For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar at: http://www.ictsd.org/cal/index.htm.ICTSD Event
22 November, 10:00-13.00am, Room 3, International Environmental House (IEH), Geneva, Switzerland: ICTSD ROUNDTABLE ON "THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES OF MARKET ACCESS & RULEMAKING NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE GATS". The overall aim of this informal dialogue is to identify and clarify potential environmental implications – positive and negative – of the ongoing GATS negotiations within the WTO. Richard Blackhurst, Professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute of International Studies, and Michael Guery and Dominique Martin of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, among others, will give a 15-minute presentations on their view of the issue, after which the floor will be opened for an informal and open discussion. Given that there is limited seating, please RSVP to us your intention to participate to: Caroline Wiman, ICTSD, Geneva; fax: (41-22) 917 80 93; email: cwiman@ictsd.ch.
Coming Up This Week
12-16 November, Caracas, Venezuela: WORKSHOP ON RISK MONITORING AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY. Organised by Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias/CENIAP (Maracay, Venezuela) and Centro Tecnológico Polar (Caracas, Venezuela). For further information, contact: Dr. Efrain G. Salazar Yamarte; tel: (58-43) 471066; fax: 471066, 831421; email: efra63@hotmail.com; Internet: http://www.icgeb.trieste.it/~bsafesrv/bsfn0011.htm.
12-16 November, Montreal, Canada: SEVENTH MEETING OF THE CBD SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE. The theme for in-depth discussion at the meeting is forest biological diversity. Other substantive issues are: agricultural biodiversity, plant conservation strategy, incentive measures, indicators and environmental impact assessment. For further information, contact: CBD Secretariat, tel: (1 514) 288-2220; fax: 288-6588; email: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/meetings/sbstta-07.asp.
15-16 November, Vienna, Austria: CONFERENCE ON "THE ROLE OF PRECAUTION IN CHEMICALS POLICY". Organised by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. The symposium will analyse the status of the principle of precaution, a key principle of environmental law for anticipating and avoiding environmental damage before it occurs. For further information, contact: Cornelia Mader, Vienna; tel: (43-1) 51522-2337; fax: 51522-7334; email: Cornelia.Mader@bmu.gv.at; Internet: http://www.bmu.gv.at/u_chemie/chemikalienwesen/chemnews8/1st_announcemen t.pdf.
17-18 November, Ottawa, Canada: WORLD BANK AND IMF ANNUAL FALL MEETING. Issues for discussion include: "the global economic outlook in the wake of the tragic events of Sept. 11; their impact, in particular, on the poorest; the ongoing work to improve the stability of the international financial system; and the preparations for the forthcoming U.N. Conference on Financing for Development." For further information, contact: The World Bank Group; tel: (202) 477-1234; fax: 477-6391; Internet: http://www.worldbank.org/.
19-24 November, Bangkok, Thailand: FISH FOR PEOPLE. Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security in the New Millennium, organised by the ASEAN-South East Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC). For further information, contact the Conference Secretariat, fax (66 2) 940 6336; email: secretariat@seafdec.org; Internet: http://www.seafdec.org/.
WTO
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.doc. 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. For further information on WTO events contact: WTO Information and Media Relations Division, Geneva; tel: (41-22) 739- 5007; fax: 739-5458; email: enquiries@wto.org.
19 - 21 November, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO TEXTILES MONITORING BODY.
21 November, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE IN CIVIL AIRCRAFT.
21 & 23 November, Geneva, Switzerland: TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY - SLOVAK REPUBLIC.
Other Forthcoming
23 November, Geneva, Switzerland: PRESENTATIONS: UNFPA ON ENVIRONMENT AND POPULATION & UNEP ON SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION. A brief discussion and refreshments will follow the presentations of these two new United Nations reports. For further information contact: The International Environment House; tel: (41-22) 917-8505; fax: 797-3464; email: info@environmenthouse.ch; Internet: http://www.environmenthouse.ch.
5 December, Geneva, Switzerland: UNEP/GEF BIOSAFETY PROJECT: A BRIEFING ON GOALS AND ACTIVITIES. The UNEP/GEF Biosafety Project will host this meeting to promote regional and sub-regional collaboration on issues relevant to developing countries’ national biosafety frameworks. For further information, contact: The International Environment House; tel: (41-22) 917-8505; fax: 797-3464; email: info@environmenthouse.ch; Internet: http://www.environmenthouse.ch.