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UNCSD PrepCom Begins Discussion of Green Economy and Sustainable Development Governance

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:30:47 +0000

17 May 2010: The first Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) began its deliberations on the green economy and the institutional framework for sustainable development on 17 May 2010, at UN Headquarters in New York, US.
The three-day event commenced with the adoption of the PrepCom’s provisional agenda and programme of work. Two Contact Groups were created: the first to review the preparatory process; and the second to review the draft rules of procedure for the Conference. The Committee elected the following Bureau members: Maged Abdelaziz, Egypt; Charles Thembani Ntwaagee, Botswana; Asad Majeed Khan, Pakistan; Park In-kook, Republic of Korea; Jirí Hlavácek, Czech Republic; Tania Valerie Raguž, Croatia; Anna Bianchi, Argentina; John Ashe, Antigua and Barbuda; Paolo Soprano, Italy; and John Matuszak, US. Ashe and Park will also serve as Committee co-Chairs.
Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the UNCSD, said the 2012 Conference is one of the most important events on the UN agenda. He noted that, at a global scale, climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss and water shortages are some of the cross-border challenges threatening prospects for long-term growth and sustainable livelihoods.
Given that the PrepCom is only scheduled to meet for eight days in the coming two years, Sha suggested that delegates specify mechanisms through which it could use inputs from other intergovernmental and nongovernmental processes, such as: the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Summit; the review of the small island developing States (SIDS) Mauritius Strategy for Implementation (MSI+5); the meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Rio Conventions; the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council and Global Ministerial Environmental Forum; the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) Governing Council; and the least-developed-countries (LDCs) conference. He also underlined that the UN would dedicate a “significant” amount of resources to the Conference, with staff from UN entities to be seconded to the Conference’s dedicated secretariat. Sha also informed that inter-agency collaborative mechanisms had been set up, and the Environmental Management Group (EMG), headed by UNEP and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), would provide support both thematically and at country-level. [General Assembly Press Release] [UNCSD Website]

WORLD URBAN FORUM 5 DEVELOPS RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE INCLUSIVE CITIES

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:08:00 +0000

The fifth World Urban Forum (WUF-5), which took place from 22-26 March 2010, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme “The Right to the City: Bridging the Urban Divide,” was hosted by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the Government of Brazil. The event gathered a record of over 13,700 participants from 150 countries to discuss issues related to the sustainability of cities in the context of rapid urbanization, and a changing climate and environment. During the forum, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka unveiled the World Urban Campaign, which will provide a platform for action for local communities, neighborhoods and leaders to promote democracy and human rights, and enhance global health, food security and energy efficiency.
On 23 March, congress members of several countries participated in a debate on “Parliamentarians of the world about climate changes and human settlements,” coordinated by Peter Goetz, President of the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat. On 25 March, participants engaged in a dialogue on “Sustainable Urbanization: Cities in a Changing Climate,” during which they addressed broad concepts and ideas, and then held thematic open debates on: “Sustainable urbanization: cities in a changing climate,” which presented policies and practices that cities, governments and communities around the world are embracing to address the challenges of climate change; “Reducing vulnerabilities to climate change,” which stressed the need to address climate change impacts within a framework that acknowledges the presence of the urban divide and embraces social inclusiveness; and “Promoting inclusive and environmentally sustainable cities,” which addressed how cities can reduce their carbon footprint and effectively engage the informal sector in low carbon economic growth, while fostering inclusive economic development.
UN-HABITAT, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank jointly launched a Global Greenhouse Gas Standard for cities, which will provide a global and harmonized protocol for quantifying the amount of greenhouse gases emissions attributable to cities and local regions. It is expected that this common methodology for calculating GHG emissions on a per capita basis will support policy and access to finance, allowing cities to compare their performances.
During the closing ceremony, Tibaijuka called on governments and leaders at all levels to “provide the requisite resources and to make investments that will provide sustainable cities in a changing climate.” Participants also considered the recommendations from the World Urban Forum, which will be presented to the UN-HABITAT Ministerial Governing Council, a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly, scheduled to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2011. The Rio Declaration endorsed by participants outlines recommendations related to the need to promote civil society participation and governance to build inclusive policies and cities. The sixth World Urban Forum will be hosted by the Government of Bahrain in 2012.
Links to further information
World Urban Forum-5
UN-HABITAT Executive Director’s speech

AFRICA CARBON FORUM HOPES TO HELP BOOST AFRICA

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:08:00 +0000

The second Africa Carbon Forum, which was held from 3-5 March 2010, in Nairobi, Kenya, sought to help build on growing interest in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in Africa, and concluded with expectations for a boost in Africa’s share of the global carbon market. The Forum was held under the Nairobi Framework, an initiative launched in 2006 to help developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, to increase their participation in the CDM. It was organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UNFCCC Secretariat and the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), and brought together about 1,000 members of the public and private sectors.
Highlighting the prospects for the continent, John Kilani, Director of the Sustainable Development Mechanisms programme of the UNFCCC Secretariat, noted the growing number of projects in Africa and a growing number of countries hosting projects. He added that “some project developers are even prepared to pay a premium for offset credits originating from Africa, no doubt because they are confident in the long-term growth prospects for CDM on the continent.”
Also speaking during the Forum, Henry Derwent, IETA President and CEO, commented that, “Africa Carbon Forum 2010 has been a serious and businesslike meeting of people with African emissions reduction projects and people who want to invest in them. Africa’s slow start in the CDM business seems now to have been more about finding the right ways to structure projects in the sectors that are Africa’s national specialties than about a fundamental incompatibility.” The third Africa Carbon Forum is scheduled to be held in March 2011, in Morocco.
Links to further information
African Carbon Forum website
UNFCCC press release
UNEP press release

IFAD GOVERNING COUNCIL CONVENES 33RD SESSION

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:32:00 +0000

The Governing Council of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) held its 33rd session from 17-18 February 2010, in Rome, Italy, to discuss: the Eighth Replenishment of IFAD’s resources; IFAD’s budget; revisions of IFAD’s lending policies and criteria; progress on the performance-based allocation system; progress on the Global Mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); and a synthesis of the global meeting of the Farmers’ Forum 2010. Among other things, the Council called for investment in smallholders to accelerate progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Link to further information
IFAD Governing Council website

UNWTO LEADERS CALL FOR GREEN ECONOMY SUPPORTING GLOBAL POLICIES

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:37:00 +0000

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Ministers’ Summit convened in London, UK, on 10 November 2009. The Summit called for global policies that are supportive of the travel and tourism industry, recalling that tourism is one of the world’s top job creators and can be a key driver of recovery and the transformation towards the Green Economy. As the global economy recovers, governments were requested not to impose extra burdens on travel, such as fiscal measures, and to maintain stimulus policies in support of tourism as this in turn will contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Link to further information
UNWTO press release, 11 November 2009

UNEP YOUTH CONFERENCE DEMANDS ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:33:00 +0000

The largest ever youth gathering on climate change, the TUNZA International Youth Conference, convened in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, from 17-23 August 2009. The final statement from the Tunza International Youth Conference, entitled “Listen to our voices: the future needs leadership,” requests governments and citizens take action on climate change and commits themselves to work to address climate change.
In the statement, delegates requested governments to, inter alia, agree on a more fair, just and action oriented post-Kyoto agreement adopted and implemented by all countries. It requested citizens to, inter alia, commit to sustainable lifestyles to reduce individual carbon footprints. Delegates also committed to, inter alia, exchange information, connect and promote best practice activities on climate change.
Another outcome from the Conference includes a plan for young people to organize rallies in 100 cities across the world, as part of a major push to persuade governments to seal a meaningful deal at the UN climate change meeting in Copenhagen. The Conference was organized by UNEP, with support from several UN entities including UNICEF, UNFPA, FAO, WMO, UN-HABITAT, UNDESA, UNESCO and the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Links to further information
TUNZA Youth Statement
UNEP press release, 23 August 2009

UNEP GC25/GMEF Takes Decisions on Climate, International Environmental Governance and Mercury

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:36:02 +0000

23 February 2009: Delegates to the 25th Session of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC25/GMEF), which met from 16-20 February 2009, in Nairobi, Kenya, took 17 decisions including on international environmental governance, a significantly increased UNEP budget, support to Africa on climate change, and mercury. In the decision on support to Africa, the GC requests the UNEP Executive Director to work with the UN Economic Commission for Africa to provide technical support to the African Climate Policy Centre once established, and to promote the mainstreaming of climate change into social and economic development processes. On coordination within the UN, the GC welcomes the Executive Director’s efforts as chair of the UN Environment Management Group, including in promoting the UN’s commitment in moving towards climate neutrality. In addition, the GC approved funding to support climate change activities.

Another key outcome of the meeting was a decision to elaborate a legally binding instrument on mercury, which may have significant co-benefits with the climate regime.�
It is projected that mercury pollution will rise in part as a result of increased coal-burning in Asia, which also causes increased greenhouse gas emissions. Out of the 6,000 tons of mercury entering the environment annually, some 2,000 tons come from power stations and coal fires in homes. There are also growing concerns that, as climate change melts the Arctic sea-ice, mercury trapped in the ice and sediments is being re-released back into the oceans and into the food chain.
The decision (UNEP/GC/25/CW/L.4) established an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) to develop a legally-binding instrument on mercury, and states that the INC is to develop a comprehensive and suitable approach to mercury, including provisions to reduce atmospheric emissions and specify arrangements for capacity building. It further states that the INC should consider the following: approaches tailored to specific sectors; achieving cooperation and coordination to avoid unnecessary duplication of proposed actions with provisions in other agreements; and possible co-benefits.
The decision represents the first coordinated global effort to tackle mercury and the proposed legally-biding instrument could include both binding and voluntary approaches, together with interim activities, to reduce risks to human health and the environment. �
An open-ended working group meeting will be convened in the second half of 2009, to prepare for the work of the INC, which will hold its first meeting in 2010, with the goal of completing its work by GC-27 in 2013. The decision also recognizes the mandate of the INC may be supplemented by further decisions of the GC, potentially paving the way to further work on lead and cadmium. [IISD RS Coverage of the Meeting]

UN Environment Management Group Discuss Climate Neutral UN

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:16:05 +0000

10 December 2008: The 14th Senior Officials Meeting of the Environment Management Group (EMG) convened on 10 December 2008, in Poznań, Poland. Participants discussed: implementation of the 2007 commitment by the Chief Executives Board on moving towards a climate-neutral UN, including the development of a Climate Neutral Knowledge Management website that will document individual agency’s greenhouse gas emissions and reductions; the cost implications and budgetary modalities of purchasing carbon offsets; and future EMG work, including a possible strategic process and the strategy for implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the 2010 biodiversity targets.

On the former, participants discussed the significant
contributions of air travel to the UN’s climate footprint, and the
Issue Management Group on a Climate Neutral UN’s agreement for a common
approach on whether to use the Radiative Forcing Index as a metric. [Meeting Website]

Climate Neutral UN Workshop Documents Released

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:36:48 +0000

September 2008: The UN Environment Management Group has
released the working and reference documents for two workshops on Climate
Neutral UN. The first took place from 1-3 September 2008, in Geneva,
Switzerland, while the second will be held from 8-10 September 2008, in New
York, US.

The two workshops will provide participants with an overview and
explain greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory preparation on the first day. The second
day will be dedicated to discussing how to reduce GHG emissions and enhance
sustainability. And the third day will address knowledge management, offsets
and next steps. [Workshop website]

EMG Organizing Workshop on Climate Neutral UN

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:17:38 +0000

August 2008: The UN Environment Management Group (EMG) is
organizing a workshop on Climate Neutral UN, to be held from 1-3 September
2008, in Geneva, Switzerland.

[Workshop website]