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 9961 - 9970 of 9983 results
Summary report 19–22 March 2001
2nd Meeting of the CBD Experts’ Panel on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS 2)
Highlights and images for 10 November 2016
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Side Events
IISD Reporting Services is providing coverage of selected GCC Pavilion events at the 2nd Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including written, digital and video coverage.
Creating Value from CO2
Building Resilience and Adaptation Measures with Co-mitigation Benefits in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Photos by IISD/ENB | Liz Rubin
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Creating Value from CO2Presented by the Gulf Cooperation Council
Nouf Aburas, Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia, moderated this event, which focused on: sharing of efforts; progress and perspectives regarding future market potential for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS); and transportation and conversion into alternative industrial uses, including chemicals, cement manufacturing, food and waste treatment.
Tidjani Niass, Saudi Aramco, described: a past initiative, which transformed methane from waste, avoiding 80 million tons of CO2 annually since 1980; and an energy management programme that fosters energy efficiency due to cogeneration capacity and flaring reduction, savings 127 million tonnes of CO2 since 2000. He highlighted challenges that need to be overcome regarding CCS, including: high capital and operating cost; availability of storage capacity; lack of tailored-policy mechanisms; and the need to raise public awareness. Niass explained that instead of storing the captured CO2, it can be used in many applications, such as fuel production, chemicals, enhanced oil recovery, food, power and energy resources, carbonates, and polymers. He said many small start-up companies are being developed to use captured CO2.
Abdulaziz Al-Jodai, Director, Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), talked about his company’s investments in extracting flue gas and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon purification processes and applications in different industries, including chemicals, polymers, agri-nutrients and metals. He noted that SABIC developed the first complete commercial technology to purify CO2 in its world biggest plant. He outlined SABIC’s purification process flow and concluded that new uses for captured CO2 have been made possible via the pipeline system that delivers it to industrial consumers such as urea plants.
Nafisi Al Nafisi, Greencarbon Initiative of the Al Nafisi Industries, Kuwait, outlined the roadmap to CO2 mitigation in his region. He noted his work focuses on assisting private and public sectors to develop business models that overcome CCS challenges to use captured CO2 in sustainable applications, including beverage carbonation, anti-microbial preservation, food freezing and in-transit refrigeration. He noted captured CO2 is being used as a substitute for chemicals that treat wastewater.
Mubarak Malhiya, Qatar Fuel Additives Company Limited (QAFAC), explained his company’s use of methane recovery, which can be used to produce inputs to be used as a fuel additive. He outlined QAFAC’s environmental programmes, including flare management, leak detection and repair, and a green belt development and zero-treated wastewater discharge. He highlighted the new QAFAC project started in 2014 to recover 500 MT per day of CO2 and inject it back into a methanol plant to increase production and minimize CO2 emissions.
In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed: technological CCS challenges for carbon capture, storage and reuse; the cost of recovery and purification, which depends on CO2 concentration, the utilities available and the capacity of the plant; and the importance of lifecycle analysis and carbon footprint to help decide if an application for captured CO2 is climate-friendly.
(L-R): Abdulaziz Al-Jodai, Director of SABIC; Tidjani Niass, Saudi Aramco; Nouf Aburas, Ministery of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia; Nafisi Alnafisi, Greencarbon Initiative of the Al Nafisi Industries, Kuwait; and Mubarak Malhiya, QAFAC
Tidjani Niass, Saudi Aramco
Nafisi Alnafisi, Green Carbon Initiate of the Alnafisi Industries, Kuwait
Mubarak Malhiya, Qafac showcase CCS
Nouf Aburas, Ministery of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia
Participants listen to panelists
Abdulaziz Al-Jodai, Director of SABIC
Contacts:
Abdulhadi Nasser Almarri
| analmarri@mme.gov.qa
More Information:
http://www.sabic.com/corporate/en/
http://www.saudiaramco.com/en/home.html
http://greencarbon-me.com/about/
https://www.qafac.com.qa/
Building Resilience and Adaptation Measures with Co-mitigation Benefits in the Red Sea and the Arabian GulfPresented by PERSGA
Ali Qasem, Saudi Aramco, moderated the event that showcased the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden regions’ efforts in their adaptation actions through ecosystem solutions.
Khaled Al-Abdulkader, Saudi Aramco, outlined the potential to increase seafood supply via small and medium-size enterprises in Saudi Arabia. He summarized policies to avoid overexploitation and habitat degradation and to ensure fisheries sustainability in the Arabian Gulf, while increasing production. To establish a framework for managing fisheries resources, he highlighted the importance of: assessing commercial fisheries stocks; identifying relevant habitats; determining the impacts of current fishing practices; and deploying artificial reefs.
Faisal Alshuayl, High Commission of the Development of Arriyadh, Saudi Arabia, presented his city’s storm water drainage strategy, which was completed in 2014. To address rapid urban development and increased urban runoff and flooding, he outlined the city’s updated masterplan to mitigate current risks. He cited some environmental solutions, including the use of sustainable urban drainage systems and green roofs.
Hashem Al-Sada, Energy Conservation Department, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA), Qatar, described the energy intensity of water pumping, desalination, consumption and re-use. He outlined various measures used to manage and save water, reducing the carbon footprint in both the supply and demand sides. He explained that some policies focused on the highest consumption consumers in each economic sector to achieve water savings of 35% in 2015.
Ahmed Khalil, The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), explained that PERSGA supports alternative livelihoods for vulnerable coastal communities with projects on: sustainable fisheries; ecotourism; diversification of commodities; pollution control; and ecosystem approaches to fisheries management and aquaculture development. He noted the importance of monitoring and coordinating regional conservation actions, and sharing experiences and knowledge among member states.
Maher Amer, PERSGA, highlighted the global conservation value of marine ecosystems for local communities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. He also noted the economic benefits derived from marine protected areas, including: sustaining food resources and livelihoods; promoting poverty reduction; creating jobs; and generating tourism revenue. He noted the importance of effective management to: create resilience; replicate representative habitats; protect critical areas to serve as replenishment of ecological functions; and maintain biodiversity and ecological connectivity among and between habitats.
Hussien Al-Kisswani, Jordan, summarized the vulnerability of coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of Aqaba. He described adaptation measures recommended to combat climate change: coral re-planting in less impacted sites; monitoring systems for ecosystems and species; increased understanding fishing activities; guidelines for implementation of integrated coastal zone management; and training and building capacity regarding such measures.
In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed: re-use of water for irrigation systems; GHG emission scenarios used by Jordan to develop its adaptation strategy; local community participation in fisheries management of protected areas; use of sustainable urban drainage systems; and ways to reduce the carbon water footprint per capita in Qatar.
(L-R): Hashem Al-Sada, Energy Conservation Department, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA), Qatar; Hussien Al-Kisswani, Jordan; Faisal Alshuayl, High Commission of the Development of Arriyaadh, Saudi Arabia; Khaled Abdulkader, Saudi Aramco; Ali Qasem, Saudi Aramco; Ahmed Khalil, PERSGA; and Maher Amer, PERSGA
Hashem Al-Sada,
Kahramaa Energy Conservation Department
Faisal Alshuayl, High Commission of the Development of Arriyaadh, Saudi Arabia, presented the city of Arriyaadh storm water drainage strategy.
Ahmed Khalil, PERSGA, noted the coordinating and networking of regional conservation actions and sharing of experiences and knowledge among member states.
Maher Amer, PERSGA, highlighted the limited but valuable living resources in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Participants during the event
Contacts:
Hamoud AlOtaibi
| otaibihr@yahoo.com
More Information:
http://www.persga.org/
Highlights and images for 8 September 2017
1st Asia-Pacific Ministerial Summit on the Environment
Ministers continued and concluded their deliberations on Friday, the final day of the Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. In the morning, they provided further comments on the UNEA-3 draft ministerial declaration, after which a ministerial dialogue took place on ‘Policy perspectives on a pollution-free planet’. Delegates provided suggestions on practical ways to tackle pollution and build partnerships.
Side events were organized at lunchtime on: gender, the environment and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific; and lessons from the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth (SINGG), a regional cooperation framework supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea government and endorsed by ESCAP in 2005. A special event on Strengthening regional ocean governance and partnerships towards clean seas took place after lunch.
At the end of the day, ministers adopted several outcome documents: the report of the senior officials and a Chair’s summary of the second UN Environment Programme Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific; and the ministerial declaration on environment and development for Asia and the Pacific (E/ESCAP/MCED(7)/L.4). They also adopted the report of the seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific (E/ESCAP/MCED(7)/L.3), after incorporating several amendments proposed by Iran and Japan. They agreed that the Secretariat would review the text of this report to include a mention of the Rio Principles, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR).
In closing, Shamshad Akhtar, ESCAP Executive Secretary, and Dechen Tsering, UN Environment Regional Director, thanked all delegates for their active participation and their presentation of best practices and policies for achieving a resource-efficient and pollution-free planet. The meeting closed at 4:41 pm.
The Summit sought to be a climate-neutral and low-impact event. Besides encouraging delegates to estimate and offset their carbon emissions, the conference took a low-waste approach to paper and printing, drinking-water containers, and catering. Participants were provided with their own biodegradable, reusable cups, and dined on meals made from organic and rescued ingredients. Around the venue, participants viewed exhibits about UN Environment and ESCAP campaigns, including information about regional implementation of the SDGs, and actions to reduce acid rain.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, is producing daily photographic coverage of the meeting proceedings, as well as of key side events, and also produced a summary report, which is available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Sean Wu
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.
Morning Session
(L-R) Raza Bashir Tarar, Vice-Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UN Environment, Pakistan; Suho Seong, Director of International Cooperation Division, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea; and Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore
Delegates watch a video message from Edgar Gutiérrez, UNEA President and Minister of the Environment, Costa Rica.
Yeshey Dorji, Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan
Eiji Tanaka, Deputy Director, International Strategy Division, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Japan
Tu Ruihe, Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Environmental Protection, China
Srisuda Jarayabhand, Thailand
Delegates listening to a presentation
Cristina Martinez, International Labour Organization (ILO)
Julius Cainglet, Vice President, Federation of Free Workers - International Trade Union Confederation
Ministers engage in dialogue on ‘Policy perspectives on a pollution-free planet’.
Lee Minho, Deputy Minister of Environmental Policy, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea
Ramon Paje, Vice President for Asia Pacific, UNEA, the Philippines
Meena Praful Bilgi, Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN)
Anish Shrestha, Advocacy Coordinator, Karnali Integrated Development Centre (KIDC)
Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore; and Subrata Sinha, Conference Secretary and Regional Environmental Affairs Officer, UN Environment
Abdullah Ziyad, Minister of State for Environment and Energy, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Maldives
Chuthatip Maneepong, Thailand Environment Institute (TEI)
The ENB team taking notes
Closing Session
Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore
Dechen Tsering, Regional Director and Representative for Asia and the Pacific, UN Environment, and Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary, ESCAP, give the closing remarks.
Special Event - Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance and Partnership Towards Clean Seas
Lisa Svensson, Chief, Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Branch, UN Environment, introduced the topic. UN senior officials briefed delegates on UN Environment’s Clean Seas Campaign, and highlighted the outcomes of the UN Oceans Conference of June 2017, urging participants not to lose momentum.
Teenagers Melati and Isabel Wijsen, who founded a campaign to rid the island of Bali, Indonesia, of plastic bags, described their work in raising community awareness and rewarding local businesses that have created plastic bag-free zones.
Lorna Eden, Assistant Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Fiji, drew attention to the Pacific Island Forum’s Pacific Oceanscape Framework, which was initiated by Anote Tong, then-President of Kiribati in 2009 as a catalyst for formulating ocean governance at all levels. Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore, observed that eight out of the top ten countries contributing to marine litter pollution are in Asia, and urged countries to take their own national actions. He described Singapore’s initiatives, such as requiring ships in port to be registered and to comply with regulations. Abdullah Ziyad, Minister of State for Environment and Energy, the Maldives, highlighted Maldives’ national campaigns against dumping of plastics into the sea. Lev Neretin, Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), introduced its regional oceans programs involving 140 countries, and its medium-term strategy, which contributes to action on SDG 14 on oceans.
Lars Svensson, IKEA, noted that the company recycles 70% of the around 10 million kilos of waste it generates annually in the region and is encouraging customers to participate more actively in recycling, including through imposing a charge on plastic bags. The NGO sector called on countries to return to more sustainable and culturally-relevant, reusable packaging, such as banana leaves.
Muhammad Khurshid, Director General, South Asia Co-Operative Environment Programme
View of the delegates during the special event
Side Events
Gender, the Environment and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific
Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary, ESCAP, opened this side event, organized by UNESCAP. She stressed that women work in activities and sectors impacted heavily by impact of climate change, noting 58% of the economically active women are in the agriculture sector and women constitute 54% of the labour force in small-scale inland fisheries in the region. She introduced ESCAP’s publication “Gender, the Environment and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific,” which identifies a strategic entry point for policy interventions.
Kaveh Zahedi, Deputy Executive Secretary for Sustainable Development, ESCAP, moderated the panel discussion. Lorna Eden, Assistant Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Fiji, introduced Fiji’s national initiatives, such as the Markets for Change program, which includes training women in accounting, and encouraging inclusion of women in board members of private companies.
Deepa Liyanage, Director, International Relations, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Sri Lanka, said that environmental policy making can be an arena for enhancing women’s participation. She noted the importance of both institutional and economic instruments, including training programs that will encourage women to enter technical fields of work and access greater opportunities.
Bernadette Resurrección, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute, reminded participants that “green growth” is not necessarily socially inclusive and just. Muhammad Khurshid, Director-General, South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme, highlighted the potential role of new technologies that are replacing biomass fuels and reducing the dependence of rural women on biomass for cooking, heating and lighting.
A group photo of Shamshad Akhtar (center), Executive Secretary, ESCAP; and
the Panelists
View of the dais during the side event
Towards Resource Efficient Asia-Pacific Through Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth
Stefanos Fotiou, Director, Environment and Development Division, ESCAP, moderated a panel discussion on the potential for learnings from the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth (SINGG), a regional cooperation framework supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea government and endorsed by ESCAP in 2005 to assist the Asia-Pacific region’s progress towards resource-efficient practices. Lee Minho, Deputy Minister of Environmental Policy, Ministry of Environment, outlined SINGGI’s development since its launch in 2005, noting that projects are now in the final stage of development and offer lessons for green growth opportunities. June-Woo Park (Republic of Korea) gave the keynote presentation about national progress towards shared responsibility for sustainably managing waste. He explained that initially governments had sole responsibility for sanitary treatment; then consumers increasingly accepted responsibility through reducing and recycling; and finally producers have been asked to manage their products over their full life-cycle in a circular economy.
Phub Tshering (Bhutan) outlined a project managing waste glass bottles in Bhutan, which showed that, in a small market, it can be difficult to recycle glass products. Ahmed Murthaza (Maldives) outlined that the Maldives is implementing projects to introduce the 3Rs, but considerable marine transport is involved in managing the waste – which imposes costs and other pollution management challenges. Alma Shalabexdya (Kazakhstan) outlined her country’s efforts to decouple growth and resource consumption. Eujin Kwon (Republic of Korea) discussed how to share green growth learnings with other countries. She noted that the Korea Environment Corporation conducts annual conferences involving over 40 countries to demonstrate the outcomes of a range of green growth projects that Korea has supported.
June-Woo Park, Republic of Korea
Around the Venue
IISD/ENB team: (L-R) Ikuho Miyazawa, Writer; Sean Wu, Digital Editor; Richard de Ferranti, Writer; and Delia Paul, Team Leader, experiencing virtual reality glasses during a coffee break
Summary report 8–9 October 2012
CBD COP 11
Summary report 11–23 November 2013
Warsaw Climate Change Conference - November 2013