Coming up: 29 May 4 June
May 29, Tokyo, China. THE ROLE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. The objective of this workshop is to bring gender and infrastructure issues to the fore of the development agenda in the broader context of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development Conference. Through case studies presented by practitioners, academics, and donor representatives, participants will have the opportunity to share experience and knowledge on policies, programmes, projects, and tools which have given significant results. Discussions and interactions will enable participants to start building up a consensus on how to address these issues and to identify potential areas of cooperation for mainstreaming gender in the development of infrastructure in Africa. For further information please refer to The World Bank website
29-30 May, Bonn, Germany. INFORMAL PRE-SESSIONAL MEETING ON PROGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISION 1/CP.10. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Subsidiary Body for Implementation at its twenty-seventh session, requested its Chair to convene an informal pre-sessional meeting, in conjunction with its twenty-eighth session with representatives of interested parties. The meeting will consider further actions with regard to the adverse effects of climate change, including financial resources; vulnerability and adaptation assessments; adaptation planning and implementation; risk management and risk reduction; regional collaboration and cross-cutting issues; capacity-building, education, training and public awareness; and data, systematic observation and monitoring. With regard to the impact of the implementation of response measures, topics to be discussed include: financial risk management; modeling; and economic diversification. For further information please refer to the UNFCC website.
30 May - 1 June, Palampur, India. GLOBAL CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE: DELIVERING A HOLISTIC RESPONSE TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE. Climate change is the biggest challenge of our times and a serious threat to humanity. At the 3rd Global Conference on Social Responsibility, policy makers, business leaders, climate change experts and economists from across the world debated the growth models that combat climate change and alleviate poverty in a holistic manner. The main conclusion of the conference was that we must put business at the heart of climate change agenda and turn climate change into an opportunity for business innovation and social change. The convention recommended adoption of an holistic integrated 11-point growth model called ‘proactivate’. At Palampur businesses will present case studies of their policies and practices for combating climate change. For further information please contact Dr. S. Z. Qasim, email: jsa@iodonline.com; and refer to the website at www.wef.org.uk.
1-4 June, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. WORKSHOP ON DISPUTE SETTLEMENT; AGREEMENTS ON ANTIDUMPING, SUBSIDIES, AND SAFEGUARDS. The objective of the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s Project on Dispute Settlement in International Trade, Investment and Intellectual Property is to contribute to a permanent capacity in developing countries and countries with economies in transition as regards dispute settlement in the fields of international trade, investment and intellectual property. This workshop offers a general and up-to-date review of World Trade Organisation Dispute Settlement and Trade Remedies on the topics of anti-dumping measures, subsidies and countervailing measures and safeguards measures. For further information please refer to the UNCTAD website.
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.
2-6 June, Feria Valencia, Spain. 16TH EUROPEAN BIOMASS CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. The theme of the Biomass Conference and Exhibition is ‘From Research to Industry and Markets’. According to the Chair of the Conference, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schmid, “after the decision of the EU Council of Ministers in the Spring of 2007 to dramatically increase the share of renewable energies, biomass utilisation has to be seen in a new light: It is one of the few options which can provide a substantial part of this share in the near future.” Over 1,500 participants from more than 80 countries are expected to attend and learn about the latest breakthroughs in the field. The Exhibition, taking place in parallel with the Conference from 2-5 June, will feature the foremost companies and state-of-the-art products in the Biomass Industries. For further information please refer to the website at www.conference-biomass.com.
2-7, June, Manila, Philippines. ASIA CLEAN ENERGY FORUM (ACEF) 2008: INVESTING IN SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY SOLUTION. In recognition of the pursuit for clean energy solutions that address the growing challenges of climate change and energy security by policymakers, private sector firms, and non-governmental organisations, the Asian Development Bank, and cooperating partners, will host the Asia Clean Energy Forum 2008. The Forum aims to promote increased use of clean energy in Asia and the Pacific through donor cooperation and the promotion of successful clean energy policies and finance solutions that respond to the region’s climate challenge. The Forum will bring together a diverse group of 400-700 clean energy professionals including: government officials and policymakers; national and multinational financial institutions; private sector manufacturers, project developers and service providers; and researchers, academics, civil society groups, and development professionals working on clean energy and climate change. For further information please refer to the Asian Deveploment Bank website.
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.
3-5 June, Rome, Italy: HIGH LEVEL CONFERENCE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY: THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIOENERGY. Securing world food security in light of the impact of climate change may be one of the biggest challenges we face in this century. The recent thirty-fourth session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN Conference, held in November 2007, called for a series of expert meetings and stakeholder consultations on climate change and bioenergy, to be followed by a High-Level Conference on World Food Security and the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy. The preparatory meetings were held January-April 2008. This High-Level Conference has become even more relevant in light of soaring food prices and the additional challenges this situation poses to achieving global food security. Many heads of state and governments have confirmed their attendance, as well as the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, transforming the June High-Level Conference into a true summit on world food security. For further information, please refer to the website at http://www.fao.org/foodclimate/home1.html?no_cache=1.
3-5 June, British Columbia, Canada. BIOENERGY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2008. As nations begin to learn how to live in a post-Kyoto Accord world, the pace of alternative energy development quickens. Bioenergy holds within it the potential to transform the way we live in the world. In 2008 the third BioEnergy Conference and Exhibition will be held at Prince George, one of one of the forestry capitals of the world. Prince George perfectly to lead the dialogue on the new technologies and processes that will bring about a global change in the way we perceive and use energy. For further information, please refer to the website at http://www.bioenergyconference.org/index.php.
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 OECD website.
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 OECD website.
4-6 June, Johannesburg, South Africa. FIFTH AFRICAN ROUNDTABLE ON SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION. Participants will discuss the African 10-Year Framework Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production, which was approved in March 2005 by African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN). For further information please refer to the UNEP website.
WTO Events
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at: http:/www.wto.org/meets_public/meets_e.pdf. 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. Unless otherwise indicated, all WTO meetings are held at the WTO, Centre William Rappard, rue de Lausanne 154, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and are open to WTO Members and accredited observers only.
26-30 May: NEGOTIATING GROUP ON TRADE FACILIATION
2 June: DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY
3 June: COMMITTEE ON TRADE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES
3 June: COMMITTEE ON SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS
3-4 June: WORKING PARTY ON GATS RULES
Other Upcoming Events
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. For further information, please refer to the website at https://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/conferences/view/-/id/118/.