/linkages/journal/ Volume 6 Number 10 1 November 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/link0610e.pdf ( The following is the ASCII version of Vol. 6 No. 10 of /linkages/journal/ - a monthly snapshot of the Linkages WWW site, available at http://enb.iisd.org/. /linkages/journal/ may not be reproduced, reprinted or posted to any system or service without specific permission from the International Institute for Sustainable Development info@iisd.ca. This limitation includes distribution via Usenet News, bulletin board systems, mailing lists, print media and broadcast. For more information, send a message to malena@iisd.org Linkages Journal offers the latest news, information and analysis from international environment and development negotiations. The November 2001 issue of Linkages Journal includes: * media reports and news, including reports on the antarctic ozone hole, fishing subsidies, and the susceptibility of ecosystems to sudden changes; * briefings on key meetings held in October 2001, including the resumed third PrepCom for the FfD, the Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing under the CBD, the Montreal Protocol MOP-13, the UNCCD COP-5, and the WSSD regional preparatory meetings for Africa, West Asia and Latin American and the Caribbean; * 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 THE THREE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Meeting overload? A large number of meetings took place during October, with negotiators – as well as our Earth Negotiations Bulletin writers and digital editors – shuttling across the planet. The meetings ranged from the development-focused Third PrepCom for the Financing for Development (FfD) Conference and COP-5 of the Convention to Combat Desertification to the more technical and "environment-focused" INC-8 for an International Legally Binding Instrument for the Application of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (Rotterdam Convention) and the Montreal Protocol MOP-13 meeting. Regional Preparatory Meetings for WSSD Three regional preparatory meetings for the WSSD also took place during October, and with only one regional preparatory meeting – the East Asia and the Pacific Region – left before WSSD PrepCom II, the challenges ahead and potential areas for convergence are beginning to emerge. Developing countries' view that the Johannesburg Summit is about sustainable development, a leap from the Rio legacy of environment and development, has emerged loud and clear during the preparations to date. Yet, the lack of integration – or deliberate marginalization of the economic and social pillars in the regional meetings – suggests the need first to resolve this sectoral compartmentalization at the national level in order to achieve implementable Johannesburg outputs. More specifically on priorities for the WSSD, the African Ministerial Statement, characterized by some as a "big family wish list," emphasized the need for the Summit to focus on poverty, globalization, financing and debt, and governance. Soon after the meeting, the South African government announced its own priorities, suggesting "Planet, People and Prosperity" as the main theme. Themes emerging from the other regions included "new globalization" – that ensures equitable, inclusive and sustainable development – suggested by the Latin America and Caribbean region. The region will also champion financing for sustainable development, with the related Financing for Development conference taking place in Mexico several months ahead of the WSSD. West Asia highlighted the themes of peace and security as the Region's priorities, with many delegates recognizing that militarization consumes significant resources that could be better used for human resource development and hinders the ability to share scarce water resources. Meanwhile in Marrakesh… As the current issue of Linkages Journal is sent out to subscibers and posted on the web, negotiations at UNFCCC COP-7 are ongoing, and a number of meetings are scheduled for November, including the Second World Conference on Technology Advances for Sustainable Development, the conference on Equity for a Small Planet and CBD SBSTTA-7. Malena Sell Editor, Linkages Journal RECENT MEETINGS Information on recent conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PART TWO OF THE THIRD PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT: The resumed Third Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) took place from 15-19 October 2001 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The FfD Conference is scheduled to convene in Monterrey, Mexico from 18-22 March 2002. Delegates from 140 countries attended the PrepCom, as did representatives from specialized agencies and UN organizations, intergovernmental organizations, and NGOs. Delegates met in Plenary throughout the week to engage in a conceptual discussion of the Draft Outcome (A/AC.257/25) prepared by FfD Facilitator Mauricio Escanero (Mexico) and to discuss the FfD process. General debates on Monday and Tuesday were followed by comments and recommendations on the three sections of the Draft Outcome. Delegates agreed that the Facilitator should take note of their suggestions and redraft the document by the end of November 2001, for consideration at the Fourth PrepCom in January 2002. The Plenary elected new officers to the Bureau, heard an update on activities toward the Conference, and addressed accreditation issues, the fourth report of the Bureau and the rules of procedure. The PrepCom opened on a divisive note, with delegates expressing strong disagreement over the content of the Draft Outcome. Developed countries expressed concern that the document overemphasized international actions. Some suggested that the text should be withdrawn. Developing countries maintained that the Draft Outcome should serve as the basis for discussion, and the G- 77/China offered commentary on the text. By the end of the week, hardline positions had softened slightly and talks on systemic issues, which some delegates had predicted would pose the greatest challenges of the meeting, took place with cordiality and engagement. Observers called the resumed Third PrepCom a critical point in the FfD process and expressed optimism about the prospects for Monterrey. They emphasized that the opportunity for governments and stakeholders to exchange ideas may be as important to FfD as the substance of an agreed outcome text. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/ffd/pc3/ PREPARATIONS FOR THE JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT 2002 WEST ASIA REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING: The West Asia Regional Preparatory meeting for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) took place at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on 24 October 2001. Ten North African and 12 Middle Eastern countries make up the Arab Region, referred to by the UN as the West Asia Region. The regional meeting was attended by approximately 140 government delegates and observers, including NGO representatives and international organizations. Prior to the meeting, the Joint Committee on Environment and Development in the Arab Region (JCEDAR) met in a two-day special session on Sunday and Monday, 21-22 October, while the Bureau of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment met on Tuesday, 23 October, and the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE) met on Wednesday morning, 24 October. Following these meetings that were held to develop and discuss the WSSD Progress Assessment Report for the Arab Region, the Arab Declaration to the WSSD, and the Arab Address, a formal half-day Plenary was convened on Wednesday evening, 24 October, for presentation and adoption of the documents. Discussion was limited, as most issues had been resolved in the three days leading up to the Regional Preparatory meeting. Key regional issues emerging from the Cairo meetings include peace and security, poverty, debt, water management and the need for integration across sectors and political levels. The West Asia Preparatory meeting was the shortest of the four regional meetings held so far in preparation for the WSSD. It convened for less than four hours, instead of the two days scheduled. While participants considered the meeting's outcomes balanced and comprehensive, a lingering challenge is how the Region will ensure its outputs are integrated at different levels. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/2002/wswas/ LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING: The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Preparatory Conference for the WSSD took place at Rio Centro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 23-24 October 2001. Representatives of 27 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) States, three associate members of ECLAC, five non-ECLAC UN member States, and representatives from UN agencies, multilateral financial institutions, and NGOs attended the Conference. Delegates considered progress achieved in implementation of Agenda 21, discussed the document regarding "The sustainability of development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges and opportunities," and heard statements by ministers and representatives of international organizations and civil society. A Special Session, during which Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso spoke, was held on Tuesday, 23 October, and a high-level Panel on Financing Sustainable Development was convened on the same day. At the end of the meeting, delegates adopted the "Rio de Janeiro Platform for Action on the Road to Johannesburg 2002," which includes sections on: reaffirmation of principles and commitments; obstacles and lessons learned; present considerations; and future commitments. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/2002/wslac/ AFRICAN REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING: The African Regional Preparatory Conference for the WSSD took place at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, from 15-18 October 2001. The Conference was attended by approximately 300 government delegates and observers. During the four-day Conference, delegates met in a two-day Technical Segment on Monday and Tuesday, 15-16 October, and a two- day Ministerial Segment held on Wednesday and Thursday, 17-18 October. The Conference aimed to outline key regional policy issues, priorities and follow-up actions for the WSSD, provide substantial inputs to its preparatory process, and forward regional views on international cooperation for sustainable development at the regional and global levels. Delegates negotiated an African Ministerial Statement drawing on an Assessment Report and the outcomes of subregional preparatory meetings. The African Ministerial Statement reviews the last decade, identifying the achievements and constraints faced, and highlights 26 priority areas for action. Despite flaws both in process and substance, and numerous procedural hitches, delegates were satisfied with the final African Ministerial Statement. Many considered it more balanced, direct and specific than the initial draft, although in need of additional focus. While there was enthusiasm that holding the WSSD in Johannesburg presents an opportunity for Africa to drive the process, there was acknowledgement that the real test is whether the G-77/China will buy into Africa's agenda. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/2002/africa/ UNEP 18TH CONSULTATIVE MEETING WITH INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS: The UNEP 18th Consultative Meeting with Industry Associations was held in Paris, France from 4-5 October 2001. Representatives from about 50 industry associations from around the world and non-industry civil society groups and NGOs met to discuss business and industry's role in contributing to the WSSD preparatory process. Participants were first briefed on progress made at a previous workshop where industry representatives and stakeholders had met to discuss draft sector reports for the Summit. Presentations were then heard on preparations for the Summit by representatives of UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, the World Business Council on Sustainable Development and Greenpeace. Over the two days, participants met in four sessions that considered the following topics: Agenda 21 and the WSSD - the contribution of business and industry; cleaner production and reduced material intensities; trends that shape the market place; and corporate citizenship and accountability. Discussions highlighted the need for partnerships and greater involvement of business and industry from the developing world and several speakers advocated a more pro-active approach on the part of industry in addressing the issue of sustainable development. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.uneptie.org/outreach/business/ind_meeting2001.htm FOURTH MEETING OF THE WSSD BUREAU: The Fourth meeting of the Bureau took place in New York from 1-2 October 2001. The Bureau assessed the state of preparations for the Johannesburg Summit at the regional and sub-regional levels and considered further details of the programme of work during the second session of the PrepCom for the Summit. The Bureau met with representatives of the UN Office of the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs to discuss links between WSSD and UN activities in the area of natural disaster reduction. In addition, the Bureau also convened with the Bureau of the Executive Board of UNDP and the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Financing for Development to discuss linkages between preparations for the Summit and the other two intergovernmental processes, in particular how these processes could support each other and achieve synergies. Notes on the Outcome of Fourth Bureau Meeting are available online at: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/web_pages/jakarta_bureau_notes.h tm BIODIVERSITY FIRST AD HOC OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP ON ACCESS AND BENEFIT- SHARING: The first meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held at the International Congress Centre Bundeshaus in Bonn, Germany, from 22-26 October 2001. The Working Group was established by the CBD's fifth Conference of the Parties (COP) to develop guidelines and other approaches for access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing (ABS). Approximately 350 participants from 87 countries and 88 intergovernmental, non- governmental and industry organizations attended. During the meeting, delegates met in Plenary and two sub-working groups. Sub- Working Group I discussed the development of draft guidelines on ABS. Sub-Working Group II discussed an action plan for capacity building, approaches other than guidelines to ABS and the role of intellectual property rights (IPR) in the implementation of the ABS arrangements. Delegates expressed general satisfaction that they were able to complete discussions on the bulk of the draft guidelines without the need for additional meetings, although outstanding issues on the use of terms, derivatives and annexes remain for COP-6 to resolve. On the issue of IPR and ABS, several delegates were pleasantly surprised at the detailed recommendations for further information and analysis on issues including disclosure of prior informed consent (PIC), the country of origin and use of traditional knowledge in patent applications. Discussions also produced the core elements for a plan of action on capacity building, which will likely be further addressed at an intersessional workshop. The Working Group's recommendations will be forwarded to the Working Group on Article 8(j) (4-8 February, 2002; Montreal, Canada) and CBD COP-6 (8-19 April 2002; The Hague, the Netherlands). The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/biodiv/abs-wg1/index.html WORKSHOP ON THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: This workshop took place on 8 October 2001 at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA) in London, UK. NGOs, government representatives and other participants met to discuss the CBD in light of the ongoing negotiations on international environmental governance. The workshop was organized by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, RIIA and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. After hearing statements by Hamdallah Zedan, Executive Secretary of the CBD, and by several other presenters, participants discussed various CBD-related issues in the context of the debate on international environmental governance. Some participants raised concerns that biodiversity conventions had not succeeded in stemming worldwide biodiversity loss, and that major changes, such as globalization, have occurred since the CBD was negotiated. Participants stressed that international governance- related changes should add value to the work of multilateral environmental agreements and that issues of poverty and over- consumption needed to be addressed. Emphasizing the links to health, food security and natural disasters was suggested to help communicate the work of the CBD more effectively to the public. More information on this meeting is available by e-mailing Joy Hyvarinen at: joy.hyvarinen@rspb.org.uk SECOND MEETING OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY: The second meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP) to the CBD was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 1-5 October 2001. Approximately 350 participants from 117 countries and 47 intergovernmental, non-governmental and industry organizations attended. Delegates met in Plenary and in two working groups to discuss agenda items from ICCP-1 as well as a number of new issues. Working Group I (WG-I) addressed matters related to information sharing, handling, transport, packaging and identification, monitoring and reporting, and considered other issues necessary for the Protocol's implementation. Working Group II (WG-II) addressed issues concerning capacity building, the roster of experts, guidance to the financial mechanism, decision-making procedures, liability and redress, and compliance. The Plenary considered: the Secretariat, Rules of Procedure; the agenda of the first Conference of the Parties (COP) serving as the Meeting of the Parties (MOP-1); cooperation with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) under other matters; and preparatory work for MOP-1. Delegates expressed satisfaction at the progress made during the meeting, while noting its predominant focus on process over substance. ICCP-2 highlighted continued concerns regarding capacity building and information sharing as essential elements for the Protocol's ratification and implementation at the national level. Discussions on the documentation of living modified organisms for food, feed or processing (LMO-FFPs), liability and redress, and compliance underscored tensions dating back to the negotiation of the Protocol, while focusing on the exact nature of future processes to address them. ICCP-2 developed recommendations on its agenda items, which will be forwarded to MOP-1 for consideration. In the event that the 50th instrument of ratification is not deposited by 8 January 2002, delegates proposed that a third ICCP meeting be convened to maintain momentum on preparations for the Protocol's effective implementation at the time of its entry into force. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/biodiv/iccp2/index.html CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT EIGHTH SESSION OF THE INC FOR AN INTERNATIONAL LEGALLY BINDING INSTRUMENT FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE: The eighth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument for the Application of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (INC-8) was held from 8-12 October 2001 in Rome, Italy. Over 260 delegates from more than 110 countries, including representatives of IGOs and NGOs, attended the five-day meeting. The overall goal of INC-8 was to consider the major issues associated with the implementation of the interim PIC procedure, and to prepare for the entry into force of the Convention. During the session, delegates discussed: the work of the Interim Chemical Review Committee (ICRC); implementation of the interim PIC procedure; and preparation for the COP. INC-8 resolved a number of complex questions associated with discontinuation of the interim PIC procedure and on conflict of interest in the ICRC, although consideration of some contentious issues, such as treatment of non-Parties after discontinuation of the interim PIC procedure and composition of the PIC regions, have been deferred to INC-9. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/chemical/pic/pic8/index.html CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE 13TH MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER: The 13th Meeting of the Parties (MOP-13) to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer convened in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 16-19 October 2001. The meeting was attended by 325 participants from 108 countries, representing governments, UN agencies, and IGOs and NGOs. A preparatory segment was held from 16-17 October, followed by a high-level segment from 18-19 October. MOP-13 adopted decisions on, inter alia: the terms of reference (TOR) for a study on the 2003-2005 replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol; an evaluation and review of the performance of the Protocol's financial mechanism; a review of the Multilateral Fund's fixed-exchange-rate mechanism; Parties' compliance; procedures for assessing the ozone-depleting potential (ODP) of new substances; expedited procedures for adding new substances to the Protocol; chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) production for metered-dose inhalers (MDIs); monitoring of international trade and prevention of illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and mixtures and products containing ODS; and the budget of the Trust Fund. MOP-13 also adopted the Colombo Declaration and took note of a Pacific Island Country Declaration. The focus of MOP-13 was on the implementation of existing commitments, rather than the negotiation of new provisions. MOP-13 marked the first opportunity to review compliance by developing countries with their initial ODS controls, thus quietly launching a new era in the regime. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/ozone/mop13/ 18TH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE: The eighteenth session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-18) was held from 24-29 September 2001, in London, UK. Approximately 280 delegates, experts and representatives of international and non-governmental organizations attended the session. The session focused on approving/adopting the Synthesis Report of the IPCC's Third Assessment Report (TAR). The Synthesis Report, which consists of a summary for policy-makers (SPM) and an underlying longer part, integrates the information contained within the TAR and draws on all previously approved and accepted IPCC reports to address nine policy-relevant questions identified by the IPCC, based on submissions by governments. It is the first such report prepared by the IPCC. Participants met in Plenary throughout the six-day session, convening contact groups to address contentious issues. Throughout the week, they approved the SPM using a line-by-line approach and adopted the underlying longer part paragraph-by-paragraph during the final two days. The approval/adoption of the Synthesis Report was completed on Saturday, 29 September. In addition, delegates took a number of management decisions, including to: retain the current three working groups, maintain the Task Force on Inventories, and keep the size of the IPCC Bureau at 30 members; adopt the IPCC work programme and budget for 2002-2004; endorse a scoping paper for the Technical Paper on Climate Change and Biological Diversity and endorse in principle the preparation of a technical paper on climate change and sustainable development; accept a work programme on Good Practice Guidance on Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry and authorize further work on developing definitions for degradation and devegetation; and authorize the preparation of scoping papers for any work requested by the Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP-7) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The finalization of the Synthesis Report completed nearly five years of work on the TAR. The issue of how governments will respond to the Synthesis Report and make use of its answers to policy-relevant questions remains to be seen. Their first opportunity to respond will be COP-7, where an in-depth debate on the TAR is scheduled to take place. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/climate/ipcc18/ DESERTIFICATION FIFTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: The Fifth Conference of the Parties (COP-5) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) took place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1-13 October 2001. Attended by delegates from over 150 Parties, eight observer States, 15 UN agencies and relevant organizations, and 17 IGOs, as well as numerous NGOs, COP-5 focused on setting the modalities of work for the two-year interval before the next COP, scheduled for October 2003. The COP was organized within the overall theme of poverty and the environment, in preparation for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). The preparations were undertaken through an NGO dialogue session, High Level Special Segment, parallel meetings of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST), the fourth Interparliamentary Round Table and a Panel of Eminent Personalities. Progress was made in a number of areas, most notably, the establishment of the Committee for the Review of Implementation of the Convention (CRIC), the identification of modalities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the CST, and the enhancement of the CCD's financial base following strong support for a proposal by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to designate land degradation as another focal area for funding. The COP adopted 26 decisions, ten of which were drafted in the CST, which met in a parallel session to the COP from 2-5 October. To conclude their work, delegates had to hold protracted negotiations in the contact groups on the CRIC and on the programme and budget. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/desert/cop5/ INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS MEETING ON THE THIRD REPLENISHMENT OF THE GEF TRUST FUND: The third GEF replenishment meeting met from 11-12 October 2001 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Participants took stock of the funding status and commented on an interim report of the Second Overall Performance Study, concluding that the report provided a good basis for replenishing the GEF Trust Fund. Participants underscored the need for more efforts in developing quantifiable indicators to measure the impact of GEF activities on the global environment. After suggesting a range of new issues to be included in the final report, participants agreed to a schedule for preparation of the final report and engaged in a dialogue on the programming of resources and potential reference currencies that would be used under GEF-3. A presentation on Initial Discussions of Structure, Processes and Procedures of the GEF and a joint statement from the Heads of the Implementing Agencies were heard. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.gefweb.org/Replenishment/Reple_Documents/reple_document s.html OCEANS AND COASTS REYKJAVIK CONFERENCE ON RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES IN THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM: The Reykjavik Conference on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem met from 1-4 October 2001 in Reykjavik, Iceland. The conference was organized by the Government of Iceland and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and was co- sponsored by the Government of Norway. The meeting was attended by over 400 participants, including representatives from FAO Member States and other UN Member States, UN bodies and agencies, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, academic and scientific institutions, and industry. The conference presented stakeholders with an opportunity to gather and review the best available knowledge on marine and ecosystem issues. It sought to establish a means by which ecosystem considerations could be included in capture fisheries management, and to identify future challenges and relevant strategies. To achieve these objectives, participants met in plenary sessions and a Scientific Symposium, in which invited experts presented their research and views and participants engaged in general discussions and raised questions from the floor. During the Symposium, participants focused on key scientific issues for ecosystem-based fisheries management, including the dynamics of marine ecosystems, the role of people in marine ecosystems, and methods to incorporate ecosystem considerations into fisheries management. On Wednesday, 3 October, delegates met in Plenary to hear statements from countries, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations and UN agencies. Following field trips to local fisheries sites on Thursday morning, 4 October, delegates reconvened for a final Plenary in the evening and approved the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem. An open-ended drafting committee established at the start of the conference formulated this Declaration during intensive negotiations. The Declaration will be submitted to the World Summit on Sustainable Development for its consideration. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/sdice/ SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOURTH INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON URBAN POVERTY: The Fourth International Forum on Urban Poverty was held from 16-19 October 2001 in Marrakesh, Morocco. The Forum consisted of two sets of workshops - one on ''Productive Cities'' and the other on ''Inclusive Cities.'' Participants heard presentations on the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in poverty reduction based on ongoing initiatives in Egypt, Estonia, Peru, Zimbabwe, and South Asia, and a case study on the use of ICT in Senegal as a means of improving governance. Participants also attended workshops on the role of employment policies and finance in relieving urban poverty, and heard presentations that focused on different strategies for promoting social inclusion through housing and urban development. During the sessions on urban governance, participants were presented with eight case studies that included examples of local economic restructuring, local economic development potential assessment, and pro-poor governance. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.unchs.org/ifup/conf/morocco1.htm WETLANDS RAMSAR EAST ASIAN SUBREGIONAL MEETING: The Ramsar East Asian Subregional Meeting took place in Bangkok, Thailand from 1-3 October 2001. Participants met to take stock of the implementation of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the use of the National Reporting Format within the region, as well as to carry out early consultations with Contracting Parties in the East Asian region regarding the proposed agenda for next year's Ramsar COP8. Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar presented Country Reports, and contracting Parties discussed Ramsar's Strategic Plan for the 2003-2008 period. Parties then heard and commented on presentations made at five Technical sessions: Wetlands - major challenges and emerging opportunities in the new century; Wetland inventory and assessment; Practical steps for applying the vision for the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance; Managing wetlands for sustainable use - lessons learnt and new perspectives; and Cultural aspects of wetlands as a tool for their conservation and sustainable use. Delegates then discussed the key issues for the work of the Convention in the region. The Ramsar Bureau concluded by providing an outline of the upcoming COP-8 in Spain, noting that the agenda had already been distributed. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.ramsar.org/mtg_reg_eastasia2001_rpt.htm MEDIA REPORTS The latest news from the field of international environment and development negotiations, with links to relevant media coverage and press releases SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AARHUS CONVENTION COMES INTO FORCE The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters or Aarhus Convention has entered into force. The pan-European Convention, which was negotiated by the UN Economic Commission for Europe, is said to protect the environment and promote democracy by increasing transparency and accountability of governments. The public will be provided access to environmental information held by public authorities, given permission to review procedures when their rights to information and participation have been violated, and in special cases, be allowed to challenge violators of environmental laws. "The Aarhus Convention is the most ambitious venture in environmental democracy undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations. The firm commitment to [the Convention's] principles of … States in Eastern Europe and Central Asia … clearly demonstrates that environmental rights are not a luxury reserved for rich countries," said UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. Links to further information UNECE press release, 29 October 2001 http://www.unece.org/press/pr2001/01env15e.htm NORDIC COUNTRIES TOP SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CHART Nordic countries are best at balancing human development with environmental conservation, according to "The Wellbeing of Nations," a report by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and The World Conservation Union (IUCN). The study, which ranked 180 countries by human indicators relating to wealth, education, freedom, governance and peace, and environmental indicators relating to land, air, water, biodiversity and resource use, ranked Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland at the top of the list. Germany ranked 12th, while Japan was placed 24th and the US was 27th. Key conditions for combining high human wellbeing and low ecosystem stress were found to be freedom, good governance, and education. Although large differences in ecosystem stress were found to occur between countries with similar standards of living, no country was reported to be sustainable or to approach sustainability. IUCN Director General, Achim Steiner said, "the report suggests that a high standard of living is possible without ruining the environment by changing the way that development is pursued." Links to further information IUCN press release, 11 October 2001 http://www.iucn.org/info_and_news/press/wbon.html BUSINESS GROUPS URGE GOVERNMENTS TO PAY FOR JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD), a global coalition of business associations, has called on governments to provide funding for next year's Johannesburg Summit to relieve South Africa of the financial burden it was bearing for hosting the event. Over 140 high-level business leaders met with Nitin Desai over two days in Paris to discuss business preparation strategies for the Summit. Business representatives resolved to ensure that the Summit economically benefited Johannesburg and South Africa, agreeing to mobilize business support for infrastructure development, investment and social programmes. The South African Government had sought contributions from the private sector, but business representatives felt that this would instigate charges that the private sector was trying in influence the Summit process and outcome. BASD chairman, Sir Mark Moody- Stuart closed the meeting by saying, ''we should use the influence we are supposed to have with governments to get the necessary funding. We told participants - Go home, and lean on your governments to do their bit.'' Links to further information BASD press release, 10 October 2001 http://www.basd-action.net/news/releases/10oct2001.htm PRONK APPOINTED AS SUMMIT ENVOY Dutch Environment Minister Jan Pronk has been appointed by the UN Secretary-General to act as the Special Envoy for the Johannesburg Summit. Pronk - who presided over the recent climate change negotiations in Bonn in July and last year in The Hague - will work with high-level political leaders and assess their views on the goals of the WSSD. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also appointed Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, to serve as Secretary-General of the Johannesburg Summit. A high-level Advisory Panel of experts from various fields is being established to discuss new approaches for attaining the goals of sustainable development. Twelve people have already accepted the Secretary-General's invitation to be on the panel. Links to further information UN wire press release, 24 October 2001 http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/current.asp#20179 SUSTAINABILITY COMES UNDER SPOTLIGHT FOR FINANCIAL SECTOR Sustainability came under the spotlight in the financial sector as Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), banks, insurers and private sector financiers met with environmental experts and the UN for the first time to discuss the environmental effects of finance operations at a recent workshop in Paris. ECAs fund billion-dollar infrastructure projects, such as dams and roads in developing countries, which have potential adverse environmental impacts. Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel, Assistant Executive Director of UNEP expressed hope that the financial community will ultimately adopt "sustainable practices" when providing financial support for investments in infrastructure and equipment, a move called for by world leaders at the 1997 Denver G8 Summit. Links to further information UNEP press release, 22 October 2001 http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=5447 BIODIVERSITY ECOSYSTEMS SUSCEPTIBLE TO SUDDEN CHANGES Decades of continuous pressure from human activity have made many global ecosystems vulnerable to sudden environmental changes, according to an international consortium of scientists, whose findings were published recently in Nature. According to their report, the resilience of stressed ecosystems, such as coral reefs, tropical forests and northern lakes and forests, has been weakened to the point where the slightest disturbance can potentially cause a collapse to the system. Constant change, whether from increased nutrient levels or human exploitation, is common for most ecosystems, while climate change has introduced another destabilizing factor that is currently putting ecosystems in a more precarious position. "A shock that formerly would not have knocked a system into another state now has the potential to do so," said scientists Stephen Carpenter and Jonathan Foley. Links to further information Environmental News Network, 12 October 2001 http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/10/10122001/s_45241.asp CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE ANTARCTIC OZONE HOLE SMALLER THIS YEAR The ozone hole above Antarctica has stopped growing for this year and is ten percent smaller than it was last year, say scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Antarctic ozone hole, which is currently as large as North America, has remained steady in size and thickness over the past several years, due to the leveling off in use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The severity of the Antarctic ozone hole is expected to decrease over the next 30-50 years as concentrations of ODS in the atmosphere decline. According to NASA scientists, the ozone layer will take at least 50 years to recover to levels observed prior to 1980, although climate change could impede this process. Links to further information Environmental News Network, 22 October 2001 http://enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/10/10222001/ozone_45313.asp DESERTIFICATION SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FINDS ANSWER IN ZERO TILLAGE Millions of hectares of agricultural land can be protected from degradation and erosion through "Conservation Agriculture," according to the FAO. During the recent World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, FAO representatives noted that, while conventional intensive agriculture causes severe soil loss and land degradation through tillage, conservation agriculture in contrast practices low or no tillage, keeping a layer of leaves, stems and stalks over the soil, thus preventing soil erosion and soil moisture evaporation. Reducing tillage also lowers fuel and labor costs, and has shown to yield crop harvests comparable to those of modern intensive agriculture. Conservation agriculture is currently being practiced in parts of the US, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and Paraguay. The FAO, which has been promoting the concept for 10 years, is expanding its programme to other regions, including Africa, Central and South Asia. Links to further information FAO press release, 1 October 2001 http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/PRESS_NE/PRESSENG/2001/pren0159.htm FORESTS TROPICAL DEFORESTATION CONTINUES AT HIGH RATE Tropical forests are continually being cleared at a high rate, with 93% of natural tropical forests being converted to other land uses, says a new FAO State of the World's Forests report. Ninety- four percent of worldwide deforestation of natural forests occurred in the tropics during the 1990s, with the highest losses being in South America and Africa. China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and the US saw the highest net increases in forest area. The FAO report says that corruption and illegal forest practices threaten forest protection, citing trade liberalization and globalization as reasons for increased illegal logging activity in some areas. The report also cautions against simply banning or restricting commercial logging. These measures, although sometimes successful, have also adversely affected local communities and the forest sector in some countries, or transferred the problem of over-exploitation to others. On the positive side, the report suggests that sustainable forest management has gained increasing support throughout the 1990s, with 149 countries in 2000 being involved in global initiatives to develop and implement criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. Links to further information State of the World's Forests 2001 report http://www.fao.org/forestry/FO/SOFO/sofo-e.stm FAO press release, 3 October 2001 http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/PRESS_NE/PRESSENG/2001/pren0161.htm DEFORESTATION AFFECTS DISTANT RAINFORESTS, CLAIMS STUDY The micro-climate of Costa Rican cloud forests is being affected by forest clearing on coastal plains 65 miles away, says a recent study in Science. This phenomenon presents a problem for efforts to preserve the world's tropical forests through protecting small pockets of habitats, without considering the effects of human activities in nearby unprotected areas. Using satellite data and computer models, scientists looked at how deforestation along the Caribbean coast influenced weather conditions in a nearby mountain range and found that since the 1950s when extensive land clearing began, the moisture content of clouds over the mountains has decreased by about 50%. These findings in Costa Rica are consistent with patterns of localized weather changes observed in deforested areas of the Amazon region. Scientists added that cloud forests in Madagascar, the Andes and New Guinea are also at risk. Links to further information Los Angeles Times, 19 October 2001 http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la- 000083422oct19.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dworld OCEANS AND COASTS WWF FINDS FISHING SUBSIDIES UNDER-REPORTED, URGES REFORM Subsidies to the fishing industry add up to at least US$15 billion annually, representing about 20 percent of the total value of the world's commercial fish catch, says the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). Injudicious fishing subsidies are considered to play a major role in the depletion of global fish stocks. Governments have officially reported annual subsidy levels of US$13 billion, but a recent WWF study demonstrates that the actual amount is higher, charging governments with under-reporting. The WWF report is said to give detailed new evidence that governments routinely violate legal obligations imposed by the WTO, which requires that countries provide data about their subsidy programmes. "The political question remains whether WTO members will … commit themselves even to simple and practical steps to ensure that the WTO develops trade rules in a manner that promotes equity and sustainable use of the Earth's natural resources," said Aimée Gonzales of WWF International. "Failure to do so at the ministerial level amounts to the WTO ignoring its own charter and further fuelling public suspicion and mistrust in the institution." Links to further information WWF press release, 25 October 2001 http://panda.org/news/press/news.cfm?id=2554 POPULATION LIFE EXPECTANCIES IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES AMONG WORLD'S LOWEST Men and women in many African countries face an average life expectancy of less than 50 years, according to a recent UN publication. The Demographic Yearbook 1999, which provides population information for more than 233 countries and areas of the world, found that only a handful of African countries such as Algeria, Cape Verde, and Libya, have female life expectancies exceeding 70 years. High female life expectancy rates of at least 80 years were identified in 22 countries, led by Japan and followed by Hong Kong, France, Switzerland and Sweden. Male life expectancy rates were also highest in Japan and Hong Kong, with twelve other countries having male life expectancy rates of over 75 years. The greatest disparity in life expectancy between men and women appeared to be in the Russian Federation (13.4 years) and the Ukraine (10.8 years), while the lowest infant mortality rates were found in China and Hong Kong, Sweden, Switzerland and Singapore. The 25 most populous countries reported are estimated to contain about 75 percent of the world population. Links to further information UN press release, 12 October 2001 http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/dev2342.doc.htm TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT WTO UPHOLDS US BAN ON SHRIMP IMPORTS The World Trade Organization (WTO) has upheld a US ban on shrimp imports from Malaysia, turning down Malaysia's appeal in the ongoing shrimp-turtle dispute. The US hailed this ruling as a victory for the environment. US law bans importing shrimp caught by vessels that do not use turtle-excluder devices, which prevent sea turtles from being ensnared. The dispute began five years ago, when Malaysia, India, Pakistan, and Thailand protested the US ban to the WTO, which later found the ban to be in violation of the organization's rules. The US responded by revising its guidelines and making the ban more flexible to conform to WTO ruling. Malaysia's subsequent complaint that US had failed to comply with the rulings of the Dispute Settlement Board was rejected and Malaysia consequently appealed. Links to further information Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest, 23 October 2001 http://www.ictsd.org/weekly/01-10-23/wtoinbrief.htm Reuters news release, 24 October 2001 http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/10/10242001/reu_45359.asp COMINGS AND GOINGS Information on key appointments, departures and vacancies at United Nations agencies, international organizations, government departments and non-governmental organizations active in the field of international environment and development negotiations APPOINTMENTS UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME APPOINTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Former US Senator George McGovern has been appointed as the World Food Programme's first Global Ambassador on Hunger. McGovern will act as the worldwide advocate on hunger issues, promoting hunger and poverty eradication programmes that target poor children and mothers. For more information visit: http://www.wfp.org/newsroom/press_releases/2001/1019_a.htm UN FORUM ON FOREST APPOINTS CHAIR Knut Øistad of Norway, an active participant of intergovernmental deliberations on forests over the past decade, has been chosen as the Chair of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF). During the first session of UNFF, Øistad chaired the working group on the multi- year programme of work. For more information visit: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/unffdocs/UNFFnewsletter10-01.pdf VACANCIES IUCN ADVERTISES TWO OFFICER POSITIONS The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is seeking a World Parks Congress Officer for its Programme on Protected Areas. The position is based at IUCN Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland and the deadline for application is 16 November 2001. More information is available online at: http://www.iucn.org/vacancies/wpcofficer.doc IUCN is also looking for a Project Officer for its Wetland and Water Resources Programme. The position is based in Gland, Switzerland and the application is due on 9 December 2001. More information is available online at: http://www.iucn.org/vacancies/index.html WORLD BANK VACANCIES IN EDUCATION SECTOR The Education Sector of the World Bank is seeking to recruit several education specialists, education economists and human development economists to help develop its education programmes. The positions will be based initially in Washington, DC and the applications are due 16 November 2001. More information is available online at: http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/HRS/hrs_www.nsf/key/careers CIEL SEEKS SENIOR ATTORNEY The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is seeking a Senior Attorney to work as part of its Trade & Sustainable Development Programme in its Geneva-based European Office. More information is available online at: http://www.ciel.org/Join/attorney_geneva.html UNDP ADVERTISES ENVIRONMENTAL POSTS The UN Development Programme (UNDP) 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 POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT FAO The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has a variety of professional positions available, mostly designated as P-3, P-4 and P-5 level UN positions. Many of these positions are based in Rome. More information is available online at: http://www.fao.org/VA/Employ.htm READINGS New and recent book titles, articles and other literature on environment and development JOURNALS /Sustainable Development "The ecological traces of growth: economic growth, liberalization, increased consumption and sustainable urban development?" Journal of Environment Policy and Planning (3, 2001), pp. 177-192. Co- authors Karl G. Hoyer and Petter Naess highlight the difficulties faced in ensuring ongoing economic growth with sustainable development in industrialized countries, by examining how building stock and physical infrastructure in these countries have developed. The authors show the limits of eco-efficiency and argue that making the transition to less environmentally harmful types of consumption will not be sufficient if consumption volume continues to increase. "Political underdevelopment: what causes bad governance?" Public Management Review (3, 2001), pp. 385-418. Mick Moore examines how the states of the South, although diverse, tend to be underdeveloped in the political sense: neither authoritative and effective, nor legitimate and accountable to citizens. Moore shows how the conventional response by aid donors of institutional transfer may not be the best approach, as the political underdevelopment of much of the South results largely from the ways in which developing countries have been created, and political authority shaped through economic and political interactions with the wealthier countries of the North. Moore suggests that more attention be paid to the ways in which developed countries currently help sustain political underdevelopment in the South, especially by perpetuating the conditions under which state elites in the South remain too independent of their fellow citizens. /Biodiversity "Harnessing biotechnology for the poor: challenges ahead for capacity, safety and public investment." Journal of Human Development (2, 2001), pp. 239-263. Joel Cohen considers whether existing efforts to ensure that benefits from biotechnology reach those in need, and if not, what additional steps are required to ensure that they do. Cohen explores these concerns by first assessing the relevance of biotechnology for agricultural research in developing countries. He summarizes recent development reports, ISNAR research, and examples of international collaboration. He explains biosafety, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and related expectations for capacity building, risk assessment, and the precautionary approach. Cohen also reviews regulatory systems and public investments for biotechnology research in six developing countries, and concludes with policy recommendations regarding capacity, safety and investments that enhance public research and regulatory abilities. /Climate Change BioScience, Volume 51 (9, 2001) presents a series of papers developed by the forest sector of the US National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change. In examining how forests may be affected by climate change, the Forest Sector Committee divided the topic into four areas: processes; diversity; disturbances; and socioeconomics, each of which is the focus of an article in the series. In "Climate change and forest disturbances," Virginia H. Dale et al focus on direct terrestrial impacts of climate change. John Aber et al review the state of predicting forest ecosystem responses to changes in the physical and chemical climate in "Forest processes and global environmental change: predicting the effects of individual and multiple stressors." In "Assessing socioeconomic impacts of climate change on US forests, wood-product markets, and forest recreation," Lloyd C. Irland et al discuss the problems of projecting social and economic changes affecting forests and review recent efforts to assess the wood-market impacts of possible climate changes. Andrew J. Hansen et al provide a primer on how forest biodiversity acts as a key component of global change in their paper "Global change in forests: responses of species, communities, and biomes." The authors first synthesize current knowledge of interactions among climate, land use, and biodiversity, and then summarize the results of new analyses on the potential effects of climate change on forest biodiversity. "An international registration and tracking system for greenhouse gas emissions trading: elements, possibilities, problems and issues for further discussion." Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning (3, 2001), pp. 233-244. Axel Michaelowa and Tobias Koch illustrate how international emissions trading under the Kyoto Protocol or any alternative international regime needs a registration system to prevent the creation of false emission permits. The authors suggest a two-tier system consisting of an International Registry (IR) that maintains accounts for countries and private entities, and a set of national registries that adhere to a set of minimum standards. The authors propose that permits become fungible across all Kyoto Mechanisms, and are allocated a serial number to enable tracking. Other recommendations include how the IR should collect fees for adaptation and administration, and be charged with reallocation of emission budgets owing to various causes, enforcement of eventual caps, and discounting of permits owing to non-compliance. The authors conclude by discussing the registration process and proposing a timetable for the set-up of the registries. "Do countries fail to raise environmental standards? An evaluation of policy options addressing 'regulatory chill'." International Journal of Sustainable Development 4 (3, 2001), pp. 231-244. In this article, Eric Neumayer argues that there is substantial anecdotal evidence pointing to the fact that "regulatory chill" is relevant to the issue of global warming. Several policy options are evaluated to deal with this problem according to a specified set of criteria. "The seven myths of Kyoto." Climate Policy 1 (2, 2001), pp. 269- 272. Michael Grubb and Joanna Depledge identify seven myths about the Kyoto Protocol. They argue for a fuller understanding of the realities of the Protocol, suggesting that it should and could remain the basis for ongoing global negotiations and action on climate change. /Oceans and Coasts "Fisheries management in a sea of uncertainty: the role and responsibility of scientists in attaining a precautionary approach." International Journal of Sustainable Development 4 (3, 2001), pp. 245-264. Lene Buhl-Mortensen and Reidar Toresen illustrate how fisheries scientists will have to adapt to the new requirements represented by the precautionary principle. In their paper, the authors stress that the existing model of decision- making needs to be modified to help fisheries managers and stakeholders understand the uncertainties involved in the scientific advice. /Trade and Environment "Intellectual property rights and economic development: historical lessons and emerging issues." Journal of Human Development 2 (2, 2001), pp. 287-309. Ha-Joon Chang re-examines the role of intellectual property rights (IPR) in economic development and proposes a reform of the TRIPS agreement. Chang tackles the issue from a historical perspective, as well as from the point of view of contemporary developing countries. He discusses the role that IPR played in the development of the now-developed countries when they were industrializing, and identifies some implications for developing countries and for the global economy. He also describes the role of IPR in economic development in the contemporary context, with a focus on the patent system. NEW PUBLICATIONS State of the Environment 2001 Reports for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka (UNEP 2001). These four national reports identify priority environmental issues for each country. For Bangladesh, the report addresses land degradation, water pollution and scarcity, air pollution, biodiversity loss and the threat of natural disasters. The Bhutan report looks at the environmental effects of rural-urban migration, land degradation, air pollution, pressure on and pollution of water resources and solid waste management. In the India report, land degradation, biodiversity loss, air pollution, freshwater resource management and hazardous waste management are considered, while the Sri Lanka report focuses on issues related to land degradation by soil erosion, waste disposal, pollution of inland waters, biodiversity loss and depletion of coastal resources. The reports can be downloaded at: http://www.rrcap.unep.org/ Consumption Opportunities (UNEP 2001). This new UNEP report explains what sustainable consumption means in practical terms by separating the concept into the four strategic elements: efficient consumption; different consumption; conscious consumption; and appropriate consumption. The report aims to raise awareness and catalyze action on this issue, which will be a critical part of the agenda for the WSSD in 2002. For a copy e-mail: jm@unep.ch Illegal Trade in Ozone Depleting Substances: Is There a Hole in the Montreal Protocol? (UNEP 2001). This new publication aims to raise awareness about illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances (ODS), as well as stimulate action to combat trafficking. Government, academic and NGO experts from developed and developing nations explore the complexities of illegal trade in ODS and offer recommendations for ending this problem. The publication is available online at http://www.uneptie.org/ozonaction/library/oan/main.html Poles Apart: Global Environmental Negotiations-2 (CSE 2001). The Global Environmental Negotiations reports by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) are an effort to document ongoing global environmental policy-making from the Southern perspective. Poles Apart updates the issues discussed in the first report and in addition, studies another four conventions and one institution: the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol; the Basel Convention; the Rotterdam Convention; the Århus Convention; and the Commission on Sustainable Development. This publication further analyzes recurring controversial issues between rich and poor nations in global environmental policy-making in light of the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). For more information visit: http://www.cseindia.org/html/eyou/eyou41.htm International Emissions Trading - From Concept to Reality (IEA 2001). This book offers a review of international emissions trading, from the ideal system envisaged in economic models to a more realistic view of how trading can actually work. It is based on market experiments and modeling undertaken by the International Energy Agency and other institutions, and takes a look at implications for the power-generation sector, considering how developing countries could be included in a future trading regime. It also includes assessments of the "commitment period reserve" agreed at COP-6 Part II and of the CO2 market without the United States. More information is available online at: http://www.iea.org/public/studies/trading.htm International Relations and Global Climate Change (MIT 2001). Co- edited by Urs Luterbacher and Detlef Sprinz, this book surveys current conceptual, theoretical, and methodological approaches to global climate change and international relations. It also focuses on questions of equity and the legal difficulties of implementing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol. The book concludes with a discussion of global climate change and other aspects of international relations, including other global environmental accords and world trade. More information is available online at: http://www.sprinz.org Unnatural Disasters (Worldwatch Paper 158, 2001). In this paper, Janet Abramovitz presents detailed recommendations for changing the way we manage disasters and ourselves. She suggests that people and structures should be located out of harms way, avoiding construction on river floodplains, and where hazards are unavoidable, buildings should be made to withstand them. She further recommends how healthy ecosystems should be maintained or restored to provide natural disaster protection. This publication can be ordered from: http://secure.worldwatch.org/cgi-bin/wwinst/WWP0158 An Assessment of the Potential Impact of the TINA Network on Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in EU Accession Countries (BirdLife International, 2001). This study documents the potential impact of European transport infrastructure development in countries that are preparing to join the EU. The study shows that a high percentage of IBAs, which are high priority biodiversity areas, are located close to new or upgraded roads, railways and waterways identified in the Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment (TINA) report of 1999. For a free copy of the assessment, e-mail Zoltan Waliczky at: waliczky@rspb.org.uk Global Environmental Risk (Earthscan 2001). Edited by Jeanne and Roger Kasperson, with contributions from experts on environmental change and risk, this volume gives a comprehensive examination of the threats to human beings and an assessment of what we value, seeking new pathways for reversing unsustainable trends, curtailing ongoing destructive activities, and creating a life- sustaining planet. For more information visit: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3454 Greening Trade and Investment Environmental Protection Without Protectionism (Earthscan 2001). Eric Neumayer analyses the interactions between investment, trade and the environment, offering solutions that do not continue to damage the environment or threaten developing countries. For more information visit: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3416 Handbook for the Field Assessment of Land Degradation (Earthscan 2001). Authors Michael Stocking and Niamh Murnagham focus on understanding how farmers interact with the land, and how environmental protection, food security and the well-being of rural land users may be assured. They present simple, non- technical indicators for assessing land degradation in the field, and explain the interpretation of results and how combinations of different indicators can give conclusive evidence of the severity of land degradation. For more information visit: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3490 WHAT'S NEW ONLINE /Climate Change The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate and Accounting Standard. The World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development have released an international standard that will enable businesses to uniformly report their GHG emissions. The objective of this initiative is to develop internationally accepted accounting and reporting standards for GHG emissions and promote their use in companies and other organizations. The GHG Protocol is available at: http://www.ghgprotocol.org Confronting Climate Change in the Gulf Coast Region: Prospects for Sustaining Our Ecological Heritage. The Union of Concerned Scientists and the Ecological Society of America have recently released this report, which provides residents and policymakers in the Gulf Coast region with a scientific assessment of the likely impacts of climate change on the region's natural and managed ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. The authors also offer three key approaches to meet the challenges of climate change. The report is available at: http://www.ucsusa.org/environment/gulf.html The Center for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO) has posted a new report from CICERO on climate change negotiations. An analysis of the Bonn agreement: Background information for evaluating business implications by Asbjørn Torvanger presents and analyzes the newest developments in the climate negotiations, particularly from Part II of the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and evaluates what the 'Bonn Agreements' mean for business. To access the paper visit: http://www.cicero.uio.no/publications/detail.asp?publication_id=14 58&lan UPCOMING MEETINGS Information on upcoming conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of international environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 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 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRISES AND DISASTERS: This conference will be held from 13-14 November 2001 in Washington, DC, USA. Organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute and the Inter-American Development Bank the conference will look at measuring and mitigating the costs of disasters on humans. For more information visit: http://www.iadb.org/sds/pov/publication/gen_21_2534_e.htm FORUM ON MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR PEACE - 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 CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES FOR FOOD SECURITY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM: This conference will take place from 21-24 November 2001 in Bangkok, Thailand. Established in response to calls for a re-evaluation of current fisheries practices in Southeast Asia, this conference will seek to formulate resolutions to develop a common vision and purpose for fisheries management in the region. A Millennium Fisheries Exhibition aimed at the commercial fishing and aquaculture industry will also take place. For more information contact: Conference Secretariat; tel: +66-2-940-6326; fax: +66-2940-6336; e-mail: conference@seafdec.org; Internet: http://www.baird.com.au MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE BODY FOR THE CONVENTION ON LONG-RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION: This meeting will take place from 26- 30 November 2001 in Geneva. For more information contact: Yves Berthelot; tel: +41-22-917-2670; e-mail: yves.berthelot@unece.org 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/ WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE FIFTH ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE SUMMIT: This World Resources Institute Summit will take place from 5-6 December 2001 in Washington DC, USA. Entitled "Sustainability as the Next Business Driver," this event will highlight product and process innovations that deliver environmental and social performance, and create financial growth and competitive advantage. For more information visit: http://www.wri.org/meb/wrisummit/summit01.html 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 UN OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MOUNTAINS 2002: This launch will be held on 11 December 2001 in New York City, USA. Included are a week-long series of events, a panel discussion with prominent mountain experts and a variety of cultural activities. For more information visit: http://www.mountain.org/ 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 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION: This conference will take place from 28 February - 2 March 2002 in Lucknow, India. It will look at shaping ecotourism for the third millennium. For more information contact: e-mail: tvsingh@sancharnet.in or tejvirsingh@hotmail.com INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FLOOD ESTIMATION: This meeting will be held from 6-8 March 2002 in Bern, 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; e-mail: floodestimation@bwg.admin.ch; Internet: http://hydrant.unibe.ch/veranstaltungen/flood/flood01.htm BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - VOICES OF THE SOUTH AND NORTH: This international conference is scheduled to take place from 16-20 March 2002 in Alexandria, Egypt. It is co- sponsored by the Government of Egypt, FAO, UNESCO, World Bank and OECD, among other institutions. For more information visit: http://www.egyptbiotech2001.com/ 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 UN, and other leading international trade, finance and development-related organizations. For more information contact: Financing for Development Coordinating Secretariat, UN 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 FOURTH INTERNATIONAL FRIEND CONFERENCE - BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE: This UNESCO FRIEND (Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data) conference will be held from 18-22 March 2002 in Cape Town, South Africa. The objective of this event is to present the results of the FRIEND programme, which has stimulated international cooperation in the field of hydrology. The conference will focus on bridging the gap between knowledge, research and practical applications. For more information visit: http://www.ru.ac.za/institutes/iwr/friend/index.html 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/ HIGH SUMMIT 2002 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AROUND THE CONTINENTS' HIGHEST MOUNTAINS: This global event will take place from 6-8 May 2002 in Turin, Italy. It consists of a simultaneous video conference broadcast from places near some of the world's highest peaks. Experts, policy makers and stakeholders from the mountainous areas of the different continents will meet from different sites to discuss the most significant topics regarding today's mountain realities: water, culture, economy, risk, and politics. For more information contact: e-mail: evk2cnr.2002@montagna.org; Internet: http://www.montagna.org/ 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/ INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS: This meeting will be held from 5-7 June 2002 in Huaraz, Peru. It is entitled The Tropical Mountains toward 2020: Water, Life, and Production. For more information contact: Maria Cecilia Rozas; e-mail: mrozas@rree.gob.pe; Internet: http://www.mtnforum.org/calendar/events/0206imma.htm XIII WORLD CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC HISTORY ASSOCIATION - SESSION ON MOUNTAINS IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will take place from 22-26 July 2002 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The session will look at the relationship between mountains and urban development and focus on urban growth and political power structures, and the role of towns in interregional exchange systems. For more information contact: Jean-François Bergier; tel: +41-91-912-4705; e-mail: admin@isalp.unisi.ch; Internet: http://www.isalp.unisi.ch/gen/mountains_urban.htm 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 FOURTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE - MANAGEMENT OF AQUIFER RECHARGE FOR SUSTAINABILITY: This symposium will be held from 22-26 September 2002 in Adelaide, Australia. For more information contact: Hartley Management Group; e-mail: isar4@hartleymgt.com.au; Internet: http://www.hartleymgt.com.au/isar4/ 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 CSD-10 BUREAU: The Fifth Meeting of the Bureau will be held in conjunction with the 56th UNGASS on 1 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 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 WSSD. For more information contact: e-mail: rohrmannk@un.org; Internet: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/web_pages/ghana_experts_meeting. htm WASTE SUMMIT - WOMEN ASSESSING THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT: This Summit will take place from 9-10 November 2001 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Summit participants will produce a U.S. women's environmental action agenda, which includes a status report on U.S. progress since the Earth Summit 1992 and a set of policy recommendations for action. For more information visit: http://www.wastesummit.org/ 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 SCIENTIFIC PRACTICAL FORUM FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS: This forum will take place from 15-16 November 2001 in Moscow. Young scientists will share opinions on issues of environment and sustainable development. A Declaration on "Education and Healthy Life-Style in the XXI Century" is expected. For more information contact: tel: +334-1929-1831/1841; e-mail: forum@vernadsky.ru ASIA AND PACIFIC REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING: The Asia and Pacific meeting will take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 27-29 November 2001. For more information 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/ 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 and contribute to the region's preparations for the WSSD, 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 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 GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON OCEANS AND COASTS AT RIO+10: ASSESSING PROGRESS, ADDRESSING CONTINUING AND NEW CHALLENGES: This conference will be held from 3-7 December 2001 in Paris, France. It is intended to provide an overall assessment of progress achieved on oceans and coasts since the Earth Summit and to provide input to the discussions by governments at the WSSD in Johannesburg next September. For more information contact: Catherine Johnston; tel: +1-302-831-8086; e-mail: johnston@udel.edu; Internet: http://www.udel.edu/CMS/csmp/rio+10/ SOUTHERN NGO SUMMIT: This summit will take place in January 2002 in preparation for the WSSD; the exact date is yet to be determined. 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 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 LOCAL GOVERNMENT INTERNATIONAL PREPCOM MEETING: This meeting will take place from 20-22 February 2002 in North Vancouver, Canada. For more information contact: Elena Lonero; e-mail: elonero@iclei.org; Internet: http://www.iclei.org/rioplusten/ SUSTAINING OUR COMMUNITIES - INTERNATIONAL LOCAL AGENDA 21 CONFERENCE: This conference will take place from 3-6 March 2002 in Adelaide, Australia. This conference will provide a forum to discuss approaches to sustainable development and advise Australia's input to the Johannesburg Summit 2002. For more information visit: http://www.adelaide.sa.gov.au/soc/ UNEP GLOBAL YOUTH FORUM 2002: 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 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; 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 AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON THE INTERLINKAGES BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE: This meeting will take place from 26-30 November 2001, in Helsinki, Finland. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada: tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org NINTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: CGRFA-9 will meet later in 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 REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AFRICA: This meeting will take place from 28-29 January 2002, in Nairobi, Kenya. For more information contact: Anna Ogalo or Harrison Maganga, African Centre for Technology Studies, Nairobi, Kenya; tel: +254-2-524700/6; fax: +254-2-524701; e-mail: acts@cgiar.org or a.ogalo@cgiar.org; Internet: http://www.acts.or.ke 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 CODEX THIRD SESSION OF THE AD HOC INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY: This session is scheduled to take place from 4-8 March 2002 in Yokohama, Japan. For more information contact: e-mail: codex@fao.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 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE FROM NON-POWER APPLICATIONS - SHARING THE EXPERIENCE: This conference will convene from 5-9 November 2001 in Malta. The primary objective is to provide an opportunity for experts in this field to exchange information on specific practices and technical solutions used in the management of radioactive waste derived from different non-power nuclear applications. For more information visit: http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Meetings/Planned/2001/infcn87.shtml INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF PESTICIDES AND INTEGRATED PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: This workshop will take place from 6-9 November 2001, in Katmandu, Nepal. The workshop will cover all aspects of pesticides and their agricultural use. For more information contact: A. Herrmann; tel: +49-531-391-5607; fax: +49-531-391- 8170; e-mail: ipmktm@tu-bs.de; Internet: http://www.tu-bs.de/institute/igg/physhyd/workshop.html EXPERT MEETING ON TERMITE MANAGEMENT: This meeting is scheduled to be held from 14-16 November 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: UNEP Chemicals (IRPTC); tel: +41-22-917-8193; fax: +41-22-797-3460; e-mail: pops@unep.ch; Internet: http://irptc.unep.ch/pops/ 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 FIRST TECHNICAL WORKSHOP ON SOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCENTRATIONS OF PERSISTENT TOXIC SUBSTANCES - EUROPE REGION: This workshop will take place from 5-7 December 2001 in Brussels, Belgium. For more information contact: Paul Whylie, UNEP Chemicals; tel: +41-22-917-8305; e-mail: pwhylie@unep.ch; Internet: http://irptc.unep.ch/pts/default.htm SECOND SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION AND LABELING OF CHEMICALS: This meeting is being held from 12-14 December 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland. Subsequent meetings of the Sub-Committee are scheduled to take place on 12 July and in December of 2002. For more information contact: tel: +41-22-907-2401; fax: +41-22-917- 0039 / 89; Internet: http://www.unece.org/trans/ main/dgdb/dgsubc4/c4age.html THIRD MEETING OF THE INTERIM CHEMICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE (ICRC-3): ICRC-3 is expected to meet from 18-22 February 2002, in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: Jim Willis, UNEP Chemicals, Geneva; tel: +41-22-917-8111; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.pic.int/ 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 FAO PANEL OF EXPERTS ON PESTICIDE SPECIFICATIONS, REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATION STANDARDS AND PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT: The 19th session of the Panel is scheduled for 27-29 October 2002, in Rome, Italy. For more information contact: Gero Vaagt, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-5757; e-mail: Gero.Vaagt@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Even ts/c.htm PIC INC-9: The ninth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument for the Application of the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is tentatively scheduled for 30 September to 4 October 2002, in Bonn, Germany. For more information contact: Niek van der Graaff, FAO, interim Secretariat; tel: +39-6-5705-3441; fax: +39-6-5705-6347; e-mail: Niek.VanderGraaff@fao.org; or Jim Willis, UNEP Chemicals; tel: +41-22-917-8111; fax +41-22-797-3460; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.pic.int/ BASEL CONVENTION COP-6: The sixth Conference of the Parties (COP- 6) to the Basel Convention is scheduled to be held from 9-13 December 2002 in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: Secretariat of the Basel Convention; tel: +41-22-979 8218; fax: +41-22-797 3454; e-mail: bulskai@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.unep.ch/basel FOURTH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON CHEMICAL SAFETY (IFCS): FORUM IV is scheduled to be held from 1-7 November 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand, 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 SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE: COP-7 is taking place from 29 October - 9 November 2001, in Marrakesh, 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: This workshop will take place from 12-13 November 2001 in Edinburgh, UK. Organized by IEA Bioenergy Task 38, 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; 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: 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; 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: 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 THIRD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON NON-GREENHOUSE GASES: This symposium will be held from 21-23 January 2002, in Maastricht, the Netherlands. For more information contact: Symposium secretariat; tel: +31-73-621-5985; fax: +31-73-621-6985; e-mail: vvm@wxs.nl; Internet: http://www.milieukundigen.nl 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. 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 SECOND MEETING OF THE UNCCD PANEL OF EMINENT PERSONALITIES IN PREPARATION FOR THE WSSD: The second meeting of the members of the panel of eminent personalities is scheduled to take place in February 2002, in Niger. The panel will discuss the poverty- environment nexus in the context of timely and effective implementation of the UNCCD. For more information contact: Rajeb Boulharouf, UNCCD Secretariat, tel: +49-228-815-2800; fax: +49- 228-815-2898/99; e-mail: rboulharouf@unccd.int; Internet: http://www.unccd.int 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: Odette de Heer Kloots; tel: +27-21-762-8600; e-mail: desertification@globalconf.co.za; Internet: http://des2002.az.blm.gov/homepage.htm SEVENTEENTH WORLD CONGRESS OF SOIL SCIENCE: This meeting will take place from 14-21 August 2002, in Bangkok, Thailand, and will address the topic "Soil Science: Confronting New Realities in the 21st Century." For more information contact: Secretariat, 17th WCSS, Kasetsart University, PO Box 1048, Bangkok 10903, Thailand; tel: +662-940-5787, 9405-7078; fax: +662-940-5788; e-mail: o.sfst@nontri.ku.ac.th; Internet: http://www.17wcss.ku.ac.th 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 INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM ON LAND USE MANAGEMENT, EROSION AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION: This colloquium will be held from 24-28 September 2002, in Montpellier, France. Separate sessions on a biological approach to soil and water conservation and soil erosion and carbon sequestration will be held, each in French and English with simultaneous translation, as necessary. For more information contact: Eric Roose, Institut de recherche pour le développement, BP 5045, F34032 Montpellier, France; tel: +33-0- 467-41-62-65; fax: +33-0-467-41-62-94; e-mail: roose@mpl.ird.fr; Internet: http://www.ird.fr CCD COP-6: This meeting is scheduled to take place from 19-31 October 2003, in Bonn, Germany, unless another country offers to host the meeting. For more information contact: CCD Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-280; e-mail: secretariat@unccd.int; Internet: http://www.unccd.int 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 INTERNATIONAL EXPERT MEETING ON MONITORING, ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING: This initiative will be held from 5-8 November 2001 in Yokohama, Japan. This meeting will focus on the monitoring, assessment and reporting of progress towards sustainable forest management and the roles of regional and national criteria and indicators. The expected outcome of this meeting is a report that will be submitted to the UNFF at its second session. For more information contact: e-mail: unff@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/forests.htm MCPFE WORKSHOP ON PROTECTED FOREST AREAS: This meeting will be held from 28-30 November 2001 in Køge, Denmark. It is convened by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) and is open to participants and observers of the MCPFE. For more information contact: Christoph Wildburger, Liaison Unit Vienna; tel: +43-1-710-77-02; fax: +43-1-710-77-02-13; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.mcpfe.org THIRD MCPFE WORKSHOP ON IMPROVEMENT OF PAN-EUROPEAN INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT: This meeting will be held from 14- 15 January 2002 in Budapest, Hungary. For more information contact: Ewald Rametsteiner, Liaison Unit Vienna; tel: +43-1-710- 77-02; fax: +43-1-710-77-02-13; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.mcpfe.org 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 FOURTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON THE PROTECTION OF FORESTS IN EUROPE: This Ministerial Conference will be held from 28-30 April 2003 in Vienna Austria. The European ministers responsible for forests will take further decisions to promote the progress towards the protection and sustainable management of forests in Europe. The Conference will be held under the joint chairmanship of Austria and Poland and is open to participants and observers of the MCPFE. For more information contact: Peter Mayer, Liaison Unit Vienna; tel: +43-1-710-77-02; fax: +43-1-710-77-02-13; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.mcpfe.org 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 CONGRESS ON URBAN RENEWAL - RECYCLING VERSUS LAND CONSUMPTION: This congress will occur from 9-12 November 2001 in Barcelona, Spain. For more information contact: Florentino Rodriguez; tel: +91-597-8757; e-mail: frodriguez@mfom.es SYMPOSIUM ON FUTURE CITIES: This event will take place from 10-12 November 2001 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Symposium focus on the developments in the fields of information and communication technologies and globalization trends that have been increasing at a rapid rate during the past decade and their profound impacts on urban form and on the way future cities are managed. For more information contact: e-mail: info@araburban.org; Internet: http://www.araburban.org/future.html 24TH WORLD CONGRESS OF HOUSING FINANCE: This meeting will take place from 11-14 November 2001 in Washington, DC. For more information contact: Donald Holton; tel: +1-312-946-8200; e-mail: don_holton@housingfinance.org; Internet: http://www.housingfinance.org 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 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 IMF-WORLD BANK ANNUAL FALL MEETINGS: These meetings will be held from 17-18 November 2001 in Ottawa, Canada. Finance ministers and central bank governors will convene to discuss preparations for the forthcoming Conference on Financing for Development and other issues including how to deal with the possible fallout from the September 11 attacks on developing countries' economies. For more information contact: Conferences Office; tel: +1-202-473-7272; e- mail: bfcoffice@worldbank.org; Internet: http://www.imf.org/external/am/2001/index.htm GEF COUNCIL AND REPLENISHMENT MEETING: The next Global Environment Facility meeting on the replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund will take place from 3-4 December 2001. The GEF Council Meeting will take place from 5-7 December 2001 in Washington, DC. The Council meeting will be preceded by an NGO consultation on 4 December 2001. For more information visit: http://www.gefweb.org/Replenishment/Schedule_of_Meetings/schedule_ of_meetings.html 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 12TH ORDINARY MEETING OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AGAINST POLLUTION AND ITS PROTOCOLS: This meeting will be held from 14-17 November 2001 in Monaco. For more information contact: L. Chabason; tel: +301- 727-3100; e-mail: chabason@unepmap.gr 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 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OCEANS AND COASTS AT RIO+10 - ASSESSING PROGRESS, ADDRESSING CONTINUING AND NEW CHALLENGES: This conference will take place from 3-7 December 2001 in Paris, France. The conference will consider the status of oceans and coasts ten years after the 1992 UNCED. Topics include the implementation of conventions, sustainable development, pollution, resource use and conservation, and climate change. For more information contact: Patricio Bernal; tel: +331-45-683938; fax: 331-45-685810; e-mail: p.bernal@unesco.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/ 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 meeting 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 CONFERENCE ON FISHERIES IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: This event will take place from 19-22 August 2002 in Wellington, New Zealand. Organized by the International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET), this event will provide a forum for participants to consider the future management of fisheries. For more information contact: IIFET 2002 Organizer; tel: +64-4-389- 3487; fax: +64-4-389-3457: e-mail: bruce.shallard@xtra.co.nz; Internet: http://www.iifet2002.com POPULATION UN COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: The Commission's 35th Session, to be held in 2002, will address the issue of "Reproductive rights and reproductive health, with special reference to HIV/AIDS." The 36th Session in 2003 will focus on ''Population, education and development.'' For more information contact: Population Division; fax: +1-212-963-2147; Internet: http://www.undp.org/popin/unpopcom.htm SECOND WORLD MEETING OF MOUNTAIN POPULATIONS: This meeting will occur from 20-24 September 2002 in Quito, Ecuador. Representatives of 115 countries will discuss the challenges facing mountain communities worldwide. For more information contact: e-mail: cedime@ecuanex.net.ec; Internet: http://www.mtnforum.org/calendar/events/0209wmma.htm SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RURAL INVESTMENTS, GROWTH AND POVERTY: This conference is scheduled to take place from 5-6 November 2001 in Beijing, China. The primary purpose of the conference is to discuss and debate the current policy issues related to how the government can use public investment to achieve twin goals of growth and poverty reduction. For more information contact: Shenggen Fan; e-mail: s.fan@cgiar.org; Internet: http://www.ifpri.cgiar.org/index1.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. For more information contact: Alexandre Sidorenko, UN Programme on Ageing; e-mail: sidorenko@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT 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 UNEP's Finance Initiatives, will be held on 26 and 27 November 2001 in Santiago, Chile. 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 COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT: This ommittee will meet on 26 November 2001. For more information contact: WTO; tel: +41-22- 739-5111; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc WTO 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 SECOND SESSION OF WIPO'S INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE: This session will be held in Geneva from 10-14 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 WTO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE SPECIAL SESSION: This meeting will take place on 7 December 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 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 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; 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; tel: +41-22-999-0170; e-mail: ramsar@ramsar.org; Internet: http://www.ramsar.org/index_cop8.htm WILDLIFE 23RD MEETING OF THE CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES 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 SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE CONFERENCE: This conference will take place on March 30 2002 Washington, DC. The theme for the conference will be ''The Convention on Biological Diversity: A Ten Year Report Card.'' For more information contact: William Burns; tel: +1-650-281-9126; fax: +1-801-838-4710; e-mail: asilwildlife@pacbell.net; Internet: http://eelink.net/~asilwildlife/programs2.shtml 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 13-17 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 WORKSHOP ON ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF NATIONAL MACHINERIES FOR GENDER EQUALITY: This regional training workshop will be held from 12-16 November 2001 in Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania. The workshop aims to provide technical advice and capacity building for the preparation of national strategies on strengthening the capacities of institutional mechanisms for gender equality. This training will target representatives from Anglophone African countries. For more information contact: Tsu- wei Chang; tel: +1-212-963-8370; e-mail: changt@un.org or Fatiha Serour; tel: +1-212-963-8379; e-mail: serour@un.org 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 EXPERT MEETING ON MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN ORDER TO PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES: This expert meeting will take place from 14-16 November 2001 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. The Meeting will address ways to improve the contribution of women in developing their countrie' and regions' competitiveness, in increasing trading opportunities and in attracting investment and technology. For more information contact: Gloria-Veronica Koch; tel: +41-22- 917-5690; e-mail: gloria-veronica.koch@unctad.org; Internet: http://www.unctad.org/en/special/c3em14no.htm TWO SUB-REGIONAL CONSULTATIONS ON REDUCING THE GENDER DIMENSIONS OF POVERTY: These consultations will take from 3-5 December 2001 in Morocco and from 10-12 December 2001 in Ghana. Targeting Francophone and Anglophone African countries, these consultations aim to analyze the key issues on micro-finance as a poverty alleviation mechanism, facilitate a dialogue among key stakeholders with regard to sustainable and effective microfinance; and develop a consensus on a ''minimum package'' for technical support/capacity-building for micro-enterprise development. For more information contact: Fatiha Serour; tel: +1- 212-963-8379; e-mail: serour@un.org or Juliet Solomon; tel: +1- 212-963-6052; e-mail: solomonj@un.org 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 UN 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/ GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON CELEBRATING MOUNTAIN WOMEN: This conference will be held from 28-31 May 2002 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Mountain Forum, this event will give mountain women a forum through which to articulate their concerns and share experiences and ideas about the future of mountain livelihoods and cultures. For more information contact: Ojaswi Josse; tel: +977-1- 525313 ext. 418; fax: +977-1-524509; e-mail: ojaswi@icimod.org.np; Internet: http://www.mtnforum.org/calendar/events/0205mwaa.htm 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). 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