MEDIA REPORTS
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
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2004
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SEPTEMBER 2004
JAMAICA TO
CHAIR G-77/CHINA IN 2005
Jamaica
has been elected to Chair the Group of 77 and China next year.
Jamaica's Foreign Affairs and
Foreign Trade Minister K. D. Knight said his country's assumption of
the group's leadership comes at a critical time in the international
system "given the impact of globalization and liberalization" and
called for "a more equitable and inclusive international
environment," where developing countries can benefit from those
processes. Jamaica's assumption of the group's leadership also comes
at a critical year in the international arena, as 2005 will witness
the comprehensive review of progress made towards achieving major
international development agreements, including the Millennium
Declaration, which world leaders signed onto at the UN Millennium
Summit in 2000. The year 2005 will also convene the International
Meeting on the review of the international plan of action on the
sustainable development of small island developing States (SIDS), of
which Jamaica is an active participant.
The G-77,
which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, was established in
1964 by 77 developing countries signatories of the "Joint Declaration of
the Seventy-Seven Countries" issued at the conclusion of the first
session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) held in Geneva. Jamaica will assume the Group's Chairmanship in January 2005, replacing current Chair Qatar.
Jamaica's election breaks the chain of
oil producing countries that have since 2000 chaired the Group.
Links to
further information
RadioJamaica, 30 September 2004
EC AND UNEP BOLSTER COOPERATION THROUGH
MOU, EC AND FAO JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT POVERTY AND HUNGER
The European Commission and the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with a view to reinforce cooperation,
increase effectiveness of their environmental activities and
strengthen international environmental governance. The MoU provides
a framework for collaboration, including through regular meetings at
senior and expert levels, strategic policy dialogues and financial
cooperation. The EC has further decided to post a senior official to
its delegation at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi to better follow
UNEP's day-to-day activities. Under the agreement, the Commission
will first focus on supporting ongoing cooperation activities,
including in the areas of sustainable production and consumption,
capacity building, water, sanitation and sustainable energy access,
and implementation of multilateral environment agreements. The work
on MEAs will initially focus on the Convention on Biological
Diversity and regional seas agreements.
The EC has also recently
signed a strategic
partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) aimed at
strengthening and further consolidating their joint efforts towards
alleviating poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Involving regular policy dialogue at headquarters level and enhanced
collaboration, particularly at country level, the partnership will
initially focus on collaboration in five areas: food security;
sustainable rural development and agricultural policies; food safety and
quality; natural resources management; and statistical cooperation and
information exchange.
The
EC also recently approved funding amounting to 76
million for 109 environmental innovation projects under the LIFE
Environment programme and another 76 million for 77 nature conservation
projects under the LIFE Nature programme. The former programme funds
projects that employ cutting-edge technologies in tackling environmental
problems, while the latter seeks to expand the EU-wide Natura 2000
network of areas protecting critical wildlife habitats and threatened
species. Both LIFE Environment and LIFE Nature are part of the LIFE
programme, which was established in 1992 as the EU's financial
instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects in
the EU, candidate countries and selected neighboring regions.
Links to
further information
EC press release on the EC-UNEP MoU, 20 September 2004
EC press release on the EC-FAO Strategic Partnership, 13 September 2004
EC press release on LIFE Nature 2004, 9 September 2004
AUGUST 2004
ASEAN AND UNU AGREE TO COOPERATE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
The Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) and United Nations University (UNU) signed, on 24
August 2004, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their
cooperation on sustainable development activities and projects.
ASEAN and the UNU have been collaborating since 1998 on a variety of
activities and projects aimed at strengthening sustainable
development, including those on synergy and coordination in the
implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, biosafety
(particularly the safety of genetically modified organisms), urban
environmental governance, and better management of protected areas.
Through the new MoU, the signatories will explore new areas of
collaboration including training in ASEAN Member Countries, an
ASEAN-UNU lecture series at the ASEAN Secretariat and in ASEAN
Member Countries, and fellowships for ASEAN scholars to conduct
advanced research at UNU Institute of Advanced Studies.
Links to
further information
UNU Press Release, 30 August 2004
UNEP AND
CENTRAL ASIAN IGO TO COLLABORATE ON CLEAN ENERGY, ECOTOURISM,
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND EDUCATION
UNEP and
the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) have jointly committed
to enhance environmental management in the Central Asian region.
Headquartered in Tehran, ECO is an intergovernmental regional
organization aimed at promoting
the socioeconomic development of
member states, including through regional cooperation in the field
of environment. Member States include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran,
Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The agreement, forged in the form of a
Memorandum of Understanding, identifies the potential for joint
activities in areas of renewable energy, environmental law making,
environmental education and training programme, ecotourism, and
environmental monitoring and assessment.
Links to
further information
UNEP press release, 18 August 2004
JULY 2004
COUNTRY VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED GEF
PERFORMANCE BASED ALLOCATION FRAMEWORK
Written comments forwarded to the GEF
to date caution against a
performance-based allocation (PBA)
framework that would hamper delivery
of assistance that the GEF is mandated to deliver.
During the negotiations for the
third GEF replenishment in 2002, the GEF Council agreed to
establish, by the end of 2004, a PBA system for the allocation of
GEF resources based on global environmental priorities and
country-level performance relevant to those priorities. In May 2003,
a working group of technical experts was established to prepare
elements of a framework, and a final report on the PBA was presented
to the Council in November 2003. At its May 2004 meeting, the
Council requested the GEF Secretariat to prepare a study of options
to strengthen the current system of allocating GEF resources, and
agreed to convene a seminar in September 2004 to advance its work on
the PBA, in particular, to assist the GEF Secretariat to prepare a
more elaborated proposal. In response to a request for comments, GEF
Council members – Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, the
Netherlands and Pakistan – have recently provided written comments
on the proposed PBA framework.
Responses thus far underscore the need
for a simple, flexible and transparent system that does not detract from
the GEF's overarching priorities. Country comments indicate concerns
regarding, inter alia: the proposed indicators that would be used
to evaluate performance; the use of existing PBA systems such as those
adopted by the International Development Association or multilateral
development banks; the focus on biodiversity and climate change, which
are just two of the GEF's six focal areas; and the subjectivity of
assessments on country environment policy. Some comments warn that
countries needing GEF support but lacking the capacity to launch the GEF
programme would be penalized, and that country needs and capacity will
not be considered. India further stressed that the PBA should not
include macro-level indicators or governance reforms that have no
specific relevance to the GEF's mandate. The Netherlands noted that poor
country performance should not be absolute barrier GEF funding, and with
Germany opposes an ex-ante system where budgets are fixed according to
country performance.
Links to
further information
GEF web updates, July 2004
http://www.gefweb.org/Whats_New/whats_new.html
UNEP OPENS OFFICE TO FOCUS
ON CARPATHIAN MOUNTAIN RANGE
UNEP has opened a new
office in Vienna to focus on protecting the Carpathian mountain
range and promoting environmental cooperation in Central and
Southeastern Europe. The Carpathian mountain range spans the Czech
Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia
and Ukraine. Among the new office's duties will be to serve as the
interim Secretariat of the Framework Convention on the Protection
and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians, which was adopted
and signed in May 2003. The Carpathian mountain range has a unique
ecosystem and hosts endangered species including the brown bear,
wolf and lynx, and close to 4,000 partly endangered plant species.
Links to
further information
UN press release, 15
July 2004
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS
RESOLUTIONS ON STREAMLINING OPERATIONS AND
EXPANDING
PARTICIPATION OF HOLY SEE
The United Nations General Assembly
recently initiated the first phase of a multi-year plan to streamline
and revamp its operations, adopting a resolution that aims to trim its
agenda, focus the work of its Main Committees, and lessen the massive
amount of paperwork it generates. According to the UN news centre, all
issues considered by the Assembly will be grouped under nine headings:
maintenance of international peace and security; promotion of sustained
economic growth and sustainable development; development of Africa;
promotion of human rights; effective coordination of humanitarian
assistance efforts; promotion of justice and international law;
disarmament; drug control, crime prevention and combating international
terrorism; and organizational, administrative and other matters. On the
practices and work of its six Main Committees, the GA decided that they
would pay specific attention to rationalizing their future agendas
through biennialization, triennialization, clustering or eliminating
items.
The General
Assembly also adopted a resolution expanding the Holy See's
participation in the work of the UN. A permanent observer State at the
UN for 40 years, the Holy See will now have the right to reply to
speeches made during GA debates and the right to participate in the
general debate, which convenes annually in September. The seat of the
Vatican will also have the right to "its communications relating to the
sessions and work of all international conferences convened under the
auspices of the General Assembly issued and circulated directly, and
without intermediary, as official documents of those conferences."
Links to
further information
UN News Centre, 1 July
2004
UN press release, 1 July
2004
EU PRESIDENCY CHANGES HANDS
The EU Presidency changed
hands from Ireland to the Netherlands on 1 July. The Dutch will hold the
Presidency until 31 December 2004.
Links to further
information
EUROPA – Gateway to the European Union website
Dutch Presidency of the EU Council website
"Outgoing Irish Presidency Gets Mixed Reviews,"
ENS, 1 July 2004
JUNE 2004
G-77 COMMEMORATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY
The Group of 77 commemorated its 40th
anniversary with a two day Ministerial Meeting held from 11-12 June 2004
in Sao Paulo prior to the eleventh session of the UN Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD). The meeting concluded with the adoption of a
Ministerial Declaration reaffirming the group's aspirations and
solidarity, and addressing the key issues of major concern to developing
countries. Such issues include: the need for an equitable international
trade regime; ensuring policy space for developing countries to advance
national development objectives based on their development, trade and
financial needs; south-south cooperation; access to ICT; and
strengthening multilateralism and the UN system. The Ministers also
reaffirmed their commitment to the MDGs and other internationally agreed
development goals, and stressed the need to ensure a genuine "Global
Partnership for Development" in order for the MDGs to be met.
Formed on 15 June 1964 through a joint
declaration issued at the first UNCTAD meeting, the Group of 77 now
comprises 132 members.
Links to
further information
G-77 40th anniversary website
http://www.g77.org/40/index.htm
Ministerial Declaration on the occasion
of the 40th anniversary of the G-77
http://www.g77.org/40/declaration.htm
UNEP PARTNERS WITH BAYER TO INVOLVE
YOUTH IN ENVIRONMENT ISSUES
German-based chemicals and healthcare
company Bayer AG has agreed to support UNEP's strategy to involve youth
in environment issues through a 1 million a year partnership. The
strategy also known as Tunza – a Kiswahili word that means to treat with
care or affection – aims to increase youth awareness and participation
in sustainable development issues and support will go toward relevant
publications, activities and events, such as the annual Tunza
international children's conference, for the next six years. The next
Tunza conference will be held from 19-23 July 2004 in New London, CT,
United States.
Links to
further information
UN news centre, 21 June 2004
G8 LEADERS URGED TO FOCUS ON MDGS; G8
SUMMIT SPOTLIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAQ, TAKES ACTION AGAINST PROLIFERATION
OF WMDs
Leaders of the Group of Eight
industrialized nations were urged by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and
by NGOs of their countries ahead of the G8 Summit held recently in Sea
Island, Georgia, US, to prioritize the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs). UN Secretary-General Annan appealed in a letter to G8 leaders to
incorporate the MDGs as an explicit priority in the programmes and
policies of their countries. Annan also underscored the critical
importance of MDG-8 on developing a global partnership for development
for achieving the other seven goals.
In a similar vein, over
1,500 groups of humanitarian and development NGOs from the G8 nations
joined together in a call to their nation's leaders to focus on poverty
eradication and recommit to achieving the MDGs. The joint statement,
released ahead of this year's G8 Summit, reminds G8 leaders that as they
"debate the geostrategies for enhancing global stability" that many of
them have made "convincing public cases in support of effective,
accountable development." The statement calls on G8 leaders to: formally
place eradication of extreme poverty as the central agenda item of all
G8 meetings; recommit their governments, by specifying concrete
strategies and plans, to the achievement of all the MDGs; and use and
tailor all tools necessary for meeting the MDGs, including development
assistance, trade policies, debt relief, technology transfer and private
investment.
While discussions focused on Iraq and
combating terrorism, the Sea Island Summit 2004, which took place from
8-10 June, produced a number of environment and sustainable
development-related outcomes. These include agreements on: an action
plan to "apply the power of entrepreneurship and the private sector"
toward poverty alleviation; taking all necessary steps to eradicate
polio by the end of 2005; an initiative to help prevent famine by
improving worldwide emergency assessment and response systems, raising
agricultural productivity, and helping 5 million chronically food
insecure people in Ethiopia attain food security by 2009; and taking new
action against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including
expanding the Proliferation Security Initiative, strengthening the
International Atomic Energy Agency, and refraining from new transfers of
uranium enrichment and reprocessing technology.
G8 leaders also said agreed to launch in
2005 the "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Initiative," a plan aimed at
cutting down on waste, promoting recycling, reducing barriers to trade
in goods and materials for recycled and remanufactured products, and
promoting science and technology on relevant technologies. This
initiative is expected to be launched in early 2005 at a ministerial
meeting hosted by the Government of Japan. The Summit also saw
commitment to increasing action to promote global economic growth and
directing trade ministers to successfully conclude the WTO's Doha global
trade negotiations.
Next year's G8 Summit will be held
in the United Kingdom.
Links to
further information
G8 Sea Island Summit
website
http://www.g8usa.gov/home.html
ENS, 11 June
2004
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2004/2004-06-11-02.asp
UN news centre, 7 June 2004
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10986&Cr=g8&Cr1=
The G8 NGO statement to G8 leaders, 25
May 2004
http://www.un-ngls.org/MDG-G8%20Statement%203.29.04.doc
MAY 2004
ADB AND UNESCAP SIGN MOU ON COOPERATION
The Asian
Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia (UNESCAP) and the Pacific recently signed a Memorandum of
Understanding, committing to cooperate on critical issues such as
poverty reduction. The MOU follows up on commitments made between the
regional organizations at the Monterrey International Conference on
Financing for Development and the Johannesburg World Summit on
Sustainable
Development. A UNESCAP press release further highlights how the
agreement reflects commitment of each organization to support
achievement of the MDGs in the region. The MOU plans for a joint
mid-term evaluation and ends in 2015, which is also the target date for
achievement of the MDGs.
Links to
further information
ESCAP press release, 18 May 2004
http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2004/may/n14.asp
APRIL 2004
G-77 TURNS 40
As the Group of 77 (G-77), a
coalition of developing countries that now includes 135 countries,
marked its 40th anniversary, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called
for fairer access to development. During a celebratory event on 29
April 2004, Annan noted key contributions the coalition has made in
advancing the global development agenda and highlighted issues yet
to be addressed adequately, including private capital flows,
unsustainable levels of external debt in many developing countries,
lack of access to markets of developed countries, and restrictions
on the movement of people from developing countries.
A Special Ministerial Meeting, to be held
on 11-12 June 2004 in Sao Paulo, Brazil in conjunction with UNCTAD XI,
will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the G-77. The
Ministerial aims to, inter alia, review the evolution of the
G-77, assess the achievements of the Group over the last 40 years, and
analyze the challenges facing developing countries. The meeting is
expected to adopt the new strategy of action of developing countries
through "a solemn declaration." The Chairs and Coordinators of the G-77
Chapters recently adopted a communiqué highlighting the group's
commitments and concerns.
Links to
further information
G-77 press release, 30 April 2004
http://www.g77.org/news/pr043004.htm
UN press
release, 30 April 2004
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10576&Cr=G-77&Cr1=.
Final Communiqué adopted at the 36th
Meeting of the Chairmen/Coordinators of the Chapters of the G-77, 11
March 2004
http://www.g77.org/news/pr031104.htm
UNEP OPENS REGIONAL OFFICE IN BRAZIL
UNEP has opened a new regional office in
Brasilia, Brazil to focus on the promotion of renewable energies and
efficient energy technologies, and development of emergency response and
early warning systems. The office will also support the identification
and development of projects to respond to national priorities in areas
such as climate change, biodiversity, land degradation, and
transboundary water and chemical management. The establishment of the
office reflects UNEP's efforts to enhance the delivery of the
organization's initiatives at the regional and subregional levels,
respond more effectively to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and
implement the Millennium Development Goals.
Links to further
information
UNEP press release, 16 April 2004
FEBRUARY 2004
ESCAP AND HABITAT AGREE TO JOINTLY TACKLE URBAN POVERTY IN ASIA PACIFIC
REGION
The UN Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and UN Human Settlements Programme
(HABITAT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ensuring
closer cooperation in reducing urban poverty in the Asia Pacific region.
The two organizations say the collaboration is critical for meeting the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Joint projects in the works include
the convening of a Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries
prior to the 60th ESCAP Session to be held in Shanghai in April, a
Global Rural-Urban Linkages Conference scheduled for later this year,
and the Fourth Asia-Pacific Urban Forum, which will be held in 2005 and
will focus on localized implementation of the MDGs in the Asia-Pacific.
Links to further
information
UN-HABITAT press
release, 26 February 2004
UNESCAP press
release, 25 February 2004
UNEP AND EU PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE
CONSUMPTION IN ASIA
With more middle to high income consumers
in Asia and the Pacific than in Western Europe and North America
combined, rising consumerism in Asia might lead to an ecological
disaster if consumption levels in the east reach those seen in the west.
In efforts to stem the tide of this potential catastrophe, the European
Union is funding a US$500,000 project called Sustainable Consumption
Asia or SC.Asia that aims to identify existing best practices for
promoting sustainable consumption in Europe and Asia, and build
knowledge and capacity in government agencies for their implementation.
Some Asian countries are beginning to
address unsustainable consumption in response to its adverse effects,
such as natural resource depletion, waste generation, traffic congestion
and freshwater and power supply shortages, but according to SC.Asia
Project Manager Niclas Svenningsen, most governments are focused
primarily on economic growth. Svenningsen suggests a sustainable model
for many Asian countries as one that would entail increasing consumption
to address poverty and ensure basic needs are met, and modifying
patterns and levels of consumption in the more affluent sectors.
"As in many western countries, Asian
shopping malls and brand boutiques are being driven by a mentality of
shop 'til you drop, spend 'til you bend, and buy 'til you die. Consuming
is being touted as happiness and little attention is being paid to the
life behind the product," Svenningsen states. "There are opportunities
for countries to "leap-frog" some of the phases and mistakes of western
countries by adopting practices such as recycling programmes, product
testing, product labeling and information, public awareness campaigns
based on social research, 'leading by example' and accountability by
government and the private sector, and 'environmentally-friendly' laws
and economic incentives," Svenningsen added.
Links to
further information
UN Regional Office for Asia and the
Pacific press release, 9 February 2004
http://www.roap.unep.org/html/nr/nr04-01.htm
JANUARY 2004
MOROCCO HANDS OVER G-77 CHAIR TO
QATAR
The Kingdom of Morocco formally turned
over the chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China (G-77/China) to the
State of Qatar on 16 January 2004. Established on 15 June 1964 by 77
developing countries that signed the "Joint Declaration of the
Seventy-Seven Countries" issued at the end of the first session of the
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva,
the G-77/China will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. As the
largest developing country coalition in the UN, the Group provides a
means for the developing world to articulate and promote its collective
economic interests and enhance its negotiating capacity on all major
international economic issues in the United Nations system. While the
membership of the G-77/China has increased to 135 countries, the
original name is retained for historical significance.
Links to further information
G-77 news centre, 16 January 2004
http://www.g77.org/news/
UN Secretary-General's remarks
at the G-77
handover ceremony, 16 January 2004
http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=742
OECD INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT ON REVISED
DRAFT OF ITS CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES
The Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development is inviting the public to comment on a
draft revision of its Principles of Corporate Governance adopted by OECD
governments in 1999. The OECD Principles recommend minimum requirements
for best practice in corporate governance. While non-binding, they serve
as a reference for corporate governance initiatives globally,
underpinning the corporate governance component of the World Bank/IMF
reports on standards and Codes, and providing a reference for national
legislation and regulation. Revisions and reinforcements of the
Principles were called for by OECD governments in response to recent
corporate scandals. The final revised version of the Principles is
planned for submission and approval at the annual OECD Council
Ministerial in May 2004.
Links to
further information
OECD press release, 12 January 2004
http://www.oecd.org/document/24/0,2340,en_2649_34487_23892248
_1_1_1_1,00.html
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