Search our archived site
We updated our website in 2021 to better share our reports from events covered since 1992. It also includes full coverage – including photography and highlights of proceedings – from more recent events.
While we manually migrate some elements, you can still find them on our archived site using a Google custom search.
Search the site
All results
Showing 4041 - 4050 of 4159 results
Highlights and images for 5 July 2019
Facilitator Natasha Walker
On Friday, participants to the Trondheim Conference on Biodiversity heard presentations on communication, outreach, and the role of stakeholders with regard to the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, as well as on key cross-cutting issues, including capacity building, resource mobilization, and research needs. They addressed the draft Co-Chairs' report, which will be finalized in the coming weeks on the basis of participants' input; heard comments on next steps from Conference Co-Chairs' Nina Vik and Finn Katerås, and the Co-Chairs of the Open-ended Working Group of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on the post-2020 framework Francis Ogwal and Basile van Havre; and heard a closing statement from Ellen Hambro, Norwegian Environment Agency.
Jane Smart, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), stressed the need for increased clarity of the post-2020 framework and its targets, and for alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica, emphasized the need for: phasing out perverse incentives; open and transparent objectives regarding resource mobilization; and aligning public and private investments with national biodiversity strategies and action plans.
Sudhanshu Sarronwala, WWF International, highlighted a WWF study examining consumer mindsets in ten developing countries, where half the people believe that biodiversity is declining, but only 40% see biodiversity and nature as an important source of raw materials for the economy; and only one third associate biodiversity with basic necessities such as food and fresh water. Highlighting how targets are influencing business, Alice Durand-Reville, Danone, explained that Danone has committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 throughout the whole value chain, which entailed rethinking products and energy consumption.
Joji Cariño, Forest Peoples Programme, presented on the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities to CBD implementation, and lessons shared through the Local Biodiversity Outlooks. Christian Schwarzer, Germany, and Melina Sakiyama, Brazil, Global Youth Biodiversity Network, urged addressing overproduction and consumption, global inequalities, and assassinations of nature defenders. Jamison Ervin, UN Development Programme, highlighted the need for developing capacities to: replicate; scale-up; transform supply chains; tell a good story; unleash private sector capital; create a planetary safety net; and buffer the most vulnerable.
Mark Zimsky, Global Environment Facility (GEF), noted that the GEF's seventh replenishment has been reoriented to address the systemic and underlying drivers of biodiversity loss, adding that a two-track investment strategy is focusing on: cities; sustainable forest management; and food systems, land use, and restoration. Meriem Bouamrane, Man and the Biosphere Programme, UNESCO, highlighted: the contribution of culture and of diverse knowledge and value systems; the role of education and life-learning processes; the need for countries to have endogenous research and monitoring capacities; interdependency between biodiversity and development issues; and the need to address urban issues.
Francis Ogwal and Basile van Havre, Co-Chairs of the CBD Open-ended Working Group on the post-2020 framework, identified new elements to be addressed, including the need to involve new sectors, and consider new factors such as population change, food and agriculture, human health, deforestation, and restoration.
Conference Co-Chairs Nina Vik and Finn Katerås announced that all conference outputs, including the Co-Chairs' report and powerpoint presentations, will be available on the conference webpage. They expressed the hope that the Conference provided knowledge, friendships, inspiration, and motivation to participants, and invited them to provide their feedback in the upcoming month.
Ellen Hambro stressed the scientific basis has never been bolder, and the biodiversity crisis never higher on the global agenda. She expressed her appreciation to all participants for their enthusiasm and dedication, and closed the Conference at 1:00 pm.
Highlights and images for 7 February 2018
9th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9)
Three Assemblies of the World Urban Forum’s ninth session (WUF9) convened on Wednesday. A flag-raising ceremony took place in the morning, in which the UN and Malaysian flags were hoisted outside the meeting venue at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). After a joint opening plenary, the Women’s Assembly, Business Assembly and the Children and Youth Assembly met in parallel throughout the day to discuss actions to advance the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) on cities.
Noh Omar, Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Malaysia, noted that more than 50% of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and urged all to play their roles in making cities safe, inclusive, sustainable and prosperous.
Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, welcomed delegates to WUF9, which is taking place in her home country. Opening the Assemblies, she stressed the NUA’s emphasis on inclusivity, and underscored UN-Habitat’s role as the focal point for its global implementation.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web highlights, daily reports, and will produce a summary report from WUF9.
Photos by IISD/ENB
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director, UN-Habitat, arrives at flag raising
Music of bagpipes and drums at the flag-raising ceremony
Highlights and images for 8 February 2018
9th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9)
The ninth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9) continued Thursday.
In the morning, a Ministers’ Roundtable and a further two WUF Assemblies convened, representing local and regional governments, and grassroots organizations respectively.
In the afternoon, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak officially opened WUF9, accompanied by cultural dances and messages from several dignitaries.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web highlights, daily reports, and will produce a summary report from WUF9.
Photos by IISD/ENB
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Children performing during the official opening ceremony
Participants arrive for the official WUF9 opening ceremony.
Highlights and images for 9 February 2018
9th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9)
Two high-level roundtables took place on Friday at the ninth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9): ‘Cities for All with Housing at the Centre’ convened in the morning, and ‘The Urban Dimension in Climate Change Action’ in the afternoon. Participants took part in four special sessions during the day on: migration; land tenure; culture and diversity; and informal settlements and slum upgrading. Many other events were organized around the venue, including an art exhibition, consultations, and various side events.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web highlights, daily reports, and will produce a summary report from WUF9.
Photos by IISD/ENB
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Highlights and images for 10 February 2018
9th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9)
Delegates and participants continued their discussions on Saturday at the ninth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9). Two high-level roundtables convened, on ‘Urbanization and development: investing in the transformative force of cities’ in the morning, and on ‘An integrated territorial approach to sustainable development’ in the afternoon. Several special sessions, dialogues and side events also took place on various themes, including on youth employment, urban labs, affordable housing, and access to basic services.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web highlights, daily reports, and will produce a summary report from WUF9.
Photos by IISD/ENB
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
High-level roundtable on an integrated territorial approach to sustainable development
High-level roundtable on urbanization and development - investing in the transformative force of cities
View of the Petronas Twin Towers from the WUF9 venue
Highlights and images for 11 February 2018
9th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9)
Discussions continued at the ninth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9) on Sunday, with participants crowding into a special session on ‘smart cities’, and many visitors attending the exhibitions at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Two high-level roundtables convened, on ‘Innovative governance for open and inclusive cities’ in the morning, and on ‘Sustainable urban development for peace and security’ in the afternoon. Stakeholder consultations, dialogues and networking events took place alongside special sessions on urban disaster recovery, urban data, and urban mobility with safe and accessible transport for all.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web highlights, daily reports, and will produce a summary report from WUF9.
Photos by IISD/ENB
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Special session on urban data
Participants commenting during WUF9 stakeholder roundtables
Highlights and images for 12 February 2018
9th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9)
On Monday, the last full day of the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur (WUF9), many special sessions took place, as well as dialogues, stakeholder meetings and side events. Participants discussed inclusive multi-stakeholder partnerships, settlements for displaced persons, and food security through urban-rural linkages in the morning, and urban ecological landscapes, civic engagement, and ‘housing for all’ in the afternoon. In the evening, host country Malaysia welcomed delegates to a gala dinner.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web highlights, daily reports, and will produce a summary report from WUF9.
Photos by IISD/ENB
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Participants debate urban issues during side events.
A view of the special session on urban ecological landscapes
Malaysia fire department officers poses with UN security
Upstairs cafe at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Children’s art activities at WUF9
Highlights and images for 13 February 2018
9th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9)
On the last day of the ninth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9), two special sessions convened on low-carbon and energy-efficient cities, and on urban safety and accessibility. Various other meetings took place, including roundtables of media and grassroot organizations, and several networking events.
The WUF9 closing ceremony took place in the afternoon. Participants heard video messages from UN and other dignitaries.
The Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Cities 2030 was released during the closing, and UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif stated that the Declaration will accelerate implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA).
Noh Omar, Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Malaysia, delivered a speech on behalf of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Pledging Malaysia’s commitment to uphold the goals and principles of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, he thanked all participants and declared the Forum officially closed at 2:16 pm.
Falah Al Ahbabi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, made final remarks, in which he looked forward to welcoming participants in 2020 to WUF10 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web highlights, daily reports, and will produce a summary report from WUF9.
Photos by IISD/ENB
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Bright and busy booths at the WUF9 exhibition
WUF9 exhibition - booth of the host of WUF10 in 2020