As President of Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea (1980-1982) and as the Chairman of Preparatory Committee and of the Main Committee of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (1990-1992), Professor Tommy Koh of Singapore has contributed greatly to promoting international environmental cooperation. These events are only two of Professor Koh's many contributions in the international environmental arena.
Professor Koh has also published widely on the environment. For his contributions, Professor Koh received the 1996 Elizabeth Haub Prize for international environment law from the Free University of Brussels and the International Council on Environmental Law on 17 April 1997. Professor Koh has also received other international and national awards for his many contributions to the environment, academia and diplomacy.
Professor Koh is a widely respected and eminent person within Singapore and in the international arena. His passion for the environment is well known and his example of leading from the front should be emulated by all Singaporeans and aspiring environmental champions from other countries
Official Appointments and Membership of Organisations / Institutions
Patron, The Nature Society (Singapore), December 1990 to present
Patron, Singapore Association for Environmental Companies (SAFECO), February 1994 to present
Patron, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL), February 1996 to present
Leader of the Singapore delegation to the Preparatory Committee for the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment
President of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, 1980 to 1982
Chairman of the Preparatory Committee and of the Main Committee of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, March 1990 to June 1992
Member, IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, from January 1991, then offered Honorary Membership from June 2005 to present
Member of the Earth Council, April 1993 to 1996
Member of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development, June 1993 to September 1995
Member, Asia-Pacific Council, The Nature Conservancy, USA, May 1995 to January 2004
Member, Independent World Commission on the Oceans, August 1995 to February 1997
Member, UN Task Force on Environment and Human Settlements, March to June 1998
Chairman, Singapore Conference on Model Cities, 19-21 April 1999 Chairman, Drafting Committee of the Berlin Conference, 4-6 July 2000
Chairman, Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, May 2001 to present
Chairman, Advisory Committee for the M.Sc (Environmental Management) Programme, National University of Singapore, 1 May 2003 to 31 April 2007
As General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev was instrumental in bringing the Cold War to an end and ensuring that humanity and our planet does not suffer nuclear devastation.
In 1970, he was elected to the USSR Supreme Soviet.
From 1971 till 1991, Gorbachev was a member of the Communist Party Central Committee.
From November 1978, Gorbachev was a Central Committee secretary in charge of agriculture. In 1978, Gorbachev moved to Moscow for permanent residence. In 1979 -1980, he was a candidate to the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party Central Committee.
From October 1980, till August, 1991 he was a member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party Central Committee.
On March 11 1985, Gorbachev was elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee at the extraordinary Session of the Central Committee.
A member of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet (1985-1988).
In 1985-1988, Gorbachev radically changed the course of the Soviet foreign policy. At the XXVII Congress of the Communist Party (February-March,1986) he unveiled the Soviet program of nuclear-free world to the 2000.
From October 1988, M.G. was a chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.
From May 1989, till March 1990 M.G. was a chairman of the USSR Supreme Soviet.
Gorbachev was elected as the President at the third Congress of People's Deputies, held in March 1990.
Deputy of the 8-11-th USSR Supreme Soviet.
Deputy of the 10-11-th Russian Federation Supreme Soviet.
On August 19 1991 Gorbachev's companions-in-arms attempted to carry out coup d'etat
On August 21 1991, Gorbachev returned to Moscow after coup d'etat was failed due to the Russian authorities' efforts. Since that practically all Gorbachev's decisions were coordinated with the Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
At the end of August Gorbachev resigned from the post of General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee.
On December 25 1991, speaking on T.V., he resigned from the post of the Soviet President. "for principal considerations".
On December 25 1991, Gorbachev also signed a decree on transferring control over the strategic nuclear weapons to the Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Since June 1993 Gorbachev has been the President of the "Green Cross International".
On December 2 1995, in the interview to the "Novaya Ezhenedelnaya Gazeta" (the "New daily") he publicly declared his intention to take part in the Presidential elections. According to Gorbachev's words, he became firmly convinced in his decision, meeting people in the regions.
On January 27 1996, an initiative group was created to promote Mikhail Gorbachov to the presidential post. The Former Federation council Deputy, Alexey Manannikov, heads its organizing committee.
Gorbachev's address "to all democratic forces" - "Give a chance to people"-was circulated by the Initiative group on March, l 1996. It has an appeal to urgently gather the All-Russian democratic forum and to work out common strategy on the eve of the P residential elections in Russia. "All the democratic leaders, parties and movements have to unite their efforts and be the single team. It's necessary to agree upon all the key-posts in the Government before the Presidential elections. This information must be available to all people," the address says.
On March 12 1996, Alexey Manannikov told journalists that M.Gorbachev had managed to collect 1 million voters' signatures necessary to register as an official candidate by the Central Electoral Commission. The organizing committee chairman noted that a 11 the necessary documents would be delivered to the Central Electoral Commission at the end of the month. They will continue collecting voters' signatures to have some reserve.
On Mach 29 1996, at the press-conference in the Central House of journalists M.Gorbachev addressed to the Russian President Boris Yeltsin with a statement. It was called "Elections must be fair and equal". This was urged by the fact that the incumbent president had created a council to organize his reelection. Boris Yeltsin is the head of the Council. The statement stressed that Boris Yeltsin had violated legislation on election campaign. He included some official is to his election campaign Council. They are: the Russian Prime-Minister, director of FSC, as well as, president of the independant T.V. channel (NTV). The copies of the statement were sent to both Chambers of the Russian Federal Assembly, to the Constitutional Court and to the Central Electoral Commission.
On April,4 the Initiative group , promoted M.Gorbachev to the presidential post, delivered the documents necessary to register as a presidential candidate to the Central Electoral Commission. There are 1 410 000 voters' signatures in support of his candidacy. The majority of signatures were collected in St.-Petersburg (over 70.000) and in Moscow (57.000).
Bhutan, a kingdom under the reign of Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) Jigme Singye Wangchuck, has the environment as the centrepiece in its constitution and all of its national development plans. Bhutan has an excellent track record in the field of environment - more than 74% of its land is under forest cover and 26% of this cover is protected areas.
The Paro Resolution on Environment and Sustainable Development, declared in May 1990, states that Bhutan's natural resources base is central to a sustainable and prosperous future of the country. The development of a National Environmental strategy that will ensure the careful stewardship and sustained use of these natural resources was urged. Development should be pursued on a middle path thus ensuring that new industries, new agricultural markets and new forestry products will be carefully developed with respect to their broader environmental ramifications.
Bhutan’s success in preserving its natural resources has been possible because of the country's recent entry into the economic development process, as well as the Buddhist faith, an important factor in all aspects of Bhutanese life.
Bhutan is developing a National Environment Secretariat and an Environmental Trust Fund, as well as new legislation and policies to ensure sustainable utilization of resources, promote community involvement in environmental activities, improve land use planning, and integrate traditional with modern natural resource use practices. Additionally, Bhutan will attempt to base economic growth on environmentally sound technologies, expand environmental education, and develop a family planning policy.
Bhutan boasts the most varied habitats and a rich array of animal and plant species. Under Bhutanese law, 60% of the kingdom will remain forested for all time. There is currently an astonishing array of plants - more than 5500 species, including over 300 medicinal strains. There are 165 species of mammals, including many rare and endangered animals such as the golden langur, the snow leopard and the red panda. To date, 770 species of birds have been recorded, including the rare and endangered black-necked crane.
A progressive integrated conservation and development programme reconciles the needs of the community with environmental protection, the foundation of Bhutan's entire economic ethos. National parks sustain important ecosystems and have not been developed as tourist attractions. In many cases one would not even be aware that one is entering or leaving a protected area.
Bhutan ranks in the top 10% of countries with the highest species density on earth, and it has the highest fraction of land in protected areas as well as the highest proportion of forest cover of any Asian nation.
Development in Bhutan is guided by principles that emphasise preservation of both natural and cultural heritage, as well as sustainability from subsistence to a more modern economy. Renewable natural resources remain the most important sector, and in 1998 contributed 36.1% of the Gross Domestic Product. Thus, short-term profit at the expense of long-term loss of natural heritage is not for Bhutan. Its cautious approach puts conservation first and relegates economic benefits to a secondary role.
By the late 1970s, Bhutan had established an extensive system of protected areas. Since then, among other actions, the nation has:
- Established the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation to provide long-term financing for conservation;
- Revised and identified nine protected areas representative of Bhutan's diverse ecosystems, comprising 26% of land area;
- Established the Nature Conservation Division within the Department of Forestry Services, with a mandate to oversee and manage protected areas;
- Pledged to maintain, in perpetuity, at least 60% of land as forests;
- Enacted the National Plant Quarantine Act (1993) to control the movement of diseases, insects and other pests;
- Included provisions for establishing protected areas and conservation regulations in the Forest and Nature Conservation Act (1995);
- Ratified the international conventions on Biological Diversity and Climate Change (1995);
- Adopted the National Biodiversity Action Plan (1998);
- Adopted the Middle Path, a National Environmental Strategy (1998);
- Initiated a National Biodiversity Programme to oversee ex-situ conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity (1998);
- Legislated environmental assessments for all development and industrial activities (2000);
Guiding principles for the future development of Bhutan are complemented by a unifying concept the distinctly Bhutanese notion of Maximizing Gross National Happiness (MGNH). The aim of MGNH is to promote important values and to provide direction to the Kingdom's long-term development, and the concept must be translated into tangible goals. Towards this end, five themes are identified and provide powerful objectives for steering the process of change: human development, the promotion and preservation of culture and heritage, balanced and equitable socio-economic development, good governance, and environmentally sustainable development.
His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is popularly known as 'The Man of the Arab Environment'. Under his leadership, development activities have touched all aspects of life in the UAE with agriculture and afforestation as the focus of his main concerns
One of Sheikh Zayed's most remarkable and enduring achievements is the greening of the region's deserts. Under his guidance, 100 million trees have been planted in the UAE - all in an effort to stem the encroachment of sand onto agricultural land and urban areas. Using various irrigation techniques, including the ancient Aflaj (efalf) system and the latest technology in desalination, sewage and farming, today the UAE produces 20% of the world's date palms and myriad species of plants and flowers now flourish. Thank to his vision, his dream of a greener country was realized.
Animals likewise receive attention from Sheikh Zayed. To ensure the protection of his country's biological diversity, he outlawed hunting more than a quarter of a century ago. He went further by creating, on his own island reserve of Sir Bani Yas, a sanctuary for endangered species, such as the Arabian Oryx and the sand gazelle. Thanks to his efforts, the symbol of Abu Dhabi - the Dorcas Gazelle, is a protected species whose numbers are increasing under special programmes. Under an agreement with international conventions such as CITES, turtles are also protected as are the rare Arabian Leopard, the ibex and the dugong (manatee).
In addition, to ensure the preservation of the country's flora and fauna, Sheikh Zayed established the Higher Environment Council.
In 1995, Sheikh Zayed received a gold medal from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, for his agricultural development efforts, not only in the UAE, but in other developing countries. In 1997, he was honoured by the President of Pakistan with a special award for his role in environmental conservation. This was the first time that Pakistan bestowed such an accolade on a Head of State. That same year, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and President Emeritus of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) presented Sheikh Zayed with the "Golden Panda" - WWF's highest award. This was the first time in the history of the award that a Head of State was so honoured. Again in 1997, he received the region's first ever Gulf Business Award for Environmental Action.
Dr. Massoumeh Ebtekar served as Vice President of the Islamic Republic and Head of the Department of Environment from 1997-2005 during the reformist government of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami. Dr. Ebtekar believes that the remarkable achievements of this period were made possible due to the tireless efforts of a coherent and competent team of scholars , directors, experts and personnel particularly environment rangers within the DOE . Also she believes that the widespread transformations in all related sectors and the integration of environmental concerns in the development process would not have been possible without the partnership of directors and experts and scholars NGOS , media and people from all walks of life , particularly at the highest levels of decision making and before all the President himself who envisioned the unrelenting support for the environment as an integral aspect of his agenda. International collaboration and support was also forthcoming in this regard. This was in effect a collective partnership and effort that enjoyed the blessings of the Creator in bringing the hearts and minds of a diverse group of people together. Re-engineering The Iranian Department of Environment (DOE) underwent major re-engineering and restructuring during her tenure leading to a strengthening of its status among national and international institutions. The organizational chart of the DOE was enhanced on the basis of studies performed on the issue more than 1500 new posts were appointed, an educational upgrading of the personnel leading to 70% with academic education in 2005 as compared to only 25% in 1997, a decentralization policy led to the establishment of 57 new DOE offices in smaller cities from 1997-2005. The DOE was facing a new era of capacity building and empowerment , 10 new research centers were established in provinces , the Biodiversity Museum was established and Pardisan Park underwent major transformations. A well equipped and modernized network of 50 research and measurements laboratories for water, soil and air pollution was established and upgraded. The 3 thousand man Environment Ranger’s Force and their scheme and equipment has also faced major transformation in these years enabling them to better protect the natural heritage of the country. Natural Heritage During this era with the untiring efforts of the DOE personnel the area of protected land in Iran rose from 4.75 % of the country’s area to 7.75% amounting to 11 million hectares. A major GIS survey and project leading to the publication of an atlas of the country’s protected areas was initiated and major improvements in management including the involvement of local societies. A well managed wildlife and game policy enabled the biodiversity in many protected areas to flourish. Research centers for , the houbara bustard, the wild ass, the yellow deer , and marine turtles were established and supported. A major strategy to protect the pristine natural forests of the country led to the protection of 10% of all forests in 1998, the establishment of 3 new forest national parks, a serious curbing of logging in the northern sections of country, and the adoption of standards for sustainable management of forests in the Supreme Council of the Environment. Civil Society A major strategy pursued by the DOE during these years was support and advocacy for the civil society . During a environmental campaign initiated by the Head of the DOE people were encouraged to engage in nongovernmental activities in favor of the environment. The government and DOE provided legal , training and basic support for this type of social activity . The result was a fascinating upsurge of environmental NGOs from 20 in 1997 to more than 650 in 2005. These NGOs were active at local ,provincial and national levels. With the support of the DOE they established provincial networks in 2001, regional networks in 2002 and in 2003 the nation-wide network of environmental NGOs was formally established , all with democratic elections and processes. The DOE also embarked on a strategy to train and educate members of 30 thousand local councils in the country on sustainable development. Education During these years with the collective efforts of the DOE and NGOs a major upsurge in environmental education, news and awareness ensued. Environmental education was included and upgraded in the formal school curriculum, at least 20 new degree programs on the environment were established in universities and 20 new research centers affiliated to universities were established with the support of the DOE. Hundreds of publications intended for all target groups including specifically women, rural societies, children and students were published. A dynamic website including thousands of pages of information , news , research data and an interactive museum of biodiversity was launched. A nation wide media campaign for environmental awareness led to significant attention of the public during these years. The national radio and television networks devoted 5% of their time to environment related programs supported by the DOE. The DOE for the first time conducted 8 rounds of annual Environment Awards encouraging and creating incentives for all strata. In an international effort to promote environmental awareness the DOE conducted 4 rounds of the International Green Film Festival introducing hundreds of national and international films to the public at a nationwide scale. (1011 cities were involved in the fourth festival ).Surveys done indicated that the general public was sensitized on environmental issues. Research The DOE established a research council in 1997 led by the Head and provincial councils nationwide, more than 300 scientists and scholars from over 80 academic centers in Iran were engaged in a collective effort to enhance the quality and quantity of environmental research . The DOE followed the principle of ” decisions only based on sound scientific research “ during these years. For the first time an annual Environment Research Letter was published. Environmental Policy The DOE embarked on a serious campaign to influence development policy at all levels in government and private sector enjoying the overall support of President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami. The DOE led the creation of the first National Plan for the Environment in 1997 and the third 5 year development plan1999-2005 reflected strong environmental directions due to the major changes in government policy and attitude. During this period all development sectors made major efforts to implement environmental standards. The fourth 5 year development plan became a reflection of this major shift in policy; more than 20% of this economic, political, and social plan was devoted to environmental legislature. DOE director generals in all provinces and cities were appointed to national planning and development committees thereby gaining the opportunity to directly influence regional and local policy in the direction of sustainable development. Regulation and Incentives : Stick and Carrot Approach Establishment of an office of environment in every ministry became obligatory in 1999 and inter-sectoral cooperation became a major policy of the DOE. A nation wide policy of incentives and regulation was implemented as a win-win policy for the economic and industrial sectors. Industries were regulated in a systematic manner , fines and legal prerogatives were taken very seriously by local implementation authorities of the DOE. On the other hand, a series of incentives intended to encourage and promote environmentally friendly policies were implemented. The DOE convened an annual competition for industrial units entitled “ The Green Industry Award” this prestigious award became an important incentive for the industry and private sector and was used in their advertisement as a prestigious credit. In order to promote environmental technologies, environmental achievements in private and government sectors an annual International Environmental Exhibition was held for 6 years attracting hundreds of national and international firms and tens of thousands of visitors each year. As a result of these comprehensive policies every year hundreds of industries initiated programs to implement environment management and standards in their firms, 20 large industrial cities harboring over 3000 industrial units established wastewater purification and reuse sytems, and implemented environment management systems . The DOE began the enforcement of automotive emissions regulation in 1999 , in a matter of three years 15 production lines proved incompatible with national standards and were closed down 53 car production lines successfully improved their systems to comply to more stringent standards (Euro II) leading to the reduction of pollutants in emissions by 80%. Also important was the establishment a modern national research and standard test center for automotive emissions in 2004. Greening of Petroleum Sector The petroleum sector is potentially one of the most polluting economic sectors. Following the policy shift, the strong regulation and the support of the DOE, the Ministry of Petroleum took major initiatives to correct past practices and measures and to implement environmental policy . As a result , the nationwide out-phasing of leaded gasoline was possible in 2002, 10 large refinery complexes in the country implemented environment management schemes ( spending each up to 30 M USD) for air water and soil contamination control , 12 large petrochemical complexes in the country implemented ISO 14000 standards and gained DOE approval for their emission standards again spending millions of dollars to implement environmental technologies, pipeline control and the execution of environmental impact assessment results. The promotion of natural gas in industries , power plants and vehicles was also initiated and supported by the DOE in spite of hurdles and difficulties created. The Minister of Petroleum was awarded the National Prize for the Environment in 2003 for his spectacular performance in promoting environmental standards and regulations in all sectors of the ministry. Abatement of Air Pollution Since 1999, studies on air pollution in Tehran were compiled by the DOE and a comprehensive plan to combat air pollution was drawn up. After adoption of the plan by the cabinet and allocation of resources the plan was implemented in 7 major projects. Success percentages of the projects indicate the great achievements in this area : Installation of mechanized inspection centers 100% , technical and policy support for natural gas bus production line 100% ( more than 2000 natural gas buses now roam the streets of Tehran). Traffic improvement schemes 100%, inspection and control of car 100 %, motorcycle and bus emissions 75%. Overall the plan in its 5th year of implementation has resulted in the improvement of air quality in Tehran. Similar air pollution abatement plans have also been implemented in 7 other major cities of the country , promising better air quality for more than 20 million citizens . In all projects the major impetus has been set by the DOE. Waste Management The DOE spearheaded a nationwide project for proper planning and management of urban waste in 1998. The plans included a nationwide Clean Earth Day mobilizing NGOs , municipalities and people from all walks on the issue of recycling and proper waste management. Also,the DOE prepared the first comprehensive bill on waste management in 2002 it was finally adopted in the Cabinet in 2003 and in early 2005 the Parliament adopted the National Law on Waste Management . This breakthrough provided new grounds for regulation and management for all types of waste . During these years more than 50 large cities began or enhanced the implementation of waste management and recycling projects amounting to hundreds of thousands of tons of waste being recycled. Data and Information Management The DOE lacked any reliable statistics or database prior to this period. During this period two major projects on the development of a database and statistics for the environment were launched resulting in the creation of the environmental statistics database. Also in 2003 the first project for the preparation of a National State of the Environment report was launched the first SOE was published in 2004 and the second SOE more compatible with international reporting on the environment in 2005. One four year performance report 2001 and one eight year report 2005 were published. The DOE also published the first and second environmental performance scorecard for all development ministries. By 2005 most DOE offices were performing with dynamic software providing management information systems MIS in related areas of specialization such as wildlife management, laboratory management, pollution control , regulation and inspection and other related areas.
The law students who struck a seismic blow for climate justice
In the Pacific Islands, a group of students turned their frustration into legal firepower, demanding justice for their vulnerable nations and challenging the biggest polluters in court.
When Cynthia Houniuhi stepped up to a podium at the International Court of Justice in the Hague one year ago, her message to the judges sitting in front of her was simple.
Climate change was ravaging island nations across the Pacific, like her home, the Solomon Islands. That, she said, was a fundamental injustice because those countries had produced only a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions driving the climate crisis.
"My people's land… is nearing a critical point, on the verge of being completely engulfed by rising seas,” said Houniuhi. “Without our land, our bodies and memories are severed from the fundamental relationships that define who we are."
The address was part of a landmark case in which the world’s highest court had been asked to determine how much responsibility the planet’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters bore for a deepening climate crisis.
For Houniuhi it marked a moment of triumph. Six years earlier, she and 26 other law students had come together to form Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, or PISFCC. The students had come of age watching their neighbours lose their lives, homes and livelihoods to rising sea levels, coral bleaching and erratic weather.
Frustrated with what they saw as large emitters dragging their heels, the students saw no other choice but to mount a case destined for the International Court of Justice.
So Houniuhi, the PISFFC president, started drumming up support for the idea among her peers. Vishal Prasad, now PISFCC’s campaign director, was one of the earliest to join the effort.
"When I heard about this campaign, it struck me how precise it was and the potential it had," he says. "It became our lives for the next five years."
Prasad spent his days preparing government briefs and generating public support for the case. Since seafaring was embedded in the history of Pacific nations, the students framed their initiative as another voyage for the region’s people.
The governments of the Pacific Island Forum, a grouping of 18 countries and territories, soon embraced the legal challenge, declaring that the climate crisis represented the greatest threat to the region's security.
The island nation of Vanuatu led the charge, taking the issue to the United Nations General Assembly. After several months of intense campaigning, the assembly voted unanimously in March 2023 to request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legal obligations of states regarding climate change.
The UN resolution asked judges to answer two main questions. First, what are the obligations of states under international law to protect the climate and the environment from greenhouse gas emissions? And second, what are the legal consequences for states that have caused significant harm to the climate and the environment?
"This is when the campaign became truly international," Prasad says.
For both Houniuhi and Prasad, the start of oral arguments in late 2024 was an emotionally charged experience. In the damp winter weather of The Hague people gathered outside the court’s seat in the neo-Renaissance Peace Palace, with banners calling for urgent climate action.
Lawyers for pacific Island nations argued high-emitting countries, by precipitating the climate crisis, had violated the human rights of low-lying islanders and that those countries had an obligation under international law to drastically cut emissions. While PISFCC members didn’t argue the case, they collected the testimonies of frontline communities and young people affected by the climate crisis, which were part of the submissions to the court.
The proceedings lasted for two weeks, with hopes and anxieties running high inside and outside the court building. Prasad found it very difficult to listen to some of the world's most powerful nations argue that human rights law should not be relevant to the countries' obligation to protect the environment.
On July 23, 2025, the judges issued a landmark ruling, confirming that states have a legal obligation to protect the climate system from the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions. The advisory opinion is not legally binding but experts say it is consequential because affected nations will be able to take big climate offenders to court.
The verdict was so definitive that it exceeded the boldest expectations of PISFCC.
The organization recently received the prestigious Champions of the Earth 2025 Award from the United Nations Environment Programme, celebrating their breakthrough in seeking climate justice for their communities and the world.
For the group, which today counts more than 100 members, the court win was a moment of vindication. But the students understand the fight for climate justice is far from over – and that pursuit could determine the fate of all countries, not just small island states.
“The world is an island,” she says.”We’re in this together.”
His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, known in Europe as the 'Green Patriarch,' has taken the lead among religious leaders in his concern for the environment. His Holiness has initiated seminars and dialogues to discuss the need for the mobilization of moral and spiritual forces to achieve harmony between humankind and nature. One of his environmental initiatives, which is part of Religion, Science and the Environment, is the Symposium entitled The Caspian Sea - Linking People and Traditions, scheduled to take place aboard a ship, which will circumnavigate the Caspian Sea from 17-25 June 2005. The symposium also aims to encourage understanding and a dialogue between the Christian and Islamic faiths.
Writing in a 2004 issue of UNEP's flagship magazine Our Planet on 'Seas, Oceans and Small Islands', His Holiness called for more attention to be paid to marine pollution.
"At the foundation of the world, 'in the beginning ... the spirit of God swept over the face of the waters' (Genesis 1:1-2). The Judeo-Christian scriptures speak of water as a sign of blessing and peace (Deuteronomy 8:7). The way we relate to God is reflected in the way we respect water. Water pronounces the sealed covenant between God and the world; drought and thirst announce the rupture of this binding relationship, an apostasy from the divine commandments (I Kings 17). The heavens, too, are set among the waters (Revelation 4). Marine pollution is nothing less than the violation of a hallowed promise.[...]
In Eastern Orthodox iconography, blue is interchangeable with green. These colours are predominantly used for foregrounds and backgrounds, being reserved also for the depiction of the celestial. As in the viewpoint from space, so also in the perspective of icons: both heaven and earth are blue! We tend to call earth our habitat; yet, in many ways, water might be more appropriately hailed as our home or natural environment. If there were no water, there would be no world. Marine pollution is nothing less than the devastation of our earthly premise.
There is, then, something sacred, almost sacramental in the very fabric of water. The meaning of water somehow conceals the very mystery of God. In this respect, Orthodox theology proposes a model of environmental action based on the spiritual significance of water. On a planet where oceans and rivers are polluted, we would do well to remember the original and radical relationship between living sources of water and the life-giving spirit of God. In a world where the unjust demands of the few stifle the fundamental survival of the poor, water reminds us of the need to live simply and simply to live. At a time when wastefulness has become so rampant and pervasive, we are challenged to recall the implications of our actions as well as to assume responsibility for a society where water is justly shared and where everyone has enough.
In light of this commitment, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has to date organized five international, inter-religious and inter-disciplinary symposia: in the Aegean Sea (1995), on the Black Sea (1997), along the Danube River (1999), around the Adriatic Sea (2002) and in the Baltic Sea (2003). A sixth is currently being prepared for the Caspian Sea in the summer of 2005. The purpose is to call attention to the plight of our seas; to attract religious leaders, scientists, environmentalists, politicians and journalists; and to raise awareness about collective responsibility for our environment for future generations. None of us is able to resolve the environmental crisis alone; 'everyone has a part to play', as we stated in a Common Declaration with Pope John Paul II at the closing ceremony of the Adriatic symposium.
All of us know that we are surrounded by rivers, seas and oceans. What we do not immediately recognize is the way in which these are intimately and innately connected to one another as well as to our environment. We may not immediately discern the close relationship between the world's waterways, the world's people and the world's Creator. There is an interconnection and interdependence between the water of baptism, the sap of plants, the tears of humans, the bloodstream of animals, the rainfall of a forest and the flow of rivers to the sea.
We are called to avow water as the wonder of life if we are ever to avert the world crisis in water pollution and distribution. In order to correct the wrongful politics of water by those who regard it as their rightful property, we must first celebrate water as the irreplaceable patrimony of all humankind; we must accept the indiscriminate and inalienable right to water for all people in the world. Water can never be reduced to a marketable commodity for profit - especially for the affluent, especially for the few. It must always be protected as part of the fundamental quality of life - especially for the more vulnerable, especially for our children.
On the third day of creation, 'God gathered the waters under the sky into one place; and God saw that it was good. ... So God created every living thing, with which the waters swarm. And God saw that it was good.' (Genesis 1:9-21). The Greek word for 'good' implies beauty and harmony. The very least that we owe God, this world and our children, is to preserve the beauty of our planet's water, to leave behind a world that remains good."
When she was growing up in an Inuit community in northern Quebec, Sheila Watt-Cloutier never rode anything faster than a dog sled.
Now the 50-year-old grandmother jets across the globe speaking out on environmental issues and warning of the impending catastrophe that is global warming.
Her people are witnessing first hand the devastating affects of climate change and its relentless assault on their traditional way of life.
And if there is one place on the planet where the effects of the "great warming" are immediately felt it is in the Arctic. As President of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (Canada) in 1995 and re-elected to the position on a full-time basis in1998, Watt-Cloutier represents some 155,000 Inuit in Canada, the USA, Russia and Greenland.
The minutest change in the Arctic changes everything, every eco system. The changes in climate have brought a lot more insects and bugs, and new species of birds never before seen in the arctic are appearing every year.
Watt-Cloutier is fully involved in United Nations work and has for years been working on the treaty to eliminate the use persistent organic pollutants, or POP's.
As President of ICC Canada, Ms. Watt-Cloutier maintains a seat on the international ICC executive council, working in cooperation with Inuit leaders from Greenland, Alaska and Chukotka (Russia). She also holds the position of Vice-President of the national Inuit organization, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada.
Ms. Watt-Cloutier is now applying her vast experience at the international level. She is an effective spokesperson on a wide range of Arctic and Indigenous issues, and has made numerous presentations to governments and international bodies
Some 50 nations have signed on to the new treaty making it one of the fastest ratified UN treaties on record. But the global work to get there took some 15 years.
Watt-Cloutier is one of the environmental heroes featured in The Great Warming, a three-part documentary narrated by Alanis Morissette and Keanu Reeves, which premiers Earth Day, April 22, on the Discovery Channel.
Julia Carabias Lillo coordinated a research and rural development programme in extremely impoverished peasant communities in the four regions of Mexico called the 'Integrated Use of Natural Resources' (PAIR the acronym in Spanish).
She was a member of the Commission for Developing Countries and Global Change, which published the report For Earth's Sake during the 1992 Conference on the Environment and Development in Brazil sponsored by the UN. Carabias is currently a member of several consultative councils and forms part of the academic councils of various national and international organizations, such as member of the Board of Directors of Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD International) until 2001, the Scientific Committee of SCOPE from1994 to 2000, and at present she is a member of the National Steering Committee of LEAD Mexico, member of the Board of Directors of the World Wildlife Fund, and of the Resources for the future.
In February 1994, Carabias was named President of the National Ecology Institute, then a decentralized agency of the Social Development Ministry. In December 1994, she was asked by the then President of Mexico to form part of his Cabinet as the Minister of Fisheries. That same month, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries was created with Carabias as Minister. She served in that position for six years until the end of the administration in November 2000.
In 2002, she was named Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is serving a term of four years. She continues to be a member of the Faculty of Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) coordinating a new Masters Degree programme in Restoration Ecology, and she is President of the NGO Centro Interdisciplinario de Biodiversidad y Ambiente (CEIBA).
Carabias is the author of numerous scientific articles on botany, ecology, natural resource management, ecological restoration and conservation. She is also the co-author of Ecology and Alimentary Self-sufficiency, Rural Production in Mexico, Ecological Alternatives, and Natural Resource Management and Rural Poverty.
Mr. Zhou Qiang currently occupies the most senior position in southern China’s Hunan Province as Party Secretary. From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Zhou was the governor of Hunan and during his tenure he dedicated himself to transforming the province into a model of environmental sustainability, calling on the protection of the Dongting Lake, China’s second largest fresh water lake, and the Xiangjiang River as well as promoting wastewater treatment and reforestation.
“A Green Hunan icon not only boasts of the beautiful scenery and sound ecosystems in the province but also represents the province’s initiative in promoting green development and a Green Economy. I hope I can keep working on the green development, not only for Hunan province but also for my country and our homeland Earth. I also hope that the resources of Nature that we have now can continue to benefit future generations,” he said.
Born in 1960 in central Hubei province, Mr. Zhou early on indicated an interest in protecting the environment. While serving as Chairman of the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF), he also launched in 1999 the China Mother River Protection Operation for the Xiangjiang River which runs through the province. As head of the ACYF, he has mobilized youth and social communities to work on protecting the environment and join in the Mother River Protection Operation which aims to reduce the discharge of major pollutants, improving the water supply and protecting the wetland areas.
As the only national youth association in China, the ACYF is a very important force for protecting the environment in China and the global environment. To date, the youth organization has undertaken 882 afforestation projects and 191,000 hectares have been reforested. In addition 300 million youth have been mobilized to participate in the Mother River Protection Operation, and exchanges and cooperation in the field of environmental protection have grown among young people in more than 50 countries and regions. On 4 May 2002, the President of China inscribed the message of "Protecting the Mother River" to express his full support. The Operation, initially advocated by Zhou Qiang, has now become one of the most well known environmental protection initiatives in China.
