Our Planet News
ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
In support of the first Conference of the Parties' decision to establish a
pilot phase for activities implemented jointly (AIJ) under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNEP will convene an
international Conference in Costa Rica from 20-24 May, 1996. The
Conference will provide the first global opportunity for the exchange of
experience and information about AIJ projects and studies that are being
developed around the world as the pilot phase gets under way. Conference
participants will examine opportunities for leveraging additional
financial resources and facilitating technology cooperation through AIJ,
as well as other practical issues relating to the design, funding,
implementation and evaluation of AIJ projects under the Convention. The
Conference also will provide the opportunity for in-depth practical
examinations of cost-effective ways that AIJ can bring about real,
measurable and long-term environmental benefits related to the mitigation
of climate change.
THE SPECIAL INITIATIVE ON AFRICA: A COLLECTIVE
EFFORT BY THE UNITED NATIONS
On 15 March, the United Nations officially launched the United Nations
System-Wide Special Initiative on Africa, a multibillion dollar programme
of concrete actions which was created to support African development. As
chair of the Initiative's Working Group on Water, UNEP is promoting a fair
share approach to water resources management. All future water policies,
plans and programmes in Africa will be assessed in terms of their economic
viability, environmental sustainability and equitable use. It is also
planned to assist governments in improving water basin management and
access to drinking water and to address the seriously deteriorating
conditions of household water security. The main goal is to expand water
and sanitation services throughout Africa. Freshwater assessments will be
undertaken as well as concerted actions on the use of water for food
production, with UNICEF, WMO and FAO playing key roles in the collective
efforts envisaged.
UNEP/ICC/FIDIC Environmental Management System
Training Resource Kit
The environment has become a major consideration for company
decision-making. This UNEP/ICC/FIDIC kit provides trainers and managers
with the necessary tools to conduct their own training courses in
environmental management systems. It offers guidance on adapting the kit
to local regulations, conditions and cultures, and includes elements that
are common to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
environmental management system standard, ISO 14001. The kit is available
from UNEP's distributor, SMI (Distribution Services) Ltd., PO Box 119,
Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 4TP, UK (Fax: +44 1438 748 844; tel: +44 1438
748 111) at $190 per copy or $150 per copy for 10 copies or more.
SPORTS, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
At the Forum on Sport, Environment and Development, held in Norway in
February, 190 participants from 30 countries - representatives of Olympic
hosting and bidding cities, sports associations, environmental
organizations and industries - explored ways to link sport, environment
and development concerns. Recognizing the need for more exchange on this
pioneering initiative, participants decided to convene a similar event on
an annual basis. Atlanta, GA has already expressed interest in convening
the 1997 Forum.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and UNEP are developing
environmental guidelines for bidding and hosting cities of Olympic games
and other major sporting events. Guidelines which take the perspectives of
developing countries into account also need to be produced. The IOC and
UNEP are planning two seminars on sport and environment in Asia and Africa
and intend to organize sports and environment conservation activities in
critical areas such as urban slums and refugee camps.
GLOBAL HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
AGREEMENT ON ITS
WAY
Governments from more than 80 countries have made remarkable progress in
the development of a legally binding agreement on internationally traded
pesticides and hazardous chemicals.
At the first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an
International Legally Binding Instrument for the Application of the Prior
Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and
Pesticides in International Trade, held in Brussels in March under the
auspices of UNEP and FAO, strong commitment to the negotiation process was
demonstrated by the speed with which the meeting identified the potential
elements to be included in the PIC Convention. A Working Group also made
progress in the identification of chemicals that the Convention could
cover.
Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean all
stressed the urgent need for technical assistance to implement such a
convention, especially in the development of relevant legislation and
chemical management infrastructures. The interrelationship between
economic development and environmental protection was considered to be
critical, particularly for developing countries and countries with
economies in transition. The meeting recognized the need to ensure that
industrial chemicals and pesticides are appropriately managed at the
global level while contributing to economic growth.
The second negotiation session led by UNEP and FAO on the PIC Convention
will be held later this year. UNEP's actions on persistent organic
pollutants (POPs) taken in the context of the Washington Conference on
Marine Pollution as well as those of the International Register of
Potentially Toxic Chemicals will continue to complement the decisions
taken during this negotiation process. In addition, a
government-designated expert meeting, held in Denmark in April, prepared
recommendations for the next Governing Council on further measures beyond
the PIC procedure that may be needed for the sound management of
chemicals. The results of these global efforts will be vital to the
protection of human health and the environment from chemical and pesticide
hazards.
ASSESSMENT OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN
PROGRESS
At a meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on POPs of the Intergovernmental
Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) on behalf of the Inter-Organization
Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals, in March, UNEP presented
the results of a trade survey which demonstrated that POPs are still in
use in many countries although they have been banned for several years.
UNEP was requested to ensure coordination between the ongoing POPs
assessment and the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the
Environment from Land-based Activities. Sweden presented its project on
substitutes for selected POPs which is providing substantial input to the
global POPs assessment.
The Working Group discussed the key issues to be addressed by the
assessment for the elaboration of international actions. The following
were identified as major concerns, particularly for developing countries:
information exchange; capacity-building; trade impacts; technology
transfer; food production; public health considerations; and financing.
The Working Group also discussed two forthcoming meetings in the
Philippines in June which will elaborate recommendations based on the
assessment for the 19th session of the Governing Council. Reports on
potential international actions on POPs will be prepared for the second
meeting - Nordic countries and the United States expressed particular
interest in participating in this work. One of the recommendations to be
included is the development of a legally binding instrument on POPs.
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: JOINT EFFORTS ON
DRYLANDS
The first regional Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean on the
Convention to Combat Desertification brought together
government-designated experts from 14 countries in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, in January.
The Consultation provided an opportunity for the region to assess its
needs. The prompt ratification of the Convention, as well as the
strengthening of regional cooperation and information exchange were among
the priority actions identified. Participants also stressed the need to
promote the participation of civil society in the implementation of the
Convention at the national level.
During the meeting, FAO supported UNEP's programme of activities to combat
desertification and is planning to financially support inter-agency
efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, it was decided
with the Interim Secretariat of the Convention to establish cooperation
mechanisms to support activities for the regional implementation of the
Convention.
Participants recommended the creation of a steering committee composed
of organizations such as UNEP, UNDP/UNSO, FAO and the World Bank, to
strengthen collaboration, information exchange and inter-agency
coordination of desertification control activities. It was also proposed
to convene a meeting on desertification exclusively for the Caribbean
countries.
A full list of UNEP publications, as well as the publications
themselves, is available from SMI (Distribution Services) Ltd., PO Box
119, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 4TP, UK (Fax: +44 1438 748 844; tel: +44
1438 748 111).
