/linkages/journal/ Volume 6 Number 4 1 April 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/link0604e.pdf ( The following is the ASCII version of Vol. 6 No. 4 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 chris@iisd.org Linkages Journal offers the latest news, information and analysis from international environment and development negotiations. In the April 2001 issue of Linkages Journal: * media reports and news, including the latest on the rejection by the US administration of the Kyoto Protocol and the international response; * briefings on key meetings held in March 2001, including the intersessional meetings in preparation for the upcoming Ninth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and the Sixth Session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity; * details of new journal articles, books and online reports; * a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings. Note that a high quality printable version is now online at: http://enb.iisd.org/journal ) EDITOR'S NOTE A message from Linkages Journal's Editor AWARDS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Some success at SBSTTA Like Hollywood's recent Academy Awards ceremony, the world of international environment and development negotiations has seen its share of successes and disappointments over the past few weeks. Some commentators have been applauding progress made during the mid-March Sixth Session of the Convention on Biological Diversity's Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (see report, page five). Likewise, recent EU and G8 statements on climate negotiations have drawn praise in some quarters (page seven). Climate prize doubts Not so the latest climate change comments from the new U.S administration, which have not been well received by other key international actors (page seven). Recent remarks by President George Bush and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman effectively rejecting the Kyoto Protocol appear at this stage to have dashed hopes of securing the "prize" of a successful outcome at crucial talks scheduled for July. In other negotiations, few observers would have nominated the Preparatory Committee for the Second World Assembly on Ageing for any awards after its latest meeting, with participants being unable to agree on the organizational objectives for the session (see page six). And there were no outstanding successes during the preparatory meetings for the Commission on Sustainable Development, which generally received mixed reviews (page three). Announcements at Linkages Journal The coming weeks will witness some changes at Linkages Journal. After an exciting and fulfilling year and a half in the job, I will be stepping down as full-time Editor in order to devote more time to a number of other writing projects that have been on hiatus since 1999. However, I am delighted to be carrying on my association with IISD Reporting Services part-time by continuing to serve as Team Leader for Earth Negotiations Bulletin's climate team, and as an external proofreader and advisor on Linkages Journal. Reflecting on the past 18 months, I am pleased to report that online subscriptions to Linkages Journal have doubled during this time. This is a rapid rate of increase, and it is gratifying that our ongoing efforts to provide the most useful and up-to-date information and analysis on environment and development negotiations are reaching an ever-larger audience. It is also pleasing that our move from being a quarterly to a monthly publication last year was well received, and that the new "Media Reports" and "Comings and Goings" sections have met with readers' approval. I would like to thank the many readers who have provided so much helpful feedback, analysis and information for Linkages Journal. Your input has been invaluable. And the new Editor is… The new full-time Editor of Linkages Journal is Malena Sell, who has been working since last year as Assistant Editor and as a Team Leader/Writer for Earth Negotiations Bulletin. Prior to joining IISD Reporting Services, she was a consultant in Washington, DC and in her home town Helsinki, and has also been a lecturer in international environmental policy at Helsinki University. She holds an MA and a BA in Environmental Studies and International Relations from Brown University. Also, we are extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Violette Lacloche as the new full-time Assistant Editor. Violette has worked for Earth Negotiations Bulletin since 1999 covering a range of environment and development negotiations, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Commission on Sustainable Development, Beijing+5 process, and preparations for the upcoming United Nations Forum on Forests. She holds an L.LM in International Environmental Law from Tulane University, where she was one of the programme's youngest graduates. Both Malena and Violette will be based out of our Geneva office. Chris Spence Editor, Linkages Journal RECENT MEETINGS Information on recent conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THIRD GLOBAL FORUM ON GOVERNANCE: FOSTERING DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT: The Third Global Forum on Governance was held from 15-17 March 2001 in Naples, Italy, focusing on the theme of information and communications technology (ICT) applications by governments as an instrument of democracy and development. More than 900 representatives from 122 countries attended, including high-level government participants and experts from international and non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental agencies, business and academia. Participants at the Forum discussed how governments can harness information technologies, and the Internet in particular, as instruments of civil, economic and social progress. Discussions focused on governance issues in the online era; the impact of ICT on the organization of government; the implementation of e-government; services to citizens; services to business; and the digital divide and international cooperation. Participants recognized the impact of ICT in transforming the way governments function, as well as the potential role in strengthening decision-making and policy formation and encouraging accountability and transparency. The benefits for developed countries and for encouraging the development process were highlighted. The Forum produced a number of recommendations for action, including: sharing best practices and supporting mutual learning on e-government issues; building e-government action plans in partnership with the private sector, consumers and non- profit organizations; extending the electronic delivery of public services; fostering the establishment of international standards for technical requirements of digital documents; and fostering indigenous knowledge, local languages and preservation of local cultures through ICT. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.globalforum.it/htm/frame/inglese/frset_inglese.htm HIGH LEVEL MEETING ON ENERGY IN PREPARATION FOR THE ROUND TABLE ON ENERGY AT THE THIRD UN CONFERENCE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: The High Level Meeting on Energy in preparation for the Round Table on Energy at the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries was held from 14-16 March 2001 in Vienna, Austria. The meeting was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in cooperation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Federal Government of Austria. Over 50 experts and high level participants from government agencies, United Nations bodies, business and industry, academic institutions, and international and non-governmental organizations attended the meeting. The meeting, which served as preparation for the Round Table on Energy at the Third UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) scheduled for May 2001, provided an opportunity to examine energy for sustainable development in LDCs. Participants met in plenary sessions that focused on four key issues: access to energy; the rational use of energy, including energy efficiency; financing and promotion of investment in the energy sector; and LDCs and hydrocarbons, including innovative ways to address oil price fluctuations and their impact on LDCs' balance of payments. They also heard presentations and briefings on the Third UN Conference on LDCs, preparations for the ninth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development relating to energy, partnerships with LDCs, the World Energy Assessment, the World Energy Outlook 2000, and the Multifunctional Platform Programme. On the meeting's final day, participants produced text summarizing suggested key outputs or deliverables to be carried forward to the Round Table on Energy at the Third Conference on LDCs. These proposed deliverables include support for large-scale initiatives in selected LDCs for an integrated rural development programme, promotion of the role of private Energy Service Companies, and organization of an event on the development of strategies to protect against oil price fluctuations. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/unido/ COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT'S INTERSESSIONAL AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON INFORMATION FOR DECISION MAKING AND PARTICIPATION AND ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT: The Commission on Sustainable Development's Intersessional Ad Hoc Working Group on information for decision making and participation and on international cooperation for an enabling environment met at UN Headquarters in New York from 12-16 March 2001. The session was held in accordance with resolution 1997/63 of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) establishing ad hoc working groups to assist the Commission with preparations for CSD sessions, and decision 8/8 of the Commission at its eighth meeting and a subsequent Bureau recommendation to hold an intersessional meeting on information for decision making and participation and on international cooperation for an enabling environment in preparation for the ninth session of the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD-9). The session's deliberations were based on the Secretary-General's reports on information for decision making and participation and on international cooperation for an enabling environment. Participants' output consisted of four documents: a summary of the discussion on each theme and outlines of elements for draft decisions for action-oriented decisions on each theme at CSD-9. The outputs are also intended to highlight political issues that require ministerial input at CSD-9, which is to take place from 16-27 April 2001 in New York. Most of Wednesday afternoon and Thursday and Friday were dedicated to informal consultations on controversial aspects related to indicators in the elements for a draft decision on information for decision making and participation. During Friday's Plenary, which was scheduled to conclude discussion on the revised draft decisions on both issues, the Co-Chairs announced their intention not to have a second reading, but to forward the documents, as revised, for CSD-9 consideration. Several delegations opposed including text on indicators in the elements for a draft decision on information for decision making and participation as a basis for negotiations at CSD-9. In their assessment of the session, many participants acknowledged the usefulness of the outputs as a starting point for CSD-9 negotiations. However, it is expected that many will revert back to positions held at the start of the session, while others may adopt a "package deal" negotiating strategy by linking this session's themes with those of transport, energy and atmosphere to be dealt with at CSD-9. There is also an expectation that CSD-9 will be one of the most difficult sessions in the history of the CSD, due not only to the lack of consensus on several issues but also to the approaching World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/csd/csdint9/ COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT'S INTERSESSIONAL AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON TRANSPORT AND ATMOSPHERE: The Commission on Sustainable Development's Intersessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Transport and Atmosphere met in New York from 6-9 March 2001. Over 120 delegates, including member States, intergovernmental organizations, UN bodies and specialized agencies, and non- governmental organizations (NGOs), attended the session. Delegates considered the Secretary-General's reports on transport and on protection of the atmosphere, and prepared two documents outlining possible elements for action-oriented decisions to be taken at CSD-9, which is scheduled to take place in New York from 16-27 April 2001. The Co-Chairs also prepared two documents containing summaries of the discussions held on each issue. At the end of the four-day session, delegates expressed satisfaction with the results of the session and conduct of business, noting that the congenial environment, the willingness to listen to each other, as well as the Co-Chairs' competence, made for efficient and constructive progress. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/csd/csdint9/ SECOND SESSION OF THE AD HOC INTERGOVERNMENTAL GROUP OF EXPERTS ON ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The Ad Hoc Open-Ended Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Energy and Sustainable Development met in New York from 26 February - 2 March 2001. The Expert Group was established by the UN General Assembly to prepare input for CSD-9. The Expert Group focused on key issues relating to energy for sustainable development, including accessibility of energy, energy efficiency, renewable energy, advanced fossil fuel technologies, nuclear energy technologies, rural energy and energy-related issues in transportation, and regional and international cooperation. Delegates discussed the issues on the basis of a Co-Chairs' proposal for a draft decision and a compilation text based on views presented by delegates in oral and written statements during the meeting. However, the Expert Group failed to reach agreement on a number of contentious issues, most notably nuclear energy and international cooperation. The general negotiating atmosphere was tense, with negotiations stalling mid-week, and finally gaining momentum late Thursday night. A revised Co-Chairs' draft proposal, which still contains brackets, was adopted and forwarded to CSD-9. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/csd/enrexpert2/ BIODIVERSITY SECOND PANEL OF EXPERTS ON ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING: The second meeting of the Experts' Panel on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS- EP2) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held from 19-22 March 2001, in Montreal, Canada. Fifty government- appointed experts and 23 observers from intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations, academia, the private sector, and indigenous and local communities attended the meeting. The Panel met in Plenary sessions and two Working Groups to discuss and produce conclusions on: user and provider experience in access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing (ABS) processes; approaches for stakeholder involvement in ABS processes; and complementary options to address ABS within the CBD's framework, including possible elements for guidelines. The Panel's report and conclusions will be forwarded to the first session of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on ABS, scheduled for 22-26 October 2001, in Bonn, Germany. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/biodiv/abs2/index.html SIXTH SESSION OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: The sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-6) of the Convention on Biological Diversity met in Montreal, Canada, from 12-16 March 2001. Over 520 participants, representing 96 governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and others attended the meeting. SBSTTA-6 delegates met in two working groups. Working Group I, focusing on invasive alien species, held general discussions on four thematic areas, including: an integrated approach; prevention, early detection and incursion response; eradication; and mitigation of effects. It also produced recommendations regarding options for future work and reconsidered the Guiding Principles. Working Group II considered scientific assessments, the Global Taxonomy Initiative, climate change and biodiversity, and migratory species. The recommendations from SBSTTA-6 will be forwarded to the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-6), to be held in The Hague, the Netherlands, from 8-19 April 2002. Despite the rise of political debates over the precautionary approach and other issues within discussions on the Guiding Principles on invasive alien species, delegates were generally pleased with progress made during the week. They highlighted SBSTTA-6's streamlined agenda, with a focus on invasive species, and emphasis on providing background information through presentations, side events, roundtables and additional documentation, as positive elements of "experimentation" with SBSTTA's modus operandi. Some called for such inputs to be more targeted and focused on the specific elements for deliberation. The challenge for SBSTTA-7 and future meetings is to find the balance between providing appropriate scientific and technical input, technical policy advice, and recommendations for action. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/biodiv/sbstta6/index.html CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE WORKSHOP OF THE CONSULTATIVE GROUP OF EXPERTS ON INITIAL NON-ANNEX I COMMUNICATIONS: The Inter-Regional Workshop of the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) on Initial National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) met from 19-22 March 2001, in Panama City, Panama. The CGE was established by decision 8/CP.5 with the aim of improving national communications for non-Annex I Parties. The CGE is composed of 24 experts, five from each non-Annex I region (Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean), six Annex I Party experts, plus three experts from regional organizations. The workshop was organized by members of the CGE in collaboration with the UNFCCC Secretariat and the National Authority of the Environment of Panama (ANAM) with the main objective being to provide advice to the members of the CGE in performing the tasks set out by paragraph 5 of decision 8/CP.5. The workshop aimed to pull together conclusions and recommendations of three regional workshops held in 2000 in order to provide specific recommendations on improving the national communications of non- Annex I Parties to be included in the review of the UNFCCC guidelines. The workshop also aimed to: address the purpose of the work of the CGE; provide an opportunity to share experiences between regions on the preparation of national communications; strengthen the network of the regional groups; and provide an opportunity to discuss the different elements comprising the national communications. Four working groups discussed the outcomes from the regional workshops on: the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories; vulnerability and adaptation assessments; identification of greenhouse gas abatement options; and cross cutting issues, including education, training, public awareness; information and networking. The working group discussions resulted in draft recommendations for the review of the UNFCCC guidelines on preparing non-Annex I national communications. This will be presented by the CGE for consideration at COP-7, scheduled to be held from 29 October - 9 November 2001, in Marrakech, Morocco. The workshop was followed by two days of meetings of the CGE. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cgenatcomm/index.html ipcc WORKING GROUP iII - meeting on the third assessment report: Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) met from 28 February – 3 March 2001 in Accra, Ghana, to finalize and adopt its part of the IPCC's Third Assessment Report (TAR). More than 140 delegates from 85 countries approved the report, Climate Change 2001: Mitigation, as well as the summary for policymakers. The full report represents the culmination of more than two years of work by almost 400 authors and contributors. It assesses options for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by reviewing: technologies available for controlling emissions; steps that can be taken in the industry and energy sectors to promote a transition to a cleaner energy future; opportunities for carbon sequestration in forestry and agriculture; policies for achieving cost-effective and "no- regrets" emissions reductions; and ways to overcome political, cultural and institutional barriers to mitigation. The report confirms that many cost-effective solutions to limit greenhouse gas emissions exist, though there often are institutional, behavioral and other barriers to their implementation. The choice of energy sources and investment in the energy sector are highlighted as determining future levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The report notes that, while more progress is needed, technological change with regard to climate- friendly energy production and greenhouse gas reduction has been taking place more rapidly than was anticipated five years ago. The report further highlights end-use energy efficiency as an important component of mitigation efforts, as it could account for half of the potential emissions reductions from 2010-2020. The potential of "no-regrets" mitigation options in which emissions are reduced while money is saved due to greater efficiencies is stressed. If reduced air pollution and other ancillary benefits are factored in, the benefits are even greater. However, in order for mitigation measures to be carried out, socio-economic and institutional changes are required and political will is needed. For more information contact: IPCC Working Group III Technical Support Unit in Bilthoven, the Netherlands, tel: +31-3-2744-281; or Michael Williams, UNEP Geneva, tel: +41-22-9178-242; e-mail: michael.williams@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=193&ArticleID=2784 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1202000/1202726.stm http://www.ipcc.ch/press/pr28-3.htm INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON INTER-LINKAGES: SYNERGIES AND COORDINATION AMONG MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS: The Informal Regional Consultation on Inter-linkages: Synergies and Coordination Among Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) took place from 26-27 February 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Consultation, organized by the United Nations University (UNU) in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment of the Government of Malaysia, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) of Malaysia, was attended by approximately 130 participants, including representatives of MEA secretariats, governments, the academic and scientific community, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The Consultation builds on an earlier international conference on Inter-linkages: Synergies and Coordination Between MEAs, held in July 1999 in Tokyo, Japan. The UNU and its partners are seeking ways to promote a more integrated and comprehensive approach to MEA negotiation and implementation, moving from overarching principles for developing synergies to on-the-ground activities and case studies. The goal of this meeting was to examine the impacts of environmental degradation at both the national and regional level, and to aid in the formulation of holistic approaches to environmental governance, particularly through identification of lessons based on existing experience and the development of "tool-kits" for future work. The Consultation's specific objectives included: increasing awareness of the need for synergistic approaches and coordination among MEAs at the regional level; reviewing and evaluating existing regional programmes, activities and frameworks related to synergies and coordination among MEAs; identifying and exploring opportunities and entry points for inter-linkages through natural ecosystems and organizational structures; and identifying and examining potential new frameworks for linking related MEAs. The output of the Consultation included a series of recommendations and proposed case studies based on discussions held in plenary sessions and four working groups. The Sustainable Developments report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/crs/interlinkages/interlink2/index.html SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE SECOND WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING: The UN Commission for Social Development acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Second World Assembly on Ageing met from 26 February – 6 March 2001 in New York. The meeting was held in preparation for the UN Second World Assembly on Ageing, scheduled to be held in Madrid, Spain from 8-12 April 2002, 20 years after the Vienna World Assembly on Ageing. The Committee commenced work on a revised draft action plan for an updated framework to address population ageing and its impact on development and institutions, particularly in the developing world. During a general discussion, participants expressed concern at the intensifying speed and scale of global ageing, and changes since the 1982 Action Plan. It was noted that one person in ten is 60 years of age or older, but by 2050 this figure will rise to one person in five. The Committee also approved a decision to request the Secretary-General to submit to its second session in 2002 a report on abuse against older persons. However, participants were unable to agree on the organizational objectives of the session, including accreditation and participation of non-governmental organizations at the Assembly and preparations, as well as the rules of procedure and format for the event. After extensive consultations had failed to produce consensus, the Committee decided to continue consideration at a resumed session from 30 April – 1 May, followed by a further meeting in November. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/soc4574.doc.htm TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT MINISTERIAL MEETING ON ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE: This meeting was held from 19-22 March 2001, in Berlin, Germany. Co-organized by UNEP and the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the meeting aimed to provide a platform for environment ministers, senior government officials and other stakeholders from over seventy developed and developing countries to discuss areas of mutual concern in the environment, development and trade debate. It also sought to enhance awareness on trade and environment linkages, including the relationship between multilateral environment agreements and the World Trade Organization, and to develop suggested actions to promote synergies in these fields. Participants stressed that environmental considerations need to be taken into account in negotiating new trade agreements, and noted the importance of assessment as a tool to promote policy coherence between trade and environment ministries. They also discussed the role of economic instruments in promoting consistent and coherent trade and environment policies, and considered solutions to the complex trade-environment relationship. For more information contact: Michael Schroeren, BMU Press Division Head, e-mail: brandau.kerstin@bmu.de or Robert Bisset, UNEP Press Officer, tel: +33-6-2272-5842; email: robert.bisset@unep.fr Internet: http://www.unep.ch/etu/etp/events/upcming/berlin.htm WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES (SPS): This Committee met for its first meeting of the year from 14-15 March 2001 in Geneva. Members addressed a variety of issues, including countries' responses to foot and mouth disease and mad cow disease (BSE), as well as developing countries' participation in international organizations that set standards for food safety and animal and plant health and safety. They also discussed the issue of equivalence, which refers to whether different methods could be equivalent in providing the same level of health protection against risks of disease or contamination. On the matter of mad cow disease, participants discussed obligations under the SPS Agreement, and outlined individual countries' actions. The Committee also raised a variety of bilateral trade concerns. For more information visit: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news01_e/sps_mar2001_e.htm CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT - BRIDGING GAPS AND MOVING FORWARD: This conference was held from 8-9 March 2001, in Geneva. It was organized by the Global Environment and Trade Study (GETS) and World Trade Institute (WTI), and was attended by representatives of government ministries, the United Nations, World Trade Organization, international and non-governmental organizations, business associations, and academia. The aim of the meeting was to consider the linkages between trade and environment, including how these can be reflected better in negotiations of the World Trade Organization. Participants convened in five panel sessions to discuss: subsidies, services and agriculture; capacity building and developing country participation; trade and health; trade-related environmental measures; and civil society and the World Trade Organization. On capacity building and developing country participation, speakers discussed technical assistance to developing countries, input from non-governmental organizations, and capacity building in the context of dispute settlement. On trade-related environmental measures, speakers highlighted issues relating to process and production methods (PPMs), the role of the World Trade Organization within the broader trade-environment area, including environmental governance issues, and linkages with poverty and poverty eradication. A summary produced by the conference organizers is available online at: http://www.gets.org/Geneva/Summary.doc WOMEN 45TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: The first part of the 45th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place in New York from 6-17 March 2001. The session coincided with International Women's Day, held on 8 March. Participants engaged in a general discussion on follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, and to the special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century." The Commission also held two expert panel discussions on this year's thematic issues: women, girls, and HIV/AIDS; and gender and all forms of racial discrimination, in particular racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Participants adopted five resolutions, four decisions and draft agreed conclusions on one of its thematic issues, as well as its report on the first part of this session. Resolutions related to: mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the UN system; the Commission's multi-year programme of work for 2002-2006; the release of women and children taken hostage in armed conflicts; discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan; and the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women. The decisions adopted dealt with the Commission's working methods, follow-up to Economic and Social Council resolutions and decisions, communications procedures, and gender and all forms of discrimination. The session was suspended early in the morning of Saturday, 17 March, and has been tentatively scheduled to resume from 9-11 May. More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/wom1281.doc.htm and http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/wom1263.doc.htm MEDIA REPORTS The latest news from the field of international environment and development negotiations, with links to relevant media coverage and press releases CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE LATEST US ANNOUNCEMENTS THREATEN CLIMATE TREATY HOPES The new US administration has come under fire following announcements on climate change in which it has effectively rejected the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The strong international and national response among key negotiators and environmental groups followed a statement made on 27 March by US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, who reportedly told journalists the US has "no interest in implementing the [Kyoto] treaty." This followed an announcement in mid-March by President George Bush that his administration had reversed a campaign pledge to seek national mandatory controls on carbon dioxide emissions from power stations. President Bush also suggested that the Kyoto Protocol was "unfair." The latest announcements appear to dash hopes that an agreement on the details of the Kyoto Protocol might be reached in negotiations scheduled for July this year. Previous talks held at The Hague in November 2000 failed to secure a deal. Governments and environmentalists have responded to the announcements with dismay and anger, with many leading European political leaders strongly urging the US to reconsider its position. Canada, Japan, and Australia, which are generally closely aligned with the US during climate negotiations, also voiced disappointment and concern at the US administration's announcement. In related news, US Vice President Dick Cheney has reportedly affirmed his support for nuclear power as an effective means to address concerns about carbon dioxide emissions, while referring to the Kyoto Protocol as "seriously flawed." Links to further information BBC news report, 30 March 2001 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1250000/1250069.stm Reuters report, 30 March 2001 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10316 ENN news report, 28 March 2001 http://www.enn.com/news/wire- tories/2001/03/03282001/reu_climatekiller_42763.asp CNN news report, 24 March 2001 http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/03/23/climate.bush/index.html CBS news report, 21 March 2001 http://cbsnews.com/now/story/0,1597,280649-412,00.shtml New York Times, 14 March 2001 http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/14/politics/14EMIT.html?pagewanted= all BBC news report, 4 March 2001 (on the G8 ministers' statement) http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1201000/1201532.stm ONLINE HALON TRADING LAUNCHED A web portal designed for business-to-business trading of halons - ozone-depleting substances used in certain critical fire protection systems – has been launched by UNEP. The purpose of the online Halon Trader is to facilitate the recycling of halons, therefore reducing the need for new production. The trading service is free of charge, and supports the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, under which developed countries phased-out halons in 1994 and developing countries will freeze the use of halons in 2002. Links to further information UNEP press release, 16 March 2001 http://www.unepie.org/ozat/pub/pressrel/oht.html Halon Trader website http://www.halontrader.org DESERTIFICATION MORE CONVENTION FUNDING URGED Lack of funding has been an obstacle to implementing environmental conventions, particularly the Convention to Combat Desertification, according to participants at a recent meeting. The comments, made during a meeting to launch African preparations for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) held recently in Senegal, highlighted the possible opportunity presented by the upcoming Summit to recommit to pledges made in Rio in 1992. Links to further information Panafrican News Agency, 14 March 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200103150005.html UNEP press release, March 2001 http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=193&ArticleID =2786 TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT WTO AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE TALKS MOVE TO NEXT PHASE Discussions on agriculture under the World Trade Organization have concluded a year-long first phase of general discussions, and are now set to move into technical discussions. Since talks began in March 2000, the Committee on Agriculture received 44 negotiating proposals and three technical submissions, with issues on the agenda ranging from tariffs, subsidies, export credits, export restrictions, rural development, food security and food safety, and state-trading entrerprises. At a meeting held late March 2001, the Committee agreed on a programme of work for the second phase of discussions, which will consider proposals in greater depth. It is expected that work will be divided by subject. Informal talks are expected in May and July, followed by a first formal meeting in September. Links to further information WTO press release, 27 March 2001 http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres01_e/pr215_e.htm ICTSD Bridges Trade Weekly report, 28 March 2001 http://www.ictsd.org/html/weekly/27-03-01/story1.htm COMINGS AND GOINGS Information on key appointments, departures and vacancies at United Nations agencies, international organizations, government departments and non-governmental organizations active in the field of international environment and development negotiations ANNOUNCEMENTS UN SECRETARY-GENERAL SEEKS SECOND TERM United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said he will make himself available to serve a second five-year term. He made the announcement during a press conference held on 22 March. The news has received an enthusiastic response from the US, Nordic states and many African countries. Kofi Annan's first term is due to conclude at the end of this year. For more information visit: http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/22sg_press_conf.htm or http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1239000/123 9416.stm VACANCIES UNCTAD SEEKS TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN RESOURCES CHIEFS The UN Conference on Trade and Development is advertising two senior (P-5) positions based in Geneva. The deadline for both is 7 April. The Resource Management Service has a vacancy for Chief of Information Technology Support. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/400497.htm UNCTAD is also seeking a Chief for its Human Development Resources Section. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/400498.htm ESCAP ANNOUNCES POLICY CHIEF VACANCY The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is seeking a Chief for its Development Policy Analysis Section within its Development Research and Policy Analysis Division. This is a P-5 UN position and is based in Bangkok. The deadline for applications is 26 April. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/eesc2058.htm AFRICA COORDINATOR'S OFFICE ADVERTISES FOR PRINCIPAL ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER The Office of the Coordinator for Africa of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has a vacancy for its Principal Economic Affairs Officer. This is a D-1 post based out of New York. The closing date for applications is 6 May 2001. More information is available online at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/eesa1714.htm READINGS New and recent book titles, articles and other literature on environment and development JOURNALS /Biodiversity "Impacts of overlapping international regimes: the case of biodiversity." Global Governance 7 (1, 2001), pp. 95-117. Kristin Rosendal examines overlaps between the international environmental Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) under the World Trade Organization. Noting that the former treaty seeks to secure biodiversity and promote equitable sharing of benefits and the latter treaty seeks to promote trade liberalization, she highlights both diverging norms and diverging regulations under the CBD and TRIPs pertaining to the same issue area. "Construction of a fund for the sharing of benefits from the utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture." Environment and Development Economics 6 (1, 2001), pp. 47-62. This article by Joseph Cooper provides a conceptual model for understanding the economic value of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), which can be used as a basis for the creation of a fund for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from PGRFA. /Climate Change "Climate impasse: how The Hague negotiations failed." Environment 43 (2, 2001), pp. 36-43. David Reiner analyzes the failed climate change negotiations at COP-6, stressing ambiguities in the Kyoto Protocol and the inflexibility of individual nations and alliances as factors contributing to the failure. Energy & Environment (1, 2001) features three articles on the Kyoto Protocol. Warwick McKibbin discusses the difficulties in achieving ratification and implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in his article entitled "Moving beyond Kyoto." Taishi Sugiyama, in his article "Enforcement or management: two schools of thought in the institutional design of the Kyoto regime," discusses compliance issues. He argues that the logic of both an enforcement-based and management-based approach to compliance need to be considered when designing the detailed rules under the Protocol, or in the case of a redesign of the Protocol. Helen Loose examines potential conflicts between the Kyoto Protocol and the World Trade Organization in "Kyoto Protocol: trade versus the environment," calling for dialogue and debate on possible problem areas. "The effectiveness of gasoline taxation to manage air pollution." Ecological Economics 36 (2, 2001), pp. 299-309. Based on case studies from Southern California and Connecticut, Kristin Sipes and Robert Mendelsohn conclude that environmental surcharges on gasoline will result only in a minor reduction in driving and a small environmental improvement, while placing a heavy burden on drivers and on the less affluent. "The effect of development on the climate sensitivity of agriculture." Environment and Development Economics 6 (1, 2001), pp. 85-101. Robert Mendelsohn, Ariel Dinar and Apurva Sanghi study the relationship between a country's stage of development and its sensitivity to climate change, focusing on the agricultural sector. Based on a model and using data from the US, Brazil and India, they conclude that increasing development reduces climate sensitivity. /Desertification Environmental Change: Human and Policy Dimensions (1, 2001) is a special issue on the Sahel in West Africa, featuring seven articles on the social, environmental and economic conditions, effects of and responses to drought, and development issues. "Worth of watersheds: a producer surplus approach for valuing drought mitigation in Eastern Indonesia." Environment and Development Economics 6 (1, 2001), pp. 123-146. Subhrendu Pattanayak and Randall Kramer report on their study, which combines hydrological modeling with applied micro-econometric techniques to provide a value for drought mitigation provided by tropical forested watersheds to agrarian communities. Based on their study, they provide some support for the hypothesis that protected watersheds can supply latent and unrecognized ecosystem services – such as drought mitigation - to local people. /Forestry "The role of domestic timber markets in tropical deforestation and forest degradation in Ecuador: implications for conservation planning and policy." Ecological Economics 36 (2, 2001), pp. 327- 340. Based on a case study in Northwest Ecuador, Rodrigo Sierra highlights the fact that many studies on the impact of timber trade on tropical forests have oversimplified process complexity and underestimated regional variability. He stresses that domestic demand can be critical with regard to timber extraction, forest degradation and deforestation. He suggests that conservation initiatives that target international trade linkages may only be partially successful, and that market-based incentives are more likely to produce the desired results if they target and support timber producers directly. "Agricultural intensification versus extensification: a case study of deforestation in the Northern-Hill region of Vietnam." Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 41 (1, 2001), pp. 44-69. This article presents a study by Towa Tachibana, Trung Nguyen and Keijiro Otsuka on deforestation in Northern Vietnam. They note that individualized land rights have led to agricultural intensification and regeneration of forests. Based on community- level data from three decades, they compare agricultural intensification with extensification due to shifting agriculture. They stress the relevance of agricultural practices for deforestation in hilly areas, and conclude that strengthened land rights tend to deter deforestation. "Indigenous peoples and forest management: comparative analysis of institutional approaches in Australia and India." Society and Natural Resources 14 (2, 2001), pp. 145-160. Focusing on regional forest agreements in Australia and joint forest management experiments in India, Haripriya Rangan and Marcus Lane examine recent institutional approaches to access issues with regard to forest resources as well as redistributive justice issues with regard to indigenous peoples. They develop a comparative analytical framework based on access, control, and substantive democracy, through which they assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of institutional processes aiming at sustainable management of forest resources. "Cattle ranching and deforestation in the Brazilian Pantanal." Ecological Economics 36 (3, 2001), pp. 413-425. Andrew Seidl, Joao dos Santos Vila de Silva and Andre Moraes examine regional economic indicators and incentives for agricultural landowners in Brazil, in an area experiencing deforestation to make way for cultivated pastures for beef cattle. They conclude that improved profitability of forestland, including uses such as sustainable extraction of forest species, ranching of wild and feral species, and tourism, decreases risks of deforestation. /International Trade in Endangered Species "Impact of the ivory trade ban on poaching incentives - a numerical example." Ecological Economics 36 (2, 2001), pp. 189- 195. Rasmus Heltberg examines the effect of the international trade ban on elephant ivory on incentives for poaching in Africa. He concludes that the trade ban can be expected to reduce poaching where policies also: support a reduction in demand; facilitate interception of smuggled goods; and do not hamper ongoing law enforcement efforts. /Oceans and Coasts "The role of economics in global management of whales: re-forming or re-founding IWC?" Ecological Economics 36 (2, 2001), pp. 205- 221. Massimiliano Mazzanti considers international regimes, and specifically the case of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), based on economic theory related to bargaining and institutions-making. He considers the limits and potentials of economics and economic instruments in this regard. Stressing the need to make economic theory operational in the area of global institutions, he concludes that the IWC should be re-founded or re-formed, dealing with "whales" in a holistic manner rather than "whaling". He suggests investigating potential compensatory side payments in order to increase social welfare and enforceability under a ban scenario, and ponders the ethical implications as well as the economic efficiency of using such measures. "Challenges for economic policy in sustainable management of marine natural resources." Ecological Economics 36 (2, 2001), pp. 223-236. Noting that the management of marine natural resources based on biological considerations has lead to their overexploitation in the fishing and tourism industries, Derrin Davis and Donald Gartside argue that other approaches based on economic concepts and management tools are needed. By examining fisheries and tourism case studies, they conclude that human welfare needs to be considered in addition to biological information, and economic instruments should be underpinned by consideration of property rights and an appropriate allocation of economic rents. /Trade and Environment "International trade intensity and carbon emissions: a cross- country econometric analysis." Journal of Environment & Development 10 (1, 2001), pp. 35-49. Based on data on carbon emissions from 132 countries between 1950-1992, Mark Heil and Thomas Selden conclude that increased trade intensity raises carbon emissions in lower income countries and lowers carbon emissions in upper income countries. "Perseverance of perverse subsidies and their impact on trade and environment." Ecological Economics 36 (3, 2001), pp. 475-486. Cees van Beers and Jeroen van den Bergh discuss theoretical and empirical aspects of policy failures due to subsidies in the context of international trade. They analyze and provide a classification of various subsidies that cause environmental externalities, as well as suggestions for the elimination of subsidy-related policy failures nationally and internationally. NEW PUBLICATIONS The Environment, International Relations, and U.S. Foreign Policy (Washington: Georgetown University Press, March 2001). Edited by Paul Harris, this book examines environmental change as it relates to American foreign policy and international relations, focusing on three major themes: national security and geopolitics; domestic and international politics; and national interests and international obligations. For more information visit: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/5300/87840B95.ctl Environmental Indicators for Agriculture Volume 3: Methods and Results (OECD, 2001). This 400-page report on environmental indicators for agriculture includes a chapter focusing on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, which notes that the share of agriculture in total national gross greenhouse gas emissions is below 10% for most OECD countries. However, agriculture contributes 60% of total OECD emissions of nitrous oxide and 40% of methane. Emissions from agriculture have been declining since the early 1990s in most OECD countries, with the exception of countries with increased agricultural output. The report also notes that agriculture can function as a greenhouse gas sink, but there are no systematic estimates available at this stage. For more information and to download the summary visit: http://www.oecd.org/agr/env/indicators.htm WHAT'S NEW ONLINE /Climate Change A new policy brief by Christian Egenhofer and Jan Cornille of the Centre for European Policy Studies has recently been published online. Entitled Reinventing the Climate Negotiations: an Analysis of COP-6, the paper analyses the failure of the climate change negotiations at COP-6 in The Hague in November 2000, and provides suggestions for how the European Union can move the climate negotiations forward. To access the study online visit: http://www.ceps.be/Pubs/2001/Post-COP6.PDF Glenn Wiser of the Center for International Environmental Law has recently published a paper online on Kyoto, Costs, and Compliance: A Public Interest Lawyer's View of COP-6. Illustrating the role that non-governmental organizations play during the climate negotiations, he describes his lobbying at COP-6 in The Hague to prevent a "price cap loophole" in the Kyoto Protocol. He describes the meetings, conversations, and work efforts in order to present a picture of what transpired during COP-6 negotiations. To access the study online visit: http://www.ciel.org/PriceCapArticle.pdf Laurent Viguier, Mustafa Babiker and John Reilly of the Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change at MIT have recently released a paper on Carbon Emissions and The Kyoto Commitment in the European Union. Using the MIT Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model, they estimate projected CO2 emissions in the EU and quantify the economic impacts of the Kyoto Protocol on EU Member States. They examine an EPPA case in which the EU Member States meet emissions targets individually through domestic trading systems without EU-wide trading. Comparing it with other relevant studies, they conclude that if EU countries were to individually meet the 8% reduction target specified in the Kyoto Protocol, carbon prices would vary between $91/tonne in the UK to $385/tonne in Denmark for domestic trading. To access this paper online visit: http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/org/g/globalchange/www/repor ts.html#pubs A new paper entitled Cap Management for LULUCF Options: An economic mechanism designed to preserve the environmental and social integrity of forest related LULUCF activities under the Kyoto Protocol, has recently been released by the Forestry Project at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). Written by Michael Obersteiner, Ewald Rametsteiner and Sten Nilsson, the report proposes a tender auction mechanism for forest sinks under a scenario where the use of sinks to meet commitments under the Kyoto Protocol is quantitatively limited. They argue that such a market mechanism would guarantee integrity with respect to sustainability and economic efficiency. The paper is available online at: http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/FOR/ /Trade and Environment A report entitled North American Trade and Transportation Corridors: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Strategies has been published online by the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation. Prepared by ICF Consulting, the report focuses on five transportation corridors, noting that increased truck and train traffic along North America's trade corridors since NAFTA came into force in 1994 is increasing levels of air pollution. Freight traffic is projected to double or quadruple over the next 20 years. The report raises particular concerns regarding emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter (PM10). The report is available online at: http://www.cec.org/programs_projects/pollutants_health/trinational /corridors-e.pdf UPCOMING MEETINGS Information on upcoming conferences, workshops and symposia in the field of international environment and development negotiations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT International Sustainable Development Research Conference 2001: This conference will take place from 5-6 April 2001 in Manchester, England. Issues to be considered include development, policy perspectives, environmental and social aspects of sustainable development, instruments, country/regional profiles, Agenda 21 initiatives, NGOs and local action. For more information contact: Elaine White, tel: +44-1-274-530408; fax: +44-1-274-530409; e- mail: elaine@erpenv.demon.co.uk; Internet: http://www.erpenvironment.org/cfrence/sd.htm 22ND INTERNATIONAL POWER SOURCES SYMPOSIUM: This symposium will be held from 9-11 April 2001, in Manchester, England. The symposium aims to advance education of the general public regarding research and development in the use of non-mechanical power sources, particularly batteries and fuel cells, as well as photovoltaic and other non-electrochemical power sources. For more information contact: Bob Baily, International Power Sources Symposium Ltd; tel: +44-1892-652881; e-mail: secretary@ipss.org.uk; Internet: http://www.ipss.org.uk/ NINTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CSD- 9): CSD-9 will be held in New York from 16-27 April 2001. This session will focus on: atmosphere; energy/transport; information for decision making and participation; and international cooperation for an enabling environment. The topic of the multi- stakeholder dialogue segment will be energy and transport. For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev, Division for Sustainable Development; tel: +1-212-963-5949; fax: +1-212-963- 4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd9/csd9_2001.htm For information for major groups, contact Zehra Aydin-Sipos, Division for Sustainable Development; tel: +1-212-963-8811; fax: +1-212-963- 1267; e-mail: aydin@un.org GLOBAL AGRICULTURE 2020: WHICH WAY FORWARD?: This conference will be held from 18-20 April 2001, in Norwich, UK. For more information contact: Agric 2020 Conference Secretariat, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK; tel: +44-1603-450-581; e-mail: agric.2020@bbsrc.ac.uk; Internet: http://www.jic.bbsrc.ac.uk/events/agric2020 THIRD SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS: The Summit of the Americas, a high- level meeting of regional Heads of State, will be held from 20-22 April 2001 in Quebec City, Canada. Participants will address improved access to education, poverty alleviation, strengthening human rights and democracy, and economic integration. The Summit is expected to culminate in a Quebec City Political Declaration and Plan of Action. For mote information visit: http://www.summit-americas.org/eng/quebecsummit.htm TENTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (PREPCOM I): The Tenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development is expected to convene for a meeting in New York from 30 April – 2 May 2001 to serve as the Preparatory Committee for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10). For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev, Division for Sustainable Development; tel: +1-212-963-5949; fax: +1-212-963- 4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/rio+10/web_pages/first_prepcom htm IMBIZO CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN LEADERS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will take place from 7-9 May 2001 in Spier Village, South Africa. Participants will consider a variety of themes related to business and sustainable development, including: social issues; economic instruments and partnership opportunities; regional partnerships; resource use and technologies; and global issues and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10). For more information see: http://www.ief.co.za/imbizo/ Asia-Europe Exploratory Roundtable on Foreign Direct Investment and the Environment: This meeting will take place in Brussels from 8-9 May 2001. It will consider how growth, sustainability and credibility can be addressed through an integrated approach, and explore a common strategy to set up a joint Asian and European Foreign Direct Investment Observatory and Capacity Building Agency. For more information contact: Francisco Flores, e-mail: eupe@glo.be; Internet: http://www.epe.be/FDI/ CONFERENCE ON EUROPE AND THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will be held in Brussels from 10-11 May 2001. The meeting will focus on identifying practical contributions Europeans can make to support the 2002 World Summit in dealing with issues related to poverty. Major themes include water, agriculture, trade, finance, debt reduction, sustainable energy, peoples' empowerment and global governance. For more information contact: Francisco Flores, e-mail: eupe@glo.be; Internet: http://www.epe.be/objective2002/ ECO-INFORMA CONFERENCE 2001: This meeting will take place from 14- 18 May 2001, in Argonne, Illinois, USA, and will address the theme of "environmental risks and the global community - strategies for meeting the challenges." For more information contact: Alvin Young, US Department of Energy, Center for Risk Excellence, Argonne, Illinois, USA; tel: +1-630-252-2503; fax: +1-630-252- 2654; Internet: http://eco-informa.ead.anl.gov/ THIRD UN CONFERENCE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: This meeting will be held from 14-20 May 2001 in Brussels, Belgium. For more information contact: Office of the Special Coordinator for Least Developed, Landlocked and Island Developing Countries, UNCTAD, Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-907-5893; fax: +41-22-907-0046; Internet: http://www.un.org/events/ldc3/conference/ conference on Europe's 21ST century policies for sustainable technological innovation: This conference will be held in Oslo, Norway from 20-21 May 2001, and will focus on the role of higher eduction in science, technology and society. It is the final international conference organized as part of the European POSTI project "Policies for Sustainable Technological Innovation in the 21st Century." For more information contact: Grazyna K. Normandbo, University of Oslo; tel: +47-22-840-600; e-mail: g.k.normandbo@tik.uio.no; Internet: http://www.esst.uio.no/posti/cfp.html YOUTH CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will be held in Borgholm, Sweden, from 23-27 May 2001. An official part of the Swedish EU Presidency, the conference will contribute to youth preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10). For more information contact: Swedish Ministry for the Environment, tel: +46-8-440-8670; e-mail: camilla.funke@lsu.se; Internet: http://www.eu2001.se/eu2001/calendar/ CONFERENCE ON BUILDING BRIDGES WITH TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE: This conference will be held from 28 May - 3 June 2001 in Honolulu, Hawaii. It will address a range of issues involving indigenous peoples, conservation, and sustainable development. For more information visit: http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/traditionalknowledge FIRST UNEP/GEF GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL WATERS ASSESSMENT (GIWA) GENERAL ASSEMBLY: This General Assembly of the GIWA project will take place in June 2001 in Kalmar, Sweden. For more information contact: GIWA Coordination Office, Kalmar; tel: +46-480-447350; fax: +46-480-447355; Internet: http://www.giwa.net SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON HIV/AIDS: This Special Session to review and address the problem of HIV/AIDS will be held from 25-27 June 2001 at UN Headquarters in New York. The aim of the meeting is to secure a global commitment to enhancing coordination and the intensification of efforts at all levels to combat the epidemic in a comprehensive manner. For more information contact: The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-791-3666; fax: +41-22-791-4187; Internet: http://www.unaids.org/whatsnew/others/un_special/ index.htm GLOBAL ROUND-TABLE ON INTER-LINKAGES: This Round-table as input to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) will take place from 5-6 July 2001, in Tokyo. For more information contact: Jerry Velasquez, United Nations University; tel: +81-3-5467-1301; fax: +81-3-3407-8164; e-mail: jerry@geic.or.jp; Internet: http://www.unu.edu INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GRASSLAND SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY: This conference will be held from 17-20 July 2001 in Inner Mongolia, China. It is being sponsored by the China Association of Agriculture Science Societies (CAASS) and the Chinese Grassland Society. For more information contact: Yan Dongquan, CAASS, Beijing, China; tel: +86-10-6419-4487; fax: +86-10-6419-4449; e- mail: gouhq@cav.net.cn REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETINGS FOR THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2002: The African Regional Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) will take place on 28-31 August 2001, and is expected to consider and agree on an African Common Position for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Regional PrepCom for Asia and the Pacific is being planned for Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in November 2001, while the Economic Commission for Europe Regional Meeting for the World Summit will be held in Geneva from 24-25 September. It will function as a European PrepCom and include a ministerial roundtable and multi-stakeholder dialogue. The Regional PrepCom for Latin America and the Caribbean will be held in Rio de Janeiro, from 23-24 October 2001, and the West Asian Regional PrepCom will be held in Cairo, Egypt, from 28-30 October 2001. For more information on all regional preparatory processes visit: http://www.un.org/rio+10/web_pages/regional_preparations_for_rio.htm CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL BY 2020: FROM DIALOGUE TO ACTION: This meeting will take place from 4-6 September 2001 in Bonn, Germany. It is being organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with the German Government. For more information contact: Simone Hill-Lee, IFPRI, Washington DC; fax: +1-202-467- 4439; e-mail: s.hill-lee@cgiar.org; Internet: http://www.ifpri.cgiar.org/2020conference/index.htm INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBALIZATION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT - CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: This meeting will take place in Trieste, Italy, from 11-13 September 2001. It is being co-organized by Harvard University's Center for International Development and Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and the Third World Academy of Sciences. For more information contact Derya Honca, Program Coordinator, Center for International Development, Harvard University; tel: +1-617-495-1923; e-mail: m_derya_honca@harvard.edu; Internet: http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidbiotech/r&dconf/description.htm CONFERENCE ON REVITALISING COMMUNITIES IN A GLOBALISING WORLD: This conference is scheduled for 20 September 2001 in Southampton, UK. The conference aims to explore how to develop partnerships among local communities, entrepreneurs, policy makers and academics to work together in dealing with issues of poverty, improving the quality of life and safeguarding the environment. For more information contact University of Southampton, e-mail: pk2@socsci.soton.ac.uk; Internet: http://www.ciscodev.soton.ac.uk SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON CHILDREN: The Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Children will take place from 19-21 September 2001 at UN Headquarters in New York. This meeting will be held ten years after the World Summit for Children. For more information contact: Secretariat for the Special Session on Children, UNICEF House, 3 UN Plaza, New York NY 10017, USA; Internet: http://www.unicef.org/specialsession/ world Congress on conservation agriculture – a worldwide challenge: This congress will take place on 1-5 October 2001 in Madrid, Spain. It is being organized by FAO and the European Conservation Agriculture Federation. For more information contact: Armando Martinez, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Córdoba, Spain; tel: +34-957-760797; e-mail: conservation.agriculture@ecaf.org; Internet: http://www.ecaf.org/English/englis.htm INTELEC 2001 INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENERGY CONFERENCE: This conference will be held from 14-18 October 2001 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, UK. For more information contact: Simon Edwards, tel: +44-20-2709-2000; e-mail: intelec@iee.org.uk 18TH WORLD ENERGY CONGRESS: This meeting will take place from 21- 25 October 2001 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For more information contact: World Energy Council, United Kingdom; tel: +44-20-7734- 5996; fax: +44-20-7734-5926; Internet: http://www.mbendi.co.za/wec/contact.htm CONFERENCE ON Sustainable Services AND Systems: This meeting will be held from 29-30 October 2001 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. For more information visit: http://www.cfsd.org.uk/events/tspd6/index.html international conference on freshwater: This conference, hosted by the German Federal Environment Ministry and the German Federal Ministry for Development Cooperation, will be held from 3-7 December 2001 in Bonn, Germany. It will serve as preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) in 2002, and will review Chapter 18 of Agenda 21 focusing on freshwater issues. For more information contact: Angelika Wilcke, Conference Secretariat; tel: +49-228-28046-57; e-mail: info@water-2001.de; Internet: http://www.water-2001.de INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT: The UN International Conference on Financing for Development is expected to be held in Mexico in early 2002. It will bring together high- level representatives from governments, the United Nations, and other leading international trade, finance and development-related organizations. The Preparatory Committee will meet in 2001 in New York from 2-8 May, and for one week in October/November at a date to be decided. For more information contact: Financing for Development Coordinating Secretariat, United Nations Headquarters, New York, Harris Gleckman, tel: +1-212-963-4690; e-mail: gleckman@un.org or Federica Pietracci, tel: +1-212-963-8497; e- mail: pietracci@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/ffd EURO-SUSTAIN CONFERENCE/BROKERAGE EVENT: This event will take place from 2-5 April 2002 on the island of Rhodos, Greece. The EURO-SUSTAIN initiative focuses on technologies and actions that lead toward sustainability. For more information contact: Nicolas Moussiopoulos, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Greece; tel: +30-31-996011; Internet: http://aix.meng.auth.gr/lhtee/ and http://www3.eureka.be/Home INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT: The fourth UNEP International Children's Conference on the Environment will take place in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, from 22-24 May 2002. The conference is expected to bring together 800 children from 10 to 12 years old from over 115 countries, who will learn about and discuss the state of the environment as well as showcase environmental initiatives by schools. The conference is also expected to produce a statement from children to the world leaders who will meet in 2002 for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10). The fifth UNEP International Children's Conference on the Environment is expected to be hosted by the town of Ledyard, Connecticut, USA, in 2003. For more information contact: Theodore Oben, Programme Officer, Children, Youth and Sport Programmes, UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya, tel: +254-2-623262; fax: +254-2-623692, e-mail: theodore.oben@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/children_youth/ WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The World Summit on Sustainable Development for the ten-year review of progress in implementing the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio in 1992, will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002. The exact dates are yet to be determined. The Summit will aim to reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable development at the highest level. For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev, Division for Sustainable Development; tel: +1-212-963-5949; fax: +1-212-963- 4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/rio%2b10/ BIODIVERSITY ADVANCED RESEARCH AND RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASE OF GMOS: This meeting will be held from 2-6 April 2001, in Florence, Italy. For more information contact: Giovanni Ferraiolo, Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology; tel: +39-40-3757364; fax: +39-40-226555; e-mail: ferraiol@icgeb.trieste.it THIRD MEETING OF THE INTERIM COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES: ICPM-3 will be held from 2-6 April 2001, in Rome. For more information contact: Robert Griffin, AGPP, FAO; tel: +39-065705- 4812; e-mail: ippc@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpp/PQ/Default.htm SIXTH MEETING OF THE CONTACT GROUP ON THE REVISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNDERTAKING ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD & AGRICULTURE: IU-CG6 will be held in Spoletto, Italy from 23-28 April 2001. For more information contact: Clive Stannard, CGRFA, FAO; tel: +39-06570-55480; e-mail: clive.stannard@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/meetings.htm FIRST MEETING OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE: This Committee, established by the World Intellectual Property Organization, will hold its first meeting from 30 April - 3 May 2001, in Geneva. For more information contact: WIPO Information Center, tel: +41-22-338-8181; fax: +41-22-338-8810; e- mail: information.center@wipo.int; Internet: http://www.wipo.org INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIODIVERSITY AND SOCIETY: This conference, organized by Columbia University and UNESCO, will be held in New York from 22-25 May 2001. For more information contact: Christine Alfsen-Norodom, tel: +1-212-854-9449; e-mail: ca320@columbia.edu; Internet: http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/events/events/biodiversity. html WORKSHOP ON FINANCING BIODIVERSITY AND BIOSAFETY: This workshop is tentatively scheduled to be held in Cuba in June 2001. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada: tel: +1- 514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org NINTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: CGRFA-9 will meet later in 2001 in Rome at a date yet to be determined. For more information contact: FAO; tel: +39-6- 5705-2287; Internet: http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/cgrfa/ FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BIODIVERSITY AS A SOURCE OF NEW MEDICINES: This symposium will convene from 16-19 August 2001 in Cali, Colombia. For more information contact: Ligia Pabon; tel: +57-2-233-02461; e-mail: ligpabon@univalle.edu.co; Internet: http://www.biofarmacongress.com/congresx.htm SECOND MEETING OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY: This meeting will take place in Montreal, Canada, or Nairobi, Kenya, from 1-5 October 2001. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada: tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org FIRST SESSION OF THE AD HOC OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP ON ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING: This meeting will be held in Bonn from 22-26 October 2001. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada: tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e- mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org SEVENTH MEETING OF THE CBD'S SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE: SBSTTA-7 will meet from 12-16 November 2001 in Montreal, Canada. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat, Montreal: tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288- 6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org 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: tel: +1-514-288- 2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org SIXTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIODIVERSITY: CBD COP-6 will take place in The Hague, the Netherlands, from 8-19 April 2002. The First Meeting of the Parties (MOP-1) to the Cartagena Protocol has been tentatively scheduled to take place following COP-6, from 22-26 April. However, this meeting date is subject to change. 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 CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (DIPCON): The diplomatic conference for the signing of the POPs convention is scheduled to take place from 21-23 May 2001, in Stockholm, Sweden. For more information contact: Jim Willis, UNEP; tel: +41- 22-917-8111; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch; Internet: http://irptc.unep.ch/pops/ PANEL OF EXPERTS ON PESTICIDE SPECIFICATIONS, REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATION STANDARDS AND PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT: The 18th Session of the Panel is expected to meet in Bangkok, Thailand from 17-19 June 2001. Participants will consider new provisions of the Code of Conduct and update various guidelines in support of the Code. The 19th Session is scheduled for 27-29 October 2002 in Rome. For more information contact: Gero Vaagt, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-5757; e-mail: Gero.Vaagt@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Even ts/c.htm FIFTH CONSULTATION ON THE PREVENTION AND DISPOSAL OF OBSOLETE AND UNWANTED STOCKS OF PESTICIDES: This meeting is scheduled for 2001 in Rome. Participants will consider new provisions for the prevention and disposal of obsolete stocks and update/prepare various technical guidelines in support of the FAO Code of Conduct. For more information contact: Ale Wodageneh, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-5192; fax: +39-6-5705-6347; e-mail: A.Wodageneh@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Even ts/c.htm JOINT FAO-WHO MEETING ON PESTICIDE RESIDUES: The 26th Session of the Joint Meeting of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment and the WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) will take place from 10-28 September 2001, in Geneva. The 27th Session is scheduled for 20-29 September 2002 in Rome. For more information contact: Amelia Tejada, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-4010; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Even ts/c.htm EIGHTH PIC-INC MEETING: The eighth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Preparation of the Conference of Parties of the Rotterdam Convention for the Application of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (INC-8) will be held from 8-12 October 2001, in Rome. For more information contact: Niek van der Graaff, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705- 3441; e-mail: Niek.VanderGraaff@fao.org; or Jim Willis, UNEP Chemicals; tel: +41-22-917-8111; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.pic.int/ GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON UPDATING THE FAO CODE OF CONDUCT ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF PESTICIDES: This consultation is tentatively scheduled for October 2001 in Rome. It will consider the draft revised FAO International Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides. For more information contact: Niek Van der Graaff, FAO; tel: +39-6-5705-3441; e-mail: Niek.VanderGraaff@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Even ts/c.htm FOURTH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON CHEMICAL SAFETY (IFCS): FORUM IV is scheduled to be held in Thailand in 2003, with FORUM V taking place in Hungary in late 2005 or 2006. For more information contact: the IFCS Executive Secretary; tel: +41-22- 791-3650; e-mail: ifcs@who.ch; Internet: http://www.who.int/ifcs CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE IPCC PLENARY on the Third Assessment Report (TAR): Following the adoption by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the reports of Working Group I (on climate change science) in January 2001, Working Group II (impacts and adaptation) in February, and Working Group III (climate change mitigation) in March, the IPCC plenary will meet in Nairobi from 4–6 April to approve all three reports. For more information visit: http://www.ipcc.ch/meet/meet_dt.htm 12TH GLOBAL WARMING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE & EXPO - KYOTO COMPLIANCE REVIEW: This meeting will be held in Cambridge, UK, from 8-11 April 2001. For more information contact: Sinyan Shen, The Global Warming International Center Headquarters, USA; tel: +1-630-910-1551; Internet: http://www2.msstate.edu/~krreddy/glowar/gw12c.html CONFERENCE ON EQUITY AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: This international conference will take place from 17-18 April 2001 in Washington, DC. It is being organized by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. The meeting will consider "fair and reasonable" actions for all countries in addressing climate change, as well as how issues of competitiveness, economic growth and ethics relate to this debate. For more information contact: Christie Jorge Santelises; tel: +1-703-516-4146; e-mail: jorgec@pewclimate.org; Internet: http://pewclimate.org/events REGIONAL SEMINAR ON ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE VARIABILITY IN THE INSULAR CARIBBEAN: This workshop will take place from 7-9 May 2001, in Havana, Cuba. It will be hosted by the Government of Cuba and UNDP. For more information contact: Jafet Enríquez, tel: +537- 24-1512/15; fax: +537-24-1516; e-mail: jafet.enriquez@undp.org; Internet: http://www.onu.org.cu SECOND International Combined Heat and Power Symposium: This meeting will take place from 9-10 May 2001 in Amsterdam. For more information contact: Quirine Boellaard, tel: +31-20-549-1212; e- mail: q.heerkens@rai.nl; Internet: http://www.2ndCHPsymposium.com KYOTO MECHANISMS: EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: This forum, which will be held from 10-11 May 2001 in Hong Kong, examines business opportunities and risks in relation to the Kyoto Protocol. For more information contact: Centre for Management Technology, Christina Lu Jialing; tel: +65-346-9132; e-mail: christina@cmtsp.com.sg; Internet: http://www.cmtevents.com INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY IN NORTHERN EUROPE: This meeting will be held in Turku, Finland, from 6-8 June 2001. For more information contact: Mia Rönkä, University of Turku, Finland; tel: +358-2-333-6009; fax: +358-2-333-5730; Internet: http://figare.utu.fi/notice.html RESUMED COP-6/14TH SESSIONS OF THE UNFCCC SUBSIDIARY BODIES: The resumed COP-6 (as outlined under COP-6 decision FCCC/CP/2000/L.3) and the 14th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held from 16-27 July 2001 in Bonn. For more information contact: the UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax: +49-228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int; Internet: http://www.unfccc.int 21ST SESSION OF THE OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP OF PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL: This meeting is scheduled to be held from 24-26 July 2001, in Montreal, Canada. For more information contact: Ozone Secretariat; Nairobi, Kenya, tel: +254-2-62-1234; fax: +254- 2-62-3601; e-mail: ozoneinfo@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/ozone IPCC meeting on the SYNTHESIS REPORT OF THE Third Assessment Report (TAR): This meeting, at which the Synthesis Report of the TAR will be adopted, will take place in London from 24–29 September 2001. The Synthesis Report addresses nine specific policy-relevant questions and builds on the recent reports from all three IPCC Working Groups. For more information contact: Michael Williams, UNEP Geneva, tel: +41-22-9178-242; e-mail: michael.williams@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.ipcc.ch/activity/master-sch.html 13TH MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL: MOP-13 will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 15-19 October 2001. For more information contact: Ozone Secretariat; tel: +254-2-62-1234; fax: +254-2-62-3601; Internet: http://www.unep.org/ozone SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE: COP-7 is scheduled to take place from 29 October - 9 November 2001, in Marrakech, Morocco. For more information contact: the UNFCCC Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815- 1000; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int; Internet: http://www.unfccc.int/ DESERTIFICATION WORKSHOP ON INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF THE ECOLOGICAL, METEOROLOGICAL, AND HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF GLOBAL DESERTIFICATION: This Dahlem Workshop will take place from 10-15 June 2001, in Berlin, Germany. For more information contact: james.f.reynolds@duke.edu; Internet: http://www.fu-berlin.de/dahlem/Future20Meetings.htm FIFTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UN CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: COP-5 is scheduled to meet from 17-28 September 2001 in Bonn, Germany. For more information contact: UNCCD Secretariat; tel: +49-228-815-2800; fax: +49-228- 815-2898/99; e-mail: secretariat@unccd.int; Internet: http://www.unccd.int ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: This traveling event will be held 8-20 April 2002, in Cape Town, South Africa, various rural communities, and Gobabeb, Namibia. The aim of this combined international symposium, rural community interaction and workshop is to connect community action with science and common sense. For more information contact: Mary Seely, Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, P.O. Box 20232, Windhoek, Namibia; tel: +264-61-229- 855; fax: +264-61-230-172; e-mail: mseely@drfn.org.na INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR DRY AREAS FOR THE SECOND MILLENNIUM: This conference will be held from 15-19 September 2002, in Shijiazhuang, China. For more information contact: Catherine Vachon, Lethbridge Research Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; tel: +1-403-317-2257; fax: +1-403-382-3156; Internet: http://res2.agr.ca/lethbridge/hebei/confindex.htm FORESTS 16TH COMMONWEALTH FORESTRY CONFERENCE - FORESTS IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE: This conference will meet from 18-25 April 2001 in Fremantle, Western Australia. For more information contact: Libby Jones, Standing Committee on Commonwealth Forestry, Edinburgh, UK; tel: +44-131-314-6137; fax: +44-131-334-0442; e-mail: libby.jones@forestry.gov.uk TECHNICAL EXPERTS GROUP ON FORESTS: This meeting will convene in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 23-27 April 2001. For more information contact: Frida Velarde, Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat; tel: +1-514-287-7001; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: frida.velarde@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/events/default.asp?lg=0&org=unep/scbd MCPFE ROUND TABLE MEETING: This meeting will be held from 14-15 May 2001 in Brussels to consider future directions and next steps for the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE). For more information contact: Peter Mayer, Liaison Unit Vienna; tel: +43-1-710-7702; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.minconf-forests.net 30TH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER COUNCIL: This meeting will take place from 28 May - 2 June 2001 in Yaounde, Cameroon. For more information contact: the International Tropical Timber Organization; Yokohama, Japan; tel: +81-45-223-1110; e- mail: itto@itto.or.jp; Internet: http://www.itto.or.jp FIRST SUBSTANTIVE SESSION OF THE UN FORUM ON FORESTS: This meeting is scheduled for 11-22 June 2001, at UN Headquarters in New York. For more information, contact: Secretariat, Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, tel: +1-212-963-6208; fax: +1-212-963-3463; e- mail: vahanen@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/unff_2001_fsm.htm FORESTRY IMPACTS OF CHINA'S REFORMS: LESSONS FOR CHINA AND THE WORLD: This symposium on the forestry impacts of China's rural, industrial, and financial reforms since 1978 will be held from 20- 23 June 2001, in Sichuan Province, China. For more information contact: L.Dachang@cgiar.org and T.Suhartini@cgiar.org INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIETAL ASPECTS OF TRANSGENIC FOREST PLANTATIONS: This symposium will be held from 22-24 July 2001 in Stevenson, Washington State, USA. For more information visit: http://www.fsl.orst.edu/tgerc/iufro2001/eco_symp_iufro.htm MCPFE WORKSHOP ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF PAN-EUROPEAN INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT: This workshop will take place in Copenhagen from 24-25 September 2001, and is being convened by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE). For more information contact: Ewald Rametsteiner, Liaison Unit, Vienna, Austria; tel: +43-1-710-7702; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.minconf-forests.net 17th International Seminar on Forest and Natural Resources Administration and Management: This US Department of Agriculture Forest Service seminar will be held on 26 August – 13 September 2001 at Colorado State University's College of Natural Resources, USA. The focus will be on methods to develop, manage, and conserve natural resources for the sustained delivery of goods and services to meet the full range of human needs. For more information contact: Ann Keith, tel: +1-970-490-2449; e-mail: IFS@cnr.colostate.edu; Internet: http://www.fs.fed.us/global/is/isfam/welcome.htm INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON FORESTS AND FORESTRY IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: This workshop will be held from 12-14 September 2001 in Debe, Poland. It is being jointly organized by the government of Poland, MCPFE and UN-ECE/FAO. For more information contact: Alexander Buck, Liaison Unit Vienna; tel: +43-1-710-77-02; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.minconf-forests.net THIRD INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON REMOTE SENSING AND FOREST FIRES: This workshop will convene in Paris from 17-18 September 2001. For more information contact: Emilio Chuvieco, Department of Geography, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Hernares, Spain; e- mail: emilio.chuvieco@uah.es; Internet: http://www.geogra.alcala.es/EARSeL/EARSeL.htm MCPFE EXPERT LEVEL MEETING: This meeting will be held from 22-23 October 2001 in Vienna, Austria. Participants will address next steps towards the Fourth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (May/June 2003, Vienna). For more information contact: Peter Mayer, Liaison Unit Vienna; tel: +43-1-710-77-02; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.minconf-forests.net XII WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS: This meeting will take place from 21- 28 September 2003 in Québec City, Québec, Canada. For more information visit: http://www.wfc2003.org/ HABITAT IULA-FMCU UNITY CONGRESS: "THE COMMUNITY AGENDA": This conference will be held from 3-6 May 2001 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is being organized by the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), the World Federation of United Cities, the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro and UNCHS (Habitat) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. For more information contact: Roberto Ottolenghi; e-mail: ro.habitat@rio.rj.gov.br; Internet: http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/iula-fmcu "ISTANBUL+5" - SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR AN OVERALL REVIEW AND APPRAISAL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HABITAT AGENDA: This Special Session of the UN General Assembly will be held from 6-8 June 2001. It will review and appraise progress made on the implementation of the outcome of the second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), which was held in Istanbul, Turkey in 1996. For more information contact: Axumite Gebre- Egziabher, UN Centre for Human Settlements, Nairobi, tel: +254-2- 623-831; e-mail: Axumite.Gebre-Egziabher@unchs.org; Internet: http://www.istanbul5.org/ INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WORLD BANK GROUP AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND ANNUAL "SPRING MEETINGS": The annual "Spring Meetings" of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund will take place from 26-30 April 2001 in Washington, DC. More information is available online at: http://www.imf.org/spring/2001/index.htm OECD ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS MEETING AND ANNUAL OECD COUNCIL MEETING AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL: These meetings will take place from 16-18 May 2001 in Paris, France. For more information contact: Media Relations, OECD, Paris, France; tel: +33-1-4524-8200; fax: +33-1- 4524-1950; Internet: http://www.oecd.org/media/upcoming.htm FAO GOVERNING BODIES: Sessions of the FAO Council are scheduled for 18-23 June, 30 October – 1 November and 14 November 2001. The 31st FAO Conference is tentatively scheduled for 2-13 November 2001. For more information on specific meetings, visit: http://www.fao.org/events/index.asp OCEANS AND COASTS SIXTH INDO-PACIFIC FISH CONFERENCE: This conference will be held from 20-25 May 2001 in Durban, South Africa. It will address various aspects of the ichthyology of Indo-Pacific fishes, including evolution, genetics, systematics, ecology, biology, behavior and biogeography. For more information contact: IPFC 2001, Oceanographic Research Institute, P O Box 10712, Marine Parade, Durban 4056, South Africa; tel: +27-31-337-3536; fax: +27- 31-337-2132; Internet: http://www.seaworld.org.za 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 19-23 November 2001. For more information visit: http://www.gpa.unep.org POPULATION UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: The Commission's 34th Session will take place from 2-6 April 2001 in New York. The theme for the meeting will be "Population, environment and development." The special theme for the 35th Session, to be held in 2002, will be "Reproductive rights and reproductive health, with special reference to HIV/AIDS," while the 36th Session in 2003 will focus on "Population, education and development." For more information contact: Population Division; fax: +1-212-963-2147; Internet: http://www.undp.org/popin/unpopcom.htm SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ON PARTNERSHIPS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE NEW ECONOMY: This conference will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark from 27- 29 June 2001. It will bring together key stakeholders engaged in the field of partnerships and social cohesion. For more information contact: Niels Hojensgard, The Copenhagen Centre; tel: +45-3392-9245; e-mail: dpnih@sm.dk WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE: This conference will be held from 31 August - 7 September 2001 in Durban, South Africa. A preparatory meeting is scheduled for May 2001 in Geneva. For more information contact: Conference Secretariat, tel: +41-22-917-9290; Internet: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/racism/racism.htm SECOND WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING: This UN conference will be held in Madrid, Spain from 8-12 April 2002, 20 years after the Vienna World Assembly on Ageing. The meeting will review the outcome of the first World Assembly, and will adopt a revised plan of action and long-term strategy on ageing. The UN Commission for Social Development is acting as the Preparatory Committee. For 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 COUNCIL FOR TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: During 2001, the TRIPS Council will meet from 2-6 April, 18-22 June, 20-21 September and 26-29 November, in Geneva. For more information contact: Peter Ungphakorn, World Trade Organization, Geneva; tel: +41-22-739-5412; e-mail: peter.ungphakorn@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/trips_e.htm Hemispheric Trade and Sustainability Symposium: This meeting will be held in Quebec City from 17-19 April 2001, and is being organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development. The purpose of the meeting is to identify policies that are mutually beneficial to trade, environment and development, and it aimed at policy-makers in trade and environment ministries, environment and development non- governmental organizations, research institutes, hemispheric and regional institutions, business, and academia. For more information visit: http://www.iisd.org/trade/qc2001/main.htm WTO SUB-COMMITTEE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: This sub-committee will meet twice more during 2001: from 17-18 April and 27-28 November. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22-739-5111; email: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc WTO GENERAL COUNCIL: The WTO's General Council will meet several times during the remainder of 2001: 7-8 May, 18-19 July, 10-11 October, and 12-14 December. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22-739-5111; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT: During 2001, this committee is scheduled to meet on 22 May and 19 October. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22-739-5111; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: During 2001, this committee is scheduled to meet from 27-28 June and 30-31 October. For more information contact: WTO, tel: +41-22-739-5111; e-mail: enquiries@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc WTO COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES: This committee is scheduled to meet from 10-11 July and 31 October – 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 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/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_e.htm WETLANDS ASIAN WETLAND SYMPOSIUM 2001: This meeting will be held in Penang, Malaysia, from 27-29 August 2001. For more information contact: Symposium Secretariat: Reiko Nakamua, Ramsar Center Japan; tel: +81-3-3758-7926; e-mail: ramsarcj.nakamura@nifty.ne.jp SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WETLANDS AND REMEDIATION: This conference will take place from 5-6 September 2001 in Burlington, Vermont, USA. For more information contact: Carol Young, Conference Coordinator; tel: +1-614-424-7604; e-mail: youngc@battelle.org; Internet: http://www.battelle.org/environment/er/wetlandsconf/wetlandsconf/html RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLANDS COP8: COP8 is scheduled to convene in Valencia, Spain, from 18-26 November 2002. For more information contact: Ramsar Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland; tel: +41-22-999- 0170; e-mail: ramsar@ramsar.org; Internet: http://www.ramsar.org WILDLIFE CITES STANDING COMMITTEE: The Standing Committee will meet in Paris in June 2001. For more information contact: CITES Secretariat, Geneva, tel: +41-22-917-8139; fax: +41-22-797-3417; e-mail: cites@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.cites.org SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES: CMS COP-7 is scheduled to take place from 1-15 September 2002 in Bonn, Germany. The Second Meeting of the Parties to the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA MOP-2) will also be held at this time. For more information 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 WOMEN RESUMED 45TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: This meeting – which began in March 2001 at UN Headquarters in New York – is tentatively scheduled to resume from 9-11 May 2001 to address outstanding issues. For more information contact: UN Division for the Advancement of Women, New York; fax: +1-212-963- 3463; e-mail: erturk@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/45sess.htm MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN: A number of meetings are being held in 2001, all at UN Headquarters in New York. The 25th Session will meet from 4-22 June 2001. The Pre-Session Working Group for the 26th Session will be held from 25-29 June 2001. For more information contact: Women's Rights Unit, Division for the Advancement of Women, New York, fax: +1-212-963-3463; e-mail: connorsj@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/calendar.htm STAFF Editor: Chris Spence (chris@iisd.org) Managing Editor: Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI (kimo@iisd.org) Assistant Editor: Malena Sell (malena@iisd.org) Submissions, corrections, requests for subscription information and correspondence should be sent to the editors at malena@iisd.org. 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