/linkages/journal/ Volume 5 Number 10 1 November 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/link0510e.pdf (The following is the ASCII version of Vol. 5 No. 10 of /linkages/journal/ - a monthly snapshot of the Linkages WWW site, available at http://enb.iisd.org. /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 Linkages Journal offers the latest news, information and analysis from international environment and development negotiations. In this issue: * briefings on key meetings in October, including the UN General Assembly & its committees, climate change talks and trade- environment gatherings; * media reports and news, including the latest on the UN Forum on Forests, US ratification of the Desertification Convention, ozone, chemicals, biodiversity and more; * details of new books, reports and journal articles; * a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings for environment and development processes.) EDITOR'S NOTE A message from Linkages Journal's Editor BUSINESS-AS-USUAL IN OCTOBER Eventful October Not surprisingly, October was another busy month for negotiators. After some of the high-profile events held in September – such as the UN Millennium Summit and IMF/World Bank meetings – October had more of a "business-as-usual" feel to it, as delegates engaged in less publicized but nevertheless important talks on a variety of issues. On chemical management, the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety meeting in Brazil seemed to make sufficient progress to satisfy most observers (for more information, see page 3), while on trade-environment linkages, the WTO, UNEP and NAFTA all held meetings (pages 6-7). Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly's 55th Session continued, with the Second and Third Committees taking up a number of environment and development issues, ranging from preparations for the ten-year review of UNCED to resolutions on the advancement of women (pages 2, 11). One key decision made by the General Assembly in October was its adoption of a resolution on the creation of a new UN Forum on Forests, which will endeavor to continue the process of providing a forum for discussion and action on forest-related matters. The resolution follows informal consultations that concluded late September (page 10). Horrors after Halloween? While Halloween traditionally brings October to a close, some are fearing that mid-November could actually be the time for a real scare in the negotiating world. From 13 November all eyes will be on The Hague, where climate talks are set to reach a critical stage. A negotiated outcome on the rules governing the Kyoto Protocol is needed if the momentum is to be maintained. Achieving this will be no easy task. These talks must accommodate a wide range of positions on a variety of complex and highly charged issues. Although they are by no means in the majority, some fear the task will prove too difficult. Chris Spence Editor, Linkages Journal RECENT MEETINGS Information on recent conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECOND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA ITEMS: The UN General Assembly's Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met at UN Headquarters in New York from Wednesday, 18 October – Friday, 20 October 2000 to consider agenda items on environment and sustainable development. Delegates focused primarily on the Implementation of Agenda 21 (the plan of action adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, 1992) and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21. The Committee also heard presentations of reports on, and discussed matters relating to: the conservation and sustainable development of Central African forest ecosystems; international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Nińo phenomenon; sustainable development and international economic cooperation and integration of countries with economies in transition into the world economy; the Convention on Biological Diversity; the Convention to Combat Desertification; water supply and sanitation; further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States; and promotion of new and renewable sources of energy. The IISD Briefing Note providing more information on this meeting is available online at: http://enb.iisd.org/recent/recunga2ndctee0ct2000.html SUMMIT ON Pollution Prevention: This international Summit was held in Montreal, Canada from 18-20 October 2000, immediately following the Sixth International High-Level Seminar on Cleaner Production (see below). The Summit was organized by the Canadian Center for Pollution Prevention and co-sponsored by Environment Canada, and attended by representatives of government, business, pollution prevention roundtables, cleaner production networks and community and non-governmental organizations. Ray Anderson, Co-Chair of the US President's Council on Sustainable Development, delivered the keynote speech, stressing that corporate polluters will soon be held more accountable for crimes against the environment. Participants met in plenary sessions to consider, inter alia: the power of pollution prevention roundtables; the role of pollution prevention in achieving sustainability from a global perspective; expanding the influence of pollution prevention roundtables; and a global partnership to strengthen connections among all pollution prevention/cleaner production organizations. Participants also met in workshops to develop action plans for the expansion of pollution prevention initiatives focusing on changing cultures and behavior, education, finance, policy, legislation and the role of government. On 20 October, participants agreed to launch the Global Cleaner Production Information Network. The purpose of the Network is to strengthen cooperation among regional pollution prevention roundtables in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Africa, Eastern and Central Europe, and China, as well as sustainability and cleaner production networks and other organizations and actors that support reductions in the generation of pollution. It is intended to function as an information resource and channel for sharing practices and ideas for eliminating pollution, and encouraging innovation. The Network will also be utilized as a tool in implementing the action plans developed during the Summit workshop sessions. In the future, regional nodes will be added to the Network, and it will be hosted permanently by an institution yet to be agreed-upon. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.c2p2online.com/ SIXth International High-level Seminar On Cleaner Production: This seminar was held from 15-17 October 2000 in Montreal, Canada and was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Canada. It brought together approximately 250 participants from 85 countries representing the public and private sectors and civil society. The aim of the meeting was to review the status of cleaner production strategies worldwide and encourage cooperation among cleaner production stakeholders. Participants met in plenary and break-out sessions that focused on, inter alia: implementation of the 1998 International Declaration on Cleaner Production; a review of government policies and strategies on cleaner production; improvement of the flow of investment financing for cleaner production; sustainable consumption and cleaner production as "two sides of the same coin"; and the use of cleaner production to support and reinforce the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements. Participants considered ongoing changes in the marketplace and the design of an appropriate business model. They noted a shift in the role of the government, observing that public policy should be a catalyst and provide incentives for cleaner production. Some participants supported the establishment of revolving funds to help finance cleaner production in developing countries, while others noted the importance of both addressing impacts of consumption patterns and securing the basic needs of the poor. The seminar outputs will feed into UNEP's Governing Council Session in February 2001 and the 10-year review of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development. More information is available online at: http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=177&ArticleID =2660 and http:/www.uneptie.org/CP6 BIODIVERSITY SECOND IUCN WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS: The Second IUCN World Conservation Congress met from 4-11 October 2000 in Amman, Jordan. An estimated 2,000 individuals from 140 countries representing governments, non-governmental organizations, UN Agencies and the private sector participated in the Congress. The Congress' theme was "Ecospace" - a concept that conveys the message that transboundary management of ecosystems is vital for the environmental agenda. Over the course of the meeting, delegates participated in 12 thematic sessions to consider issues ranging from ecospaces and a global culture for sustainability, to environment and security, to local solutions promoting social equity and cultural diversity. The Congress adopted 104 resolutions on a wide range of conservation, programme and governance topics. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/iucn/wcc2/ CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT THIRD SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON CHEMICAL SAFETY: The Third Session of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (FORUM III) was held from 15-20 October 2000, in Salvador, Brazil. The Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) is a mechanism for cooperation among governments for promoting the environmentally sound management of chemicals, and the theme of FORUM III was "In Partnership for Global Chemical Safety." Over 220 delegates from more than 80 countries, including representatives of IGOs and NGOs, attended the six-day meeting. Delegates conducted a review of the IFCS and assessed progress made on implementing Chapter 19 of Agenda 21. The meeting reached agreement on IFCS Priorities for Action Beyond 2000 and issued the Bahia Declaration on Chemical Safety. Delegates to FORUM III also considered: prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products; barriers to information exchange; information exchange for chemical production decision making; pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) and emission inventories; a capacity building network for the sound management of chemicals; raising awareness and raising the priority of chemicals management capacity-building issues at political levels; and the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The IFCS justifiably takes pride in its role as the overarching coordinating mechanism for international cooperation on chemical safety. While negotiations for legally binding conventions on issues such as POPs may have a higher public profile, the IFCS's steady work in the wings gained momentum at FORUM III as governments, international organizations, and NGOs tackled key existing and emerging issues. As one participant observed, the IFCS was consciously designed to function in a broad consensus- building mold and, as such, is for the most part living up to expectations. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/chemical/ifcs3/ 17th Session of the Technical Working Group of the Basel Convention: This meeting took place from 9-11 October in Geneva. On 9 October, delegates agreed to revise the Basel lists of hazardous wastes (Annex VIII) and non-hazardous wastes (Annex IX), with regard to waste and scrap of Molybdenum, Tantalum, Chromium, waste textile floor coverings and metal and metal alloy waste in metallic dispersible form. On 10 October, delegates agreed on efforts for finalizing and redrafting guidelines on biomedical and health care waste and plastic waste by the next meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG), and discussed guidelines related to lead acid batteries and metal and metal compounds. They also discussed new draft guidelines for the environmentally safe dismantling of ships, developed in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, and the International Labour Organization. On 11 October, the TWG adopted the recommendations of a small working group on dismantling of ships, and agreed on text for an explanatory note on the relationship between the Basel Convention and the proposed Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) convention, as well as on a revised questionnaire for reporting. Delegates also discussed activities prior to the next Conference of the Parties, and took note of difficulties in identifying funding for a workshop for developing countries on environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes. More information is available online at: http://www.basel.int CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE UNFCCC INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS: A number of informal meetings and consultations were held during October in preparation for the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP-6) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, taking place from 13-24 November 2000 in The Hague, the Netherlands. COP-6 will set the details of agreements made in 1997 contained in the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention. The informal meetings aimed to make progress on key issues to be discussed at COP-6, including: land use, land-use change and forestry; a compliance regime; the Kyoto mechanisms; Protocol Articles Articles 5 (methodological issues), 7 (communication of information) and 8 (review of information); and the adverse effects of climate change and responses to climate change. While some solid progress was made in terms of streamlining negotiating texts for decisions at COP-6, no major breakthroughs were reported. Questions also remain regarding the status of some texts developed during the informal consultations. It is expected that their status will be resolved at the start of COP-6. More information on these informal meetings and consultations is available from UNFCCC Secretariat, Bonn, Germany; tel: +49-228- 815-1000; fax: +49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int; Internet: http://www.unfccc.int WORKSHOP on LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: The Workshop on the Special Situations, and Special Needs and Concerns of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) within the Context of the Climate Negotiations at the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held at the UN Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva from 16-17 October 2000. The focus of the meeting was on the impacts of climate change on LDCs' economies, and on funding, insurance and technology transfer in accordance with UNFCCC Article 4.8 and 4.9 (adverse effects) to assist LDCs in responding to the effects of climate change. Participants developed an LDC proposal for the negotiations set to take place at the UNFCCC Sixth Conference of Parties in November 2000, requesting "immediate" and "long-term" adaptation funds for the purpose of preparing and implementing national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs). The proposal also requested that an LDC Expert Group be established to, inter alia, support the NAPA process. More information on this meeting is available from Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest: http://www.ictsd.org/html/weekly/story6.24-10-00.htm EMISSIONS MARKETING ASSOCIATION'S FOURTH ANNUAL FALL MEETING & INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: The Fourth Annual Fall Meeting and International Conference of the Emissions Marketing Association (EMA) took place from 2-3 October 2000, in Toronto, Canada. Co- sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), TransAlta, and Ontario Power Generation, the meeting was attended by 220 participants, including industry representatives, emissions trading brokers, government officials and academics. While the majority of participants were from Canada and the US, there were also participants from Japan, Switzerland, the UK and France. The meeting was organized by the EMA as part of its series of biannual meetings for Association members. The EMA is a not-for- profit US-based international education and trade association whose mission is to promote market-based trading solutions for environmental management. The EMA pursues this mission with the following objectives: promoting the advancement and application of policies and regulations relevant to market-based emissions trading systems; encouraging and facilitating information exchange among members, professional and technical groups, and the public; and providing programmes in education and training to improve the knowledge and skills of members, and the understanding and acceptance of the public. The meeting consisted of eight thematic sessions, with the predominant focus being a review of the potential for trading in greenhouse gases in the light of recent and anticipated developments in the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In addition to these eight thematic sessions, participants also heard lunchtime presentations by journalist/science writer Lydia Dotto and Eileen Claussen, President of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/ema/fall4/ WORKSHOP ON LAND USE, LAND-USE CHANGE AND FORESTRY - THE ROAD TO COP-6: This workshop was held on 28 September 2000 in Joensuu, Finland. Part of a series of meetings on forestry held during the final week of September in Joensuu, this workshop was organized by IEA Bioenergy Task25 in collaboration with COST E21 (Contribution of Forests and Forestry to Mitigate Greenhouse Effects), the European Forest Institute and University of Joensuu. The meeting was attended by 81 participants representing academic and research institutions, government departments and ministries, and international organizations. The meeting served as a forum to discuss issues relating to land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) under negotiation in the lead-up to the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP-6) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, taking place from 13-24 November 2000 in The Hague, the Netherlands. COP-6 will set the details of agreements made in 1997 contained in the Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol allows land use and forestry activities to be used in meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments. Participants to the workshop met in sessions that addressed: the recent Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on LULUCF; carbon accounting methodologies; LULUCF activities under Article 3.3 (afforestation, reforestation and deforestation) and 3.4 (additional activities) of the Kyoto Protocol; and the current state of negotiations. On the state of negotiations, one speaker presented three possible outcomes of the Kyoto Protocol: the Protocol is abandoned at COP-6 and COP-7 because of failure to agree on one or more of the key issues; the Protocol is ratified but the manner in which carbon sinks are included means targets are not met; or the Protocol is ratified and sinks conform to the objective of the Convention. Key LULUCF issues identified as still needing to be addressed in negotiations include the definition of forest, afforestation, reforestation and deforestation, the eligibility of additional activities under Article 3.4, and the accounting framework. Participants also discussed the role of sinks within the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), with some noting that the challenge was to achieve implementation in a way that did not distort the Protocol. In a final discussion, participants considered what a positive outcome from COP-6 might include. The desire for the Protocol to lead to the agreed reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and the first commitment period was expressed. Participants also considered the role of sinks in meeting commitments, with some suggesting strict boundaries and simple carbon accounting methodology so that their role is not overstated. It was stated that the Protocol is one step in the process, not the final objective. More information on this workshop, is available online at: http://www.joanneum.ac.at/iea-bioenergy-task25/fnew1.htm DESERTIFICATION SIXTH REGIONAL MEETING OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN ON UNCCD IMPLEMENTATION: The Sixth Regional Meeting of Latin America and the Caribbean on the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) took place from 16-19 October 2000 in San Salvador, El Salvador. It was organized by the UNCCD Secretariat and the Government of El Salvador, and attended by representatives of 28 countries from the region, non-governmental and international organizations, and UN agencies. Participants evaluated progress and obstacles and identified further needs and requirements in terms of implementing the Convention. The need for additional support for the Regional Coordinating Unit was expressed. The Unit is based in Mexico City and is responsible for coordinating the elaboration of the Regional Action Programme. Participants also highlighted the value of encouraging greater civil society involvement and developing synergies in terms of the linkages with other relevant environmental agreements. National reports on activities to combat desertification were also discussed. Participants emphasized the need to integrate desertification-related work into the wider economic development process. More information is available online at: http://www.unccd.int/publicinfo/pressrel/showpressrel.php?pr=press 19_10_00 INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 160TH SESSION OF UNESCO'S EXECUTIVE BOARD: The Executive Board of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) met for its 160th Session from 9-25 October 2000 in Paris, France. The Board considered proposals by UNESCO's Director-General Koďchiro Matsuura to reform the organization and refocus its programmes, as presented in the draft Medium Term Strategy for 2002-2007, and draft Programme and Budget for 2002-2003. Board members broadly endorsed these proposals, which are intended to help the organization concentrate on key areas where it can have a significant impact, such as access to universal basic education, protecting public service education, improving knowledge sharing, bridging the digital divide, and protecting and promoting cultural diversity in the light of globalization. The Board agreed that UNESCO's activities in coming years should take as their foundation the theme of "contributing to peace and human development in an era of globalization through education, sciences, culture and communication." On the draft budget for 2002-2003, the Board approved the proposal to give "absolute priority" to basic education for all; water resources and ecosystems; ethical issues relating to science and technology; diversity, pluralism and dialogue among cultures; and wider access to information. More information is available online at: http://www.unesco.org/opi/eng/unescopress/2000/october.shtml OCEANS AND COASTS UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONSIDERATION OF OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA: During its 55th Session, which is taking place from September – December 2000 in New York, the UN General Assembly met between 26-30 October 2000 to take up matters relating to oceans and seas, including conservation, marine pollution, unregulated fishing, and piracy. Participants discussed agenda items related to improvement of coordination and cooperation in terms of oceans and seas, and large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by- catch and discards, and other developments, and adopted two draft resolutions on these issues on 30 October. The resolution on oceans and the law of the sea calls for, inter alia: capacity-building for the implementation of the Convention; action on the problems of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the degradation of the marine environment, both from land- based sources and from pollution from ships and crimes at sea; and action to prevent and combat incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea. The resolution on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments, inter alia: reaffirms the importance of long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of marine living resources, recalls the obligation of States to cooperate to this end, and calls for application of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. For more information, see http://www.un.org/News/Press/ (search for press releases: GA/9797, GA/9798 and GA/9799) NINTH INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF SYMPOSIUM: This Symposium was held from 22-27 October 2000 in Bali, Indonesia. It was sponsored by the International Society for Coral Reef Studies, and was attended by 1500 participants from 52 countries, including scientists, policy makers, resource managers and conservationists. The Symposium addressed the theme "World Coral Reefs in the New Millennium: Bridging Research and Management for Sustainable Development." Participants considered new information on the potential link between global climate change and mass coral bleaching and deaths, as well as other causes of damage to coral reefs. They also discussed research on helping coral reef ecosystems survive bleaching, techniques to reduce or eliminate harmful practices, and status reports on coral reefs. Participants received briefings and engaged in discussions on research suggesting that more than 25 percent of the world's coral reefs have been destroyed by pollution and climate change, and that many of the remaining reefs could be dead within 20 years. The worst-hit areas include the Maldives and Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, where up to 90 percent of coral reefs have been killed during the past two years due to increases in water temperature. Given the crucial role coral reefs play as the foundations of many marine ecosystems, their disappearance would endanger thousands of fish and other marine species. Presenters also stressed the need for urgent government action to reverse global warming, reduce pollution, and address the problem of overfishing. They also noted the potential losses in terms of income from tourism and of coral reefs as a potential source for new medicines. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.nova.edu/ocean/9icrs/ TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT MEETING OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: The World Trade Organization's Committee on Trade and Environment met from 24-25 October 2000 in Geneva. Participants considered several agenda items, including: services and the environment; linkages between the WTO and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs); relations with IGOs and NGOs; and trade liberalization in fisheries and environmental services. The Committee also engaged in an information exchange session with representatives of four MEAs. Participants welcomed the recent UNEP Meeting on Enhancing Synergies and Mutual Supportiveness of MEAs and the WTO (see below). There was also disussion on WTO disputes that are relevant or related to MEAs, and submissions from several countries on MEA-WTO relations. On fisheries issues, participants discussed subsidies and a WTO Secretariat paper on the environmental benefits of removing trade restrictions. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22-739-5007; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm#news Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest's report on the meeting is online at: http://www.ictsd.org/html/weekly/story1.31-10-00.htm MEETING ON ENHANCING SYNERGIES AND MUTUAL SUPPORTIVENESS OF MEAS AND THE WTO: The Meeting on Enhancing Synergies and Mutual Supportiveness of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) took place on 23 October 2000 in Geneva. It was hosted by UNEP in collaboration with a number of other organizations. The meeting was attended by representatives of a number of countries and a range of international organizations, including UNEP, the WTO, and the UN Conference on Trade and Development, as well as officials from secretariats of several MEAs. The meeting's aim was to examine how national officials, MEAs, and the WTO can cooperate to maximize synergies and reduce potential tensions between trade and environmental policies, rules and institutions. The meeting included: an examination of cooperation among trade and environment policymakers at both the national and international levels; presentations by the Basel Convention and the Multilateral Fund to the Montreal Protocol and WTO Secretariats on areas of potential synergy; discussions on practical ways to reduce tensions in the areas of trade-related measures in environmental conventions and dispute settlement; and presentations by UNEP's Executive Director Klaus Töpfer, WTO Director-General Mike Moore and other high-level speakers on strengthening the mutual supportiveness of trade and environment policies, rules and institutions. Several participants highlighted the need for greater collaboration between the trade and environment communities in order to make their respective regimes mutually supportive. While noting the focus on potential tensions, Töpfer said the debate needed to be broadened to explore "win-win opportunities" and develop a practical approach on issues such as capacity building, technical assistance, and other shared concerns reflected in both MEAs and WTO rules, as the basis for constructive engagement between the two communities. For more information contact: Michael Williams; tel: +41-22-917-8242; e-mail: Michael.Williams@unep.ch or Hussein Abaza; tel: +41-22-917-8298; e-mail: Hussein.Abaza@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=177&ArticleID =2659 WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION SPECIAL SESSION ON IMPLEMENTATION: The World Trade Organization's General Council met in Geneva on 18-19 October for its Second Special Session on Implementation. Delegates heard a progress report by Chair Kare Bryn (Norway) and WTO Director-Genearl Mike Moore on consultations on implementation issues, particularly regarding developing country concerns on implementation of WTO agreements in a range of areas, including sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, agriculture, customs valuation, rules of origin, subsidies, services and trade-related intellectual property rights. A "fuller package of results" was expected on 18-19 December 2000, when the next Special Session on Implementation will be held. Some developing countries voiced dissatisfaction with progress on these issues, while a number also highlighted the need to address implementation issues in relation to agreements on anti-dumping, textiles and clothing, and trade-related investment measures. For more information contact: World Trade Organization - Information and Media Relations Division, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22- 739-5007; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/gcimplementation_18oct_ e.htm Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest's report on the meeting is online at: http://www.ictsd.org/html/weekly/story3.24-10-00.htm NORTH AMERICAN SYMPOSIUM ON UNDERSTANDING THE LINKAGES BETWEEN TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: The North American Symposium on Understanding the Linkages between Trade and Environment met from 11-12 October 2000 at the World Bank in Washington, DC. The Symposium was organized by the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NACEC), an organization established under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 to examine the linkages between trade and the environment. The meeting was attended by approximately 300 participants representing the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States - the three NAFTA States - as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations, business and industry, intergovernmental organizations, academia and the media. The meeting's purpose was to examine the relationship between free trade and the environment based on recent studies and research using a methodology developed by the NACEC. This methodology was released in a 1999 publication entitled the Final Analytic Framework for Assessing the Environmental Effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Participants met in plenary sessions that addressed a variety of issues relating to trade-environment linkages in the North American context, including: trade liberalization and natural resources; NAFTA and pollution impacts; relationships between trade liberalization and environmental policies and regulations; NAFTA's transportation and manufacturing impact on the environment; the services and public sector and the environment; and next steps in terms of policy responses to environment-trade links. In each plenary session, findings from specially-prepared research papers were presented followed by commentary from designated discussants, questions and open discussion. This meeting is expected to serve as a catalyst for further work and progress on integrating trade and environment issues. The Sustainable Developments report on this meeting is available online at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/cec/index.html MEETING OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION'S GENERAL COUNCIL: The World Trade Organization's General Council met in Geneva on 10 October 2000. The Council approved Oman's accession to the WTO, as well as a proposed Agreement between the International Telecommunications Union (DSU) and the WTO on cooperation on matters relating to trade in telecommunications. The Council also considered a proposal circulated on behalf of Japan and a number of other countries to amend some of the WTO's dispute settlement provisions. The Council agreed that the Chair should hold informal consultations and report back on the matter at the next meeting, scheduled for 7-8 December. The Council also: received reports from the Agriculture Committee and Services Council on their negotiation sessions; discussed the date and venue of the Fourth Ministerial Session; and heard presentations by the EU and US on their submissions on improving external transparency and information dissemination. For more information contact: World Trade Organization - Information and Media Relations Division, tel: +41-22-739-5007; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news00_e/gcouncil_oct00_e.htm WETLANDS 25TH RAMSAR STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING: The Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands met from 23-27 October 2000 in Gland, Switzerland. It was attended by 65 participants from Standing Committee member Parties, other Parties, observer States and non-governmental organizations. Preparatory meetings of Committee sub-groups met on 23 and 24 October, followed by Plenary sessions from 25-27 October. Members considered several key institutional matters, including legal issues relating to potential restrictions of site boundaries, the Ramsar Sites Database, and implementation of some of the decisions taken at the Seventh Conference of Parties (COP7) in May 1999. The Committee also endorsed and provided guidance on the Bureau's cooperation with other conventions and processes. In addition, it endorsed the Bureau's accounts for 1999-2000 and work plan and budget for 2001. In discussions on COP8, participants accepted Spain's suggestion that it hold the meeting in Valencia from 18-26 November 2002. The Committee also approved the draft agenda for COP8. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.ramsar.org/w.n.html WORKSHOPS ON WETLAND RESOURCES IN THE BLACK SEA AREA: Two workshops were held between late September and early October 2000 in Odesa, Ukraine that addressed issues relating to wetland resources, focusing on the Black Sea area. The first workshop, on Conservation, Restoration and Wise-Use of Wetlands and Wetland Resources along the Black Sea Coast, was held from 26-27 September and organized by Wetlands International with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries. Participants heard presentations on a draft directory of Black Sea coastal wetlands, discussed an action plan for coordinated waterbird surveys, and considered issues related to the development of a regional Black Sea wetlands initiative, using the experience of the Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative (MedWet) as an example. The Odesa 2000 Declaration on Black Sea Wetlands stated that activities and cooperation on the Black-Azov Sea wetlands area should be intensified. Participants also decided that a small coordination group should develop next steps for the establishment of a coordinated experts' network and action programme. The second workshop, on Water Issues and Natural Resources Management, was held from 28 September - 2 October. It was also organized by Wetlands International. Participants discussed the wise use of water and natural resources of deltas, as well as the monitoring of water resources and hydrological and chemical characteristics of delta ecosystems. The workshop concluded with field trips. A report on these workshops from the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is available online at: http://www.ramsar.org/mtg_odesa1.htm 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 POLICIES ON POOREST COUNTRIES QUESTIONED The current approach to aid policies is flawed, according to a new report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development. The Least Developed Countries 2000 Report notes that major changes in thinking on aid policy have taken place in recent years, but suggests that "many of the central tenets influencing them are misguided." It finds that two-thirds of the world's 48 least developed countries actually lost ground to other developing and low-income countries during the 1990s, with many stagnating or even regressing economically during that period. Seventy-five percent of people in these 48 countries live on less than US$2 per day. The report argues that the solution for the world's poorest countries lies in increasing economic development through external finance. It finds that many countries are caught in an "aid-and- debt trap" that requires more than simple debt relief. Instead, it recommends a broad-based "New Deal" that would include significant increases in aid and local control over aid flows, improved debt relief, greater synergies between aid and debt policies, and changes to national economic policies to develop productive capacity, increase international competitiveness, and attract investment. Links to further information UNCTAD press information and report, October 2000 http://www.unctad.org/en/pub/ps1ldc00.en.htm DAMS COMMISSION FINALIZES REPORT The World Commission on Dams has concluded its work on reviewing the world's experience with large dams, and will soon release its final report. The report, which will be launched at a high-level gathering in London on 16 November, will propose a "new framework for decision making in water and energy resources management." Its release will conclude an intense two-year process involving international consultation and research that aimed to assess large dam projects worldwide in terms of their technical, financial, environmental and social effects, as well as to develop guidelines for future decision making. The global launch of the report in London will be followed by a series of regional launches. Having concluded its work, the Commission will disband following the report's release. Links to further information World Commission on Dams press release, 6 October 2000 http://www.dams.org/press/pressrelease_63.htm WARNING ISSUED ON HUNGER REDUCTION TARGET The rate of decline in the number of undernourished people is "woefully inadequate" and will mean that the target set at the World Food Summit will be reached 15 years late if such trends continue, according to a new report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The report, State of Food Insecurity in the World 2000, notes that 826 million people still do not get enough to eat. Even though this number has dropped by an average of just under 8 million per year during the 1990s, the report argues that the rate of decline is far too low, given that this is "a time of unprecedented plenty." The report also notes that, based on current trends, the 1996 World Food Summit's goal of reducing the number of undernourished people to 400 million people by 2015 will not actually be met until 2030. A reduction of at least 20 million people per year is needed to reach the target by 2015. The report calls for investments not only in productivity but also in people, particularly in the areas of education, clean water and sanitation, and health and social services. The report's release coincided with World Food Day, held on 16 October. Links to further information FAO press release, October 2000 http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/PRESS_NE/PRESSENG/2000/pren0056.htm FAO information and report, October 2000 http://www.fao.org/FOCUS/E/SOFI00/sofi001-e.htm BIODIVERSITY INCREASED HUMAN-ANIMAL CONTACT POSES CONSERVATION, HEALTH RISKS Many animal species are being threatened by exposure to human illnesses, while the expansion of human settlements and activities into more areas and habitats is likely to hasten the emergence of new diseases that pass from animals to humans, according to scientists. In a recent BBC interview, veterinary pathologist Andrew Cunningham noted an increase in "pathogen pollution" between human and animals, which he said was one of the greatest threats to conservation. He also warned that "as the rate of infectious diseases increases in wildlife, then the chances of humans getting novel diseases also increases." Links to further information BBC news report, 22 September 2000 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_979000/979523.stm CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT BASEL CONVENTION REGIONAL CENTER OPENS A regional center for training and technology transfer under the Basel Convention has been established in Pretoria, South Africa. The new Center was established to enhance capacity for management, disposal and minimization of hazardous wastes in the region. It will receive assistance from the Basel Convention Secretariat in developing training programmes, raising awareness on hazardous wastes in Africa, and reaching financial independence. It is now being funded by the Danish Government. The Center was established in response to a request by the Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention for a stronger emphasis on regional capacity building. Links to further information UNEP press release, 2 October 2000 http://www.basel.int/press/press13.htm CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS HUMAN IMPACT ON CLIMATE A new draft report has provided further evidence of human activity significantly contributing to climate change. The draft Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is set to be finalized and approved in 2001, highlights anthropogenic causes of climate change, and suggests that temperature increases are likely to be higher than previously estimated. Links to further information CNN news reports, 26-27 October 2000 http://www.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/10/25/global.warming.ap/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/10/27/earth.matters/index.html BBC news report, 28 October 2000 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_996000/996115.stm OZONE HOLE OVER ARCTIC "LIKELY" An ozone hole is likely to appear over the Arctic by 2020, according to Jonathan Shanklin, one of the scientists who discovered the hole over the Antarctic in the 1980s. According to Shanklin, the ozone layer is becoming colder due to greenhouse gas emissions. This cooling makes the recovery of the ozone layer harder. "We think that within the next 20 years we're likely to see an ozone hole perhaps as big as the present one over Antarctica, but over the North Pole," Shanklin predicted in a recent interview. A hole over the Arctic would directly affect Asia, Europe and North America. Links to further information BBC news report, 26 October 2000 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_990000/990391.stm RUSSIA TO RECEIVE FUNDS FOR OZONE EFFORT A US$26.2 million grant agreement has been signed to assist the Russian Federation in achieving compliance with its international obligations to eliminate ozone depleting substances. The grant has been funded by a number of donor countries and the Global Environmental Facility, and will involve the World Bank becoming trustee for a trust fund for the Special Initiative for Ozone Depleting Substances Production Closure in the Russian Federation. The grant will provide funding for direct compensation payments to close production of ozone depleting substances in seven Russian enterprises that have a latent production capacity of approximately 140,000 metric tons of ozone depleting substances per year, or 47 percent of the world's latent production capacity. Links to further information World Bank press release, 25 October 2000 http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/news/pressrelease.nsf/ EU LIKELY TO FAIL ON EMISSIONS TARGETS - STUDY The European Union is likely to fail to meet internationally- agreed targets on cutting its greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent study by Dutch and German researchers. The report suggests that the EU lacks the policies needed to reduce emissions sufficiently. The study examined policies in six EU countries. Of these, only the UK seems likely to meet its goals. Links to further information PlanetArk news report, 18 October 2000 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=8582 COMPANIES ANNOUNCE CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP Several large multinational corporations and US-based advocacy group Environmental Defense have agreed to work together to use market-based mechanisms to combat climate change. BP, DuPont, Ontario Power Generation, Shell International, Suncor Energy, and two aluminum companies, Alcan and Pechiney, have joined with Environmental Defense to announce the creation of the Partnership for Climate Action. The Partnership aims to promote market-based mechanisms as a way to achieve "early and credible action" on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. All companies in the Partnership have set targets for emissions reductions, which will result in an annual reduction of at least 80 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2010. Companies will also measure these emissions and report on them to the public. Emissions trading will be used to enable emissions cuts. According to Environmental Defense's Executive Director Fred Krupp, "the Partnership for Climate Action shows that companies can cut greenhouse gas pollution while continuing to provide products to customers and profits to shareholders." Links to further information Environmental Defense press release, 17 October 2000 http://www.environmentaldefense.org/pubs/NewsReleases/2000/Oct/g_g reenhouse.html EMISSIONS TRADING WEBSITE SET FOR LAUNCH A website marketplace that allows companies to participate in greenhouse gas emissions trading has been announced by Cantor Fitzgerald, a brokerage house, and financial services company PricewaterhouseCoopers. The website marketplace, to be known as CO2e.com, will be officially launched in November at the Sixth Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will set specific rules on emissions trading and other matters related to the Kyoto Protocol. The new business expects emissions trading "to become one of the fastest growing commodity markets in the world." Links to further information CO2e.com press release, 17 October 2000 http://www.co2e.com/corporateoverview.asp UNITED STATES CRITICIZED FOR PROPOSING CLIMATE TREATY "LOOPHOLES" The United States administration has been criticized by environmentalists for proposing "loopholes" that could mean very little action is needed to meet internationally-agreed targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Critical international negotiations aimed at setting rules that will determine whether industrialized countries have met targets under the Kyoto Protocol for cutting emissions are set to take place at the Sixth Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at The Hague in November. The criticism was leveled by a number of environmental groups, including Greenpeace and WWF. These groups are threatening to withdraw their support for the treaty if potential "loopholes" - such as rules governing inclusion of carbon sinks - are agreed at The Hague. Links to further information ENN coverage of Washington Times report, 11 October 2000 http://www.enn.com/enn-subsciber-news-archive/2000/10/10112000/ krt_loopholes_32430.asp OZONE HOLE EXTENDS TO FIRST CITY The hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica has extended as far as a populated urban area for the first time. According to scientists at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the hole reached Punta Arenas in Chile, a city of 115,000 people, in September. NIWA also recently measured record low levels of atmospheric ozone above Scott Base in Antarctica. Commenting on these findings, NIWA scientist Stephen Wood noted that this year's Antarctic ozone hole was already the largest on record and formed earlier than usual. Links to further information NIWA press release, 2 October 2000 http://www.niwa.cri.nz/press_releases/oct2_00.htm MSNBC news report, 5 October 2000 http://www.msnbc.com/news/452791.asp DESERTIFICATION US SENATE VOTES TO RATIFY TREATY The United States Senate has voted to ratify the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the 170th country to have done so. The Convention recognizes the physical, biological and socioeconomic aspects of desertification, which affects one billion people in over 90 countries. The development of national and subregional/regional action programmes by national governments in cooperation with donors, local populations and non-governmental organizations is crucial to the Convention. Links to further information UNWire news report, 19 October 2000 http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/archives/UNWIRE001019.cfm#10 Convention list of ratifications http://www.unccd.int/convention/ratif/doeif.php FORESTS NEW UN FORUM ON FORESTS ESTABLISHED A new Forum on Forests has been established by the United Nations. The decision was taken by the Economic and Social Council of the UN at a meeting in New York on 18 October, and follows months of informal consultations. The new UN Forum on Forests will be a subsidiary body under the Economic and Social Council. Agreement on establishing the Forum was reached following a final round of informal consultations chaired by Bagher Asadi (Iran) on 18-22 September 2000. The Forum is the first new subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council established since the Commission on Sustainable Development was created in 1992. Membership in this Council subsidiary will be universal rather than restricted. The work of the Forum will be open and participatory, involving relevant international organizations and stakeholders. An informal meeting on the Forum will be held from 27 November – 3 December 2000. The Forum will then hold its first organizational session from 12-16 February 2001, and its first substantive session from 25 June – 6 July 2001. The Forum will meet annually thereafter. A Forum Secretariat will be established at UN Headquarters in NY, or possibly elsewhere. Costa Rica has indicated its willingness to host the Secretariat, and a decision on its location will be taken at the first organizational meeting. According to the resolution adopted on 18 October by the Council (UN document: E/2000/L.32), the Forum will endeavor to build on elements of the 1992 Rio Declaration, Chapter 11 of Agenda 21 and the Forest Principles, as well as on the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF), which preceded the new Forum. The Forum will adopt a multi-year programme of work and develop a plan of action during its organizational session. It has been tasked with promoting international cooperation on forest-related issues, implementing earlier proposals from the IPF/IFF, mobilizing necessary financial, technical and scientific resources, and monitoring and assessing progress. Within five years the Forum will also consider the prospects for developing a legal framework on all types of forests, including financial provisions. It will consider recommendations made by expert groups on the establishment of mechanisms on finance, technology transfer and trade. It will promote action-oriented dialogue and policy in order to strengthen the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests. Links to further information UN press releases, 18 October 2000 http://www.un.org/News/Press/ (press release: ECOSOC/5934) UN Commission for Sustainable Development website on forests http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/forests.htm OCEANS AND COASTS STUDY REVEALS CORAL REEF DAMAGE Greenpeace has released a new study indicating that the Pacific Ocean could lose most of its coral reefs by the end of the century as a result of global warming. The report, Pacific in Peril: Biological, economic and social impacts of climate change on Pacific coral reefs, also suggests that the economies of countries in the Pacific could suffer significantly as a result of the loss of coral reefs, with major impacts being felt by 2020. The report's release coincided with the Ninth Coral Reef Symposium, held in late October (see Recent Meetings section, page 6). Links to further information Greenpeace information and report, October 2000 http://www.greenpeace.org/pressreleases/climate/2000oct26.html WILDLIFE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA SIGN POLAR BEAR TREATY The United States and Russia have signed an agreement to help protect polar bears. The new treaty establishes protected conservation areas, bans commercial hunting, and sets quotas limiting how many bears can be hunted for subsistence by native tribes. The treaty - which covers territory on both sides of the Bering Strait - is based on an earlier agreement between the US and Canada relating to a different region. Although bear populations have increased recently, there are fears that this recent trend could be reversed by commercial hunting, poaching, and the impact of climate change on their habitat. Links to further information BBC news report, 16 October 2000 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_975000/9755 58.stm ASIA'S FRESHWATER TURTLES AT RISK Over half of Asia's freshwater turtle species are now endangered, according to a report released by TRAFFIC, Wildlife Conservation Society, Worldwide Fund for Nature and other conservation groups. The report finds that the number of critically endangered turtle species has more than doubled over the past four years. It calls for more effective measures to protect these animals. Links to further information TRAFFIC press release, 3 October 2000 http://www.traffic.org/news/turtles.html WOMEN GLOBAL WOMEN'S MARCH CONCLUDES WITH CALLS TO END POVERTY, VIOLENCE The World March of Women 2000, a campaign to promote the need for urgent and concrete action to improve the status of women, concluded in October at UN headquarters in New York with the presentation of signatures supporting the elimination of poverty and violence against women. The seven-month campaign mobilized nearly 6000 organizations and witnessed demonstrations and gatherings involving thousands of supporters in numerous cities and countries. At a final gathering of several hundred supporters of the campaign in New York, UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette received the signatures supporting action. She noted the decision of heads of States and Governments at the recent Millennium Summit to promote gender equality and empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty and stimulate development, and their agreement on specific goals to help achieve these goals. She said governments had the primary responsibility for turning commitments into action, while adding that those involved in this campaign could help by working in partnership with governments to achieve their aims. Also addressing campaigners, UN General Assembly President Harri Holkeri of Finland applauded their efforts in advocating action. Links to further information World March of Women 2000 website http://www.ffq.qc.ca/marche2000/ UN press releases, 17 October 2000 http://www.un.org/News/Press/ (press releases GA/SM/204, DSG/SM/108). UN CALLS FOR MORE WOMEN IN SENIOR POSTS A United Nations Committee has approved a resolution requesting the Secretary-General to appoint more women, especially in the areas of peacekeeping, peace-building, preventive diplomacy and economic and social development. The resolution was adopted without a vote by the UN General Assembly's Third Committee, which considers Social, Humanitarian and Cultural matters. The resolution on improving the status of women in the UN system also strongly urges the Secretary-General to appoint more women to other high-level positions through innovative recruitment strategies. In addition, it encourages Member States to appoint suitably qualified women permanent representatives to UN missions. In considering agenda items on the advancement of women during meetings held in October, the Third Committee also focused on the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995 and the Special Session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century." Links to further information UN press release on the Committee resolution, 20 October 2000 http://www.un.org/News/Press/ (press release GA/SHC/3600) UN press releases on on Beijing+5 discussions, October 2000 http://www.un.org/News/Press/ (press releases GA/SHC/3583, GA/SHC/3584, GA/SHC/3585, and GA/SHC/3586) GOVERNMENTS CRITICIZED ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS RECORDS The records of some countries in Eastern and Central Europe have been criticized in a new report released by the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, a US advocacy group, and the Federation of Women and Family Planning, a Warsaw-based organization. The report, Women of the World: Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives - East Central Europe, examines laws and policies in Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Russia. While the report finds that all these countries have recognized the right to health care and family planning, it suggests that the last decade has been "marked by a failure to ensure that the laws, policies and institutions will further women's reproductive rights in the region." The report argues that privatization of health care systems under structural adjustment programmes has brought about lower levels of spending on health care, which has had an impact on women's access to reproductive health services. "These governments' failure to provide adequate reproductive health services within the primary health care system limits women's autonomy and their ability to control their fertility and their lives," said Katherine Hall Martinez, Deputy Director of the International Programme at the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy. Links to further information Center for Reproductive Law and Policy press release, 20 October 2000 http://www.crlp.org/102000wowece.html Report, October 2000 http://www.crlp.org/wowece.html 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 UN COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ELECTED The UN General Assembly has elected Ruud Lubbers – a former long- serving Prime Minister of the Netherlands – as its next High Commissioner for Refugees. The election took place without a vote on Thursday, 26 October, following a recommendation by Secretary- General Kofi Annan the previous day. The Secretary-General's nomination of the ex-Prime Minister was a surprise to some, especially as the Dutch Environment Minister Jan Pronk, not Ruud Lubbers, was the nominee of the Dutch Government. Even Lubbers himself expressed some surprise at the offer, which he said "came a little bit suddenly," although adding that he felt "honored" and "privileged" to be taking up the post. Lubbers will replace Sadako Ogata, who is stepping down at the end of December after ten years as High Commissioner. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/ (press releases GA/9796 and SG/SM/7600). Commentary by the Earth Times is available at: http://www.earthtimes.org/oct/unitednationsdutchaskwhyoct26_00.htm NEW UN POPULATION FUND DIRECTOR APPOINTED Thoraya Ahmed Obaid of Saudi Arabia has been appointed as the next Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Obaid has a quarter of a century's experience working in the UN system, including two years with the UNFPA. She also has considerable experience working on reproductive rights and health issues, as well as on social affairs. She will replace Nafis Sadik, who has been UNFPA Executive Director for the past 13 years. More information on this appointment is available online at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/ (press release SG/SM/7600). WORLDWATCH NAMES NEW PRESIDENT Christopher Flavin has been appointed President of the Worldwatch Institute, a Washington, DC-based organization that conducts inter-disciplinary research on global environmental issues. He has worked for the Institute as Vice President for Research and as Senior Vice President, as well as serving as Acting President for much of this year. A regular writer and speaker on energy and environmental issues, he also serves on several organizations' boards, including the Board of Directors of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, an organization he helped found in 1992. Flavin replaces Lester Brown, the Institute's founding President, who established the organization in 1974 and who became the Chair of the Board in April this year. More information on the appointment is available online at: http://www.worldwatch.org/alerts/001019.html VACANCIES UNCTAD ADVERTISES FOR SENIOR ECONOMIST The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is seeking a Senior Economic Affairs Officer for its Division on International Trade in Goods and Services and Commodities. This is a P-5 UN position that is based in Geneva. The deadline for applications is 11 November. More information is available at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/tad40348.htm DESA ANNOUNCES SENIOR GENDER ISSUES VACANCY The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs' Focal Point for Women is seeking a Principal Officer on gender issues and the advancement of women. This is a D-1 position and is based in New York. Applications must be received by 11 November. More information is available at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/esa1252.htm UNCTAD SEEKS COORDINATOR FOR LEAST DEVELOPED, LANDLOCKED & ISLAND COUNTRIES The UN Conference on Trade and Development is seeking a Special Coordinator for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked and Island Developing States. This is a D-2 position based in Geneva. The deadline for applications is 11 November. More information is available at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/tad40399.htm ISDR SECRETARIAT SEEKS DIRECTOR The Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is seeking a new Director. The position operates under the overall supervision of the Under-Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs. This is a D-2 UN position based in New York. The deadline for applications is 18 November. More information is available at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/cha1244.htm DIRECTOR'S VACANCY IN UN OCEANS DIVISION The UN Office of Legal Affairs is seeking a Director for its Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. The post is a D-2 UN position and is based in New York. The closing date for applications is 9 December 2000. More information is available at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/ola1378.htm CCD SECRETARIAT SEEKS REGIONAL COORDINATOR The UN Secretariat of the Convention to Combat Desertification is seeking a Coordinator for the Asia Region. This is a P-5 post based in Bonn, Germany. The deadline for applications is 9 December. More information is available at: http://www.unccd.int/secretariat/vacancies/vaCoordP5eng.pdf SENIOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS VACANCY AT ECA The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is seeking a Senior Economic Affairs Officer to work in the Cabinet Office of the Executive Secretary. The incumbent will write speeches and statements for the ECA's Executive Secretary and Deputy Executive Secretary, and recommend policy and programme options. This is a P-5 UN position based out of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The closing date for applications is 11 December. More information is available at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/eeca190.htm READINGS New and recent book titles, articles and other literature on environment and development JOURNALS /Wetlands The October issue of the journal Ecological Economics includes a number of articles focusing on wetlands and wetlands management. The first article, "Valuation of wetlands in a landscape and institutional perspective" by Tore Soderqvist, William Mitsch and Kerry Turner highlights the dependence of human survival on ecosystem supports and the susceptibility of ecosystems to human influences, and assesses what this means within the context of sustainable development. Further titles on wetlands and wetlands valuation and management in this journal include: "Ecological- economic analysis of wetlands - scientific integration for management and policy"; "The value of wetlands - importance of scale and landscape setting"; "Economic criteria for using wetlands as nitrogen sinks under uncertainty"; "Property rights and the utilization of wetlands"; "Development and conservation of Philippine mangroves - institutional issues"; and "Wetland restoration, collective action and the role of water management institutions." The articles provide both theoretical frameworks and case studies. For more information visit: http://www.elsevier.com/inca/publications/store/5/0/3/3/0/5/ NEW PUBLICATIONS /Sustainable Development The World Resources Institute has published a new report, Monitoring for Impact: Lessons on Natural Resources Monitoring from 13 NGOs (Volumes I & II), WRI, September 2000, by Christian Ottke, Peter Kristensen, David Maddox and Eric Rodenburg. The report draws on information from the World Resources Institute's Global Forest Watch Programme and Conservation International's Monitoring and Evaluation Programme. The authors emphasize financial resources, credible data and communications skills as the three primary ingredients for the creation of monitoring programmes, and the role of NGOs as providers of information/monitoring data for the development and improvement of natural resources management programmes. The first volume functions as a handbook for the development and implementation of natural resources monitoring programmes, while the second volume contains 13 case studies and presents lessons learned. The full text is available at http://www.globalforestwatch.org Both volumes are available for purchase online at http://www.wristore.com The WWF has released its Living Planet Report 2000, WWF, October 2000. The report finds that the "natural wealth" of the world's forests, freshwater and marine ecosystems have declined by one- third since 1970. It suggests that human pressure on the Earth has increased by 50 percent since 1970, and the "ecological footprint" – a measure of human pressure on global ecosystems – now exceeds the Earth's biological productive capacity by 30 percent, causing the depletion of the Earth's natural capital. The report notes that the "ecological footprint" and corresponding pressure on the world's biological productive capacity of an average person living in an industrialized country is four times greater than that of a person in a developing country. A press briefing on the report is available at: http://panda.org/news/press/news.cfm?id=2095. The full report is at: http://www.panda.org/livingplanet/lpr00/index.cfm /Chemical Management Written by Jonathan Krueger, Information in International Environmental Governance: The Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Trade in Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, September 2000, seeks to measure the effectiveness of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure in terms of the credibility, legitimacy, salience and relevance of the information that it provides, as well as the process by which it is provided. In this discussion paper, the author notes that information can be critical to the effectiveness of international institutions, and identifies the 1989 voluntary UNEP/FAO PIC procedure and the 1998 legally binding Rotterdam Convention on the PIC Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade as an information and decision support system. He then proceeds to examine changes in information flows over time related to the PIC procedure, such as data on notification and response rates. The author concludes that the legally binding PIC procedure has improved the clarity, transparency, and process by which information about PIC chemicals is exchanged, and stresses the importance of standardization of information for credibility and of transparency for political legitimacy. He notes that the information provided through the institutionalization of the PIC procedure is of particular salience and relevance to countries that lack domestic capacity to obtain necessary information otherwise. This paper can be accessed online at: http://environment.harvard.edu/gea/pubs/2000%2D15.html and comments can be directed to Jonathan Krueger at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 or by email to: jkrueger@iisd.org /Climate and Atmosphere The WWF has recently published a report on Global Warming and Terrestrial Biodiversity Decline, WWF International, August 2000, written by Jay R Malcolm (Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto) and Adam Markham (Executive Director of the US-based NGO Clean Air – Cool Planet). The report notes changes already taking place, and points to likely future increases in habitat loss and species extinction resulting from climate change, especially in the higher latitudes of the Northern hemisphere. The report can be accessed at: http://panda.org/resources/publications/climate/speedkills/ The WWF has also released a report on Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events, WWF, September 2000. Written by Pier Vellinga and Willem van Verseveld (Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit, the Netherlands), the report assesses the state of scientific knowledge on impacts of climate change on weather and the occurrence of weather extremes. Based on systematic analysis of observed changes in average temperature, precipitation patterns and intensity, sea level, snow and ice cover, ocean and atmosphere circulation patterns and ecosystems behavior, the authors conclude that changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in some parts of the world can be attributed with reasonable confidence to human-induced climate change. They note the uneven distribution across the globe of costs and benefits related to changes in the weather, and assert the importance of early action in the form of greenhouse gas control measures to reduce expected societal and ecological damage. The report is available online at: http://www.panda.org/resources/publications/climate/xweather/ Josef Janssen, Institute for Economy and the Environment at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, has published a working paper entitled Will Joint Implementation Survive International Emissions Trading? - Distinguishing the Kyoto Mechanisms. The author explores the distinctions between and interrelationship of the Kyoto mechanisms in order to provide information for further research, as well as for the design and practical implementation of the mechanisms. The paper is available online at: http://www.iwoe.unisg.ch/files/feem.pdfhttp://www.iwoe.unisg.ch/ky oto The Pew Center on Global Climate Change has issued four papers that explore new directions for economic analysis of climate change. The papers - by Alan Sansted of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Stephen DeCanio of the University of California at Santa Barbara, Richard Howarth of Dartmouth College, Stephen Schneider of Stanford University and Starley Thompson of Complex Systems Research, Inc. - pinpoint limitations to current "integrated assessment" (IA) computer models used to integrate scientific and economic data when assessing climate change policies. The purpose of the studies was to offer suggestions for the development of IA in a manner that better allows policy makers and citizens to address the challenges posed by climate change. The authors critique various assumptions underlying IA models. Regarding innovation in climate-friendly technologies, Sansted challenges the notion that this would discourage innovation in other sectors. On the assumption in IA models that firms seek only to maximize profits, DeCanio asserts that firms actually have multiple objectives. Regarding future generations, Howarth suggests that climate stability can be viewed as an economic asset that would contribute strongly to the welfare of future generations. Finally, on "climate surprises," Scheider and Thompson conclude that IA models that ignore the possibility of climate surprises overestimate the capacity of human society to adapt and underestimate the optimal control rate for greenhouse gas emissions. The reports are available online at: http://www.pewclimate.org/projects/directions.cfm UPCOMING MEETINGS Information on upcoming conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of international environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 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 and 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, North American Lake Management Society, PO Box 5443 Madison, WI 53705-5443; tel: +1- 608-233-2836; fax: +1-608-233-3186; Internet: http://www.nalms.org UNEP Finance Initiatives International Roundtable Meeting on Finance and Environment: This meeting will be held in Frankfurt, Germany, from 16-17 November 2000. It will provide a forum in which financial services sector officials, as well as representatives of the business community, governments, and academia, can discuss how environmental factors affect corporate performance, and how to integrate environmental considerations in the insurance and banking sectors. For more information contact: Kenneth Maguire, UNEP/ETU, Geneva, Switzerland; fax: +41-22-796- 9240; e-mail: etu@unep.ch Internet: http://www.unep.ch/etu/finserv/fsiconf/conf.htm FIFTH International Congress in Management of Natural Resources: This congress will take place in Valdivia, Chile, from 20-24 November 2000. For more information contact: CEACORP, Chile; tel: +56-63-215846; fax: +56-63-299065; Internet: http://www.ceacorporacion.cl 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 POSTI project: Policies for Sustainable Technological Innovation in the 21st Century. For more information contact: Gillian Perkins, University of East London, London, UK; tel: +44- 20-8223-4215; fax: +44-20-8223-7595; Internet: http://www.esst.uio.no/posti/UEL.html World Congress on environmental law: This congress will be held from 8-12 January 2001, in San José, Costa Rica. For more information contact: Ramón Ojeda, Secretario General, CIACA; tel/fax: +34-943-278-888; Internet: http://www.greenchannel.com/iceac Third International Meeting of Economists on Globalization and Development Issues: This meeting will be held in Havana, Cuba, from 29 January – 2 February 2001. For more information contact: Asociacón Nacional de Economistas de Cuba, Calle 22 No. 901 esq.9a, Miramar, Playa Ciudad de la Habana, CP 11300, Cuba; tel: +53-7-249-461; Internet: http://www.unchs.org/unchs/english/calendar/ Global Change and Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia: This regional conference will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 17- 19 February 2001. For more information contact: Connie Chiang, SARCS Secretariat, Bangkok, Thailand; tel: +662-218-8126; fax: +662-255-4967; Internet: http://www.icsea.or.id/sarcs2001/ CSD-9: The Ninth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development will be held in New York from 16-27 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 from 26 February – 2 March (Energy Expert Group), 6-9 March (Working Group on transport and atmosphere) and 12-16 March (Working Group on information for decision-making and participation and on international cooperation for an enabling environment). For more information contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, Major Groups Focal Point, Division for Sustainable Development; tel: +1-212-963-8811; 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; tel: +44-1603-450-581; e-mail: agric.2020@bbsrc.ac.uk; Internet: http://www.jic.bbsrc.ac.uk/events/agric2020 CSD-10 (PREPCOM): The Tenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development is expected to convene for a meeting in New York from 30 April – 2 May 2001 to serve as the Preparatory Committee for the Ten-year Review of UNCED. For more information contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, Major Groups Focal Point, Division for Sustainable Development; tel: +1-212-963-8811; e-mail: aydin@un.org Eco-Informa 2001: Environmental Risks & the Global Community - Strategies for Meeting the Challenges: This meeting will take place from 14-18 May 2001, in Argonne, Illinois, USA. For more information contact: Alvin Young, US Department of Energy, Center for Risk Excellence, Argonne, Illinois, USA; tel: +1-630-252-2503; fax: +1-630-252-2654; Internet: http://eco-informa.ead.anl.gov/ Third UN Conference on Least Developed Countries: This meeting will be held from 14-20 May 2001 in Brussels, Belgium. An Intergovernmental PrepCom for the event will be held from 5-9 February 2001 in Geneva. For more information contact: Office of the Special Coordinator for Least Developed, Landlocked and Island Developing Countries, UNCTAD, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22- 907-5893; fax: +41-22-907-0046; Internet: http://www.unctad.org/en/subsites/ldcs/document.htm BIODIVERSITY Workshop for the Asia-Pacific Region on the Implementation of Multilateral Agreements related to Biodiversity: This meeting will be held from 10-16 November 2000 in Kishiro, Japan. For more information contact: Environmental Law Programme, UNITAR, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-917-8547; Internet: http://www.unitar.org 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, tel/fax: +1-760-872-8751; Internet: http://www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/fish/dfc/ First Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee FOR the Cartagena Protocol: This meeting will take place in Montpellier, France, from 11-15 December 2000. For more information, please contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada: tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1- 514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/doc/iccp-1.htm 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, New Zealand; tel/fax: +64-9-298-5775; Internet: http://www.issg.org/index.html#Conference CBD SBSTTA-6: The Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity will meet from 12-16 March 2001 in Montreal, Canada. For more information about this and other upcoming CBD meetings contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada; tel: +1-514-288-2220; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/ 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 SECOND Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee FOR the Cartagena Protocol: This meeting will take place in Montreal, Canada, from 1-5 October 2001. For more information, please contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada: tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org CBD SBSTTA-7: The Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity will meet from 12-16 November 2001 in Montreal, Canada. For more information about this and other upcoming CBD meetings contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada; tel: +1-514-288-2220; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/ SIXTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIODIVERSITY: CBD COP-6 will take place in The Hague, the Netherlands, from 8-26 April 2002. This gathering is also expected to serve as the First Meeting of the Parties (MOP-1) to the Cartagena Protocol. For more information about this and other upcoming CBD meetings contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada; tel: +1-514-288-2220; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/ CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT CONTAMINATED SITE REMEDIATION CONFERENCE 2000 - FROM SOURCE ZONES TO ECOSYSTEMS: This conference will be held from 4-8 December 2000 in Melbourne, Australia. For more information contact: Convention Link, Perth, Western Australia; tel: +61-8-9450-1662; fax: +61-8- 9450-2942; Internet: http://www.clw.csiro.au/CGS/conf/2000CSRC/ 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. For more information contact: UNEP Chemicals (IRPTC); tel: +41-22-979-9111; 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; fax: +39-6-5705-6347; e-mail: A.Wodageneh@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Even ts/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; tel: +41-22-917-8111; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (DIPCOM): This meeting will take place from 21-23 May 2001 in Stockholm, Sweden. For more information contact: Jim Willis, UNEP; tel: +41- 22-979-9111; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops PANEL OF EXPERTS ON PESTICIDE SPECIFICATIONS, REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATION STANDARDS AND PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT: The 18th Session of the 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 in Rome. For more information contact: Gero Vaagt, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-5757; e-mail: Gero.Vaagt@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Even ts/c.htm JOINT FAO-WHO MEETING ON PESTICIDE RESIDUES: The 26th 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 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/Pesticid/even ts/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; e-mail: Niek.VanderGraaff@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Even ts/c.htm CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE 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, this Programme provides technical support for the preparation of initial national communications under the UNFCCC. Two workshops remain under the 2000 work programme: Arab States Regional Exchange Workshop on Climate Change from 5-7 November in Cairo, Egypt; and South American Regional Exchange Workshop on National Communications, from 12-14 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: http://www.undp.org/cc/ THE KYOTO EFFECT: THE NEW CARBON ECONOMY: This conference is being held in Antwerp from 13-14 November 2000. It is being sponsored by Prebon Energy and eFinancial News, and is intended for senior business, industry and government representatives. For more information contact: Hugh McGuire, Prebon Consulting Services; e- mail: hmcguire@prebon.com; Internet: http://www.globalcarbonreduction.com 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.int; Internet: http://cop6.unfccc.int/ World ClimateTech2000: This exhibition will be shown from 16-24 November 2000 in The Hague, the 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; e-mail: Adam.Smith@iea.org; 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 & 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 UNECE Executive Body for the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution: This meeting will be held from 4-7 December 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland. For further 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 Village Power 2000: This event will be held from 4- 7 December at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Workshops will be held on 4 December, and a conference will be held from 5-7 December. For more information visit: http://www.villagepower2000.com/ 12TH MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO 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; Internet: http://www.unep.org/ozone/meet2000.htm EightH Session of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: This meeting will take place from 17-20 January 2001 in Shanghai, China. For more information contact: N. Sundararaman; Secretary to the IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-730-8208; fax: +41-22-730-8025; Internet: http://www.ipcc.ch EECO 2000: Environment AND Energy Conference - Business Strategies for Sustainable Economic Growth: This conference will be held from 29-30 January 2001 in Toronto, 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.eeco2000.com SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOLAR ENERGY AND APPLIED PHOTOCHEMISTRY: This meeting will be held from 3-8 April 2001 in Cairo, Egypt. Lectures and workshops will help scientists to communicate and share experiences on solar energy issues. For more information contact: Sabry Abdel-Mottaleb, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; tel: + 2012-216-9584; e-mail: solar@photoenergy.org; Internet: http://www.photoenergy.org/solar2001.html 12TH GLOBAL WARMING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE & EXPO - Kyoto Compliance Review: This meeting will be held in Cambridge, UK, from 8-11 April 2001. For more information contact: Sinyan Shen, The Global Warming International Center Headquarters, Naperville, Illinois, USA; tel: +1-630-910-1551; fax: +1-630-910-1561; Internet: http://www2.msstate.edu/~krreddy/glowar/gw12c.html UNFCCC SB-14: The 14th Session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place from 21 May – 1 June 2001 in Bonn, Germany. For more information contact: the UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax: +49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY IN NORTHERN EUROPE: 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; e- mail: miaron@utu.fi; Internet: http://figare.utu.fi/notice.html UNFCCC COP-7: This meeting is scheduled to take place from 29 October - 9 November 2001, in Marrakech, Morocco. For more information contact: Isabelle Colineau, UNFCCC, Bonn, Germany; tel: +49-228-815-1425; fax: +49-228-815-1999; Internet: http://www.unfccc.int DESERTIFICATION SECOnd International Conference on Renewable Natural Resources in Arid Zones: This conference will take place from 11-14 November 2000 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For more information contact: A.H. Al-Farhan, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; tel: +966-1-441-8700; fax: +966- 1-441-0797; Internet: http://www.ncwcd.gov.sa/ncwcd/english/scientific.html FOURTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: COP-4 is scheduled to meet from 11-22 December 2000 in Bonn, Germany. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat, P.O. Box 260129, D-53153 Bonn, Germany; tel: +49-228-815-2800; fax: +49-228-815-2899; e-mail: secretariat@unccd.int; Internet: http://www.unccd.int 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 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, Forestry Department, 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, UN DESA, New York; tel: +1-212-963-6208; e-mail: vahanen@un.org UN FORUM ON FORESTS - ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION: This meeting will be held from 12-16 February 2001 in New York. Prior to this, an informal consultation is scheduled for 27 November - 3 December 2000. For more information contact: Secretariat, Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, Division of Sustainable Development, UN DESA, New York; tel: +1-212-963-6208; 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 FIRST SUBSTANTIVE SESSION OF THE UN FORUM ON FORESTS: This meeting is expected to be held from 25 June – 6 July 2001 in New York, USA. For more information contact: Secretariat, Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, Division of Sustainable Development, UN DESA, New York; tel: +1-212-963-6208; e-mail: vahanen@un.org International Symposium on Ecological and Societal Aspects of Transgenic Forest Plantations: This symposium will be held from 23-24 July 2001 in Stevenson, Washington State, United States. For more information contact: http://www.fsl.orst.edu/tgerc/iufro2001/eco_symp_iufro.htmb HABITAT 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 "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. The 18th Session of the Commission on Human Settlements will meet in Nairobi, Kenya from 12-16 February 2001. The 2nd 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: +254-2-623-831; e- mail: Axumite.Gebre-Egziabher@unchs.org; Internet: http://www.istanbul5.org/meetings/ INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 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 & 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#Dec99 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. To see the provisional calendar of all FAO Governing Bodies meetings, regional conferences and Committee Sessions for 2000-2001, visit: http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/x3837e.htm For more information on specific meetings, visit: http://www.fao.org/events/default.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. Miller, UNEP, Nairobi; tel: +254-2-623- 411; fax: +254-2-623-748; e-mail: millerb@unep.org. OECD Environment Ministers Meeting and Annual OECD Council Meeting at Ministerial Level: These meetings will take place from 16-18 May 2001 in Paris, France. For more information contact: Media Relations, OECD, Paris, France; tel: +33-1-4524-8200; fax: +33-1- 4524-1950; Internet: http://www.oecd.org/media/upcoming.htm OCEANS AND COASTS 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. Topics for discussion will include integrated coastal zone management, marine resources management, marine biodiversity, and the global ocean observing system. 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.htm 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 POPULATION UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: The Commission's 34th Session will take place from 2-6 April 2001 in New York. 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.htm SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 39th session of the UN Commission for Social Development: This meeting will take place from 13-23 February 2001 in New York. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/2001.htm WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA & RELATED INTOLERANCE: This conference will be held from 31 August - 7 September 2001 in South Africa. A preparatory meeting is scheduled to take place in May 2001 in Geneva. For more information contact: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights World Conference Secretariat, Geneva, tel: +41-22-917-9290; e-mail: husbands@un.org; Internet: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/racism/racism.htm TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT WTO TRIPS COUNCIL: The World Trade Organization's Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) will meet from 27 November - 1 December 2000 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 GENERAL COUNCIL: The WTO's General Council will meet on 7-8 December and 18-19 December 2000 (Special Session on Implementation). For more information contact: Nuch Nazeer, WTO; tel: +41-22-739-5007; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/gcounc_e/gcounc_e.htm WETLANDS Lake2000 – Symposium on Restoration of Lakes and Wetlands: This meeting will be held from 27-29 November 2000 in Bangalore, India. For more information contact: T.V. Ramachandra, Center for Ecological Sciences, Bangalore, India; tel: +91-080-360-0985; fax: +91-080-360-1428; Internet: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/water/lake2000conference.html WETLANDS AND REMEDIATION - SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: This conference will take place from 5-6 September 2001 in Burlington, Vermont, USA. For more information contact: Carol Young, Conference Coordinator; tel: +1-614-424-7604; e-mail: youngc@battelle.org; Internet: http://www.battelle.org/environment/er/wetlandsconf/wetlandsconf/h tml RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLANDS COP8: COP8 is scheduled to convene in Valencia, Spain, from 18-26 November 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 "CARNIVORES 2000" - CONFERENCE ON CARNIVORE BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY: This meeting will take place from 12-15 November 2000 in Denver, Colorado. For more information contact Defenders of Wildlife: tel: +1-202-682-9400; Internet: http://www.defenders.org/c2000/c20001.html MeetingS of the Animals and Plants Committees OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES): This meeting will take place in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, from 7-9 December 2000. It will be followed by the 10th meeting of the Plants Committee (11-15 December) and the 16th meeting of the Animals Committee (11-15 December). For more information contact: CITES Secretariat, International Environment House, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-917-8139/40; fax: +41-22-797-3417; Internet: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/CITES/eng/cttee/animals/joint_meeting_info. shtml WOMEN MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN: A number of meetings are being held in 2001, all at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The 24th Session of the Committee will be held from 15 January - 2 February 2001. The Pre- Session Working Group for the 25th Session will be held from 5-9 February 2001. The 25th Session will meet from 4-22 June 2001. The Pre-Session Working Group for the 26th Session will be held from 25-29 June 2001. For more information contact: Women's Rights Unit, Division for the Advancement of Women, Room DC2-1226, UN, New York, NY 10017, USA; fax: +1-212-963-3463; e-mail: connorsj@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/calendar.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 chris@iisd.org Managing Editor: Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI kimo@iisd.org Assistant Editor: Malena Sell malena@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