The High-level Brainstorming Workshop for Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) on Mainstreaming Environment beyond MDG7 convened today at the UN Office at Nairobi, Kenya. Participants met throughout the day in plenary to discuss how to integrate the environment into the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Bakary Kante, Acting Director of the UNEP Division of Environmental Conventions, opened the meeting and welcomed participants. In his opening remarks, Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director, said that development is the key issue at the 2005 World Summit, noting that no development means no peace for the world. Following the opening ceremony, participants heard keynote presentations. Guido Schmidt-Traub, Policy Advisor, UN Millennium Project, spoke on the MDGs and the 2005 World Summit. David Runnalls, President and CEO of International Institute for Sustainable Development, made a presentation on mainstreaming environment into the MDGs. Mohan Munasinghe, Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, presented on integrating environment into development. A. H. Zakri, Co-Chair of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, spoke about ecosystem services and human well-being. During the following brainstorming session, participants discussed, in particular: mobilizing resources to implement action plans for MEAs and promoting MEAs coordination at the national level; using MEAs expertise and success stories to raise the profile of the environment in achieving MDGs; and making proposals on the Draft Outcome Document for the 2005 World Summit.

Session Chair Gary Sampson, United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) and former Senior Counselor, World Trade Organization (WTO) (left)

Bakary Kante, Acting Director of the UNEP Division of Environmental Conventions (right), opened the meeting and said that the objectives of the meeting are to: exchange views on how to mainstream the environment into the MDGs; explore ways for cooperation among MEAs in order to make contributions to the implementation of MDGs; and build bridges between MDGs and MEAs to develop joint programmes and activities for the implementation of MDGs.

In his opening remarks, Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director, said that development is the key issue at the 2005 World Summit, noting that no development means no peace for the world. Highlighting the importance of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, he stressed the need to improve the environment in order to ensure effective ecosystem services in achieving MDGs. He asked the meeting to consider how MEAs could contribute to the implementation of MDGs.