For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies.
Coming up in the next two weeks
23 October - 1 November, New Delhi, India: COP 8 AND SESSIONS OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODIES (SBI AND SBSTA) UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE Organised by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. For further information, contact: Ms. Isabelle Colineau, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Science & Technology Programme; tel: (49-228) 815-1425; fax: 815-1999; email: icolineau@unfccc.de ; Internet: http://www.unfccc.de
24 - 26 October, Delhi, India: THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM FOR CHP AND DECENTRALIZED ENERGY CONFERENCE. Organised by Winrock International India. Central themes of the event will be the GHG emission reduction impacts of DE and the application of DE in developing countries. For further information, contact: tel: (91-11) 614-2965; fax: 614-6004; email: winrock@vsnl.com ; Internet: http://www.localpower.org/pages/Brochure%20.pdf
24 October, New Delhi, India: “IMPACT OF UNSUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS ON CLIMATE CHANGE: THE ROLE OF CONSUMER GROUPS.” Organised by the CUTS Centre for Sustainable Production and Consumption. This event will discuss the history and background of Climate Change Treaty, and the importance of COP8 for developing countries in particular India. It will also highlight the linkage between unsustainable production and consumption patterns and climate change and the role that consumer organisations and consumers can play to reduce greenhouse gas emission. The event will try to generate a plan of action involving consumer groups to take measures that could change unsustainable production and consumption pattern that has been aggravating climate change. For further information contact: Sajeev K.S. Nair; email: cutsarc@zamnet.zm ; tel: (260-1) 224-992; fax: 225- 220; Internet: www.cuts.org
25 October, Geneva, Switzerland: “WIPO-UPOV SYMPOSIUM ON THE COEXISTENCE OF PATENTS AND PLANT BREEDERS’ RIGHTS IN THE PROMOTION OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS. ” Organised by The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The Symposium will provide a high-level forum for discussion and analysis. It is expected that it will identify areas for further action to enhance the co-existence of patents and plant breeders’ rights in the promotion of biotechnological developments. For further information, contact: tel: (41-22) 338-9233; fax: 733-0336; email: upov.mail@wipo.int Internet: http://www.wipo.int/globalissues/activities/2002/symposium/index.html
27-29 October Rome, Italy: 19TH SESSION OF THE PANEL OF EXPERTS ON PESTICIDE SPECIFICATIONS, REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATION STANDARDS AND PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT. Organised by U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization - FAO. For further information contact: Mr. Gero Vaagt, U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization - FAO; tel: (39-6) 570-52753; fax: 5705-6347; email: gero.vaagt@fao.org ; Internet: http://www.fao.org
28 October - 1 November, Manila, the Philippines: CGIAR Annual Meeting 2002. For further information, see: Internet: http://www.cgiar.org/meetings/agm02.htm
29 - 30 October, Quito, Ecuador: TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY IN THE AMERICAS. Organised by the Ecuadorian Center for Environmental Law. Discussions on key issues related to sustainable development within the framework of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) will be held. Discussions will cover investment, intellectual property rights and biodiversity, market access, sustainability assessments, and civil society participation and transparency. For further information, contact: CEDA - CENTRO ECUATORIANO DE DERECHO AMBIENTAL; telefaxes: (593-2) 2231-410/1; 2238-609; email: ceda@uio.satnet.net ; Internet: http://www.ceda.org.ec .
29 October - 1 November, Bishkek, Kyrgyztan: GLOBAL MOUNTAIN SUMMIT. The Bishkek Global Mountain Summit will be the feature event of the International Year of Mountains, drawing together the ideas and recommendations generated by previous events, from all levels and sectors of society, into proposals for concrete action. For further information, contact:; Andrei Iatsenia, UNEP Mountains Programme Coordinator; tel: (41-22) 917-8273; fax: 917-8036; e-mail: iatsenia@unep.ch ; or Andrew Fesenko; email: andrewf@mail.ru ; Internet: http://www.globalmountainsummit.org/Home_Page.html
30 October - 1 November, Denver, United States: ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE SUMMIT 2002. Attendees of this conference will emerge with the “state-of-the-practice” in performance management for environmental and natural resources programs. For further information, contact: Bret Johnson; tel: (001-703) 894-0481; fax: 894-0482 email: johnson@performanceweb.org ; Internet: http://www.performanceweb.org/pdf/E126.pdf .
4 - 9 November, Yokohama, Japan: 33RD SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER COUNCIL. For more information contact: International Tropical Timber Organization; tel: (81-45) 223-1110; fax: 223-1111; e- mail: itto@itto.or.jp ; Internet: http://www.itto.or.jp
3 - 15 November 2002, Santiago de Chile, Chile: 12th MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO CITES. The Parties will meet to decide whether to accept, reject or modify each of the 54 proposals that have been submitted by member countries (Parties) to amend the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). For further information, contact: tel: (41-22) 917-8139/40; fax: 797-3417; email: cites@unep.ch ; Internet: http://www.cites.org .
5 - 7 November, Prague, Czech Republic: ENERGY EFFICIENCY BUSINESS WEEK CONFERENCE 2002. This conference and trade show will examine different energy efficiency issues, and will be primarily directed at a business audience. For further information, contact: Romana Dvoøáková; tel.: (420-2) 2424-7552; fax: 2424-7597; email: romana.dvorakova@svn.cz ; Internet: http://www.svn.cz/eebw/html/index-e.htm
6 November, Guangzhou, China: ASIA-PACIFIC RESEARCH NETWORK CONFERENCE ON CHINA AND THE WTO. The conference will address the issue of China’s entry into the WTO and implications especially for the Asia-Pacific region. Through the conference, the Asia-Pacific Research Network (APRN) and its member organizations seek to expand linkages and cooperation with Chinese NGOs and academic institutions, not only on the WTO but also on other relevant issues. For further information, contact: APRN Secretariat; tel: (632) 713-2729; fax: 716-0108; email: secretariat@aprnet.org ; Internet: http://www.aprnet.org/fourth.htm .
7 - 8 November, Geneva Switzerland: COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES. Organised by the WTO.
7 - 9 November, Boston, United States: ECOLABELS AND THE GREENING OF THE FOOD MARKET. This conference for the food and drink industry and will focus on current trends in ecolabeling, and examining their value to consumers, the environment and the bottom line. For further information, contact: fax: (001-617) 627 3856; email: winnlie.lockeretz@tufts.edu ; Internet:: http://nutrition.tufts.edu/conted/ecolabels/ 7 - 8 November, Brussels, Belgium: TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE INVESTING CONFERENCE 2002. Organized by Brooklyn Bridge. This international conference will focus on sustainable investment. For further information, contact: Robert Rubinstein; tel: (31-020) 428-6752; fax: 7785504 / 4286753 (If faxing from Amsterdam do not dial 084); email: robert@tbli.org ; Internet: http://www.tbli.org/ .Other forthcoming events
11 - 22 November, Rome, Italy: FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION (CRIC). Reports submitted by affected country Parties, as well as those submitted by United Nations agencies, inter- governmental organizations and developed country Parties, will constitute the basis for the review at the first session of the CRIC, following a peer review of reports by affected country Parties to take place during the regional meetings that correspond to the regional implementation annexes of the Convention. For further information, contact: CCD Secretariat; tel: (49-228) 815-2802; fax: 815-2898/99; email: secretariat@unccd.int ; Internet: http://www.unccd.int/cop/cric1/menu.php
4 December, Hamburg, Germany: THE REGULATION OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs) IN INTERNATIONAL, EUROPEAN AND NATIONAL LAW. This seminar will feature the current regulatory framework and policy-making on genetically modified organisms within international, EU and national law. Academics, representatives from government, industry and NGOs will discuss the state of affairs and options for the future in various jurisdictions. For further information,contact: Ms. Karin Meyer- Pannwitt; tel.: (49-40) 766-18072; fax: 766-18078; email: meyer- pannwitt@tutech.de ; Internet: http://www.tutech.de
14 - 16 December, Islamabad, Pakistan: SECOND SOUTH ASIA WATER FORUM. This event will focus on the following themes: Groundwater in South Asia, Dams and development, Groundwater, poverty and IWRM, and Gender participation in groundwater management. For further information, contact: Karamat Ali; tel: (92-42) 920-2226; fax: 920-2485; email: s.pwp@cgiar.org ; Internet: http://www.gwpforum.org/servlet/PSP?iNodeID=204&itemId=2622