Promoting the exchange of information on the legal, administrative and policy aspects of environmental conservation and sustainable development
A service of the International Council of Environmental Law -toward sustainable development - (ICEL)
A service of the International Council of Environmental Law - toward sustainable development - (ICEL)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Alps: Land Management
The current issue Alpine Research is running a feature on land management. Questions raised by the authors include what instruments are available to Alpine local authorities for land management and for weighing up private and public interests? Are new legal instruments required or a better co-operation between local authorities and the regions?
Challenges for Mountian Regions: New Publication
The Institute for Mountain Research at Innsbruck University (Austria) has published a book on man and the environment in mountain areas titled: Challenges for Mountain Regions - Tackling Complexity. Besides the Alps it also examines mountain areas in the Andes and Patagonia.
IUCN: Eastern Himalaya Freshwater Ecosystems
A recent study carried out by IUCN and Zoo Outreach Organisation, entitled "The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalaya," emphasized the need for extensive new research on freshwater species in the Eastern Himalaya region.
Report "World Economic Situation and Prospects 2011"
The UN has launched a report fiding that fiscal policies, in tandem with income and structural policies, will need to be reoriented to foster job creation and green growth.
Botwana: Judgement on Kalahari Bushmen's access to water
Survival International reports an important victory for the Kalahari bushmen in Botswana in their court case involving the right to water.
In a momentous decision, Botswana’s Court of Appeal today quashed a ruling that denied the Kalahari Bushmen access to water on their ancestral lands.
With support from Survival, the Bushmen appealed a 2010 High Court judgment that prevented them from accessing a well which they rely on for water. The panel of five Appeal Court judges has found that:
· the Bushmen have the right to use their old borehole, which the government had banned them from using
· the Bushmen have the right to sink new boreholes
· the government’s conduct towards the Bushmen amounted to ‘degrading treatment’.
· the government must pay the Bushmen’s costs in bringing the appeal.
The full text of the final appellate judgement can be found at: http://assets.survivalinternational.org/documents/545/bushmen-water-appeal-judgement-jan-2011.pdf
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Instrument on Mercury: 2nd session of the INC
The 2nd session of the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC) to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury agreed to negotiate the new treaty based on an elements paper prepared by the Secretariat (UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/INC.2/3), and offered initial responses to the paper element-by-element. By the end of the week-long meeting, delegates had achieved a full first reading of the elements paper, and mandated the Secretariat to prepare a new draft text, taking into account discussions at INC-2, for further negotiation at INC-3, scheduled to convene in October 2011.
Further information and documentation available at: http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Mercury/Negotiations/INC2/tabid/3468/Default.aspx
Further information and documentation available at: http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Mercury/Negotiations/INC2/tabid/3468/Default.aspx
Thursday, January 27, 2011
FAO/COFI: 29th Session
The 29th session of the FAO Council's Committee on Fisheries (COFI) will take place from 31 January - 4 February 2011, in Rome (Italy). Further Information
LDC-IV: PrepCom-1
The 1st session of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 4th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV) took place from 10-14 January 2011, at UN/HQ. The meeting adopted the draft report of its session (A/CONF.219/IPC/L.1). Conference Website
The second PrepCom will take place from 4-8 April 2011.
LDC-IV will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, from 9-13 May 2011.
The second PrepCom will take place from 4-8 April 2011.
LDC-IV will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, from 9-13 May 2011.
EU Protected Area Network Enlarged
The network of protected areas of the EU - Natura 2000 - has been enlarged to include 739 new sites covering nearly 27,000 square kilometres with more than half of the area added comprising marine sites, mainly in France, Denmark and Spain. More Details
UNDP: Biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean
A new UNDP report titled "Latin America and the Caribbean: A Biodiversity Superpower" aims to inform policy-makers and businesses about the economic risks and opportunities of undertaking productive activities that impact on and are influenced by biodiversity and ecosystem services. It is a tool to assist governments and stakeholders in analyzing the role of ecosystem services in order to incorporate these services into economic planning, policy and investment at the sectoral level.
FAO: Forests and Climate Change in the Near East
FAO has released a Working Paper with several recommendations, including: establishing a regional network of pilot projects on forest adaptation measures; developing more flexible policies and legal frameworks to restore and adapt communal management systems and forest property regimes; and developing effective forest landscape restoration and afforestation plans. It further recommends that climate change adaptation and mitigation be integrated in all development strategies and policies.
CBD: Guidance for 5th National Report
The CBD Secretariat has issued a notification encouraging Parties to initiate work as early as possible on the updating of the national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) for the preparation of the 5th National Report.
FAO: Guidelines on Fisheries Discard
FAO has released the International Guidelines on Bycatch Management and Reduction of Discards, which will now be submitted to the Committee on Fisheries for endorsement when it meets in Rome (Italy)from 31 January-4 February 2011.
WTO: Trade and Environment
An informal meeting of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Committee on Trade and Environment in Special Session (CTESS) met on 10-14 January 2011 where members reviewed the various proposals on the table covering the Doha mandate related to environment. Press Release
SPREP: State of Marine Biodiversity
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has released a report, titled "Outlook Report on the State of the Marine Biodiversity in the Pacific Islands Region,"
FAO/ITPGR: 4th Session of Governing Body
A webpage cotaining meeting documents has been launched in preparation for the 4th session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) to be held from 14-18 March 2011, in Bali (Indonesia). It will be preceded by two days of regional consultations, from 12-13 March 2011. In addition, the Government of Indonesia has called for a high-level ministerial conference, to be held on 11 March 2011.
CBD Bureau Minutes
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has circulated the minutes of the first meeting of the Bureau elected at COP-10) held on 19 December 2010.
World Bank: Linking Natural Resource Management and Wealth of Nations
As part of an initiative by World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick called the Global Partnership for Ecosystems Valuation and Wealth Accounting, the World Bank has released a book titled "The Changing Wealth of Nations," The book contends that most countries are relatively highly dependent on natural capital initially, and the ones that progress most successfully are those that manage their assets for the long term and reinvest in human and social capital as well as in building strong institutions and systems of governance.
International Forest Governance Report
The Global Forest Expert Panel on the International Forest Regime has released its assessment report titled "Embracing Complexity: Meeting the Challenges of International Forest Governance,". The report and a policy brief will be presented at UNFF-9 on February 2.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
European Commission: Sustainable Growth Initiative
The EC has launched "A resource-efficient Europe: Flagship initiative under the Europe 2020 Strategy," which sets out its views on a strategic framework towards more sustainable use of natural resources and the shift towards resource-efficient, low-carbon growth in Europe. Publication: A Resource-Efficient Europe: Flagship Initiative Under the Europe 2020 Strategy
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Journal of Environment and Development: December 2010
The newest issue of The Journal of Environment and Development includes the following articles:
The Usefulness of Sustainability Indicators for Policy Making in Developing Countries: The Case of Madagascar - Timothée Ollivier and Pierre-Noël Giraud
The Political Economy of Wildlife Conservation and Decline in Kenya - Ngeta Kabiri
The Use and Management of Mangrove Ecosystems in Pakistan - Bhim Adhikari, Saima Pervaiz Baig, and Usman Ali Iftikhar
See: http://www.journalenvdev.com/
The Usefulness of Sustainability Indicators for Policy Making in Developing Countries: The Case of Madagascar - Timothée Ollivier and Pierre-Noël Giraud
The Political Economy of Wildlife Conservation and Decline in Kenya - Ngeta Kabiri
The Use and Management of Mangrove Ecosystems in Pakistan - Bhim Adhikari, Saima Pervaiz Baig, and Usman Ali Iftikhar
See: http://www.journalenvdev.com/
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Carpathian Convention: Implementation Committee
A meeting of the Implementation Committee of the Carpathian Convention (CCIC) took place on 17-18 January, 2011 in Vienna (Austria). Information and documentation is posted at: http://www.carpathianconvention.org/framework/CCIC-2011-01-17_18.htm
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
UNEP: Editorial from Achim Steiner regarding climate change
In an editorial published on UNEP's website, UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner stresses that the world is witnessing an extraordinary mobilization of national-level projects and policies that are shifting economies onto a low-carbon path.
SIDS Newsletter: December 2010
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Unit has released the 8th issue of its "SIDS Newsletter." It elaborates follow-up activities to the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation (MSI+5) and includes articles on: the UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun; the upcoming CSD-19, and SIDS preparations for UNCSD (Rio+20).
Argentina assumes chairmanship of G-77/China from Yemen
SPREP: 21st Meeting
The SPREP Secretariat has published the report of the 21st SPREP Meeting, held from 6-9 September 2010 in Madang (Papua New Guinea). It includes the Madang Communiqué adopted at the meeting, according to which SPREP members adopted the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan as the guiding document for regional environmental work, including by SPREP, with four priorities on climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem management, waste management and pollution prevention, and environmental monitoring and governance.
Sustainable Development at the top of UN Secretary-General's priorities for 2011
During an address to the UN General Assembly on 14 January 2011, Ban Ki-moon identified his priorities for 2011.
UNCSD (Rio+20): UN Regional Commissions Calendar
In preparation for the UNCSD (Rio+20) process, a comprehensive regional calendar of meetings leading up to the Conference was prepared and shared among all the UN Regional Commissions at a meeting of the Executive Secretaries of the UN Regional Commissions hosted by the ECLAC in Santiago (Chile) from 13-14 January 2011.
ECOSOC 2011 session
The 1st organizational meeting of the Economic and Social Council’s 2011 session took place on 18 January at UN/HQ. The Council elected its new President, Lazarous Kapambwe (Zambia), as well as four Vice-Presidents: Abulkalam Abdul Momen (Bangladesh); MiloÅ¡ Koterec (Slovakia); Gonzalo Gutiérrez (Peru); and Jan Grauls (Belgium). Press Release featuring highlights and statement.
Monday, January 17, 2011
UNFCCC/COP-16: Bolivia contests outcome
There has been a great deal of media coverage regarding the position of the Plurinational State of Bolivia that the international principle of consensus was abandoned when UNFCCC COP-16 adopted its outcomes in spite of the country's objections. Ambassador, Pablo Salon, Permanent Representative to the United Nations was recently quoted in a number of publications saying "We will file a complaint with the International Court of Justice in the Hague against the text approved in Cancun". An Op-ed by Amb. Salon appeared recently in the Guardian.
Friday, January 14, 2011
UNCSD (Rio+20): Report from 1st Intersessional
ESPOO: Implementation Committee
The 20th session took place from 11-13 January. The Committee inter alia reviewed Members' strategies to fully implement recommendations from the MOP, considered replies regarding specific compliance issues, and finalized preparations for the upcoming MOP-5, to be held from 20-24 June 2011. The Agenda and Report are posted here.
UNESCO: Congo's World Heritage Sites
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and UNESCO organized a high-level meeting in Kinshasa on 14 January 2011, to discuss ways of strengthening protection of the five DRC sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Director-General and the Prime Minister signed the Kinshasa Declaration. Press Release
Thursday, January 13, 2011
UN/DOALOS: State of the Marine Environment
DOALOS has updated its page on the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects (regular process). Documents for the General Assembly Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole from 14-18 February, 2011 will be posted here as soon as they are available.
CMS: South American grasslands conservation moving towards a legal framework
A new action plan adopted by parties of CMS, in collaboration with Birdlife International and and Asocion Guyra Paraguay, is one step in an effort to develop a legal framework for the conservation of grasslands in South America. The action plan seeks to ensure the conservation of habitats by identifying new protected areas, providing financial incentives, coordinating monitoring and research, conducting threat assessments, raising awareness, and enhancing international cooperation. Spanish language documents
CBD: COP/10 Official Report with Decisions
The CBD Secretariat has released the official report of COP-10, which includes all decisions and outcomes.
UNFCCC COP-16/CMP-6: Outcomes
Advance unedited versions of the decisions from UNFCCC COP-16/CMP-6 that took place in Cancun (Mexico) from 29 November - 10 December 2010 are online at: http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_16/items/5571.php
Stockholm Convention: 2nd round of National Reports
The Secretariat has released National Reports submitted by 40 of the 172 parties to the Convention. They include information on the progress of implementing the Convention's requirements. Reports
ITTC-46: Outstanding issues concluded
The 46th session of the Interntional Tropical Timber Council convened from 13-18 December, 2010 in Yokohama (Japan) and concluded with compromises on two outstanding issues: the Collaborative Initiative between ITTO and CBD to conserve tropical forest biodiversity, and financial arrangements for hosting Council sessions outside of ITTO HQ in Yokohama. Decisions
It was announced during the closing of the session that additional funding of US$16.8 million had been pledged towards the conservation and sustainable management, use and trade of tropical forest resources, including $4.5 million for the implementation of its pilot thematic programme on Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing Environmental Services in Tropical Forests (REDDES) and US$12.3 million for other thematic programmes, new projects and activities.
It was announced during the closing of the session that additional funding of US$16.8 million had been pledged towards the conservation and sustainable management, use and trade of tropical forest resources, including $4.5 million for the implementation of its pilot thematic programme on Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing Environmental Services in Tropical Forests (REDDES) and US$12.3 million for other thematic programmes, new projects and activities.
UNDESA/UNDP: Support for LDCs in Rio+20 process
It has been reported that Least Developed Countries (LDCs) were not among those countries that responded to the UNCSD (Rio+20) Secretariat's solicitiation for technical inputs for the preparation of the Secretary-General’s report to be submitted to the 2nd UNCSD Preparatory Committee meeting (PrepCom) in March 2011.
In response, a Concept Note has been prepared by UNDESA and UNDP proposing a project that would seek to assist approximately 60 developing countries to "prepare for and contribute effectively to the UNCSD process based on their expression of demand and their particular needs." The inputs into the project would seek to build the capacity of relevant institutions and individuals to engage in the outcomes from UNCSD. The Concept Note indicates that the total resource requirement for the proposed project is US$2,809,820.
In response, a Concept Note has been prepared by UNDESA and UNDP proposing a project that would seek to assist approximately 60 developing countries to "prepare for and contribute effectively to the UNCSD process based on their expression of demand and their particular needs." The inputs into the project would seek to build the capacity of relevant institutions and individuals to engage in the outcomes from UNCSD. The Concept Note indicates that the total resource requirement for the proposed project is US$2,809,820.
UNEP: Policy Series on Ecosystem Management
The second issue of the UNEP Policy Series on Ecosystem Management The role of ecosystems in developing a sustainable 'Green Economy' discusses how investing in ecosystems can deliver benefits to all levels of society in helping communities adapt to climate change.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Forest Forum: UNFF-9
The 9th Session of the UN Forest Forum will take place from 24 January - 4 February, 2011 at UN/HQ under the theme "forests for people, livelihoods and poverty eradication." UNFF-9 is expected to complete consideration of the means of implementation for sustainable forest management. UNFF Homepage
CBD: Implementation of Plan of Action
The 1st meeting on the CBD Plan of Action on Sub-National Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity 2011-2020 will take place from 17-19 January in Montpellier (France). the Plan is intended to support parties and local authorities in implementing the CBD Strategic Plan 2011-2020, its targets and relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties (COP).
ITPGR: 2nd Meeting of Compliance Working Group
In preparation for the 4th session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR), to be held in March 2011 in Bali (Indonesia), the Ad Hoc Working Group on Compliance will continue deliberations on procedures and mechanisms to promote compliance and address issues of non-compliance from 17-18 January in Rome (Italy).
Indigenous People and Forests: Expert Group Meeting
Coinciding with the 2011 International Year of Forests (IYF), this meeting will take place from 12-14 January, 2011. The findings are to be presented to the 10th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) scheduled to take place at UN/HQ from 16-27 May 2011. Documentation
Assessing biodiversity offset and compensatory mitigation programs
"State of Biodiversity Markets" takes stock of the status and trends of biodiveristy offset and compensatory mitigation programs by geographic region. The report summarizes the total active programs and developing activities, and broad metrics such as total known payments and land area protected or restored. Full report
UNEP/GC-26: Green Economy Report
The forthcoming “Green Economy Report”, presenting assessments of green sectors using economic analysis and modelling approaches, is due to be presented to the 26th UNEP Governing Council. Recent products of UNEP's Green Economy Initiative include: "Patents and clean energy: bridging the gap between evidence and policy," and "Fisheries Subsidies, Sustainable Development and the WTO."
Implementation of Nagoya Protocol: Seminar
The Institute of Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), in collaboration with the Agence Française de Développement are organizing an international seminar on February 3, 2011 in Paris titled: "Towards the effective implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on ABS".
Participants aim to take stock and assess the implications of the ABS Protocol for the governance of biodiversity as well as its implementation challenges and potential contributions to the global sustainable development agenda. The focus will be on legal, policy and practical implementation challenges with the objective to contribute to the debate on outstanding issues, future research directions and technical assistance and training activities related to the implementation of the ABS Protocol.
More information
Participants aim to take stock and assess the implications of the ABS Protocol for the governance of biodiversity as well as its implementation challenges and potential contributions to the global sustainable development agenda. The focus will be on legal, policy and practical implementation challenges with the objective to contribute to the debate on outstanding issues, future research directions and technical assistance and training activities related to the implementation of the ABS Protocol.
More information
Establishment of UN Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD)
An agreement was recently signed between the UN and the Republic of Korea to establish a new research and training facility. UNOSD will serve as a training and resource facility for developing countries on sustainable development, including in the preparations for the forthcoming Rio+20 Conference. It will organize training programmes and expert conferences, collaborate with a network of training institutions in developing countries, and undertake policy research on the progress and gaps in the achievement of sustainable development goals.
UNOSD will be housed in Yonsei University in the City of Inchon. It will begin operations in April 2011 with a launch conference and expert meeting on the “Drivers, Risks, and Challenges in the Transition to a Green Economy”.
UNOSD will be housed in Yonsei University in the City of Inchon. It will begin operations in April 2011 with a launch conference and expert meeting on the “Drivers, Risks, and Challenges in the Transition to a Green Economy”.
UNCSD (Rio+20): Ocean Briefing
The Pew Environment Group has issued a briefing and recommendations to the First Intersessional Meeting titled “Bringing the Ocean Back into the Earth Summit”.
Africa: Rabat Declaration on Solid Waste Management
As part of preparations for CSD-19, the Intersessional Meeting on Solid Waste Management in Africa took place on 25-26 November 2010, in Rabat (Morocco). The Chair’s summary of the meeting including the annexed Rabat Declaration has been released as an advance, unedited report.
Oceans in UNCSD (Rio+20)
The Pew Environment Group presented its briefing and recommendations titled: “Bringing the Ocean Back into the Earth Summit” to the 1st Intersessional Meeting of UNCSD (Rio+20), which took place from 10-11 January at UN/HQ. Citing laggard international governance on behalf of the marine environment, a solution is proposed for UNCSD to initiate a negotiating process towards a comprehensive and legally binding implementing agreement under UNCLOS. Report
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Environmental Policy and Law: The journal for decision-makers: December 2010
EPL , Volume 40, Number 6 includes the following contents:
Contents
Editorial
UNITED NATIONS ACTIVITIES
FAO
– Preventing, Deterring and Eliminating IUU Fishing
– Port State Measures –
(Blaise Kuemlangan, Michael Press)
UN/GA / MDG Summit
– Environmental Dimension of the MDGs
– Progress Made? –
(Elisa Morgera)
– Sustainable Development and Biodiversity
(Constanza Martinez)
High-level Event on Biodiversity
– Selected Statements by Representatives of the
Member States
CBD / COP-10
– Post-2010 Implementation
(Elisa Morgera)
– Access and Benefit Sharing
– The Nagoya Protocol –
(Elsa Tsioumani)
– Liability and Redress
– Supplement to the Cartagena Protocol –
OTHER INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
State Responsibility / Liability
– Erga Omnes Obligations and Judicial Control –
(Alfred Rest)
Elizabeth Haub Prize
– 2009 Prize for Environmental Law
Is Capacity Building Presently of Age?
(Donald Kaniaru)
ICAO
– Environmental Prospects for the Air Transport
Industry
(Ruwantissa Abeyratne)
G-20
– The Seoul Summit
(Soledad Aguilar)
REGIONAL AFFAIRS
South Asia
– Transboundary Waters on the Subcontinent
(Armin Rosencranz, Abhimanyu G. Jain, Raeesa Vakil)
Africa and Southeast Asia
– Gorillas and Their Habitats – A Legal Review –
(Balraj Sidhu)
Pacific Island Countries
– Regional Meeting for CBD COP-10
(Ian Fry)
Alpine Region
– Helicopters in the Alps
– International Legal Aspects –
(Jennifer Heuck)
Alpine Convention
– Switzerland: Not Ratifying the Protocols
(Thomas Egger)
– 44th Meeting of the Standing Committee
Arctic Council
– Senior Arctic Officials Meeting
OSPAR
– The First High Seas MPA Network
(Graeme Kelleher)
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Jordan
– Dead Sea/Red Sea Canal Project
(Hamaideh Arwa, Mohamed Abd El Jaleel Awabdeh)
USA
– California and Climate Change
(Anna Frostic, Stephen C. McCaffrey)
Australia
– Climate Change Policy Evaluation
– Method and Criteria –
(Evgeny Guglyuvatyy)
REFERENCES TO OTHER TOPICS
SELECTED DOCUMENTS
CBD / COP-10
– Implementation of the Convention and Strategic Plan
To order the issue or become a subscriber, please contact IOS Press (Netherlands) at: http://www.iospress.nl/.
UN/GA President: UN Role in Global Governance
In a statement to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences delivered in Beijing (China), on 11 January 2011, UN/GA President Joseph Deiss addressed the transition towards a green economy and the role of the UN in global governance.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Mauritius v. UK: Dispute related to 'Marine Protected Area' and Chagos Archipelago
Under Article 287 and Annex VII, Article 1 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Mauritius has served a notification and statement of claim to the United Kingdom regarding the legality of the declared Marine Protected Area (MPA) around the Chagos Archipelago.
In seeking relief, "Mauritius requests the Annex VII arbitral tribunal of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to declare, in accordance with the provisions of UNCLOS and the applicable rules of international law not incompatible with the Convention that, in respect of the Chagos Archipelago:
The notification and statement of claim are available through the website of the American Society of International Law at: http://www.asil.org/interest-groups-public-files.cfm.
In seeking relief, "Mauritius requests the Annex VII arbitral tribunal of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to declare, in accordance with the provisions of UNCLOS and the applicable rules of international law not incompatible with the Convention that, in respect of the Chagos Archipelago:
(1) the ‘MPA’ is not compatible with the 1982 Convention, and is without legal effect; and/or
(2) the United Kingdom is not a ‘coastal state’ within the meaning of the 1982 Convention and is not competent to establish the ‘MPA’; and/or
(3) only Mauritius is entitled to declare an exclusive zone under Part V of the 1982 Convention within which a marine protected area might be declared."
The notification and statement of claim are available through the website of the American Society of International Law at: http://www.asil.org/interest-groups-public-files.cfm.
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Satellite view of Diego Garcia Atoll, Chagos Archipelago |
Thursday, January 6, 2011
APEC: Focus on Green Growth in 2011
As host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2011, the United States has announced that green growth will be among its priorities.
Press Release: http://www.apec.org/en/Press/News-Releases/2010/1213_isom.aspx
Press Release: http://www.apec.org/en/Press/News-Releases/2010/1213_isom.aspx
UNEP: Report on the Role of Ecosystems in Developing a Sustainable Economy
UNEP has released the second issue of its Policy Series on Ecosystem Management. The newest issue, titled "The role of ecosystems in developing a sustainable ‘Green Economy,’" discusses how investments in ecosystems can result in benefits at the local and global levels, while at the same time enhancing people's livelihoods.
Go to: http://intranet.unep.org/depi/noticeboard/Uploads/policy%20series%202%20-%20small.pdf
Go to: http://intranet.unep.org/depi/noticeboard/Uploads/policy%20series%202%20-%20small.pdf
ECLAC: Pre-Rio+20 Expert Meeting
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) held a meeting of government-designated experts of Latin America and the Caribbean, preparatory to the UNCSD (Rio+20). The event convened under the title: "A green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and the institutional framework for sustainable development."
Meeting Agenda and Presentations: http://www.cepal.org/cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml=/dmaah/noticias/noticias/4/41684/P41684.xml&xsl=/dmaah/tpl/p1f.xsl&base=/dmaah/tpl/top-bottom.xsl
Meeting Agenda and Presentations: http://www.cepal.org/cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml=/dmaah/noticias/noticias/4/41684/P41684.xml&xsl=/dmaah/tpl/p1f.xsl&base=/dmaah/tpl/top-bottom.xsl
OAS: 2nd High-level Meeting on Sustainable Development
The 2nd Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities on Sustainable Development in the framework of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) was held in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) on 17-19 November 2010. The Meeting adopted a Declaration recognizing that human beings are at the center of concerns for sustainable development and that poverty eradication is an integral part of sustainable development.
Declaration of Santo Domingo: http://www.oas.org/DSD/MinisterialMeeting/Documents/Declaracion_Santo_Domingo_eng.pdf
Declaration of Santo Domingo: http://www.oas.org/DSD/MinisterialMeeting/Documents/Declaracion_Santo_Domingo_eng.pdf
UNCSD (Rio+20): Advance Synthesis Report Released for First Intersessional
An advance, unedited copy of a synthesis report (A/CONF.216/PC) has been released by the UNCSD Secretariat, in preparation for the First Intersessional Meeting on 10-11 January 2011.
The Report is online at: http://www.uncsd2012.org/files/intersessional/Synthesis-Report-Final.pdf
The Synthesis Report was prepared on the basis of responses to a questionnaire from Member States, Major Groups and United Nations System Organizations, IFIs and Other Stakeholders.
The Report is online at: http://www.uncsd2012.org/files/intersessional/Synthesis-Report-Final.pdf
The Synthesis Report was prepared on the basis of responses to a questionnaire from Member States, Major Groups and United Nations System Organizations, IFIs and Other Stakeholders.
UNCSD (Rio+20): UN Secretary-General's report on objectives and themes
An advance, unedited copy of a Report of the Secretary-General, on the Objective and Themes of the UNCSD (A/CONF.216/7), has been issued ahead of the second session of the Preparatory Committee to be held from 7-8 March 2011.
Report: http://www.uncsd2012.org/files/prepcom/SG-report-on-objective-and-themes-of-the-UNCSD.pdf
Report: http://www.uncsd2012.org/files/prepcom/SG-report-on-objective-and-themes-of-the-UNCSD.pdf
CSD-19 Briefing
In preparation for the 28 February-4 March 2011 IPM and the 2-13 May 2011 CSD-19 sessions, an informal briefing was organized at UN Headquarters on 16 December 2010. The organization of work and preparations for each of these meetings was reviewed, including the intersessional meetings contributing to these sessions. It was noted that, on the final day of the IPM, a multistakeholder dialogues will discuss "advancing the implementation of sustainable development" and "expectations from CSD-19 within the context of Rio+20, given the apparent linkages between the themes of current cycle and green economy."
Summary of Briefing: http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/csd/csd_pdfs/csd-19/Summary-of-CSD-and-IPM-briefing.pdf
Summary of Briefing: http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/csd/csd_pdfs/csd-19/Summary-of-CSD-and-IPM-briefing.pdf
CSD-19 Preparations
Advance, unedited drafts of the Secretary-General's Background Reports for the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (IPM) and CSD-19 have recently been released, and a briefing on preparations for these events was recently held at UN Headquarters.
CSD-19 will take place at UN Headquarters from 2-13 May, 2011
Documents: http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/resources/res_docucsd_19.shtml
CSD-19 will take place at UN Headquarters from 2-13 May, 2011
Documents: http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/resources/res_docucsd_19.shtml
UNEP RONA: Webpage on Sustainable Consumption and Production in North America
This new webpage focuses on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the North American Region by highlighting success stories and providing information on key SCP activities, consultations and meetings in the region.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
UNEP: 26th Governing Council
The 26th session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (CSD/GMEF) will take place from 21-24 February in Nairobi (Kenya).
Ministerial consultations will focus on emerging policy issues under the overall theme of contribution of UNEP to the preparatory process for (Rio + 20). Specific themes to be taken up at the session are “Green economy” and “International environmental governance”.
Documentats are available at: http://www.unep.org/gc/gc26/
Ministerial consultations will focus on emerging policy issues under the overall theme of contribution of UNEP to the preparatory process for (Rio + 20). Specific themes to be taken up at the session are “Green economy” and “International environmental governance”.
Documentats are available at: http://www.unep.org/gc/gc26/
Saturday, January 1, 2011
EU and Cape Verde: Fisheries Protocol
On 22 December, the European Commission initialled a new three-year protocol under the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with Cape Verde setting fishing possibilities for EU vessels in Cape Verde's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), along with other conditions. The new protocol foresees a total EU financial contribution of EUR 435,000, and will come into force when the present protocol expires, on 1 September. Press Release
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