global environmental policies - module 1: governments - global environmental policies and...
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Global Environmental Policies- Module 1: Governments -
Global Environmental Policies
andGovernments
Governments
Business andIndustry
NPOs andCommunities
Module 1: Global
Environmental Policy
Module 2: National
Environmental Policy
Module 3: Local
Environmental Policy
Seminar Structure
Today
• The UN was formed on 24 October 1945
• 24 October is “UN Day”• There are 191 country-members• Six official languages are used in
the UN - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Introduction to the UN
• The senior officer of the UN Secretariat is the Secretary-General: Ban Ki-Moon
• The headquarters of the UN is in New York, with other offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Bangkok etc.
Introduction to the UN
• To keep peace throughout the world. • To develop friendly relations between
nations. • To work together to help people live better
lives, to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in the world, to stop environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms.
• To be a centre for helping nations achieve these aims.
Aims of the United Nations
• All Member States have sovereign equality.
• All Member States must obey the Charter. • Countries must try to settle their
differences by peaceful means. • Countries must avoid using force or
threatening to use force. • The UN may not interfere in the domestic
affairs of any country. • Countries should try to assist the United
Nations.
Principles of the United Nations
• The UN – through its different organizations, work on a range of issues such as -
Issues handled by the United Nations
Business
Children
Culture
Development
Emergencies
Environment
Health
HIV/AIDS
Human Rights
Labour
Peace
Women
UN and environment policy
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
• Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development (IACSD)
• Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
• UNDP, FAO, WMO, IMO, UNU etc.
A Sample of International MEAs
• Framework Convention on Climate Change• Convention on Biological Diversity• Convention to Combat Desertification• Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer• Convention on Wetlands (RAMSAR)• Law of the Sea• Forestry Principles• Basel Convention on Hazardous Wastes• Convention on prevention of Marine Dumping• Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution• International Tropical Timber Agreement
MEA = Multilateral Environmental Agreement (for example, Kyoto Protocol)
How is a global environment policy set up?
A localEnvironment
Problem
… becomes a regional problem
Problems inother countries also impact us.
Problems are ‘exported’ to
other countries …
Problems are sometimes
invisible
Eg: too much waste Eg: high CO2 in the atmosphere
Eg: paper in Japan
Eg: Smoke in Indonesia/Malaysia
Eg: Minamata disease
How is a global environment policy set up?
Problems inother countries also impact us.
Problems are ‘exported’ to
other countries …
Problems are sometimes
invisible
Citizenscomplain
to the local
government
Local Government
informs the national government
Eg: CASA
How is a global environment policy set up?
The problems now becomes ‘international’
National Government
representative to the UN demands
international action
UN sets up committee to
study the problems
NGOs and Universities
provide support
Eg: Climate Change convention set up
Eg: UNFCC
Eg: Climate Action Network
How is a global environment policy set up?
A plan of action or a
UN ‘Protocol’ is developed
National Government commit to take actionto solve problems
Local Government
asked to implement key projects
Eg: Cities for Climate Change
Eg: Kyoto Protocol
Eg: Requirements under the Kyoto Protocol
How is a global environment policy set up?
Localenvironment
problemsolved
Local Government
asked to implement key projects
(maybe … )
Example: The “Big Three” MEAs
Climate Change: UN Framework Convention on Climate ChangeBiodiversity: UN Convention on Biological DiversityDesertification: UN Convention to Combat Desertification
Example: The Global Compact
What is the Global Compact?
UN Global Compact is a voluntary corporate responsibility initiative to advance ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.
More info: http://www.unglobalcompact.org
Kawasaki was the first city in Japan to sign the Global Compact as a city – in order to drive enterprises in the city to adopt CSR prolicies
Governments
Business andIndustry
NPOs andCommunities
Module 1: Global
Environmental Policy
Module 2: National
Environmental Policy
Module 3: Local
Environmental Policy
Next session
Next …
Send me an email anytime!
Hari Srinivas
Class Communication …
IMPORTANT: When you send an email, please always put “[GEP]” in the subject line!
Resources, websites, ideas, notes will be available online:
www.gdrc.info/gep/