/linkages/journal/ Volume 5 Number 8 1 September 2000 Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) The PDF (formatted and printable with wall calendar) version is available at http://enb.iisd.org/journal/link0508e.pdf (The following is the ASCII version of Vol. 5 No. 8 of /linkages/journal/ - a monthly snapshot of the Linkages WWW site, available at http://enb.iisd.org . This issue includes reports from recent meetings, media reports, comings and goings in international organizations, academic readings and a full section on upcoming meetings. /linkages/journal/ may not be reproduced, reprinted or posted to any system or service without specific permission from the International Institute for Sustainable Development info@iisd.ca. This limitation includes distribution via Usenet News, bulletin board systems, mailing lists, print media and broadcast. For more information, send a message to chris@iisd.org ) EDITOR'S NOTE A message from Linkages Journal's Editor CALM BEFORE THE STORM? Relative calm during August... August was a relatively quiet month for international environment and development negotiations, as many people - particularly in the northern hemisphere - took time out from another hectic year to snatch a well-earned vacation. Nevertheless, the last few weeks have hardly been lacking in interesting events and announcements, as our Media Reports section shows. A number of new initiatives, studies and stories have recently grabbed the headlines across a variety of issues. These range from the launch of a new $150 million fund to protect biodiversity "hotspots," to the submission of countries' varying views on carbon sinks as part of the climate change negotiating process. ...set to pick up the pace in September On the subject of climate change, negotiations are set to resume in September in Lyon, France, at the thirteenth meeting of the climate change convention's subsidiary bodies. This meeting marks the last major event prior to the critical Sixth Conference of the Parties in November, which is the deadline for setting rules under the Kyoto Protocol and strengthening implementation of the convention. With such a deadline now looming large, observers will be watching events at Lyon closely. Another key event during the coming month's busy calendar will be the United Nations' Millennium Summit. While some commentators have expressed doubts about what it might achieve, others have been more optimistic, noting that the Summit seems set to become the largest gathering of world leaders in history, and that Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been pushing hard to encourage those participating to be prepared to take some concrete and significant steps in setting an international agenda heading into the 21st Century. Later in the month, the media's attention is likely to turn to the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, scheduled for 19-28 September in Prague. Given the protests that marked their meetings in Washington DC in April, observers will be watching out for similarly stormy scenes this time around. Chris Spence - Editor, Linkages Journal RECENT MEETINGS Information on recent conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SECOND SESSION OF THE UN COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT: This Committee - which was established in July 1998 by a resolution of the UN Economic and Social Council - met between 14 and 25 August 2000 in New York. During its second session, the Committee considered and approved text for consideration by the Economic and Social Council on a number of water-related issues. This included an expression of serious concern over rural water supplies and sanitation, and recommendations relating to consideration of water matters at Rio+10 in 2002. The Committee also recommended that the Council consider the role of water in relation to relevant conventions, including the Convention on Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. In other work, the Committee considered the outcomes of the Commission on Sustainable Development's seventh and eighth sessions, as well as preparations for the ninth session in April 2001. It also addressed issues issues relating to integrated planning and management of land use, ecosystems and freshwater development. Other matters discussed included energy consumption, renewable sources of energy, and the world energy assessment report. Committee members also considered the multi-purpose use of hydro resources, including large-scale hydroelectric projects, noting the importance of assessing environmental and social impacts. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20000825.enr9.doc.ht ml TENTH STOCKHOLM WATER SYMPOSIUM: This Symposium was held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 14-17 August 2000. It was part of "2000 World Water Week in Stockholm," a series of water- related meetings and events that included the presentation of the Stockholm Water Prize. The Symposium was attended more by more than 850 experts from over 100 countries representing governments, business and industry, academia and non-governmental organizations. The theme of the Symposium was "Water Security for the 21st Century - Innovative Approaches." Participants discussed the world's increasing water security problems resulting from population growth, urbanization and industrialization. They also considered responses and solutions to these problems. Specific issues addressed during the meeting included: water security in the context of human rights and gender issues; cultural and societal barriers to water security; water resource management; regional issues and perspectives; technology; the role of industry in achieving water security; legislative matters; and trans-boundary and international dialogue and cooperation. The progress made since the Second World Water Forum held in The Hague in March was also discussed. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.siwi.org/news/ FIRST CLEANER PRODUCTION ROUNDTABLE FOR AFRICA AND WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION: These two meetings were held from 9-11 August 2000 in Nairobi. They were attended by over 70 experts from 15 African countries and four international organizations, as well as by representatives of the academic community and private sector. The meetings were organized jointly by UNEP, UNIDO, Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft of Germany and the Government of Norway. In addition, financial support was provided by the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment. The meetings aimed to provide a forum to exchange information and experiences on cleaner production and sustainable consumption in Africa, as well as to identify information and training requirements, and actions required to develop an integrated approach toward achieving sustainable consumption and cleaner production. The Roundtable on Cleaner Production was held from 9-10 August. Participants supported a proposal to institutionalize the Roundtable as a mechanism for facilitating progress on cleaner production issues. They endorsed a recommendation for annual Roundtable meetings, as well as other sub-regional and national meetings, to support this process. Participants also agreed that a Regional Coordinating Committee should be established, with members drawn from five sub-regions: Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa. In addition, it was agreed that the Roundtable should provide inputs from the region for the Sixth International High- level Seminar on Cleaner Production, scheduled to take place in Montreal in October. A draft structure for the input document was agreed upon. The need for information exchange and training and skills development were also highlighted and discussed. The Workshop on Sustainable Consumption took place on 11 August, and considered issues raised in a UNEP paper, Sustainable Consumption and Cleaner Production: two sides of the same coin. Participants concluded that the concept of sustainable consumption is extremely relevant to Africa, particularly in relation to improving access to the basic needs of those in poverty. Food security issues were also highlighted. In addition, the need for a forum to exchange experiences and facilitate further action was supported. For more information contact: UNEP, e-mail: unep.tie@unep.fr; Internet: http://www.unep.org OCEANS AND COASTS FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON DEEP-WATER CORALS: This Symposium was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from 29 July - 4 August 2000. The meeting was attended by scientists from a number of countries, as well as by representatives of non-governmental organizations, the fishing, oil and gas industries, governments and international agencies. Participants presented research and discussed issues relating to the biology, ecology, geology, conservation and management of deep-water corals and their environment. Noting that information on deep-water coral species remained inadequate, they called for further research and investigation into the role of deep-water corals in forming essential habitats for fish and other species, as well as distribution, life history and taxonomy. Participants also urged that conservation of deep-water corals be given a high priority at the national, regional and international levels. For more information, e-mail: coral@is.dal.ca MEDIA REPORTS The latest news from the field of international environment and development negotiations, with links to relevant media coverage and press releases SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PACE OF GLOBALIZATION QUICKENING, SAYS STUDY The pace of globalization is quickening and is set to change the world "as radically in the 21st Century as democratization changed it in the 20th Century," according to the State of the World Forum, a non-profit organization concerned with achieving sustainable globalization. The organization has carried out a comprehensive review of the effects of globalization, which suggests that the pace of change has increased dramatically in recent years. However, it notes that the benefits of globalization have not reached everyone equally, with those who are poor or live in the developing world particularly likely to be disadvantaged. The organization analyzed a considerable number of trends and projections from a variety of sources in several areas, including economic development, international trade, labor, environment, health, and human development. Commenting on the study, Forum President Jim Garrison said globalization "is fundamentally changing every aspect of our lives, from the way we conduct business to the way we define our communities...The trick will be to make sure that globalization has as positive an effect on the planet as democratization has had in the last 100 years." He added that much of what globalization has to offer was positive, but that it was necessary to ensure everyone had access to those benefits. The organization is holding its annual meeting in New York from 4-10 September during the United Nations Millennium Summit. Links to further information State of the World Forum press release, 22 August 2000 http://www.worldforum.org/resources/releases/globalpace.htm l BIODIVERSITY NEW FUND LAUNCHED TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY "HOTSPOTS" A new $150 million fund has been launched to better protect the world's threatened biological hotspots in developing countries. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund is a joint initiative of Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, and the World Bank. The initiative will target regions identified for their importance in terms of biodiversity, and will focus during its first year on Madagascar, West Africa and the tropical Andes. The Fund will seek to support work and action at the local community level. Links to further information World Bank press release, 22 August 2000 http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/news/pressrelease.nsf/ (press release #2001/031/S) CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT LAUNCHED TO ASSESS RISKS FROM PERSISTENT TOXIC SUBSTANCES A five million dollar, two-year project is to be launched to achieve a better understanding of the environmental and health risks posed by persistent toxic substances. The project - which will assess these pollutants regionally - is to be undertaken by UNEP Chemicals, the center for the United Nations Environment Programme's chemicals-related activities. Funding is being provided by the Global Environment Facility. Persistent toxic substances pose a risk to humans and the environment. Such substances can accumulate in organisms through the food chain, reaching levels which raise human health concerns. The project, which is set to start in September, aims to address concerns that region-by-region information on the use and impacts of these substances is inadequate. The project is expected to complement ongoing work on achieving an internationally-agreed treaty on the list of 12 persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, it will go beyond the 12 POPs under negotiation by providing a scientifically-based assessment of "problems associated with the broader category of persistent toxic substances." Findings and conclusions from the project are expected to assist in developing responses to risks from these pollutants. In the longer term, UNEP believes it could also help in identifying additional POPs requiring international action. Links to further information UNEP press release, 22 August 2000 http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=172&Ar ticleID=2602 CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE NEW REPORT CALLS FOR FOCUS ON NON-CO2 GREENHOUSE GASES A new report has caused controversy by arguing for an increased focus on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide (CO2) as an appropriate means of combating climate change. The report - which was published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - suggests that global warming in recent decades has been driven primarily by greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons, not by CO2. Written by a team that included climate change expert James Hansen, the report argues that, in combination with a reduction of black carbon emissions and "plausible success" in slowing CO2 emissions, a reduction of non-CO2 greenhouse gases "could lead to a decline in the rate of global warming, reducing the danger of dramatic climate change." It further suggests that a focus on air pollution could have the practical benefit of uniting the interests of developed and developing countries. The report has apparently raised concerns among some members of the climate change community that the findings may be used - or misused - by opponents of the Kyoto Protocol and by those who remain skeptical about global warming. Links to further information Hansen's report, August 2000 http://www.giss.nasa.gov/gpol/papers/2000/2000.HansenSatoR. pdf New York Times news report, 19 August 2000 http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/081900sci- environ-climate.html ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCH ONLINE CLIMATE CAMPAIGN A coalition of 16 environmental organizations has launched a new website aimed at mobilizing public support to encourage Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to take concrete action during the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP-6) in November. The environmental organizations - including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and WWF - established the website to give the public "a voice in demanding a halt to global warming." The organizations are seeking to encourage ten million e-mail messages from the public to political leaders "demanding that they use the November summit to reduce the pollution that causes global warming." The organizations believe that, in spite of increasingly compelling evidence relating to global warming, many governments have failed to take adequate action to address the issue. COP-6 has been agreed as the deadline for setting the specific rules and details under the Kyoto Protocol. Links to further information Campaign website http://www.climatevoice.org Environmental organizations' joint press release, 22 August 2000 http://www.climatevoice.org/e/newsroom/pr_e.html COUNTRIES OFFER CONTRASTING VIEWS ON CARBON SINKS Countries have recently outlined contrasting positions on using carbon sinks such as forests to meet commitments on greenhouse gases under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The positions were outlined in countries' submissions on Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF), which were received by the UNFCCC's Secretariat in early August. The submissions set-out countries' views ahead of negotiations aimed at setting rules that will affect how they meet their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. Negotiations on these rules are scheduled to culminate in the UNFCCC's Sixth Conference of the Parties in November. In its submission, the US said carbon sinks can play an important role in climate change mitigation, and added that it agreed to the target set out in the Kyoto Protocol based partly on the expectation of significant credits from LULUCF. Both the US and Japan's submissions state that LULUCF should be treated in a "comprehensive" manner in relation to the Protocol. However, while the US is proposing a system that would fully credit countries for land management practices, the EU argues that it should not have the same status as emissions reductions. The position taken by the US has been criticized by some environmental groups, which are pressing for more concrete steps to reduce actual emissions of greenhouse gases. These groups have also pointed to uncertainties over the use of sinks, including questions of the "permanence" of such carbon storage. Links to further information Complete country submissions, 1 August 2000 http://www.unfccc.int/wnew/lulucf/index.html New York Times news report, 2 August 2000 http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/080200sci- environ-warm.html FORESTS DEFORESTATION SLOWING, SUGGESTS FAO There are strong indications that the rate of global deforestation is slowing, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Preliminary analysis of satellite images suggests that the rate of forest destruction in tropical countries was at least 10 per cent less during the 1990s than in the 1980s. However, the FAO warned that these results "do not mean that the battle against deforestation is over, and a reduction in deforestation must not be used as an excuse for unsustainable forest practices." Instead, it suggested that long-term efforts to develop sustainable forest management were valuable and should be reinforced. Links to further information FAO press release, 8 August 2000 http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20000808.sag79.doc.h tml INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IMF TO FOCUS ON "CORE COMPETENCIES" The International Monetary Fund has been "overstretched" and needs to refocus on its core areas of business, according to its new Managing Director, Horst Köhler. This key work should focus on promoting "macroeconomic stability and growth by fostering sound monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies in its member countries." It should also oversee the international monetary system in order to ensure its effective operation, according to Köhler, who made his remarks during a recent speech in Washington, DC. Köhler stressed that in implementing its focus, the Fund's major roles should be crisis prevention and crisis management. He said the Fund should not have "more and more programmes for more and more countries," but instead should aim to identify potential problems early through better data transparency, and prevent problems through promotion of internationally-agreed standards and codes aimed at achieving sound monetary and fiscal policy. While drawing attention to the Fund's positive contribution, he also acknowledged that it had made mistakes, including not being attentive enough to "the changes in global financial markets and their repercussions on exchange rate systems and domestic financial sectors." Köhler indicated that he would elaborate on his ideas during the upcoming Annual Meetings of the Fund and World Bank. Links to further information IMF speech notes, 7 August 2000 http://www.imf.org/external/np/speeches/2000/080700.HTM UN GEARS UP FOR "HISTORIC" MILLENNIUM SUMMIT The United Nations has been preparing for its Millennium Summit, a meeting it has billed as an opportunity for its membership to review the challenges that will face the organization in the future and to set out a vision for its role in the new century. The Summit is scheduled to take place in New York from 6-8 September. More than 150 heads of State or Government are expected to attend, which would make it the largest gathering of world leaders ever. During a recent press briefing, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette emphasized that it would be a "working Summit" rather than an opportunity for celebration or commemoration. Leaders will meet in plenary sessions and informal roundtable discussions focusing on key issues - such as poverty eradication, environmental problems, conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and HIV/AIDs - within the broader context of globalization. In addition to the actual Summit, hundreds of bilateral meetings are planned, a Security Council summit is scheduled, and a forum on girls' education is being organized. In addition, between 65 and 70 countries are expected to take the opportunity to sign or ratify one or more international conventions or treaties. The formal outcome of the Summit is likely to take the form of a declaration. Links to further information United Nations press conference transcript, 24 August 2000 http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20000824.dsgsm104.do c.html Above: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is hoping that participants at the Millennium Summit will use it as an opportunity to set out a clear vision for the UN's role in the new century. IMF BOARD ESTABLISHES CODE OF CONDUCT The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has established a Code of Conduct to provide its Executive Directors with "guidance on ethical standards in connection with their role and responsibilities in the IMF." The Code establishes guidelines for financial disclosure and standards of ethical conduct. It will apply to the 24-member Executive Board, Alternative Executive Directors, and advisors to Executive Directors. An Ethics Committee comprised of five Executive Directors will consider matters relating to compliance with the Code. Links to further information IMF press release, 16 August 2000 http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2000/pr0048.htm POPULATION POPULATION GROUP LINKS FAMILY PLANNING TO ENVIRONMENT The positive impact of effective family planning services on the environment has been highlighted by Population Action International, a non-profit organization. In its new report, People in the Balance: Population and Natural Resources at the Turn of the Millennium, the organization considers population issues in relation to the availability or scarcity of a number of natural resources. The report notes that the number of people living in countries facing serious water shortages is projected to increase more than four-fold over the next quarter century. However, it draws attention to the fact that these figures are an improvement on projections made ten years ago, and that the reason for this is better family planning and reduced global population growth. Commenting on the report, Population Action International's President, Amy Coen, said "family planning is a success story for the environment." The report urges further action to expand access to family planning and related health services. It calls for the commitments made at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) to be honored, and notes that the ICPD's Programme of Action called for $17 billion annually by 2000 to bring about universal access to basic reproductive health services. It states that these goals have not been met, adding that "the United States in particular has failed to fulfill its commitment." Links to further information Population Action International press release, 23 August 2000 http://www.populationaction.org/news/pr_082300_balance.htm TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT REPORT CONDEMNS WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION A report to a United Nations Sub-Commission has heavily criticized the World Trade Organization (WTO), calling it a "veritable nightmare" for developing countries. The report, entitled The Realization of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Globalization and its Impact on the Full Enjoyment of Human Rights, was considered in mid- August by the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. In the report, the UN-nominated authors, J. Oloka-Onyango of Uganda and Deepika Udagama of Sri Lanka, considered the institutional framework that has developed to promote the aims of globalization, including the roles of the WTO, World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The authors also addressed questions of equality and non-discrimination. The report claims that the WTO's rules are "grossly unfair and even prejudiced," and that they promote "dominant corporatist interests that already monopolize the arena of international trade." It calls for the WTO's procedural mechanisms to be made more inclusive and for a fundamental review of its approach to the question of free trade. Links to further information UN press release, 10 August 2000 http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/FramePage/PressR oom?OpenDocument Full Report (UN document number E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/13) http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4 . Sub.2.2000.13.En?Opendocument CBS news service report, 11 August 2000 http://cbsnews.cbs.com/now/story/0,1597,224028-412,00.shtml SOUTHERN AFRICAN FREE TRADE ZONE CREATED A free trade zone has been established in southern Africa that will create a single market of around 200 million people. The new zone was agreed on during a recent meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and begins operating on 1 September. The zone includes Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. It is expected that several other countries may join the group at a later date. The zone aims to lower and eventually eliminate tariffs on internal trade. However, some representatives of the private sector and government in South Africa have reportedly expressed concern that a number of countries are not adequately prepared to properly implement the new agreement. Links to further information BBC news reports, August 2000 http://news6.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid% 5F870000/870119.stm http://news6.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid% 5F871000/871612.stm Africa News Online news report, 10 August 2000 http://www.africanews.org/south/stories/20000810/20000810_f eat1.html WILDLIFE AFRICAN RHINO NUMBERS RISE Overall numbers of two species of African rhinoceros - the black rhino and the white rhino - are continuing to increase in the wild, according to new estimates released by IUCN (the World Conservation Union) and conservation group WWF. The estimates suggest that the number of rhino living in the wild in Africa increased to over 13,000 in 1999, up from 8,300 in 1992. However, the groups have warned against complacency, noting that numbers of two of the six African rhino subspecies remain very low, and that recent land invasions and disputes in Zimbabwe could pose a threat to several rhino populations. The groups also emphasized the need for sufficient conservation expenditure and for field efforts to be maintained. Links to further information IUCN press release, 7 August 2000 http://www.iucn.org/info_and_news/press/afrhino.html WILDLIFE AFFECTED BY HUMAN POVERTY, FAMINE Poverty and famine is resulting in the increasing use of wildlife for food, causing declines in many African species' populations, according to findings published in a recent report. The report, Food for Thought: the Utilization of Wild Meat in Eastern and Southern Africa, was release by TRAFFIC, the joint wildlife trade monitoring programme of WWF and IUCN (the World Conservation Union). The report documents the use of wild meat in these regions, drawing on information from a number of surveys. It concludes that "use of wildlife for food in the region is one of the main factors driving declines in wild animal populations." The report suggests that in many areas meat from wildlife represents "the only viable source of meat protein, with domestic meat being prohibitively expensive and largely unavailable." The consumption of wildlife was found to be even greater during times of economic difficulties, droughts and famine. The report urges integrated action, taking into account both wildlife conservation and food security considerations. Links to further information TRAFFIC press release, 1 August 2000 http://www.traffic.org/bushmeat/ COMINGS AND GOINGS Information on key appointments, departures and vacancies at United Nations agencies, international organizations, government departments and non-governmental organizations active in the field of international environment and development negotiations APPOINTMENTS NEW DIRECTOR OF UN HABITAT AGENCY APPOINTED United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka of Tanzania as the new Executive Director of the Nairobi-based UN Center for Human Settlements (Habitat). She is currently the Special Coordinator for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked and Small Island Developing Countries in the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and has extensive experience in the fields of economics, agriculture and rural development. She is also a founding chair of more than one advocacy organization within Tanzania, and has been a strong advocate for women's rights. More information on the appointment is available online at: http://www.unchs.org/press2000/chs23.htm VACANCIES IISD SEEKS DIRECTOR, CLIMATE CHANGE The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has announced a vacancy for a Director, Climate Change. The position will assume management responsibility and provide intellectual leadership on IISD's activities and work relating to climate change. Responsibilities will include developing and implementing major research activities, providing policy advice, building working relationships with key organizations, and participating in fundraising. The closing date for applications is 22 September. More information is available online at: http://iisd.ca/about/announce/001408.htm WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME ANNOUNCES VACANCIES The World Food Programme has announced vacancies for two senior posts: Director of its Management Services Division, and Chief of the Strategic Planning Branch of its Strategic and Policy Division. Both are D-1 UN positions. The deadline for applications is 30 September. More information is available online at: http://www.wfp.org/vacancies/ HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AGENCY ANNOUNCES VACANCY FOR EMERGENCY BRANCH HEAD The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is seeking a Chief for its Complex Emergency Response Branch. This is a D-1 UN position and is based in Geneva. The closing date for applications is 24 September. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/cha1134.htm The Complex Emergency Response Branch is also seeking a regional Section Chief, who will work under the guidance of the new Branch Chief. This is a P-5 position. The deadline for applications is 30 September. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/cha1114.htm UNCTAD SEEKS SUPPORT SERVICE HEAD The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is seeking a Head of its Intergovernmental Support Service. Responsibilities include directing, managing and providing technical and substantive leadership to the Intergovernmental Support Service. The post is a D-1 position and is based in Geneva. The closing date for applications is 30 September. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/tad40205.htm ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE SEEKS DEPUTY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY The Economic Commission for Europe is seeking to fill the post of Deputy Executive Secretary. Responsibilities include deputizing for the Executive Secretary and supervising operational activities. The post is designated as a D-2 UN position and is based in Geneva. The closing date for applications is 30 September. More information is available online at: http://www.unece.org/press/0008evacancy.htm DESERTIFICATION SECRETARIAT ANNOUNCES VACANCY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD The Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is seeking a Chief of Administration and Finance. This is a P-5 UN position and is based in Bonn. The closing date for applications is 7 October. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/eccd166.htm UNCTAD SEEKS SECTION CHIEFS The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has announced vacancies for two section chiefs, both based in Geneva. The closing date for applications is 7 October. The Chief of UNCTAD's Trade Facilitation Section carries a variety of responsibilities, including supervising the preparation of research and policy papers and reports relating to multimodal transport and trade facilitation for the Commission on Enterprise Business Facilitation and Development. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/tad40280.htm The Chief of UNCTAD's Technology for Development Section - which is part of the Technology and Enterprise Branch - will be responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing the technology work programmes mandated by both UNCTAD and the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/tad40267.htm DESA SEEKS TO FILL KEY COMMUNICATIONS POST The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is seeking a Senior Communications Officer for its Information Support Unit within the Office of the Under-Secretary-General. The post serves as the "departmental focal point for DESA on a variety of communications and information issues." This includes designing communications strategies and implementing communication and information activities. The post is designated as a P-5 UN position and is based in New York. The closing date for applications is 14 October. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/esa1127.htm READINGS New and recent book titles, articles and other literature on environment and development JOURNALS /Climate Change "Achieving the Kyoto Protocol in the US: how great are the needed changes?" Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2000, Vol. 5, no. 2; pp.123-142. In this study, Ronald Sutherland assesses the magnitude of changes needed in the US economy, particularly the energy sector, in order to achieve the target set out under the Kyoto Protocol. He argues that there would be considerable economic costs involved in reducing fossil fuel use in the US in order to meet the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas emissions target. /Biosafety "Bringing social analysis into a multilateral environmental agreement: social impact assessment and the biosafety protocol." Journal of Environment & Development, September 2000, Vol. 9, no. 3; pp.260-283. In this article, author Doreen Stabinsky considers the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, evaluating the rationale for including socioeconomic considerations in evaluation of living modified organisms (LMOs) for import, as well as the suggestion that such provisions would not be WTO legal. /Sustainable Development "Should monitoring be compulsory within voluntary environmental agreements?" Sustainable Development, August 2000, Vol. 8, no. 3; p.146-154. Julia Walton examines voluntary environmental agreements in the industry and business sector that incorporate monitoring mechanisms. The author suggests that monitoring mechanisms operating via various cost-effective communications media - such as the Internet - provide a useful and flexible mechanism that could improve the credibility of the voluntary environmental agreement mechanism. "Beyond environmental moralism and policy incrementalism in the global sustainability debate: case studies and an alternative framework." Sustainable Development, August 2000, Vol. 8, no.3; pp.123-134. In this article, Ernest Yanarella and Horace Bartilow argue that that global strategies to achieve sustainable development are caught between environmental moralism - demonstrated by numerous international declarations on sustainability - and policy incrementalism - which is evidenced by local programmes in which the goal of sustainability is often not clearly enunciated. The authors suggest that such a dual process is fraught with difficulties and risks. They evaluate efforts to promote Local Agenda 21 at the community level, and compare and contrast this work with the Aalborg Charter, which they refer to as a competing model for urban sustainability. NEW Publications Edited by Bryan Randolph Bruns and Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Negotiating Water Rights, Vistar and Intermediate Technology Publications, June 2000, analyzes how water users can negotiate fair and productive solutions to water conflicts. Globally, water use has quadrupled during the last century, thus heightening the importance of being able to determine clearly who has the rights to the resource. In this book, the authors emphasize the importance of respecting local institutions and drawing on local knowledge to develop cooperatively better methods to allocate scarce water. The publication notes the tensions between competing demands for water, including its use in irrigation, as well as growing urban and industrial demands. It suggests that the far higher economic value of water for urban and industrial use means that win-win agreements with farmers willing to transfer their water to other uses are possible, although only if forums for negotiating mutually-beneficial agreements are available. The publication draws on case studies from nine countries around the world to demonstrate how negotiating processes can assist in adapting win-win solutions to evolving situations. For more information, visit: http://www.ifpri.cgiar.org/pressrel/2000/072000.htm WHAT'S NEW ONLINE /Climate Change The National Communications Support Programme has developed a new workbook - Using a Climate Scenario Generator for Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments: MAGICC and SCENGEN" (Hulme et al., 2000) - that aims to provide developing countries with a useful tool for developing climate scenarios. The workbook was initially developed as training material for regional workshops on vulnerability and adaptation assessments. The Climate Scenario Generator contained in the workbook provides a tool for generating climate scenarios at national and regional levels, and employs datasets that have been evaluated in the IPCC assessment reports. This Support Programme was launched in late 1998 by the UNDP and UNEP, in co-operation with the Secretariat of the UNFCCC and with core funding from the GEF. The Programme aims to provide technical support to enhance the capacity of non-Annex I Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in preparing their initial National Communications. The workbook is available online at: http://www.undp.org/cc/whatsnew.htm UNCTAD has published a new report, The Clean Development Mechanism: Building International Public-Private Partnerships under the Kyoto Protocol - Technical, Financial and Institutional Issues. The report examines issues and options relating to project approval and implementation and recognition of Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs). It discusses effective options by which investments by Annex I Parties and private entities can be channeled into qualified projects and how CERs could be distributed. In addition, the report examines the introduction of the CDM; the sharing of credits, revenues and risks between project investors and hosts; liability issues; fungibility of GHG emissions trading commodities; and generating revenues to provide adaptation funds and cover CDM administrative expenses. The report also reviews the various private sector investment and financing instruments potentially available for CDM projects. The report will be available online from early September at: http://www.unctad.org/en/subsites/etrade/publications.htm UPCOMING MEETINGS Information on upcoming conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of international environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS ON ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: The Latin American Energy Organization and the German Government are among the sponsors of a number of subregional seminars on Energy and Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Approaches to Energy Policy. The seminars will take place as follows: Andean Community, from 10-17 September 2000 in Ecuador; and Mercosur with Chile and Bolivia, from 1-8 October 2000, at UNECLAR, Santiago, Chile. For more information contact: Francisco Figueruera; e-mail: figueroa@olade.org.ec WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFITABILITY: This workshop will be held on 20 September 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland. It will be organized under the New Approaches of Development section of the EMA Foundation's Emerging Markets International Fair. For more information contact: Claire Peracino, EMA Foundation, CP 731, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-827-2642; fax: +41-22-827-2310; Internet: http://www.ema2000.ch. GLOBE conference on environmental security in africa: This meeting will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 21-22 September 2000. For more information contact: Francis Caas, Executive Director, Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment - Southern Africa; Cape Town, tel: +27-21-422-0284, fax: +27-21-422-0285; Internet: http://www.globesa.org/envsecurity.htm INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT: This conference will be held in Vienna from 4-6 October 2000, and will be hosted by the Austrian Government. For more information contact: Cecelia Cerredo, Transport Unit, OECD Environment Directorate, Paris; tel: +33-1-45-24-98-40; fax: +33-1-45- 24-78-76; Internet: http://www.oecd.org/env/ccst/est GREENPEACE BUSINESS - FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE: NEW THINKING, NEW SOLUTIONS: This meeting will be held in London, England from 5 October 2000. Guest speakers will include Stephen Byers, Bill Ford Jr., and Remi Parmentier. For more information contact: Sammy Daniel, Greenpeace UK, tel: +44-207-865-8100; Internet: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/contentlookup.cfm?SiteKeyParam =BUSINESS4 CONFERENCE ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY, GLOBALIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This international conference will be held on 6 October 2000 in the EXPO Convention Center, Hannover, Germany. For more information contact: FAW Research Institute, Harald Pandl, Germany; tel.: +49-731- 501-555; Internet: http://www.faw.uni-ulm.de/englisch UNECE Working Group on Environmental Impact Assessment: This meeting will be held from 9-11 October 2000, in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: Information Unit, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Geneva; tel: +41-22-917-4444; fax: +41-22-917-0505; Internet: http://www.unece.org/meetings/meetgen.htm Meeting of the Signatories to the Protocol on Water and Health: Under the auspices of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, this meeting will take place in Budapest, Hungary, from 9-11 October 2000. For more information contact: Information Unit, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-917-4444; fax: +41-22-917-0505; Internet: http://www.unece.org/meetings/meetgen.htm SIXTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH-LEVEL SUMMIT ON CLEANER PRODUCTION: This event is being organized by UNEP and will be held in Montreal, Canada, from 16-17 October 2000. It will be immediately followed by the International Pollution Prevention Summit, from 18-20 October 2000. For more information contact: UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, Production and Consumption Unit, Paris; tel: +33-1-4437-1423; Internet: http://www.uneptie.org/CP6 ISLANDS OF THE WORLD SIXTH CONFERENCE - SMALL ISLANDS IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM: SHARING SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS: This international conference will be held from 16-20 October 2000 on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Conference sessions will focus on, inter alia, political issues, economic affairs, community development, biodiversity, renewable energy, coastal zone and fisheries management, and sustainable tourism. For more information contact: Graeme Robertson, Secretary for the ISLANDS VI Conference; tel: +44-1478-612-898; Internet: http://www.islandstudies.org 29TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: This meeting will be held from 17-21 October 2000 in South Padre Island, Texas, USA. The theme of the conference is "Spanning Cultural and Ecological Diversity Through Environmental Education." For more information contact: Brenda Weiser; tel: +1-281-283- 3950; e-mail: weiser@cl.uh.edu SECOND ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE ON INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE - EURO ENVIRONMENT 2000: This conference will be held in Aalborg, Denmark, from 18-20 October 2000. For more information contact: Else Herfort, Euro Environment Secretariat, Aalborg; tel: +45-99-355-555; Internet: http://www.akkc.dk/uk/euro/envire/ INTERNATIONAL POLLUTION PREVENTION SUMMIT: This meeting will take place from 18-20 October 2000 in Montreal, Canada. For more information contact: the Canadian Center for Pollution Prevention, 100 Charlotte Street, Sarnia, Ontario, N7T 4R2; tel: +1-519-337-3429; fax: +1-519-337- 3486; Internet: http://c2p2.sarnia.com (click on "Summit"). 11TH INTERNATIONAL SOIL CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION CONFERENCE: ISCO 2000 will be held from 22-27 October 2000 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For more information contact: Faculty of Agronomy - University of Buenos Aires, Internet: http://www.isco2000.org.ar TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN - FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: This conference is scheduled to take place from 23-24 October 2000 in Stuttgart, Germany. For more information contact: Martin Charter, Coordinator, The Centre for Sustainable Design, Faculty of Design, Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College, Falkner Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DS, UK; tel: +44-1252-892-772/3; fax: +44-1252-892-747; e-mail: mcharter@surrart.ac.uk THIRD WEST AFRICA WATER AND ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE: This conference will be held from 7-10 November 2000 in Accra, Ghana. This year's theme is "Water & Wastewater in Sub- Saharan Africa - the Next Decade". For more information contact: Water Africa 2000 Sub-Sahara, ACE Event Management, 37 Upper Duke Street, Liverpool L1 9DY, United Kingdom; tel: +44 151-709-9192; fax +44-151-709-7801/3262; Internet: http://www.ace-events.com/WA2000SConf.htm 20TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE NORTH AMERICAN LAKE MANAGEMENT SOCIETY: This meeting will convene from 7-11 November 2000 in Miami, Florida, under the theme "Managing the Mosaic: Celebrating 20 Years of People Linking Lake and Watershed Management". For more information contact: Terry Thiessen, CMP Conference Coordinator, US; tel: +1-608-233- 2836; Internet: http://www.nalms.org EECO 2000 - Environment and Energy Conference: Business Strategies for Sustainable Economic Growth: This conference will be held from 27-28 November 2000 in Toronto, Canada. For more information contact: Globe Foundation of Canada, Vancouver: tel: 1-800-274-6097 (from Canada or the US); fax: +1-604-666-8123; Internet: http://www.eeco2000.com Policy Agendas for Sustainable Technological Innovation: This international conference will be held from 1-3 December 2000 in London, UK. Organized by the Department of Innovation Studies, University of East London, this will be the third conference of the European project on Policies for Sustainable Technological Innovation in the 21st Century. For more information contact: Gillian Perkins, University of East London, UK; tel: +44-20-8223-4215; fax: +44-20-8223-7595; Internet: http://www.esst.uio.no/posti/UEL.html CSD-9: The Ninth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development will be held in New York in April 2001. This session will focus on: atmosphere; energy/transport; information for decision making and participation; and international cooperation for an enabling environment. The topic of the multi-stakeholder dialogue segment will be energy and transport. Prior to CSD-9, intersessional meetings will be held, tentatively scheduled for 5-16 March 2001. For more information contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, Major Groups Focal Point, Division for Sustainable Development; tel: +1-212-963-8811; fax: +1-212-963-1267; e- mail: aydin@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd9/csd9_2001.htm Global Agriculture 2020: Which Way Forward?: This conference will be held from 18-20 April 2001, In Norwich, UK. For more information contact: Agric 2020 Conference Secretariat, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK, NR4 7UH; tel: +44-1603-450-581/450-641; Internet: http://www.jic.bbsrc.ac.uk/events/agric2020 SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND TRADE FAIR ON THE BUSINESS OF THE ENVIRONMENT: This international conference will be held from 13-15 March 20002 in Vancouver, Canada. For more information contact: Globe Foundation of Canada, Vancouver, BC: tel: 1-800-274-6097 (in Canada or the US); fax: +1-604-666-8123; Internet: http://www.globe.ca BIODIVERSITY BIOTECHNOLOGY 2000 - 11TH INTERNATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM: This meeting will be held from 3-8 September 2000 in Berlin, Germany. For more information contact: DECHEMA eV, German Society of Chemical Apparatus, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, TheodorHeuss-Allee 25, D- 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; tel: +49-69-7564-235; Internet: http://www.dechema.de FIRST INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL MOUNTAIN BIODIVERSITY ASSOCIATIONS MEETING: This research conference will be held in Rigi, Switzerland, from 7-10 September 2000. The meeting will initiate the global GMBA network and organize the new DIVERSITAS-GMBA-network. For more information contact: Eva Spehn, GMBA Secretariat, Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstr. 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; tel:+41- 61-267-3511; fax: +41-61-267-3504; Internet: http://www.unibas.ch/gmba/conference.html INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY - SCIENCE AND THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE: This meeting will be held from 22-23 September 2000 at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. For more information contact: Derya Honca, Science, Technology and Innovation, Center for International Development at Harvard University, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA; tel: +1-617-495-1923; Internet: http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidbiotech/bioconfpp/ THIRD APEC AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL WORKSHOP ON CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION OF ANIMALS' AND PLANTS' GENETIC RESOURCES: This Experts Meeting is to be held in October 2000 in Chinese Taipei. For more information contact: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat, 438 Alexandra Road, #1400, Alexandra Point, Singapore 119958; tel: +65- 276-1880; fax: +65-276-1775; Internet: http://www.dpie.gov.au/dpie/apec/atc/ WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS (IUCN): This meeting will be held from 4-11 October 2000 in Amman, Jordan. For more information contact: Ursula HiltBrunner, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-999-0232; fax: +41-22-999-0002; e- mail: urh@hq.iucn.org Internet: http://www.iucn.org PARTNERSHIPS FOR PEOPLE & PLANTS - FIRST EUROPEAN BOTANIC GARDEN EDUCATION CONGRESS: This meeting will take place in Birmingham, England, from 13-17 October 2000. For more information contact: BGCI, Descanso House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3BW, UK; tel: +44-020-8332-5953/4; fax: +44-020-8322-5956; e-mail: bgci@rbgkew.org.uk INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE URBAN ECOLOGY OF BIRDS AND MAMMALS IN EUROPE: This symposium will be held from 11-12 November 2000, in Nienover, Germany. For more information contact: Franziska Kalz, Goettingen, Germany; tel: +49-551- 487-297; Internet: http://www.gwn.de/gwn/html/frame6.htm TECHNICAL CONSULTATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR AQUATIC ANIMAL DIVERSITY: This meeting will be held in Rome, Italy, from 13-16 November 2000. For more information contact: Devin Bartley, Senior Fishery Resources Officer, Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service, FAO; e-mail: FI-Inquiries@fao.org DESERT FISHES COUNCIL: The Desert Fishes Council, an organization dedicated to preserving the biological integrity of desert aquatic ecosystems and their associated life forms, will hold its 32nd Annual General Meeting in Death Valley National Park, California, USA, from 16-19 November 2000. Its 33rd AGM is scheduled for 15-18 November 2001 in Alpine, Texas, USA. For more information contact: Phil Pister, Executive Secretary; tel/fax: +1-760-872-8751; e-mail: phildesfish@telis.org; Internet: http://www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/fish/dfc/ (visit the "Meetings" section). ERADICATION OF ISLAND INVASIVES: PRACTICAL ACTIONS AND RESULTS ACHIEVED: This international conference will be held from 19-23 February 2001 in Auckland, New Zealand, and is being organized by the Invasive Species Specialist Group of IUCN. For more information contact: Dick Veitch, 48 Manse Road, Papakura, Auckland; tel/fax: +64-9-298-5775; Internet: http://www.issg.org/index.html#Conference International Symposium on Biodiversity as a source of new medicines: This symposium will be held from 16-19 August 2001 in Cali, Colombia. For more information contact: Ligia Pabon de Majid; tel/fax: +57-2-330-2461; Internet: http://www.biofarmacongress.com CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT UNEP WORKSHOPS ON MANAGEMENT OF DIOXINS, FURANS AND PCBS: UNEP has organized a number of workshops on the management of dioxins, furans and PCBs. Those remaining this year include: 18-22 September in Uruguay; and 9-13 October in Arusha, Tanzania. For more information contact: Murray Newton or Heidi Fiedler, UNEP Chemicals (IRPTC); tel: +41- 22-979-9111; Internet: http://irptc.unep.ch/pops JOINT FAO-WHO MEETING ON PESTICIDES RESIDUES: The 25th Session of the Joint Meeting of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment and the WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues will be held from 20-29 September 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland. The 26th Session will take place from 10-28 September 2001 in Geneva. The 27th Session is scheduled for 20-29 September 2002 in Rome. These meetings are expected to produce reports and monographs summarizing the assessments of certain pesticides. For more information contact: Amelia Tejada, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-4010; fax: +39-6-5705-6347; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pestic id/events/c.htm REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION ON THE PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE: This meeting will be held in Cartagena, Colombia, from 3-6 October 2000. For more information contact: Gerold Wyrwal, FAO; tel: +39-6- 5705-2753; fax: +39-6-5705-6347; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pestic id/Default.htm BASEL CONVENTION WORKING GROUPS: The 17th Session of the Technical Working Group and the Second Session of the Legal Working Group will meet in Geneva from 9-13 October 2000. For more information contact: Pierre Portas, Technical Unit; tel: +41-22-917-8217; e-mail: pierre.portas@unep.ch; or Pavel Suian, Legal Unit; tel: +41-22-917-8219; e-mail: pavel.suian@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.unep.ch/basel/meetings/calendar.html THIRD MEETING OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON CHEMICAL SAFETY: The Third Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (Forum III) will be held from 14-20 October 2000 in Salvador, Brazil. For more information contact: Judy Stober, Executive Secretary IFCS, c/o WHO, Geneva,; tel: +41-22-791-3650/4333; Internet: http://www.ifcs.ch SEVENTH PIC-INC MEETING: The seventh session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for an international legally binding instrument for the application of the prior informed consent (PIC) procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade will be held from 30 October - 3 November 2000 in Geneva. Participants will consider, inter alia, draft Rules of Procedure for the Conference of the Parties, Financial Rules, non-compliance and issues related to a discontinuation of the interim PIC procedure. For more information contact: Niek Van der Graaff, FAO, Rome; tel: +39-6-5705-3441 or Jim Willis, UNEP Chemicals, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-917-8111; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pestic id/Events/c.htm PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS INC-5: The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument for Implementing International Action on Certain Persistent Organic Pollutants will take place from 4-9 December 2000 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Conference of the Plenipotentiaries will be held in Stockholm from 21-23 May 2001. For more information contact: UNEP Chemicals (IRPTC); tel: +41-22-979-9111; fax: +41-22-797-3460; Internet: http://irptc.unep.ch/pops/ FIFTH CONSULTATION ON THE PREVENTION AND DISPOSAL OF OBSOLETE AND UNWANTED STOCKS OF PESTICIDES: This meeting is scheduled for 2001 in Rome. Participants will consider new provisions for the prevention and disposal of obsolete stocks and update/prepare various technical guidelines in support of the FAO Code of Conduct. For more information contact: Ale Wodageneh, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-5192; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pestic id/Events/c.htm MEETING OF THE INTERIM CHEMICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE OF THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION: This committee will meet from 14-18 February 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: Jim Willis, UNEP Chemicals, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-917-8111; fax: +41-22-797-3460; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch PANEL OF EXPERTS ON PESTICIDE SPECIFICATIONS, REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATION STANDARDS AND PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT: The 18th Session on this Panel is expected to meet in Bangkok, Thailand, from 17-19 June 2001. Participants will consider new provisions of the Code of Conduct and update various guidelines in support of the Code. The 19th Session is scheduled to be held from 27-29 October 2002 in Rome. The 20th session is tentatively planned for May 2003, also in Rome. For more information contact: Gero Vaagt, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-5757; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pestic id/Events/c.htm GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON UPDATING THE FAO CODE OF CONDUCT ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF PESTICIDES: This consultation is tentatively scheduled for October 2001 in Rome and will consider the draft revised FAO International Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides. For more information contact: Niek Van der Graaff, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-3441; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pestic id/Events/c.htm CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE BODY FOR THE CONVENTION ON LONG- RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION: The Steering Body to the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) will meet from 4-6 September 2000. The Executive Body for the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution will meet from 4-7 December 2000. All meetings will be held in Geneva, and convened under the UN Economic Commission for Europe. For more information contact: Information Unit, UNECE, Palais des Nations, Room 356, CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-917-4444; fax: +41-22-917-0505; Internet: http://www.unece.org/meetings/meetgen.htm 13TH SESSIONS OF THE UNFCCC SUBSIDIARY BODIES: SB-13 will be held from 11-15 September 2000, in Lyon, France, and will be preceded by one week of informal meetings, including workshops. For more information contact: the UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax: +49-228- 815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.de; Internet: http://www.unfccc.int Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry - the road to COP-6: This meeting will be held during the 'Woody Biomass as an energy source - challenges in Europe' conference in Joensuu, Finland, from 25-28 September 2000. Specific themes will include: carbon accounting rules, baselines and additionality; the selection of forestry and land-use activities under Article 3.4; and other issues relevant to COP-6. For more information contact: Kimberly Robertson, Institute of Energy Research, Austria; tel: +43-316-876- 1330; fax: +43-316-876-1320; Internet: http://www.joanneum.ac.at/iea-bioenergy-task25/ National Communications Support Programme Workshops for non-Annex I Parties to the unfccc: Launched by UNDP and UNEP, in co-operation with the Secretariat of the UNFCCC, the Programme provides technical support for the preparation of initial national communications under the UNFCCC. Four workshops are planned for 2000, including: the Asian Regional Exchange Workshop on National Communications, from 26-29 September in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Arab States Regional Exchange Workshop on Climate Change, from 3-5 October in Cairo, Egypt; Europe and CIS Regional Exchange Workshop on National Communications, from 10-12 October in Yerevan, Armenia; and South American Regional Exchange Workshop on National Communications, tentatively scheduled to be held in December in Asunción, Paraguay. For more information contact: Rebecca Carman, National Communications Support Programme, UNDP-GEF, New York; tel: +1-212-906-6928; fax: +1-212-906-6568; Internet: www.undp.org/gef/cc/ EARTH TECHNOLOGIES FORUM: This meeting, organized by the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, will be held in Washington DC from 30 October - 1 November 2000. Both ozone and climate change issues will be discussed. For more information contact: Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy: tel: +1-703-243-0344; Internet: http://www.earthforum.com/ NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ASSESSMENTS IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR: This meeting will be held in Potsdam, Germany, from 10-13 November 2000. For more information contact: Marcus Lindner, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg, P.O. Box 601203, D-14412 Potsdam, Germany; tel: +49-331-288 2677; fax: +49-331-288- 2695; e-mail: lindner@pik-potsdam.de SIXTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE: COP-6 will be held in The Hague, the Netherlands, from 13-24 November 2000. For more information contact: the UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax: +49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.de; Internet: http://cop6.unfccc.int/ World ClimateTech2000: This exhibition will be shown from 16-24 November 2000 in the Hague, Netherlands. It will coincide with COP-6. It is an exhibition of climate friendly technologies, related services, and environmental programmes. For more information contact: Adam Smith, Climate Technology Initiative, Paris, France; tel: +33-1- 4057-6582; Internet: http://www.climatetech.net/climatetech/index.html SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL ENERGY FORUM: The Government of Saudi Arabia will host the Seventh International Energy Forum from 17-19 November 2000, in Riyadh. For more information contact: the Saudi Arabian Mission to the UN; tel: +1-212- 697-4830; e-mail: saudiarabia@un.int THIRD ASIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES: This conference will be held from 3-6 December 2000 in Hong Kong. For more information contact: APCSEET 2000 Secretariat, Department of Chemical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong; tel: +852- 2358-7134; fax: +852-2358-0054; Internet: http://www.ust.hk/apc2000 12TH MEETING OF THE PARTIES OF THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL: MOP- 12 is scheduled to take place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 11-15 December 2000. The 32nd Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund will be held prior to this, from 4-8 December, also in Ouagadougou. For more information contact: the Ozone Secretariat; tel: +254-2-62- 1234; fax: +254-2-62-3601; e-mail: ozoneinfo@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/ozone/meet2000.htm INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY IN NORTHERN EUROPE - PROXY DATA, INSTRUMENTAL RECORDS, CLIMATE MODELS AND INTERACTIONS: This meeting will be held in Turku, Finland, from 6-8 June 2001. For more information contact: Mia Rönkä, University of Turku, Finland; tel: +358-2-333-6009; fax: +358-2-333-5730; Internet: http://figare.utu.fi DESERTIFICATION For more information relating to the Convention to Combat Desertification contact: the CCD Secretariat, P.O. Box 260129, D-53153 Bonn, Germany; tel: +49-228-815-2800; fax: +49-228-815-2899; e-mail: secretariat@unccd.de; Internet: http://www.unccd.de UNCCD Focal Point Meeting of the Group of Annex IV Countries: This meeting will be held in Brussels, Belgium, on 20 September 2000. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat (see above). Start-up Workshop on Desertification Information systemS for the Mediterranean: This meeting will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 27-29 September 2000. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat. CST Bureau Meeting: This meeting of the Committee on Science and Technology will take place from 4-6 October 2000 in Bonn, Germany. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat (see previous page for contact information). Third Asian Regional Meeting of the CCD National Focal Points: This meeting will be held from 16-18 October 2000 in Bangkok, Thailand. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat. FOURth African Regional Meeting: This meeting will be held in Algiers, Algeria, from 22-24 October 2000. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat. RoundTable Meeting for China: This meeting will take place in Beijing on 23 October 2000. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat. Launching of Thematic Network No. 3 on Rangeland Management for Asia: This meeting will take place in Tehran, Iran, in November 2000. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat. FOURTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: COP-4 will take place from 11-22 December 2000 in Bonn, Germany. For more information contact the CCD Secretariat. ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: This traveling event will be held 8-20 April 2002 in Cape Town, South Africa, various rural communities, and Gobabeb, Namibia. The aim of this combination international symposium, rural community interaction and workshop is to connect community action with science and common sense. For more information, contact: Mary Seely, Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, P.O. Box 20232, Windhoek, Namibia; tel: +264-61-229-855; fax: +264-61-230-172; e-mail: mseely@drfn.org.na FORESTS SEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN FOREST INSTITUTE: This conference will meet from 2-4 September 2000 in Lisbon, Portugal. For more information contact: Leena Roihuvuo, European Forest Institute, Torikatu 34, 80100 Joensuu, Finland; tel: +358-0-13-252-0211; Internet: http://www.efi.fi/events/2000/7th_Annual_Conference/ DEMONSTRATION OF METHODS TO MONITOR SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY EU/LIFE PROJECT 1998 - 2001: This meeting will take place in Kemijärvi, Finland, from 17-19 September 2000. For more information contact: Markus Lassheikki, Forestry Development Center, Finland; tel: +358-9-156-2407; Internet: http://fibre.utu.fi/meetings/20000917/index.htm FIFTH BOREAL FOREST OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE: LIVING WITH THE TAIGA - BOREAL FORESTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: This conference will be held from 17-22 September 2000, in Moscow, Russia. For more information contact: Taiga Rescue Network, P.O. Box 116, S-96223 Jokkmokk, Sweden; tel: +46- 971-17039; fax: +46-971-12057; Internet: http://www.snf.se/TRN/conferences/conferences.shtml UNECE Seminar on Harvesting of Non-Wood Forest Products: This meeting will be held in Menemen-Izmir, Turket, from 2- 8 October 2000. For more information contact: Information Unit, UN Economic Commission for Europe, Geneva,; tel: +41- 22-917-4444; fax: +41-22-917-0505; Internet: http://www.unece.org/meetings/meetgen.htm UNECE TIMBER committee - FAO European Forestry Commission: This joint session of the UNECE Forestry Committee and the FAO European Forestry Commission will be held in Rome, Italy, from 9-13 October 2000. For more information contact: Information Unit, UN Economic Commission for Europe, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-917-4444; fax: +41-22-917-0505; Internet: http://www.unece.org/meetings/meetgen.htm International Conference on Forests and Sustainable Development: The United Nations University will host this conference from 12-13 October 2000 in Tokyo. For more information contact: UNU, Tokyo; tel: +81-3-3499-2811; fax: +81-3-3499-2828; Internet: http://www.geic.or.jp/forest/ FAO EXPERT CONSULTATION ON FOREST CHANGE: This meeting will take place from 16-20 October 2000 in San Jose, Costa Rica. For more information contact: Robert Davis, Senior Forestry Officer (Forest Resources Appraisal and Monitoring), Forestry Department, FAO, Rome; tel: +39-06-570-53596; Internet: http://www.fao.org/forestry/Forestry.htm FOREST2000 - SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION ON FORESTS: This congress will be held from 23-26 October 2000, in Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil. For more information contact: BIOSFERA - Brazilian Institute for the Environment; tel/fax: +55-21-221-0155/221-7626; Internet: http://www.biosfera.com.br/forest_2000.htm FAO EXPERT MEETING ON CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT: This meeting will be held in Rome from 15-17 November 2000. For more information contact: Christel Palmberg-Lerche, Chief, Forest Resources Development Service (FORM), FAO, Rome; tel: +39-06-570- 53841; Internet: http://www.fao.org/forestry/Forestry.htm INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP OF EXPERTS ON FINANCING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT: This Government-led initiative in support of the IPF/IFF/UNFF Processes will be held from 22- 25 January 2001 in Oslo, Norway. For more information contact: Secretariat, Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, Division of Sustainable Development, Department of Social and Economic Affairs, United Nations, New York; tel: +1- 212-963-6208; fax: +1-212-963-3463; e-mail: vahanen@un.org 16TH COMMONWEALTH FORESTRY CONFERENCE - FORESTS IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE: This Conference will be held from 18-25 April 2001 in Fremantle, Western Australia. For more information contact: Libby Jones, Standing Committee on Commonwealth Forestry, Edinburgh, UK; tel: +44-131-314- 6137; fax: +44-131-334-0442; e-mail: libby.jones@forestry.gov.uk HABITAT UNECE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: This meeting will take place from 18-20 September 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: Information Unit, UNECE, Palais des Nations, Room 356, CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-917-4444; fax: +41-22-917- 0505; Internet: http://www.unece.org/meetings/meetgen.htm URBAN ENVIRONMENT FORUM 2000: CAPACITY- BUILDING IN URBAN ENVIRONMENT GOVERNANCE: This meeting will be held from 26- 28 September 2000 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is being jointly organized by the Cape Metropolitan Council, UNEP and UNCHS (Habitat). For more information contact: e-mail: uef@unchs.org REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETINGS FOR ISTANBUL+5: A series of Regional Meetings will be held under the aegis of UNCHS in preparation for Istanbul+5. These include: Western Asia/Arab States - to be held in Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, from 16-18 October 2000; Asia and the Pacific - to be held in Huangzhou, China from 19-22 October 2000; Latin America and the Caribbean - to be held in Santiago de Chile from 1-3 November 2000; and Africa - to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 8-9 November 2000. For more information contact: Axumite Gebre-Egziabher, Coordinator, Istanbul+ 5, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya; tel: +254-2-623831; e-mail: Axumite.Gebre-Egziabher@unchs.org International Forum on Urban Development: Partnerships and Vision in the new Millennium: This meeting will be held in Bahrain from 21-23 October 2000. The Government of Bahrain, in collaboration with UNDP and UNCHS, is organizing the meeting. For more information contact: Mohammed El Siouf, UNHCS, Nairobi, Kenya; tel: +254-2-621-234 Ext: 3219; fax: +254-2-624-266/7; Internet: http://www.unchs.org/unchs/english/calendar/ AFRICAN MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON ISTANBUL+5: This regional preparatory meeting for Istanbul +5 will take place from 24-27 October 2000 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For more information contact: Alioune Badiane, United Nations Centre For Human Settlements (Habitat), PO Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya; tel:+254-2-621234 ext 3075; fax: +254-2-624266/7; Internet: http://www.unchs.org/unchs/english/calendar/ Shaping our Urban Future Together - Partners for Urban Development: This meeting will be held in Bahrain from 28- 30 October 2000. The Government of Bahrain and UNHCS are organizing this meeting. For more information contact: UNHCS, Nairobi, Kenya; tel: +254-2-621-234 Ext: 3075; fax: +254-2-624-266/7; e-mail: Alioune.Badiane@unhcs.org; Internet: http://www.unchs.org/unchs/english/calendar/ SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CITIES & PORTS: This conference will be held from 6-9 November 2000 in Marseilles, France. More than 500 delegates representing the port cities of more than 50 countries are expected in Marseilles to debate and exchange views regarding the implementation of sustainable development in port areas. For more information contact: International Association of Cities and Ports (IACP), 45 rue Lord Kitchener, 76600 Le Havre, France; tel: +33-2-3542-7884; Internet: http://www.aivp.com/7conf/defaultgb.HTM or send a message with SUBSCRIBE as subject line to listegb.conference@aivp.net to receive regular e-mail updates. ISTANBUL+5" - SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR AN OVERALL REVIEW AND APPRAISAL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HABITAT AGENDA: This Special Session of the UN General Assembly will be held in June 2001. It will review and appraise progress made on the implementation of the outcome of the second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), which was held in Istanbul, Turkey in 1996. Prior to this, the 18th Session of the Commission on Human Settlements will meet in Nairobi, Kenya from 12-16 February 2001. The Second Session of the PrepCom for Istanbul+5 will follow this meeting, from 19-23 February 2001. For more information contact: Axumite Gebre-Egziabher, Coordinator, Istanbul+ 5, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, Nairobi, Kenya; tel: +254-2-623831; e-mail: Axumite.Gebre- Egziabher@unchs.org; Internet: http://www.istanbul5.org/meetings/ INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 55TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS - THE MILLENNIUM ASSEMBLY: The 55th Session of the UN - designated the "Millennium Assembly" - will open on 5 September 2000 at UN Headquarters in New York. It is expected that the meeting will be attended by a large number of world leaders and provide an opportunity to articulate and affirm an animating vision for the UN in meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century. The role of the UN in promoting peace and sustainable development in the era of globalization has been identified as one of the key themes. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/millennium ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE WORLD BANK AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND: The Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group are holding their Annual Meetings from 19-28 September 2000 in Prague, Czech Republic. More information is available online at: http://www.imf.org/external/am/2000/prague.htm UNECE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY: The Environmental Policy Committee of the UN Economic Commission for Europe will meet from 25-29 September 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: Information Unit, UNECE, Geneva; tel: +41-22-917-4444; fax: +41-22-917-0505; Internet: http://www.unece.org/meetings/meetgen.htm WIPO General Assembly: WIPO's 35th General Assembly will be held from 25 September - 3 October 2000 in Geneva. For more information contact: WIPO, Geneva; tel: +41-22-338-9111; fax: +41-22-733-5428; Internet: http://www.wipo.int/eng/newindex/meetings.htm ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: The Environment Council will meet three times during the remainder of 2000: 10 October, 7 November (tentative), and 18-19 December (tentative). The Development Council will meet only once, on 10 November 2000. These meetings will take place in Brussels, Belgium. For more information visit: http://www.europa.eu.int/scadplus/cal/en/c01010.htm GEF MEETINGS: NGO Consultations will take place on 31 October 2000 at GEF Headquarters in Washington, DC. The GEF Council will meet from 1-3 November 2000. For more information contact: GEF Secretariat, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington DC, 20433, USA; tel: +1-202-473-0508; fax: +1- 202-522-3240; Internet: http://www.gefweb.org/ INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION: The ILO's Governing Body will meet for its 279th Session on 2-17 November 2000. For more information contact: Official Relations Branch, ILO; tel: +41-22-799-7732; Internet: http://www.ilo.org APEC MINISTERIAL AND SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING: The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) will hold its Annual meetings for 2000 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, from 10-19 November. For more information contact: APEC Secretariat, 438 Alexandra Road, #1400, Alexandra Point, Singapore 119958; tel: +65-276-1880; fax: +65-276-1775; Internet: http://www.apecsec.org.sg/whatsnew/calend/calendar.html#Dec 99 FAO GOVERNING BODIES: The 119th Session of the FAO Council is scheduled for 20-25 November 2000 in Rome, Italy. Subsequent sessions are provisionally set for 18-23 June, 30 October - 1 November and 14 November 2001. The 31st FAO Conference is tentatively scheduled for 2-13 November 2001. For more information visit: http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/x3837e.htm 21st Session of the UNEP Governing Council: This meeting will be held from 5-9 February 2001, in Nairobi, Kenya. For more information contact: B.A. Miller, UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya; tel: +254-2-62-3411; fax: +254-2-62-3748; e-mail: millerb@unep.org. OCEANS AND COASTS LITTORAL 2000: The Fifth International Littoral Conference will be held from 13-17 September 2000 in Cavtat - Dubrovnik, Croatia. For more information contact: Maja Radosevic, LITTORAL 2000 - EUROCOAST, University of Zagreb, Croatia; tel/fax: +385-1- 4826-263; e-mail: littoral@zg.biol.pmf.hr NINTH INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF SYMPOSIUM: This symposium will be held from 7-11 October 2000 in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. For more information contact: ICRS-9 Secretariat; e-mail: coremap@indosat.net.id or mktg@royalindo.co.id; Internet: http://www.cep.unep.org/ (click on "Bulletin Board") FAO TECHNICAL CONSULTATION ON ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING: This meeting will take place in Rome, Italy, from 2-6 October 2000. For more information contact: D. Doulman, Senior Fishery Liaison Officer International Institutions and Liaison Service (FIPL), FAO, Rome, tel: +39-0-657-051; fax: +39-0-657-053-152; Internet: http://www.fao.org/fi/meetings/meetings.asp SIXTH MEDITERRANEAN SEABIRD SYMPOSIUM AND CONFERENCE: FISHERIES, MARINE PRODUCTIVITY AND SEABIRDS: This meeting will be held from 11-15 October 2000 in Benidorm, Spain. For more information contact: Eduardo Minguez, Conselleria de Medio Ambiente, Delegacion Territorial de Alicante, C/Churruca 29, 03071 Alicante, Spain, e-mail: eduardo.minguez@cma.m400.gva.es THIRD WORLD FISHERIES CONGRESS: This congress will be held in Beijing, China, from 31 October - 3 November 2000. The theme of the event is "Feeding the world with fish: the balance between production and environment." For more information contact: Congress Secretariat, Beijing, tel: +86-10-64194233; fax: +86-10-64194231; Internet: http://www.fisheries.moa.gov.cn THIRD GLOBAL MEETING OF REGIONAL SEAS CONVENTIONS AND ACTION PLANS: This meeting will take place from 6-10 November 2000 in Monaco. For more information contact: Jorge Illueca, Assistant Executive Director, Division of Environmental Conventions, UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya; tel: +254- 2-624-011; e-mail: Jorge.Illueca@unep.org MARCUBA'2000 - FIFTH CONGRESS ON MARINE SCIENCES: This meeting will be held in Havana, Cuba, from 4-8 December 2000. For more information contact: MarCuba'2000 Organizing Committee, National Oceanographic Committee of Cuba; tel: +537-23-64-01; Internet: http://ioc.unesco.org/iocweb/news/external/marcuba2000_e.ht m SIXTH INDO-PACIFIC FISH CONFERENCE: This conference will be held from 20-25 May 2001 in Durban, South Africa. It will address various aspects of the ichthyology of Indo-Pacific fishes, including evolution, genetics, systematics, ecology, biology, behavior and biogeography. For more information contact: IPFC 2001, Oceanographic Research Institute, P O Box 10712, Marine Parade, Durban 4056, South Africa; tel: +27-31-337 3536; fax: +27-31-337 2132; Internet: http://www.seaworld.org.za/ippfc.asp POPULATION UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: The Commission's 34th Session will take place in New York in 2001 at a date to be determined. The theme for the meeting will be "Population, environment and development." The special theme for the 35th Session, to be held in 2002, will be "Reproductive rights and reproductive health, with special reference to HIV/AIDS," while the 36th Session in 2003 will focus on "Population education and development." For more information contact: Population Division; fax: +1- 212-963-2147; Internet: http://www.undp.org/popin/unpopcom/33rdsess/official/l5e.pd f SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT UN COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS: This Committee, acting under the auspices of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, will meet three more times during 2000. An Extraordinary Session will be held in September; the 23rd Session of the Committee will meet from 13 November - 1 December; and the Committee's 24th Working Group will meet from 4-8 December. All meetings will take place in Geneva. For more information contact: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-917-9321; fax: +41-22-917-9022; Internet: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/cescr.htm and http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/cescr/cescrs22.htm UNHCHR WORKING GROUP ON THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT: Operating under the auspices of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, this group will meet from 18-22 September 2000 in Geneva. For more information contact: OHCHR-UNOG, Geneva; tel: +41-22-917-9000; Internet: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/10/e/wgrtd.htm WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE: This UN conference will be held in 2001 in South Africa and will focus on practical steps to eradicate racism. A preparatory meeting is planned for May 2001 in Geneva. For more information contact: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights World Conference Secretariat, United Nations, Geneva, tel: +41- 22-917-9290; e-mail: husbands@un.org; Internet: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/racism/racism.htm TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION TRIPS COUNCIL: The World Trade Organization's Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) will meet from 21-22 September, and 27 November - 1 December 2000. All meetings will be held in Geneva, Switzerland. Meetings dates are provisional and subject to change. For more information contact: Peter Ungphakorn, WTO Information and Media Relations Division, Geneva; tel: +41-22-739-5412; e-mail: peter.ungphakorn@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/trips_e.htm WTO SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT: This Commitee will meet on 22 September 2000 in Geneva. For more information contact: WTO Information and Media Relations Division; tel: +41-22-739-5007; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/devel_e.htm WTO COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE: The Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade will meet on 6 October and 17 November 2000. It is scheduled to complete the Second Triennial Review of the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement. Meetings dates are provisional and subject to change. For more information contact: Vivien Liu, Technical Barriers to Trade Committee Secretary, WTO, Geneva; tel: +41-22-739-5455, Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_e.htm WTO GENERAL COUNCIL: The WTO's General Council will meet on 10 October, 18-19 October (Special Session on Implementation), 7-8 December and 18-19 December 2000 (Special Session on Implementation). For more information contact: Nuch Nazeer, WTO Information and Media Relations Division; tel: +41-22-739-5007; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/gcounc_e/gcounc_e.htm FIRST NORTH AMERICAN SYMPOSIUM ON THE LINKAGES BETWEEN TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: This symposium will tale place from 11-12 October 2000 in Montreal, Canada. It is being organized by the NAFTA Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). For more information contact: Scott Vaughan, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; tel: +1-514-350-4302; fax: +1- 514-350-4314; Internet: http://www.cec.org CODEX ALIMENTARIUS: The 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene will meet in Washington DC from 16-20 October 2000. For more information contact: Alan Randell, FAO, Rome; tel: +39-6-5705-4390; fax: 39-6-5705-4593; Internet: http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/ECONOMIC/ESN/codex/defau lt.htm WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: The WTO's Committee on Trade and Environment is scheduled to meet from 24-25 October 2000 in Geneva. The meeting will consider issues relating to market access, as well as the linkages between the multilateral environment and trade agendas. For more information contact: Sabrina Shaw, Secretary of the CTE, WTO, Geneva; tel: +41-22-739- 5482; e-mail: Sabrina.shaw@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/envir_e/envir_e.htm WETLANDS RAMSAR CONVENTION STANDING COMMITTEE: This committee will meet from 22-27 October 2000 in Gland, Switzerland. For more information contact: Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-999-0170; Internet: http://www.ramsar.org/key_sc25_agenda_e.htm RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLANDS COP-8: COP-8 is scheduled to convene in Spain in 2002. For more information contact: Ramsar Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-999- 0170; e-mail: ramsar@ramsar.org; Internet: http://www.ramsar.org WILDLIFE WILDLIFE HABITAT COUNCIL'S 12TH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM: This meeting will be held from 6-7 November 2000 in Baltimore, Maryland. The symposium will look at how to create wildlife management programs that bring benefits to companies, the community and wildlife. For more information contact: Wildlife Habitat Council, US; tel: +1-301-588-8994; fax: +1-301-588-4629; Internet: http://www.wildlifehc.org WOMEN FACING THE NEW MILLENNIUM: GENDER IN AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA - RETROSPECTION AND PROSPECTS: The Third International Conference on Women in Africa & the African Diaspora will be held from 6-13 October 2000 in Antananarivo, Madagascar. For more information contact: the Conference Convenor, Women's Studies Programme, Indiana University, US; tel: +1-317-278-2038; fax: +1-317-274-2347; Internet: http://www.iupui.edu/~aaws/ (click on "Action Alert"). COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN: A number of committee meetings are planned, including: the Committee's 24th Session (15 January - 2 February 2001); a Pre-Session Working Group to prepare for the Committee's 25th Session (5-9 February 2001); the 25th Session (4-22 June 2001); and a Pre-Session Working Group to prepare for the 26th Session (25-29 June 2001). All meetings will take place at UN Headquarters in New York. For more information contact: Women's Rights Unit, UN, New York,; e-mail: connorsj@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw or Office of UNHCR- UNOG, Geneva; tel: +41-22-917-9000; fax: +41-22-917-9016; Internet: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/cedw.htm 45th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women: This meeting will be held from 5-16 March 2001 at UNHQ in New York. For more information contact: DAW, UN, New York; fax: +1-212-963-3463; e-mail: erturk@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/ STAFF Editor: Chris Spence, MA (Hons) chris@iisd.org Managing Editor: Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI kimo@iisd.org Assistant Editor: Tom Rotherham trotherham@iisd.org Submissions, corrections, requests for subscription information and correspondence should be sent to the editors at chris@iisd.org. The opinions expressed in /linkages/journal/ are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and our funders. Excerpts from /linkages/journal/ may be used in other publications with appropriate academic citation. /linkages/journal/ may not be reproduced, reprinted or posted to any system or service without specific permission from the International Institute for Sustainable Development info@iisd.ca. This limitation includes distribution via Usenet News, bulletin board systems, mailing lists, print media and broadcast. For more information, send a message to chris@iisd.org The Sustaining Donors of IISD Reporting Services publications, including Earth Negotiations Bulletin and /linkages/journal/, are The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Canada (through CIDA and DFAIT), the United States (through USAID), the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Commission (DG-ENV). General Support during 2000 is provided by the German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) and the German Federal Ministry of Development Cooperation (BMZ), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment of Austria, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of Norway, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment of Finland, the Government of Sweden, the Government of Australia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and BP Amoco.