN FOR WATER: 4 March 2005 - 5 March
2005. Soesterberg, the Netherlands. The �Working Conference
Women for Water� aims to provide practical solutions for problems encountered
by women and yield ideas for up-scaling and reproducing successful
approaches. It will also provide an opportunity for various partners in the
development process�including women's groups, potential donors, NGOs, and the
private sector� to share information on how to achieve success with
small-scale projects. The conference will also pay attention to current
themes such as microfinance (2005 is the International Year of Microcredit). For more information contact: Margaretha Bakker, Netherlands
Council of Women; tel: +31-70-3469303; fax: +31-70-3459346; e-mail: info@womenforwater.org; Internet: http://womenforwater.org/
26TH SESSIONS OF FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES: 7 March 2005 - 11
March 2005. Rome, Italy. The 26th session of the UN Food and Agriculture's
Committee on Fisheries (COFI) will meet to discuss the Progress Report on the
Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and Related
International Plans of Action (Capacity, IUU Fishing, Seabirds and Sharks),
and the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture
Fisheries. Delegates will also consider assistance to the fishing communities
affected by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean and measures to rehabilitate and
reactivate the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the countries concerned.
For more information contact: Ndiaga Gueye, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-2847; fax: +39-6-5705-6500;
e-mail: ndiaga.gueye@fao.org;
Internet: http://www.fao.org/fi/NEMS/events/detail_event.asp?event_id=24536
ROUND TABLE ON THE RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION: 25 March 2005. Paris,
France. In support of the Euro-African Conference �Water and Territories,�
the European Council of Environmental Law (CEDE) and Water Academy is
organizing a round table to examine the concept or fundamental principle of
the right to water and sanitation, and to discuss the issue of implementing
this right under domestic law. For more information contact: Henri Smets, European Council of Environmental Law; tel:
+31-30-231-2221; fax: +31-30-233-1311; e-mail: henri.smets@smets.com
INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEFS CONFERENCE OF PARIS:
2 April 2005 - 3 April 2005. Paris, France. This event is intended
to allow scientists to share knowledge about coral reefs with divers, reef
aquarists and the general public. For more information contact: Fabrice Poiraud-Lambert,
CIRCOP; e-mail: fpl@circop.com; Internet:
http://www.circop.com/US_default.html
COASTAL ZONE CONFERENCE 2005: 18 July 2005 - 21 July 2005. New
Orleans, United States. This conference will consider applicable tools,
lessons learned, and innovative ideas to help address current coastal management
issues. Aimed at coastal resource managers, this will be the 14th biennial
coastal zone conference. For more information contact: Rhonda Crawley, NOAA;
tel: +1-843-740-1231; e-mail: Rhonda.Crawley@noaa.gov;
Internet: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz/
THIRD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON DEEP-SEA CORALS: 28 November
2005 - 2 December 2005. Miami, United States. This symposium will
bring together scientists, marine resource managers, policy makers, and
students to exchange scientific knowledge of deep-sea corals and associated
fauna. For more information contact: Robert Brock, NOAA; tel: +1-301-713-2367
ext 162; fax: +1-301-713-1875; e-mail: Robert.Brock@noaa.gov;
Internet: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/coral/
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