Summary report, 21–22 July 2011

The UN Conference for Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) Pacific Subregional Preparatory Joint Ministerial Meeting convened in Apia, Samoa, from 21-22 July 2011. Over 80 participants, including 13 ministers, representatives from governments, UN bodies, and non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations attended the meeting.

The meeting provided the opportunity for Pacific environment and economic ministers to be informed on the preparations for UNCSD, and to jointly consider issues relevant to the Pacific region. During the meeting, participants discussed creating a green economy in a blue world, and the institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD).

Participants adopted “in principle” an outcome document, including recommendations and agreed that Pacific Island Countries and the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) would provide comments on the document prior to 1 August 2011. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF UN ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCES

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) will mark the 40th anniversary of the first major international political conference specifically having the word “environment” in its title. The UNCSD seeks to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress and implementation gaps in meeting previously-agreed commitments, and address new and emerging challenges. The focus of the Conference includes the following themes to be discussed and refined during the preparatory process: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and the IFSD.

UNCHE: The UN Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 5-16 June 1972, and produced three major sets of decisions. The first decision was the Stockholm Declaration. The second was the Stockholm Action Plan, made up of 109 recommendations on international measures against environmental degradation for governments and international organizations. The third set of decisions was a group of five resolutions calling for: a ban on nuclear weapons tests; the creation of an international databank on environmental data; addressing actions linked to development and environment; creation of an environment fund; and establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the central node for global environmental cooperation and treaty-making.

WORLD COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: In 1983, the UN General Assembly decided to establish an independent commission to formulate a long-term agenda for action. Over the next three years the Commission—more commonly known as the Brundtland Commission after its chair, Gro Harlem Brundtland—held public hearings and studied the issues. Its report, Our Common Future, which was published in 1987, stressed the need for development strategies in all countries that recognized the limits of the ecosystem’s ability to regenerate itself and absorb waste products. The Commission emphasized the link between economic development and environmental issues, and identified poverty eradication as a necessary and fundamental requirement for environmentally sustainable development.

UN CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: UNCED, also known as the Earth Summit, was held from 3-14 June 1992, and involved over 100 Heads of State and Government, representatives from 178 countries, and some 17,000 participants. The principal outputs of UNCED were the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21 (a 40-chapter programme of action), and the Statement of Forest Principles. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity were also opened for signature during the Earth Summit.

UNGASS-19: The 19th Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the Overall Review and Appraisal of Agenda 21 (23-27 June 1997, New York) adopted the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (A/RES/S-19/2). It assessed progress since UNCED and examined implementation.

WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) met from 26 August – 4 September 2002, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The WSSD’s goal, according to UNGA Resolution 55/199, was to hold a ten-year review of UNCED at the Summit level to reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable development. The WSSD gathered over 21,000 participants from 191 governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector, civil society, academia and the scientific community. The WSSD negotiated and adopted two main documents: the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development.

The JPOI is designed as a framework for action to implement the commitments originally agreed at UNCED and includes chapters on: poverty eradication; consumption and production; the natural resource base; health; small island developing states; Africa; other regional initiatives; means of implementation; and institutional framework. The Johannesburg Declaration outlines the path taken from UNCED to the WSSD, highlights challenges, expresses a commitment to sustainable development, underscores the importance of multilateralism and emphasizes the need for implementation.

64TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY: On 24 December 2009, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 64/236 agreeing to convene the UNCSD in 2012 in Brazil. Resolution 64/236 also called for holding three Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meetings prior to the UNCSD. On 14 May 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang as Secretary-General for the Conference. The UN Secretary-General subsequently appointed Brice Lalonde (France) and Elizabeth Thompson (Barbados) as executive coordinators.

UNCSD PREPCOM I: The first session of the PrepCom for the UNCSD was held from 17-19 May 2010, at UN Headquarters in New York. The PrepCom took up both substantive and procedural matters. On the substantive side, delegates assessed progress to date and the remaining gaps in implementing outcomes of major summits on sustainable development. They also discussed new and emerging challenges, a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the IFSD. On the procedural side, participants met in contact groups to organize their work in the lead up to 2012, and to consider the UNCSD’s rules of procedure.

FIRST INTERSESSIONAL MEETING FOR THE UNCSD:The first Intersessional Meeting for the UNCSD convened from 10-11 January 2011, at UN Headquarters in New York. During the meeting, delegates listened to: a summary of the findings of the Synthesis Report on securing renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges; and panels on green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the institutional framework for sustainable development.

UNCSD PREPCOM II: The second session of the PrepCom for the UNCSD took place from 7-8 March 2011, at UN Headquarters in New York. Delegates discussed the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, addressed new and emerging challenges, discussed the scope of a green economy and the idea of a blue economy, and debated on IFSD. At the end of the meeting, a decision was adopted by consensus on the process for the preparation of the draft outcome document for the UNCSD.

UNCSD SUBREGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THE CARIBBEAN: The UNCSD Subregional Preparatory Meeting for the Caribbean convened in Georgetown, Guyana, on 20 June 2011. The meeting generated Caribbean inputs in preparation for the UNCSD in June 2012. Participants recognized that there is much work to be done in the lead-up to the UNCSD, and identified the value and benefits in engaging in the process and the opportunities that it represents, particularly in regard to the green economy.

UNCSD SUBREGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING FOR AIMS: The UNCSD Subregional Preparatory Committee for the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, and South China Sea (AIMS) Countries, convened in Mahé, Seychelles, from 7-8 July 2011. The meeting generated AIMS inputs into the preparatory process for the UNCSD. Participants adopted recommendations including on the blue-green economy and strengthening the regional institutional framework for sustainable development, through building on the work of the Indian Ocean Commission and developing links with regional UN entities.

PACIFIC SUBREGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING REPORT

On Thursday evening, 21 July 2011, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, opened the meeting. He underscored the need to usher in “transformational change,” ensuring that owners of natural capital are not short-changed or dispossessed in efforts to make economic progress. Tuilaepa said Samoa aimed to be carbon neutral by 2020, highlighted the need for Pacific countries to receive an equitable share of marine resources, and stressed the need for the close engagement of finance, fisheries and environment ministers to achieve green growth.  

Fa’amoetauloa Ulaitino Faale Tumaalii, Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, Samoa, introduced the agenda of the meeting, and participants adopted the proposed agenda without amendment. 

THE RIO+20 PROCESS EXPLAINED

On Friday, UNCSD Secretary-General Sha Zukang, via video message, expressed hope that small island developing states (SIDS) would shed light on the changes necessary to improve regional institutional arrangements.

Hiroko Morita-Lou, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), provided an overview of the UNCSD preparatory process, highlighting its main objective: to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges.

She explained the purpose of this meeting, in her view, was to: raise awareness among SIDS of the Rio+20 process, provide an opportunity for advocacy for SIDS causes, and to articulate SIDS’ priorities; and to mainstream SIDS issues into regional and global negotiations.

Highlighting the outcomes of the Caribbean and AIMS subregional meetings, Morita-Lou said that the Caribbean meeting recommended, inter alia: collecting and disseminating successful models and case studies of green economy initiatives; reviewing existing coordination mechanisms, including exploring the potential of SIDSnet; and promoting partnerships. She said the AIMS meeting recommended, inter alia: that the blue economy be considered as an integral part of the green economy; the development of a coordinated approach to access sustainable financing; and the institutionalization of a regional IFSD in the AIMS region.

Morita-Lou said the deadline for contributions to the global compilation text for Rio+20 was 1 November 2011. She also noted that a working level meeting is scheduled to convene between New York based SIDS representatives to take stock of the three subregional meetings, in advance of the interregional ministerial level meeting, scheduled in New York from 23-24 September. 

Kosi Latu, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), discussed the Pacific preparations for Rio+20. He noted that Nauru is leading the process in New York and outlined technical support provided by the CROP agencies.

Neroni Slade, Secretary-General, Pacific Islands Forum, cautioned that SIDS do not have a monopoly on the term “vulnerability.” Reflecting on Rio+20, he said the process should be led by its objective, to review what was agreed at the Rio Earth Summit, and assess progress, as opposed to the themes of green economy and IFSD. 

In the ensuing discussion, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) noted that the themes of Rio+20 were agreed by the General Assembly, and that the meeting’s agenda was informed by this. Nauru suggested that technical support should be available to New York based ambassadors in the lead up to Rio+20. SPREP highlighted support provided to ambassadors on the establishment of a green fund, and said the CROP agencies stand ready to provide further technical support. DESA noted that the inter-regional SIDS meeting scheduled to convene in September was planning to make provision for the attendance of one minister and one technical person per delegation. 

GREEN ECONOMY IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ERADICATION

The session, chaired by Kieren Keke, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Finance, Nauru, addressed the first theme of Rio+20, examining how the Pacific can move into a green economy by fostering growth that promotes sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Iosefa Maiava, ESCAP, reported some of the discussions from the open forum immediately preceding the Ministerial Meeting, which noted the need for practical implementation of green growth on the ground through information and knowledge- sharing mechanisms. He outlined the pathways of green growth, which he said included: investing in natural capital; sustainable consumption and production; sustainable infrastructure; and greening businesses and markets. He underscored the imbalances that persist in development due to the misallocation of capital, where labor and financial capital is valued, but natural resources and social capital are undervalued. He noted the open forum suggestions of: undertaking national country analyses; the development of a Pacific green growth roadmap; developing enabling frameworks; and fiscal and budgetary reforms.

Feturi Elisaia, Pacific Small Island Developing States Group, noted the need for a strategic approach to the Rio+20 meeting, suggesting that the Pacific submit only two or three proposals to ensure their inclusion in the Rio+20 outcomes. Elisaia called on participants to lobby their leaders to endorse blue economy in the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, convening from 6-9 September, the outcomes of which will then be presented to the UN General Assembly in September. 

A panel presentation followed. Henry Puna, Prime Minister and Minister for Environment, Cook Islands, underscored the value of responsible tourism practices, which he said contribute to the protection of natural resources in the Cook Islands. He encouraged the region to agree to a definition of the green economy in the blue world, in order to present a clear and effective Pacific voice to the Rio+20 discussions.

Amberoti Nikora, Minister for Environment, Kiribati, supported by Palau, called for a regional support on efforts to ban shark fishing and finning, noting the importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem. He highlighted his government’s efforts in the protection of marine ecosystems, noting the harvesting of marine resources, and the ongoing scientific studies conducted in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area.

La Mamea Ropati, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Samoa, stressed the need for the international community to recognize practical implementation in the region through direct financing and budgetary support for ocean related programmes. Taholo Kami, IUCN, discussed future implications on the green economy as a result of current investment decisions.

In the ensuing discussion, New Caledonia introduced “One Tree, One Day, One Life,” a national tree planting initiative in New Caledonia, and recommended that the Pacific adopt the idea as a symbolic regional approach to sustainable development. Tuvalu and Marshall Islands supported the suggestion.

Niue and Solomon Islands suggested focusing on the reasons for slow progress in the past 20 years, and communicating the lessons learned.

Tokelau reiterated the need to use scientific evidence on ocean impacts to lobby for support for loss and damages.

Tonga supported the idea of a roadmap to achieving a green economy. The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) questioned the necessity of a Pacific Rio+20 roadmap noting there is possible duplication with elements of the Pacific Plan. ESCAP clarified that a roadmap can be facilitated by the CROP Sustainable Development Working Group only if it is approved and proposed by the region.

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Mark Brown, Minister of Finance, Cook Islands, chaired the session on IFSD on Friday afternoon.

David Smith, ESCAP, noted that all Pacific SIDS have national sustainable development strategies, but that vulnerability of SIDS is increasing, while coping capacity of SIDS is decreasing. Kevin Thomson, PIFS, highlighted the need for new funds for Pacific Island countries (PICs) to respond to climate change and suggested direct budgetary support and national trust funds as favorable modalities. He underscored the importance of strengthening implementing agency capacity in the region, exemplifying the importance of SPREP becoming an accredited implementing agency for climate adaptation funds. Sefanaia Nawadra, SPREP, presented on partnerships that originated as outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. He stressed the importance of partnering with actors outside the region, and of developing new partnerships.   

In the panel discussion, Faumuina Liuga, Minister of Finance, Samoa, urged delegates to “walk the talk,” noting the amount of paper used during the meeting. He expressed concern at development funds being eaten up by middle men, and urged delegates to speak up and make efforts to prevent this. 

Don Farrell, Australia, briefed delegates on Australia’s plans for a carbon tax, noting the tax is aimed at the country’s 500 biggest polluters. Noting that 100% of carbon tax revenue would be returned to Australian households, he said the aim of the tax was to change attitudes and perceptions of Australians.

Tamara Levine, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), explained that the OECD has tool kits on financing for green growth, which it can tailor to each region. She urged delegates to consider the possibilities of raising revenue from mineral exploration and extraction rights within their exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and suggested PICs auction such rights to promote competition. 

In the ensuing discussion, Niue suggested instituting a “money park” for the Pacific region, to help PICs access funding efficiently and avoid bureaucracy. Supporting this, the Cook Islands underscored the need for simplified access to available finance. The Marshall Islands acknowledged that there may be funding pledged, but that means of accessing it is unclear.

France noted its current chairmanship of the G20, and that the G20 Summit, scheduled for November, would consider Rio+20. She noted that France’s preference to use Rio+20 to reform institutions, underscoring her country’s wish to reinforce the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), proposing that UNEP be given more authority on capacity building, and financing for agreements on protection of the environment.    

On partnerships, Tokelau noted only three of the 14 WSSD partnerships were reported on by SPREP, and questioned the status of the remaining eleven partnerships. Noting that SPREP is proposing partnerships on sustainable development and green growth, the Solomon Islands suggested enhancing the WSSD partnerships, as opposed to creating new ones.

Citing donors’ burdensome co-financing demands, the Cook Islands said his country would prefer direct budgetary support over discrete projects. Supporting Minister Liuga, he suggested clarifying the role of the CROP agencies, and cutting out the middle man. The Federated States of Micronesia appealed to CROP agencies implementing projects to minimize administrative costs, thereby allowing more money to flow to projects in countries. Papua New Guinea stressed the need for a regional endowment fund to move beyond the current piece-meal approach to sustainable development.  

CONCLUDING SESSION

Opening the closing session, ESCAP noted it would record the key messages of the meeting and proposed to distribute the outcome document and recommendations to PICs and CROP agencies for comment via email. The session was then suspended at 4:01 pm to allow information consultations on the way forward.

At 4:25 pm, Fa’amoetauloa Ulaitino Faale Tumaalii, Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, Samoa, reopened and chaired, the closing session.

ESCAP summarized key recommendations of the report (Rio+20/Pacific/2011/4-1/Draft).

After several interventions by countries on the need to provide feedback on the recommendations, and the lack of time to provide this during the meeting, ESCAP suggested that the outcomes document be finalized by email. 

DESA clarified that the preparatory meeting for SIDS with New York representation is scheduled to convene from 1-2 August. ESCAP highlighted the need for the outcome document to be approved and available at the SIDS preparatory meeting. Fa’amoetauloa concurred and advised participants to send responses and comments on the document within seven days.

The Marshall Islands reiterated the need for the adoption of the outcome document only “in principle” until PICs had an opportunity to respond. Fa’amoetauloa then proposed to adopt the outcome document in principle, and delegates agreed. 

Draft Outcome: Participants agreed in principle to the draft outcome document (Rio+20/Pacific/2011/4-1/Draft), and to the following recommendations:

On the green economy in a blue world the Pacific subregion recommends, inter alia:

• the development of a regional green growth roadmap to support implementation of the sustainable development pillar in the Pacific Plan, which should prominently feature the conservation and sustainable management of all marine and ocean resources, as well as terrestrial resources;
• the completion of national country analyses to form the basis of country-specific strategies for greening economies;
• enabling policy, legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks to be developed in order for green growth strategies to be pursued, as part of national macro-economic and structural reform policies, as well as law reform; and
• fiscal and budget reform should aim to harmonize the imperatives of environmental sustainability, social inclusiveness and economic growth.

On strengthening the regional IFSD, the Pacific subregion recommends, inter alia:

• National sustainable development strategies should be retained as the basis for developing and implementing sustainable development policies within a green growth paradigm;
• Pacific SIDS volunteer for the Forum Compact Peer Review process as a means of diagnosing problems with policy development, planning, budgeting and aid management;
• taking steps to review and, where relevant, revitalize partnerships that have not been active;
• respective mandates of international, regional and subregional organizations be fully respected and maximum collaboration and cooperation emphasized; and 
• the exploration of the development of a web-based platform with detailed descriptions of projects and activities in need of financing in the region for donors to access.

The document also includes a call to the international community to accept that it bears the moral responsibility and, in turn, the financial burden, for mitigation and adaptation.

In his closing remarks, Fa’amoetauloa stated the meeting had not achieved its objectives, but expressed hope that the recommendations would be finalized and endorsed via email by 1 August. Fa’amoetauloa then thanked participants, presenters and the organizers, and closed the meeting at 4:49 pm.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

14th Pacific Islands Roundtable Annual Meeting: This meeting will be attended by a coalition of conservation organizations and donor agencies, and aims to increase effective conservation action in the Pacific Island Region. dates: 25-29 July 2011  location: Nadi, Fiji contact: Etika Rupeni email: Etika.rupeni@fspi.org.fj  www: http://www.pbif.org/RT/events.html

Cartagena Dialogue: The fifth meeting of the Cartagena Group/Dialogue for Progressive Action on climate financing will take place in Apia, Samoa. dates: 26-27 July 2011  location: Apia, Samoa  contact: Climate Change Division, Samoa Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment  phone: +685-238-00 email: anne.rasmussen@mnre.gov www: http://www.mnre.gov.ws/

Preparatory Meeting for the UNCSD Inter-Regional Preparatory Meeting for SIDS: This is a working level meeting for New York based SIDS representatives to take stock of the three subregional meetings in advance of the interregional ministerial level meeting, scheduled to convene in September 2011.  dates: 1-2 August 2011  location: UN Headquarters, New York  contact: Hiro Morita-Lou, DESA  phone: +1-212-963-8813  fax: +1-212-963-4260 email:morita-lou@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org

Pacific UNCCD Pre-COP 10 Meeting: The objectives for this meeting are to: provide an opportunity for Pacific countries to reach a consensus on common positions; enhance negotiation skills of country delegates; to develop a strategy for effective participation at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification; and to develop a “One Pacific Voice” at COP 10 through side events and exhibitions showcasing success stories and sustainable land management. dates: 29 August - 2 September 2011  location: Apia, Samoa  contact: Theresa Fruean, SPREP  phone: +685-21929  fax: +685-20231  email: theresaf@sprep.org www: http://www.sprep.org/att/publication/001044_Cir_11_46.pdf

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting: The 42nd Meeting of the Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum will be held in Auckland, New Zealand. dates: 6-9 September 2011  location: Auckland, New Zealand  contact: Rodney Lelieveld, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade  phone: +64-4-439-8175  email: Rodney.Lelieveld@mfat.govt.nz  www: http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Foreign-Relations/Pacific/PIF-2011/0-pif-2011-index.php

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting for Latin American and Caribbean: This meeting, hosted by the UN Economic Commission for the Latin American and Caribbean Region (ECLAC), will be held in preparation for the UNCSD. dates: 7-9 September 2011  location: Santiago, Chile  contact: ECLAC  phone: +56-2-471-2000  fax: +56-2-208-0252  email: rio20@cepal.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26 or http://www.eclac.cl/rio20

High-Level Symposium on the UN Conference on Sustainable Development: This High-Level Symposium is being organized by the UNCSD Secretariat and China, and is intended to provide an opportunity for in-depth discussions among government officials, experts, and representatives from the UN system and Major Groups, on the objective and two themes of the UNCSD, with a view to formulating concrete proposals as a contribution to the preparation of the Conference. dates: 8-9 September 2011  location: Beijing, China contact: Isabelle Mckusick  phone: +917-367-3269  email:mckusick@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?page=view&type=13&nr=334&menu=50  

22nd SPREP Meeting of Officials: This meeting will consider, inter alia: institutional reform and strategic issues; a study on options for establishing a sub-regional presence for SPREP; strategic financial issues; and the 2011 work programme and budget.  dates: 13-15 September 2011  location: Apia, Samoa  contact: SPREP  phone: +685-21929  fax: +685-20231 email: sprep@sprep.org www: http://www.sprep.org/2011SM22/index.htm#ministerseng

GSP 4: The fourth meeting of the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP 4) will take place in New York, on the margins of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly. dates: 18-19 September 2011  location: UN Headquarters, New York  contact: GSP Secretariat  phone: +1-917-367-4207  email: gsp-secretariat@un.org www: http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/climatechange/pages/gsp

UNCSD Inter-Regional Preparatory Meeting for SIDS: This meeting will be held in New York in preparation for the UNCSD. dates: 23-24 September 2011  location: UN Headquarters, New York  contact: Hiro Morita-Lou, DESA phone: +1-212-963-8813  fax: +1-212-963-4260  email:morita-lou@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26

Conference on the Green Economy and Sustainable Development: Bringing Back the Social Dimension: The UN Research Institute for Social Development will host this conference that will examine the social impacts and distributional consequences of policies and processes associated with green economy; the potential and limits of structural and institutional change; and the agency and social mobilization for institutional and policy change.  dates: 10-11 October 2011  location: Geneva, Switzerland  contact: Kiah Smith, UNRISD email: smith@unrisd.org www: http://www.unrisd.org/

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting for Africa: The UN Economic Commission for Africa and partners will convene an African regional preparatory meeting for the UNCSD. dates: 10-14 October 2011  location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email:uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26

Sharing Green Economy Best Practices Towards Rio+20: The Polish Ministry of the Environment is organizing a high-level conference aimed at consultation between EU member states and key countries in the process of preparing for the Rio+20 conference.  date: 11 October 2011  location: Warsaw, Poland  contact: Agnieszka Kozłowska-Korbicz (Ministry of the Environment)  phone: +48-22-57-92-855  email: agnieszka.kozlowska-korbicz@mos.gov.pl  www: http://pl2011.eu/en/content/sharing-green-economy-best-practices-towards-rio20?mini=calendar%2F2011-10

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting in the Arab Region: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and partners will convene an Arab regional meeting in preparation for the UNCSD. dates: 16-17 October 2011 location: Cairo, Egypt  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email:uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting in the Asia-Pacific Region: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and partners will convene a regional meeting in preparation for the UNCSD. dates: 19-20 October 2011 location: Seoul, Republic of Korea  contact: UNCSD Secretariat email:uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26  

UNEP FI Global Roundtable 2011: Organized by the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, this meeting will convene under the theme “The tipping point: Sustained stability in the next economy.” The 2011 Roundtable aims to provide a platform for the global financial sector to define what it expects to achieve at UNCSD. dates: 19-20 October 2011  location: Washington, DC  contact: Cecilia Serin  fax: +41-22-796-9240  email:roundtable@unepfi.org www: http://www.unepfi.org/washington

Bonn 2011 Conference: The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus: Solutions for the Green Economy: Organized by the German Government, this conference pursues two objectives: to develop cross-sector solutions for achieving water, energy and food security; and to position the interface of water, energy and food security within the discourse of the Rio+20 process and green economy.  dates: 16-18 November 2011  location: Bonn, Germany  contact: Ms. Imke Thiem, Secretariat  phone: +49-6196-79-1547 email: bonn.conference2011@giz.de www: http://www.water-energy-food.org/

High Level Expert Meeting on the Sustainable Use of Oceans: This meeting, to be hosted by Monaco, will take place in November.  dates: 28-30 November 2011  location: Monaco  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email:uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=50

UNCSD Regional Preparatory Meeting for ECE Region: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will convene a regional meeting in preparation for the UNCSD. dates: 1-2 December 2011  location: Geneva, Switzerland  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email:uncsd2012@un.org www:  http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=26

Second Intersessional Meeting for UNCSD: The second intersessional meeting for the UNCSD will be convened in late 2011.  dates: 15-16 December 2011  location: UN Headquarters, New York  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email: uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=25

Third Intersessional Meeting for UNCSD: The final intersessional meeting for the UNCSD will be convened in March 2012. dates: 26-27 March 2012  location: UN Headquarters, New York  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email: uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=25

Third PrepCom for UNCSD: The third meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the UNCSD will take place in Brazil just prior to the conference.  dates: 28-30 May 2012  location: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email: uncsd2012@un.org www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/

UN Conference on Sustainable Development: The UNCSD will mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, which convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  dates: 4-6 June 2012  location: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil  contact: UNCSD Secretariat  email: uncsd2012@un.org  www: http://www.uncsd2012.org/

This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © <enb@iisd.org> is written and edited by Melanie Ashton and Resson Kantai. The Editor is Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D. <pam@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The Sustaining Donors of the Bulletin are the Government of the United States of America (through the Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs), the Government of Canada (through CIDA), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the European Commission (DG-ENV), and the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea. General Support for the Bulletin during 2011 is provided by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Australia, the Ministry of Environment of Sweden, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SWAN International, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (through the Global Industrial and Social Progress Research Institute – GISPRI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Funding for translation of the Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government of France, the Belgium Walloon Region, the Province of Québec, and the International Organization of the Francophone (OIF and IEPF). The opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD or other donors. Excerpts from the Bulletin may be used in non-commercial publications with appropriate academic citation. For information on the Bulletin, including requests to provide reporting services, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at <kimo@iisd.org>, +1-646-536-7556 or 320 E 46th St., APT 32A, New York, NY10017-3037, USA.