/linkages/journal/ Volume 6 Number 6 1 June 2001 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/link0606e.pdf ( The following is the ASCII version of Vol. 6 No. 6 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 malena@iisd.org Linkages Journal offers the latest news, information and analysis from international environment and development negotiations. The June 2001 issue of Linkages Journal includes: * media reports and news; * briefings on key meetings held in May 2001, including the Third UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Stockholm Convention on POPs, and Expert Consultations on International Environmental Governance that ended on 29 May; * details of new journal articles, books and online reports; * a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings. ) EDITOR'S NOTE A message from Linkages Journal's Editor CHEMICALS, LDCS TAKE CENTER STAGE Chemicals Treaty Signed in Stockholm The ongoing plight of the world's Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and an agreement on Persistent Organic Pollutants stood out as two key events in environment and development circles in recent weeks. Many observers expressed satisfaction at the signing of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) by 91 countries late May following a lengthy negotiating process stretching back several years. The agreement covers a dozen chemicals used as pesticides and in industrial processes. For many, the signing of the treaty constitutes a success in international environmental collaboration, and an important milestone in a long process to regulate toxic chemicals. Focus on LDCs Also during May, the daunting difficulties and problems faced by the world's Least Developed Countries was the focus of a major conference held in Brussels. Many attending the event were hoping for concrete "deliverables" or action items drawn from interactive thematic sessions, rather than what one commentator referred to as "the usual broad declarations of good intent" or the simple reiteration of well-known problems. Although participants served up some specific outcomes and undertakings, such as the signing of 29 bilateral treaties paving the way for increased foreign investment between developed countries and LDCs, the coming months will serve to show whether the meeting was successful in producing "deliverables" that actually end up being delivered. In other news, the past month has also seen what appears to be the start of "PrepCom season," with two major upcoming events holding first sessions of their respective Preparatory Committees. The International Conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development – both scheduled for 2002 – navigated their way through their first official preparatory meetings. Meanwhile, informal consultations on climate change now are almost certain to resume in The Hague from 25-28 June. Forestry negotiators and observers will be gearing up for the first session of the UN Forum on Forests scheduled for mid-June, while experts on human settlements will shortly begin to participate in the long-awaited UN Special Session on Habitat ("Istanbul+5") taking place from 6-8 June in New York. Malena Sell - Editor, Linkages Journal RECENT MEETINGS Information on recent conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EXPERT CONSULTATIONS ON INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: Expert Consultations on International Environmental Governance were convened in Cambridge, United Kingdom, from 28-29 May 2001, pursuant to decision 21/21 by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The decision established an Open-ended Intergovernmental Group of Ministers to undertake a comprehensive policy-oriented assessment of existing institutional weaknesses and examine future needs and options for strengthened international environmental governance, including the financing of UNEP. As part of the decision, the Governing Council indicated that the process should benefit from expert input. Twenty-seven academics, policy specialists from non-governmental organizations, and veterans of international environmental negotiating processes took up their invitations from UNEP Executive Director, Klaus Töpfer, to participate in the expert consultations, at University of Cambridge's Madingley Hall. The outcome from the deliberations will inform the preparation of a report containing analysis and options to be submitted to the next session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum. That session of the Governing Council will undertake in-depth discussions with a view to making an input on future requirements of international environmental governance to preparations for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. During one and a half days of deliberations, participants conducted an extensive survey of the institutional, financial and conceptual dimensions of international environmental governance and the need to evolve new responses together with a review of UNEP's role within these wider issues. There was a consensus that UNEP must be empowered - both in terms of its financial support and a review of its functions - to meet the challenges of an evolving and increasingly complex web of international environmental governance institutions in need of improved coordination, rational organization and expert support. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/ieg/ MEETING ON INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY: A meeting on international environmental governance and the role of civil society in promoting sustainable development was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 22-25 May 2001. It was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and co- sponsored by Norway. Fifty participants representing NGOs and private sector groups from 35 countries attended the meeting, discussing issues related to how emerging environmental issues can be brought to the attention of policy makers, how to raise public awareness and how to promote innovative ideas and approaches. The meeting also considered preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. For more information visit:: http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=201&ArticleID =2830 and http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/archives/UNWIRE010528.cfm#11 THIRD UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: The Third UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) took place at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, from 14-20 May 2001. Attended by more than 6,500 participants from governments, specialized agencies and civil society, the conference sought to assess progress to date in addressing the needs of LDCs and consider appropriate national and international policies and measures for the sustainable development of these countries. Delegates attended Interactive Thematic Sessions focusing on a number of key issues, including: governance, peace and stability; enhancing productive capacities as it relates to the agricultural sector and food security, health, and investment and enterprise development; intellectual property and development; education; international trade, commodities and services/tourism; energy (see separate report, below); human resources development and employment; infrastructure development; transport; and financing growth and development. These sessions were aimed at producing concrete actions, or deliverables, for incorporation into a Programme of Action for the period 2001-2010. A number of parallel events were also held during the Conference, including discussions on the digital economy, the business sector and the music industry, and forums on women entrepreneurs and city-to-city cooperation. A high-level Parliamentarians Round Table, and the Eighth World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs, also met as parallel events. Participants concluded their work by adopting the "Brussels Declaration on LDCs" and a 10-year Programme of Action aimed at bringing the poorest countries into the economic mainstream and breaking the cycle of deepening poverty. The Programme of Action outlines a broad range of measures to be taken by the developed nations and the LDCs themselves in the form of a framework for partnership and specific commitments on, inter alia, good governance at the national and international levels; building human and institutional capacities; enhancing the role of trade in development; reducing vulnerability and protecting the environment; and mobilizing financial resources. Commitments were also made, inter alia, by the EU to forgo payments on outstanding LDC obligations arising from special loans under the Lome Convention, in addition to an earlier commitment to allow duty- free access to all LDC products except arms. The US said it would grant US$ 200 million to a global fund to combat HIV/AIDS, and increase its contribution to the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative by US$ 224 million. The OECD countries also agreed to "untie" an additional US$ 2 billion of their aid to the LDC countries, meaning the aid recipients would not be obliged to purchase products/services from the donor countries. For more information visit: http://www.un.org/events/ldc3/conference and http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/dev2333.doc.htm INTERACTIVE THEMATIC SESSION ON ENERGY AT THE THIRD UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE LDCS: The Interactive Thematic Session on Energy at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) was held on 17 May 2001 in Brussels, Belgium. The Session was organized in parallel with the Third UN Conference on the LDCs held at the European Parliament from 14-20 May 2001 (see above). The Session was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) with the support of the Government of Austria, and was attended by over 300 government delegates, including ministers and energy experts. The Session followed a preparatory process that included a High Level Meeting on Energy held at UNIDO headquarters in Vienna from 14-16 March 2001. Participants at the Session heard opening speeches and addressed issues relating to three key themes: access to energy, enhancing energy efficiency, and efficient oil and gas pricing and procurement. They reviewed and endorsed a list of proposed key outputs or deliverables developed and "field tested" during the preparatory process. These deliverables include: promoting pilot projects at the regional scale utilizing the "Multifunctional Platform" for power generation; promoting local assembly/manufacture of renewable energy equipment; developing rural capacity to manage integrated water and energy projects; implementing a pilot rural energy programme in Bhutan; establishing national and regional energy efficiency centers; promoting development of energy services companies (ESCOs); implementing a pilot energy conservation and efficiency programme in Zambia; developing investment strategies and feasibility studies for financing of regional energy projects; building capacity of LDCs for efficient oil pricing and procurement of hydrocarbons; supporting the exchange of successful experiences and best practices in the use of renewable energy technology; and promoting natural gas exploration and development in African LDCs. At the end of the session, the co-chairs and the moderator drew conclusions from the discussions, noting apparent consensus among participants with regard to the deliverables, and proposing that UNIDO take further action towards their implementation. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/LDCs/index.html Preparatory Committee for THE Conference on Financing for Development: The first part of the third session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the Conference on Financing for Development was held at UN Headquarters in New York from 2-8 May 2001. Participants were informed that the Conference on Financing for Development will be held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18-22 March 2002. Delegates furthered their substantive preparatory work for the upcoming Conference, focusing on: mobilization of domestic and international financial resources for development; trade- and debt-related issues; the increase of international financial cooperation through official development assistance (ODA); and systemic issues, specifically enhancing the coherence and consistency of international monetary policy, as well as financial and trading systems in support of development. The meeting approved a draft resolution that reaffirmed the importance of deepening the efforts of all relevant stakeholders in support of the financing for development process and also set out the format for the 2002 event. The second and final part of this session of the Preparatory Committee will convene in October/November 2001. More information on the 2-8 May meeting is available online at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/dev2303.doc.htm http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/dev2300.doc.htm and http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/dev2298.doc.htm FIRST PREPARATORY SESSION OF THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The tenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-10), acting as the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, took place at UN Headquarters in New York from 30 April to 2 May 2001. Over 600 participants attended the session, including representatives of governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs and other major groups and stakeholders. The preparatory session was held in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 55/199. The session elected the Bureau members, considered organizational matters and deliberated on the following agenda items: progress in the preparatory activities at the local, national, regional and international levels, as well as by major groups; the process for setting the agenda and determining possible main themes for the Summit; specific modalities for future preparatory meetings, including matters of accreditation for NGOs; and the rules of procedure for the Summit. The session also prepared and adopted five draft decisions. Although there was little contention over most issues, there was some debate regarding the number of Vice- Presidents at the Summit, the timing for reporting back to the Preparatory Committee during their second and third sessions by UNEP's task force on International Environmental Governance (IEG), input to the review by major groups and other international organizations and the need for transparent open-ended consultations in the Bureau. In marked contrast to the visible divisions that characterized the ninth session of the CSD, which concluded late on Saturday, 28 April, the first preparatory session for the World Summit on Sustainable Development ended early on a positive note. Following the three-day preparatory session, there was clear agreement on the organizational aspects leading up to the Summit, including consensus on the specific modalities of future preparatory meetings, a tentative organization of work for the Summit (with the dates for the meeting finally confirmed), and arrangements for the accreditation and participation of NGOs and other major groups throughout the preparatory process and at the Summit. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/2002/pc1/ BIODIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIODIVERSITY AND SOCIETY: This conference, organized by Columbia University and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Division of Ecological Sciences, was held in New York from 22-25 May 2001. Two hundred participants from 20 countries focused on three main themes: "Traditions and Changes in Biodiversity Conservation and Uses"; "Population Pressures and Conflicts, Urban/Rural Impacts on Biodiversity"; and "Environmental Governance and Environmental Security". In this context, they considered nine case studies drawn from various regions and countries. The meeting concluded with the adoption of a declaration on the conservation of biodiversity calling on governments, civil society and local communities to work together in developing an integrated approach to environmental conservation that combines protecting biodiversity with sustainable economic development and preserving cultural values. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.unesco.org/opi/eng/newsbriefs/ http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/events/events/biodiversity/ biod.html http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/events/events/biodiversity. html FIRST SESSION OF THE WIPO COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PRORERTY, GENETIC RESOURCES AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE: The Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore met for its first session from 30 April to 3 May in Geneva, Switzerland. This World Intellectual Property Rights Organization (WIPO) Committee addressed intellectual property issues related to access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing, protection of traditional knowledge, and protection of expressions of folklore. Delegates from WIPO member states as well as relevant intergovernmental organizations attended the session, and accredited non- governmental organizations participated as observers. Participants supported cooperation with the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Commission on Genetic Resources in order to ensure consistency with ongoing efforts within these bodies. Participants also supported further work to advance an understanding of how intellectual property rights can be used to protect traditional knowledge, acknowledging inherent problems due to differences between traditional knowledge and knowledge the current system is usually applied to. In this context, they noted that traditional knowledge is characterized by collective authorship and comprises a living body of knowledge without a specific starting date and a specific ending point in its economic life. The next meeting of the Committee will take place in the last quarter of 2001. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.wipo.org/news/en/index.html?%20wipo_content_frame=/news /en/conferences.html CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE OF PLENIPOTENTIARIES ON THE STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS: The Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was held from 22-23 May 2001, in Stockholm, Sweden. Ministers and senior officials adopted the Final Act of the Conference and the Stockholm Convention, as well as seven resolutions. A total of 91 countries and a regional economic integration organization (REIO) signed the Stockholm Convention, and a total of 115 countries and one REIO signed the Final Act of the Conference. The Stockholm Convention will remain open for signature at UN Headquarters in New York until 22 May 2002, and will enter into force 90 days after receipt of the 50th instrument of ratification. The Stockholm Convention sets out control measures covering the production, import, export, disposal and use of an initial list of twelve POPs grouped into three categories: 1) pesticides: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex and toxaphene; 2) industrial chemicals: hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and 3) unintended by-products: dioxins and furans. The control provisions call for: eliminating production and use of intentionally produced POPs; eliminating unintentionally produced POPs, where feasible; and managing and disposing of POPs wastes in an environmentally sound manner. Parties to the Convention are required to promote best available techniques and practices for replacing existing POPs while preventing the development of new POPs. The treaty calls for substitution involving the use of safer chemicals and processes to prevent unintentionally produced POPs. The Convention also outlines the procedure for and criteria to be considered in identifying new POPs to be added to the treaty. Precaution is operationalized throughout the Stockholm Convention, with specific references in the preamble, the objective and the provision on the listing of new POPs. Developed countries are required to provide new and additional financial resources, and a financial mechanism will help developing countries and countries with economies in transition meet their obligations under the Convention. The treaty also includes provisions on, inter alia: information exchange; implementation plans; public information, awareness and education; and research, development and monitoring. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/chemical/popsd/index.html INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS GEF COUNCIL MEETING: The Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) met from 9-11 May 2001 in Washington, DC. Participants were informed about the ongoing deliberations relating to the third replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund and the work of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, and considered statements on behalf of the Conventions on Biological Diversity, Climate Change and Desertification. They approved decisions on: Council review of relations with conventions; guidelines for initial enabling activities related to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; options for enhancing support of GEF in assisting affected countries, especially those in Africa, to implement CCD; elements of strategic collaboration and a framework for GEF action for capacity building for the global environment; the Work Programme submitted for Council approval; monitoring and evaluation; the GEF Chief Executive's note on GEF activities related to the World Summit on Sustainable Development; a note on the second GEF Assembly; the Fiscal Year 2002 corporate budget; mechanisms and arrangements for expediting disbursements of GEF funds to small projects; and criteria for the expansion of opportunities for Executing Agencies. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.gefweb.org/Joint_Summary_of_the_Chairs.pdf WORLD BANK AND IMF SPRING MEETINGS: The World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) "Spring Meetings" were held from 26-30 April 2001 in Washington, DC. The purpose of the annual "Spring Meetings" was to review ongoing efforts by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to strengthen growth and fight poverty. The meetings were attended by finance and economy ministers and financial policymakers. Participants, inter alia: pledged to support a multi-billion dollar global fund to fight HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases; pledged to combat poverty, especially among middle-income countries, such as Brazil and Argentina; and expressed guarded optimism that the global economy would soon return to high growth. An IMF programme to establish procedures to prevent financial crises such as the one in Asia in 1997-98 was also endorsed. More information on these meetings is available online at: http://www.imf.org/external/spring/2001/index.htm http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/archives/UNWIRE010501.cfm#14 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1305000/1305749.s tm http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/DCS/devcom.nsf/(communiquesm)/6FF398 6EFC7595BD85256A3E006A6411?OpenDocument OCEANS AND COASTS ELEVENTH MEETING OF STATES PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION OF THE LAW OF THE SEA: The eleventh meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Law of the Sea was held at UN Headquarters in New York from 14-18 May 2001. Delegates considered the budget and financial regulations. The meeting decided, inter alia, to: amend its rules of procedure to establish an open-ended working group on financial and budgetary matters; take 13 May 1999 as the starting date of the 10-year period from the entry into force of the Convention for each State to make a submission on the outer limits of the extended continental shelf; keep under review the general issue of the ability of States, particularly developing States, to fulfill the Commission's requirements; and establish an open-ended working group to review proposed budgets of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. They elected Guangjian Xu (China) to fill the vacancy on the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and adopted the Tribunal's 2002 budget. It was announced during the session that the twelfth meeting of States Parties will be held from 13 to 24 May 2002. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/SEA1708.doc.htm http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/SEA1706.doc.htm http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/sea1702.doc.htm TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT OECD FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEW ECONOMY: The OECD Forum 2001 took place from 14-16 May 2001 in La Villette, Paris. Ministers, heads of international organizations, and representatives of business, labor, and NGOs heard keynote addresses and participated in discussion sessions on, inter alia: the transition to sustainable development, including progress on decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation; new economy, new enterprises and dot.coms; digital opportunities and the digital divide; trade, investment and sustainable development; globalization and governance; and critical factors in energy policy. The Forum also featured Roundtables on benefits and risks of new technologies, transport, sustainable development in the new economy, agriculture and sustainable development, the OECD environmental strategy for the 21st century, and the contribution of corporate responsibility to sustainable development. On 16 May, 30 OECD environment ministers adopted the "OECD Environmental Strategy for the First Decade of the 21st Century." The strategy involves specific, time-bound targets for OECD countries to achieve five main policy objectives: maintaining the integrity of ecosystems through the efficient management of natural resources; de-coupling environmental pressures from economic growth; improving information for decision-making and measuring progress through indicators; enhancing the quality of life by taking measures that recognize the social and environmental interface; and improving global environmental governance and co-operation. Climate change was recognized as a key environmental problem needing to be addressed. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.oecd.org/forum2001/index1.htm and http://www.oecd.org/media/release/nw01-46a.htm CONFERENCE ON EUROPE AND THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting took place from 10-11 May 2001 in Brussels, Belgium. Organized by the civil society coalition European Partners for the Environment (EPE), the conference addressed issues of "tackling poverty through sustainable agriculture, energy, finance, trade and people's empowerment," in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa. UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer, EC Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, and WTO Director- General designate Supachai Panitchpakdi attended the meeting. Panitchpakdi stated his willingness to review the mandate of the WTO as it pertains to developing countries, and noted the importance of an open dialogue between the WTO and civil society. Speaking on trade and sustainability, Lamy emphasized the need for improved cross-sectoral coherence on poverty alleviation and environmental policy, and also stressed the EU's commitment to multilateralism and the need to redesign the mechanism of global governance. He said the main goal of the multilateral trading System should be sustained inclusiveness and raised standards for all economic activity within the international system. Lamy added that local level governance is important in terms of helping achieve the objectives of sustainable development, along with the WTO and World Bank, which cannot deliver the objectives independently. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.ictsd.org/html/weekly/15-05-01/story6.htm GLOBAL FORUM ON TRADE, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING: The organizational meeting of the Global Forum on Trade, Environment and Developed was held on 2 May 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. Convened by the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) and the Consensus Building Institute (CBI) of Massachusetts, the meeting reviewed the Global Forum project - a three-year facilitated forum aimed at producing concrete policy options for action on key trade and sustainable development problems. Participants agreed that the relationship between trade and environmental policies has become broader and more polarised over the past five years, and that the project should provide an ongoing problem-solving forum on issues at the nexus of trade, environment and development. The Global Forum would undertake its activities in a transparent manner, involving experienced and knowledgeable individuals representing a wide range of stakeholder groups. Meeting participants included Larry Susskind of MIT, CEIP President Jessica Mathews, former trade policy coordinator of the US Environmental Protection Agency John Audley, WTO Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) Chair Alejandro Jara (Chile), WTO Deputy Director-General Paul-Henri Ravier, former CTE Chair Yolanda Bike (Gabon), Aileen Kwa (Focus on the Global South), Jose Manuel Salazar (Organization of American States), Gary Sampson (UN University), Charlie Arden Clark (UNEP), Rene Vossenaar (UNCTAD), Richard Holme (International Chamber of Commerce), Robert Madelin (European Commission), Mark Halle (IISD-Canada) and Norine Smith (Environment Canada). A website, linked to the CEIP and CBI websites and containing information on the Global Forum project will be created. Links to the CIEP and CBI websites: http://www.cbuilding.org/ and http://www.ceip.org/files/nonprolif/default.asp?Action=default&pro jectID WOMEN RESUMED SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: The resumed 45th session of the Commission on the Status of Women met at UN Headquarters in New York from 9-11 May 2001. The previous meeting, held from 6-17 March, which was suspended on its final day, adopted five resolutions, four decisions, and draft agreed conclusions on the topic "gender and all forms of discrimination, in particular racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," as well as the report of the first part of its session. At the resumed session, participants completed their work by adopting: a draft resolution concerning comments on a proposed system-wide plan for the advancement of women; a draft decision concerning a proposed programme of work for the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Division for the Advancement of Women; and a revised series of draft conclusions on strategies to counter the devastating impact of AIDS on women, noting that women constitute 55 per cent of all HIV-infected adults, and on teenage girls, noting that they are being infected at a rate of five to six times greater than their male counterparts. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/WOM1283.doc.htm and http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/WOM1282.doc.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 WORLDWATCH FOUNDER CREATES NEW INSTITUTE Environmental advocate Lester Brown, who founded the Worldwatch Institute during the 1970s, has announced the creation of a new media-focused environmental organization to pave the way for a transition to a new "eco-economy". The newly-formed Earth Policy Institute will provide brief policy pieces to the media on key environmental issues in an easily accessible format, complementing the more in-depth work by specialized research centers such as the Worldwatch Institute. The initiative aims to address Brown's publicly-stated concern that "we are losing the war to save the planet," and will focus on setting out a roadmap to achieving a sustainable "eco-economy." Brown has stressed the role of the media in assisting the transition to an "eco-economy", given that significant amounts of information need to be disseminated over a short time span to guide the transition. Links to further information Earth Policy Institute website http://www.earth-policy.org BIODIVERSITY BIODIVERSITY DAY HIGHLIGHTS INVASIVE SPECIES International Biodiversity Day 2001, celebrated on 22 May, has been marked by calls for a greater focus on biodiversity and management of invasive alien species that crowd out native species and degrade ecosystems. In a public statement marking the event, UNEP Executive Secretary Klaus Töpfer stressed that invasive alien species pose the greatest threat to biological diversity after habitat destruction, and growth in tourism and trade is causing an increasing spread of species across continents. Hamdallah Zedan, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), called for more scientific research on the issues, and for awareness raising among all stakeholders in order to take concerted efforts to stem the spread of invasive species. IUCN -the World Conservation Union - highlighted the problem by publishing a list of the world's 100 worst invasive species and, with Future Harvest, released a report on "Ecoagriculture." In other recent biodiversity-related news, Calestous Juma, former Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, was recognized for his biodiversity conservation efforts. Juma, current Director of the Science, Technology and Innovation Program at the Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, was awarded the 2001 Henry Shaw Medal for being "one of the world's leading authorities on protecting the environment while promoting ethical sustainable development in developing countries." Links to further information UNEP press release, 22 May 2001 http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=201&ArticleID =2829 IUCN International Biodiversity Day web page http://iucn.org/biodiversityday/index.html Report on ecoagriculture http://www.futureharvest.org/pdf/biodiversity_report.pdf UN Wire release, 8 May 2001 http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/archives/UNWIRE010508.cfm#10 Harvard CID news release, May 2001 http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidbiotech/inthenews/inthenews.htm CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT PESTICIDE COMPANIES PLEDGE TO HELP DEVELOPING COUNTRY CLEAN-UP A group of international pesticide producers has pledged to help tackle problems caused by pesticide storage in developing countries. The Global Crop Protection Federation (GCPF), an organization representing leading pesticide companies such as Aventis, BASF, Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, Monsanto, Sumitomo and Syngenta, said they would help with the disposal of stocks they had supplied to developing countries. The companies said they would also offer technical expertise, including safety data and chemical analysis. The announcement was made following a two day meeting in Rome to consider a recent UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report showing that the amount of obsolete pesticides stored in developing countries is five times greater than anticipated. According to the FAO report, over 100,000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides that have accumulated for more than 30 years are stored in Africa and the Near East. About 200,000 tonnes are stored in Asia, with a similar amount existing in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Results for Latin America are pending. These obsolete pesticides have often accumulated as a result of inadequate management of pesticides delivered from outside sources such as government or donors. The waste sites pose a threat to public health and risk, seeping into water and soil. Many of the pesticides include chemicals classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants, such as aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin and heptachlor. Links to further information FAO press release, 9 May 2001 http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/PRESS_NE/PRESSENG/2001/pren0128.htm FAO news highlight, 9 May 2001 http://www.fao.org/news/2001/010503-e.htm Reuters news report, 11 May 2001 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10786 CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE BUSH ENERGY PLAN RELEASED, CRITICIZED The Bush administration's energy plan, released mid-May, has been criticized by some environmental groups and international leaders for its possible impact on international climate change negotiations. The plan focuses on increased exploitation and use of oil, coal and nuclear power to "respond to energy shortages." It also offers US$ 10 billion in tax credits for energy development and conservation. The energy plan was poorly received by some environmental groups, as well as by Jan Pronk, President of the climate change negotiations and Dutch Minister for the Environment, who said it further threatens the international process to address climate change. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, speaking at Tufts University, also expressed concern over the US position against the Kyoto Protocol, and said emissions cuts and energy conservation need not hurt the economy. Links to further information BBC news report, 21 May 2001 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1341000/1341421.s tm Reuters newswire, 18 May 2001 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10858 Reuters newswire, 17 May 2001 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10845 ENN newswire, 17 May 2001 http://www.enn.com/news (search for "energy trade coalition) FORESTS PARTNERSHIP ON FORESTS LAUNCHED A new international body focusing on forest issues in support of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) has been announced. The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) held its first meeting in April, and a policy document setting out its Mission Statement and Terms of Reference was released in May. The CPF focuses on the promotion of the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and on strengthening the political commitment to these issues. The CPF will also maintain a network to facilitate communication between stakeholders in the UNFF process, and contribute to the implementation of the UNFF Plan of Action as well as monitor and assess progress towards achievement of UNFF goals. Its next meeting will be held immediately prior to the first session of the UNFF, during which it also will organize a meeting with NGOs. Members of the CPF include the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Centre for International Forestry Research, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, the International Tropic Timber Organization, the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs, UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank. The Secretariats of the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have also been invited to join. Links to further information CFP Policy Document, May 2001 http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/cpfpolicy.pdf Summary report of the first CFP meeting: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/unffdocs/unffcpfreport1.pdf SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL ACTION URGED TO PROTECT HUMAN GENOME Canadian Health Minister Allan Rock has called for consideration of an international agreement banning unethical practices in relation to the human genome. Speaking at the recent annual meeting of the World Health Organization, he suggested an agreement could cover activities such as human cloning, germ-line alteration, hybrids of humans and animals, gender selection and the creation of embryos solely for the purpose of research and commercial surrogacy. Rock noted that many countries are moving ahead with such initiatives at the national level, but agreement would be needed at the international level in order to prevent "country shopping" where unethical practitioners take advantage of opportunities to undertake experiments in countries with less stringent rules. In other news from the World Health Assembly, delegates adopted resolutions on a range of topics, including on a global response to HIV/AIDS, equitable access to medicines and essential drugs, infant and young child nutrition, transparency with regard to the influence of international tobacco companies, and cooperation on alerts and responses to epidemic diseases. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, addressing the meeting for the first time, highlighted the importance of a global HIV/AIDS Fund. Links to further information World Health Assembly website http://www.who.int/wha-1998/EB_WHA/english/newANG_navigat.htm WHO press release, 22 May 2001 http://www.who.int/inf-pr-2001/en/pr2001WHA-6.html Allan Rock, Canadian Minister of Health, 14 May 2001 http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/archives/speeches/14may2001mine.htm WILDLIFE GREAT BUSTARD PROTECTION PLAN ENTERS INTO FORCE A Memorandum of Understanding seeking to protect the Great Bustard bird is set to come into effect after being signed by Bulgaria. According to the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, Bulgaria's recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the Middle-European Population of the Great Bustard means five Range States have signed the agreement, thereby triggering its entry into force. The MoU mandates cooperation between signatories and protection of both the species and its habitat, and includes an Action Plan. It comes into effect on 1 June. Links to further information CMS press release, 28 May 2001 http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms/nw012805.htm NEW INITIATIVE TO SAVE GREAT APES A new international project has been launched to help protect the Great Apes. The Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP), launched recently by UNEP, will focus on key areas in Africa and South East Asia, where ape populations are threatened by war, habitat destruction, and hunting for bushmeat and trophies. Some experts believe that the great apes may be extinct across most of their range in five to ten years, and the GRASP programme is working in collaboration with, and seeking the support of, both conservation NGOs and the private sector to reverse this trend. The programme hopes to provide rangers with communications equipment and vehicles, create wildlife corridors to link fragmented habitants and isolated populations, and educate local people on the value of the apes for eco-tourism and on forest protection. The programme is planned to be extended to all 23 countries that still have great apes. Links to further information UNEP press release, 21 May 2001 http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=201&ArticleID =2828 JAPAN, NORWAY TO CONTINUE WHALING Japanese whalers have set out to hunt 160 whales between May and July, including endangered sperm and Bryde's whales. The whales are officially taken for research purposes. However, the hunting has met with criticism from conservation groups and the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The US said it might impose trade sanctions, as sperm and Bryde's whales are protected under US law. The Japanese Fisheries Agency said it would consider filing a complaint with the WTO in response to such action. In related news, Norwegian exports of whale blubber are expected to resume this season for the first time since the mid-1980s. The Norwegian whaling season started on 1 May, and while whale meat has a high market value in the country, whale blubber does not. Exports of blubber to Japan would increase prices by 60,000 percent. Links to further information ENN newswire, 10 May 2001 http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=4331 Reuters newswire, 14 May 2001 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10795 Reuters newswire, 14 May 2001 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10838 COMINGS AND GOINGS Information on key appointments, departures and vacancies at United Nations agencies, international organizations, government departments and non-governmental organizations active in the field of international environment and development negotiations APPOINTMENTS NEW UNIDO APPOINTMENT IN NEW YORK Irene Freudenschuss-Reichl has been appointed UNIDO's Special Representative and Assistant Director-General for United Nations Affairs in New York. She took on her responsibilities on 1 May, after serving the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a number of years and, among other things, co-chairing the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Energy and Sustainable Development preparations for the Commission for Sustainable Development's ninth session. For more information visit: http://www.unido.org/periodical.cfm?pername=UNIDOScope&issuedate=2 001-4-2#chapter2 VACANCIES DESA SOCIAL DIVISION ANNOUNCES SENIOR VACANCY The Division for Social Policy and Development at the UN Department of Social and Economic Affairs (DESA) is seeking a new Director. This is a D-2 position and is based in New York. The closing date for applications is 16 June. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/eesa1817.htm DESA SEEKS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER The Division for Sustainable Development at the UN Department of Social and Economic Affairs (DESA) is seeking a Senior Sustainable Development Officer. This is a P-5 position and is based in New York. The deadline for applications is 7 July. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/eesa1853.htm DESA DIVISION FOR WOMEN SEEKS DIRECTOR The Division for the Advancement of Women at the UN Department of Social and Economic Affairs (DESA) is seeking to fill the position of Director. This D-2 post is based in New York, and the closing date for applications is 17 July. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/eesa1921.htm POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT FAO The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has a variety of professional positions available, mostly designated as P-3, P-4 and P-5 level UN positions. Many of these positions are based in Rome. More information is available online at: http://www.fao.org/VA/Employ.htm READINGS New and recent book titles, articles and other literature on environment and development JOURNALS /Sustainable Development The first issue of the journal Global Environmental Politics (1, 2001) contains three articles on globalization and the promotion of a global green policy agenda. In his article entitled "Environment, equity and globalization: beyond resistance," Robert Paehlke argues that rather than resisting globalization, progressive greens have the opportunity to promote a global policy agenda including the democratic control of global media, harmonized tax shifts to energy and material throughputs, environmental treaty enforcement using trade-based sanctions, and the establishment of a global minimum wage. John Dryzek claims that under a system characterized by stronger global institutions resistance is necessary to influence them in the direction of social justice and environmental sustainability. He argues that this is necessary under a more decentralized system as well, and in his article, "Resistance is fertile," he underscores the value of transnational resistance networks and the centrality of resistance in achieving effective global green politics. In "Homage to resistance," Ronnie Lipschutz disputes the arguments of the two previous authors, suggesting that both reform and resistance are necessary, but not sufficient, elements in collective efforts to facilitate global and local environmental protection and sustainable development. He further calls for the establishment of alternative institutional frameworks for the fulfillment of these goals. "Changing the culture of underdevelopment and unsustainability." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 43 (5, 2000), pp. 601-621. This article by Timothy Downs presents a working hypothesis that explores how worsening global underdevelopment, poverty and unsustainability trends may be reversed. He suggests a development process that combines three critical dimensions: ethics, productive social interaction and knowledge integration, and describes case-study experience on water resource conservation in Mexico. /Biodiversity "The science of risk assessment for phytosanitary regulation and the impact of changing trade regulations." BioScience 51 (2, 2001), pp. 148-153. Faith Campbell examines US policies governing the structure and implementation of prevention programmes aimed at alien plants and insects and disease pathogens considered as plant pests. /Climate Change International Affairs 77 (2, 2001) contains several articles analyzing climate policy at and after the sixth Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC at The Hague. Christiaan Vrolijk introduces the articles and suggests some solutions for progress at COP-6bis. Michael Grubb and Farhana Yamin, in "Climatic collapse at The Hague: What happened, why, and where do we go from here?" analyse the failure at The Hague. Henry Jacoby and David Reiner in "Getting climate policy on track after The Hague" highlight ways to put a Kyoto-style agreement back on track. Chad Carpenter assesses the role of NGO's, business and media in his article "Getting climate policy on track after The Hague." Clair Gough and Simon Shackley, in "The respectable politics of climate change: The epistemic communities and NGOs" explore the epistemic community contribution to the debate. Herman Ott, in "Climate change: An important foreign policy issue," analyses the COP-6 outcome, and suggests strategies for getting the climate change process back on track. The author calls for concerted efforts under EU leadership, as well as institutional strengthening, co- operation on domestic measures, a reduction of complexity both in terms of issues and participants and greater co-operation between oil producing and consuming countries. The abstracts of the articles can accessed online at: http://www.blackwellpublishers.co.uk/asp/journal.asp?ref=0020- 5850&src=arc&vid=77&iid=2 "Climate change and a global city: learning from New York." Environment 43 (3, 2001), pp. 8-18. This article by Cynthia Rosenzweig and William Solecki presents metropolitan New York as a case study of the multidimensional and interactive effects of climate change on megacities. The analysis is supported by data from the Metropolitan East Coast Regional Assessment in the US, and the authors conclude that the complex impacts of climate change on megacities will pose a significant challenge to urban environmental managers worldwide. /Global Environmental Governance The inaugural issue of Global Environmental Politics (1, 2001) features several articles on the potential creation of a World Environment Organization (WEO). "What could a World Environmental Organization do?" – an article by John Whalley and Ben Zissimos – suggests that the main purpose of a new World Environment Organization could be to accomplish the internalization of global environmental externalities. Peter Newell, in "New environmental architectures and the search for effectiveness," makes the case that much of the criticism of existing institutions is misplaced, while some key faults are being ignored. Newell argues that an alternative World Environment Organization may exacerbate existing problems, particularly for developing countries. He suggests that a WEO should pursue the internalization of environmental externalities, rather than seek to broker deals that do not have political support within the existing political order. Konrad von Moltke, in "The organization of the impossible," argues that a WEO is neither possible nor desirable. Highlighting difficulties with regard to environmental management at the national level, he stresses that organizational challenges are compounded at the international level. Frank Biermann, in a commentary on the emerging debate on the need for a World Environment Organization, discusses whether the United Nations Environment Programme should be replaced with a stronger world environment organization. He outlines various models for a possible WEO and comments on the writings of the other articles appearing in the same journal. /Forestry "Timber trade restrictions and tropical deforestation: a forest mining approach." Resource and Energy Economics 23 (2, 2001), pp. 111-132. Ottar Maestad analyses the consequences of timber trade restrictions aimed at reducing tropical deforestation. He concludes that logging will be cut back if timber trade restrictions reduce the log price equally for all tree qualities, but that logging may increase in some fields if the price reduction is non-uniform. He also shows that timber trade restrictions do not necessarily promote the conversion of forestland to alternative uses such as agriculture. /Trade and Environment "Rules and politics in international integration: Environmental regulation in NAFTA and the EU." Environmental Politics 9 (4, 2000), pp. 20-42. Dimitris Stevis and Stephen Mumme compare the environmental policies associated with North American and European integration by examining their procedural and substantive rules within their respective political contexts. "Environmental NGOs and the dolphin-tuna case." Environmental Politics 9 (4, 2000), pp. 82-103. This article by Brian Wright focuses on the approaches taken by various actors in influencing global environmental politics, particularly environmental NGOs. Taking the dolphin-tuna issue as a case study, he argues that the actions of environmental NGOs were instrumental in shaping US legislation, policies of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), and the international agreement between fishing states. NEW PUBLICATIONS The Illusion of Progress: Unsustainable Development in International Law and Policy (Earthscan, 2001). This book by Alexander Gillespie critiques "sustainability," questioning what the concept actually means. The author argues that despite the rhetoric of socially and environmentally sustainable development and an ever-increasing number of legislative environmental policies, the real issues such as consumption, population growth and equity are either sidestepped or manipulated in international policy and law. He analyses the main areas of concern, namely economic growth, market structure, trade, aid, debt, security and sovereignty, and suggests that the entire development structure and the underpinnings of the sustainability debate are leading down quite a different path to that intended. For more information on the book visit: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3311 WHAT'S NEW ONLINE /Biodiversity Common Ground, Common Future: How Ecoagriculture Can Help Feed the World and Save Biodiversity (Future Harvest, IUCN, May 2001). This report by Jeffrey McNeely and Sara Scherr highlights the fact that half of world's protected nature reserves are heavily farmed due to widespread hunger in the vicinity of biodiversity "hotspots." Noting that environmentalists concerned about wild biodiversity, and agriculturalists focused on producing food, often have worked at cross-purposes, the authors propose a new approach to simultaneously produce food for local people and protect wildlife. They outline six concrete strategies to this end: establishment of habitat networks in non-farmed areas; integration of perennial plants into farming systems; pollution reduction; greater productivity; resource management changes; and establishment of protected areas near farms, ranches and fisheries. To access the report online visit: http://www.futureharvest.org/pdf/biodiversity_report.pdf /Climate Change An article by Andre de Moor of the Netherlands Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), entitled "Towards a Grand Deal on subsidies and climate change," has been posted online. The article highlights current energy subsidies and their impact on the economy, equity and the environment. Examining the lock-in mechanisms that cause subsidies to become entrenched in economic and public structures, de Moor suggests a global strategy to eliminate energy subsidies. He argues that OECD governments should take the lead, and that the UNFCCC provides an opportunity for striking a political "Grand Deal" on the matter, linking the reform of energy subsidies to participation of developing countries in a future climate change regime. The article can be downloaded from the RIVM website for personal research and study. To access the report visit: http://www.rivm.nl/ieweb/ieweb/index.html?home.html The Center for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO) has released two new working papers that are available online. In The Kyoto mechanisms and the quest for compliance: Unresolved issues and potential pitfalls, Henrik Malvik and Hege Westskog highlight potential problems related to the Kyoto mechanisms, as well as enforcement of non-compliance. In Decision- making frameworks for climate policy under uncertainty Asbjørn Aaheim and Camilla Bretteville discuss how various aspects of uncertainty may affect climate policy and decision-making. To access the papers visit: http://www.cicero.uio.no/media/1219.pdf and http://www.cicero.uio.no/media/1268.pdf /Oceans and Coasts The Status of Natural Resources on the High Seas (WWF and IUCN- World Conservation Union, May 2001). A new study on the high seas outside national jurisdiction, commissioned by WWF and IUCN and authored by specialists from the Southampton Oceanography Centre in the United Kingdom and consultant Charlotte de Fontaubert, has recently been released online. The authors provide both an environmental/scientific perspective as well as considering legal and political implications. They note that the high seas and the fauna in these areas are threatened by unregulated fishing and oil exploration, CO2 dumping, biotechnology, and the exploitation of gas hydrates and hydrothermal vent heat. They highlight particular concerns related to the deep-sea corals in the Atlantic, which have been damaged by industrialized fishing trawlers, and threats to the orange roughy fish populations in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, and whales, dolphins and porpoises. In terms of solutions, the report calls first for an assessment of the resources of the high seas beyond the 200 nautical-mile limit of the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of coastal states. They also support international agreements to regulate the high seas, and suggest the designation of High-Seas Marine Protected Areas to protect marine resources, some of which are not yet well known by humans. To access the report online visit: http://www.panda.org/resources/publications/water/highseas.pdf UPCOMING MEETINGS Information on upcoming conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of international environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ON BUILDING BRIDGES WITH TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE: This conference is taking place from 28 May to 3 June 2001 in Honolulu, Hawaii. It will address a range of issues involving indigenous peoples, conservation, and sustainable development, including: approaches to economic development within a framework of environmental and cultural conservation; dialogue among groups that have or use traditional knowledge and those involved in research, conservation and development; development of new business based on traditional knowledge; and conservation priorities, intellectual property rights, education and other issues related to economic development. For more information visit: http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/traditionalknowledge CONFERENCE ON NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND ROAD TRANSPORT: This conference will convene from 6-7 June 2001 in Trollhättan, Sweden, and will examine current challenges within road traffic. For more information contact: Marianne Palovaara, Project Manager; tel: +46-8-405-2224 or +46-70-557-7604; e-mail: marianne.palovaara@industry.ministry.se; Internet: http://www.vv.se/for_lang/english/euinfoblad/infoblad2.engelskt.pdf THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ECOSYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This conference will be held from 6-8 June 2001, in Alicante, Spain. The meeting will provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of recent work on the engineering and modeling aspects of ecosystems and sustainable development. For more information contact: Susan Hanley, Conference Secretariat; tel: +44-238-029-3223; fax: +44-238-029-2853; e-mail: shanley@wessex.ac.uk; Internet: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2001/ecosud01 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EMINENT PERSONS' ROUNDTABLES: The Eminent Persons' roundtable for the Europe and North America region will take place from 6-8 June 2001 in Vail, Colorado, US. The Latin America and the Caribbean region roundtable will take place from 18-20 in Bridgeport, Barbados. The Africa region roundtable will take place from 25-27 June in Cairo, Egypt. The Central and South Asia region roundtable will take place from 30 July to 1 August in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The East Asia and the Pacific region roundtable will take place at a location and time yet to be confirmed. For more information on all the Eminent Persons' roundtables contact: Rod Holesgrove, DESA, New York; tel: +1-212-963-5104; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail: holesgrove@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUBREGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETINGS: Subregional preparatory meetings for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development will be organized between June and August 2001. The Southeast Asia subregional meeting will take place from 13-15 June in Manila, the Philippines. The Central Asia meeting will take place from 27-29 June in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Northeast Asia region meeting will take place at the end of July in Beijing, China. The South Asia region meeting will take place in early August in either Bhutan or Nepal. The Pacific region meeting will take place in mid to late August in Samoa. For more information contact: Nirmal Andrews, Director, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok; tel: +66-2-288-1870; fax: +66-2-280-3829; e-mail: andrewsni@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ The Southern Cone meeting will take place on 14-15 June in Santiago, Chile. The Meso-America meeting will take place on 21-22 June in San Salvador, El Salvador. The Caribbean region meeting will take place from 28-30 June in Havana, Cuba. The Andean region meeting will take place in Caracas, Venezuela. The dates are to be confirmed. For more information contact: Ricardo Sanchez Sosa, Director, UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico; tel: +525-202-7529/7493; fax: +525-202-0950; e- mail: rsanchez@rolac.unep.mx; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ The Northern Africa meeting will take place from 11-14 June in Tunis, Tunisia. The West Africa meeting will take place from 25-28 June in Abuja, Nigeria. The Central Africa region meeting will take place from 9-13 July in Libreville, Gabon. The East Africa meeting is scheduled for 16-19 July in Djibouti. For more information contact: Sekou Toure, Director, UNEP Regional Office for Africa; tel: +254-2-624-285; e-mail: sekou.toure@unep.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON HIV/AIDS: This Special Session to review and address the problem of HIV/AIDS will be held from 25-27 June 2001 at UN Headquarters in New York. The aim of the meeting is to secure a global commitment to enhancing coordination and the intensification of efforts at all levels to combat the epidemic in a comprehensive manner. For more information contact: The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-791-3666; fax: +41-22-791-4187; Internet: http://www.unaids.org/whatsnew/others/un_special/ index.htm CONFERENCE ON DETECTING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE: SCIENCE AND SOCIETY: This conference will take place from 16-20 July 2001 in London, UK. The conference will focus on applications involving the detection and understanding of long-term changes in natural and disturbed environmental systems, and will review methods of environmental change detection across different disciplines. For more information contact: Catherine E. Stickley, Environmental Change Research Centre, University College; tel: +44-20-7679-5562; fax: +44-20-7679-7565; e-mail: c.stickley@ucl.ac.uk; Internet: http://www.nmw.ac.uk/change2001/ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GRASSLAND SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY: This conference will be held from 17-20 July 2001 in Inner Mongolia, China. It is being sponsored by the China Association of Agriculture Science Societies (CAASS) and the Chinese Grassland Society. For more information contact: Yan Dongquan, CAASS, Beijing, China; tel: +86-10-6419-4487; fax: +86-10-6419-4449; e- mail: gouhq@cav.net.cn NINTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON TRANSPORT RESEARCH: This conference will be held from 22-27 July 2001 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The conference aims to convene managers, policy makers and academics in a single forum to exchange views on the practice and theory of transport research, with an emphasis on the interface between research results and policy-making. For more information contact: WCTR Secretariat; tel: +82-31-910-3100; fax: +82-31-910-3200; e- mail: secretariat@wctr2001.org; Internet: http://www.wctr2001.org/ INTERNATIONAL FUTURE TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE: This conference will be held from 20-22 August 2001 in Costa Mesa, California, US. The theme of the conference is "20-20 Foresight," and participants will address topics such as energy and the environment, alternative fuels and energy systems, and intelligent transportation systems. For more information contact: Rosemary Janeshak, SAE International; tel: +1-724-776-4841; fax: +1-724- 776-1830; e-mail: janeshak@sae.org; Internet: http://www.sae.org/calendar/ftt/ or http://www.fttec.com/ 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETINGS: Regional preparatory meetings for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development will be held between August and November 2001. The Africa regional meeting will be held from 15-18 October in Nairobi, Kenya. The European regional meeting will be held from 24-25 September in Geneva, Switzerland. The Latin American and Caribbean regional meeting will be held from 23-24 October 2001 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The West Asia regional meeting will be held from 28-30 October in Cairo, Egypt. The Asia and Pacific regional meeting will be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 27-29 November, pending funding. For more information on all the preparatory regional meetings contact: Hiroko Morita-Lou, DESA, New York; tel: +1-212-963-8813; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e- mail: morita-lou@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE APPLICATIONS FOR TROPICAL ISLAND STATES – SATIS 2001: This conference will be held from 29-31 August 2001 in Kingston, Jamaica, and will aim to provide a forum for dissemination of information on the use and development of renewable energy technologies and systems in tropical islands, particularly in the Caribbean. For more information contact: Raymond M. Wright; tel: +876-929-5380; fax: +876-926-3928; e-mail: rwright@pcj.com; Internet: http://www.pcj.com/whatsnew.htm INTERNATIONAL EMINENT PERSONS' MEETING ON INTER-LINKAGES: This meeting, providing input to the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, will take place from 3-4 September 2001, in Tokyo. The topic of the meeting, which is being jointly organized by United Nations University, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of Japan and the Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) is "Strategies for bridging problems and solutions to work towards sustainable development." For more information contact: Jerry Velasquez, United Nations University; tel: +81-3-5467-1301; fax: +81-3-3407-8164; e-mail: jerry@geic.or.jp; Internet: http://www.unu.edu CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL BY 2020: FROM DIALOGUE TO ACTION: This meeting will take place from 4-6 September 2001 in Bonn, Germany. It is being organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with the German Government. For more information contact: Simone Hill-Lee, IFPRI, Washington DC; fax: +1-202-467- 4439; e-mail: s.hill-lee@cgiar.org; Internet: http://www.ifpri.cgiar.org/2020conference/index.htm INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBALIZATION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT - CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: This meeting will take place in Trieste, Italy, from 11-13 September 2001. It is being co-organized by Harvard University's Center for International Development and Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and the Third World Academy of Sciences. For more information contact Derya Honca, Program Coordinator, Center for International Development, Harvard University; tel: +1-617-495-1923; e-mail: m_derya_honca@harvard.edu; Internet: http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidbiotech/r&dconf/description.htm NINTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MODELING, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF AIR POLLUTION 2001: This conference will be held from 12-14 September 2001 in Ancona, Italy. The meeting will emphasize the development of experimental and computational techniques that can be used as a tool for the solution and understanding of practical air pollution problems from which it is possible to evaluate proposed emission control techniques and strategies. For more information contact: Gabriella Cossutta, Conference Secretariat; tel: +44-238-029-3223; fax: +44-238-029- 2853; e-mail: gcossutta@wessex.ac.uk; Internet: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2001/air01/index.html CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT 2001: This conference will be held from 17-21 September 2001 in Havana, Cuba. It will be an opportunity for an exchange of experiences among authorities, scientists, industry representatives and technical experts involved in transport. For more information contact: Huberto Valdés Rios, Secretario Ejectivo; tel: +537-62-3051/3058, ext. 230; e-mail: iitransp@transnet.cu; Internet: http://www.transnet.cu/web/convencion/convencion.html VELO CITY CONFERENCE 2001: This conference will be held from 17-21 September 2001, in Glasgow and Edinburgh, UK. The conference will focus on: the link between transport and education in creating safer routes to schools; local authority collaboration to promote cycling; and practical examples of partnership between land use and transport to create car-free communities. For more information contact: Meeting Makers, Ltd.; tel: +44-141-434-1500; fax: +44- 141-434-1519; e-mail: velo_city@meetingmakers.co.uk; Internet: http://www.velo-city2001.org/ SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON CHILDREN: The Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Children will take place from 19-21 September 2001 at UN Headquarters in New York. This meeting will be held ten years after the World Summit for Children. For more information contact: Secretariat for the Special Session on Children, UNICEF House, 3 UN Plaza, New York NY 10017, US; Internet: http://www.unicef.org/specialsession/ CONFERENCE ON REVITALISING COMMUNITIES IN A GLOBALISING WORLD: This conference is scheduled for 20 September 2001 in Southampton, UK. The conference aims to explore how to develop partnerships amongst local communities, entrepreneurs, policy makers and academics to work together in dealing with issues of poverty, improving the quality of life and safeguarding the environment. For more information contact University of Southampton, e-mail: pk2@socsci.soton.ac.uk; Internet: http://www.ciscodev.soton.ac.uk 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REGIONAL STAKEHOLDER ROUNDTABLE – WEST ASIA REGION: This roundtable will be held from 24-25 September 2001 in Manama, Bahrain. For more information contact: Mahmood Abdulraheem, Director, UNEP Regional Office for West Asia, Manama, Bahrain; tel: +973-826-600; fax: +973-823- 110/1; e-mail: uneprowa@batelco.com.bh; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ECOLOGY & TRANSPORTATION: This conference will be held from 24-28 September 2001 in Keystone, Colorado, US. Topics include wetlands and water quality, threatened and endangered species, habitat management, and land use planning. For more information contact: David L. Zeigler; tel: +1-850-922-7209; fax +1-850-922-7217; e-mail: david.zeigler@dot.state.fl.us; Internet: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/emo/sched/ICOWET.htm EIGHTH WORLD CONGRESS ON INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS: This meeting will convene from 30 September to 4 October 2001 in Sydney, Australia. Its aim is to provide a platform for the presentation and discussion of advanced concepts, research results and deployment activities. For more information contact: Congress Secretariat; tel: +61-2-9241-1478; fax: +61-2-9251-3552; e-mail: its2001@itsworldcongress.org; Internet: http://www.itsworldcongress.org WORLD CONGRESS ON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE – A WORLDWIDE CHALLENGE: This congress will take place from 1-5 October 2001 in Madrid, Spain. It is being organized by FAO and the European Conservation Agriculture Federation. For more information contact: Armando Martinez, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Córdoba, Spain; tel: +34-957-760797; e-mail: conservation.agriculture@ecaf.org; Internet: http://www.ecaf.org/English/englis.htm SOUTHERN NGO SUMMIT: This summit will take place from 8-10 October 2001 in Algiers, Algeria, to prepare for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. For more information contact: Esmeralda Brown, Southern Caucus Chairperson, New York; tel: +1-212-682- 3633; fax: +1-212-682-5354; e-mail: ebrown@gbgm-umc.org FIRST UNEP/GEF GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL WATERS ASSESSMENT (GIWA) GENERAL ASSEMBLY: This General Assembly of the GIWA project will take place on 9-11 October 2001. It will take place in Kalmar, Sweden. For more information contact: GIWA Coordination Office, Kalmar; tel: +46-480-447350; fax: +46-480-447355; Internet: http://www.giwa.net INTELEC 2001 INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENERGY CONFERENCE: This conference will be held from 14-18 October 2001 at the Edinburgh International Conference Center, UK. For more information contact: Simon Edwards, tel: +44-20-2709-2000; e-mail: intelec@iee.org.uk 18TH WORLD ENERGY CONGRESS: This meeting will take place from 21- 25 October 2001 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For more information contact: World Energy Council, United Kingdom; tel: +44-20-7734- 5996; fax: +44-20-7734-5926; Internet: http://www.mbendi.co.za/wec/contact.htm CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE SERVICES AND SYSTEMS: This meeting will be held from 29-30 October 2001 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. For more information visit: http://www.cfsd.org.uk/events/tspd6/index.html PAN-AFRICAN BICYCLE CONFERENCE: This conference will take from 21- 25 November 2001 in Jinja, Uganda. The theme of the conference is "The Changing Role of the Bicycle in Africa." For more information contact: First African Bicycle Information Office; tel: +256-43- 121-468; e-mail: fabio@source.co.ug; Internet: http://www.jugendhilfe-ostafrika.de/e_index.htm INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FRESHWATER: This conference, hosted by the German Federal Environment Ministry and the German Federal Ministry for Development Cooperation, will be held from 3-7 December 2001 in Bonn, Germany. It will serve as preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, and will review Chapter 18 of Agenda 21 focusing on freshwater issues. For more information contact: Angelika Wilcke, Conference Secretariat; tel: +49-228-28046-57; e-mail: info@water-2001.de; Internet: http://www.water-2001.de SECOND PREPARATORY SESSION FOR THE 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will take place from 28 January to 8 February 2002, at UN Headquarters in New York. It will review the results of national and regional preparatory processes, examine the main policy report of the Secretary- General, and convene a Multi-stakeholder Dialogue. For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-5949; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/; Major groups contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-8811; fax: +1-212-963-1267; e- mail: aydin@un.org INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT: The UN International Conference on Financing for Development will be held from 18-22 March 2002 in Monterrey, Mexico. It will bring together high-level representatives from governments, the United Nations, and other leading international trade, finance and development- related organizations. The Preparatory Committee is expected to meet in 2001 in New York in October/November at a date to be decided. For more information contact: Financing for Development Coordinating Secretariat, United Nations Headquarters, New York, Harris Gleckman, tel: +1-212-963-4690; e-mail: gleckman@un.org or Federica Pietracci, tel: +1-212-963-8497; e-mail: pietracci@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/ffd THIRD PREPARATORY SESSION FOR THE 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 25 March to 5 April 2002. It is expected to produce the first draft of a "review" document and elements of the future work programme of the CSD. For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-5949; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/; Major groups contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-8811; fax: +1-212-963-1267; e- mail: aydin@un.org. EURO-SUSTAIN CONFERENCE/BROKERAGE EVENT: This event will take place from 2-5 April 2002 on the island of Rhodos, Greece. The EURO-SUSTAIN initiative focuses on technologies and actions that lead toward sustainability. For more information contact: Nicolas Moussiopoulos, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Greece; tel: +30-31-996011; Internet: http://aix.meng.auth.gr/lhtee/ and http://www3.eureka.be/Home INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT: The fourth UNEP International Children's Conference on the Environment will take place in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, from 22-24 May 2002. The conference is expected to bring together 800 children 10 to 12 years old from over 115 countries, who will learn about and discuss the state of the environment as well as showcase environmental initiatives by schools. The conference is also expected to produce a statement from children to the world leaders who will meet in 2002 for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The town of Ledyard, Connecticut, US, is expected to host the event in 2003. For more information contact: Theodore Oben, UNEP Programme Officer, Children, Youth and Sport Programmes, Nairobi, tel: +254-2-623262; e-mail: theodore.oben@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/children_youth/ FOURTH PREPARATORY SESSION FOR THE 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will take place from 27 May to 7 June 2002 in Bali, Indonesia. It will include Ministerial and Multi-stakeholder Dialogue Segments, and is expected to result in elements for a concise political document to be submitted to the 2002 Summit. For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev, DESA, New York; tel: +1-212-963-5949; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/; Major groups contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, DESA; tel: +1-212-963- 8811; fax: +1-212-963-1267; e-mail: aydin@un.org WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The World Summit on Sustainable Development will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2-11 September 2002. For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev, DESA, New York; tel: +1-212-963-5949; fax: +1- 212-963-4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/; Major groups contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-8811; fax: +1-212-963-1267; e- mail: aydin@un.org BIODIVERSITY EXPERT MEETING ON HANDLING, TRANSPORT, PACKAGING AND IDENTIFICATION OF LIVING MODIFIED ORGANISMS: This meeting will take place in Paris, France from 13-15 June, 2001. For more information 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 WORKSHOP ON LIABILITY AND REDRESS UNDER THE CBD: This meeting will take place in Paris, France from 18-20 June 2001. For more information 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 SIXTH EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: ExCGRFA-6 will be held from 24-30 June 2001, at FAO Headquarters in Rome. For more information contact: Clive Stannard, CGRFA, FAO; tel: +39-06570-55480; fax: +39-06570- 56347; e-mail: clive.stannard@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/meetings.htm 24TH SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION: This meeting will take place from 2-7 July 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: Secretariat of the FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, tel:+39-06-57051; Internet: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/cac24/al01_01e.htm OPEN-ENDED MEETING OF EXPERTS ON CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL: This meeting is scheduled to be held in Cuba from 11-13 July 2001. An international workshop on financial support for national biosafety frameworks is scheduled for 14 July. For more information 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 WORKSHOP ON FINANCING FOR BIODIVERSITY: This workshop, organized by the CBD Secretariat and the GEF, is scheduled to be held in Cuba from 16-17 July 2001. For more information 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 NINTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: CGRFA-9 will meet later in 2001 in Rome at a date yet to be determined. For more information contact: FAO; tel: +39-6- 5705-2287; Internet: http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/cgrfa/meetings.htm WORKSHOP ON PROMOTING BEST PRACTICES FOR CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY OF GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID ZONES: This workshop will be held from 18-21 July 2001 in Salinas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The workshop, which has a regional focus on Latin America and Caribbean, is part of a GEF funded project. For more information contact: John Lemons, Department of Life Sciences, University of New England, US; tel:+1-207-283-0170; e-mail: jlemons@mailbox.une.edu FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BIODIVERSITY AS A SOURCE OF NEW MEDICINES: This symposium will convene from 16-19 August 2001 in Cali, Colombia. For more information contact: Ligia Pabon; tel: +57-2-330-2461; e-mail: ligpabon@univalle.edu.co; Internet: http://www.biofarmacongress.com/congresx.htm SECOND MEETING OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL: This meeting will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 1-5 October 2001. For more information 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 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This conference will be held from 15-17 October 2001 in Alexandria, Egypt. It is targeted at both government and civil society representatives, scientists and the media. The conference will focus on scientific, ethical, and safety issues as well as the regulatory, Intellectual Property Right and trade and economic issues in the biotechnology debate, and highlight a Southern perspective. For more information contact: Ismail Serageldin, Program Committee Chair, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) Cairo office; tel: +20-2-572- 4358; email: icarda-cairo@cgiar.org; Internet: http://www.egyptbiotech2001.com FIRST SESSION OF THE AD HOC OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP ON ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING: This meeting will be held in Bonn from 22-26 October 2001. For more information 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 SEVENTH MEETING OF THE CBD'S SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE: SBSTTA-7 will meet from 12-16 November 2001 in Montreal, Canada. For more information 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 WORKSHOP ON RISK MONITORING AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY: This workshop will be held from 12-16 November 2001 in Caracas, Venezuela. It will focus on biosafety and risk assessment, risk monitoring of GMOs and public perception of biotechnology. For more information contact: Efrain Salazar Yamarte, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (CENIAP), Venezuela; tel: +58-43-471066; e-mail: efra63@hotmail.com; Internet: http://www.icgeb.trieste.it/TRAINING/CRS01/crsps01.htm MEETING OF THE AD HOC INTERSESSIONAL WORKING GROUP ON ARTICLE 8(J) OF THE CONVENTION ON BIODIVERSITY: This meeting is scheduled to take place from 4-8 February 2002 in Montreal, Canada. CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada: tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514- 288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org SIXTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIODIVERSITY/CARTAGENA PROTOCOL MOP-1: 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. CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada: tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e- mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT 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 for 27-29 October 2002 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 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 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 (JMPR) will take place from 10-28 September 2001, in Geneva. The 27th Session is scheduled for 20-29 September 2002 in Rome. For more information contact: Amelia Tejada, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-4010; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Even ts/c.htm EIGHTH PIC-INC MEETING: The eighth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Preparation of the Conference of Parties of the Rotterdam Convention for the Application of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (INC-8) will be held from 8-12 October 2001, in Rome. For more information contact: Niek van der Graaff, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705- 3441; e-mail: Niek.VanderGraaff@fao.org; or Jim Willis, UNEP Chemicals; tel: +41-22-917-8111; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.pic.int/ 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. 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 FOURTH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON CHEMICAL SAFETY (IFCS): FORUM IV is scheduled to be held in Thailand in 2003, with FORUM V taking place in Hungary in late 2005 or 2006. For more information contact: the IFCS Executive Secretary; tel: +41-22- 791-3650; e-mail: ifcs@who.ch; Internet: http://www.who.int/ifcs CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE INFORMAL OPEN-ENDED CONSULTATIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE: Consultations in preparation for the resumed COP-6 will be held in The Hague, the Netherlands. A G-77/China preparatory meeting will be held from 25-26 June 2001, an Annex I country preparatory meeting on 26 June, and the informal open-ended meeting will be held from 27-28 June. For more information contact: the UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax: +49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int; Internet: http://www.unfccc.int SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS: This symposium will take place from 3-8 June 2001, in Tsukuba, Japan. For more information contact: SOFC-VII Secretariat; tel: +81-3- 5770-5531; e-mail: sofc7@c-linkage.co.jp; Internet: http://www.nimc.go.jp/sofc7/index-e.html INSTITUTE OF ENERGY ANNUAL ENERGY POLICY CONFERENCE: This meeting is being held on 5 June 2001 in London, UK. For more information contact: Suzanne Cooper, Events Officer, tel: +44-20-7580-0077; e- mail: events@instenergy.org.uk; Internet: http://www.instenergy.org.uk/ 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; Internet: http://figare.utu.fi/notice.html CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL TRANSFER OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES: This conference will be held from 8-10 June 2001 in Berlin, Germany and will present governmental and non-governmental initiatives for the transfer of renewable energy technologies. For more information contact: Eurosolar; tel: +49-22-836-2373; e-mail: inter_office@eurosolar.org; Internet: http://www.eurosolar.org/conferences/2001/solarenergy_main.html INTERNATIONAL ENERGY WORKSHOP: This meeting will be held from 19- 21 June 2001 at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), in Laxenburg, Austria. Organized by the Energy Modeling Forum, the International Energy Agency and the International Energy Workshop, the meeting includes sessions on energy-economics-environment scenarios and their key assumptions, primary energy resources and potentials of renewables, climate projection beyond 2010, and methodology. For more information visit: http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/ECS/IEW2001/ FIRST EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON GREEN POWER MARKETING: This conference will be held from 28-29 June 2001 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. This forum will address international trading and marketing of renewable energy. For more information contact: Nicole Giger or Sabine Spoerri; tel: +41-1-296-8709; fax: +41-1- 296-8702; e-mail: info@greenpowermarketing.org; Internet: http://www.greenpowermarketing.org/ 2001 EUROPEAN WIND ENERGY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION: This conference and exhibition will take place from 2-6 July 2001 in Copenhagen, Denmark. It will review progress and discuss wind energy developments in business, policy making, and research and development. For more information contact: EWEA; tel: +49-89-720- 1235; fax: +49-89-720-1291; e-mail: wip@wip-munich.de; Internet: http://www.ewea.org/src/2001ewec.htm FUEL CELL 2001: This conference will be held from 2-6 July 2001 in Lucerne, Switzerland. The conference consists of a structured technology presentation, a scientific conference and a general exhibit of fuel cell products and technologies. For more information contact: European Fuel Cell Forum; tel: +41-56-496- 7292; e-mail: info@efcf.com; Internet: http://www.efcf.com/conferences/fc2001/ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHALLENGES OF A CHANGING EARTH: This conference will be held in Amsterdam from 10-13 July 2001. It will examine the scientific basis needed to understand the complexities of the Kyoto Protocol and seek to define the global carbon debate within a dynamic Earth System and human context. The conference is being organized by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, together with its global change partners, the World Climate Research Programme and the International Human Dimensions Programme for Global Environmental Change. For more information contact: Susannah Eliott, International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme; tel: +46-8-1664-48; fax: +46-8-1664-05; e-mail: susannah@igbp.kva.se or igbp@congrex.nl; Internet: http://www.scionf.igbp.kva.se RESUMED COP-6/14TH SESSIONS OF THE UNFCCC SUBSIDIARY BODIES: The resumed COP-6 (as outlined under COP-6 decision FCCC/CP/2000/L.3) and the 14th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held from 16-27 July 2001 in Bonn. For more information contact: the UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax: +49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int; Internet: http://www.unfccc.int 21ST SESSION OF THE OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL: This meeting is scheduled to be held from 24-26 July 2001, in Montreal, Canada. For more information contact: Ozone Secretariat; tel: +254-2-62-1234; fax: +254-2-62-3601; e- mail: ozoneinfo@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/ozone 18TH SESSION OF THE IPCC PLENARY: This meeting will be held from 24-29 September 2001, in London, UK. The purpose of the meeting is to adopt/approve the Synthesis Report. For more information contact: Renate Christ, IPCC Secretariat, tel: +41-22-730-8574; e- mail: christ_r@gateway.wmo.ch; Internet: http://www.ipcc.ch/activity/master-sch.html 13TH MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL: MOP-13 will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 15-19 October 2001. For more information contact: Ozone Secretariat; tel: +254-2-62-1234; fax: +254-2-62-3601; Internet: http://www.unep.org/ozone 17TH EUROPEAN PHOTO-VOLTAIC SOLAR ENERGY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION: This conference will be held from 22-26 October 2001, in Munich, Germany. Subjects to be addressed include: fundamentals, novel devices and new materials; crystalline silicon solar cells; photo-voltaic systems technology; and use of photo- voltaic by developing countries. For more information contact: WIP; tel: +49-89-720-1235; e-mail: wip@wip-munich.de; Internet: http://www.wip-munich.de/conferences/pv/munich_2001/munich.html INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ARCTIC FEEDBACKS TO GLOBAL CHANGE: This symposium will be held from 25-27 October 2001 in Rovaniemi, Finland. It is sponsored by the Nordic Arctic Research Programme and the Academy of Finland, and will feature a summary of Global Climate Model results for the Arctic, including in relation to the marine sector, terrestrial ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems and icecaps/glaciers. For more information contact: Peter Kuhry; tel: +358-16-341-2758; e-mail: peter.kuhry@urova.fi SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE: COP-7 is scheduled to take place from 29 October - 9 November 2001, in Marrakech, Morocco. For more information contact: the UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815- 1000; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int; Internet: http://www.unfccc.int/ SOLAR WORLD CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY (ISES 2001): This congress will be held from 25 November – 2 December 2001 in Adelaide, Australia. The technical programme will cover all aspects of renewable energy and energy sustainability, including research and development, industry, applications, demonstrations, education, and socio-economic and political issues. For more information contact: ISES 2001, c/o Hartley Management Group Pty, Ltd.; tel: +61-8-8363-4399; +61-8-8363-4577; e-mail: ises2001@hartleymgt.com.au; Internet: http://www.unisa.edu.au/ises2001congress/home.html INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT (MTEE-2001): This conference will be held from 7-8 December 2001 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The symposium will address energy, environmental management and technology issues. For more information contact: International Consortium for the Management and Technology of Energy, Environment and Ecology (ICEEE); tel: +1-714-898-8416; fax: +1- 714-898-8416; e-mail: inquiries@iceee.org; Internet: http://www.iceee.org INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT: This conference will be held from 19-21 January 2002 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The technical scope will include power generation from offshore wind, waves, current and tidal schemes. The conference will also consider future technologies, in the medium- to long-term time frame, to address the technical issues for future development of these renewable energy sources. For more information contact: A.K.M. Sadrul Islam (Secretariat), Convenor; fax: +880-2-861-3046; e-mail: sadrul@me.buet.edu DESERTIFICATION WORKSHOP ON INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF THE ECOLOGICAL, METEOROLOGICAL, AND HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF GLOBAL DESERTIFICATION: This Dahlem Workshop will take place from 10-15 June 2001, in Berlin, Germany. For more information contact: james.f.reynolds@duke.edu; Internet: http://www.fu-berlin.de/dahlem/Future20Meetings.htm FIFTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UN CONFERENCE TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: COP-5 is scheduled to meet from 1-12 October 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-2800; fax: +49-228-815-2898/99; 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 combined 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 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR DRY AREAS FOR THE SECOND MILLENNIUM: This conference will be held from 15-19 September 2002, in Shijiazhuang, China. For more information contact: Catherine Vachon, Lethbridge Research Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; tel: +1-403-317-2257; fax: +1-403-382-3156; Internet: http://res2.agr.ca/lethbridge/hebei/confindex.htm FORESTS 30TH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER COUNCIL: This meeting will take place from 28 May - 2 June 2001 in Yaounde, Cameroon. For more information contact: the International Tropical Timber Organization; Yokohama, Japan; tel: +81-45-223-1110; e- mail: itto@itto.or.jp; Internet: http://www.itto.or.jp FIRST SUBSTANTIVE SESSION OF THE UN FORUM ON FORESTS: This meeting is scheduled for 11-22 June 2001, at UN Headquarters in New York. For more information, contact: Secretariat, Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, tel: +1-212-963-6208; fax: +1-212-963-3463; e- mail: vahanen@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/unff_2001_fsm.htm FORESTRY IMPACTS OF CHINA'S REFORMS - LESSONS FOR CHINA AND THE WORLD: This symposium on the forestry impacts of China's rural, industrial, and financial reforms since 1978 will be held from 20- 23 June 2001, in Sichuan Province, China. For more information contact: L.Dachang@cgiar.org and T.Suhartini@cgiar.org INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIETAL ASPECTS OF TRANSGENIC FOREST PLANTATIONS: This symposium will be held from 22-24 July 2001 in Stevenson, Washington State, US. For more information visit: http://www.fsl.orst.edu/tgerc/iufro2001/eco_symp_iufro.htm 17TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON FOREST AND NATURAL RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT: This US Department of Agriculture Forest Service seminar will be held on 26 August – 13 September 2001 at Colorado State University's College of Natural Resources, US. The focus will be on strategies and methods to develop, manage, and conserve natural resources for the sustained delivery of goods and services to meet the full range of human needs. For more information contact: Ann Keith, tel: +1-970-490-2449; e-mail: IFS@cnr.colostate.edu; Internet: http://www.fs.fed.us/global/is/isfam/welcome.htm INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON FORESTS AND FORESTRY IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: This workshop will be held from 12-14 September 2001 in Debe, Poland. It is being jointly organized by the government of Poland, MCPFE and UN-ECE/FAO. For more information contact: Alexander Buck, Liaison Unit Vienna; tel: +43-1-710-77-02; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.minconf-forests.net THIRD INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON REMOTE SENSING AND FOREST FIRES: This workshop will convene in Paris from 17-18 September 2001. For more information contact: Emilio Chuvieco, Department of Geography, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Hernares, Spain; e- mail: emilio.chuvieco@uah.es; Internet: http://www.geogra.alcala.es/EARSeL/EARSeL.htm FIFTH INTERNATIONAL BIOMASS CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS: This conference will take place from 17-21 September 2001 in Orlando, Florida, USA. It will examine themes such as technology development, changes in federal and state policies affecting biomass utilization, initiatives to support bioenergy and bio- based product development, and new products and services from industry. For more information contact: Dee Scheaffer; tel: +1- 303-275-2998; e-mail: dee_scheaffer@nrel.gov; Internet: http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/bioam/ MCPFE WORKSHOPS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF PAN-EUROPEAN INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT: This workshop will take place in Copenhagen from 24-25 September 2001, and is being convened by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE). For more information contact: Ewald Rametsteiner, Liaison Unit, Vienna, Austria; tel: +43-1-710-7702; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.minconf- forests.net BIOENERGY 2001: This event will be held from 25-28 September 2001 in Århus, Denmark. Bioenergy 2001 includes a conference, business forum, exhibition, and plant visits. For more information contact: Danish Biomass Association; tel: +45-6550-4165; fax: +45-6550- 1091; e-mail: jhn@esb.sdu.dk MCPFE EXPERT LEVEL MEETING: This meeting will be held from 22-23 October 2001 in Vienna, Austria. The meeting will discuss next steps towards the Fourth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (May/June 2003, Vienna). For more information contact: Peter Mayer, Liaison Unit Vienna; tel: +43-1-710-77-02; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.minconf-forests.net XII WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS: This meeting will take place from 21- 28 September 2003 in Québec City, Québec, Canada. For more information visit: http://www.wfc2003.org/ HABITAT "ISTANBUL+5" - SPECIAL SESSION OF THE 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 from 6-8 June 2001. It will review progress made on the implementation of the outcome of the second UN Conference on Human Settlements, which was held in Istanbul in 1996. For more information contact: Axumite Gebre-Egziabher, UNCHS, Nairobi, tel: +254-2-623-831; e-mail: Axumite.Gebre-Egziabher@unchs.org; Internet: http://www.istanbul5.org/ 37TH CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNERS: This meeting is being held from 16-20 September 2001 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The focus of the congress is on planning in the information age. For more information contact: Congress Secretariat, The Hague, the Netherlands, tel: +31-70-3346-2654; e- mail: secretariat@isocarp.org; Internet: http://www.isocarp.org/2001/index.htm FOURTH INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON URBAN POVERTY (IFUP): This forum is being held from 16-19 October 2001 in Marrakech, Morocco. The topic of the forum is "Productive and Inclusive Cities - Towards Cities for All." For more information contact: Jean-Yves Barcelo, IFUP Secretariat, UNCHS, Nairobi, Kenya; tel:+254-262-4597; e- mail: ifup@unchs.org; Internet: http://www.unchs.org/ifup/conf/morocco1.htm CONGRESS ON NEW DIMENSIONS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT: The 25th congress of the International Network for Urban Development (INTA) is being held from 20- 23 October 2001 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The meeting will focus on new information and communication technologies (NTIC) and local development, as well as how NTIC can help in managing urban development. For more information contact: INTA Secretariat, the Netherlands; tel: +31-70-3244526; e-mail: intainfo@inta-net.org Internet: http://www.inta-aivn.org/99- menus/ContentFrameSet20.htm INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FAO GOVERNING BODIES: Sessions of the FAO Council are scheduled for 18-23 June, 30 October – 1 November and 14 November 2001. The 31st FAO Conference is tentatively scheduled for 2-13 November 2001. For more information on specific meetings, visit: http://www.fao.org/events/index.asp WORLD BANK GROUP AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND ANNUAL MEETINGS: The annual meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund will be held from 2-4 October 2001, in Washington, DC. More information is available online at: http://www.imf.org/spring/2001/index.htm GEF COUNCIL MEETING: The Global Environment Facility Council will meet from 6-7 December 2001 in Washington, DC. More information is available online at: http//www.gefweb.org OCEANS AND COASTS CONFERENCE ON RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES IN THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM: This meeting will be held from 1-4 October 2001 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Sponsored by the FAO and the governments of Iceland and Norway, the conference will focus on: gathering and reviewing the best available knowledge on marine ecosystem issues; identifying means by which ecosystem considerations can be included in fisheries management; and identifying future challenges and relevant strategies. For more information contact: Grimur Valdimarsson; e- mail: grimur.valdimarsson@fao.org; Internet: http://www.refisheries2001.org/ INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETING ON PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT FROM LAND-BASED ACTIVITIES: The First Intergovernmental Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) will take place in Montreal, Canada from 26-30 November 2001. For more information visit: http://www.gpa.unep.org CONFERENCE ON BENTHIC DYNAMICS: The international conference and workshop on Benthic Dynamics - In Situ Surveillance of the Sediment-Water Interface - will be held from 25-29 March, 2002 in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is being organized by the University of Aberdeen, and will focus on: organism-sediment relationships; biogeochemistry and organic diagenesis; hydrodynamics at the sediment-water interface; natural and anthropogenic disturbance, and studies of spatial and temporal phenomena in disparate benthic habitats. For more information contact: Martin Solan, Ocean Laboratory and Centre for Ecology, University of Aberdeen; tel: +44-13-587-89631; e-mail: m.solan@abdn.ac.uk; Internet: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ecosystem/conference/ TWELFTH MEETING OF THE STATES PARTIES TO THE UN CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA: This meeting will be held from 13-24 May 2002 in New York. For more information contact: UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; tel: +1-212-963-3968; e-mail: doalos@un.org; Internet: www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm POPULATION WORLD FOOD SUMMIT - FIVE YEARS LATER: This meeting will be held in Rome from 5-9 November 2001. Participants will review progress made towards the 1996 World Food Summit goal of reducing the number of hungry people by half by 2015, and consider ways to accelerate the process. For more information contact: Mieko Ikegame, FAO; e-mail: meiko.ikegame@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/news/2001/010304-e.htm UN COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: The Commission's 35th Session, to be held in 2002, will address the issue of "Reproductive rights and reproductive health, with special reference to HIV/AIDS." 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 CONFERENCE ON PARTNERSHIPS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE NEW ECONOMY: This conference will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark from 27-29 June 2001. It will bring together key stakeholders engaged in the field of partnerships and social cohesion. For more information contact: Niels Hojensgard, The Copenhagen Centre; tel: +45-3392-9245; e-mail: dpnih@sm.dk NINTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE: This conference will be held from 2-5 July 2001 in Warsaw, Poland. It will focus on safe, independent and secure mobility and transport for elderly and disabled people. For more information contact: Liliana Schwartz; tel: +48-22-831- 6526; fax: +48-22-831-5453; e-mail: schwartz@medianet.pl or transed2001@idn.org.pl; Internet: http://transed2001.idn.org.pl/ WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE: This conference will be held from 31 August - 7 September 2001 in Durban, South Africa. For more information contact: Conference Secretariat, tel: +41-22-917-9290; Internet: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/racism/racism.htm SECOND WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING: This UN conference will be held in Madrid, Spain from 8-12 April 2002, 20 years after the Vienna World Assembly on Ageing. The meeting will review the outcome of the first World Assembly, and will adopt a revised plan of action and long-term strategy on ageing. The UN Commission for Social Development is acting as the Preparatory Committee for the conference. For more information contact: Alexandre Sidorenko, UN Programme on Ageing; e-mail: sidorenko@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT WORLD CONGRESS ON ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT: This meeting will take place from 16-17 June 2001 in Palampur, India. The theme being considered is "promoting environmentally sustainable trade and development in the globalized economy." The congress is organized by the World Environment Foundation. For more information contact: World Environment Foundation, tel: +44-207-872-5784; e-mail: wef.wem@virgin.com; Internet: http://www.wef.org.uk/wem.net/index.htm WTO COUNCIL FOR TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: During 2001, the TRIPS Council will meet from 18-22 June, 20-21 September and 26-29 November, in Geneva. For more information contact: Peter Ungphakorn; tel: +41-22-739-5412; e- mail: peter.ungphakorn@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/trips_e.htm MEETING ON COMPLIANCE, ENFORCEMENT AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENT IN MEAS AND THE WTO: This meeting will take place on 26 June 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland and is being organized by UNEP in collaboration with the WTO. Participants will develop input for discussions on international environmental governance in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. For more information contact: Hussein Abaza, UNEP-ETU; tel:+41-22-917- 8179; e-mail: etu@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.unep.ch/etu/etp/events/upcming/ceds.htm WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: During 2001, this committee is scheduled to meet from 27-28 June and 3-4 October. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22-739-5111; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc SYMPOSIUM ON CRITICAL ISSUES CONFRONTING THE WORLD TRADING SYSTEM: The WTO will hold an NGO symposium on 6-7 July 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. Aimed at governments, non-governmental organizations, the media and members of the academic community, the symposium will focus on: Agriculture; TRIPs - Access to Essential Medicines; Trade and Environment; Services; and WTO & Civil Society. There will be interactive moderated discussions. For more information contact: Bernie Kuiten, WTO External Relations, tel: +41-22-739- 5676; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/ngo_symp_2001_e.htm WTO COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES: During 2001, this committee is scheduled to meet from 10-11 July, and 31 October – 1 November. For more information contact: WTO; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/sps_e.htm WTO GENERAL COUNCIL: The WTO's General Council will meet several times during the remainder of 2001: 18-19 July, 10-11 October, and 12-14 December. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22- 739-5111; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT: This committee is scheduled to meet on 19 October 2001. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22-739-5111; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc WTO FOURTH MINISTERIAL MEETING: The World Trade Organization fourth ministerial meeting will be held in Qatar from 9-13 November 2001. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22-739- 5111; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc WTO SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: This sub-committee will meet from 27-28 November 2001. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22-739-5111; email: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc WETLANDS RAMSAR CONVENTION SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REVIEW PANEL: The tenth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is scheduled to take place from 26- 29 June 2001 in Gland, Switzerland. For more information contact: Ramsar Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-999-0170; e- mail: ramsar@ramsar.org; Internet: http://www.ramsar.org/meetings.htm REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL MEETINGS UNDER THE RAMSAR CONVENTION: Prior to COP8, a number of preparatory regional and sub-regional meetings are proposed to be held in Africa, Asia, the Neotropics and Europe. The meeting dates range from July 2001-October 2002, and their implementation depends on the mobilization of requisite financial resources. For a full description of the proposed meeting programme including dates and venues, visit: http://www.ramsar.org/cop8_regionalmeetings_proposal1.htm ASIAN WETLAND SYMPOSIUM 2001: This meeting will be held in Penang, Malaysia, from 27-29 August 2001. For more information contact: Symposium Secretariat: Reiko Nakamua, Ramsar Center Japan; tel: +81-3-3758-7926; e-mail: ramsarcj.nakamura@nifty.ne.jp SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WETLANDS AND REMEDIATION: This conference will take place from 5-6 September 2001 in Burlington, Vermont, US. 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 STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS: The Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands will hold its 26th meeting from 3-7 December 2001 in Gland, Switzerland. Its subgroup on COP8 will meet from 6-8 May 2002, also in Gland, Switzerland. The 27th meeting will take place on 17 November, prior to COP8, in Valencia, Spain. For more information contact: Ramsar Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-999-0170; e-mail: ramsar@ramsar.org; Internet: http://www.ramsar.org/meetings.htm 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 CITES STANDING COMMITTEE: The Standing Committee will meet in Paris from 19-22 June 2001. For more information contact: CITES Secretariat, tel: +41-22-917-8139; e-mail: cites@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.cites.org SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES: CMS COP-7 is scheduled to take place from 1-15 September 2002 in Bonn, Germany. The Second Meeting of the Parties to the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA MOP-2) will also be held at this time. For more information on this meeting and others relating to the Convention on Migratory Species contact: CMS Secretariat, United Nations Premises in Bonn, Martin-Luther-King- Str. 8, D-53175 Bonn, Germany; tel: +49-228-815-2401/2; fax: +49- 228-815-2449; Internet: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms/events.htm 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 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, US; fax: +1-212-963-3463; e-mail: connorsj@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/calendar.htm STAFF Editor: Malena Sell malena@iisd.org Managing Editor: Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI kimo@iisd.org Proofreader/advisor: Chris Spence chris@iisd.org Submissions, corrections, requests for subscription information and correspondence should be sent to the editors at malena@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 malena@iisd.org The Sustaining Donors of IISD Reporting Services publications, including Earth Negotiations Bulletin and /linkages/journal/, are The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Canada (through CIDA), the United States (through USAID), the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Commission (DG-ENV). General Support during 2001 is provided by the German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) and the German Federal Ministry of Development Cooperation (BMZ), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of Norway, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of Finland, the Government of Australia, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies – IGES.)