Insights Prior to CMS/COP

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, together with Erik Solheim, Norway's Minister of the Environment, have published an article on the current status of migratory species, ahead of CMS/COP-10.

New Publication on Biodiversity Law and Policy

The World Future Council (WFC) and the Center for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) have published a new report entitled “Crafting Future Just Biodiversity Laws andPolicies”. It includes a survey of the world’s best biodiversity laws from Costa Rica, Norway, Bhutan and South Africa, as well as an analysis of successful sectoral biodiversity policies which address marine, forest and agricultural biodiversity.

International Conference: "Rule of Law for Nature"

The Natural Resources Law Group at the Faculty of Law in Oslo will organize this conference in Oslo (Norway) on May 9-11, 2012 aimed at exploring the legal status of nature, how environmental goods and services are valued and taken into account in decision-making, and the implications of the rule of law in this respect.
More information and call for papers

OECD: Environmental Reviews of Norway

Citing Norway’s good record of environmental protection and sustainable development including: improved air and water quality, spearheading international initiatives on climate change, and doubling its environmental since 2006; the new review says that the country should now devise cost-effective policies to meet its ambitious environmental goals, including climate and biodiversity.

Specifics include inter alia: establishing a clear and realistic domestic target for reducing GHG emissions and applying a consistent price for carbon; strengthening protections of priority species and selected habitats; and removing exemptions to environment-related taxes and other subsidies.

The Reviews

GEF: Nagoya Protocol Fund

The GEF Council, on 26 May, approved the role of the Secretariat as operator of a new voluntary fund to assist developing countries to ratify and implement the Nagoya Protocol under CBD. Japan reaffirmed its pioneer contribution of 1 billion Yen (approximately US$12 million) and additional declarations of support were made by France, Norway and Switzerland. See the decision on Agenda Item 16 in the “Joint Summary of the Chairs”.

Arctic: Expansion of World-Wide Navigational Warning System

The World-Wide Navigational Warning System has been expanded to the Arctic regions through the joint efforts of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), The IMO delineated five new Arctic navigational areas, and the WMO delineated five new meteorological areas in June 2010. The responsibility for the navigational and meteorological areas will be divided between Canada, Norway and the Russian Federation. Press Release

Norway: Nature Diversity Act

After coming into force on 1 July, 2009, the Norwegian government has produced an English translation of its "Nature Diversity Act" The purpose of the Act is “...to protect biological, geological and landscape diversity and ecological processes through conservation and sustainable use,...”.Available at: www.regjeringen.no/en/doc/laws/Acts/nature-diversity-at.html?id=570549.