Mainstreaming Environment beyond MDG 7
A High-Level Brainstorming Workshop
13 and 14 July 2005, Nairobi, Kenya
Organized by UNEP/Division of Environmental Conventions
The Division of Environmental Conventions convened a High-Level Brainstorming
Workshop for MEAs on Mainstreaming Environment Beyond MDG 7 on 13-14 July
2005 at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi.
In the context of the upcoming review of the Millennium Declaration at the
2005 World Summit, the Workshop aimed at identifying possible future common
activities between UNEP, Secretariats of multilateral environmental agreements
(MEAs) and development agencies in order to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs).
Approximately 50 participants attended the Workshop, including heads and
senior representatives of the Secretariats of global and regional MEAs, the
UN Millennium Project, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) and UNDP,
as well as internationally recognized experts in the fields of environment
and development.
Following keynote presentations on the various aspects of the issues of
mainstreaming environment into the MDGs and the development process by Guido
Schmidt-Traub, UN Millennium Development Project, David Runnalls, International
Institute for Sustainable Development, Mohan Munasinghe, Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, and A.H. Zakri, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
and United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, participants
engaged in open and constructive dialogue under the chairmanship of Gary
Sampson, Former Senior Counselor at the World Trade Organization.
Participants recognized that the environment is a precondition to the achievement
of the MDGs and that these will not be met unless the sustainable use of
ecosystem services is made an integral part of development strategies. It
was agreed that the crucial question is how to operationalize environment
in the MDG process.
Participants identified several avenues to place environmental sustainability
at the centre of the MDGs, including:
- discussions between MEA Secretariats, through an appropriate
existing or new forum, to identify areas for synergies and better focus to
contribute to the MDGs;
- bringing together national focal points of MEAs to work together
and with development agencies on MDGs;
- using quick-win initiatives where environmental problems can
be addressed while alleviating poverty;
- developing an inventory of best practices in the field of mainstreaming
environment;
- establishing appropriate mechanisms for a two-way process to
consider requests from countries for technical assistance on issues related
to the environment and the MDGs; and
- increasing information, education and awareness raising efforts.
Several short-, mid- and long-term follow-up activities were identified
as set out in the Chairman's Conclusions. It was agreed that, for these activities,
UNEP should play a coordinating role.
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