LINKAGES UPDATE
-
a
fortnightly e-update of new additions to IISD’s
Linkages website - 26 November 2003 |
CONFERENCE COVERAGE BY
IISD REPORTING SERVICES
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Upcoming
meetings to be covered by IISD
Reporting Services:
UNFCCC COP-9:
Milan, Italy, 1- 12 December 2003
Second ad hoc open-ended working group on
access and benefit-sharing:
Montreal, Canada, 1-5 December 2003
Third Meeting of the ad hoc open-ended
intersessional working group on Article 8(j) and related provisions
of the CBD:
Montreal, Canada, 8-12 December 2003
Pan-African implementation and
partnership conference on water: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 8-13
December 2003
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RECENT MEETINGS COVERED BY IISD REPORTING SERVICES
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CBD SBSTTA-9 ADDRESSES PROTECTED AREAS, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
10-14 November 2003 |
Montreal, Canada
Delegates to the ninth Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on
Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) addressed an ambitious
agenda, focusing on its two main themes of protected areas, and
technology transfer and cooperation. Highlights of SBSTTA-9
include the adoption of proposed elements for programmes of work on
protected areas and technology transfer, as well as mechanisms
for reviewing implementation and for integrating
outcome-oriented targets into the CBD’s work programmes. The
meeting also welcomed the joint-NGO Pledge to provide and
mobilize financial and technical support for the work programme
on protected areas. The meeting adopted 16 recommendations,
which will be forwarded to the seventh meeting of the Conference
of the Parties to be held next February in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. ENB's
coverage.
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METHYL BROMIDE DISPUTE SINKS OZONE TALKS
10-14 November 2003 | Nairobi,
Kenya
Negotiations on
protecting the ozone layer have failed to secure a deal on the
use of methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting pesticide. The 15th
Meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol ended without an
agreement on whether to grant exemptions for the use of methyl
bromide. While the US supported an exemption to allow the use of
this ozone-depleting substance, others opposed it. UNEP will
host a special meeting in March 2004 to try to resolve the
issue.
ENB's coverage.
|

From left to right
Marco González, Ozone Secretariat Executive Secretary; Khaled
Klaly (Syrian Arab Republic); Maria Nolan (UK); Michael Graber,
Deputy Ozone Secretariat Executive Secretary
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FORUM ADDRESSES CHEMICAL SAFETY IN A VULNERABLE WORLD
1-7 November 2003 | Bangkok,
Thailand
The fourth session
of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (Forum IV)
focused on topics relating to: children and chemical safety;
occupational safety and health; capacity building; hazard data
generation and availability; acutely toxic pesticides; the
widening gap; the GHS; and illegal traffic. The Forum
also discussed the further
development of a SAICM, and presented the outcome of its
deliberations to SAICM PrepCom1, which took place immediately
following Forum IV.
ENB's coverage.
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SAICM PREPCOM
CONCLUDES WITH CALL FOR FUNDING
9-13 November 2003 | Bangkok,
Thailand
Discussions on the
further development of a Strategic Approach to International
Chemicals Management (SAICM) officially commenced with the
first session of the preparatory committee meeting held recently in
Bangkok. While many delegates expressed commitment to the SAICM
with calls for an ambitious objective and scope, the future of
the process and when PrepCom2 will convene depends on financial
support from all stakeholders.
ENB's coverage.
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From left to right:
John Buccini, David Ogden and Matthew Gubb, UNEP, and Halldor
Thorgeirsson, SAICM PrepCom Chair
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ITTC-35 CONDUCTS BUSINESS
3-8 November 2003 | Yokohama,
Japan
The 35th session
of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC-35) adopted
decisions on, inter alia, projects, pre-projects and
activities, and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
Biennial Work Programme for 2004-2005. The second session of the
Preparatory Committee (PrepCom II) for the negotiation of a
successor agreement to the 1994 International Tropical Timber
Agreement (ITTA, 1994) met immediately following ITTC-35. Click
here for
ENB's coverage.
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PREPCOM FOR SUCCESSOR AGREEMENT TO ITTA, 1994 PRODUCES FINAL
DRAFT TEXT
10-12 November 2003 | Yokohama,
Japan
At ITTA, 1994
PrepCom II, delegates reviewed the draft working document of the
successor agreement with a view to clarifying the elements
therein, posing questions and presenting their views on the
text. At the conclusion of the session, a final draft text was
produced that will serve as the basis for discussion at the UN
Conference for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the
ITTA, 1994 in July 2004, in Geneva.
ENB's coverage.
|
.ITTC-35 Chair Bin Che Freezailah (Malaysia) |
 ITTA
PrepCom Chair, Jürgen Blaser (Switzerland)
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CLIMATE MEETINGS PUT INDUSTRY IN THE SPOTLIGHT
28-31 October 2003 |
Vienna, Austria
Industry’s
role in combating climate change was at the center of two
back-to-back meetings held recently in Vienna, Austria. The
first meeting, which took place from 28-29 October, focused on
technology diffusion in Central and Eastern Europe and Central
Asia. The second, an expert group meeting on industrial energy
efficiency and carbon financing, convened from 30-31 October.
Sustainable Developments'
reports.
|
CONFERENCE CONSIDERS EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS
16-18 October 2003
| Bonn, Germany
The Second International
Conference on Early Warning focused on good practices in early
warning and on emerging issues. The meeting also considered solutions for
integrating early warning into public policy, new technologies
and low-technology solutions for early warning systems, and the
responsibilities of policy makers in the context of early
warning and urban risks.
ENB report. |
REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION MEETINGS
PREPARE FOR CSD-12
At its 11th
session, the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) invited
the UN Regional Commissions to consider organizing regional
implementation meetings to contribute to the work of the CSD. In
response to this invitation, the UN Economic and Social
Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) organized a Regional
Implementation Meeting from 19-21 October in Cairo, Egypt, and
the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
convened a Meeting from 27-28 October in Bangkok, Thailand.
These meetings aimed to provide input on CSD-12’s thematic
focus, namely water, sanitation and human settlements.
ESCWA:
This meeting was held within the ambit of the Joint Committee on
Environment and Development in the Arab Region (JCEDAR).
Participants adopted 10 decisions on, inter alia:
follow-up measures to the WSSD outcomes and the Arab Initiative
for Sustainable Development; follow-up activities to the Abu
Dhabi Declaration on the future of the Arab Environment
Programme; a work programme for the environment up to 2005;
priorities and achievements in the field of sustainable
development; incentives to the private sector to invest in
environmental projects; and the establishment of an Arab
environment fund.
ENB coverage.
ESCAP:
This meeting was jointly organized by ESCAP and DESA, in
collaboration with the UNDP. Participants heard panel
presentations, engaged in multi-stakeholder discussions, and
shared experiences and lessons learned in the CSD-12 thematic
issue areas. Three break-out sessions focused on experiences in
the Asia, Central Asia and the Pacific regions. Participants
also heard a presentation on and discussed partnerships for
sustainable development.
ENB coverage.
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UNEP FI GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE CONSIDERS SUSTAINABILITY
20-21 October | Tokyo,
Japan
UNEP Finance
Initiative’s (UNEP FI) 2003 Global Roundtable convened recently
under the theme “Sustaining Value – A Meeting on Finance and
Sustainability.” Participants heard presentations on topics relating
to financing sustainability, and considered issues such as reporting
sustainability, insuring sustainability, sustainable investment
strategies for pension funds, corporate governance, carbon and
socially responsible investment.
Sustainable Developments coverage.
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AFLEG MINISTERIAL
CONFERENCE ENDORSES ACTION PLAN
13-16 October | Yaounde, Cameroon
Participants to
the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (AFLEG) Ministerial Conference shared ideas on forest governance;
considered priority issues, including illegal forest exploitation
and associated trade in Africa; identified ways in which various
stakeholders can address these issues, including partnerships
between producers and consumers, donors, civil society and the
private sector; and negotiated and endorsed a Ministerial
Declaration and Action Plan for AFLEG.
Sustainable Developments coverage.
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LINKAGES UPDATE
|
Linkages Update is our means of keeping you informed of what’s new
on IISD Reporting Services'
Linkages website. This page is updated on a fortnightly basis,
while the website continually posts new information provided by our
contributing
writers. If you wish to submit relevant materials
or subscribe to Linkages Update, e-mail
prisna@iisd.org.
Linkages provides updates on:
Recent meetings
Upcoming meetings
Media reports
Key publications
and online resources
Comings and goings
Using images on Linkages
Images from IISD Reporting Services’ digital coverage of meetings
are freely available, with proper citation. If you are looking for
an image of a particular person or event, use our
search site.
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COMINGS AND GOINGS
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Appointments
EMA
ELECTS BOARD FOR 2004
The Emissions Marketing
Association (EMA) has appointed its Board of Directors for 2004. The
Board, which was announced late October 2003, confirmed the
reappointment of Matthew Most, a senior emissions trader at Edison
Mission Marketing and Trading, as EMA Chair.
More.
FORMER ARGENTINE ECONOMY MINISTER TO
HEAD ECLAC
Former Argentine Economy Minister Jose Luis Machinea has been
appointed the new Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for
Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Machinea replaces Jose
Antonio Ocampo, who assumed the role of Under-Secretary-General for
Economic and Social Affairs in September.
ECLAC release
Vacancies
WCPA
SEEKS NEW CHAIR
World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)
Chair Kenton Miller has indicated that he will not be seeking
re-election for the 2004-2008 period, and a search process has been
initiated to find a new Chair. Nominations should be directed to
Lee Thomas, copied to
nominations@iucn.org
by no later than
27 February 2004.
IIASA
SEEKS RESEARCH COORDINATOR
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) has
a vacancy for a coordinator for its Processes of International
Negotiation Network. The Network aims to disseminate new knowledge
about international negotiations, develop networks of scholars and
practitioners, and support the improved study and practice of
negotiation. The post is based in Laxenburg, Austria, and the
deadline for applications is 19 December 2003.
More.
CALL OF THE EARTH SEEKS COORDINATOR
Call of the Earth Llamado de
La Tierra, an International Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative on
Intellectual Property Policy, is looking for a full time Coordinator
to provide strategic leadership, and manage and implement the
Initiative’s activities. The initiative is hosted by the Institute
of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University in Tokyo,
Japan. Applications are due 30 November 2003. For a complete
position description, contact
Catherine Monagle.
IUCN
SEEKS GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
IUCN–The
World Conservation Union is looking to hire a Global Communications
Officer. The position is located in Gland, Switzerland and the
closing date for applications is 28 November 2003.
More.
Click here for
complete postingson appointments,
departures and vacancies.
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OTHER
RECENT KEY MEETINGS |
FOREST INVESTMENT FORUM CALLS FOR CURBING ILLEGAL
LOGGING
22-23
October 2003 | Washington, DC
The Forest Investment Forum agreed
that prerequisites to achieving sustainability include containing illegal
logging operations and forest corruption, establishing effectively managed
protected area networks, and environmentally and socially responsible
management and development of both natural forests and plantation
resources. There was strong support for a multi-stakeholder process
involving major groups as the most effective way to continue building
consensus. The World Bank
news release and Outcome Statement from Host Partners.
|
CONGRESS CONSIDERS THE FUTURE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
13-17 October 2003 | Lisbon, Portugal
Consumers International’s 17th
World Congress gathered almost 600 delegates from 110 countries to
consider “The Future of Consumer Protection: Representation, Regulation
and Empowerment in a World Economy.” Participants considered, inter
alia, new challenges facing consumer movements in a globalized world,
the limits to markets, the impact of large international corporations, the
effect of liberalization and global trade rules, the growth of e-commerce
and cross-border retailing, and the search for more sustainable economies.
A publication of the Congress Proceedings is expected at the end of 2003.
More.
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MEETING EXAMINES EMISSIONS TRADING MARKETS
21-23 September 2003 | Miami Beach, Florida
The use of market-based
solutions for global environmental management was the focus of the
Emissions Marketing Association’s Seventh Annual Fall Meeting, which
played host to discussion and debate on the current state of US and
international activities related to emissions trading and the environment.
More.
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PREPARATIONS CONTINUE FOR 2004 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SIDS |
UNEP GEMS/WATER PROGRAMME HOLDS FIRST TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP MEETING
29 Sept – 1
October | Burlington, Canada
UNEP convened its first Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting for the
Global Environment Monitoring System/Water Programme (GEMS/Water)
recently. The purpose of the TAG is to examine a wide range of technical
aspects of, and projects for GEMS/Water, with a view to improving global
water quality monitoring. Discussions at the meeting led to the
accomplishment of three central objectives. Participants also worked on
key themes such as global coverage, access to data, emerging issues, the
role of water quality in integrated water resources management and in the international policy agenda, and
opportunities for developing country capacity building.
More.
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1-5 September 2003 | Cape
Verde
Participants
at the
Atlantic, Indian Ocean,
Mediterranean and the South China Sea (AIMS) Island States regional SIDS
preparatory meeting
heard presentations on national assessment reports, describing
achievements on sustainable development in the AIMS region, challenges for
implementing the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) and new and emerging
issues. The meeting also explored ways and means to improve regional
cooperation and constraints for the AIMS group not shared by the other
regional groups of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). Delegates
acknowledged the diversity of the region, characterized by geographic
dispersion and differences in levels of development, and reflected in
varying degrees of implementation of the BPOA in the region.
|
6-10 October 2003 | Trinidad
and Tobago Delegates
to the Caribbean Regional Preparatory meeting for the 2004 International
Conference highlighted human security concerns, including drug trade,
crime, terrorism, and food and water, as new and emerging issues affecting
Caribbean nations. They also discussed the marginalization of SIDS in
international fora, particularly in the context of globalization and the
formation of trading blocs, and called for greater transparency and
inclusion of small island States in setting international rules, codes and
standards for international trade.
The results of these two meetings, together with the outcome from the
August 2003 regional meeting in Samoa of the Pacific Island Countries,
will form the basis for discussion at the interregional preparatory
meeting to be held in Nassau, Bahamas, in January 2003.
More.
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MEDIA REPORTS |
ANTI-CORRUPTION TREATY APPROVED BY UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The
international community has agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight
against corruption, through the recent adoption by the General Assembly of
the UN Convention against Corruption. Provisions against embezzlement,
bribery, diversion of funds and property are binding, while measures
against money laundering, abuse of power, influence trading and illicit
enrichment are encouraged.
More.
WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION TO BECOME SPECIALIZED UN
AGENCY
Among the actions taken
at the 15th General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), held
from 20-23 October in Beijing, China, was the decision to transform the
organization into a specialized agency of the United Nations. The UN
General Assembly in turn approved this decision on 7 November 2003.
Delegates also supported the Organization’s “Sustainable Tourism –
Eliminating Poverty” (ST-EP) initiative, a joint project with UNCTAD to
encourage sustainable tourism that aims at alleviating poverty.
More.
EU PARTNERS PRESSURE PUTIN OVER PROTOCOL
Russia’s
European allies have renewed calls for the country to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol. Senior political figures in the UK, France, Germany and Sweden
have called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to ratify the treaty as
soon as possible.
More.
STATES SUE US GOVERNMENT OVER CLIMATE POLICY
Twelve US
states have gone to court over the federal government’s policy on
greenhouse gas emissions. In other news from the US, the Senate has
rejected a controversial global warming pollution bill by 55 votes to 43.
More.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES HIT ATHLETES – SURVEY
Changes to
the environment are having an impact on an increasing number of sports men
and women, according to a new survey. Air pollution, ozone depletion and
climate change are among a range of environmental changes affecting
athletes involved from skiing and snowboarding to volleyball, cycling,
baseball, ice hockey, and surfing.
More. |
TRADE REGULATIONS ON MAHOGANY ENTER INTO FORCE
Trade
controls for big-leaf mahogany, one of the world’s most valuable forest
products, entered into force on 15 November 2003. Under the new
regulations, exported mahogany requires a CITES export permit confirming
that the timber was obtained legally and that it does not jeopardize the
survival of the species.
More.
BRAZIL DEVELOPS PLAN TO PREVENT FURTHER DEFORESTATION OF THE AMAZON
The
Brazilian government presented an “Action Plan for the Prevention and
Control of Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon” to ministers and
environmentalists in early November. The plan seeks to stop deforestation
and the illegal occupation of land in the region and to compel the
government to review major projects.
More.
LINK BETWEEN CORRUPTION AND POOR CONSERVATION
According to
research undertaken by the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK, countries
with high levels of corruption tend to have poor environmental
conservation records.
More.
NEW REPORTS ON GM CONTAMINATION
The UK
government has recently published the results of the farm-scale
evaluations of three herbicide-tolerant GM crops – maize, beet and spring
oilseed rape. The trials show that conventional varieties of these crops
are contaminated with GM traits at a much faster rate than previously
expected. Another report, recently published in Mexico and sponsored by a
group of Mexican farmers and indigenous communities, indicate that
Mexico’s traditional maize crops are far more contaminated with DNA from
GM varieties that previously thought.
More.
WORLD’S FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ACADEMY OPENS
A new global
network of university law departments concerning all fields of
environmental law has been established by IUCN-The World Conservation
Union. Launched at the network’s first colloquium held recently in
Beijing, the IUCN Academy of
Environmental Law is the fruit of eight years of work by the IUCN and its
Commission on Environmental Law, comprising 900 legal experts from over
130 countries.
More.
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MARINE CENSUS COUNTS 15,000+ SPECIES
Over 15,300 fish species
have been documented in a database, according to a new report issued by
the Census of Marine Life. Over the next seven years, the census hopes to
bring the total number of marine species on the database to well over
210,000.
More.
CASPIAN SEA TREATY SIGNED
Countries bordering the
Caspian Sea have signed on to a treaty to help protect the fragile environment of
the world’s largest freshwater lake. Decades of industrial pollution,
toxic and radioactive wastes, leaks from oil extraction and refining
and overfishing have degraded the
Caspian Sea environment. The treaty is aimed at coordinating regional
efforts to reduce pollution and control the overexploitation of marine
life.
More.
GREENPEACE FACES CHARGES BY IMO AND THE US
Greenpeace has
been charged for overstepping its role in exposing environmental abuses at
sea. In June this year, the IMO claimed that Greenpeace violated
regulations aimed at ensuring safety at sea, and nearly lost its
consultative status with the IMO. In a separate case, the US Justice
Department has indicted Greenpeace for allegedly breaking a 1872 law, when
in 2002 two activists climbed onto a ship off the Florida coast to alert
authorities that illegally exported mahogany from the Amazon rainforest
was aboard.
More.
CANADA CONTRIBUTES TO UN-HABITAT WATER FUND
The Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA) is to commit US$10 million for
improving the water and sanitation sector in African cities.
More.
RAMSAR SIGNS MOU WITH UGANDA TO HOST COP-9
The Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Uganda to host
the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention
(COP-9) in Kampala in late 2005, marking the first time that the triennial
meeting of the Convention’s Parties will be held in Africa.
More. |
KEY PUBLICATIONS
AND ONLINE RESOURCES |
EARTHSCAN ACQUIRED BY JAMES & JAMES, WORLD’S LARGEST
PUBLISHER OF SUSTAINABILITY PUBLICATIONS CREATED
James & James Limited has recently acquired Earthscan
Publications Limited, creating the world’s largest publisher committed to
delivering information on sustainability and environmental technology.
More.
Environment and sustainable development
LEGAL REGULATION OF THE EFFECTS OF MILITARY ACTIVITY ON THE ENVIRONMENT
(Erich Schmidt Verlag,
December 2003) First presented to UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer by
German Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin at the Second International
Conference on Early Warning, this study addresses environmental protection
and international law under conditions of war. The study, prepared by
Daniel Bodansky on behalf of the German Federal Environmental Agency,
finds that while multilateral environmental agreements serve to protect
the environment at times of peace, existing international law offers
limited protection against the threats of war to the environment. By
reviewing the adequacy of the law of war and of the general principles of
international law to protect the environment, the study recommends several
possibilities to better consider environmental concerns in times of
conflict and assesses the feasibility of the suggestions. Proposals
include
strengthening existing rules of international humanitarian law and
extending the applicability of international environmental law in times of
internal and international conflict.
More.
DIALOGUE ON GLOBALIZATION
This website
focuses on different topics and threads of the globalization debate,
comprising sections that consider topics such as the WTO and development,
global finance, and the social dimension. The site presents a variety of
publications ranging from briefing papers to in-depth-studies, including a
section on voices from the south. The Dialogue on Globalization is part of
the international work of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung – a German
non-profit institution dedicated to the principles of social democracy.
The
website.
FAITH IN CONSERVATION: NEW APPROACHES TO RELIGION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(World Bank, October 2003)
Martin Palmer and Victoria Finlay wrote this
joint project of the World Bank and the Alliance of Religions and
Conservation (ARC), as part of the World Bank’s Directions in Development
series. The book examines how different religions perceive the world, how
these worldviews shape environmental policy, and how the great faiths of
the world use mythology, sacred texts and cutting edge investment
strategies to preach their messages. According to the authors, scientific
data and knowledge are not compelling enough to protect the earth’s
natural resources, noting that environmental movements based on a wealth
of scientific data have made little progress in reversing the trend of
unsustainable development. The authors conclude that the environmental
crisis is a crisis of the mind and suggest turning to the major religions
of the world to provide a framework of values and beliefs to render
environmental information useful for conservation purposes.
More.
TUNZA: ACTING FOR A BETTER WORLD
(Earthprint,
2003) The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) developed this publication to stimulate environmental
action among young people. Young people from around the world helped
produce it. The book seeks to increase
young people’s awareness on environmental
issues and to provide them with tips on
how to address the issues in their communities.
More.
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Biodiversity
2003 IUCN RED LIST
(IUCN, November 2003) IUCN–The World Conservation Union has recently
released its updated Red List, regarded as the world’s most reliable
inventory of the conservation status of flora and fauna. With over 2,000
entries added and 380 taxa reassessed since the release of the previous
year’s list, the Red List currently records over 12,000 species threatened
with extinction. 762 plants and animal species are already logged as
“extinct.” The list finds that invasive species are an overriding threat
to global biodiversity, threatening to undermine populations of native
plants and animals on islands and continents. All known conifer species
have been reassessed, and the 2003 list sees new entries of over 1,000
Ecuadorian plants, 125 Hawaiian plants, over 300 cycads and 35
Galapagos
Island
snails. IUCN will undertake a major analysis of the Red List in 2004, the
results of which will be presented to the 3rd IUCN World Conservation
Congress in Bangkok in November 2004. The
2003 Red List.
INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES TOOLKIT
An online
toolkit of best prevention and management practice of invasive alien
species was developed using comments and experiences of participants in
various workshops. Although the authors state that the toolkit will need
to be locally adapted for different countries or regions, it is intended
to have global applicability.
Toolkit.
SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
The papers
from the Symposium on Intellectual Property Rights in Plant Biotechnology
held on 24 October 2003 in Geneva, and organised by the World Intellectual
Property Organisation and the International Union for the Protection of
New Varieties of Plants, Geneva, are available
online.
ACCESS TO GLOBAL ONLINE RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURE (AGORA)
The Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched a new website on 14 October 2003
to provide students, researchers and academics in developing countries
free or low-cost access to scientific literature. The Access to Global
Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) project will allow participants to
access more than 400 journals in food, nutrition, agriculture and related
biological, environmental and social sciences. The
AGORA website.
Trade
ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FROM THE TROPICS: MARKET, CERTIFICATION AND
PRODUCTION INFORMATION FOR PRODUCERS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADING COMPANIES
(UNCTAD,
October 2003) This new publication by UNCTAD considers how developing
countries can enhance their production and export of organic products. The
export value for organic food in 2000 was approximately US$20 billion, and
the market is expected to increase by 10-30% over the coming decade.
UNCTAD notes the heavy restrictions faced by developing countries in
entering the organic products market, highlighting the challenges in
meeting the sanitary, phytosanitary and technical requirements of
importing countries. The guide recommends implementing food quality and
safety programmes, increasing consumer confidence and conforming to
regulations of importing countries, and contains information on market
potential and conditions for access to European, American and Japanese
markets, details of production and processing requirements and best
management practices, and a list of contacts in the target markets.
The report. |
Energy,
Climate and Atmosphere
IEA WORLD ENERGY INVESTMENT OUTLOOK 2003
(International Energy Agency, November 2003) This new report attempts to
quantify the energy sector investment needed over the next 30 years to
meet rising global energy demand. The study identifies both the amount of
capital required to finance the construction of energy supply
infrastructure and the obstacles that the sector must overcome in order to
attract it. The study considers oil, gas, coal, electricity and renewables
investments, on a region-by-region basis.
More information.
US TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICIES – LESSONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
(Pew Center on Global Climate Change, November 2003) This report was
written by Pew Center consultant John A. Alic, David C. Mowery of the
University of California, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon University’s
Edward S. Rubin. In their report, the authors find that the US
Government’s approach and policies will be critical to the development and
adoption of new technologies needed to abate global warming. They argue
that support for research and development by itself is not enough, and
that a balanced policy portfolio that promotes the diffusion of knowledge
and deployment of new technologies is essential. The report also
recommends that funds to support such policies be channeled through
multiple agencies and programmes, and urges that short-term political
pressures should not be a factor in determining policy.
More.
Water,
wetlands, oceans, oceans
ASIAN WATER SUPPLIES: REACHING THE URBAN POOR
(Asian
Development Bank, August 2003) This book, written by former Asian
Development Bank senior water supply specialist Arthur McIntosh, focuses
on the inequities of water costs and distribution in Asian cities, as well
as sheds light on urban water issues, and confronts the philosophies of
many civil society groups that claim to be protecting the poor from high
water rates by protesting tariff increases. It also includes 19 city water
profiles, 6 case studies on utilities, and 6 examples of small-scale water
providers.
More.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION IN EUROPEAN TRANSBOUNDARY WATER MANAGEMENT
(IWA, November
2003) Edited by J. Timmerman and
S. Langaas, this book describes the role and use of environmental data
and information in transboundary water. It aims to bridge the gap between
the providers and users of environmental information and pave the way for
greater and more effective research in this field.
More.
ASSESSING MICROBIAL SAFETY OF DRINKING WATER IMPROVING APPROACHES AND
METHODS
(IWA, November
2003) This guidance document seeks to respond to a call by the OECD for
concerted action to improve the assessment and management of the world’s
sources of drinking water. The product of a shared initiative between the
OECD and the World Health Organization, this review aims to contribute to
the revisions of the WHO’s Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality.
More.
WETLANDS AND AGRICULTURE
(International Scientific Publications, 2003) This publication is based on
the proceedings of the Global Biodiversity Forum, which took place in
November 2002 at the 8th Conference of the Parties (COP-8) of the Ramsar
Convention on Wetlands in Valencia, Spain. It includes several papers
presented at a workshop entitled Agriculture, Wetlands and Water
Resources.
More.
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NEW UPCOMING MEETINGS |
Click here for a complete listing of upcoming meetings
Upcoming meetings recently added to Linkages
website:
CONFERENCE ON RISK PERCEPTION: SCIENCE, PUBLIC DEBATE AND
POLICYMAKING: 4
December 2003 - 5 December 2003. Brussels, Belgium. This conference is
organized by the European Commission. Incorporating a stakeholder forum,
this conference will focus on understanding the process of risk perception
of GM crops and food and on practical ways in which governance can be
improved and the public’s trust in science-based regulation can be
enhanced. For more information contact: tel: +32-2-344-6232; fax:
+32-2-344-7564; e-mail:
Risk-perception@jk-events.com; Internet:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/risk_perception/index.htm
UNFF AD HOC WORKING GROUPS: 8 December 2003 - 19 December 2003.
Geneva, Switzerland. The United Nations Forum on Forests ad hoc expert
group on approaches and mechanisms for monitoring, assessment and
reporting will meet from 8-12 December 2003, in Geneva, Switzerland. This
meeting will be followed by the ad hoc expert group on finance and
transfer of environmentally sound technologies, which will meet from 15-19
December 2003, also in Geneva. For more information contact: Mia Söderlund,
UNFF Secretariat; tel: +1-212-963-3262; fax: +1-212-963-4260; e-mail:
unff@un.org; Internet:
http://www.un.org/esa/forests/adhoc.html
ASIA REGIONAL CONSERVATION FORUM:
10 December 2003 - 13 December 2003. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Organized by IUCN
- the World Conservation Union, this Forum aims at facilitating the
identification of critical environmental and conservation issues facing
the region and also a broad based agreement across the environment and
development constituency on how best these issues and concerns can be
addressed. Outputs will be incorporated in the IUCN’s programme for
2005-2008, which will be adopted by the global environmental conservation
community at the World Conservation Congress in Bangkok, Thailand in
November 2004. For more information contact: tel: +41-22-999-0000; fax:
+41-22-999-0002; e-mail:
mail@iucn.org; Internet:
http://www.rcfasia.org/
ADB WATER WEEK: 26 January 2004 - 30 January 2004. Manila,
Philippines. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is organizing Water Week to
stimulate knowledge development in the water sector and promote dialogue
with development partners on important water sector issues. The theme of
the meeting is “Water for the Poor: Setting the Rules and Finding the
Money.” For more information contact: Ellen Pascua, Water Policy Adviser/
Water Week Coordinator; tel: +632-632-4444; fax: +632-636-2444; e-mail:
epascua@adb.org; Internet:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2004/Water_Week/default.asp
WORLD WETLANDS DAY CONFERENCE: 2 February 2004 - 3 February 2004.
London, United Kingdom. This Conference, sponsored by the Chartered
Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), will bring
together key organizations involved in wetlands issues. Contact Name: For
more information contact: Bob Earll; tel: +44-1531-890415; fax:
+44-1531-890415; e-mail:
bob.earll@coastms.co.uk; Internet:
http://www.ciwem.org.uk/events/wetlands.asp
VII WORLD BAMBOO CONGRESS: 28 February 2004 - 4 March 2004. New Delhi,
India. The seventh World Bamboo Congress will convene under the theme
“Bamboo for Development: Prosperity for People and the Environment.” For
more information contact: Government of India, Development Commissioner of
Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles; tel: +91-11-2610-6902; fax:
+91-11-2616-3085; e-mail:
dch@mantraonline.com; Internet:
http://www.worldbamboo.org
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING ON METHYL BROMIDE EXEMPTIONS UNDER THE
MONTREAL PROTOCOL: March 2004
(exact date to be confirmed). Montreal, Canada. This meeting was announced
in mid-November 2003 following the failure of delegates attending the 15th
Meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol to agree on critical use
exemptions for methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting substance used in the
agricultural sector. The meeting will seek to resolve the outstanding
differences on this issue. For more information contact: Marco Gonzalez,
Ozone Secretariat, UNEP; tel: +1-414-276-3819; fax: +1-414-276-3349;
e-mail:
Marco.Gonzalez@unep.org; Internet:
http://www.unep.org/ozone/index-en.shtml
THEMATIC WORKSHOP ON SYNERGIES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING UNDER INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENTS ADDRESSING CHEMICALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT: 1 March 2004 - 3
March 2004. Geneva,
Switzerland.
Organized by UNITAR in collaboration with several international
organizations, this workshop will take place from 1-3 March 2004, in
Geneva, Switzerland. For more information contact: UNITAR Training and
Capacity Building Programmes in Chemicals and Waste Management; tel:
+41-22-917-1234; fax: +41-22-917-8047; e-mail:
cwm@unitar.org; Internet:
http://www.unitar.org
GLOBAL BIOTECHNOLOGY FORUM: 2 March 2004 - 5 March 2004. Concepción,
Chile. Organized by UNIDO and the Chilean Government, this major
international event will bring together representatives from the
scientific, public, private and social sectors as well as high-level
decision makers to review opportunities and challenges posed by
biotechnology in the developing world. For more information contact: tel:
+56-41-204-649; fax: +56-41-214-288; e-mail:
gbf2004@udec.cl; Internet:
http://www.gbf2004.cl
APEC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MINISTERS MEETING: 8 March 2004 -
12 March 2004. Christchurch,
New Zealand.
This APEC ministerial level event will convene under the theme of
�Connecting Science, Policy and Business.� For more information contact:
tel: +64-3-962-2260; fax: +64-3-962-2264; e-mail:
info@apecscience2004.org.nz; Internet:
http://www.apecscience2004.org.nz
EMA SECOND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS CONFERENCE: 21 March
2004 - 24 March 2004.
Brussels,
Belgium.
The Emissions Marketing Association's International Greenhouse Gas
Conference will be preceded by a workshop on emissions trading, and will
be followed by a workshop on risk management. For more information
contact: EMA Head
Office,
USA;
tel: +1-414-276-3819; fax: +1-414-276-3349; e-mail:
info@emissions.org; Internet:
http://www.emissions.org/conferences/brussels04/
FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE EUROPEAN GEOSCIENCES
UNION:
25 April 2004 - 30 April
2004. Nice, France. The European Geosciences Union's First General
Assembly will cover a number of areas relevant to environmentalists and
sustainable development experts, including energy, atmosphere and climate
issues, hydrology and ocean science. For more information contact: EGU
Office, Germany; tel: +49-5556-1440; fax: +49-5556-4709; e-mail:
egu@copernicus.org; Internet:
http://www.copernicus.org/EGU/ga/egu04/
EMA EIGHTH ANNUAL SPRING MEETING: 2 May 2004 - 5 May 2004. New
Orleans, Louisiana, United States. As with other major events hosted by
the Emissions Marketing Association, its Spring Meeting will be preceded
by a workshop on emissions trading, and will be followed by a workshop on
risk management. For more information contact: EMA Head Office, USA; tel:
+1-414-276-3819; fax: +1-414-276-3349; e-mail:
info@emissions.org; Internet:
http://www.emissions.org/conferences/springconference04/index.php
ISCRAM2004: THE INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR CRISIS
RESPONSE AND MANAGEMENT: 3 May 2004 - 4 May 2004. Brussels, Belgium.
This workshop aims to attract information systems researchers who are
working in the areas of crisis planning, response and management, as well
as national and international policy makers in emergency response, and
emergency response practitioners who use information systems for their
activities. For more information contact: Bartel Van de Walle; e-mail:
iscram2004@uvt.nl; Internet:
http://www.tilburguniversity.nl/iscram2004
INTERNATIONAL WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE: 30 May 2004 - 3 June
2004. Amman, Jordan. This Conference will provide a forum for regional and
international experts to share concepts, research, technologies and
experiences on the most efficient use of water in the domestic, industrial
and agricultural sectors. Water consumers will also learn about new
conservation technologies. For more information contact: Hala Dahlan,
Conference Manager; tel: +962-6-552-7893/5; fax: +962-6-552-7894; e-mail:
hdahlan@go.com.jo; Internet:
http://www.wdm2004.org
CONFERENCE ON GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND ABRUPT CLIMATE CHANGE: 24
June 2004 - 26 June 2004. Paris, France. The aim of this meeting is to
review current knowledge on �the threat that abrupt climate change can be
induced by the enhanced greenhouse gas effect.� Participants will also
consider the barriers to implementing a robust climate policy in the light
of what is known about abrupt climate change. For more information
contact: Michael Obersteiner, International Institute for Applied Systems
Analysis (IIASA); tel: +43-2236-8070; fax: +43-2236-71313; e-mail:
oberstei@iiasa.ac.at; Internet:
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/~oberstei/ff/index.html?sb=1
ITTC-36: 20 July 2004 - 23 July 2004. Interlaken, Switzerland. The
thirty-sixth session of the ITTC will take place in
Interlaken,
Switzerland.
It will also involve the 34th session of the CEM/CRF/CFI and 15th session
of the CFA. For more information contact: ITTO Secretariat; tel:
+81-45-223-1110; fax: +81-45-223-1111; e-mail:
ittc@itto.or.jp; Internet:
http://www.itto.or.jp
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE TEN-YEAR REVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
BARBADOS
PROGRAMME OF ACTION:
28 August 2004 - 3 September 2004. Mauritius. The ten-year review of
implementation of the BPOA is to be held in Mauritius from 28 August to 3
September 2004. For more information contact: Diane Quarless, UNDSD, SIDS
Unit; tel: +1-212-963-4135; fax: +1-917-367-3391; e-mail:
Mauritius2004@sidsnet.org; Internet:
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/sids/sids.htm
EURO ENVIRONMENT 2004: 11 November 2004 - 12 November 2004. Aalborg,
Denmark. This Business and Sustainable Performance Conference will focus
on progressive corporate governance and partnerships. For more information
contact: Hans J�rgen Brodersen, Organizing Chair, Europa Plads 4, DK-9000
Aalborg; e-mail:
ehe@akkc.dk; Internet:
http://www.euro-environment.dk
IFCS FORUM V: This meeting is expected to take place in 2006 in
Hungary. For more information, contact: Judy Stober, IFCS Executive
Secretary; tel: +41-22-791-3650; fax: +41-22-791-4875; e-mail:
ifcs@who.ch; Internet:
http://www.ifcs.ch
|
Linkages is provided by the
International Institute for Sustainable Development,
publishers of the
Earth Negotiations
Bulletin.
It is designed to be an electronic clearing-house for information on past
and upcoming international meetings
related to environment and development policy. |