The wide range
of climate-related talks and events during the past two weeks makes
it a real challenge to keep track of where international climate
change policy is moving. Not only are the negotiations within the
Climate Change Conference in Bali being held in multiple negotiating
bodies and thirty-some contact groups, they have been accompanied by
more side events, reports and protests than in the past, bringing
even more perspectives, and energy, to the negotiations and future
implementation efforts. …
article continues
Lynn Wagner, Ph.D.
Editor, Linkages Update and MEA Bulletin |
|
|
Want more in-depth news on key multilateral environmental agreements and their secretariats? Sign up to
receive our free publication,
MEA Bulletin. |
|
|
Want
more information on sustainable development decision-making in
Africa? Subscribe to
AFRICASD-L, a peer-to-peer mailing list for news
on our African Regional Coverage Project and sustainable development
issues in Africa. |
|
 |
|
BALI CLIMATE TALKS NEAR CONCLUSION |
|
 Bali,
13 December—The
final stage of negotiations at the UN
Climate Change Conference in Bali is
underway, as the 14 December deadline for
ending the two-week meeting approaches. As
the meeting draws to a close, the key issue
of the post-2012 framework remains under
discussion, with delegates discussing a
“Bali roadmap” that would guide and direct
the focus of negotiations as delegates look
to reach a final agreement in late 2009.
More. |
|
|
Photo: UNFCCC
Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer, UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono |
|
DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE DAYS CONVENE DURING COP 13 |
|
Bali,
10 December—“Development
and Climate Days at COP 13” convened in parallel to
the Bali Climate Change Conference, to provide a
platform for individuals and organizations working
on the issues of development, adaptation and climate
change to exchang e
experiences, and discuss challenges and emerging
ideas on how to reduce vulnerability to climate
change. Sessions focused on disaster reduction and
extreme events, cities, health, financing
adaptation, food and agriculture, community-based
adaptation and energy, and communicating for
communities across sectors and timescales.
More. |
|
|
|
FOREST DAY CONSIDERS GLOBAL FOREST AGENDA |
|
Bali, 9 December—Running
parallel to the Bali Climate Change Conference,
“Forest Day” was organized on 8 December 2007 by the
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
and co-hosted by the Collaborative Partnership on
Forests. The first of its kind, Forest Day drew more
than 800 participants, who engaged in a
multi-stakeholder discussion to help shape the
global forest agenda.
More. |
|
|
|
Photo: Participants
during the meeting |
|
Photo: M.S. Kaban,
Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, delivered the
keynote address |
|
UNCCD ESCOP ADOPTS BUDGET |
 UN
headquarters, New York,
27 November—The
first Extraordinary Session of the
Conference of the Parties (ESCOP) to the UN
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
convened at UN headquarters in New York, US,
on 26 November 2007, to complete
consideration of agenda item 6 on the
programme and budget for the biennium
2008-2009. Following extensive
consultations, delegates adopted a decision
that increases the budget by 4% (euro value)
for the biennium 2008-2009, with 2.8% to be
assessed from all parties and 1.2% to be
contributed as a voluntary contribution.
More.
|
Photo: Ositadinma
Anaedu chaired the ESCOP contact group |
|
|
 Geneva,
24 November—The
third meeting of the Persistent Organic
Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC 3) of the
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants (POPs) took place from 19-23
November 2007, in Geneva, Switzerland. Among
other decisions, POPRC 3 approved the risk
management evaluation for five chemicals,
and recommended that COP 4 consider listing
the following under Annex A (elimination):
lindane; chlordecone; hexabromobiphenyl (HBB);
and pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE). A
decision on the risk profile for
short-chained chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)
was deferred until POPRC 4, scheduled to
convene in October 2008.
More. |
|
Photo: L-R: Chair
Arndt thanks POPRC Vice-Chair Jacqueline Alvarez
for her work during her term of office |
|
 Vienna,
24
November—The
Seventh Meeting of the Global Forum on
Sustainable Energy (GFSE-7), which convened
from 21-23 November 2007, in Vienna,
Austria, considered “Energy Efficiency for
Developing Countries - Strong Policies and
New Technologies.” Participants discussed
policies, case studies, and initiatives
related to improving and promoting energy
efficiency in developing countries, as well
as opportunities, barriers, and the way
forward.
More.
|
Photo: L-R:
Johannes Kyrle, Austrian Ministry for European
and International Affairs; Monyane Moleleki,
Minister of Natural Resources, Lesotho; Irene
Freudenschuss-Reichl, Austrian Ministry for
European and International Affairs; Kandeh
Yumkella, Director General, UNIDO; Brigitte
Öppinger-Walchshofer, Austrian Development
Agency (ADA); and Elfriede Anna More,
Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
Environment and Water Management. |
|
|
|
|
High-Level Symposium: Results-Oriented Development
Cooperation: Pursuing National Interests:
19-20 January 2008, Cairo, Egypt |
|
Sixth Meeting of the CBD Open-Ended Working Group on Access
and Benefit-Sharing:
21-25 January 2008, Montreal, Canada |
|
The International Coral Reef Initiative General Meeting:
22-25 January 2008, Washington, DC, US |
|
Fourth Austrian JI/CDM Workshop:
24-25 January 2008, Vienna, Austria |
|
CSD Regional Implementation Meeting for Europe and North
America:
28-29 January 2008, Geneva, Switzerland |
|
A Change in Climate for Whales: Is there a Common Way
Forward? - Second Pew-Sponsored Whale Symposium:
30-31 January 2008, Tokyo, Japan |
IISD Reporting Services will be reporting from:
Linkages Update
delivers the latest news and information on international
environment and sustainable development issues to your e-mail
inbox twice every month.
More information. |
|
