GGGI and UAE sign MOU

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish a Middle East and North Africa regional office in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City and to develop joint capacity-building programs.

The regional GGGI office will seek to: develop and execute low-emission green growth projects for a green growth master plan, tailored to UAE’s conditions; conduct training and capacity building programs on green growth initiatives at the regional, national and local levels; and provide financial support for joint projects, collaborative research and joint programs.

For its part, the UAE will work to create a tri-party collaboration involving GGGI, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to promote renewable energy solutions, new green technologies and carbon-neutral measures to advance economic growth and quality of life in Masdar City, the UAE and worldwide.

Press Release

Mountain Clearing House

Mountain.TRIP works to disseminate comprehensive yet user-friendly research findings to promote sustainable development in mountain regions. Their website acts as the hub of information collection, reporting, and networking. The group starts where other EU projects ended to encourage further sustainability measures.

Greening Household Behaviour

This OECD report presents the results of a 10,000 household survey carried out in ten countries, and offers insights into what policy measures really work, where and why, by exploring factors affecting people’s behavior in

five areas: water use, energy use, personal transport choices, organi cfood consumption, and waste generation and recycling.

Global Sustainability Panel: Overall Goal and Guiding Principles

The Secretariat of the UN S-G's High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP) has issued the report of the 2nd meeting of the Panel (GSP-2), which took place from 24-25 February 2011, in Cape Town (South Africa).

The Panel reached consensus on its overall goal: “To eradicate poverty and reduce inequality, make growth inclusive, and production and consumption more sustainable while combating climate change and respecting the range of other planetary boundaries.” Key sub-goals could include: food security and agriculture; decent jobs; small and medium enterprises (SMEs); access to energy; green growth; disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience; health; education; payment of environmental services; and ensuring sustainability in fragile contexts.

UN/DOALOS: ICP-12

The 12th meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP-12) will be held at UN/HQ from 20-24 June 2011 and discussions will focus on “Contributing to the assessment, in the context of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, of progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges”.

An informal preparatory meeting was held on 9 March at UN/HQ where participants considered the draft format and draft agenda, as well as draft areas of concentration for the discussion panel. In particular, it is proposed that the panel segment on the overview of progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development concentrate its discussions on progress in specific relevant sectors such as sustainable fisheries, shipping, conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity, control of marine pollution, and marine science and transfer of marine technology.

Website and Background Information

UNCSD (Rio+20) Bureau

The UNCSD (Rio+20) Bureau met on 7 and 9 March. On the 7th, Bureau members discussed the draft decision text that would be presented to the concurrent PrepCom II, to secure a mandate on the process for the preparation of the draft outcome document for UNCSD. Minutes 

At the Bureau meeting after PrepCom II, on the 9th, some Bureau members highlighted the concern during the adoption of this decision regarding the text indicating that the preparation process would take place “within existing resources,” noting that this could take away resources from other processes or activities. They noted that both the 2nd and 5th Committees of the 66th session of the UN/GA might revisit this point, and Bureau Members were advised to discuss this matter within their constituencies, to help avoid disruptions to the preparatory process. The Bureau also discussed the UNEP-GC decision to invite the PrepCom to initiate a full analysis of the financial, structural and legal implications and comparative advantages of the options identified in the Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome, and considered options for moving forward with this proposal. The representative of Brazil indicated that her country preferred calling the event “Rio+20” rather than “Rio 2012,” as the UN had recently proposed to do. Minutes

Report: Future Governance for a Green Economy

The Boston University Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future has published a report titled “Beyond Rio+20: Governance for a Green Economy.” The report summarizes the ideas shared by a task force of experts convened to discuss the role of institutions in actualizing a green economy in the context of sustainable development.

Tuna Management Tool

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has developed a new software package called TUMAS (TUna MAnagement Simulator), which aims to assist in managing the world's largest tuna fisheries, namely those of the western and central Pacific Ocean. [TUMAS Project Website] [SPC Press Release]

US-Indian Relations: Climate Change and Energy

This report from NRDC reviews the progress made between India and the US through their Green Partnership, which was launched jointly in November 2009.

UNECA: Workshop in Preparation for Rio 2012

The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) convened a three-day workshop on Institutional and Strategic Frameworks for Sustainable Development, from 7-9 March 2011, in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). The objective of the workshop was to enable the African region to reach a consensus on its key sustainable development concerns and priorities, effectively articulate them and ensure that they are reflected in the UNCSD outcomes. 

The workshop's outcome will feed into the African Regional Preparatory Conference, which is aimed at adopting a consensus statement for the UNCSD, which will be presented for endorsement to the African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit in January 2012. [UNECA Press Release 14] [UNECA Press Release 15]

UNCSD (Rio+20): PrepCom II

Delegates at PrepCom II adopted a decision outlining the process for preparing the draft outcome document for the conference. The Government of Brazil also announced that the conference will formally take place from 4-6 June 2012, and PrepCom III will take place from 28-30 May 2012. Website

An in-depth report on the outcomes will appear in Environmental Policy and Law: The journal for decision-makers

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

ICJ: Costa Rica v. Nicaragua

An Order has been handed down by justices of the ICJ in the proceedings instituted by Costa Rica against the Republic of Nicaragua with regard to an alleged “incursion into, occupation of and use of Nicaragua's Army of Costa Rican Territory”. Costa Rica claimed that Nicaragua not only breached the established boundary regime between the two states, but also the principle of territorial integrity and the prohibition of the threat or use of force against any state. Two separate incidents were cited in connection with the construction of a canal across Costa Rican territory from the San Juan River to Laguna los Portillos, and certain related works of dredging on the San Juan River. The text of the Order, as well as seperate opinions and declarations of the justices are online at: http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?p1=3&p2=3&k=ec&case=150&code=crn&p3=3

Nagoay-Kuala Lumpur Protocol Opens for Signature

Colombia, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden signed the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety as it opened for signature at UN/HQ on 7 March. Press Release

UNDP: Evaluation of Contribution to Environmental Management for Poverty Reduction

The UNDP Evaluation Office has conducted an assessment of UNDP policies, strategies and programmes at the global, regional and country levels, and implementation of related projects focusing on poverty reduction and environmental degradation.

Inuit: Common Position on Natural Resources

Inuit leaders from Greenland, Alaska, Russia, and Canada concluded a two-day Summit held in compliance with article 20 of the 2010 Nuuk Declaration. The Declaration is expected to set out a number of Inuit principles that must guide resource development in the Arctic. The Summit demonstrated the unity among Inuit leaders, who are committed to work to make resource development benefit their people. The Inuit have been discussing resource development processes in the Arctic with Shell Oil

CSD-19: IPM

The Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (IPM) for CSD-19 resulted in a Chair’s draft negotiating text that will serve as a starting point for negotiations on transport, chemicals, waste management, mining and sustainable consumption and production patterns.

1st CITES and CMS Virtual Meeting

The Secretariats of CITES and CMS met via video conference, on 2 March 2011, to review joint achievements and map out their future collaboration.The Secretariats agreed to present a revised list of joint activities to the 61st meeting of the CITES/SC in August 2011, the 38th meeting of the CMS/SC and the 10th CMS/COP in November 2011. [CITES Press Release] [CMS Press Release]

Turtle Conservation: Action needed

A new report from the Turtle Conservation Coalition, highlights that, without concerted conservation action, many of the planet’s turtles and tortoises will become extinct within the next few decades. It emphasizes that, in many parts of the world, anti-poaching laws are poorly enforced, and international conventions such as CITES are only partially effective in decreasing the trade. [Publication: Turtles in Trouble] [IUCN News Release]

WIPO: Text on Traditional Knowledge

Experts meeting at the 2nd Intersessional Working Group of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) focused on the consolidation and streamlining of text on the protection of traditional knowledge.

The meeting's outcome - a consolidated, streamlined text on the protection of traditional knowledge - will be submitted to the 18th session of the WIPO IGC, to be held from 9-13 May 2011, in Geneva. [WIPO Press Release] [Meeting Documents]

WTO: TRIPS and ABS

The World Trade Organization Council on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) discussed the relationship between intellectual property rights and certain provisions of the Nagoya Protocol recently adopted under the auspices of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In this first exchange of views after the adoption of the Protocol positions on this issue remained essentially unchanged. The TRIPS Council also could not agree to invite the CBD Secretariat to brief the TRIPS Council on the outcomes of COP-10. [WTO News on the TRIPS Council]

ICCWC: Programme of Work

The Senior Experts Group of the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (launched during the International Tiger Conservation Forum in November 2010) recently met to agree its programme of work for 2011. [UNODC Press Release] [CITES Press Release]

UN/EMG: Progress on Drylands Report

The Environment Management Group's Issue Management Group (IMG) on Land prepared the report in a process designed to interface with the intergovernmental process under the UNCCD, and the progress report was submitted to CST S-2 and CRIC-9. Key

findings from the report are expected to be presented to the high-level event on desertification at the opening of the UN/GA session in September 2011, and the final report will be presented to UNCCD/COP-10 in October 2011. Go to: http://www.unccd.int/cop/officialdocs/cric9/pdf/crp1eng.pdf

CARICOM: 22nd Intersessional

The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community issued a Communiqué, which includes a section on climate change priorities for the region. The Communiqué

Montreal Protocol: North American states invite Parties to join Declaration

The Ozone Secretariat has posted on its website the “Declaration on the Global Transition Away From Hydrochloro

Go to:  http://ozone.unep.org/Meeting_Documents/mop/22mop/HCFC-CFC-Declaration-22mop.pdf

fluorocarbons (HCFCs) and Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)” from the Governments of Canada, the US and Mexico. The Declaration states the signatories’ “intent to pursue further action under the Montreal Protocol aimed at transitioning the world to environmentally sound alternatives to HCFCs and CFCs.” Drafted at MOP-22, the Declaration is currently supported by 90 parties and the EU. Additional parties wishing to associate themselves with the Declaration are invited to do so by 31 March 2011.

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.

UNCCD: CRIC-9 and CST-S2

The 9th session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention and the 2nd special session of the Committee on Science and Technology took place from 16-25 February 2011. CST-S2 convened from 16-18 February, and was followed by CRIC-9 from 21-25 February. Session Website

CITES: Adopted texts in further languages

The Secretariat of CITES has proposed to link from the CITES website to translations into any language of adopted texts that parties have produced and are willing to share. While the three working languages of CITES are English, French and Spanish, and translations to other languages will have no of

ficial status, the links will be provided to facilitate implementation of the Convention. See: http://www.cites.org/eng/notif/2011/E016.pdf

Stockholm Convention: Climate Change and POPS

The Stockholm Convention Secretariat, in conjunction withthe Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme has released a publication titled “Climate Change and POPs: Predicting the Impacts.” Providing an overview of the complex inter linkages between climate and POPs, the report predicts signi

ficant climate-induced changes in relation to future releases of POPs into the environment, their long-range transport and environmental fate, and human and environmental exposure, subsequently leading to higher health risks for both human populations and the environment. The report also addresses the synergies between the climate change and POPs policy agendas and identifies areas of uncertainty and existing gaps in data, information and knowledge.

UNEP: Review of the Guidelines for Participation of Major Groups and Stakeholders

In line with paragraph 6 of the "Guidelines for Participation of Major Groups and Stakeholders in Policy Design at UNEP" (see http://www.unep.org/civil-society/Portals/59/Documents/Guidelines-for-CSO-participation-Aug2609.pdf), which calls for a review of the guidelines in 2011, UNEP will start the review process in April.
This process will be led by UNEP, in close cooperation with the Major Groups Facilitating Committee and input will be invited from all accredited Major Groups and Stakeholders. It is envisaged that the review will be finished by the end of 2011 latest. The new version of the guidelines will be in force after approval by the Executive Director.

UNEP/GC-26 Outcomes

UNEP/GC-26 adopted 17 decisions. On the green economy, delegates noted numerous success stories where a green economy transition is successfully taking place at the national level and that countries can learn from the success of others. On IEG, they highlighted that the challenge for the GC is about moving the conversation beyond the common diagnosis of the problem and beginning to articulate a forward-looking consensus on reform objectives. More specifically, the GC invites the PrepCom of Rio+20 at its 2nd session to initiate a full analysis of the financial, structural and legal implications and comparative advantages of the options identified in the Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome utilizing the expertise of relevant UN system entities, including UNEP and relevant stakeholders and major groups eligible to participate in the PrepCom. Decisions

European Commission and UNEP: Cooperation

The EC and UNEP issued a joint statement to signal the renewal of their political will to consolidate, develop and increase their cooperation and effectiveness to achieve their common goals and objectives. The cooperation for the period 2011-2013, builds on the EC's and UNEP's work together for the environment under a Memorandum of Understanding agreed in 2004.

IRENA: Recent Ratifications

Since 1 January 2011, seven countries have ratified the International Renewable Energy Agency's treaty, bringing the total number of its member States to 57. The seven countries that have recently joined the Agency are: Australia, Ecuador, Monaco, Cape Verde, Sri Lanka, Belarus and Finland. To date, 149 States have signed the IRENA treaty.

Blue Carbon Working Group: 1st Meeting

The International Working Group on Coastal "Blue" Carbon produced recommendations underscoring the need for active and effective measures to protect the large and vulnerable carbon pools stored in seagrasses, tidal marshes, and mangroves, and to restore and reestablish their carbon sequestration capacity.

Founding members of the International Working Group on Coastal “Blue” Carbon are Conservation International (CI), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Stakeholder Forum: Papers on SD Governance

The NGO Stakeholder Forum has recently published four papers on the topic of sustainable development governance in the lead-up to Rio+20. Publications: Sustainable development governance toward the UNCSD

Consultations on Great Green Wall

UNCCD and GEF co-hosted consultations among government representatives, bilateral and multilateral donors, international financial institutions and other organizations on the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI). The consultations took place in the form of an experts meeting on 18 February, and ministerial consultations on 19 February. Environment ministers and other stakeholders from Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan participated, and considered how to prioritize financing for the initiative, which is still currently in a design stage. GEF Press Release

Note: The Initiative has not been conceived as a wall made up of trees planted across the Sahara, but rather as a set of cross-sectoral actions and interventions aimed at the conservation and protection of natural resources with a view to achieving development and, particularly, alleviating poverty.

EU: Opinion on GMO Restrictions

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has released an Opinion regarding a proposal that would allow EU member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation in their territory of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that have been approved at EU level. If approved, the proposal would create a regulation of the European Parliament and EU Council to amend the current GMO directive of the EU.

CMS and Kazakhstan: MOU on Saiga Antelope

The Secretariat of CMS and the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan convened representatives of wildlife management authorities in the country and experts, from 17-18 February to discuss the implementation of CMS memoranda of understanding on the Saiga Antelope and the Bukhara Deer. [CMS Press Release]

UNCTAD: Report on Green Economy

UNCTAD has issued the report of the Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on "The Green Economy: Trade and Sustainable Development Implications," which t is issued as a background paper for PrepCom II of UNCSD (Rio+20) and designed to feed directly into the Report of the UN Secretary-General to PrepCom 2.  Publication: The Green Economy: Trade and Sustainable Development Implications] [UNCTAD Background Paper for Meeting]

Argentina and Chile: Andes MOU

A new Memorandum of Understanding aiming to conserve the South Andean Huemul was signed between Argentina and Chile. The agreement is part of the countries’ Speci

fic Protocol on the Conservation of Wildlife, developed in the margins of the 20th Ibero-American Summit on 4 December 2010, with CMS being the depositary. Press Release

FAO: State of the World's Forests

The 9th biennial issue of the State of the World's Forests considers the theme "Changing pathways, changing lives: forests as multiple pathways to sustainable development."

OECD: Publications on Biodiversity

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a brochure, titled “Recent OECD Work on Biodiversity,” summarizing recent insights on economic valuation and policies related to biodiversity, sector-specific analyses, and recent and forthcoming publications. 
Publication: Recent OECD Work on Biodiversity

UNFCCC: March/April Negotiations

The UNFCCC Secretariat has announced the dates for the

first round of formal negotiations in 2011. The 16th session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP 16), the 14th session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA 14), as well as workshops organized pursuant to the Cancun Agreements and to other decisions, will take place in Bangkok (Thailand) from 3-8 April 2011. Website

UN/GA: Disaster Reduction Debate

The UN/GA convened a one-day thematic debate on disaster risk reduction (DRR) on 9 February 2011, in at UN/HQ, which included two panels on "invest today for a safer tomorrow," and "addressing the challenges of disaster risk in urban settings." Outcomes from the thematic debate will inform the 3rd session the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled to convene from 8-13 May 2011, in Geneva (Switzerland). UNGA President Statement UN Secretary-General's Statement

UN Agencies: Preparation of UNCSD Report on Latin America and Caribbean

Representatives of UN agencies met from 8-9 February  under the auspices of the UN Regional Coordination Mechanism for Latin America and the Caribbean, and agreed to work together on preparations for UNCSD (Rio+20). The agencies will produce an inter-agency document to assess progress and challenges in terms of sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, 20 years after the the Rio Earth Summit. The report will include strategic guidelines to improve production and consumption patterns, with a view to moving towards economies based on sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.
Press Release