LINKAGES UPDATE - a fortnightly e-update of new additions to IISD’s Linkages website  - 8 March 2003

RECENT COVERAGE BY IISD REPORTING SERVICES

CSD CONSIDERS FUTURE WORK PROGRAMME
24-25 February 2003 | UNHQ, New York, US
CSD-11 Chair, South Africa’s Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed Valli Moosa, convened informal consultations in preparation for CSD-11 on 24-25 February 2003, at UN headquarters in New York. The purpose of the meeting was to hear initial views of delegations on the scope and nature of the future programme of work of the CSD and, in particular, to allow for informal discussions on the Report of the Secretary General and the proposed organization of work for CSD-11. Click here for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin Briefing Note.

MEETING EXAMINES CRITICAL ROLE OF BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN ACHIEVING MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
2–4 March 2003 | London, UK
Entitled “Biodiversity After Johannesburg,” this meeting convened from 2-4 March 2003 in London, UK. Participants discussed the links between biodiversity, ecosystem services, sustainable development and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This was the first of two meetings in London addressing the linkages between biodiversity and sustainable development. Plenary sessions provided an overview of the MDGs and biodiversity mandates arising from the CBD, the WSSD, and the WEHAB framework. To explore the interaction between biodiversity and the MDGs, participants convened in four working groups to discuss: poverty, hunger and biodiversity; health and biodiversity; water, sanitation, urban poverty and biodiversity; and the MDG on developing a global partnership for development. The final Plenary summarized the meeting’s recommendations, which will contribute to the second meeting on “Biodiversity after Johannesburg” and to the UN Millennium Project. Click here for the Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail.
 

RECENT MEETINGS

RAMSAR SELECTS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PANEL
26-28 February 2003 | Gland, Switzerland
The Ramsar Standing Committee convened for its 29th meeting from 26-28 February to select regional experts for the Convention’s scientific subsidiary body – the Scientific and Technical Panel (STRP). Together with BirdLife International, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Wetlands International, WWF International and other invited experts from NGOs and MEA Secretariats, these 14 new regional experts will serve as full members of the STRP for the triennium 2003-2005. The STRP will review priorities set by the Standing Committee and consider the way forward at the Panel’s first meeting, which is scheduled for 8-11 April 2003 in Gland, Switzerland. Max Finlayson and Heather MacKay were appointed to serve as STRP’s Chair and Vice-Chair respectively. More information.

UNEP WORKING GROUP DISCUSSES ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS
17-18 February 2003 | Geneva, Switzerland
Approximately 35 participants from government, academic and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations gathered on 17-18 February 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland for the Third UNEP Working Group Meeting on Economic Instruments. Participants discussed two papers: “Opportunities, Prospects and Challenges for the Use of Economic Instruments in Environmental Policy Making” and “The Use of Economic Instruments to Implement Selected Multilateral Environmental Agreements.” The second paper was prepared in close collaboration between UNEP and the CBD, CITES and Ramsar Convention Secretariats. It analyses existing provisions in these Conventions and decisions of the Conferences of the Parties for the use of economic instruments, their implementation and relevant environment and trade implications. More information.

HIGH-LEVEL FORUM CONVENES TO ADDRESS AID HARMONIZATION
24-25 February 2003 | Rome, Italy
Government officials from 26 developing nations and representatives from numerous bilateral and multilateral aid agencies met in Rome, Italy from 24-25 February to look at ways to streamline the policies and procedures that guide aid delivery worldwide. The meeting focused primarily on voluntary application of good practices by donors and recipients and their application in country assistance programmes. More information.

FIRST NEPAD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP
17-19 February 2003 | Johannesburg, South Africa
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Secretariat, together with the South African Department of Science and Technology, held its first workshop on science and technology from 17-19 February 2003 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The workshop focused on the contribution and utilization of science and technology as optimal instruments of growth and sustainable development on the African continent. More information.
 

MEDIA REPORTS

WORLD WATER SUPPLY TO DECREASE BY ONE-THIRD IN 20 YEARS
Global water supply is expected to decline by a third in the next 20 years and political inertia will worsen the problem, states a new UN report. Described as the most comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the state of the world’s water resources, the World Water Development Report – Water for People, Water for Life was compiled by the 23 UN partners that make up the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP). The report notes that water resources will decline as a result of population growth, pollution and climate change, and implicates poor governance and a lack of political will to manage water resources effectively in the water crisis. More Information.

NEW UN PROTOCOL ON CIVIL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS ON TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS CONCLUDED
Negotiations on a new legally binding instrument on civil liability and compensation for damage to transboundary waters caused by industrial accidents involving hazardous substances have been successfully concluded. More information.

FAO AND LIBYA SIGN AGRICULTURE AGREEMENT
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has signed several agreements with Libya to help finance agricultural projects in Africa. The agreements, totaling more than US$21 million, will be used to enhance agricultural production and enhance food security in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Sudan and Niger. More information.

WORLD BANK’S BOARD ENDORSES WATER RESOURCES STRATEGY
In its effort to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015, the World Bank’s Board of Directors has recently endorsed a Water Resources Strategy aimed at sustainable development and poverty alleviation. A key element of this new strategy is its intent to transform water from a potential source of conflict to a catalyst for economic integration and cooperation at all levels. More information.

NEW UN TREATY ON ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING FINALIZED
A new international environmental treaty that will assess countries’ environmental draft plans, programmes, policies and legislation has been finalized. The aim of the Protocol is to provide extensive public participation in government decision-making in numerous development sectors, including land-use planning, transport, agriculture and industry. Under the Protocol, the public will not only have the right to know about plans and programmes, but also the right to comment on environmental decisions. The SEA Protocol is expected to be formally adopted and signed at the upcoming Ministerial ‘Environment for Europe’ Conference in Kiev, Ukraine, scheduled for 21-23 May 2003. More information.

UN REVISES POPULATION PROJECTIONS, ESTIMATES DROP BY 400 MILLION
UN global population projections for 2050 have dropped by 400 million from the 9.3 billion that was estimated two years ago. The new figure of 8.9 billion reflects the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and of a reduction in the number of projected births. For the first time, the UN Population Division expects that future fertility levels will be less than the population replacement level, that is below 2.1 children per woman. Estimates predict that by 2050, 75 percent of developing countries will experience below-replacement fertility. More information.

HIGH-LEVEL REVIEW OF UN-CIVIL SOCIETY RELATIONS TO BE LED BY CARDOSO
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso to chair a blue-ribbon panel on relations with civil society. The “Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations” will look into the modes of participation in UN processes of NGOs, as well as of other non-governmental actors such as the private sector and parliamentarians. More information. 

 NEW PUBLICATIONS

STATE OF WORLD FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE 2002
(FAO 2003) Published every two years with the purpose of providing policymakers, civil society and stakeholders of the fisheries sector a comprehensive, objective and global view of capture fisheries and aquaculture, the 2002 edition of the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) was presented at the 25th session of the FAO’s Committee on Fisheries held on 24-25 February in Rome. Divided into five parts, the report considers trends in production, utilization and trade in fisheries resources, and selected issues facing fishers and aquaculture, such as: implementing the ecosystem approach to capture fisheries management; reliable statistics as an essential basis for effective fisheries management; catch certification and documentation; poverty alleviation in small-scale fishing communities; and antibiotic residues in aquaculture products. Click here to download SOFIA 2002.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AND THE NATION STATE: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2001 BERLIN CONFERENCE ON THE HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research 2002) Frank Biermann, Rainer Brohm and Klaus Dingwerth edited this report, which contains 50 papers from 96 presentations at the 2001 Berlin Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change. These papers examine the role of the nation state in environmental policy and how issues such as new environmental law, sovereignty and a new role of NGOs and IGOs could develop as new environmental concerns emerge. Click here to access this report.

DAMMED RIVERS, DAMNED LIES: WHAT THE WATER ESTABLISHMENT DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW
(International Rivers Network and Friends of the Earth Japan 2003) This briefing kit “exposes the myths behind large dams” and endorses sustainable solutions for meeting the world’s water, energy and flood management needs. The kit is created ahead of the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan, and is available in English and Japanese. Click here to access the briefing kit.

IMPLEMENTATION OF AGENDA 21 IN LAKE REGIONS – CONFERENCE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE SEVENTH LIVING LAKES CONFERENCE
(Global Nature Fund 2003) Conference proceedings from last year’s Seventh Living Lakes Conference that was held in South Africa prior to the World Summit on Sustainable Development are now available. Featuring case studies on how NGOs, businesses and authorities have successfully cooperated in implementing Agenda 21 in the Lake Regions, the conference documentation also includes the conference Declaration “Twelve Principles of Sustainable Development in Lake Regions.” These principles outline general legal conditions for sustainable development and are applicable to lakes, wetlands and other similar ecosystems. Click here to download the 76-page document.
 

UNICEF 2002 ANNUAL REPORT
The 2002 UNICEF Annual Report summarizes major trends affecting children worldwide and outlines the results secured by UNICEF and its partners. The first section describes issues, challenges, goals and the work of UNICEF’s headquarters, 126 country offices and 37 National Committees. The second section details UNICEF’s finances, resources and management, including a summary of contributions, income and expenditures. Click here for the full report.

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: VICTIMS OF PARTICIPANTS – THEIR CHANGING ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS
(Overseas Development Institute 2003) In this paper, Sheila Page asks whether developing countries can participate effectively in international negotiations, what lessons can be learned from past negotiations, and whether international institutions or donors can help. The paper also explores the implications of more extensive and effective participation in such negotiations for the way these negotiations are conducted. Click here to download the paper.

PROGRESS OR PERIL? PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS IN GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE. THE POST-JOHANNESBURG AGENDA
(Global Public Policy institute 2003) Jan Martin Witte, Thorsten Benner and Charlotte Streck edited this collection, which speaks to the ongoing debate about Type II partnerships and pinpoints the challenges the partnership agenda faces. It combines essays from researchers and policymakers from all sectors – public, private, and civil society – who offer their analyses and viewpoints. With this book, the Global Public Policy institute (GPPi) hopes to provide a balanced perspective on current discussions in the post-Johannesburg context. More importantly, the institute hopes to push the debate forward by injecting some fresh thinking and specific action recommendations for the creation and management of partnerships. Click here to download the text’s nine chapters.

ISDR HIGHLIGHTS
ISDR Highlights is published every two months by the Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR). It is designed to provide a forum to share experiences, ideas and major developments in the field of disaster reduction, as well as further enhance efforts toward the achievement of disaster reduction objectives such as increased public awareness, the expansion of risk reduction networks and the facilitation of information exchange, in a user-friendly way. E-mail or hard copy subscriptions can be requested at http://www.unisdr.org or through mailing isdr@un.org.

IISD WEEKLY JOURNAL REVIEW
Subscribe to receive weekly e-updates containing brief descriptions of peer-reviewed articles on sustainable development.

NEW ONLINE RESOURCES

FORESTS.ORG ENHANCES FOREST, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PORTALS
 Forests.org has increased its original commentary and expanded web searches on its three environmental websites: the “Forest Conservation Portal,” the ClimateArk – Climate Change Portal, and the Eco-Portal - Environmental Sustainability Portal. Among the new features are “blogs,” or journals of timely web commentary, on each site. The forest and climate search engines each tap into half a million URLs, while the Eco-Portal approaches two million URLs. In addition, Forest.org will soon unveil a “Water Conservation Portal.”

THE WATER PORTAL OF THE AMERICAS
Developed by the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), the Water Portal of the Americas is an information service that aims to enhance the availability of quality water information and to create a community and resource that will provide qualified and verifiable information and contacts. The purpose of the Portal will be to improve access to information and thus facilitate decision-making processes. The Water Portal of the Americas, which is also a prototype resource developed in preparation for the upcoming World Water Portal, is accessible at: http://www.waterportal-americas.org

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ONLINE
Sustainable Development Online (SDO) seeks to map the continually changing and vital area of sustainable development and to provide access to significant websites built by organizations supporting the move towards sustainable development. It is a free web portal that is regularly updated and offers a comprehensive resource for policy makers, NGOs, academics and business people alike. SDO has recently added 16 additional TOOLS and 20 additional EVENTS. More information.

WWW.BRAZILINK.ORG
�www.brazilink.org� describes itself as a resource connecting people, information and ideas on Brazil through electronic research. It contains a directory of links and papers about social development in Brazil and covers issue areas such as: Children, Gender, AfroBrazilians, Labor, Environment, Native People Rural Issues, Human Rights and Justice, Foreign Policy, Economics , History, Society and Politics. It can be accessed at: http://www.brazilink.org

INDIAN ENVIRONMENT ONLINE
Indian Environment Online is a new website launched by the Society for Environmental Information and Sustainable Development (SEISD), New Delhi. It contains links to news, articles, press releases and resources related to the environment in India. More information.