For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar, http://www.trade-environment.org/page/calendar.htm.
Coming up in the next two weeks
1-5 June, Sao Paolo, Brazil. 12TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL LAW. The 12th International Congress on Environmental Law of the World Conservation Union presents an opportunity for dialogue among key stakeholders about best practices in the implementation of Payments for Environmental Services (PES) and the contribution that legal and institutional frameworks may provide to strengthen this mechanism’s effectiveness in areas such as land property, forests, biodiversity, water and fiscal law, among others. The findings from this dialogue will help the Department of Sustainable Development of the Organisation of American States validate its analytical work which will be of importance to the member states as they develop their PES national policies. For further information please refer to http://www.oas.org/dsd/SpecialMeetings/PESmeeting.htm.
2-13 June, Bonn, Germany. TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSIONS OF THE SUBSIDAIARY BODIES AND RELATED MEETINGS. As part of an ongoing series of negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol a series of meeting will take place in early June. These negotiations are focused in particular on finalising a multilateral agreement on climate change for after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol’s first ‘commitment period’ expires. The UNFCCC established two permanent subsidiary bodies: the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). These bodies give advice to the COP and the CMP, and each has a specific mandate. The SBSTA and the SBI traditionally meet in parallel, at least twice a year. The twenty-eighth sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation of the UNFCCC will be held from 4-13 June 2008. The second session of the Ad hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention and the second part of the fifth session of the Ad hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol will be held from 2-12 June 2008. For further information please refer to http://unfccc.int/meetings/sb28/items/4328.php.
2-6 June, Bremen, Germany: 11TH SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON FISH TRADE OF THE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES. There are five main items on the agenda: discussing current trends in the international fish market, especially in relation to rising food prices; moving towards international standardisation with the formulation of minimum “ecolabel” requirements on fish and fish-related products; assessing market access trends in import regions, and their effect on exporters in the developing world; drafting catch documentation schemes designed to track fish products across the production chain; and creating basic guidelines for responsible fish trade. Hosted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Internet: http://www.fao.org/fishery/meetings-news
3-5 June, Rome, Italy: HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY AND THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIOENERGY. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is organising this conference, which will address food security and poverty reduction in the face of climate change and energy security. The conference will seek to contribute to the UN system efforts in the field of climate change. A series of expert meetings and stakeholder consultations will take place during the January-April 2008 period as part of the preparatory process. Internet: http://www.fao.org/foodclimate/home.html?no_cache=1&L=7
3-5 June, Nairobi, Kenya: 5TH AFRICAN ROUNDTABLE ON SUSTAINABLE CONUSMPTION AND PRODUCTION (ARSCP-5). The Development of the African 10-Year Framework Programme (10-YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production as part of the Marrakech Process on the 10-Year Framework Programmes was facilitated by UNEP and UN-DESA in close consultation with the Secretariats of the Amrican Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) and the Secretariat of the African Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ARSCP). The African 10-YFP was approved in March 2005 by AMCEN. Internet: http://www.unep.org/roa/Projects_Programmes/10YFP/index.asp
3-6 June, Brussels, Belgium: GREEN WEEK 2008. Besides the problems of climate change, the scarcity of our planet’s natural resources and pollution, mankind is faced with equally pressing challenges related to production, consumption and waste disposal. Many people are unaware of the speed at which we are using up our natural resources, and that we are producing waste far faster than it can be turned back into a useful resource. Green Week 2008 will take a closer look at the sustainable use of natural resources, focusing on waste management, sustainable consumption and production. The event will provide a unique opportunity for debate, exchanges of experience and best practice among non-governmental organisations, businesses, various levels of government and the public. Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/greenweek/home.html
3-4 June, Paris, France. OECD FORUM 2008: CLIMATE CHANGE, GROWTH, STABILITY. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Forum is a ‘multi-stakeholder summit’ which brings together business and labour leaders, civil society personalities, government ministers and leaders of international organisations to discuss the hottest issues on the international agenda. It takes place in conjunction with the annual OECD ministerial summit. This year’s focus is on climate change and growth and stability. For further information please refer to the website at http://www.oecd.org/site/0,3407,en_21571361_39644413_1_1_1_1_1,00.html.
4-5 June, Paris, France. MEETING OF THE OECD COUNCIL AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL: OUTREACH, REFORM AND THE ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. The economic impact of climate change, rising food prices and a broad range of other trade, growth and development issues will be discussed at this year’s OECD Ministerial Council Meeting at OECD headquarters in Paris. Government leaders, OECD experts and representatives of business, labour, civil society and the media will debate the issues on the ministerial meeting agenda. Topics to be discussed include the current economic situation, the economics of climate change, the political economy of reform, the multilateral trading system, sovereign wealth funds, and key challenges for growth and prosperity. For further information please refer to the website at http://www.oecd.org/site/0,3407,en_21571361_40155017_1_1_1_1_1,00.html.
5 June, worldwide: WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2008. Recognising that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption. The main international celebrations of World Environment Day 2008 will be held in New Zealand. UNEP is honoured that the city of Wellington will be hosting this United Nations day. The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. For further information, please refer to the website at http://www.unep.org/wed/2008/english/.
16-17 June, London, UK: A NEW GLOBAL CLIMATE DEAL? ACHIEVING REAL COLLABORATION FOR A LOW CARBON FUTURE. This will be the 11th Chatham House conference on climate change. Topics will include how to balance economic growth with the need for emissions reductions in developing countries, developing low carbon technologies, carbon markets and equity, and climate strategies that can be agreed to in Copenhagen 2009. Internet: https://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/conferences/view/-/id/118/
Other Upcoming Meetings
17 June, Worldwide: WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION. The theme for 2008 World Day to Combat Desertification, “Combating Land Degradation for Sustainable Agriculture,” corresponds with the thematic agenda items to be discussed during the sixteenth and seventeenth sessions of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development: agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa. Tel: +49-228-815-2800 ; Fax: +49-228-815-2898; E-mail: secretariat@unccd.int; Internet: http://www.unccd.int
17-18 June, Seoul, Republic of Korea: CHANGING LANDSCAPES - TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY IN ASIA. This special event will be the first jointly hosted conference by the United Nations’ three leading sustainability driven organizations: Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), UNEP Finance Initiative and UN Global Compact. The conference will offer a unique platform for dialogue between financiers, investors and businesses on the latest issues in the field of sustainable finance, responsible investment and corporate citizenship at special joint afternoon sessions and an exclusive Gala dinner on 17 June. Over 600 participants from South Korea and abroad are expected to attend, including leaders in the field of business, politics, academia and civil society. The special joint breakout sessions held between the organizations will examine in greater detail environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors across the business activities of financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations. UNEP FI, in association with its partner in Korea, Eco-Frontier, will be hosting the ‘UNEP FI Conference on Sustainable Finance’ during the morning of the 17th and all day on the 18th of June. This event will run in parallel with the PRI and UN Global Compact events. The UNEP FI event will be examining the latest trends and issues in sustainable finance and responsible investment. Internet: http://www.changinglandscapes.org/