Bergen Dialogues
News
Euro Environment 2000
Urban Environment Forum
UNEP Voluntary Initiatives
The Aarhus Convention
Kiev 2003 NGO Prep. Com
Earth Summit 2002 book review
Diary Dates, Events & Conferences

Bergen Ministerial Dialogues Multi-stakeholder Participation

  This years Informal Environment Ministers Meeting included an interesting new development - the inclusion of Multi-stakeholder Dialogues.  As the form of the Summit in 2002 starts to take shape, this meeting presented a timely opportunity to develop new decision making mechanisms.  UNED Forum reports.
  For three days in September environment ministers from over 30 countries, heads of key UN Agencies and representatives of Multilateral Cooperation Agencies gathered together in Bergen, Norway, for the 8th Informal Meeting of Environment Ministers. Their discussions covered institutional environmental governance, climate change; sustainable energy and the Rio +10 process. 'Many beautiful words have been said since the Rio summit' said Ghana's environment minister and co-chair of the meeting Cletus A Avoka, 'now we need to see some action. Rio +10 should not be taken as a business as usual activity. It should have achievable objectives aimed at addressing the challenges of sustainable development in the new millennium'. 
  The need to incorporate poverty eradication into environmental issues was at the fore of discussions. As Klaus Toepfer, executive director of UNEP told an Earth Times  reporter, 'It is impossible to have a fruitful discussion on how to improve our ecosystems without addressing poverty. In 1992 most developed countries pledged to donate 0.7% of their GNP to ODA, but only a few did. There is a need for re-commitment, a huge necessity to re-establish the spirit of Rio'.
  The dialogue session held during the 1990 UNECE Bergen meeting was a welcomed innovation and of course, that meeting was an important preparation for the 1992 Earth Summit. Civil society participation at Rio was unprecedented and has been further refined through the introduction of multi-stakeholder  dialogue sessions at the annual UNCSD meetings. In recognition of the need to advance participatory discussions at the international level, the Norwegian government decided to incorporate a dialogue session in the 2000 Bergen meeting. It was the first time that civil society participation had been permitted in this annual series of environment ministerial meetings.  
  UNED Forum coordinated the 3 hour dialogue session and worked together with umbrella organisations who represented business, local government, trade unions, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples and Women.  During the preparatory process, the participating groups discussed which topics to tackle and agreed upon a methodological framework for the background papers. It was clear to all that poverty eradication has to be properly addressed and integrated at the next Earth Summit. Access to sustainable supplies of water and energy emerged as the most crucial issues for the attention of environment ministers. They are indispensable to the satisfaction of basic needs and intrinsically linked to poverty, environmental degradation and inequitable patterns of production and consumption.  
  Conducting a dialogue on energy and water also complements preparations for other international policy processes. This year, the 2nd World Water Forum demonstrated the political complexity of freshwater issues and water is emerging as a top priority for consideration at Rio +10.  In any event, there will be an international freshwater conference in Germany next year to review Chapter 18 of Agenda 21.  Energy is scheduled for discussion at CSD9, and will also be the subject of the multi-stakeholder dialogue sessions at that meeting.
  The dialogue session, which was chaired by Derek Osborn of UNED,  started with discussion on Access to Energy for a Sustainable Future.  The session was opened by brief presentations from Mr Fjell, CEO and President of Statoil (a Norwegian oil company), Ms Brighi of the National Confederation of Trade Unions, Ms Taipale from ICLEI for local government and Mr Beteta of Fundacion Solar, a Guatemalan NGO. Ms Tauli-Corpuz attended on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples CSD caucus and Minu Hemmati for the Women's CSD caucus. 
  During the dialogue on energy, Ms Tauli-Corpuz raised the point that Indigenous Peoples communities are often destroyed during resource extraction, yet they do not benefit from the energy produced. Dr Hemmati emphasised that if we want to pursue gender equity, we will have to look beyond issues of economics and technology and address human behaviour. Following the civil society presentations the floor was opened to the ministers and other delegates.  The debate was fairly lively and it was gratifying to hear ministers speaking frankly without the need to reach a formulated outcome.  They also displayed an interest in eliciting information from the stakeholder groups on what could be their contribution in addressing the issues. The discussion covered technology transfer particularly for the rural poor, the decline in R&D funding for renewable and appropriate small-scale technologies, subsidies and pricing, and the need for a more coordinated and holistic approach that links together food, water, energy, bio-diversity objectives.
  After a short coffee break, the session on Access to Water for Basic Needs was convened. Presentations were made by Richard Holme for the International Chamber of Commerce, Ms Taipale for ICLEI, Lucien Royer from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and Mr Strandenaes from the Norwegian Forum for Environment and Development. Once more, ministers were all keen to contribute to the dialogue and the discussions mainly focussed on government strategies to provide access to affordable water.  Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Ghana and China, amongst others pointed to the need for water pricing to take account of the local socio-economic and cultural context. In countries with large numbers of poor people, the removal of subsidies or implementation of full cost recovery for water is politically unrealistic. It was also recognised that something needs to be done to address the fragmentation of water policy between a plethora of different regional and international institutions. 
  The feedback from the sessions was positive. The Co-chair of the meeting, Norwegian environment minister Ms. Siri Bjerke said "This has strengthened my view that interactive debate should be the way".  Many other ministers and aides said they found it an interesting and worthwhile session.  This seemed to be particularly true for delegates from countries without a strong civil society presence in government.  The civil society participants found the preparatory process a valuable co-operative learning experience. The summary tables produced by UNED clearly demonstrated that there are several points of convergence between the groups on the basis of their background papers.  Given a longer preparatory process, the areas of convergence and conflict as highlighted in the papers could have been explored more substantially.  If stakeholders are serious about committing themselves to the issues raised, they have a responsibility to continue their dialogue and to explore their common ground.  
The conclusions from the dialogue session were written overnight and distributed to the meeting the following morning. Stakeholders urged ministers to consider how the process of multi-stakeholder engagement at international meetings can be developed into a recognised, transparent mechanism which links to the decision making process.  They also called for early preparations for 2002 allowing adequate time and resources for meaningful participation by stakeholders who are willing to play an active part in the process and that water, 
energy, poverty and equitable access to resources should be a priority for 2002.
  The presentations will be published together with the background papers and chairpersons conclusion in the full report of the dialogue session available at the end of October, from UNED and www.earthsummit2002.org
Danielle Morley, Project Coordinator, UNED Forum 
dmorley@earthsummit2002.org 

News, News, News...

Financing For Development - NGO & Private Sector Consultation

  Preparations for the June 2001 Financing For Development (FFD) high level global meeting.  The event itself will address development through the perspective of finance, as well as the mobilisation of financial resources for the implementation of action plans agreed at the UN Summits of the 1990's.
  In the coming months (see back page) the UN FFD Secretariat will be hosting consultations with Non-Governmental Organisations and representatives of the Private Sector.  This will enable Governments to broaden their own debates at next years high level.  The consultation meetings will address the following issues, which will be integrated into the main event in June 2001:
Domestic Financial Resources,
International Resources for Development,
Increasing international financial cooperation
Enhancing the coherence and consistency of the international systems in support of development.
  NGO's are also currently planning a 'Financing for Development week, from 5-9th November, to compliment the official hearings.  Activities planned include:
Daily NGO strategy meetings;
Discussions on 'hot issues' such as the currency transaction tax (CTT) and debt;
A session on 'Private Capital for Development' conducted by WEED;
Meetings between NGOs and their government representatives at the UN;
A briefing session on how NGOs can best influence UN processes; and 
Social events to establish relationships amongst governments, the UN Secretariat and NGOs.
  For more information on the FFD process and consultations, (all taking place in New York), contact the secretariat at:  Email:  pietracci@un.org or go online at:  
www.un.org/esa/analysis/ffd

13th Session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

  Over 2000 delegates gathered in Lyon, France earlier this month to advance negotiation on key climate change issues under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Representatives from 159 countries, non- and inter-governmental organisations and the business community worked to further the consensus-building process for UNFCCC implementation on greenhouse gas emissions.
  Since the UNFCCC entered into force in 1994, five meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP1-5) and twelve sessions of the UNFCCC's subsidiary bodies have taken place. Lyon marks the first part of the thirteenth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), which will continue at COP-6, November 2000.  COP-6 will also mark the two year deadline to strengthen implementation of the UNFCCC and prepare for ratification of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, under the Buenos Aires Plan of Action adopted at COP-4. 
  A week of informal consultations preceded SB-13, contributing to an intense fortnight of meetings and negotiations in order to prepare for a comprehensive agreement at COP-6. Delegates discussed text for decisions covering a range of technical and political issues and reached draft conclusions on key elements. 
  SBI adopted conclusions on financial mechanism and communications, and SBSTA reached conclusions on technology transfer, policies and measures (P&M) and land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). Key articles of the Kyoto Protocol were addressed, namely methodological issues (Article 5), communication (7) and review of information (8). Joint conclusions were reached on adverse effects, Protocol mechanisms and compliance. COP-6 at The Hague in November will focus on remaining issues including national communications and implementation of the Headquarters Agreement.
  Despite moving forward in key areas, participants had reason to be concerned about persistent divides at the close of this first session of SB-13. For many, an effective outcome at COP-6 is dependent on the resolution of "developing country issues" such as technology transfer, and the economic impacts of emission reduction measures by developed countries.
  Nigeria, on behalf of G77/China, and the Africa Group both expressed concern over the apparent unwillingness of developed countries to compromise their position. The G77/China, frustrated at the lack of movement, suggested that "needs assessment" was simply delaying action, whilst solutions such as the Capacity Development Initiative were being imposed upon developing countries.
  Parties expressed concern over the lengthy texts and number of unresolved issues at SB-13. Speaking on behalf of the business community, the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederation of Europe (UNICE) stressed the central role of industry and business in achieving the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol, and the hard work required for a successful outcome at COP-6. He highlighted the need to not limit the eligibility and use of any technologies in implementing the Protocol.
  Moving forward, a significant amount of work is required at consultations  throughout October to achieve further compliance. The establishment of groups such as the LDC group and Environmental Integrity Group should help to promote transparency and a wider range of interests. However, some parties fear that extensive groups will further complicate the already complex negotiations. 
  Michael Zammit Cutajar, Executive Secretary of the Convention urged that "key countries must start demonstrating real political leadership in order to ensure strong and effective action is launched to control greenhouse gas emissions". The most recent ratifications of the Kyoto Protocol, made during the Millennium Summit, brings the total to 29, all by developing countries. A heavy task awaits the incoming COP-6 President, Jan Pronk, Dutch Minister of Spatial Planning and the Environment.

IMF - World Bank Annual Meeting

  While the streets of Prague witnessed scenes similar to those last seen in Seattle (Nov. '99) at the WTO meeting , the World Bank (WB)/IMF Annual meeting convened to discuss Poverty, Inequality and Global Security. WB President, James Wolfensohn called on the international community to put equity and participation at the heart of development, declaring 'our challenge is to make globalisation an instrument of opportunity and inclusion - not of fear or insecurity'.
  With a view to curbing the instability of global financial markets, notably those elements that lead to the disruption of eastern economies 2 years ago, the meeting sought to ensure that globalisation will lead to sustained, non-inflationary economic growth, rather than volatile speculation.
  G7 nations took this meeting as another opportunity to call for OPEC to cut oil costs, no doubt further angering protesters outside the meeting, who once again stole many of the headlines.  Indeed as the meeting drew to a close a day early, delegates defended there position claiming discussions had progressed more quickly than anticipated and the violence outside the meeting had not impacted.
  South Africa's finance Minister, in his capacity as honorary chairman of this years meeting, chastised western governments for continuing to urge developing countries to embrace free markets, whilst protecting their own lucrative domestic markets from foreign developing country goods.
  It fell to the Czech president, Vaclav Havel, to find some common ground between the groups.  'We often hear about the need to restructure the economies of the poorer countries and about the wealthier nations being duty bound to help them accomplish this,' Mr. Havel said. 'but I deem it even more important that we should begin also to think about another restructuring - a restructuring of the entire system of values that forms the basis of our civilization today.'

Industry feeding into the Rio +10 process
Business meets sustainable challenges

  Leading decision-makers from business, government and influential environmental organisations will be gathering in Aalborg, Denmark on October 18-20, 2000 for the 2nd international EURO ENVIRONMENT conference on industry and environmental performance. They will to discuss the visions, strategies and concrete actions necessary for industry to take the process initiated by the UNCED summit in 1992 into the next phase and to identify common business issues to be prioritised for Rio +10 and beyond. 
  The conference is backed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and organised by a broad range of representatives from international business, authorities, organisations, etc.
  It is often announced that business must take a shared responsibility with governments and organisations if the sustainable society must be reached. Businesses in their capacity as employers, producers, skilful innovative developers and strategic movers are vital part of the solution to the challenges of sustainable growth and imminent global environmental problems.
  The EURO ENVIRONMENT 2000 conference includes all important actors in the debate on the environmental efforts of business and serves as a platform for exchange of constructive ideas and solutions to all the environmental challenges facing the world today.
  The WBCSD president Mr. Björn Stigson, who will chair the conference, underlines the importance of engaging all actors in the debate.
"Business cannot address the sustainable development challenges alone. Business needs an active dialogue with the other stakeholders in society. The relationships between governments, business and society and the dialogue that is being conducted today are promising. Therefore, I am optimistic about the achievements that we are going to see over the next years," says Björn Stigson.
  The overall conference theme subtitle is "Visions, Strategies and Actions towards Sustainable Industries". The conference deals with the link between industrial policy-setting and the environmental performance of individual companies, and it presents visionary and strategic goals as well as practical results of the sustainability processes of individual businesses.
  "All three concepts constitute necessary steps on the way forward: Without visions, sustainability is hard to define; with strategies it is possible to make plans for the future; and through actions we make the visions and strategies achievable. The aim of the three-day conference is to combine and visualise the more visionary and political thinking concerning the sustainability challenge with concrete solutions. Ideas have to materialise as actions if the problems are to be addressed successfully," says Mr. Hans Jörgen Brodersen, chairman of the planning committees behind the conference and senior environmental adviser to Deloitte & Touche. 
  Among the 100 prominent conference speakers are the Danish Minister for the Environment Svend Auken, UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer, Dow President for Europe Luciano Respini, WTO Deputy Director-General Paul-Henri Ravier, WWF Director-General Claude Martin, and World Bank VicePresident for Europe Jean-Francois Richard.
  They will address the conference on the following central issues:
Coming legislative initiatives affecting industry 
The response of business to the Rio +10 process 
Sustainable development through the market 
Corporate commitment to strategic environmental solutions 
Visionary scenario-thinking to shape industrial strategies 
Financing in sustainability 
Business commitment to communication with stakeholders 
Eco-efficiency as a business management strategy 
Technology innovation for best available technologies in the future 
Innovative components and sustainable products 
Sharing and dissemination of cleaner production methods 
The ISO 14000 family - experience and expectations 
Proposed outcome...
  The EURO ENVIRONMENT 2000 conference is intended for:
Corporate top management
Environmental professionals
Academics
Financiers, investors and other specialists
NGOs, trade union and government representatives
Environmental and management consultants
  At EURO ENVIRONMENT 2000 the participants are expected to be inspired and to disseminate visions, strategies and actions. The outcome will be to give a message to politicians and the general public on how and where business can lift the sustainability challenge. Through discussions and dialogue with stakeholders, business can present the issues they recognise as most important for sustainable development. From environmental indicators to financial commitments, business and its stakeholders must present the means they advocate in their pursuit of globally sustainable business. A leading business is a sustainable business.  
  The conference programme, as well other information, is available from the conference secretariat at the Aalborg Congress and Culture Centre:
Environmental advisor:	Steffen L. Thomsen
International advisor:	Else Herfort
E-mail:	euro@akkc.dk
URL:	www.akkc.dk/environment
or from the chairman of the organising committees:
Senior environmental advisor:	 Hans Jørgen Brodersen, Deloitte & Touche E-mail:	hbrodersen@deloitte.dk

Urban Environment Forum 2000

  The UEF met in Cape Town from September 26th-28th,  and started to look at how international agreements might be used at the local level.  Established in 1996 at the Istanbul Summit on Human Settlements, the UEF is a global coalition of development practitioners in urban environmental agencies.  Within the UN System the UN Centre for Human Settlements and the UN Environment Programme are considering the UEF as a key instrument for the implementation of the environmental dimension of the Habitat Agenda, as well as Agenda 21.  As such the outcomes of this meeting provide a useful precussor to the Istanbul +5 regional prep. Coms., taking place later this month.
 To enable delegates to address the Global-Local link  case studies were presented both top down and bottom up to see the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches could be reviewed.  The meeting drew from experience gained via the multitude of partnerships between cities being established as well as international support programmes, which are developing innovative models for planning and managing the urban environment.  Some key questions were raised which will form the basis of future work by many of those who participated.
  These included:
1) How can stakeholders become involved in the creation of international agreements so that they reflect the work that needs to then be done by them.
2) What can be done at the international level to create the 'tools' that enable stakeholders particularly at the city level take international agreements and enact them into local decision making processes.
  It was recognised at the workshop that neither were happening and much more work needs to be done in engaging stakeholders early enough in the process to make the agreements more focussed.
  A report of the workshop will be available on the habitat web site. Contact: www.unchs.org

Meanwhile...

European Launch of Campaign for Secure Tenure

  Nairobi/Paris, 14 September, 2000: Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka presided over the European Launch of the Global Campaign of Secure Tenure as part of the European Housing Forum Conference on Access to Housing in the European Union held at the UNESCO offices in Paris. 
  Speaking in her first public engagement since assuming office, Mrs Tibaijuka said that the Campaign marked a new style of United Nations activity. The Campaign focusses on the importance of engaging organisations representing the inadequately housed and the homeless, and pays particular attention to the role of women which Mrs Tibaijuka highlighted as "...possibly the single most important development question we face, and one which will move to the top of the United Nations development agenda".
  Habitat's Global Campaign for Secure Tenure is part of a rights based approach to development. The campaign promotes the granting of security of tenure as an essential and catalytic element of a sustainable pro-poor shelter policy, and the removal of social and legal discrimination against women, particularly in respect of access to property title and equal inheritance rights. The Global Campaign was first launched in India and subsequently in Kosovo.
  The European launch in Paris took place within the larger debate over the adoption of the right to housing in Europe. The Executive Director of Habitat and the assembled delegates from EU countries, as well as non-EU countries were welcomed by Ms. Francine Fournier, Assistant Director General for Social Human Sciences in UNESCO. In her welcoming address, Mrs. Fournier pointed out that UNESCO shared Habitat's concerns about humanising the urban environment and placing human concerns at the centre of urban development. This is why they fully supported the Habitat Agenda and Habitat's Campaign on Secure Tenure. 
  The meeting was opened by the French Minister of Housing, Mr Louis Besson, who expressed the support of the EU Ministers of Housing who will be meeting informally in Paris next week under the French Presidency. The Ministerial meeting will discuss the right to housing within the framework of the draft European Charter on fundamental rights. 
  Also in attendance was John Evans, President of FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless), the focal point for the Campaign in Europe. Mr Evans committed his organisation to taking the Campaign into all EU countries within the next year. During the round table discussions a number of partner organisations and agencies presented background papers about housing rights and the campaign. This included, Ms. Sheela Patel, of the Slum Dwellers International and one of the organisers of the Indian launch; Mr. Scott Leckie, Executive Director, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) in Geneva.
  During the Conference, Ms. Bronwyn Pike, the Minister of Housing for Victoria State, Australia, highlighted the relevance of the essential elements of the Campaign, and indicated her desire to initiate the campaign in Australia. The Campaign strategy will be tabled at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's Ministerial Meeting and the 61st Session of the ECE Committee on Human Settlements to be held 19 September 2000. 
  "The success of the Campaign for Secure Tenure depends on partnerships between government agencies and members of civil society representing the homeless," concluded Mrs. Tibaijuka.  "It is the only way to ensure that we can help halve the number of homeless and those who live without adequate shelter by 2020." 
For further information please contact:  www.unchs.org 

UNEP holds first Multi-stakeholder Workshop on Voluntary Environmental Initiatives

  PARIS/NAIROBI, 28 September 2000 -- Thirty-five representatives of industry, Government, labour, environmental groups and academic institutions met earlier this month with senior officers of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to review the lessons learnt from voluntary initiatives and the steps that need to be taken if they are to become environmentally effective and publicly credible tools for sustainability.
  Experiences were shared on different types of voluntary initiatives,  including:
Responsible Care programme of the chemical industry;
Experience of the Netherlands Government with negotiated voluntary agreements;
Partnership of the international financial industry with UNEP;
Sustainable Fisheries Initiative of  the Marine Stewardship Council;
Automotive Voluntary Initiative of  the European Commission; and
Sustainable workplace initiatives of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).
  Participants agreed that voluntary initiatives do not undermine the need for an effective regulatory and legislative framework, and that key challenges in the future include finding the right policy mix, ensuring that workers are involved, and clarifying the role of non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders.
  "Workers are both producers and consumers and voluntary initiatives will not contribute to sustainable development if workers are not involved in their design, implementation and monitoring", emphasized Lucien Royer, ICFTU's Coordinator of Health, Safety and Environment.
  "Our experience is that voluntary initiatives do not go beyond business as usual if they do not involve societal actors other than industry in setting the targets that we need to achieve", said Gulio Volpi of the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF).
  The 1992 Earth Summit formally encouraged the development of voluntary initiatives in Agenda 21 as an experimental policy tool to achieve sustainable development objectives. Voluntary initiatives have since multiplied in use and diversity, ranging from improving environmental practices in specific industry sectors such as chemicals and finance, to the sustainable management of  resources such as forests and fisheries. But "there are diverse points of view as to the real environmental effectiveness of voluntary initiatives, their relation to regulations and other government policy tools, and the role of different stakeholders in making voluntary initiatives an effective tool for sustainable development", pointed out Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel, Director of UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (UNEP/DTIE).
  The role of UNEP in internationally spreading best practice and developing a common, global reporting framework (Global Reporting Initiative) was considered essential in making voluntary initiatives more environmentally effective, credible and relevant in today's context of rapid globalization.  "UNEP has given the Financial Institutions Initiative the credibility it needs to convince other banks and investment agencies that environmental principles make good business sense", said Richard Cooper, Head of Group Environmental Risk of Lloyds TSB Group plc.
  UNEP will be following up the issues raised with industry at its annual industry and trade association consultation.  UNEP will also continue discussions with other international organizations with whom it works on voluntary initiatives (UN Secretary-General on the Global Compact, UN Commission on Sustainable Development, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, International Labour Organization and others).  A second workshop on voluntary initiatives will be held in Nairobi in February 2001 during UNEP's 21st Governing Council, to enable more participation from developing countries.
  For more information, in Europe please contact:  
cornis.lugt@unep.fr, www.unepie.org

Global Environment Facility NGO Consultation

  In advance of the upcoming Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council Meeting next month, NGOs are meeting in Washington DC (October 31st) to discuss their input to the Council's deliberation.  The accreditation of NGO's for consultation with the GEF was established by the Council to provide input to their deliberations at their twice yearly meetings.  With NGOs playing a central role in carrying out the work of the GEF as one of the central global mechanisms for implementing the environment conventions, this level of direct consultation is a key component for the delivery of the Facility.
   In addition to contributing to, identifying and discussing the major strategic issues and policy goals facing the GEF, NGOs hope to also address the contribution of the Facility to Rio+10, Earth Summit 2002.  With the GEF Council planning the 2nd Global GEF Assembly for some time in 2002, opportunities for the two processes to tie together are clearly apparent.  With global leaders meeting in 2002 to discuss the advancement of the international sustainable development agenda, the GEF Assembly is keenly positioned to offer clear policy and practice instruments to the 2002 Earth Summit.
  Delegates of the NGO Consultation will also be discussing the performance of the GEF, examining case studies of projects having been implemented.  There will also be presentations from the World Bank, one of the three global agencies who oversee the Facility.
  To attend the meeting, or for more information, contact the GEF NGO Network at: drbarker@monitorinternational.org

Politicians and civil society meet to discuss  Environmental Transparency progress  

Environment takes on Human Rights
  Environmental practice is being infused with thoughts and ideas from the world of Human Rights. This was clearly one of the sentiments voiced by the participants at the Second meeting of Signatories for the Aarhus-convention held  in Dubrovnic, Croatia, this summer. By 2001, the Convention should enter into force.  A timely question to ask then, is whether or not this convention should go global. 
Principle 10 goes global 
  The Convention is about the right to a healthy environment. The global implications of the convention are woven into text in all areas. 
  The Convention itself carries a long and rather cumbersome name: The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. The intentions behind the convention are all well founded in Agenda 21, its principles derived directly from Principle 10 in the Rio Accord.
  The convention is made up of three components: The first is simply phrased as "the right to know". Here rules and requirements are set up for governments to disclose environmental and other relevant information to the public. The second area is the right to participate; this section deals specifically with how the public and public interest groups can participate in environmental decision making. The third area is the legal area. This deals with the right of the public to seek judicial remedy for non-compliance by governments and corporations within legal obligations established by the first two pillars.
Civil society upgrades it participation
  As civil society participation in the Rio + 10 process increases, so the need for clarity regarding rights and responsibilities becomes more apparent. To many proponents of environmental rights, taking the content of the Aarhus convention and formulate this into a global document seems the obvious course to take form now on. With the coming CSD in New York in April dealing with information to decision-makers as one of the main areas of discussion, this must seem to many as the next obvious arena to propagate for this Convention.
Going global is difficult
  To the surprise and some consternation of many of the official participants in Dubrovnic, the NGOs, that met for a small pre-conference, prior to the main meeting, decided against such an action forward. Fear of bringing yet another northern industrialized solution  to the rest of the world may have been the rationale behind their cautious approach. Not so with the official delegations. It was is if they felt they almost had a moral obligation to bring a good, and operational document, well-founded within  the universal tradition of human rights thinking, to a wider, more global audience. They will be looking for opportunities to work the document into the CSD process.
  Similar approaches all over the world
And such an approach will not be met with all-out opposition form the rest of the world. In the Americas, an Inter-American Strategy for the Promotion of Public Participation in Decision-Making for Sustainable Development (ISP), is being negotiated. In Africa, discussions on environmental, procedural rights are underway in a number of sub-regional and continental fora. Environmental declarations or protocols are currently being developed by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADCC).
A totally new approach
  The Aarhus-convention is interesting in al lot of different ways compared to other environment conventions. By contrast, the Aarhus-convention focuses on the process by which environmental decisions are made. The emphasis on process rather than on outcome, provides an innovative model of multilateral policymaking. This in turn may hold the promise of creating a new operating environment for public agencies and the corporate world. In addition, the Convention integrates environmental  protection and government norms.
High stake for the NGOs
  The NGOs have played a central role in drafting the convention itself. Through various rather ingenious ways, civil society came up with substantive legal, environmental and process advice throughout the development of this convention. The NGOs participated not in parallel fashion as often is the case with official multilateral processes. They actually assumed the practical status of full and equal partners. This role was fully reflected at the Dubrovnic meeting. The NGOs participated as equal partners throughout the negotiations, were allowed to contribute text during the final adoption of the report. Perhaps most important, that meeting agreed to establish a Bureau comprising seven people including the officers, with one being a representative of environmental NGOs. The Bureau was to assist the Chairperson in performing his duties with respect to the preparation of the next meeting and intersessional activities. However, the meeting concluded, the composition of the Bureau would not serve as a precedent. Be that as it may, but rarely have the NGOs attained such a high and important political profile. Maybe that is the reason for their overly cautious strategy with regards to the way forward. I asked one of the prominent NGOs present if this convention could have been developed, say in conjunction with UNEP in Nairobi? After a few moments of reflection, he nodded yes, pointing to the universal message in the Convention. Would you have had the same qualms about going global with such a convention, then being able to call it the Nairobi convention instead, I asked? He only smiled in reply.
A global necessity
  It would be a pity, should a northern name from a Danish city hinder the contents of this convention from being globally respected. The Convention promotes citizen involvement as a key to combating environmental mismanagement. It takes the first steps in promoting environmental transparency and accountability norms beyond the nation state. It establishes common regional disclosure and participation standards. Its principles of transparency and accountability are integral to the meaningful practice of democratic governance. Maybe it is precisely because the NGOs have been so active in this process, they now turn overly cautious in propagating the principles in this convention. To be honest to themselves , they too need to be completely responsible, accountable, transparent and participatory. And this is some challenge to all.
Jan Gustav Strandenaes OUTREACH Chief Editor

Towards Kiev 2002 European NGOs meet to plan for the Environment for Europe process. 

  Over 100 NGO representatives from 33 countries from all parts of Europe met from 14 to 16 September 2000 in Kiev, Ukraine to prepare for the next UNECE "Environment for Europe" (EfE) Ministerial Conference, in 2002. That conference will take place shortly before or after Earth Summit 2002, so it is important that planning for each event takes account of what will happen at the other.
  The NGO meeting - the first meeting of the 'European EcoForum' coalition - had as its' main purpose a desire to influence the agenda for the Kiev conference. Representatives of the EcoForum will be at the UNECE meeting in late September which will plan this agenda,.
  A range of workshops and discussions (including a very positive session on Earth Summit 2002) helped pull together some very diverse viewpoints into a cohesive agreement, and a Declaration which will be presented to the UNECE and governments.
  The Declaration recognises that political, military and private economic interests, leading to unsustainable consumption and production patterns, still prevail over essential human interests but stresses that the right to a healthy environment is a basic human right. It calls is for governments to explicitly address health aspects in discussions and policymaking on all issues in the "Environment for Europe" process and to co-ordinate it with the European "Environment and Health" process.
  The EcoForum suggested that a range of important issues need to be discussed  at the Kiev-2002 conference. The first point is simple:  there is an urgent need to consider the implementation (or non-implementation) of the previous EfE decisions, most notably the Aarhus Convention but including other agreements and protocols. If these agreements are ignored by the governments who have signed them, then the whole process is undermined.
  Despite these concerns, a number of new key issues are being raised. These include: 
The need for environmental policy integration in Europe European trade and investment is becoming increasingly inter- dependent, and if policies are not integrated and harmonised, uneven policy development will encourage more trade barriers in the West, the dumping of unwanted products and waste in the East and continuing hazardous technologies transfer to the East. The EcoForum is proposing that Environmental Policy Integration be the main theme of the Kiev 2002 conference with a 'Kiev Charter' on this issue being a central output.
The need to agree the proposed Framework Convention on Transport, Environment and Health.
The need for a Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The Protocol would make such assessments obligatory for plans and programmes as well as policies and legislation, on the local, national, as well as international levels.
The development of a European agreement on environmental liability. 
  This agreement must include minimum requirements for national environmental liability systems as well as establishing cross-boundary environmental liability systems and the types of issues that they should embrace. The agreement must cover water, nuclear issues and GMOs, so as to resolve current omissions in existing laws. 
  There was also strong agreement on issues relating to various Hazardous Technologies:
NGOs demanded that Governments should agree a phase-out strategy for nuclear energy and a time frame for implementation. Specific demands are: no new nuclear power installations and the phase-out of existing nuclear installations; no export of nuclear waste and spent fuel into CEE and NIS countries, no export of nuclear  technology.
NGOs called on governments to introduce a five-year freeze on GMO commercialisation, to allow time to enable more monitoring to be undertaken.
NGOs are also demanding a precautionary principle to the regulation of chemicals, with a European Chemicals  Strategy which would include a full right to know, a deadline by which all chemicals on the market must have had their safety independently assessed, a phase-out of persistent or bioaccumulative chemicals, a ban on the transfer of hazardous chemicals and production facilities, and a ban on chemical weapons production and storage. 
  One outline proposal, from the Ukraine Government, to start preparing a Charter on Environmental Education was very positively received. NGOs hope that this can be adopted in Kiev. The scope of the Charter should extend beyond schools and the general public, and should include 'life-long learning' for all of society. Specific education and training is required for civil servants outside the environmental authorities as well as in the agriculture and business sectors and the media.
  Given that Earth Summit 2002 and Kiev 2002 will take place  within months of each other, NGOs are also seeking assurance that the Kiev agenda is complementary to the Rio+10  preparation. They are calling on governments to include poverty eradication and human environmental rights, while discussing European environmental problems and development policies. Poverty is rising faster in the NIS nations than anywhere else on Earth.
  The issue of resourcing for NGO involvement in these events is also an issue. Some European governments have been very good at supporting NGO involvement, yet their budgets may be strained by having these two events so close to one another. 
  The final call was for governments to recognise the spirit of the Aarhus Convention, and ensure that NGOs are systematically involved at every stage in the preparation for the Conference. If this can be done, then the first environmental conference on this scale to take place in the former soviet region may also be seen to be a model of good practice for how civil society can work with governments. More will be clear after the UNECE has met, but for now NGOs are involved and positive.
Chris Church, Co-Chair, ANPED, the Northern Alliance for Sustainability.

Towards Earth Summit 2002 Project Update

  UNED Forum's multi-stakeholder Earth Summit 2002 preparatory project gaining momentum.  The international advisory board is growing, now engaging more regions and stakeholders (see below), the web-site is being developed into its 2nd phase and Network 2002 is in its 5 issue.
  As a key part of the project the briefing papers are being produced to provide background resources for some of the key issues likely to be addressed at the summit in 2002.  We have been developing the new papers to address a number of different issues on the Sustainable Development Agenda.  
  The papers are grouped into three separate series, including:
Economic, Social and Development.  In this way we aim to highlight the integrated nature of the subjects being addressed. 
  Currently there are papers on HIV/AIDS, Freshwater and Foreign Direct Investment, with more to come on Climate and Energy and New Financial Mechanisms. The papers are online at www.earthsummit2002.org

Earth Summit 2002 - A New Deal - Book Launch

  Launched earlier this month, Earth Summit 2002 - A New Deal offers an insider expert view on the Rio+10 process.  As the global sustainable development community start to prepare for 2002, A New Deal provides a useful resource in starting discussions from a level playing field.
  At the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, world leaders adopted a comprehensive programme of action for implementing sustainable development worldwide.  As preparations for Earth Summit 2002 proceed, in this book leading players from around the world present a frank assessment of progress to date.  They set goals and describe mechanisms that will enable the international community to complete the tasks set in Rio and prepare for new challenges and opportunities.  This book will be a catalyst for the public and political momentum required to push forward the global sustainable development agenda.
  A  New Deal tackles some of the key existing and emerging sustainable development issues.  Offering perspectives from all key major groups, A New Deal also has chapters from prominent politicians and UN officials, including: Simon Upton, former New Zealand Environment Minister and Chair of CSD 7; Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO Director General; Nitin Desai, UN Under Secretary General and Cletus Avoka, Ghanaian Minister for the Environment.
  The final chapter addressing Institutional Reform provides unique perspective on how a redesign of the architecture of UN system as well as for other global partners, working on lessons learned, could help to advance the sustainable development agenda.
  This is the book to read for policy makers and practitioners in Local Agenda 21, students of politics, international relations, development, environmental studies and anyone wanting to learn what has happened since the Earth Summit in Rio.
  A copy can be ordered direct from UNED Forum. Priced at £21.50 (UK) and £24 (rest of the world) including postage and packing.  Contact gledevellec@earthsummit2002.org or call + 44 (0)20 7839 1784 

Diary Dates, Events & Conferences

4-11 October: World Conservation Congress, IUCN, Amman, Jordan, Contact: www.iucn.org
6-13 October, Facing the New Millennium: Gender in Africa and the African Diaspora, Antananarivo, Madagascar, Contact:  www.iupui.edu/~aaws (click on Action Alert)
11-12 October, First North American symposium on the linkages between Trade and Environment, NAFTA Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Montreal Canada, Contact:  www.cec.org
16-19th October: Sixth International High Level Summit on Cleaner Production, Montreal Canada, 
Contact: www.uneptie.org/CP6
16 Oct - 9 Nov (various dates):  Regional Preparatory Meetings for Instanbul +5, UN Centre for Human Settlements, Various Locations, Email:  axumite.gebre-egziabher@unchs.org
18-20 October: Euro Environment 2000, Aalborg Denmark, Contact: www.akkc.dk/environment
24-27 Oct: African Ministerial Conference on Istanbul +5, UN Centre for Human Settlements, Addis Ababa Ethiopia,  Contact:  www.unchs.org/unchs/english/calender
30 Oct - 3 Nov: 7th Prior Informed Consent-Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), Geneva, Switzerland, 
Contact: www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/Events/c.htm
31 Oct - 3 Nov:  Third World Fisheries Congress, Beijing China, Contact:  http://www.fisheries.moa.gov.cn
31 October: Global Environment Facility NGO Consultation, Washington DC, USA, Contact: www.gefweb.org
1-3 November: Global Environment Facility Council Meeting, Washington DC, USA, Contact: www.gefweb.org 
6-7 November: UN Financing for Development Civil Society Consultation, New York USA, Email: pietracci@un.org
13-24th November: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP 6, The Hague, Netherlands,
Contact: http://cop6.unfccc.int
11-12 December: UN Financing for Development Private Sector Consultation, New York USA, Email: pietracci@un.org
11-22 December, UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP 4, Bonn Germany, Contact:  www.unccd.de

What's in next months Network ~2002...

Euro Environment 2000 - Outcomes & Analysis
Montreal International Forum - Outcomes & Analysis
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP 6 - Preview
International Council for Social Welfare Conference: Social Development in the 21st Century - Outcomes & Analysis
Istanbul + 5 Preparatory Process - Update

Network 2002 is produced by the United Nations Environment & Development Forum, a multistakeholder NGO working in preparation for Earth Summit 2002.  We welcome your contribution to the process - Your Input is our Output. Contact the editor at: tmiddleton@earthsummit2002.org
Network 2002 is also available online at:  www.earthsummit2002.orgQ