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29 September - 3 October, Dubrovnik, Croatia. FIFTH DUBROVNIK CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT SYSTEMS. The conference is dedicated to the improvement and dissemination of knowledge on methods, policies and technologies for increasing the sustainability of development, taking into account its economic, environmental and social pillars, as well as methods for assessing and measuring sustainability of development, regarding energy, transport, water and environment systems and their many combinations. Sustainability being also a perfect field for interdisciplinary and multi-cultural evaluation of complex system, the Dubrovnik Conference has during the first decade of the 21st century become a significant venue for researchers in those areas to meet, discuss, share, and disseminate new ideas. Visit http://www.sdewes.fsb.hr/ for more information.
5-6 October, Paris, France. WORKSHOP AND POLICY DIALOGUE ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE: PROMOTING GOOD PRACTICES IN SUPPORT OF OPEN MARKETS. Technical regulation, standards and conformity assessment requirements must be met by a large and growing proportion of internationally traded goods. This is also a field in which many developing countries seek to build stronger technical capacity. As a follow-up to a similar workshop held in Berlin in 2005, the Trade Committee of OECD is hosting this one-and-a-half day event to promote dialogue among trade officials, regulators, standards developers and users from OECD and non-OECD countries on market-access issues related to development and use of these measures and to strengthen the knowledge base for work programmes in the WTO and other forums. Participants will take stock of developments in the field and exchange views on orientations for good practice that support open markets. Topics include the role of standardisation on the global climate change and green growth policy agenda, good regulatory practice applications and how regional trade agreements address TBT-related barriers to trade. For more information see the event’s website www.oecd.org/trade/tbt09 or contact barbara.fliess@oecd.org.
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.
2 October: COMMITTEE ON MARKET ACCESS
5 October: NEGOTIATING GROUP ON TRADE FACILITATION
5-6 October: COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES
6 October: WORKING PARTY ON GATS RULES
7-9 October: TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY - CHILE
Other Upcoming Events
12-16 October, Geneva, Switzerland. UNECE TIMBER COMMITTEE WEEK. The Timber Committee week will focus in particular on the impacts of the economic crisis on the forest sector and the opportunities for the sector’s recovery and long-term development through its enhanced contribution to a green economy. Like many other sectors, the forest sector in UNECE countries has been badly hit by the economic crisis, which caused falling prices, reduced income, mill closures, job cuts and budget reductions. Yet the forest sector can make a significant contribution to the global effort to address both the socio-economic crisis and growing environmental challenges. The sector has strong potential to contribute to a greener economy and a more sustainable society by promoting the sustainable use of wood for wood energy, green building and other green products and services. For more information and to register, please visit http://timber.unece.org/index.php?id=125
14-16 October, London, United Kingdom. FIFTH INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING. This conference, hosted by Chatham House, will bring together experts and policy-makers working on issues related to illegal fishing from around the world to explore the latest initiatives, regulations and research in fisheries governance and trade in illegal fish products. Building on the success of previous meetings, the agenda will contain sessions on the new EU IUU fishing regulation, the economic implications of IUU fishing, addressing IUU fishing in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, controlling & monitoring IUU fishing and fisheries governance. To kick off the conference, Chatham House and WWF will be hosting a screening of the film “The End of the Line: How Overfishing is Changing the World and What We Eat’” on 14 October from 6.00 to 8.30 pm at Chatham House. The film will be followed by a discussion with panellists from industry, government and civil society. The Forum and film screening are open to all. However, pre-registration is essential and must be received by Friday 2 October to guarantee admission. To register, please contact Tim Eaton at tea…@chathamhouse.org.uk and let us know which event(s) you would like to attend. More information on the forum is available at http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1218/.
22-23 October, Washington DC, USA. DIALOGUE ON FORESTS, GOVERNANCE, AND CLIMATE CHANGE. Jointly organised by Chatham House, the Rights and Resources Initiative and the World Resources Institute, this is the second in a series of meetings aiming to promote learning and frank discussion on the key issues facing forests and forest communities as the world scales up efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The meeting will focus on the international implications of the Waxman-Markey bill now working its way through the US Congress, as well as the preliminary steps by the UNREDD and FCPF to establish REDD Readiness in developing countries to date. The meeting is open to all, and there is no charge for admission. However, preregistration is essential, and you must register by the end of Friday 15 October to be guaranteed admission. To register, please send your name and affiliation to Lucy Ellinas at climateforest.registration@chathamhouse.org.uk
26-28 October, Geneva, Switzerland. THE 2009 BRIDGES CHINA DIALOGUE. CHINA AND GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY: TRADE, ENERGY CONSERVATION AND LOW-CARBON INITIATIVES. Against the backdrop of the current recession, China’s economic and political landscape is of paramount importance in facilitating a speedy global recovery. The 2009 Bridges China Dialogue will bring together experts from government, business, academia and civil society organisations for an in-depth discussion and examination of China’s market dynamics and policy implications with regards to a global sustainable recovery. For information on panels, speakers and attendance, please visit the meeting’s website: www.bridgeschina.com
2-3 November 2009, Bangkok, Thailand. ASIA-PACIFIC TRADE ECONOMISTS’ CONFERENCE. Under the heading “Trade-led growth in times of Crisis,” the conference will be an opportunity for trade researchers and policy makers to discuss implications of the global economic crisis for trade in the Asia-Pacific region. The conference will feature panel discussions led by eminent trade specialists and presentations by researchers on a wide range of trade-related issues, including trade governance, trade facilitation, trade liberalisation in services, and trade and development. The conference will celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Research and Training network on Trade (ARTNeT) and is organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the InternationalDevelopment Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Centre in Colombo, and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The conference brochure can be viewed athttp://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/mtg/ARTNeT%20conference-1.pdf with organizational details listed on the Conference website http://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/artnet_conference.asp. Please register by writing to artnetontrade@un.org (no registration fee).
24-25 November, Geneva, Switzerland. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT. Risk permeates all aspects of life. A professional management of uncertainty is essential for the resilience and effectiveness of all organizations, be they governmental or business. The conference is organised to promote an exchange of experience on the use of risk assessment and management techniques in: technical regulations; standards; conformity assessment; accreditation; metrology; and market surveillance. The conference will benefit from input from academia, governmental authorities, international standards organizations, conformity assessment bodies and business associations. For more details, please visit http://www.unece.org/trade/wp6/documents/2009/2009_ConferenceRisk.htm
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