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.

Marine Biodiversity BBNJ

The IUCN Environmental Law Centre (IUCN-ELC) in collaboration with the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) recently organized an international seminar with the objective of making substantive progress in the further development of ideas and concepts regarding recommendations from the 4th meeting of the UN Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (BBNJ). Three main issues discussed, amongst others, that play a key role in the BBNJ process included:
- Possible ways of sharing benefits from the utilization of marine genetic resources accessed in areas beyond national jurisdiction;
- Possible governance frameworks for the establishment and management of a network of Marine Protected Areas on the High Seas; and
- Possible role of and consequences for an UNCLOS implementing agreement.

The workshop report will be published at the beginning of 2012.

Background information and presentations

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.

G20 Summit: Green Growth?

Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, and the Heads of five international agencies (OECD, WTO, ILO, IMF, and the World Bank) met in Berlin (Germany) on 6 October to call for coordinated policy action to restore confidence and improve sustainable and balanced growth and employment prospects ahead of the G20 Summit to be held in Cannes (France) on 3-4 November. According to a statement, "climate change and the protection of natural resources remain major challenges that could also become an opportunity for growth. Leaders stressed the need to: realize the potential for low-carbon development and green growth by targeted action in developed and developing countries; continue with the commitment of all international organizations to promote and work together on green growth; and ensure a successful Durban Climate Change Conference in late 2011 with a view to further promoting low-carbon development strategies."
Press Release with Joint Communique

Germany and UNIDO Cooperation

In view to the preparatory process for UNCSD (Rio+20), the Government of Germany and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the promotion of energy access, energy efficiency and renewable energy in developing countries, including the promotion of sustainable industrial development. 
UNIDO Press Release on Cooperation Between UNIDO and Germany

ECJ: Judgment in favor of environmental organizations

In a judgment on 12 May, the European Court of Justice gave environmental organizations wider access to justice in Germany. According to the ruling, the German Law on supplementary provisions governing actions in environmental matters under Directive 2003/35/EC (Umwelt-Rechtsbehelfsgesetz - UmwRG) of December 2006, which entitles recognized environmental protection organizations to a right of access to the courts, does not fully implement the provisions of European law. Germany now has to adapt the UmwRG accordingly and until the amendment enters into force, recognized environmental organizations can directly invoke European law to bring an action before the courts.

The judgment (case C-115/09)

Report: Social Contract for Sustainability

The German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU), an independent scientific advisory body, has published a report titled  “World in Transition: A Social Contract for Sustainability.” The report recommends establishing a “UN Council for Sustainable Development,” on par with the UN Security Council. Among other measures, the report also highlights reasons for the urgent need for a “post fossil-nuclear metabolism,” and presents 10 sets of concrete measures to accelerate the transition to sustainability.

Adaptation Fund conferred legal capacity

Through an Act of Parliament, the German Government conferred legal capacity to the Adaptation Fund Board, making the Fund an independent international legal entity. The act enables the Adaptation Fund Board to enter into contracts with recipients, particularly in the case of direct access to the Fund by developing countries. The decision for the Adaptation Fund Board to be conferred legal capacity came at the Poznan Climate Change Conference in 2008, and resulted in the Adaptation Fund Board accepting Germany’s offer to host the Fund. See: http://www.adaptationfund.org/node/1198.