Negotiating Bloc
Organization Economic Cooperation and Development
Content associated with Organization Economic Cooperation and Development
Daily report for 12 February 2020
10th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF10)
Summary report 8–13 February 2020
10th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF10)
Highlights and images for 27 November 2019
23rd Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 23) and 11th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions (WG8J 11)
Highlights for Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Ilham Atho Mohamed, Maldives, chairing the morning session
Delegates to the 23rd meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 23) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) met in plenary throughout the day to address sustainable wildlife management, technical and scientific cooperation, ecologically or biologically significant marine areas in the North-East Atlantic, and new and emerging issues. On sustainable wildlife management, Kristina Rodina, FAO, Secretary of the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW), urged parties to address the root causes of over-exploitation of wildlife and to recognize the contribution of sustainable wildlife management to sustainable livelihoods and local economic prosperity. Carolina Behe-Harris, Inuit Circumpolar Council, pleaded for the rights, values, practices, and traditions of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) to be accurately reflected in the post-2020 process. Parties noted the importance of the sustainable use of biodiversity in wildlife management; the need to tackle illegal wildlife trade; national efforts to promote sustainable wildlife management; and the need for multidisciplinary collaboration among relevant fora. Many parties also highlighted the importance of scientific and technical cooperation for the implementation of the post-2020 framework. They also requested additional information on the budgetary and operational consequences of a range of options regarding relevant institutional mechanisms and modalities. A number of African countries underscored the need to meaningfully address digital sequence information and potential benefit-sharing arising from its use in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. An engaged discussion took place under the agenda item on new and emerging issues. While the long-standing discussion on whether synthetic biology fulfils the criteria for new and emerging issues attracted some attention, delegates also exchanged ideas on a suggestion regarding “open environmental transformation technologies," the open-air use of nucleic acids and proteins to alter traits, genes, or other kinds of genetic material. In the evening, delegates met in a contact group, co-chaired by Anne Teller (EU) and Jorge Murillo (Colombia), to discuss elements for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. They considered possible target themes and elements, including biodiversity and conservation outcomes, direct drivers, and the use and value of nature.For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB).
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from WG8J 11 and SBSTTA 23. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meetings in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Carolina Behe-Harris, Inuit Circumpolar Council
Kristina Rodina, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
Adams Toussaint, St Lucia
Caridad Canales, CBD Secretariat
Naeem Ashraf Raja, Pakistan
From L-R: Alexander Shestakov, CBD Secretariat; Ilham Atho Mohamed, Maldives; and Sarat Babu Gidda, CBD Secretariat
Reinhard Schnidrig, Switzerland
Larbi Sbaï, Morocco
Angel Onofa, Ecuador
Mosimanegape Nthaka, Botswana
John Clorley, UK
Bun Heng Sok, Cambodia
Faisal Shuraim, Saudi Arabia
Delegates from Like-Minded Mega Diverse countries, conferring during the lunch break.
Adem Bilgin, Turkey, and Jerry Harrison, UN Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
SBSTTA 23 Chair Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, and Katia Karousakis, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
El Khitma El Awad Mohammed, Sudan
Geneviève Lalumière, International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC)
Simon Nemtzov, Israel
Ruth Spencer, Barnes Hill Community Development Organization
Jessica Carvajal, Colombia
Gono Semiadi, Indonesia
Genene Tefera Belihu, Ethiopia
Shirin Karryeva, Turkmenistan
Room view during the contact group
Around the Venue
Daily report for 12 November 2019
World Congress of United Cities and Local Governments and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders
Highlights and images for 16 October 2019
Budapest Water Summit (BWS) 2019
Highlights for Wednesday, 16 October 2019
Participants enjoy a cultural programme in the evening
The 2019 Budapest Water Summit resumed on Wednesday. Throughout the day, participants attended four sessions to continue discussing water crises, bringing together ministers and high-level representatives from Turkey, Switzerland, Uganda, and China, as well as representatives from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), multilateral development banks, international research centers, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), and national water utilities, among others. Hungarian President János Áder attended the science discussion in the afternoon.During the sessions, participants heard keynotes followed by panel discussions on:
Water Stress and Migration - Is There a Way to Prevent Crisis?
What is Needed for Doubling Investments?
Technology to Avoid Water Crises - What is Missing?
Science Against Water Crises - Do We Know Enough?
On water stress and migration, panelists discussed water infrastructure for refugees, water risk modeling, the water cycle, and new models for economic development. Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Turkey, highlighted the significant investments made to upgrade water and sanitation infrastructure in refugee host cities and provinces, underlining that Turkey hosts the largest refugee population in the world.Nizar Zaied, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), linked migration movements and water scarcity hotspots, stressing the importance of mobilizing resources to reduce vulnerabilities of populations at risk for environmentally-induced migration. On investments for water security, panelists discussed challenges to link financiers to implementing agencies.Diverging views on subsidies added depth to the panel. Andreas Proksch, GIZ, opined that subsidies are necessary to achieve the sustainable development goal on water (SDG 6), while Prithvi Raj Singh, Jal Bhagirathi Foundation, worried that doubling investment in water leads to increased water resource exploitation. To support water investments, David Tyler, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, discussed the Green Cities programme as an example of a collaborative approach and Ákos Szalai, Head of Department, National Bank of Hungary, described the potential for central banks to use green bond portfolios.On technology in water crises, discussions focused on: tools for water efficiency; translating data to action and technology into practice; integrated systems; and the need for increased interdisciplinary work. Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda, identified the need for water efficiency, and encouraged investment and promotion of a number of technologies.Noting that 40% of WMO members lack established flood forecasting and warning services, Johannes Cullman, WMO, highlighted the World Water Data Initiative and making the human right to water access more prominent.Regarding science in water crises, intense discussion involved the role of science in: developing and communicating relevant knowledge to solve water challenges; assisting decision makers to manage competing interests; and enhancing monitoring of the SDGs.Charles Vörösmarty, City University of New York, set the stage for understanding scientific gaps in SDG 6, outlining “next generation” products to address those gaps.Claudia Sadoff, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), discussed research priorities, particularly in agriculture, climate and economic growth.A series of side events and a Digital and Nature-based Sustainable Solutions Expo took place in parallel to the Summit. In the evening, participants attended a reception and cultural programme at the Millenáris Park Conference Center.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ meeting coverage, provided daily digital coverage and daily reports from BWS 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary report in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Session 4: Water Stress and Mass Migration – Is There a Way to Prevent Crisis?
L-R: Moderator Ahmet Mete Saatçi, President, Turkish Water Institute; Nizar Zaied, IsDB; Wambui Gichuri, African Development Bank (AfDB); Charles Iceland, World Resources Institute (WRI); Isidro González, UfM; and Ciarán Ó Cuinn, Director, Middle East Desalination Research Centre (MEDRC)
Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Turkey
Nizar Zaied, IsDB
Wambui Gichuri, AfDB
Bai-Mass Taal, Former Executive Secretary, African Ministers’ Council on Water, asks a question to the panel
Session 5: What Is Needed for Doubling Investments?
L-R: Moderator Xavier Leflaive, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Miguel da Moura, National Agency for Water Sanitation (ANAS), Cape Verde; Pierre Victoria, Véolia; Ákos Szalai, National Bank of Hungary; David Tyler, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); Andreas Proksch, GIZ; Prithvi Raj Singh, Jal Bhagirathi Foundation; Pio Wennubst, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN Rome-based agencies; and Nikolay Kosov, International Investment Bank (IIB)
Miguel da Moura, ANAS, Cape Verde
Pierre Victoria, Véolia
Session 6: Technology to Avoid Water Crises – What is Missing?
L-R: Moderator Carlo Giupponi, Dean, Venice International University; Johannes Cullman, WMO; Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda; Joe Manous, US Army Corps of Engineers; István Kenyeres, Biopolus; Giovanni De Santi, Joint Research Centre, European Commission (EC); and Pierre Victoria, Véolia
Johannes Cullman, WMO
Henk Holtslag, The SMART Centre Group
Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda
Session 7: Science Against Water Crises: Do we Know Enough?
L-R: Moderator János Bogárdi, University of Bonn; Charles Vörösmarty, City University of New York; Claudia Sadoff, IWMI; Taikan Oki, UN University, and Assistant, UN Secretary-General; Robert Varady, University of Arizona; and Klement Tockner, Austrian Science Fund
Claudia Sadoff, IWMI
Charles Vörösmarty, City University of New York
Zhang Zhongyi, Ministry of Water Resources, China
János Áder, President of Hungary, listens to panelists
Around the Venue
A view of the BWS 2019 Digital and Nature-based Sustainable Solutions Expo
A view of the venue
Daily report for 16 October 2019
Budapest Water Summit (BWS) 2019
Highlights and images for 15 October 2019
Budapest Water Summit (BWS) 2019
Highlights for Tuesday, 15 October 2019
Budapest-based modern circus company, Recirquel, opened BWS 2019 with a mesmerizing water-themed performance.
The third Budapest Water Summit opened in Budapest, Hungary on Tuesday to a mesmerizing water-themed dance performance by the Budapest-based and world-renowned modern circus company, Recirquel.Hungarian President János Áder gave opening remarks. He stressed that technologies are needed to mitigate and adapt to emerging water crises. Among the country’s successes, he noted Hungary has built over 4,200 kilometers of dykes, as well as water reservoirs to manage floods, and its investments in water quality mean that “rivers leaving our country are cleaner than when they arrive.”Samdech Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister, discussed joint approaches and implementation mechanisms to promote cooperation and water security at regional and global levels.Via video message, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres expressed support to the Summit’s objective, noting that water is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and pointed to the UN’s commitment to pursue the human right to water. UN-Water Chair and International Fund for Agricultural Development President, Gilbert Houngbo, stressed the need for new political momentum and a transformational shift in how we value water.Jin Liqun, President, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), said water disasters cost the Asian economy US$360 billion per year, and reported that AIIB is developing a water strategy to guide the investment sector.Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation, India, reported that water security is at the center of India’s development agenda, and underlined efforts to decentralize water governance and a campaign to “make water everyone’s business.”In the morning and afternoon, participants attended three sessions that brought together ministers and high-level representatives from Ghana, Jordan, Slovakia, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Slovenia as well as representatives of the EU and African Union (AU), multilateral development banks, the World Bank Group, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), among others, to discuss water crises. During the sessions, participants heard keynotes followed by panel discussions on:
Can Water Crises Be Prevented?
Value of Water vs. Costs of a Water Crisis - Are we Talking About the Same?
Water Crises - What is the Economically Rational Behavior?
On crises prevention, discussions included: technology to improve efficiency, promoting water as a tool for peace, behavior change via education of youth, investment that builds resilience, tiered pricing systems, and transboundary water governance. On water valuation and costs of crises, panelists raised a number of topics, including: reducing water consumption, valuing water at the individual level, access to water as a human right, local water governance, unlocking funding for water investment, building synergies such as the water-energy-climate nexus, and multistakeholder initiatives to address pollution.On economically rational behavior in water crises, discussion focused on how to deal with complexities in policy processes and the financial sector, including: voluntary agreements, economic incentives and models for integrated water resources management, flood forecasting and early warning systems, and risk assessments.A series of side events took place in parallel with the Summit. In the evening, participants attended a cultural programme and reception at the Palace of the Arts.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ meeting coverage, provided daily digital coverage and daily reports from BWS 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary report in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Inauguration Session
Zsófia Tomaj, Master of Ceremonies
János Áder, President of Hungary
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, addressed participants via a video message.
Gilbert Houngbo, UN-Water Chair and IFAD President
Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister, Cambodia
Jin Liqun, AIIB President
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation, India
Press Conference
János Áder, President of Hungary, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation, India, addressing a press conference following the opening of the Summit.
The media at BWS 2019
Session 1 - Can Water Crises Be Prevented?
L-R: Moderator Bai-Mass Taal, Former Executive Secretary, African Ministers’ Council on Water; Raed Abu Al-Saud, Minister of Water and Irrigation, Jordan; Norbert Kurilla, Ministry of Environment, Slovak; Youssef Filali-Meknassi, UNESCO; Li Yong, UNIDO Director General; Rodolfo Lacy, OECD; and Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ghana
Moderator Bai-Mass Taal, Former Executive Secretary, African Ministers’ Council on Water
Raed Abu Al-Saud, Minister of Water and Irrigation, Jordan
Session 2: Value of Water vs. Costs of a Water Crisis – Are We Talking About the Same?
L-R: Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, South Africa; Ahmat Awad Sakine, Permanent Representative of the AU to the EU; Pio Wennubst, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), IFAD and the World Food Programme (WFP); Frank Rijsberman, Director General, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI); Moderator Aaron Salzberg, Director, Water Institute, University of North Carolina; Olcay Ünver, Vice Chair, UN-Water; Elisabeth van Duin, Director, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands; and Rochi Khemka, 2030 Water Resources Group
Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, South Africa
Ahmat Awad Sakine, Permanent Representative of the AU to the EU
Session 3: Water Crises – What is the Economically Rational Behaviour?
L-R: Martin Frick, Senior Director, Policy and Programme Coordination, UNFCCC Secretariat; Jennifer Sara, Global Director, Water Global Practice, World Bank Group; Simon Zajc, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Slovenia; Monika Weber-Fahr, Executive Secretary, Global Water Partnership (GWP); Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman, The Jospong Group; Ciarán Ó Cuinn, Director, Middle East Desalination Research Center; Karine Méasson, Head of Water Management Division, European Investment Bank (EIB); and Moderator María Concepción Donoso, Institute for Water and Environment, Florida International University, and Member of the International Programme and Drafting Committee of BWS 2019
Martin Frick, Senior Director, Policy and Programme Coordination, UNFCCC Secretariat
Jennifer Sara, Global Director, Water Global Practice, World Bank Group
Around the Venue
Summary report 15–17 October 2019
Budapest Water Summit (BWS) 2019
Daily report for 15 October 2019
Budapest Water Summit (BWS) 2019
Highlights and images for 10 October 2019
15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF)
Highlights for Thursday, 10 October 2019
Alexander Medina, IGF Executive Committee Chair
On the final day of the AGM, Council members met in the morning to elect a new Executive Committee. Delegates participated in future-oriented discussions about the changing nature of work, “green mines,” and changes to resource taxation spurred by the digital economy.Delegates noted the current negotiations within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), which could affect the tax revenue collected by mining countries. Other topics addressed during the day included the need for reskilling workers in mining communities, and the promise of business opportunities in reprocessing of old mine tailings and restoration of ecosystems damaged by previous mining activities. During lunchtime, Francophone African countries discussed Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM), and Latin American countries consulted on common challenges and commitments in implementing International Labour Organization (ILO) provisions for prior consultation with indigenous peoples. In closing remarks, Yanchun Zhang, Chief, Commodity Policy Implementation and Outreach Section, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), expressed appreciation for the discussions, stating that UNCTAD had also benefited from the intellectual exchanges during the AGM, in view of the broad scope of mining impacts on development.Greg Radford, Director, IGF, announced the new Executive Committee. Delegates welcomed incoming Chair Rokhaya Samba Diene, Senegal, and expressed appreciation to outgoing Chair Alexander Medina, Dominican Republic, for his work. Radford urged all to participate in the consultations on the draft guidance document for governments on environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs), and announced that the Council had voted that the next guidance document to be produced will cover environmental management. Noting that this had also been the largest AGM to date, with more than 500 delegates registered, Radford announced that the 16th AGM will be held 9-13 November 2020. The AGM closed at 5.07 pm. It will be followed by a one-day technical workshop on Friday.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ meeting coverage, has provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, and a summary report from the 2019 AGM. The summary report is available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Closing Plenary
From L-R: Nathalie Bernasconi, Senior Director, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD); Greg Radford, Director, IGF Secretariat; Alexander Medina, IGF Executive Committee Chair; and Yanchun Zhang, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Greg Radford, Director, IGF Secretariat
Yanchun Zhang, UNCTAD
The Future of Work
From L-R: Jörgen Sandström, World Economic Forum (WEF); Casper Edmonds, International Labour Organization (ILO); Aaron Cosbey, IGF Secretariat; Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL; Nicky Black, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM); and Zainab Usman, World Bank
Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL, with Nicky Black, ICMM
Casper Edmonds, ILO, with Aaron Cosbey, IGF Secretariat
Jörgen Sandström, WEF
Zainab Usman, World Bank
Green Mine of the Future: Mining and the Restoration Agenda
From L-R: Matthew Bliss, IGF Secretariat; Richard Kofi Adjei, Ghana; Victor Santoni, Pan Asia Fund Management; Estelle Levin-Nally, Founder and CEO, Levin Sources; Steve D'Esposito, President and CEO, RESOLVE; and Olivier Demierre, MKS Switzerland
Estelle Levin-Nally, Founder and CEO, Levin Sources
Victor Santoni, Panasia Fund Management
Steve D'Esposito, President and CEO, RESOLVE, and Olivier Demierre, MKS Switzerland
Breaking Barriers to Mining Revenue Collection
From L-R: Andrew Gunua, Papua New Guinea; Bevon Sinclair, Jamaica; Mary Baine, African Tax Administration Forum; Spyton Phiri, Zambia; and Alexander Medina, Dominican Republic
Mary Baine, African Tax Administration Forum
Spyton Phiri, Zambia
New Tech: The Green Mines of Tomorrow
From L-R: Janice Zinck, Canada; Edwin Ritchken, Ritchken Consulting; Richard Morgan, Anglo American; and Aaron Cosbey, IGF Secretariat
Edwin Ritchken, Ritchken Consulting
Janice Zinck, Canada
Resource Taxation in a Changing World
From L-R: Ann-Maree Wolff, Rio Tinto; Alexandra Readhead, IGF Secretariat; Thomas Lassourd, Natural Resource Governance Institute; Margaret Moonga Chikuba, Zambia; and Norman Wingen, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Alexandra Readhead, IGF Secretariat
Norman Wingen, OECD
Around the Venue
Family photo of the new Executive Committee. From L-R: Carmen Hagenaars, Netherlands; Dione Macedo, Brazil; Ayasgalan Molor, Mongolia; Rokhaya Samba Diene, Senegal; Hilary Morgan, Canada; and Vincent Kedi, Uganda
Greg Radford, Director, IGF Secretariat and Tom Butler, CEO, ICMM
Participants conversing after the end of a session
The Guinean delegation
Photo exhibition with display of artifacts used in small-scale mining, part of the Golden Line Programme