GFCM-35:Recommendations and possible revision of Agreement

The 35th session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) met from 9-14 May at FAO/HQ in Rome (Italy). Delegates adopted recommendations on: the exploitation of red coral; reducing incidental by-catch of seabirds in fisheries; the by-catch of sea turtles in fisheries; and fisheries measures for the conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). 

It was also decided to to set up a task force toward a possible revision of the GFCM Agreement, with a view to more effectively implementing the precautionary approach and ecosystem approach to fisheries management, including relevant compliance and enforcement mechanisms. Lastly, the need for greater involvement of GFCM in the field of aquaculture, as well as the need to reinforce fisheries governance and scientific cooperation in the Black Sea, also were addressed.

Report of the session

Achim Steiner: Guest Article

UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner recently contributed a Guest Article to IISD's "UNCSD Update" titled: "Cooperation for a Green Economy."

Forest Sector Contribution to UNCSD (Rio+20)

A stakeholders meeting on the development of an action plan on forests and the green economy was held in Geneva (Switzerland) from 10-11 May  under the auspices of the Forestry and Timber Section of UNECE and the Food and FAO in cooperation with UNEP.

The draft action plan, as further developed by the stakeholder meeting, is expected to be reviewed by the UNECE Timber Committee and FAO European Forestry Commission meeting scheduled to take place from 10-14 October 2011, in Antalya (Turkey). It will then be presented as a regional sectoral contribution from the forest sector at UNCSD (Rio+20)

Meeting Website

UNEP: New Deputy Executive Director

Amina Mohamed has been newly appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to fill the vacancy in Nairobi due to Angela Cropper's departure. From 2000-2006, Ms. Mohamed was the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN in Geneva.Since 2008, she has been the Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs of the Republic of Kenya.

Montreal Protocol: Proposals for HFCs Phase-down

The Ozone Secretariat has released documents in the lead up to the upcoming 31st Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) meeting, scheduled to convene in Bangkok (Thailand) in August. The documents include a proposal from the US, Canada and Mexico, and one from the Federated States of Micronesia, to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol.

Proposed Amendment to Control HFCs under the Montreal Protocol (Submitted by Canada, Mexico and the United States of America) - Cover Letter, Proposal Amendment, Proposal Summary, Amendments Benefits Summary, Decision Proposal

Proposed Amendment to Control HFCs under the Montreal Protocol (Submitted by the Federated States of Micronesia)- Cover Letter, Proposal Summary, Proposal Amendment

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)

WIPO/IGC: Progress on negotiating text

The 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) resulted in a single negotiating text on each of the three items referred to in the IGC’s mandate: traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources. The next session of the IGC is the last one before WIPO’s General Assembly, which will decide, in turn, on convening a diplomatic conference. It also remains to be decided whether any instrument produced would be legally binding.

Press Release

US-China: Cooperation on Environment

During the 3rd round of the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, held from 9-10 May the two sides discussed bilateral, regional and global issues, including cooperation on climate change, energy and fisheries.

US Press Release

LDC-IV: Declaration and Action Programme

Over 7,000 participants, including Heads of State and government, IGOs, and NGOs gathered in Istanbul (Turkey) for the 4th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC IV) from 9-13 May.

As the meeting came to a close, participants adopted the Istanbul Political Declaration and Programme of Action for the LDCs. In the Declaration, which serves as preamble to the Programme of Action, governments commit to further strengthen their support to the poorest countries by “creating a favorable environment for sustainable development, increasing productive capacities, diversification of economies and building the necessary infrastructure.”

The Programme covers 27 priority areas, including: infrastructure building; energy access; disaster risk reduction (DRR); human capital enhancement through health measures; and the empowerment of women and youth. Specifically, the Action Plan calls on countries to build their human capacities by: fostering sustained, equitable and inclusive human and social development;  increasing gender equality and the empowerment of women; reducing the vulnerability of LDCs to economic, natural and environmental shocks and disasters, as well as climate change; and enhancing their ability to meet these and other challenges through strengthening their resilience. Under the Programme of Action, developed countries agree to support national disaster reduction and mitigation programmes in LDCs, and to facilitate South-South transfer of lessons learned on disaster preparedness.

The Action Plan commits governments to enable half the number of LDCs to meet the criteria for graduation by 2020. Forty-eight countries are classified as LDCs, 33 of which are in Africa, 14 in the Asia-Pacific region, and one in Latin America and the Caribbean.

CITES: Guidance on NBSAPs

The CITES Secretariat has developed a draft guide for CITES Parties on Contributing to the development, review, updating and revision of NBSAPs (National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans). CITES Parties are invited to make use of the draft guide and to provide the Secretariat with any comments they might have on its usefulness, content and format. Such feedback will assist in the finalization of the Guide.

CITES Notification

Oceans Forum: Preparation for UNCSD (Rio+20)

The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands has released a newsletter on its preparations for UNCSD (Rio+20). It concludes with a description of Global Forum consultations on the Rio+20 process. 

GGGI: Opening of Regional Office

The UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) has announced the opening of a regional office of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in Copenhagen (Denmark). According to UNEP, the opening of the regional office located next door to the UNEP Risoe Centre is expected to support and increase collaboration on global efforts to transition to a more resource-efficient, low-carbon green economy.

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).

UNEP: REDD and Financial Insitutions

The UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) has released the first part of a report titled “REDDy-Set-Grow: Opportunities and roles of financial institutions in forest carbon markets,” which stresses that the financial sector must step up its engagement in the emerging green market, and proposes improved regulation to this end. Part I provides a briefing to the financial world on current and emerging avenues for business activity in forest-carbon, and highlights roles and barriers for financial institutions to become involved. Part II of the study will provide an assessment of current international regulation and recommendations to national and international policy makers on what the international regime under the UNFCCC needs to deliver to effectively mobilize private finance and investment for forest-based climate change mitigation.

UNECE: Compendium of Legal Instruments

UNECE has published the “Compendium of Legal Instruments, Norms and Standards 2011,” which contains a list of conventions, norms and standards that have been negotiated under its auspices.These legal instruments cover: environment, transport, timber, energy, trade, housing and land management.

CIC General Assembly

Under the theme "Hunting - a part of cultural heritage", the 58th General Assembly of the International Council of Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) convened from 12-15 May in St. Petersburg (Russian Federation).  

A highlight of the annual meeting was a keynote address by John Scanlon, Secretary General of CITES who welcomed the active and constructive participation of the CIC in CITES meetings and discussions and CIC’s ongoing contribution to the dialogue on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and recognized the role that hunting can play and its inter-relationship with CITES.

UNEP: Report on Decoupling

UNEP's International Resource Panel has released a report titled “Decoupling natural resource use and environmental impacts from economic growth.” analyzing the concept of improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate. The report stresses the need for massive investment in technological, financial and social innovation, to freeze per capita consumption in wealthy countries and assist developing countries to identify a sustainable path.

Publication: Decoupling Natural Resource Use and Environmental Impacts from Economic Growth

UNEP: Results of Sustainable Lifestyles Survey

UNEP's Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Branch has released the results of its Global Survey for Sustainable Lifestyles included in the report titled “Visions for Change: Recommendations for Effective Policies on Sustainable Lifestyles.”

Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol: Signatures

15 countries and the European Union (EU) signed the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety at a signing ceremony held during the High-level Segment of CSD-19.

The total number of signatures received to date is now 22. The countries that signed during the ceremony are: Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, Tunisia and the EU.

The Supplementary Protocol will remain open for signature at UN/HQ until 6 March 2012. During this time, States can sign the Supplementary Protocol on any day. Another special signing event will be organized on 20 September 2011in conjunction with the High Level Event on Desertification of the UN/GA's 66th session.

EU-Liberia: Forest Agreement

The EU and Liberia have concluded a bilateral agreement to certify the legal origin of imported wood products into the EU. According to the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), all shipments of wood products to the EU from Liberia will be required to carry a license certifying their legal origin by early 2014. Liberia has thus committed to establish a national system to ensure legal compliance in timber production, covering all wood products destined for the EU, as well as those sold on the domestic market and to non-EU markets. The EU committed to guarantee unrestricted access to its market for all wood products coming from Liberia.

Press Release

Conference: Sustainable Chemicals Management in Europe

The European Sustainable Chemicals Management Conference 2011 - Finding the Regulatory Balance takes place from May 31-June 1 in Brussels (Belgium). Participants will address several key aspects of chemical policy, in particular REACH and CLP, providing an analysis of how the registration system has functioned to date and how it could be improved. Discussions will also focus on how REACH compares to global methods of chemical management and various research on a variety of areas of concern.


Website

Montreal Protocol: Proposals for Amendment

Two proposals to amend the Montreal Protocol have been  posted on the Ozone Secretariat website under the following links:
http://ozone.unep.org/highlights.shtml and http://www.unep.ch/ozone/highlights.shtml

The Ozone Secretariat received a proposal from the Federated States of Micronesia on 7 May 2011 and a joint proposal by Canada, Mexico and the USA on 9 May 2011.

The proposals are being circulated as received and have not been formally edited by the Secretariat. They  will be made available as pre-session meeting documents in all UN languages and posted on the portal for the 31st meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on the Ozone Secretariat website in due course.  

UNDP/GEF: Transboundary Waters Review

UNDP has published a global review of legal and institutional frameworks for 28 transboundary surface water, groundwater and marine water systems covering the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. The report also considers climate change adaptation knowledge in the various water basins analyzed.

Stockholm Convention: COP-5 Results

COP-5 to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) convened from 25-29 April in Geneva (Switzerland) concluding with an agreement to add endosulfan to Annex A of the Convention and phase out its use. This decision brings the total number of chemicals listed by the Stockholm Convention to 22. Delegates also considered several reports on activities within the Convention’s mandate and adopted over 30 decisions.

IISD reported that a decision on synergies among the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions welcomes the establishment of the Executive Secretary of the three conventions, but regrets that the position was not appointed with urgency. It authorizes the Executive Secretary to determine the staffing levels, numbers and structure of the secretariats in a flexible manner within a budget ceiling, and requests him to propose, in consultation with the Bureau, the organization of the secretariats by 31 December 2011, to be implemented by 31 December 2012. It further decides that the COPs of the three conventions should be held in a coordinated manner, approves the proposed cross-cutting and joint activities for inclusion in the programmes of work of the three secretariats for 2012-13, and decides to convene in 2013 an extraordinary joint meeting of the COPs.

COP-Website

CBD: Local Communities Meeting

The Secretariat of CBD will convene an ad hoc expert group meeting for local community representatives in Montreal (Canada) from 13-15 July 2011 in regards to paragraph 21 of Decision X/43 and the revised programme of work for Article 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention. Through this process CBD is seeking to identify common characteristics of local communities and to gather advice on how local communities can more effectively participate in Convention processes, including at the national level, as well as how to develop targeted outreach, in order to assist in the implementation the Convention and achievement of its goals.

Notification

LDCs and Green Economy

A jont report, issued by UNEP, UNCTAD and UN-OHRLLS was released at the start of the 4th UN Conference on LDCs in Istanbul (Turkey). Why a Green Economy Matters for the Least Developed Countries points to the economic and human development opportunities of a green economy transition for LDCs.

USA: Defining Water Under Clean Water Act

On April 27, President Obama and the White House Council on Environmental Quality announced their plans and efforts to clean up streams, rivers, bays and their tributaries. Part of the strategy is defining exactly what "water" means under the CWA and the new 39-page definition lays out in detail exactly what counts as "water." The draft guidance is open for public comment for 60 days.

UNESCO: Preparations for Rio+20

During her opening statement to the 186th session of the Executive Board, Irina Bokova outlined UNESCO’s preparations for UNCSD (Rio+20) including the broadened concept of “green societies” and the potential role of the organization in the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Statement in French and English

IUCN: Natural Disasters and Environmental Assessments

As more than 2,000 policy-makers and practitioners from governments, international organizations and the private sector met in Geneva (Switzerland) for the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, IUCN urged delegates to consider the value of environmental solutions in planning for disasters and to recognize and restore nature’s role in reducing the risks.

New Publication on Liability

Julio Barboza has recently published a new  book titled: The Environment, Risk and Liability in International Law, which illustrates the pivotal role that liability plays in risk management and environmental protection. With significant experience dealing with the subject, Dr. Barboza is former Special Rapporteur for the UN International Law Commission where he submitted eleven reports on the topic of International Liability for the Injurious Consequences of Acts not Prohibited by International Law. 

CBD-CITES: Bushmeat Meeting

The joint meeting of the CBD’s Bushmeat Liaison Group, and the Central Africa Bushmeat Working Group of CITES will take place from 6-10 June in Nairobi, (Kenya). The purpose of the workshop is to: encourage and enable parties and relevant intergovernmental organizations and NGOs to take effective action to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources in tropical and sub-tropical forests; develop options for small-scale food and income alternatives in tropical and sub-tropical countries based on the sustainable use of biodiversity; and revise the recommendations of the Liaison Group on Bushmeat. The CBD Secretariat has now circulated the agenda and list of sponsored experts.

CBD Notification
Meeting Documents

Ocean Industries to Convene

The World Ocean Council (WOC) will convene ocean industries on 13-14 July in Washington, D.C. to foster and facilitate business involvement in the coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) process underway in the U.S.

Website

CSD-19

As the second year of the CSD-18/19 implementation cycle, CSD-19 is currently in session to produce policy decisions on the following thematic areas: Transport, Chemicals, Waste Management (hazardous and solid waste), Mining, and a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns.

Website

IISD Reporting

EU: 2020 Biodiversity Strategy

The European Commission has published a strategy for the EU to protect and improve the state of Europe's biodiversity and contribute to the 2020 global biodiversity targets.
The strategy, contained in the Commission Communication titled “Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020,” is aimed at reversing biodiversity loss and speeding up the EU's transition towards a resource-efficient and green economy. It builds on the commitments made by EU leaders in March 2010 on halting the loss of biodiversity in the EU by 2020 and protecting, valuing and restoring EU biodiversity and ecosystem services by 2050. It also is a response to the global commitments made CBD COP-10.

Conference: "Maritime Border Diplomacy"

The Center for Oceans Law and Policy will hold its 35th annual Conference on the Law of the Sea and Ocean policy in Bali (Indonesia) on June 22-14.

The primary panel themes will be:

-Context for Maritime Border diplomacy

-Provisional Arrangements of a Practical Nature

-Archipelagic Resources in South East Asia region

-Marine Environment and Boundaries

-Disputed [Unresolved] Boundaries in the Region

-Dispute Settlement Mechanisms

Participants include three judges from the International Tribunal for the law of the Sea as well as veteran negotiators of the 1982 LOS Convention Satya Nandan of Fiji and Hasjim Djalal of Indonesia.

Conference Programme

Rio+20: Making it Happen Volume 2, Issue 8

This issue highlights the 3rd workshop co-organized by the UN/GA on "Green Economy Pathways" and points to the linkages between CSD-19 and Rio+20. It also reports on the outcomes of the Interactive Dialogue of the UN/GA on Harmony with Nature, announces a 6 May 2011 seminar to be organized by UN University in New York, titled "Vision for RIO+20: System Change for Green Economy and Poverty Reduction", as well as the 3rd meeting of the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability to be held on 11-12 May 2011 in Helsinki (Finland).

NGO Guide to UNCSD (Rio+20)

The NGO Major Group has issued a document to guide stakeholders in contributing to the outcome of the UNCSD (Rio+20). "The Rio 2012 Conference - The Explanatory Roadmap to Rio+20," interprets the decisions of the UNCSD Bureau to inform civil society and encourage their contributions to the structure and content of the UNCSD outcome document.

UNEP and Sochi 2014

UNEP has announced that, as part of its collaboration with the 2014 Winter Olympic Games Sochi organizing committee, it has submitted environmental action plans that cover key areas including Zero Waste and Climate Neutrality.

Press Release

European Environmental Law Conference 2011

The Academy of European Law will host this conference on 6-7 June in Trier (Germany). Its objective is to meet the requirements of environmental law specialists to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in legislation, jurisprudence and best practice in this field.

Key topics this year include:

§  Experience with the IPPC Directive

§  Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions

§  Analysis of the EU pesticide provisions

§  Experience with REACH

§  The river basin management plans

§  Access to environmental information

§  The most recent case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union

Programme

FAO: Upcoming Director-General Elections

Six candidates have been presented by FAO Member Nations for the post of FAO Director-General to be elected in June 2011. The election will take place in a secret ballot to be held at the beginning of the 37th FAO Conference (Rome, 25 June to 2 July 2011) by the organization's 191 member nations.

The six candidates, each nominated by his government, are : Franz Fischler (Austria), José Graziano da Silva (Brazil), Indroyono Soesilo (Indonesia), Mohammad Saeid Noori Naeini (Iran, Islamic Republic of), Abdul Latif Rashid (Iraq) and Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé (Spain).

The next Director-General will be appointed for the period 1 January 2012 to 31 July 2015 and will be eligible for only one additional mandate of four years.

FAO Conference Website

OECD: Green Growth Website

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has created a website outlining its work on green growth and development.

U.S. and Peru: Environmental Cooperation

The US and Peru convened the 3^rd meeting of the Sub-Committee on Forest Sector Governance, the 2nd meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC), and the first meeting of the Environmental Cooperation Commission (ECC) from 27-28 April in Washington, DC. The Sub-Committee discussed progress in implementing the Annex on Forest Sector Governance of the Environment Chapter of the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA), focusing on Peru’s efforts to pass a new forestry and wildlife law, including its consultation process with local communities. 

Africa: TICAD Ministerial Follow-up

The 3rd Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Follow-up Meeting convened in Dakar (Senegal) from 1-2 May 2011 and addressed economic development, climate change and low-carbon growth, and sustainable development in Africa. Participants adopted a communique at the conclusion of the meeting that has not yet been posted online.

TICAD Website

UNECE: Final Preparations for Astana

UNECE's Committee on Environmental Policy concluded, on 27 May, its special session devoted to the final preparatory activities for the 7th "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference from 21-23 September and approved the draft ministerial declaration outlining the pan-European agenda for the upcoming years.

UNECE press release
Documents of the special session

Water and Conflict

Water International has just published a special issue on, “Water and post-conflict peacebuilding."  This issue includes sections from the Water volume of the upcoming six-volume series on “Strengthening Post-Conflict Peacebuilding through Natural Resource Management”  put together by ELI and UNEP.