UNEP: DRC Post-Conflcit Assessment

UNEP has released a new assessment titled: “The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment UN Environment Programme Synthesis for Policy Makers,” which underlines the significance of DRC’s natural and mineral resources, while also addressing the need to urgently allay multiple pressures on natural resources. The study highlights numerous threats, including increased deforestation, species depletion, heavy metal pollution and land degradation from mining. It also underscores the acute drinking water crisis faced by DRC, leaving an estimated 51 million Congolese without access to potable water.

Global Green Growth Summit

Organized under the theme "Building Planet - Responsible Civilization," the 1st annual Global Green Growth Summit from 20-21 June in Seoul (Republich of Korea) explored: development strategies for green growth, prospects and challenges for the Republic of Korea's economy, enhancing global governance, and increased cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The meeting ended with a message by President Lee Myung-bak, who stated that technology is key to a green economy with low carbon emissions.

Rio+20 News
GGGI Summit Proceedings

REDD+: Initiative to Prepare National Laws

Senior legislators from Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and Mexico met to launch the GLOBE Legislator Forest Initiative to develop complementary legislation to prepare the way for efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). During the meeting each group of legislators outlined the current status of their legislation that is relevant to forestry and the drivers of deforestation. Over the next year, GLOBE will work with legislators to identify how legislation could be amended or advanced to provide REDD+ with a stable foundation for success. The legislators involved in this new initiative will report back on their progress at the World Summit of Legislators prior to UNCSD (Rio+20).

Virunga National Park: DRC abandons plans for oil extraction

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced that the Government will abandon all plans for oil exploitation within this Virunga National Park. The decision was announced following the commitments made in the Kinshasa Declaration, which was signed on 14 January. [UNESCO Press Release] [World Heritage Webpage for the Park]