/linkages/journal/ Volume 6 Number 9 1 October 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/link0609e.pdf ( The following is the ASCII version of Vol. 6 No. 9 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 October 2001 issue of Linkages Journal includes: * media reports and news, including on new UNDP Trust Funds on energy and environment, and on climate research and coral reefs; * briefings on key meetings held in July and August 2001, including the UN ECE Regional Preparatory Meeting for the WSSD, and the Third Open-ended Intergovernmental Group of Ministers or their Representatives on International Environmental Governance; * 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 TERRORISM AND THE UNITED NATIONS Will the attacks affect talks? The shocking terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September had an immediate impact on the work of the UN, with several major meetings, including the scheduled Special Session on Children, postponed or canceled. While the long-term effects of this tragedy have yet to be seen, some observers have expressed concern that the attacks could adversely affect international environment and development negotiations, given the likely reordering of priorities on the international agenda. World Summit Preparations Proceed into Regional Phase Meanwhile, regional preparations for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) went ahead as scheduled, with the UNECE Regional Preparatory Meeting taking place in Geneva in late September (see page four). There was considerable interest among the international sustainable development community in what was the first of the Regional Meetings, particularly with regard to the sort of tone it might set for the other regions' gatherings. Many attending the meeting seemed to feel that although it in many ways replicated the numerous previous meetings convened under the Commission on Sustainable Development, hope remains for the WSSD process. There was a sense of guarded optimism that some sort of "global deal" might be possible at the Summit. This global deal – conceived by South Africa and championed in the UNECE region by the EU and others – was actively debated at the meeting. While the concept enjoyed considerable support among many participants, it was not defined in detail. In some ways, this acknowledges that the specifics of any new deal between countries should emerge through the preparatory process, including in other regions, rather than being defined at the outset by just one group. Observers will now be turning their attention to the other regional meetings, which are being held in October and November. The discussions and outcomes of these meetings will be reported in upcoming issues of Linkages Journal. Parallel Processes in run-up to Monterrey and Johannesburg In addition to the World Summit Regional Preparatory Meetings being held in coming weeks, October will also see the second part of the third substantive session of the PrepCom for the Conference on Financing for Development (see page 13). The links between the processes leading to the Financing for Development Summit in Monterrey, Mexico in March 2002 and the Johannesburg Summit in September are becoming increasingly apparent. In fact, some commentators are predicting a "political collapse" in Johannesburg if funds are not mobilized in Monterrey. Delegates from both processes are hoping for positive signals from the Johannesburg Summit's preparatory process regarding new sources of funding, which would also inspire negotiators in Monterrey. Linkages Journal adds new "Johannesburg Summit" section Recognizing the importance of next year's World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg to many of our readers, Linkages Journal is now featuring separate sub-sections on this crucial meeting. Our aim is to make it easier for readers to follow preparations for Johannesburg by placing all relevant information in one convenient location. Our reports on relevant World Summit meetings now follow the regular "Sustainable Developments" part of both our Recent and Upcoming Meetings sections. Please see our table of contents on the previous page for further details on where to find our coverage of this issue. Malena Sell Editor, Linkages Journal RECENT MEETINGS Information on recent conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE ON GLOBALIZATION: The UN General Assembly high-level dialogue on globalization was held from 20-21 September 2001 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The themes of the dialogue were "Promoting the integration of developing countries into the world economy and generating new public and private financing resources to complement development efforts" and "Enhancing the integration of developing countries in the emerging global information network, facilitating access to information and communication technology for developing countries." Participants sought to contribute to the implementation of the UN Agenda for Development and other relevant intergovernmental processes. Commenting on the debate, General Assembly President Han Seung-soo (Republic of Korea) stressed the importance of: "humanizing" globalization to assist developing countries to smoothly integrate into the world economy by opening world markets and generating new flows of financing for development; creating a favorable international economic environment for mobilizing financial resources; improving governance at the national level and creating an environment conducive to investment; and promoting the role of information technology in economic and social development. He supported narrowing the digital divide as a priority requiring bold policies for development of human resources and the institutional capacity to manage the changes. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/ga9913.doc.htm http://www.un.org/ga/56/dialogue.htm THIRD OPEN-ENDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL GROUP OF MINISTERS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ON INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: The third meeting of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Group of Ministers or their Representatives on International Environmental Governance (IGM-3) was convened in Algiers, Algeria, from 9-10 September 2001. Over 250 participants from 92 countries, including over 20 ministers, were in attendance. Participants were invited to consider a revised report on International Environmental Governance (IEG) by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Proposals of the President of the UNEP Governing Council, David Anderson, which delegates referred to as the "building blocks" document on IEG. The proposed "building blocks" are: improving coherence in policy making through the Global Ministerial Environment Forum; strengthening the role, authority, and financial situation of UNEP; improving coordination and coherence between multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs); and enhancing coordination across the UN system through the Environmental Management Group. The G-77/China introduced new "building block" proposals for consideration, including those relating to a sustainable development framework, capacity building and technology transfer, and finance. Participants made substantive progress in identifying areas of convergence and disagreement, directed the UNEP Secretariat to provide further information on a number of issues, and agreed on the next steps for the preparation of a framework text for negotiation at IGM-4 in Montreal, in December 2001. Participants also addressed, inter alia, a possible role for the Global Ministerial Environment Forum as a cornerstone of IEG, the enhancement of synergies and cooperation across MEAs while avoiding the creation of new institutions, the need for stable and predictable financing for UNEP, and the role of the Environment Management Group in enhancing cooperation in the UN system. Unresolved issues include the precise status of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum and proposals for its enhanced role in providing guidance to MEA secretariats, approaches to the clustering of MEAs, including sectoral and functional clustering arrangements, options for enhanced funding arrangements for UNEP, and the delineation of the relationship between the IEG agenda and sustainable development. At the close of the meeting, participants reported that IGM-3 had charted a course that would steer negotiations to a speedy conclusion, possibly as early as IGM-4 in Montreal. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/unepgc/ieg3/ JOINT WORKSHOP ON THE ASIA-PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION STRATEGY PROJECT AND MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT: The Joint Workshop on the Asia-Pacific Environmental Innovation Strategy Project and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Toward Innovative Environmental Strategies for Sustainable Development, took place from 6-7 September 2001 at the United Nations University Centre in Tokyo, Japan. The workshop was organized by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, and the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, and involved approximately 80 experts from governments, the academic and scientific communities, and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations. The meeting explored opportunities for partnership between two initiatives currently in development: the Asia-Pacific Environmental Innovation Strategy Project (APEIS) and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA). The workshop's objective was to raise awareness about the APEIS and MA initiatives, explore areas for convergence, and coordinate crosscutting themes. It also sought to assist the development of an analytical framework and other processes for monitoring and assessing ecosystems and policy options. Within this context, the workshop focused on identifying synergies and methodologies, specifically to address the critical issues unique to ecosystems in the Asia-Pacific region. During the workshop, participants met in four sessions on: programme design and synergy; integrated monitoring and assessment; interaction with policymakers; and a general discussion. The output of the workshop included a Chair's Summary incorporating the issues, proposals and recommendations made during the session. This Summary will be submitted to the Second Technical Design Workshop of the MA taking place from 8-11 October in Cape Town, South Africa, and to the next Environment Congress for Asia and the Pacific (ECO ASIA) scheduled for 13-14 October in Tokyo, Japan. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/APIS-MA/ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL BY 2020: The International Conference on Sustainable Food Security for All by 2020 was held from 4-6 September 2001 at the International Congress Center of the Federal Parliament in Bonn, Germany. The conference was organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and its 2020 Vision Initiative, in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the German Foundation for International Development in cooperation with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation. It was supported by co-sponsors from civil society and the public and private sectors. Over 800 participants attended the meeting, including heads of state, government ministers and other senior officials, as well as representatives of academic and research institutions, United Nations bodies, intergovernmental organizations, business and industry, non-governmental organizations, and the media. Young people and developing country farmers were also in attendance. The conference aimed to bring together key stakeholders to share their knowledge, exchange information and ideas, and move toward a consensus on identifying and implementing policies and actions needed to address the problem of food insecurity in the most effective way, particularly in the light of recent changes such as globalization, trade liberalization, technological advances and environmental degradation. Participants heard keynote speeches and engaged in panel and audience discussions to examine why the hunger problem has not yet been solved, before focusing on emerging forces that are affecting food security, including demographic, health, nutrition, economic, technological, environmental and sociopolitical forces. On the final day of the meeting, participants turned their attention to identifying methods to achieve sustainable food security by examining roles and responsibilities of actors and institutions, and by setting key priorities for action. Discussions and conclusions from this meeting are expected to promote and catalyze action to achieve the vision of food security for all by 2020. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/Food_Related/SDCGI/ PREPARATIONS FOR THE JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT 2002 UNECE REGIONAL MINISTERIAL MEETING FOR THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regional Ministerial Meeting for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) took place from 24-25 September 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. More than 500 participants attended the session, including government Ministers and other high-level officials, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs and other major groups and stakeholders. Those in attendance represented the diverse range of countries within the UNECE region, which includes the members of the European Union, as well as Switzerland, the Transition Countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the US, Canada, Turkey and Israel. Observers from South Africa - the host government for the WSSD - were also present. The meeting aimed to outline key regional policy issues, priorities and follow-up actions for the WSSD, to provide substantial inputs to its preparatory process, and to forward regional views on international co-operation for sustainable development at the regional and global levels. Participants debated and adopted the Ministerial Statement to the WSSD, and considered follow-up to the UNECE/World Health Organization High- level Meeting on Transport, Environment and Health held in Geneva on 4 May 2001. Two Ministerial Panels were held, focusing on governance and sustainable development and on poverty and sustainable development. The results from this regional preparatory meeting will feed into the second preparatory session for the WSSD, scheduled for 28 January to 8 February 2002 in New York. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/wssd/WSEUR/ THIRD MEETING OF THE BUREAU OF CSD-10: The third meeting of the Bureau of the tenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-10) acting as the Preparatory Committee for the WSSD took place from 5-6 September 2001 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting was chaired by Emil Salim, who is Chair of the WSSD's Preparatory Committee. During this meeting, the Bureau assessed the state of preparations for the Johannesburg Summit, focusing on the regional and sub-regional levels. It also considered the specific details of the programme of work for the second session of the Preparatory Committee scheduled for early 2002 in New York and decided on the organization of multi-stakeholder dialogues during the second PrepCom session. In addition, participants agreed on the Bureau's activities leading up to the second PrepCom session. In taking stock of the state of regional preparations, members of the Bureau raised concerns that regional assessments are not always based on national assessments, that they did not place enough emphasis on the economic and social pillars of sustainable development and that some regional processes were concentrating primarily on global issues rather than regional platforms. The Bureau underscored the need for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to go beyond supporting countries in undertaking their national assessments and to become more actively involved in the Johannesburg Summit preparatory process. It also highlighted governance as an important issue on the WSSD's agenda. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/web_pages/jakarta_bureau_notes.h tm WSSD INTERNATIONAL EMINENT PERSONS MEETING ON INTER-LINKAGES - BRIDGING PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TO WORK TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) International Eminent Persons Meeting on Inter-linkages: Strategies for Bridging Problems and Solutions to Work Towards Sustainable Development, took place from 3-4 September 2001 at the United Nations University Centre in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting, organized by the United Nations University, the Japanese Ministries of the Environment and Foreign Affairs, and the Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) International, was attended by over 70 invited participants, including representatives of governments, the academic and scientific communities, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and the secretariats of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). The purpose of this meeting was to: review the state of the environment based on linkages between issues; examine the problems and challenges arising from such linkages, and the appropriate policy responses; and assess how such issues could best be addressed within preparatory processes leading to the WSSD to be held in Johannesburg in 2002. Participants met in three working groups focusing on inter-linkages in Agenda 21, inter-linkages among MEAs, and strategies for sustainable development. The meeting built on earlier international and regional conferences on synergies and coordination between MEAs held in Tokyo (July 1999) and Kuala Lumpur (February 2001). The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/interlinkages/interlink3/ BIODIVERSITY WORKSHOP ON THE LINKS BETWEEN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, LIVELIHOODS, FOOD SECURITY AND THE USE OF WILD MEAT: This workshop was held from 17-20 September 2001 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and was organized by IUCN-The World Conservation Union, the FAO, and TRAFFIC (the wildlife trade monitoring programme of IUCN and WWF). The meeting aimed to provide a forum for representatives of the conservation, development, private and government sectors to discuss the over-exploitation of wild animal species for food and to identify concerns relating to the decline in the populations of wild species used for food. It also sought to identify opportunities to collaborate, establish an initial framework for a plan of action and start creating links among the sectors to address priorities identified. Participants further highlighted key issues for the World Food Summit to be held in November 2001 and provided input for a GEF proposal on the use of wild animals for food in Central Africa. During the four-day meeting, delegates considered the contribution of wild animal species to food security and livelihoods, hunting sustainability and impacts on biodiversity, and the current and potential responses of private, non-governmental and inter- governmental institutions to concerns regarding unsustainable harvests. The workshop sought to take a first step toward implementing a resolution on the wild meat issue that had been adopted by delegates at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Amman in October 2000. The resolution urges all affected countries to strengthen and enforce laws to control the commercial trade in wild meat. It also requests logging and other extractive industries, as well as large-scale infrastructure projects, to control the wild meat hunting associated with their operations, and calls for greater funding from donor organizations to support necessary programmes to control unsustainable commercial trade in wild meat and address its root causes. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.iucn.org/info_and_news/press/wildmeat.html CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE FIFTH UNCTAD/EARTH COUNCIL POLICY FORUM ON TRADE AND CLIMATE CHANGE - THE STATE OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS MARKET: The fifth UNCTAD/Earth Council Policy Forum on Trade and Climate Change: the State of the Greenhouse Gas Market, took place from 29-31 August 2001 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The meeting brought together over 300 executives, officials and representatives from the private and public sectors in over 30 countries. The Forum was organized jointly by UNCTAD and the Earth Council, in conjunction with the International Emissions Trading Association. Forum participants addressed the trade and investment aspects of climate change, focusing in particular on opportunities for both buyers and sellers of greenhouse gas emissions credits and allowances. In this context, the Forum examined the three market mechanisms available under the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to assist countries in meeting their Protocol commitments - emissions trading, joint implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/climate/riopolforum/index.html FORESTS FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNANCE EAST ASIA MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE: The Forest Law Enforcement and Governance East Asia Ministerial Conference took place in Bali, Indonesia, from 11-13 September 2001. The Conference brought together nearly 150 participants from 20 countries, representing governments, international and non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. The event was co-hosted by the World Bank and the Government of Indonesia and facilitated by the World Bank Institute, with financial support from the United Kingdom and the United States. The first two days of the meeting consisted of a technical segment, during which participants met in nine thematic sessions to hear panel presentations and discuss forest law enforcement in relation to governance, forest policy, forest management, and operational aspects. On the final day of the conference, ministers and senior government officials from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam as well as from Congo- Brazzaville and Ghana, participated in the ministerial segment. The conference's primary aims were to: share and explore the best current thinking on forest law enforcement; further deliberate on the previously identified priority issues of forest law enforcement, including illegal logging in the East Asia region; and reach agreement on a statement expressing political commitment for action at the national and regional level. The meeting resulted in the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration, which commits participating countries to, inter alia, intensify national efforts and strengthen bilateral, regional and multilateral collaboration to address violations of forest law and forest crime, and create a regional task force on forest law enforcement and governance to advance the Declaration's objectives. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/sdfle/ TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT MEETING OF THE WTO COUNCIL FOR TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: This meeting took place from 20-21 September 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. Delegates to the Trade- related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Council considered: the TRIPs Agreement and access to medicines; review of implementation of the TRIPs Agreement; and Geographical Indicators and review of Article 27.3(b) concerning the protection of inventions of plant varieties. Delegates circulated and debated drafts on access to medicines for the WTO Ministerial conference to be held in Doha, Qatar in November this year. More information in this meeting is available online at: http://www.ictsd.org/weekly/01-09-25/story1.htm http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/trips_e.htm WETLANDS Asian Wetland Symposium 2001: This symposium on "Bringing Partnerships into Good Wetland Practices" was held from 27-30 August 2001 in Penang, Malaysia. It was attended by 400 participants from 37 countries, including technical experts, government officials and NGOs. The meeting sought to elaborate the actions needed to develop multi-stakeholder partnerships for the "wise use" of wetlands. In this context, participants considered wetlands management in Asia, and assessed the implementation of recommendations adopted by the first Asian wetlands symposium in 1992. Participants adopted the "Penang Statement," calling for further local and international activities for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and the development of linkages and strategic partnership between key stakeholders. The Statement will be submitted to the WSSD and the Eighth Conference of Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.museum-japan.com/rcj/index_j.html and http://aws2001.domainvalet.com/ 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 UNDP LAUNCHES NEW ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT TRUST FUNDS The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recently introduced two major trust funds to assist countries in pursuing environmentally sound policies and in promoting energy as a tool for development. With US$60 million allocated over three years, the new funds will seek to help donors address local environment and energy needs that are currently not eligible for financing from other funds. The Thematic Trust Fund for Environment aims to boost UNDP's efforts in helping countries establish policies and institutions that would protect the environment and reduce poverty. The fund will ensure that national, regional and global environmental efforts are aligned, thereby enabling UNDP to focus its support on integrating environmental management concerns into national development frameworks, strengthening local environmental governance and addressing global and regional environmental problems. The Thematic Trust Fund for Energy for Sustainable Development will focus on national policy frameworks, rural energy services, clean energy technologies and new financing mechanisms to support sustainable energy use and production. Links to further information UNDP press release, 10 September 2001 http://www.undp.org/dpa/pressrelease/releases/2001/september/10sep t01.html WHO TO COMBAT DRUG RESISTANCE The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a comprehensive strategy to combat the increasing resistance of killer diseases to many commonly used antibiotics. The increase in drug resistance is believed to cost billions of dollars and threaten an increasing number of lives every year. "Antibiotics were one of the most significant discoveries of the 20th century … diseases such as tuberculosis, meningitis, scarlet fever and pneumonia could suddenly be treated and cured," said Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO Director-General. "Unless we act to protect these medical miracles, we could be heading for a post-antibiotic age in which many medical and surgical advances could be undermined by the risk of incurable infection." Tuberculosis (TB) strains in some countries have already become resistant to at least two of the most effective drugs used against TB, while commonly-used anti- malarial drugs have been rendered useless, as the malaria parasite has acquired resistance to them. The result of three years of work by WHO and national and international partners, the new Global Strategy encourages wiser use of drugs and is designed to ensure that resistance is minimized and that effective treatments can continue to be used by future generations. In addition to recommendations to health care providers, the strategy also calls for actions from users of antibiotics in the agriculture industry and advocates the phasing out of antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock and poultry. Links to further information WHO press release, 11 September 2001 http://www.who.int/inf-pr-2001/en/pr2001-39.html New Scientist, 7 September 2001 http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991260 UNED FORUM AND WHAT JOIN FORCES UNED Forum and the World Humanity Action Trust (WHAT) merged on 1 September 2001. An independent think tank seeking practical resolutions to global problems, WHAT chose to merge into UNED Forum, a multi-stakeholder NGO focusing on the Earth Summit process. This merger is the result of negotiations following completion of the work of three WHAT Commissions and the release of the WHAT Report, Governance for a Sustainable Future. UNED Forum Co-Chair, Derek Osborn, has stated that the merger with WHAT will help UNED Forum address the issue of global governance more effectively. UNED Forum now has a WHAT Governance department based in Cape Town, South Africa, which is directed by Richard Sherman, who is also head of the Research and Policy Unit at GLOBE Southern Africa, a parliamentarian group. Links to further information WHAT Governance Programme http://www.what.org.uk/ UNED Forum's Earth Summit 2002 http://www.earthsummit2002.org CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS ATMOSPHERIC ROLE IN SOLAR HEAT MOVEMENT The atmosphere has been found to carry significantly more heat from the tropics to the poles than oceans do, according to a new analysis by the US National Center for Atmospheric Research. The study examined the role of the atmosphere and oceans in total heat transport poleward, and for the first time provided empirical evidence for global climate models. The atmosphere and oceans are known to move solar heat from the equator toward the poles, mainly during the winter in each hemisphere, to help to balance out the earth's temperatures. In the absence of this stabilizing effect, the high latitudes would be frozen, while the tropics would experience warmer and wetter climates. According to the study, total poleward transport peaks in both hemispheres at 35 degrees latitude, where the atmosphere is shown to conduct 78% of the total heat transport in the Northern hemisphere and 92% in the Southern hemisphere. Only in the tropics between 0 and 17 degrees north does the ocean carry more heat than the atmosphere. Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research said, "This new analysis makes the observations more consistent with the most stable global climate models and gives us confidence that the models are on target." Links to further information UCAR press release, 25 September 2001 http://www.ucar.edu/communications/newsreleases/2001/heat.html FORESTS BRAZIL ESTABLISHES TIMBER CERTIFICATION COUNCIL Environmental, social and economic groups in Brazil have jointly established an organization to certify local timber. The Brazilian Forest Stewardship Council will allow consumers to know if the Brazilian wood they buy is legally harvested and ecologically managed. A Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has been present in Brazil for five years, but has until now operated through a working group of WWF in Brazil. Members of the new council include WWF, Greenpeace, Amazon rubber-tapping organizations and Brazil's paper and pulp producer Klabin. Commenting on the new initiative, a WWF spokesperson noted that Brazil contains one third of the world's tropical forests and that FSC certification is likely to enlarge Brazil's share of timber in the world market, while sustaining good forest management practices. Seventy companies in Brazil are currently FSC certified to sell timber. Links to further information WWF, 21 September 2001 http://panda.org/news/press/news.cfm?id=2495 Reuters newswire, 20 September 2001 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/12453/story.htm OCEANS AND COASTS CORAL REEF COVERAGE GREATLY EXAGGERATED, SAYS STUDY Coral reefs cover a significantly smaller area than previously estimated, according to a new World Atlas on Coral Reefs. Developed by the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP- WCMC), the atlas presents the most comprehensive mapping of the world's coral reefs to date. Commenting on the mapping, Mark Spalding of UNEP-WCMC said previous estimates had been inaccurate in suggesting that reefs occupied an area two to ten times the size area found by the new calculations. The revised estimates suggest that worldwide coral reefs cover just over 284,000 square kilometers, an area half the size of France. In addition, 58% of this area is under threat from human activities, such as the use of explosives in fishing. In a separate study, scientist Rupert Ormond recently predicted that the world's coral reefs will die within 50 years from rising sea temperatures caused by climate change. Ormond stated that this decline is inevitable even if humans were to stop emitting greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Links to further information The World Atlas of Coral Reefs http://www.unep-wcmc.org/ New Scientist, 11 September 2001 http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991275 Reuters newswire, 7 September 2001 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=12317&newsdate= 07-Sep-2001 TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT WORLD FDI FLOWS LIKELY TO DECLINE IN 2001 World Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows are predicted to decline by 40% to $760 billion this year, according to the World Investment Report 2001. A result of the recent fall-off in cross- border mergers and acquisitions (M&As), the predicted decline will represent the first drop in FDI flows since 1991 and the largest drop over the last three decades. The report notes that the level of FDI flows in 2001 is still expected to be higher than in 1998 and that record level growth in FDI flows in the previous two years were brought about by megadeals of M&As. The expected decrease in FDI in developing countries is anticipated to be smaller than that of developed countries. A decline has already taken place in Africa, which in 2000 received less than 1% of global FDI. Recently released by UNCTAD, this year's World Investment Report focuses on linkages between foreign affiliates of multinational enterprises and local companies in developing countries, the impacts of these linkages and the policy challenges to promote them. Links to further information UNCTAD Press releases, 18 September 2001 http://www.unctad.org/en/press/pr01list.htm World Investment Report 2001 http://www.unctad.org/wir/contents/wir01content.en.htm 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 IAEA APPOINTS DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, UN REPRESENTATIVE Tomihiro Taniguchi of Japan has been appointed Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), while Gustavo Zlauvinen of Argentina has been chosen as the Representative of the IAEA Director General to the United Nations. UNEP ANNOUNCES SPECIAL ENVOY FOR GREAT APES PROJECT UNEP's Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP) team has appointed Russell Mittermeier as its special envoy. Mittermeier is currently the Chair of the World Conservation Union's primate specialist group, President of Conservation International, and a research associate at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology. VACANCIES UN FOUNDATION SEEKS FUNDRAISING OFFICER The United Nations Foundation is looking for a Fundraising Officer. The position is based in Washington, DC. More information is available online at: http://www.unfoundation.org/about/jobs/index.asp CIEL ADVERTISES FOR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is searching for an Executive Director. The position is based in Washington, DC. More information is available online at: http://www.ciel.org/Join/exdirsearch.html UNDP ADVERTISES ENVIRONMENTAL POSTS The UN Development Programme is looking to hire a Leader for its Energy and Environment Practice Area. The position is based in New York. More information is available online at: http://roo.undp.org/jobs/view_job.cfm?job_id=55 UNDP is also searching for an Environmental Law and Institutions Specialist in the area of Energy and Environment. This post is based in Kathmandu. More information is available online at: http://roo.undp.org/jobs/view_job.cfm?job_id=5 MILLENNIUM ASSESSMENT SEEKS SENIOR ASSOCIATE The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is seeking a Senior Associate for Engagement and Communication. The position is based in Washington, DC, and is with the Meridian Institute and the World Resources Institute. More information is available online at: http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/position.sa.ec.pdf.pdf UNFCCC PROGRAMME MANAGER VACANCY The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is hiring a Manager for its Planning, Coordination and Emerging Issues Programme/Emissions Trading Subprogramme. This is a P-5 position, based in Bonn, Germany and the application is due 5 October 2001. More information is available online at: http://www.unfccc.int/secret/ie008.pdf DESA SEEKS CHIEF OF OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is seeking a Chief to head its Operational Activities for Development Unit. This D-1 position is based in New York and the application deadline is 6 October 2001. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/eesa1971.htm UN INFORMATION DEPARTMENT SEEKS SPECIAL PROGRAMMES CHIEF The Department of Public Information is looking to hire a Chief for its Special Programme Section in the Public Affairs Division. This is a P-5 position, based in New York and the application is due on 6 October 2001. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/edpi2008.htm POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT HABITAT The UN Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT) is seeking a Director and a Chief for its Management Support Unit in the Programme Support Division in Nairobi, Kenya. These are D-1 and P- 5 positions respectively and applications are due for both by 15 October 2001. More information is available online at: http://www.unchs.org/vacancy/62-01.htm and http://www.unchs.org/vacancy/54-01.htm. HABITAT is also looking to fill several other senior, high-level posts throughout its worldwide offices. More information is available online at: http://www.unchs.org/vacancy/ UNEP SEEKS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR UNEP has announced a vacancy for a Spokesperson/Director for its Division of Communications and Public Information. This D-1 position is based in Nairobi and the deadline for application is 29 October 2001. More information is available at: http://www.unep.org/Vac/2001/NA-01-77.htm READINGS New and recent book titles, articles and other literature on environment and development JOURNALS /Sustainable Development "The World Summit on Sustainable Development: Part-1." Development Alternatives 11 (8, 2001), pp. 1,3-5. This article by Ashok Khosia argues that preparations for the WSSD in 2002 currently seem to be focusing on environment rather than sustainable development. The author calls for a focus on equity, employment, education and empowerment in the context of the WSSD, arguing that development cannot be sustainable or environmentally sound without their inclusion. /Biodiversity "Toward a blueprint for conservation in Africa." BioScience 51 (6, 2001), pp. 613-624. This article by Thomas Brooks et al is the first in a series of four articles that analyze the taxonomy of terrestrial species in Africa. It provides an overview of patterns of species richness and endemism, and identifies areas of high conservation priority that can most efficiently represent each group of species based on these patterns. The authors also provide an analysis for threatened species and immediate priorities for conservation in Africa. "Maximizing conserved biodiversity: why ecosystem indicators and thresholds matter." Ecological Economics 38 (2, 2001), pp. 259- 274. This article by Mark Eiswerth and Christopher Haney focuses on accounting for biodiversity. The authors note the need to consider the choice of biodiversity indicators and differences in time horizons between ecological processes and timeframes for political decision-making while setting priorities for conservation. They present a case study on avian biodiversity, showing how indicator choice and consideration of ecological thresholds influence the outcomes of biodiversity preservation problems. They conclude that further system-specific research on ecological processes as well as uncertainty regarding future supply and demand for ecosystem services flows is warranted. /Chemical Management "Traveling toxics: the science, policy, and management of persistent organic pollutants." Environment 43 (7, 2001), pp. 24- 36. This article by Noelle Eckley examines the worldwide effects of the use and release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and how international agreements, including the recently signed Stockholm Convention, deal with these problems. /Climate Change "Japanese ratification of the Kyoto Protocol." Climate Policy 1 (3, 2001), pp. 343-362. Hiroshi Matsumura discusses Japan's quantitative Kyoto target considering the country's socio-economic and political background as well as aspirations to a more prominent international role. He notes that the target was a compromise between domestic industrial considerations and international ambitions, including the pressure for success at COP-3, held in 1997 in Kyoto. Noting that economic stagnation has helped bring down emissions, he argues that the target remains daunting, while Japan's enthusiasm for addressing climate change seems to have diminished. He calls for a new policy package to achieve the targets, and analyses various policy scenarios, including fuel switching, carbon taxation and emissions trading. In his conclusion, Matsumura highlights the introduction of natural gas in the context of energy market liberalization as a key option, and stresses the role of carbon sinks and nuclear energy. "The case for Japanese-Russian joint implementation in implementing the Kyoto Protocol." Climate Policy 1 (3, 2001), pp. 403-410. This article by Benito Müller considers the Kyoto Protocol as an instrument in strategic energy planning in Japanese policy making. In this context, he argues that a strategy involving joint implementation and focusing on the Russian energy sector, rather than a strategy based on domestic sinks, would lead to a cost-neutral or profitable outcome. This would advance entry into force of the Protocol, as well as promote a key component in strategic Japanese energy policy, namely the flexible additional supply required for the successful liberalization of the country's natural gas market. /Forests "A theoretical model of optimal forest resource regimes in developing economies." Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics 157 (2, 2001), pp. 331-355. Shashi Kant and Albert Berry note that standard economic theory of natural-resource management, which has its roots in conventional economic theory of commons, has overlooked the role of institutional structures and transaction costs and has not been able to explain cases of successful management of forests as common property. In their paper, the authors introduce an economic model incorporating the role of transaction costs. They discuss static models for separable and non-separable transformation and transaction functions, and highlight the possibility of different resource regimes being optimal under different socioeconomic conditions. /Oceans and Coasts "Australia's oceans policy: sink or swim?" Journal of Environment & Development 10 (3, 2001), pp. 266-289. In this article, Jacqueline Alder and Trevor Ward examine the Australian ecosystem- based oceans policy introduced in 1999. The authors analyze issues that must be addressed in implementing the policy, focusing on institutional arrangements and regional marine management plans, which are of critical importance with regard to translating ecosystem management principles into operation. /Trade and Environment "The WTO as a mechanism for securing market access property rights: implications for global labor and environmental issues." Journal of Economic Perspectives 15 (3, 2001), pp. 69-88. In this article, Kyle Bagwell and Robert Staiger examine whether the World Trade Organization (WTO) can contribute to the attainment of sound labor and environmental policies. Stressing that the purpose of WTO rules is to create a negotiating forum where governments can exchange secure market access commitments, the authors argue that sound trade, labor and environmental policies can benefit from a well-functioning WTO. They claim that facilitating trade liberalization and preventing "race-to-the-bottom"/"regulatory- chill" problems go hand in hand, and each is accomplished by maintaining secure property rights over negotiated market access commitments. "Bridging the trade-environment divide." Journal of Economic Perspectives 15 (3, 2001), pp. 113-130. Daniel Esty's article examines the perceived conflict between trade liberalization and environmental protection. He argues that it can be traced to a number of issues, including: the question of whether economic growth yields environmental benefits; concerns related to efforts to address transboundary externalities and disputes over the role of trade measures as an environmental enforcement tool; and issues related to the risk of a race-to-the-bottom regulatory dynamic and the limits of legitimate comparative advantage. After examining the perceived trade-environment conflicts however, Esty concludes that in an ecologically and economically interdependent world, trade and environmental policies are inescapably linked as a matter of "descriptive reality and normative necessity." /Women "Women in natural resource management: finding a more balanced perspective." Society and Natural Resources 14 (8, 2001), pp. 645- 656. This article by Penny Davidson and Rosemary Black draws attention to the ongoing gender bias in the natural resources sector. The authors present Australian natural resource management organizations as a case study, noting that senior positions remain a male-dominated preserve. The authors note that this has implications for social justice, as women's positions are often restricted to low status roles carrying only limited decision- making potential. This results in women's interests receiving an insufficient focus in natural resource management organizations, which are neither taking advantage of women's perspectives, nor maximizing the potential of the work force. The authors conclude that there is a need to develop strategies that not so much remove masculinity, but include and value other "cultures." NEW PUBLICATIONS The State of Food and Agriculture 2001 (FAO, 2001). The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has released its annual report. Published two months prior to the World Food Summit - which is expected to convene from 5-9 November 2001 - the report confirms that improved nutrition affects economic growth directly through its impact on labor productivity and indirectly through improvements in life expectancy. The biggest impact is found to come from improvements in women's health, as this not only benefits families and communities currently, but will also have a major impact on the health and productivity of the next generation. In addition to an update on the current global and regional agricultural situation, the report also features sections highlighting the "Impacts of Transboundary Plant Pests and Animal Diseases" and on "The Future of the Agricultural Trading Environment," with a focus on the current round of international agricultural trade negotiations launched earlier this year by the WTO. To access the State of Food and Agriculture 2001 report visit: http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X9800E/X9800E00.HTM The State of the World's Children 2002 (UNICEF, 2001). This year's UNICEF report focuses on the leadership that is needed to ensure the right of children everywhere to live in peace, health and dignity. The report illustrates the progress that has been achieved in improving the lives of children since the 1990 World Summit for Children. It also presents the successes of the "Say Yes for Children" campaign and highlights advances made in eradicating polio, reducing child deaths from diarrheal diseases and in protecting 90 million newborns annually from significant loss of learning ability, while recognizing the number of children that continue to suffer from malnutrition, exploitation, and lack of education. The State of the World's Children 2002 is available online at: http://www.unicef.org/sowc02/ The Fuel Tax Protests in Europe 2000-2001 (Royal Institute of International Affairs, September 2001). Written by John Mitchell and Müge Dolun, this book consists of two parts. The first part outlines events in September 2000, when the distribution of oil products in Britain and France was disrupted as truckers and farmers blockaded ports, refineries, and depots. The authors note broad public support for the protesters' demands for reduced fuel taxes, and a subsequent reduction of taxes in the two countries, reversing a trend of increasing taxes to achieve reductions in CO2. The second part of the book challenges the argument that the fuel taxes were justified in the UK by the need to "internalize external costs." The authors question the use of vehicle fuel taxes to achieve quantitative targets for greenhouse gas reduction in the absence of mechanisms for "trading" with sectors where emission reductions can be more easily achieved. They conclude that the fuel tax protests demonstrate how difficult it is for one or two individual governments to treat their fuel users differently from others in Europe. WHAT'S NEW ONLINE /Sustainable Development Governance for a Sustainable Future (Sept 2001). The World Humanity Action Trust (WHAT) has released a new online publication that recognizes how global population growth, pollution and climate change, globalization of markets and increasing pressure on resources have combined to create new challenges and how doubts are growing about the ability of existing systems of governance to meet those challenges and enable humanity to survive and thrive. The publication highlights pressing issues in the management and over-exploitation of three of the world's key resources – fisheries, agricultural biodiversity and freshwater supplies. To read this publication online visit: http://www.what.org.uk/newpub.htm /Biodiversity Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched a new website focusing on the role of biotechnology in food and agriculture. The site provides an introduction to biotechnology in the agro-industry, crop, fisheries, forestry and livestock sectors and presents an overview of FAO's activities in biotechnology, including the organization's official statement on biotechnology. In addition, the site contains an e-mail forum on biotechnology in food and agriculture, a glossary and links to other relevant sites. The biotechnology website is available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish, and is located at: http://www.fao.org/biotech/index.asp?lang=en /Climate Change Answers to Ten Frequently Asked Questions about Bioenergy, Carbon Sinks and their Role in Global Climate Change. This report by Robert Matthews and Kimberly Robertson introduces and explains fundamental concepts with regard to bioenergy and carbon sinks. It seeks to clarify common areas of misunderstanding and outlines relevant technologies and systems that offer potential solutions. To access this publication online visit: http://www.joanneum.ac.at/iea-bioenergy- task38/publication/task38faq.pdf Equity and efficiency in climate change negotiations: a scenario for world emission entitlements by 2030. This report by Odile Blanchard, Patrick Criqui, Michel Trommeter and Laurent Viguier is published by the Institute of Energy Policy and Economics in Grenoble, France. The report notes that the Kyoto Protocol will establish a distribution of emission permits for the 2008-2012 period among ratifying Annex B Parties, and argues that developing countries should also commit to limiting their emissions. The authors examine methods for extending limitation commitments to developing countries in a fair and equitable way, focusing on the long-term and on emissions trading that contributes to economic efficiency. They review the main proposals for country differentiation and equity principles, and present their own scenario of emissions stabilization by 2030 that they argue could lead to a reduction in global inequality, a relative convergence of country entitlements and greater democratic equality. They show that implementation of an international trading system would re- establish the efficiency that does not currently exist in the initial allocation of rights. To access the paper online visit: http://www.upmf-grenoble.fr/iepe/Publications/cahiers.html#26 /Wildlife Wetlands International's Third International Update Report on Lead Poisoning in Waterbirds. This online report reviews the large- scale environmental problem of lead shot ingestion by waterbirds and presents an analysis of responses to a questionnaire prepared by Wetlands International and returned by 75 countries (governments and NGOs) and nine international organizations. The analysis addresses the current state of legislation concerning lead shot use, and describes levels of awareness, coordination, research and development. It reviews relevant developments since 1995, and concludes with recommendations to governments, NGOs, hunters' associations and ammunition manufacturers. The report, which was compiled by Nienke Beintema, was financially supported by the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee JNCC and the African – Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement. To access the paper online visit: http://www.wetlands.agro.nl/news/Documents/Lead_P_Report.htm UPCOMING MEETINGS Information on upcoming conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of international environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON CHILDREN: The Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Children, which was planned for 19-21 September 2001, has been postponed indefinitely due to the recent events in New York. For more information contact: Secretariat for the Special Session on Children, UNICEF House, 3 UN Plaza, New York NY 10017, USA; Internet: http://www.unicef.org/specialsession/ MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT (MA) SECOND TECHNICAL DESIGN MEETING: This meeting will take place from 8-11 October 2001 in Cape Town, South Africa. For more information contact: Valerie Thompson, Interim Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Secretariat; tel: +1-202-729-7794; fax: +202-729-7610; e-mail: info@millenniumassessment.org; Internet: http://www.millenniumassessment.org FIRST UNEP/GEF GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL WATERS ASSESSMENT (GIWA) GENERAL ASSEMBLY: This General Assembly of the GIWA project will take place from 9-11 October 2001 in Kalmar, Sweden. For more information contact: GIWA Coordination Office, Kalmar; tel: +46- 480-447350; fax: +46-480-447355; Internet: http://www.giwa.net SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PHARMACEUTICALS AND ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS IN WATER: This conference will take place from 9-11 October 2001 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. The main themes for discussion will include the occurrence of pharmaceutical compounds in ground and surface water, the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals in water, the distribution and effects on wildlife, and treatment technologies for pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting chemicals. For more information contact: tel: +1-800-551-7379; e-mail customerservice@ngwa.org; Internet: http://www.ngwa.org/education/pharmconf.html ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATICS 2001 - SYMPOSIUM ON SUSTAINABILITY IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY: The 15th International Symposium "Informatics for Environmental Protection," will be held from 10- 12 October 2001 in Zurich, Switzerland. For more information contact: Regula Fussenegger; tel: +41-71-2747-441; e-mail regula.fussenegger@empa.ch; Internet: http://www.empa.ch/deutsch/fachber/empasg/iep01/ INTERNATIONAL WATER ASSOCIATION (IWA) 2001 WORLD WATER CONGRESS: This conference, which is expected to attract over 3000 participants, will take place from 15-19 October 2001 in Berlin, Germany. Discussions will focus on water economics and politics and enabling efficient water management. For more information visit: http://www.iwa-berlin.de 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 FIRST INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETING OF EXPERTS TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES ON COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF MEAS: This meeting will be held from 22-26 October 2001 in Nairobi, Kenya. For more information contact: D. Kaniaru UNEP's Division on Environmental Policy and Implementation (DEPI); tel: +254-2-62-3507; fax: +254-2-62-4249; e-mail: donald.kaniaru@unep.org SECOND WORLD CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This conference is scheduled to take place from 5-8 November 2001 in Cairo, Egypt. It constitutes part of a wider event combining both the Second International Conference on Renewable Energy and Environment Protection Technologies, and the Fifth International Conference on Solar Electricity: Photovoltaics, Wind, and Solar Thermal Technologies. It aims to provide an interactive forum for manufacturers, technology users, interested technologists, policy makers, and other government officials with the objective of evaluating technical and economic feasibilities, policy reform and regulatory issues, financing and market strategies related to management and development of the key resources needed for sustainable development. For more information visit: http://www.aast.edu/mceet/ NINTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF LAKES: This conference will be held from 11-16 November 2001 in Shiga, Japan. It is being co-organized by the Shiga Prefecture and the International Lake Environment Committee and the theme of the conference is "Partnerships for Sustainable Life in Lake Environments: Making Global Freshwater Mandates Work." For more information contact: Organizing Committee of the Conference; tel: +81-77-528-3466; fax: +81-77-528-4849; e-mail: info@biwako2001.com; Internet: http://www.biwako2001.com MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR PEACE FORUM - NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS: This forum will take place from 14-16 November 2001 in Loccum, Germany. Participants will investigate the linkages between private sector activity, environmental insecurity, and conflict. The meeting will aim to lay the foundation for initiatives designed to encourage private enterprises to implement environmental security concepts into investment decisions and risk management strategies. For more information contact: Andreas Dally; e-mail: Andreas.Dally@evlka.de 2001 ASIA-PACIFIC EARTH CHARTER CONFERENCE: This conference is scheduled for 29 November – 2 December 2001 in Brisbane, Australia. It will seek to promote awareness, acceptance, and adoption of the Earth Charter for the Asia-Pacific Region. The conference will also contribute to the region's preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg in 2002. For more information contact: Clem Campbell; tel: +61-7-5429-5401; e-mail: clemcampbell@optusnet.com.au; Internet: http://www.gu.edu.au/centre/kceljag/eljag/04_events/nov2001earthch arter/earth_charter.htm MEETINGS OF THE OPEN-ENDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL GROUP OF MINISTERS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ON INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: The fourth and fifth IEG meetings will be held on 1 December 2001 in Montreal and at the end of January 2002 in New York prior to the second Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The next special session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum will take place 13-15 February 2002 in Cartagena, Colombia. For more information contact: Masa Nagai; tel: +254-2-623493; e-mail: Masa.Nagai@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/IEG/ 2001 BERLIN CONFERENCE ON THE HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE: This conference will be held from 7-8 December 2001 in Berlin, Germany. Entitled "Global Environmental Change and the Nation State," the conference will examine the interlinkages between global and national environmental politics, and look at new forms of global environmental governance that link global institutions with a significant degree of national decision-making. For more information visit: http://www.environmental-policy.de SECOND MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT (MA) BOARD MEETING: This meeting will take place from 14-16 January 2002 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For more information contact: Valerie Thompson, Interim MA Secretariat; tel: +1-202-729-7794; e-mail: info@millenniumassessment.org; Internet: http://www.millenniumassessment.org INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FLOOD ESTIMATION: This meeting will be held from 6-8 March 2002 in Berne, Switzerland. The conference is aimed at presenting and discussing the latest developments within the field of flood estimation for micro- and meso-scale catchments. For more information contact: tel: +41-31-324-2748; fax: +41-31-324-7681; e-mail: floodestimation@bwg.admin.ch; Internet: http://hydrant.unibe.ch/veranstaltungen/flood/flood01.htm 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 will meet from 15-19 October 2001 in New York. 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 WORLD WATER CONGRESS 2002: This congress will take place from 7-12 April 2002 in Melbourne, Australia. It is being organized by the International Water Association, and will focus on issues such as water cycle management, particularly in South-East Asia. For more information contact: Secretariat, Quitz Event Management; tel: +61-0-2-9410-1302; fax: +61-0-2-9410-0036; e-mail: quitz@bigpond.net.au; Internet: http://www.enviroaust.net/ 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 from 10 to 12 years of age from over 115 countries, who will learn about and discuss the state of the environment and showcase environmental initiatives by schools. The conference will also produce a statement from children to the world leaders who will meet for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The town of Ledyard, Connecticut, USA, is expected to host the event in 2003. For more information contact: Theodore Oben, Programme Officer, Children, Youth and Sport Programmes, UNEP, Nairobi; tel: +254-2- 623262; e-mail: theodore.oben@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/children_youth/ THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH: This meeting will take place from 22-26 July 2002 in Dresden, Germany, and will be the third international conference in the series on water resources and environment research. The aim of the conference is to encourage and facilitate interdisciplinary communication amongst scientists, engineers and professionals working in the fields of ecological systems, sustainable management, development of water resources and conservation of natural systems. For more information contact: Cathleen Schimmek or Gisela Schöler, Conference Secretariat; tel: +49-351-463-3931; fax: +49-351-463-7162; e-mail: icwrer2002@mailbox.tu-dresden.de; Internet: http://www.tu-dresden.de/fghhihm/normal/frame.htm THIRD WORLD WATER FORUM: This meeting will take place from 16-23 March 2003 in Kyoto, Japan. A Ministerial Conference will be held during the Forum, where Ministers will work towards framing and adopting a political declaration concerning global water problems. For more information contact: Secretariat, Tokyo; tel: +81-3-5549- 1488; e-mail: office@water-forum3.com; Internet: http://www.water-forum3.com/ 19TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE: This ICID congress will be held in Beijing, China from 10-18 September 2005. For more information contact: Chinese National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, No. 20 West Chegongzhuang Road, Beijing 100044, China; tel: +86-10-6841-5522/6841-6506; fax: +86-10-6845- 1169; e-mail: cncid@iwhr.com PREPARATIONS FOR THE JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT 2002 MEETINGS OF THE BUREAU OF CSD-10: The Fourth Meeting of the CSD-10 Bureau is tentatively scheduled to take place from 1-2 October 2001 in New York. The Fifth Meeting of the Bureau will be held in conjunction with the 56th UNGASS from 6 - 7 November 2001, while the Sixth Meeting of the Bureau is scheduled for 27 January 2002 in New York. For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-5949; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org SOUTHERN NGO SUMMIT: This summit will take place from 8-10 October 2001 in Algiers, Algeria, to prepare for the 2002 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 BUSINESS ACTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY MEETING: This meeting will convene from 9-10 October 2001 in Paris, France, with the aim of bringing together all major business players to set the agenda for the lead up to the World Summit in Johannesburg in 2002. For more information visit: http://www.iccwbo.org/basd/articles/Programme_October_meeting.pdf FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM: This forum will take place from 19-21 October 2001 in Hluboka and Vltavou, South Bohemia, Czech Republic. The theme for this conference is Knowledge, Values and Education for Sustainable Development and the goal of the conference consultations is to generate ideas that can both provide innovative input to the WSSD process and contribute to emerging research agendas. For more information contact: Richard Sherwood; e-mail: rssherwood@volny.cz; Internet: http://www.bcca.org/ief/conf5.htm 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUBREGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETINGS: Subregional preparatory meetings for the Johannesburg Summit 2002 have been taking place since June 2001, and are set to continue into October. The West Africa meeting will convene from 1-3 October in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. For more information contact: Ousmane Laye, UNECA; tel: +251-1-515-761; e-mail: olaye@uneca.org or Sekou Toure, Director, UNEP Regional Office for Africa; tel: +254-2-624-285; e-mail: sekou.toure@unep.org. The Southeast Asia subregional meeting will take place from 17-19 October in Manila, the Philippines. For more information contact: Rezaul Karim, UNESCAP, Bangkok; tel: +66-2- 288-1614, e-mail: karim.unescap@un.org or 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/ 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETINGS: Regional preparatory meetings for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development are being held between September and November 2001. The Africa meeting is scheduled for 15-18 October in Nairobi, Kenya. The Latin American and Caribbean meeting will be take place from 23-24 October in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The West Asia meeting will occur on 24-25 October in Cairo, Egypt. The Asia and Pacific meeting will take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 27-29 November. For more information on all the preparatory regional meetings contact: Hiroko Morita-Lou, UN-DESA, New York; tel: +1-212-963-8813; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail: morita-lou@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES: This forum is being held from 7-9 November 2001 in Accra, Ghana. Organized in collaboration with the Government of Ghana, DFID/UK, the Danish Government and UNDP/Capacity 21, the meeting is part of the ongoing preparatory process leading up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). For more information contact: Conference organizer; e-mail: rohrmannk@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/web_pages/ghana_experts_meeting. htm CONFERENCE ON EQUITY FOR A SMALL PLANET: This conference will be held from 12-13 November 2001 in London, UK. It will focus on the dynamics and tensions between globalization and local livelihoods, and provide a platform for Southern experiences to inform the agenda for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. The meeting also marks the 30th anniversary of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), which is convening the event. For more information contact: IIED Conference Organizer; tel: +44-20-7388-2117; e-mail: wssd@iied.org; Internet: http://www.iied.org/wssd/meetings.html 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 WSSD, 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 – 8 February 2002 at the UN HQ 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; Major groups contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-8811; fax: +1-212-963-1267; e-mail: aydin@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ DELHI SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2002: This meeting will be held from 9-11 February 2002 in New Delhi, India. The theme will be "Ensuring sustainable livelihoods: challenges for governments, corporates, and civil society at Rio+10." For more information visit: http://www.teriin.org/dsds/index.htm UNEP GLOBAL YOUTH FORUM - GYF2002: This event will be held from 22-31 March 2002 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Organized by UNEP and hosted by Danish organization - Nature and Youth (Natur og Ungdom), this forum will be a youth event leading up to the WSSD. It will build on the Youth Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development held in Borgholm, Sweden from 23-27 May 2001. For more information contact: e-mail: theodore.oben@unep.org or landskontoret@natur-og-ungdom.dk THIRD PREPARATORY SESSION FOR THE 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will take place at UN HQ in New York from 25 March – 5 April 2002. It will aim to produce the first draft of a "review" document and elements of the CSD's future work programme. For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-5949; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Major groups contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-8811; fax: +1-212-963-1267; e-mail: aydin@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ FOURTH PREPARATORY SESSION FOR THE 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will take place from 27 May – 7 June 2002 in 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; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Major groups contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-8811; e-mail: aydin@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.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; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Major groups contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos, DESA; tel: +1-212-963-8811; e-mail: aydin@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/ BIODIVERSITY 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. The conference will focus on scientific, ethical, and safety issues as well as the regulatory, intellectual property rights and trade and economic issues in the biotechnology debate. It will highlight a Southern perspective. For more information contact: Ismail Serageldin, Programme Committee Chair, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) Cairo office; tel: +20-2-572-4358; e-mail: 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 CGIAR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2001: The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) will convene its Annual General Meeting from 30 October – 2 November 2001 in Washington, D.C. For more information visit: http://www.worldbank.org/html/cgiar/publications/agm2001/agm2001.h tml THIRD MEETING OF THE CBD-UNESCO CONSULTATIVE WORKING GROUP OF EXPERTS ON BIODIVERSITY EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS: This meeting will take place from 5-7 November 2001 in Bilbao, Spain. A Consultative Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity Education and Public Awareness, jointly established by UNESCO and the Secretariat of the Convention, is developing an operational framework and a specific strategy for the implementation of the Global Initiative on Biodiversity Education and Public Awareness. For more information visit: http://www.biodiv.org/outreach/awareness/epa-03.asp 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 perceptions. For more information contact: Efrain Salazar Yamarte, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Venezuela; tel: +58-43-471066; e-mail: efra63@hotmail.com; Internet: http://www.icgeb.trieste.it/TRAINING/CRS01/crsps01.htm SEVENTH MEETING OF THE CBD'S SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE: CBD 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 PREDICTING BIODIVERSITY IN EUROPEAN LANDSCAPES: MAPPING, PATTERNS, INDICATORS AND MONITORING: This workshop will take place from 18-20 November 2001 in Vienna, Austria. Participants will examine the availability and applications of biodiversity predictors and consider their consequences for European environmental policy. For more information contact: Simone Matouch; tel: +43-1-5862-87721; e-mail: arge.matouch@eunet.at; Internet: http://dos1.pph.univie.ac.at/biodiv/index.html OPEN-ENDED INTERSESSIONAL MEETING ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN, NATIONAL REPORTS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: This meeting will take place 19-21 November 2001 in Montreal, Canada. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat; tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org NINTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: CGRFA-9 will meet later in 2002 in Rome at a date yet to be determined. For more information contact: FAO; tel: +39-06- 5705-2287; Internet: http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/cgrfa/meetings.htM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: This conference is scheduled to take place from 4-7 February 2002 in San José, Costa Rica. Sponsored by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, the conference will bring together researchers and other professionals interested in documenting and measuring the impact of international agricultural research. Participants are expected to highlight experiences and case studies of impacts on agricultural productivity, equity, poverty, social health, and nutrition, the environment, as well as on institutions and human capital. For more information contact: e-mail: impacts@cgiar.org; Internet: http://www.cimmyt.org/Research/Economics/impacts/index.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. 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 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 SESSIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION: The Executive Committee of the Commission will meet for its 49th Session from 26-28 June 2002, and will convene its 50th session from 26-27 June 2003. Both meetings will take place in Rome, Italy. For more information contact: Secretariat of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme; tel: +39-06-57051; fax: +39-06-5705-4593; e-mail: codex@fao.org 25TH SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION: The Commission will meet from 30 June – 5 July 2003 in Rome, Italy. For more information contact: Secretariat of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme; tel: +39-06-57051; fax: +39-06-5705-4593; e-mail: codex@fao.org CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT BASEL CONVENTION - JOINT MEETING OF TECHNICAL AND LEGAL WORKING GROUPS: This meeting will take place from 1-5 October 2001 in Geneva. For more information contact: Secretariat of the Basel Convention; tel: +41-22-917-8227; e-mail: sbc@unep.ch EIGHTH SESSION OF THE PIC-INC: 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/ WORKSHOP TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES TO POPS PESTICIDES: This workshop is tentatively scheduled to take place in East Africa from 19-22 November 2001. For more information contact: tel: +41-22-917-8193; fax: +41-22-797-3460; e-mail: pops@unep.ch SECOND SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION AND LABELING OF CHEMICALS: This meeting is being held on 14 December 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. Subsequent meetings of the Sub-Committee are scheduled to take place on 12 July and in December in 2002. For more information visit: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc4/c4age.html SIXTH SESSION OF THE POPS INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE: The sixth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument for Implementing International Action on Certain Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS INC-6) will be held from 17-22 June 2002 in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: tel: +41-22-917-8193; fax: +41-22-797-3460; e-mail: pops@unep.ch JOINT FAO-WHO MEETING ON PESTICIDE RESIDUES: The 27th 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) 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 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 FIFTH ANNUAL EMISSIONS MARKETING ASSOCIATION MEETING AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: This conference is taking place from 30 September – 2 October 2001 in South Carolina, USA, and will include a pre-conference session for those new to the industry and for those looking to expand their focus in the emissions trading industry. Topics to be addressed include: linkages between energy and climate policy, what to expect at COP-7, voluntary CO2 commitments/GHG trading pilots, and NOx and SO2 emissions trading trends. For more information contact: David Feldner, EMA; tel: +1- 414-276-3819; e-mail: dfeldner@emissions.org; Internet: http://www.emissions.org CONFERENCE ON DELIVERING KYOTO - COULD EUROPE DO IT? POLITICAL, INDUSTRIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSIONS: This conference is scheduled to take place from 1-2 October 2001 in London, UK. Organized by the Royal Institute of International Affairs, the meeting will explore whether and how Europe can lead a global response to climate change. Participants from industry, government, NGOs and academia are expected to attend. For more information contact: Georgina Wright, the Royal Institute of International Affairs; tel: +44-20-7957-5754, fax: +44-7321-2045, e-mail: conferences@riia.org; Internet: http://www.riia.org/Conferences/kyoto01.pdf 13TH MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL: MOP-13 will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 16-19 October 2001. The Second Meeting of the Bureau and the 27th Meeting of the Implementation Committee will both take place on 15 October. For more information contact: Ozone Secretariat; tel: +254-2-62-1234; Internet: http://www.unep.org/ozone/13mop.shtml CERI 2001 ENERGY ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE: This conference, entitled "Advancing Energy Efficiency," will be held on 17 October 2001 in Calgary, Canada. The Canadian Energy Research Institute 2001 Energy Environment Conference will explore how energy efficiency can encourage the implementation of new technologies, reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions and reduce energy costs. For more information visit: http://www.ceri.ca/confer_env.htm#envi 17TH EUROPEAN PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ENERGY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION: This conference is scheduled for 22-26 October 2001, in Munich, Germany. Issues to be addressed include: fundamentals, novel devices and new materials; crystalline silicon solar cells; and photo-voltaic technology and its use 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, Bonn, Germany; tel: +49-228-815-1000; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int; Internet: http://www.unfccc.int/ WORKSHOP ON SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES FOR BIOMASS-BASED GHG EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND MITIGATION - TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION: This workshop will take place from 12-13 November 2001 in Edinburgh, UK. Organized by IEA Bioenergy Task 38 (Greenhouse Gas Balances of Biomass and Bioenergy Systems), the meeting will seek to provide a forum to review results and ongoing research on greenhouse gas balances of bioenergy systems and vegetation-based carbon sinks. For more information contact: Bernhard Schlamadinger; Joanneum Research; tel: +43-0-316-876 ext 1340; fax: +43-0-316-876 ext 1320; e-mail: bernhard.schlamadinger@joanneum.at; Internet: http://www.joanneum.ac.at/iea-bioenergy-task38/announcement.doc 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 various aspects of renewable energy and energy sustainability. For more information contact: ISES 2001, c/o Hartley Management Group Pty, Ltd.; tel: +61-8-8363-4399; e-mail: ises2001@hartleymgt.com.au; Internet: http://www.unisa.edu.au/ises2001congress/home.html INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT: This meeting will be held from 7-8 December 2001 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It will seek to address energy, environmental management and technology issues, and provide a forum for information exchange among representatives of industry, government, and academia. For more information contact: International Consortium for the Management and Technology of Energy, Environment and Ecology; tel: +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, and will consider the technical scope of power generation from offshore wind, waves, current and tidal schemes. The conference will also consider technologies for the medium- to long-term and will address technical challenges in developing renewable energy sources. For more information contact: A.K.M. Sadrul Islam, Convener; fax: +880-2-861-3046; e-mail: sadrul@me.buet.edu EARTH TECHNOLOGIES FORUM: This conference and exhibition on global climate change and ozone protection technologies and policies will be held from 25-27 March 2002 in Washington, DC. The conference is being sponsored by the International Climate Change Partnership and the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, in cooperation with a number of governmental and intergovernmental agencies and organizations, as well industry groups. Participants will discuss current technologies and efforts to bring them into the marketplace. For more information contact: tel: +1-703-807- 4052; e-mail: earthforum@alcalde-fay.com; Internet: http://www.earthforum.com DESERTIFICATION WORLD CONGRESS ON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE - A WORLDWIDE CHALLENGE: This congress will take place from 1-5 October 2001 in Madrid, Spain. 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 FIFTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UN CONVENTION 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; e-mail: secretariat@unccd.int; Internet: http://www.unccd.int/cop/cop5/menu.php SYMPOSIUM ON 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, tel: +264-61-229-855; 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 FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LAND DEGRADATION AND DESERTIFICATION: This meeting will be held in 2004 in Murcia, Spain. For more information contact: Ángel Faz Cano; e-mail: angel.fazcano@upct.es FORESTS CONFERENCE ON TROPICAL FORESTRY RESEARCH IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM: This meeting, entitled "Tropical Forestry Research in the New Millennium - Meeting Demands and Challenges," will be held from 1- 3 October 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For more information contact: Kenanga Simon, Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Internet: http://www.frim.gov.my/CFFPR 2001.html INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR – FORESTRY MEETS THE PUBLIC: This meeting will be held from 8-11 October 2001 in Ruttihubelbad, Switzerland. For more information contact: Martin Buchel, Swiss Forest Agency, Berne, Switzerland; tel: +41-31-324 7783; e-mail: martin.buechel@buwal.admin.ch INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON VALUE ACCOUNTING OF THE FORESTRY ENVIRONMENT: This symposium will convene from 9-12 October 2001 in Beijing, China. For more information contact: Research Institute of Scientific and Technological Information on Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China; tel: +86-10-6288-8322; e-mail: yuling@isti.forestry.ac.cn; Internet: http://www.forestry.ac.cn 31ST SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER COUNCIL: This meeting will be held from 29 October to 3 November 2001 in Yokohama, Japan. For more information contact: International Tropical Timber Organization Secretariat, Yokohama, Japan; tel: +81-45-223-1110; e-mail: itto@itto.or.jp; Internet: http://www.itto.or.jp/Index.html SECOND SESSION OF THE UN FORUM ON FORESTS: UNFF-2 will take place in San José, Costa Rica, from 4-15 March 2002. This meeting will include a high-level ministerial segment. For more information contact: Mia Söderlund, UNFF Secretariat, tel: +1-212-963-6208; fax: +1-212-963-3463; e-mail: unff@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/forests.htm 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 WORLD HABITAT DAY - CITIES WITHOUT SLUMS: This year, the global observance of World Habitat Day will be held on 1 October 2001 in Fukuoka, Japan. Among other events, there will be a panel discussion with dignitaries on "Cities without Slums" and a Seminar on Securing Land for the Urban Poor organized in collaboration with ESCAP. For more information contact: Amrik Kalsi, Coordinator, World Habitat Day; tel: +254-2-623-124; e-mail: amrik.kalsi@unchs.org; Internet: http://www.unchs.org FOURTH INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON URBAN POVERTY (IFUP): This forum is being held from 16-19 October 2001 in Marrakech, Morocco. The theme will be "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, United Arab Emirates. Participants are expected to focus on new information and communication technologies (NTIC) and local development, including how NTIC can help in managing urban development. For more information contact: Secretariat, The Hague; tel: +31-70-3244526; e-mail: intainfo@inta-net.org; Internet: http://www.inta-aivn.org/99-menus/ContentFrameSet20.htm CONFERENCE ON PARTNERSHIP FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT - NEW APPROACHES, NEW ACTORS FOR CHANGING URBAN POLICY: This international conference on urban development will be held in March 2002 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For more information contact: Internet: http://www.inta-aivn.org/20-activities/Ethiopia.htm STOCKHOLM PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES EVENT: This event – which will include a conference and an exhibit along with a competition and award session – is scheduled for 5-8 June 2002 in Stockholm, Sweden. The event will showcase methods to achieve urban sustainability worldwide, and commemorate the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment. For more information contact: Adam Holmstrom; tel: +46-8-508-28017; e-mail: adam.holmstrom@partnerships.stockholm.se; Internet: http://www.partnerships.stockholm.se INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS GEF REPLENISHMENT MEETINGS: The next two Global Environment Facility Replenishment Meetings will take place from 11-12 October 2001 in Edinburgh, Scotland and from 3-4 December 2001 in Washington, DC. For more information visit: http://www.gefweb.org/Replenishment/Schedule_of_Meetings/schedule_ of_meetings.html FAO GOVERNING BODIES: Sessions of the FAO Council are scheduled for 30 October to 1 November and 14 November 2001. The 31st FAO Conference is scheduled for 2-13 November 2001. For more information on specific meetings, visit: http://www.fao.org/events/index.asp GEF COUNCIL MEETING: The Global Environment Facility Council will meet from 6-7 December 2001 in Washington, DC. For more information contact: GEF Secretariat, tel: +1-202-473-0508; Internet: http://www.gefweb.org GLOBAL MINISTERIAL ENVIRONMENT FORUM: This meeting will take place from 13-15 February 2002 in Cartagena, Colombia. For more information contact: Beverly Miller, Secretary, UNEP Governing Council; tel: +254-2-62-3411; e-mail: beverly.miller@unep.org UNEP GOVERNING COUNCIL: The 22nd regular session of the UNEP Governing Council is scheduled for 3-7 February 2003 in Nairobi. For more information, contact: UNEP; tel: +254-2-621234; fax: +254-2-624489/90; e-mail: cpiinfo@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.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 SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL COASTAL SYMPOSIUM: This international symposium will take place from 25-29 March 2002 in Templepatrick, Northern Ireland. This multi-disciplinary event will seek to promote discussions among scientists, engineers and managers on the latest advances in the scientific understanding, engineering and environmental issues of coastal processes. For more information contact: Coastal Research Group; tel: +44-028- 70324429; e-mail: ICS2002@ulst.ac.uk; Internet: http://www.science.ulst.ac.uk/ics2002/ 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/ 54TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION (IWC): This meeting will take place in May 2002 in Shimonoseki, Japan. The Scientific Committee and Commission Committees and Working Groups will be meet at the same venue. For more information contact: IWC Secretariat, Cambridge, UK; tel: +44-1223-233971; e-mail: iwc@iwcoffice.org; Internet: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice/2001_meeting.htm 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: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm POPULATION WORLD FOOD SUMMIT - FIVE YEARS LATER: This meeting will be held from 5-9 November 2001 in Italy. The exact venue is still to be decided. 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; tel: +39-06/5705- 4706; e-mail: meiko.ikegame@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/news/2001/010304-e.htm UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: The UN Commission on Population and Development'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 THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY INTERNATIONAL: This conference will take place from 23-24 October 2001 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This year's meeting – which is entitled "Responsible Workplace Strategies: Global Implementation" - will focus on practical solutions to implementing workplace social accountability. Panel topics will focus on agriculture, apparel, auditing, communicating with stakeholders, labor standards in development, harmonization of standards, sourcing from India, licensing, retail, socially responsible investing, strategy development and supply chain monitoring. For more information contact: tel: +1-212-684-1414x236; fax: +1-212-684- 1515; e-mail: conferences@sa-intl.org; Internet: http://www.sa-intl.org/conferences.htm UN COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: The 40th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development will be held from 12-21 February 2002 in New York. The theme of the session will be integration of social and economic policy. For more information visit: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/2002.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. For more information contact: Alexandre Sidorenko, United Nations Programme on Ageing; e-mail: sidorenko@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT 48TH SESSION OF THE UNCTAD TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD: The Board will convene for its 48th session from 1-12 October 2001 in Geneva. For more information visit: http://www.unctad.org/en/special/tb48ag.htm UNEP DIVISION OF TECHNOLOGY, INDUSTRY AND ECONOMICS BRIEFING ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: This briefing session will convene on 2 October 2001 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The session will update Geneva delegations on the full range of current UNEP activities on trade and environment, including details of UNEP events planned for the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, as well as related work on economic instruments. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to discuss the UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development, including the programme for LDCs introduced at the United Nations LDC-III Conference held in Brussels in May 2001. For more information contact: Hussein Abaza, Chief, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, Economics and Trade Unit; tel: +41-22-917- 8243; fax: +41-22-917-8076; e-mail: etu@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.unep.ch/etu WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: This committee of the World Trade Organization is scheduled to meet from 4-5 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 COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT: The WTO's Committee on Trade and Development is scheduled to meet on 8 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 SYMPOSIUM ON LINKAGES - HOW DO WE BRIDGE THE GAP?: This symposium will be held on 10 October 2001 in London, UK. Organized by the CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics and Environment and by the London School of Economics, the symposium will seek to foster a better understanding of the linkages between trade and environment through dialogue on environment and labor standards in trade agreements. Participants from government, industry, NGOs and academia are expected to attend. For more information contact: Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General, Consumer Unity & Trust Society; tel: +91-14-120-7482; fax: 120-7486 or 120-3998; e-mail: citee@sancharnet.in or cutsjpr@sancharnet.in WTO GENERAL COUNCIL: The WTO's General Council will meet two more times during the remainder of 2001, on 10 October and on 12 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 SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES: This WTO Committee is scheduled to convene from 31 October to 1 November 2001. For more information contact: WTO; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/sps_e.htm WTO FOURTH MINISTERIAL MEETING: The World Trade Organization's fourth ministerial meeting will be held in Doha, 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 ECLAC-UNEP FINANCE INITIATIVES ROUNDTABLES: These Roundtables - which are being co-organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme's Finance Initiatives - will be held on 26 and 27 November 2001 in Santiago, Chile. The first Roundtable will discuss "The Financial Sector in Latin America/Caribbean: The Business Case for Sustainability Performance," while the second roundtable will consider "Foreign Direct Investment: Creating a Sustainability Dynamic." During these events, senior representatives of the financial sector, industry, government and civil society will examine recent innovations in Sustainability Performance for the Financial Sector and Sustainable Foreign Direct Investment. For more information contact: Georgina Nunez, ECLAC; e-mail: gnunez@eclac.cl or Jacob Malthouse, UNEP FI; tel: +41-22-917-8178; fax: +41-22-796-9240; e-mail: malthouj@unep.ch; Internet: http://unepfi.net/mtgs/chile/index.htm WTO COUNCIL FOR TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS MEETINGS: The TRIPS Council will meet from 26-29 November 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland. 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 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; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc SECOND SESSION OF WIPO'S INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE: The second session of the World Intellectual Property Organization's Intergovernmental Commitee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources will be held in Geneva from 10-12 December 2001. Participants will consider a variety of issues, including access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing, and protection of traditional knowledge, creativity and folklore. For more information contact: Francis Gurry, Assistant Director- General of WIPO; tel: +41-22-338-9428, e-mail: francis.gurry@wipo.int; Internet: http://www.wipo.org/eng/meetings/2001/igc/index_2.htm WETLANDS REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL MEETINGS UNDER THE RAMSAR CONVENTION: Prior to Eighth Conference of the Parties (COP-8) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2002, a number of preparatory regional and sub-regional meetings are under consideration, dependent on funding. For more information, visit: http://www.ramsar.org/cop8_regionalmeetings_proposal1.htm FOURTH EUROPEAN REGIONAL MEETING OF THE RAMSAR CONVENTION: This meeting will take place from 13-18 October 2001 in Bled, Slovenia. For more information contact: the Ramsar Convention Bureau; tel: +41-22-999-0170; fax: +41-22-999-0169; e-mail: ramsar@ramsar.org 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 COP-8 will meet from 6-8 May 2002, also in Gland. The 27th meeting will take place on 17 November 2002, prior to COP-8, 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 COP-8: COP-8 is scheduled to convene in Valencia, Spain, from 18-26 November 2002. The theme of this COP is "Wetlands: Water, Life, and Culture." For more information contact: Ramsar Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-999- 0170; e-mail: ramsar@ramsar.org; Internet: http://www.ramsar.org/index_cop8.htm WILDLIFE 23RD MEETING OF THE CMS STANDING COMMITTEE: This meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on Migratory Species will be held from 13-14 December 2001 in Bonn, Germany. For more information contact: CMS Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-2401/2; fax: +49-228-815-2449; Internet: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms/events.htm 46TH MEETING OF THE CITES STANDING COMMITTEE: This meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species will be held from 11-15 March 2002 in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: CITES Secretariat; tel: +41-22-917-8139; fax: +41-22-797-3417; e-mail: cites@unep.ch 18TH MEETING OF THE CITES ANIMALS COMMITTEE: This meeting will be held from 8-12 April 2002 in Costa Rica. For more information contact: CITES Secretariat; tel: +41-22-917-8139; fax: +41-22-797- 3417; e-mail: cites@unep.ch 12TH MEETING OF THE CITES PLANTS COMMITTEE: This meeting will take place from 6-10 May 2002 in Leiden, the Netherlands. For more information contact: CITES Secretariat; tel: +41-22-917-8139; fax: +41-22-797-3417; e-mail: cites@unep.ch 11TH MEETING OF THE CMS SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL: This meeting will take place from 14-17 September 2002 in Bonn, Germany. For more information contact: CMS Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-2401/2; fax: +49-228-815-2449; Internet: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms/events.htm SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES: CMS COP-7 is scheduled to take place from 15-28 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, Bonn, Germany; tel: +49-228-815-2401/2; fax: +49-228- 815-2449; Internet: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms/events.htm CITES COP-12: This meeting will take place from 3-15 November 2002 in Santiago, Chile. For more information contact: CITES Secretariat; tel: +41-22-917-8139; e-mail: cites@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.cites.org/eng/news/calendar.shtml WOMEN SEMINAR ON CLAIMING WOMEN'S RIGHTS - IMPLEMENTING CEDAW: This event, which will discuss the effective implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), is taking place from 7-12 October 2001 in Glasgow, UK. For more information contact: International Networking Events, UK; tel: +44-0-1865-302709; fax: +44-00-1865- 557368; e-mail: network.events@britishcouncil.org; Internet: http://www.britishcouncil.org/networkevents/gender.htm WOMEN AND DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2001: This summit will be held from 17-18 October 2001 in Washington, DC. For more information contact: Edie Fraser; tel: +1-202-463-3766; e-mail: edie@BWNi.com; Internet: http://www.bwni.com/events/summit/summit2001.html FOURTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON WOMEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY: This workshop is scheduled to take place from 12-16 November 2001 at the University of Havana in Cuba. For more information contact: Norma Vasallo; fax: +53-733-5774, +53-733-5960; e-mail: cmujer@psico.uh.cu 26TH SESSION OF THE UN COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN: The 26th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women is scheduled to be held from 14 January – 1 February 2002 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. For more information contact: Women's Rights Unit, DAW, New York; fax: +1-212-963-3463; e-mail: connorsj@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/committ 46TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: This meeting will convene from 4-15 March 2002 in the UN Headquarters in New York. For more information contact: Division for the Advancement of Women; fax: +1-212-963-3463; Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/ THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON WOMEN, WORK, HEALTH: This congress will convene from 2-5 June 2002 in Stockholm, Sweden and is being sponsored by the National Institute for Working Life. For more information contact: e-mail: wwh@niwl.se; Internet: http://www.niwl.se/wwh STAFF Editor: Malena Sell malena@iisd.org Assistant Editor: Prisna Nuengsigkapian prisna@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 (through the Department for International Development -DfID, and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office), the European Commission (DG-ENV), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Government of Germany (through the German Federal Ministry of Environment - BMU, and the German Federal Ministry of Development Cooperation - BMZ). General Support for the Bulletin during 2001 is provided by 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of Norway, Swan International, and the Japan Environment Agency (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies – IGES).