SADC: Countries Establish Transfrontier Conservation Area

On August 18, during the Southern African Development Community Summit in Luanda (Angola) the Presidents of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe signed the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Treaty legally establishing the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA). The treaty allows the area to potentially become the world's largest conservation area, spanning 444,000 square kilometers incorporating a number of national parks, conservancies, forest reserves and wild management areas, which are home to Africa's "big five" and other species such as cheetah, African wild dog, sable and roan antelope.
The Memorandum of Understanding serving as the basis for negotiations

More Information

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).

FAO: Urban Forestry

FAO has announced that it is helping to develop guidelines for decision-makers on urban and peri-urban forestry. To be published in July 2012, the guidelines are to promote sound policies and review good practices, highlighting lessons learned from initiatives around the world.

Press Release

UNCSD "Making It Happen": Vol. 2 Issue 18

The Secretariat of UNCSD (Rio+20) has released a special issue of its newsletter with a focus on Major Groups’ perspectives. It also features a proposal by Colombia and Guatemala to develop Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to complement the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and 17 draft SDGs (beginning on page 12 of this document) recently proposed by civil society experts.

Global Soil Partnership

The Global Soil Partnership (GSP) for Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation seeks to build capacities and forums for exchanging knowledge and technologies of sustainable management of soil resources. It plans to propose national and international quality-soil health best practices, standards, guidelines and monitoring systems and will address the following five pillars of action:
- harmonizing guidelines and standards for measurement;
- strengthening soil data and information;
- promoting targeted soil research focusing on gaps and priorities;
- promoting sustainable management of soil research and improved global governance; and
- encouraging investment and technical cooperation in soils.

GSP Website
GSP Brochure

GSP-4: Toward Final Recommendations

The 4th meeting of the UN/S-G's High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP) discussed the first full draft of its report on 18-19 September. Three “anchor areas” have emerged, which will now provide a framework for final recommendations. Panel members confirmed that following the first two sections – “where we are now” and “where we want to be” – their report will present concrete ideas for a way forward. These ideas are likely to be clustered around three areas: a sustainable economy; lifestyles and livelihoods; and institutions and accountability. The Panel’s final meeting will take place on 13-14 December and the final report will be handed over to the UN/S-G in January 2012.

The report from GSP-4 will be available here

UN/HRC: Resolution on Climate Change

The Human Rights Council closed its 18th regular session, adopting 33 texts on a wide range of issues, including a resolution on human rights and climate change (A/HRC/18/L26/Rev.1). Therein, the Council reiterates its concern that climate change poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to people and communities around the world, and has adverse implications for the full enjoyment of human rights.

EP: Defining EU Position for Rio+20

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on developing a common EU position ahead of the UNCSD (Rio+20), outlining its views on the concept of the green economy and desired outcomes of the Conference. Of special note is paragraph 97, which "Calls for the recognition of the Principle of Non-regression in the context of environmental protection as well as fundamental rights." A working group of the IUCN-Commission on Environmental Law (IUCN-CEL) was a key player in the inclusion of this principle of international law requiring that norms that have already been adopted by States should not be revised if this implies going backwards on the subject of standards of protection of collective and individual rights which have already been reached.

CBD Input to UNFCCC

A submission of the CBD Secretariat to the Secretariat of UNFCCC contains summaries of four expert workshops on the links between biodiversity and REDD+, including relevant biodiversity safeguards.

CITES: New Hardwood Species Listings

Following requests from Madagascar and Panama, CITES has announced that it will list 91 species of hardwood from Madagascar and Panama on its Appendix III, effective 22 December 2011. Appendix III lists those species identified by a CITES Party as being subject to regulation within its jurisdiction for the purpose of preventing or restricting exploitation, and as needing the co-operation of other Parties in the control of trade.
CITES Press Release

EC: Call For Italy to End Drift-net Fishing

The Commission has called on Italy to take measures to stop continued illegal use of drift-nets, which is in violation of a ruling from October 2009 by the Court of Justice on Italy's failure to adequately control and enforce the EU ban on the use of drift-nets. If no satisfactory actions are taken by Italy within two months of the Commission's letter, the Commission may refer this case to the Court of Justice again, this time asking the Court to impose significant financial penalties on Italy.

Press Release

CBD Executive Secretary Regarding Term of Office

The Executive Secretary of CBD, Ahmed Djoghlaf, has circulated a note on the relationship between the CBD and UNEP to UNEP’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), containing his interpretation of the provisions of the revised administrative arrangements between UNEP and the CBD Secretariat, in response to the interpretation provided by the UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner.

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.

UNEP: Forests and Orangutans

UNEP has released a report under the Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), titled “The Orangutan and Economics of Forest Conservation in Sumatra.” It makes recommendations for conserving orangutan populations in Sumatra, including: - designating new forested areas in Sumatra for REDD+ ;
- further resource development, including palm oil plantations, should be concentrated on land with low current use value; and
- establishing income-generating alternatives for areas that are important for biodiversity, such as sustainable tourism.

UN/GA General Debate: Expectations for Rio+20

During general debate of the 66th UN/GA, a number of speakers outlined their expectations ahead of UNCSD (Rio+20), and some addressed the sustainable development challenges facing SIDS.
Plenary Summary from 26 September
Pleanar Summary from 27 September
President's Closing Remarks

UN/S-G Report: "Harmony with Nature"

As requested by UN/GA Resolution 65/164, this report examines the historic and evolving relationship of humankind with nature, as reflected in environmental legislation, and with consideration of the question, “nature: to have or to be?” It recommends that States:
- consider a declaration recognizing nature’s intrinsic value and its regenerating capacity, in the context of UNCSD (Rio+20);
- improve the knowledge base on Harmony with Nature; and
- continue showcasing, through the UN’s sustainable development websites, the work being undertaken to advance development for all in Harmony with Nature, integrating the economic, social and environmental pillars.

Webpage on Harmony with Nature

Pacific: Coastal Management Report

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) have released a report presenting 17 case studies of coastal management throughout the Pacific region.

Rio+20 and Sustainability Reporting?

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSR) Coalition has called on UN member States to develop and adopt a global policy framework at UNCSD (Rio+20) requiring listed and large private companies to integrate sustainability information throughout their annual reports and accounts, or explain why they are unable to do so. According to the Coalition, the international policy framework should adhere to the overriding, key principles of transparency and accountability.
CSR Wire News Release

UN/HRC: Right to Water and Sanitation

The UN Human Rights Council has adopted, by consensus, a resolution on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation (A/HRC/18/L1).

IPBES: Recommendations for Scientific Assessments

The report of the International Science Workshop on Assessments for IPBES has been issued containing recommendations and options for policy-makers, inter alia, the scope and nature of  assessments, and the number and type of working groups needed to effectively carry out these assessments. This document has been submitted to UNEP and is intended to be proposed to policymakers at the meetings of the IPBES plenary in October 2011 and February 2012.

Network for Asia, Australia and Pacific

The Asia Pacific Network for Environmental Governance (APNEG) has recently been founded to promote the interdisciplinary study of governance of the environment at different scales and with an interdisciplinary approach to address complex environmental issues.

Indus Waters Treaty Arbitration

On September 23, the Court of Arbitration constituted under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 in respect of the Indus Waters Kishenganga Arbitration, between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of India, issued its Order on the Interim Measures Application of Pakistan dated June 6, 2011.

The two questions identified by Pakistan as being at the centre of the dispute are:

a. Whether India’s proposed diversion of the river Kishenganga (Neelum) into another Tributary, i.e. the Bonar Madmati Nallah, being one central element of the Kishenganga Project, breaches India’s legal obligations owed to Pakistan under the Treaty, as interpreted and applied in accordance with international law, including India’s obligations under Article III(2) (let flow all the waters of the Western rivers and not permit any interference with those waters) and Article IV(6) (maintenance of natural channels)?

b. Whether under the Treaty, India may deplete or bring the reservoir level of a run-of-river Plant below Dead Storage Level (DSL) in any circumstances except in the case of an unforeseen emergency?

.

UNECE: EfE-7

The 7th “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference in Astana (Kazakhstan) from 21-23 September concluded with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration titled “Save water, grow green!” Through the Declaration, ministers agree to take the lead in the transition to a green economy and to make substantive contributions to the discussions on green economy within the context of sustainable development, poverty alleviation and UNCSD (Rio+20).
Report
Chair's Summary

UN/GA: High-level Event on Desertification

Prior to the opening of its 66th session, the UN/GA convened a High-level Meeting on addressing desertification, land degradation and drought in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. Following deliberations, the Office of the President of the General Assembly presented a summary of the discussions, and said it would be referred to UNCCD/COP-10 and Rio+20.

See the following links for more information:
UN Summary of Event
Statement of GA President
Statement of UN Secretary-General
Webcast of Opening Plenary
Webcast of Panel 1
Webcast of Panel 2
Webcast of Closing Plenary
UNCCD Website for UNGA High Level Event
GA President's Summary of Discussions]

Yasuni-ITT Initiative Gains Traction

At a High-Level Meeting held during the 66th session of the UN/GA, the UN/S-G praised the Yasuni-ITT Initiative* for showing that "sustainable development is possible, it only takes leadership, creativity and commitment." The UN/GA President encouraged countries to share the lessons learned and best practices from the Initiative, and to bring them to bear at the at UNFCCC/COP-17, as well as Rio+20.During the meeting, the Trust Fund received pledges totaling US$53.3 million from the Governments of Colombia, Italy and Peru, and from regional governments in Belgium and France.

Ban Ki-moon's Remarks
UN/GA President's Remarks



* In 2006, the Government of Ecuador proposed to indefinitely refrain from exploiting the 860 million barrel Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) oil reserve in the Yasuni National Park if the international community could provide it with at least half of the estimated US$7.2 billion value of the reserves. In August 2010, Ecuador and UNDP agreed to set up a trust fund with an initial goal of reaching $100 million by end-2011. The trust fund was first open only to governments and corporations willing to donate US$100,000 or more, but on 12 September 2011 UNDP announced it would also start accepting donations from individuals and others for as little as US$25. Trust fund monies are to be earmarked for social development, renewable energy, reforestation and conservation, as well as for research, science, technology and innovation.

G-77/China: Ministerial Declaration

The 35th annual meeting of the G-77/China Ministers for Foreign Affairs adopted a Ministerial Declaration on 23 September recognizing, inter alia, the important outcomes of CBD/COP-10, MOP-5 of the Cartagena Protocol, calling for the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 as the overarching biodiversity framework, and reaffirming the importance of the draft multi-year plan of action on south-south cooperation on biodiversity for development, to be adopted at CBD/COP-11.

UNECE: Forest Sector in 2010-2030

The European Forest Sector Outlook Study II (EFSOS II) covers the 27 members of the EU, as well as Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, illustrating the consequences of today's policy choices for the future of forests.

UNECE: 2nd Transboundary Water Assessment

 

The "Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters," covers over 140 transboundary rivers, 25 transboundary lakes, about 200 transboundary groundwaters, and 25 sites designated under the Ramsar Convention and other wetlands of transboundary importance. It presents a broad analysis of transboundary water resources, pressure factors, quantity and quality status, and transboundary impacts, as well as management responses and future trends.

Aichi Targets Task Force

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was recently signed between the CBD Secretariat and 27 international agencies, organizations and environmental conventions, aiming to achieve and implement the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets.The MoC creates a task force to provide a platform for agencies to coordinate their activities at global and national levels during the UN Decade on Biodiversity.The first meeting of the task force will convene in October 2012, in Hyderabad (India), in conjunction with the high-level segment of CBD/COP-11.
CBD Press Release

CBD/Ramsar: Joint Work Plan

A new four year work programme between CBD and the Ramsar Convention has been finalized and will be submitted to the respective COPs in 2012.

Press Release

"Europe's Environment: An Assessment of Assessments"

UNECE and the European Environment Agency (EEA) have launched an Assessment of Assessments report recommending ways to align environmental information and policy making, with a focus on water and the green economy. The recommendations were issued to the ministers meeting at the 7th Environment for Europe Conference, convening in Astana (Kazakhstan) from 21-23 September.

Call for ICJ To Examine GHG Damage

During the UN/GA general debate, Palau's President Johnson Toribiong announced that his Government, as well as that of the Marshall Islands has called upon the UN/GA to seek, on an urgent basis, an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the responsibilities of States under international law to ensure that activities carried out under their jurisdiction of control that emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) do not damage other States.
Toribiong's Statement
UN Press Release

EU: Resource Efficiency Roadmap

In a new Communication, the European Commission has unveiled a road map for transforming Europe's economy into a resource-efficient one by 2050.

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

Indigenous Peoples: Report from UN/HRC Special Rapporteur

 

Addressing the 18th session of UN/HRC, James Anaya presented his report mainly devoted to analyzing the impact of extractive industries operating within or near indigenous territories. The report is the result of answers by Governments, indigenous peoples, corporations and civil society to a questionnaire on the issue. Conclusions of the Special Rapporteur include the need to continue study of the issue through further consultations, towards operationalizing the rights of indigenous peoples in the context of natural resource extraction affecting indigenous territories, in order to be able to present a specific set of guidelines or principles by 2013.

Rio Conventions: Joint Liaison Group

The Executive Secretaries of CBD, UNCCD and UNFCCC have reported the adoption of the proposed terms of reference and modus operandi for the Joint Liaison Group of the Rio Conventions, which will now be sent to the Conferences of the Parties of the participating Conventions.

ADB and Green Growth

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released a report titled “Greening Growth in Asia and the Pacific,” which aims to present a snapshot of ADB’s support to environmentally sustainable growth in the region. It also sets out ADB’s medium-term operation programme on the environment, which will focus on three strategic directions:
- promoting transitions to sustainable infrastructure, including infrastructure that will counteract the causes and consequences of climate change;
- improving natural resource management and maintaining ecosystem integrity; and
- building environmental governance capacity.

Opening of 66th UN/GA

The 66th UN/GA opened with calls from its President, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser (Qatar) and the UN/S-G to address sustainable development as a top priority.
Statement of President
Statement of UN/S-G

UN/EMG: 17th SO Meeting

The 17th senior officials meeting of the UN Environmental Management Group (EMG) has decided to continue to provide a platform for enhancing synergy among the work of individual specialized agencies, programmes and funds working in environment in the lead up to Rio+20
More Information

African Position for Durban

African Ministers for the Environment met for the 4th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and concluded with the adoption of the Bamako Declaration, which endorses the African Common Position as the basis for negotiations at the upcoming UNFCCC/COP-17.

The full text of the Declaration will be made available at: http://www.unep.org/roa/amcen/Amcen_Events/4th_ss/default.asp

UNCTAD: Annual Report

The 2010 Annual Report of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) summarizing  research and cooperation activities towards development-led globalization has been released here: http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/dom2011d1_en.pdf.

Accountability for Environmental Governance

The Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future has released a new policy brief titled “Rio+20: Accountability and Implementation as Key Goals," in which the authors assert that UNCSD (Rio+20) is an opportunity to strengthen global environmental governance through, inter alia, four “accountability-enabling mechanisms”: improved metrics and reporting mechanisms; transparency mechanisms; compliance mechanisms; and capacity building.

Bottom Fishing and Deep Sea Fish Stocks

Further to a request from the UN/GA, the UN S-G organized a workshop from 15-16 September to discuss implementation of paragraphs 80 and 83-87 of resolution 61/105 and paragraphs 117 and 119-127 of resolution 64/72 on sustainable fisheries, addressing the impacts of bottom fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of deep sea fish stock.
Workshop Agenda

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.