World Water Forum Declaration

The 6th World Water Forum concluded with adoption of the Marseille Ministerial Declaration. Among reiterating commitment to the UN/MDGs and recognizing the need to build resilience to climate change and variability through integrated land and water resources management, the Declaration calls for the following priorities to be addressed, in particular at UNCSD,(Rio+20): - accelerating the implementation of "human right obligations" relating to access to safe drinking water and sanitation;
- interlinking water, energy, and food security to ensure policy coherence to avoid adverse consequences; and
- incorporating water in all its economic, social and environmental dimensions in a framework of governance, financing and cooperation.

Environmental Laureates and Rio+20

The European Environment Foundation sponsored the 1st International Covention of Environmental Laureates from 8-11 March 2012 with 63 participants from 37 States convening in Freiburg (Germany. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the "Freiburg Call for Action" in relation to UNCSD (Rio+20) calling upon the Conference to come up with actionable means to achieve sustainable development in the following critical areas:

• We urge governing bodies on all levels, as well as business and civil society, to become pioneers of change and successful social innovators;
• We have to move towards equitable budgets per capita for energy, emissions, land use, water and resources;
• To be sustainable, economic development must reduce overconsumption, be based on an ethical and fair financial system, eradicate poverty, and be in harmony with nature;
• Sustainable Development is a key security issue for all nations and has to be treated and funded as such.

UNIDO: 14th General Conference

The UN Industrial Development Organization's (UNIDO) General Conference concluded with the adoption of decisions and resolutions on, inter alia:
- Strengthening UNIDO Activities in Energy and Environment;
- Youth Employment; Knowledge Networking and Knowledge Sharing for Achieving Development Goals; and
- UNIDO Activities in the Field of Industrial Policy with a View to Promoting Social Inclusion.

UN/ECE: Sustainable Energy

The report of the 20th Annual Session of the Committee on Sustainable Energy is available at: http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/energy/se/pdfs/comm20/ECE.ENERGY.87_e.pdf

 

 

Birds and Power Grids

Two reports have been published highlightingt the impact of power lines on migratory birds in the African-Eurasian region.The two reports, titled Review of the Conflict between Migratory Birds and Electricity Power Grids in the African-Eurasian Region and Guidelines for Mitigating Conflict Between Migratory Birds and Electricity Power Grids make recommendations for mitigation measures to reduce bird mortality including legislative and policy actions.

Guide to Better Urbanization

As guidance to leaders of the world's cities, UN/DESA and partners released “The Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century,” Management strategies include coordination of the formal and informal sectors, city-scale rainwater harvesting and zero-waste applications. Some of the technological innovations highlighted include distributed renewable energy, smart city applications including remote sensing and smart grids, as well as analytical tools such as carbon-footprinting, eco-mapping and city sustainability dashboards.

Publication: Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century

UN and ASEAN: Joint Declaration

On occassion of the 4th ASEAN-UN Summit, the organizations concluded a Joint Declaration on a Comprehensive Partnership including sections on: food and energy security; climate change; disaster risk reduction; and economy and development.

New Water Initiative

The Bonn2011: Water Energy Food Nexus Conference, brought together high-level stakeholders from the water, energy and food sectors in an effort to improve understanding of the interdependencies among these sectors and to develop a joint "Nexus perspective" to common and interlinked challenges. Among a number of commitments, the “International Water Stewardship Initiative” is a collaboration between the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), WWF, and SAB Miller. It aims to encourage companies to take responsibility for tackling water problems, has €6 million in initial funding and is planned to run for six years.

IMO: Measuring Impact of Energy Efficiency Measures

Ahead of UNFCCC/COP-17, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) launched a commissioned study titled "Assessment of IMO mandated energy efficiency measures for international shipping," which reports that implementation of the measures will enable significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from ships, specifically reductions of carbon dioxide. Main findings include that:
- by 2020, an average of 151.5 million tons of annual carbon dioxide reductions would result from the introduction of the measures;
- by 2030, these reductions will increase to an average of 330 million tons annually;
- carbon dioxide reduction measures will result in a significant fuel consumption reductions, leading to savings in fuel costs to the shipping industry; and
- mandatory application of the measures will lead to more energy-efficient ship design.
The IMO regulations represent the first-ever mandatory energy efficiency measures for an international transport sector.

G20 Cannes Summit

The G20 Leader's Summit concluded with the adoption of a declaration titled "Building our common future: renewed collective action for the benefit of all,” which includes a section on "Fostering Clean energy, Green Growth and Sustainable Development." with commitments to:- promote low-carbon development strategies for green growth and to ensure sustainable development;
- welcome the UN Secretary-General’s “Sustainable Energy for All” (SE4ALL) initiative; and
- support the development and deployment of clean energy and energy efficiency (C3E) technologies.

They further commit to the success of UNCSD (Rio+20), noting it will provide an opportunity "to mobilize the political will needed to reinsert sustainable development at the heart of the international agenda." Leaders also underline the opportunities created by green growth in new industries and in "areas such as environmental services, renewable energy and new ways to provide basic services to the poor."

AFED: 4th Annual Conference

Meeting from 27-28 October, participants at the 4th Annual Conference of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) agreed on recommendations calling on Arab governments to, inter alia:
- give higher priority to environmentally-sustainable agriculture and rural development as a strategic policy objective to achieve food security;
- introduce a policy shift towards water demand management;
- adopt national and regional strategies for energy efficiency;
- promote the development of private sector-led locally-based competitive green technology through economic incentives; and
- promote public awareness campaigns on green economy.

UNCSD (Rio+20) Dehli Dialogue

The Secretariat of UNCSD (Rio+20) and India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests convened a ministerial dialogue on green economy and inclusive growth from 3-4 Ocotber in New Delhi (India). Views were shared on financing of a green economy, a green economy roadmap and energy access, among others. The proposed set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and possible guiding principles for a definition of "green economy" were also discussed.
Website

EU-Brazil Summit

The 5th EU-Brazil Summit was held in Brussels (Belgium) on 4 October resulting in a joint statement that addresses, among other issues, climate change, energy and UNCSD (Rio+20).

Asia and the Pacific: Sustainable Energy

The Expert Group Meeting on Sustainable Energy Development in Asia and the Pacific reviewed energy security challenges facing the region and outlined a regional agenda on the issue. Participants stressed the importance for countries in the region to have national policies that will ensure universal access to clean and efficient energy services to advance poverty reduction and improve health and well-being.
UN/ESCAP Press Release

Eastern Partnership: Joint Declaration

Heads of State or Government and representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, the EU and its member States met in Warsaw (Poland) on 29-30 September to renew their commitments to the Eastern Partnership. The resulting Joint Declaration includes language addressing the green economy, climate change and energy.

New UN High-Level Group: Sustainable Energy for All

"SE4ALL" is to be at the head of a major new initiative to universalize access to sustainable energy. It will be made up of business, government and civil society leaders from around the world and aim to double the rate of progress on energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy globally by 2030. The UN/S-G has requested Kandeh Yumkella, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and United States banker Charles Holliday to lead preparations of a Global Action Agenda leading up to UNCSD (Rio+20).

Press Release

African Energy Ministers Consider Road to Durban

Over 30 African Energy Ministers convened on 15-16 September to develop and agree on priorities for sustainably developing Africa's energy sector and concluded with the adoption of the Johannesburg Declaration.

42nd Pacific Island Forum

Meeting in Auckland (New Zealand) on 7-8 September, the 42nd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) was joined by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who engaged in an interactive dialogue and released a joint statement with leaders.

Key outcomes of the PIF also included the reappointment of Tuiloma Neroni Slade as Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat for a second term of three years, and a forum communiqué with sections on, inter alia: sustainable economic development; fisheries; transport and energy; tourism; education; trade; labour mobility; climate change; the Pacific Plan; the Cairns Compact; health; and Pacific Oceanscape.

OAS: Support for Rio+20 Process

The Department of Sustainable Development of the Organization of American States (OAS-DSD) has announced its intent to organize a series of hemispheric dialogues in a variety of sustainable development themes, such as Energy and Climate Change, Integrated Water Resources Management, Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management, Risk Management and Environmental Law, Policy and Governance. The results of these dialogues will feed into the UNCSD (Rio+20) process through means such as policy papers and recommendations.

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BCIE: Environmental Strategy

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) has adopted an Environmental Strategy to guide its financing of sustainable development projects in Central America and promote environmental principles in its practices. The Strategy sets out general principles and calls for Bank action in six areas: biodiversity; waste management; energy; air pollution; land management; and water as a resource.

Press Release