Water and Sanitation Virtual Library

The UN Office to suport the International Decade 'Water for Life' 2005-2015 has launched the online UN Documentation Centre on Water and Sanitation (UN/DCWS).

Instrument on Mercury: 5th session

The 5th session of the “Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury” (INC-5) will take place in Geneva (Switzerland) from 13-18 January 2013. A note by the Chair (UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/INC.5/2) prepared in consultation with the Bureau, sets out plans and general expectations for the session and serves to assist preparations for the session and "reach a successful conclusion, with the finalization of an ambitious text that best reflects the compromise and positive spirit that has prevailed throughout our negotiations."

In related news, the 43rd GEF Council will be discussing a "Proposed Framework for a Financial Mechanism for the Future Mercury Convention and Draft Operational Program for Mercury" at its meeting from 13-15 November.

 

Savanna Wildlife

“Illegal Hunting and the Bush-Meat Trade in Savanna Africa: Drivers, Impacts and Solutions to Address the Problem" confirms a greater frequency and impact on wildlife populations in the Southern and Eastern savannas of Africa than previously thought. The report also adds to elements  of related agenda points considered during CBD/COP-11 with new data from experts.

BASIC and Climate Change

Ministers from Brazil, China, India and South Africa (BASIC) concluded their 11th Meeting on Climate Change with the adoption of a joint statement. Therein, leaders reiterate their commitment to a successful outcome of UNFCCC/COP-18, reaffirm the UNCSD (Rio+20) outcome document, as well as the outcome from UNFCCC/COP-17. Furthermore, the statement expresses concerns over the inclusion of international aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS), and the planned unilateral inclusion of other sectors, noting that this apporach "undermines confidence and weakens efforts to tackle climate change on a multilateral basis."
 
BASIC Joint Statement

New Sustainable Development Website

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA) has launched a new knowledge platform for sustainable development. The website includes resources describing inter-governmental processes, the UN system and major groups, as well as links to nearly 6,000 related documents.

UN/GA and Post-Rio+20

During the first weeks of the 67th session of the General Assembly, many speakers emphasized the need to first look to implementng the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 before focussing on what is to take their place. At the same time, there is a necessity to quickly create, immediatly embrace and begin implementation of the new goals.
 
During a briefing for civil society with members of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, representatives were encouraged to engage in three parallel processes for setting the post-2015 development agenda: the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons; country-level consultation and thematic consultations; and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
 
The country-level consultations and thematic consultations are to be facilitated by the UN Development Group with each of the eleven thematic consultations to be co-convened by two or more UN agencies. The themes to be addressed in the global consultations are:
- governance;
- growth and employment;
- health;
- inequality;
- education;
- environmental sustainability;
-  food security and nutrition;
- conflict and fragility;
- population dynamics;
- water; and
- energy.

On October 16, a Special Event of the UN/GA's Second Committee will provide the first opportunity since Rio+20 for Member States and other participants to engage in discussions on how to develop the SDGs.
 
The Secretary-General has also developed a follow-up framework to Rio+20 by the UN System identifying follow-up actions called for in outcome document, along with the UN entity tasked with the responsibility to lead and the timeframe for delivering the outcome.

HRC: Human rights and Environment

After its decision in March 2012, the Human Rights Council has appointed an Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment (Resolution 19/10). John Knox began his mandate in August 2012 and will submit his first report to the 22^nd session of the Human Rights Council in March 2013. 

Building on several other resolutions related to human rights and the environment and human rights and climate change, resolution 19/10 requests the Independent Expert to, among other things:
· Study the human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, in consultation with relevant stakeholders;
· Identify and promote best practices on the use of human rights obligations and commitments to inform, support and strengthen environmental policy making and prepare a compendium of best practices; and
· Make recommendations that could help the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular Goal 7, and contribute a human rights perspective to the Rio +20 follow-up process.

UN-Water: Annual Report

The 2011 Annual Report highlights the year's achievements, including launching the UN Documentation Centre on Water and Sanitation (UN-DCWS), undertaking a survey of 130 countries on approaches to water management, and responding to urban water challenges.

Objectives of 67th UN/GA President

Vuk Jeremic recently detailed his priorities, with the post-2015 development agenda as first on his list. He noted the mandate from Rio+20, to be in charge of follow-up, including the formation of the Open Working Group (OWG) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Jeremic said he will take responsibility for determining the members of the 30-member group, in a joint effort alongside Brazil’s Permanent Representative. In that capacity, he will seek to ensure that the process is fully complementary and combined with the process around the post-2015 development agenda, especially the work of the OWG and the High-Level Panel (HLP) on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The HLP is expected to put its list of goals forward next May. 
 
UN Press Release
Summary of Press Conference

CITES: COP-16 Preparation

In response to a call for input, the CITES Secretariat has received 67 proposals from over 50 Parties to the Convention to amend the rules governing international trade in wildlife species. Upon final posting, Parties have 60 days to provide their comments and provisional assessments will be published by the Secretariat by the end of the year. Governments will decide on the proposals at COP-16 in Bangkok (Thailand), from 3-14 March 2013. coinciding  with the 40th anniversary of CITES.

First provisional list of proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II

Outcomes: Biosafety COP/MOP-6

Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP 6) adopted 16 decisions, including a decision initiating activities to provide a basis for future substantive work in regard to socio-economic impacts of living modified organisms.

CBD Press Release

FAO and EU Forests

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for proposals for the EU-supported programme on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). Proposals must address at least one of seven thematic priorities:
- support for Voluntary Partnership Agreements;
- improved transparency;
- monitoring and national control systems;
- the enhancement of community forestry;
- support for legal and regulatory frameworks;
- support for relevant private sector efforts; and
- the improvement of timber markets.

Deadline for proposals is 12 December.

EU FAO FLEGT Programme Guidelines

Declaration: Global Framework on Climate Services

The African Union Commission (AUC), African regional economic communities and Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) have declared their support for the Global Framework on Climate Services (GFCS), a UN initiative spearheaded by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which aims to strengthen and expand the provision of climate services.

The Addis Ababa Declaration of Support for the Global Framework on Climate (GFCS) recognizes that the GFCS will, among other things:
- enable better management of the risks of climate variability and change;
- help African institutions gain better access to knowledge and technologies for climate monitoring, prediction and projection; and
- facilitate synergies and harmonization between existing and upcoming climate-related projects in Africa.

Pacific and REDD+

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has announced that the 3rd Regional Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry endorsed the Pacific Islands Regional Policy Framework for REDD+. As reported, the framework aims to support Pacific Island countries (PICs) to address and participate in international regimes on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction in the forest and trees sector.

Press Release

New UNCLOS Accession

The Republic of Peru deposited its instrument of accession to UNCLOS on 24 September. This brings the total parties to 163 states plus the European Union. The number of non-parties is now down to 34, 19 of which are landlocked. There remain 15 coastal states, including the United States, outside the Convention.

ECOSOC: Special Ministerial Meeting

A formal meeting of the Council took place on 24 September to address reinvigorating the multilateral system with ECOSOC as a central plank. A Ministerial Statement prepared by the Bureau commits members "to strengthen the Council within its Charter mandate."

Meeting summary: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2012/ecosoc6546.doc.htm