international cooperation in environmental … · free of nuclear weapons, also stipulating...
TRANSCRIPT
INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION
IN
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
AND
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
The concept of mutual cooperation and development was initially used in biology
in relation:
Within the systems of common development the proportions may change
unpredictably.
to evolutionary interaction of two
mutually connected species,
when typical genetic features determine a
better fitness of one of the species,
however, the dominating genetic features of this
species leave a considerable impact on other
species.
2
MUTUAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The ‘patchwork’ metaphor implies
By preserving the local specifics and cultural diversity
in the modern and dynamic world, the countries of the
Baltic Sea Region will be able to ensure sustainable
development.
Baltic Sea region countries should engage in a
common development process, using their local
knowledge accumulated over the centuries.
Paradigm of common evolution predicts that the progress and harmony of the
development of different cultures in future will be determined by the potential of
the “patchwork” principle.
3
“PATCHWORK” PRINCIPLE
Idea of common evolution should be based on the idea of sustainable
development.
Today the more developed countries jointly evolve, using:
achievements of Western science,
fossil hydrocarbon fuel (oil, natural gas and coal),
the same or similar chemical fertilizers and pesticides for
cultivating similar varieties of corn.
Earlier cultural diversity was possible because :
- individual cultures had more space;
- representatives of different cultures did
not meet as frequently as today;
- communities depended on their own
resources, labour and technologies.
The modern world is going through
the process of globalisation: • expansion of the market economy,
• advance of the developing countries
towards the common market,
• increasing uniformity in the world.
4
NEW DEVELOPMENT TENDENCIES
expansion of the market economy
fast-food restaurants and supermarkets
take over
fewer languages are used
5
UNIFICATION OF THE WORLD
6
The preservation of local peculiarities and cultural diversity could be an important feature
of sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region.
“Traditional knowledge has local peculiarities that have
evolved as a result of a unique common development of
particular social and ecological systems”. (D. Orr)
all of it is connected with a common
environment in each particular country as well as in
the whole of the Baltic Sea Region and the European
Union in general
knowledge values technologies
institutional structure
Sustainability should be based on not only revival and preservation of traditional
knowledge in each country and in the ‘patchwork’ countries, but also on exchange
of knowledge on a much larger scale – not only within the Baltic Sea Region but
also within the European Union and worldwide.
DRIVING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sovereign states are rather tendentious when defending their independence and
caring for the quality of their environment and natural resources - individual
countries are guided by their interests in assessment of international
environmental issues and their solutions. 7
Although it is divided into the ecosystems of different countries, the loss of
balance within an individual ecosystem may have a negative impact on other
ecosystems and even entail risks to the existence of the biosphere.
Many environmental issues are of an international character, at times becoming
global in a political sense as they involve larger territories than the frontiers of
countries mark.
This refers to such major environmental systems like:
Earth’s atmosphere
World ocean
biosphere
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
8
Considering the complex nature of international diplomatic relations, attempts are
being made to distinguish global and trans-boundary environmental issues.
According to the classification of the United Nations Environmental Programme
(UNEP), the quality of environment and its trends of change can be divided into
four categories:
1. atmosphere (climate, ozone depletion, air pollution – local or
trans-boundary),
2. water (inland, coastal and sea ecosystems),
3. earth (forests, desertification, use of land, soil),
4. biological diversity.
The most important global environmental issues concern:
climate change,
excessive fish catch in the World ocean,
prospective exploitation of the Antarctica.
QUALITY OF ENVIRONMENT
Potential territorial claims of the countries to the
Antarctica. 9
Territorial claims to the Antarctica are being contested although they are not
adjudicated because the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 is still in force.
The prospective exploitation of the Antarctica is considered a problem of common
environmental significance as many might benefit from it.
The Treaty established
Antarctica territory as a demilitarised zone
free of nuclear weapons, also stipulating
measures of nature and environmental
protection.
ANTARCTICA
An iceberg dwarfs a ship in 1920’s English magazine
illustration of a whaler
in the Antarctic.
ANTARCTICA
The "ceremonial" South Pole
at Amundsen-Scott Station.
Arctic
11
Arktikā gaisa temperatūra sasilst divreiz ātrāk nekā citviet uz mūsu planētas. Kopš 2007. gada vasaras 40 % Ziemeļu Ledus okeāna centrālās daļas ir brīva no ledus. Zinātnieki lēš, ka reģiona dzīlēs
guļ 13 % no pasaules neatklātajām naftas un 30 % no neskartajām dabas gāzes rezervēm.
Jau ap 2030. gadu Arktikas ūdeņos varētu tikt atvērti pirmie regulārie kuģošanas ceļi, kas pavērtu iespējas tūrismam, kravu pārvadājumiem un zvejniecībai. Ledus kušana ir atvērusi jaunu
kuģošanas ceļu no Šanhajas līdz Eiropai, kas ir par 6400 km īsāks nekā tradicionālie maršruti caur Suecas kanālu. Arktikā varētu izveidoties jauns ūdensceļš, pa kuru no Eiropas līdz Ķīnai varētu
nokļūt par 10-15 dienām ātrāk.
Arktikas padomē ietilpst astoņas valstis: ASV Kanāda, Dānija, Islande, Norvēģija, Zviedrija, Somija un Krievija. Organizācija tika izveidota, lai dalībvalstis diplomātiskā ceļā risinātu domstarpības
par Arktikas ilgtspējīgu apguvi un vides aizsardzību.
Tomēr pēdējos gados novērotas militāras aktivitātes Arktikā. 2012. gada martā Norvēģijas ziemeļos notika vienas no visu laiku lielākajām militārajām mācībām Arktikā. Tajās piedalījās vairāk nekā
16 tūkstošu karavīru no 15 valstīm. Februārī apjomīgus kopīgus manevrus veica ASV, Kanāda un Dānija.
Līdz šim visagresīvāk savas pretenzijas uz arktiskajām teritorijām izteikusi Krievija. Krievu zinātnieku ekspedīcija 2007. gadā Ziemeļu Ledus okeāna dzelmē iesprauda valsts karogu, savukārt valsts
līderis Vladimirs Putins 2010. gadā, viesojoties arktiskajās teritorijās, kādam leduslācim uzlika raidītāju, tādējādi simboliski parādot, kurš ir Arktikas saimnieks.
Pērn Maskava paziņoja par plāniem izveidot arktisko karaspēku, kurā tiks mobilizēti 200 000 kareivju.
As a result, the common resources are being
depleted at an alarming rate !
G. Hardin proposed the metaphor of ‘the tragedy of the commons’ because such
world natural resources are very sensitive to overuse or pollution.
Nobody owns these resources – neither an individual state nor a corporation nor a
physical person. This explains the fact that no restrictions have been imposed: there are
no private property borders or exploitation quotas.
Everybody can go on exploiting the commons for one’s needs up to
the depletion of the resource or the collapse of the system
Any country may emit an unlimited amount of greenhouse gasses
into the atmosphere or deplete all the fish in a particular fishing area
12
“THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS”
13
As a measure of the World Ocean protection, the 1954 International Convention
on the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil was adopted to minimise the
discharge of oil and oil waste from tankers and other vessels.
In 1958, the first conference on the Maritime Law took place, but in
1959 the UN established the International Maritime Organisation, which
was entrusted with the improvement of security measures at sea,
facilitation of the development of regulations and decreasing of
pollution.
In the early 1970s maritime countries began declaring their coastal waters part of
their jurisdiction on an increasingly larger scale. First, it was 3 nautical miles, then
12 and now even 200 nautical miles. (1 nautical mile = 1852 m)
The 1982 conference in Jamaica adopted the Convention on the Maritime Law,
stipulating that the Convention refers to the areas up to the depth of
2 500 m from the shore.
PROTECTION OF INTERNATIONAL WATERS
Amoco Cadiz contained 1,604,500 barrels (219,797 tons) of light crude oil from Saudi Arabia and Iran. Severe weather resulted in the complete breakup of the ship before any oil could be pumped out of the wreck, resulting in its entire cargo of crude oil (belonging to Shell) and 4,000 tons of fuel
oil being spilled into the sea.
15
In the late 1960s, researchers identified a hazardous and growing water pollution
and reduction of the oxygen concentration in the Baltic Sea.
All the seven Baltic Sea states – Denmark, Finland, the Democratic
Republic of Germany, the Federative Republic of Germany, Poland,
Sweden and USSR – agreed on taking immediate measures to reduce the
pollution of the sea.
The Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the
Baltic Sea Area was adopted in 1974. Within its framework, the Helsinki
Commission (HELCOM) was established to ensure the implementation,
monitoring and development of a programme of common activities.
PROTECTION OF THE BALTIC SEA
16
In 1984, during the first meeting of the ministers of the Baltic Sea Region
countries, an action plan was adopted concerning four spheres:
In the second meeting of the ministers, in 1988, 78 projects were endorsed
although many important problems were unresolved.
Solutions for problems of national character or implementation of projects were
not discussed, neither were any binding documents adopted.
1. reduction of pollution
2. scientific research
3. navigation safety
4. prevention of oil leakage
DEVELOPMENT OF PROTECTION OF THE BALTIC SEA
HELCOM
Such policy was caused by the
catastrophic accident in Chernobyl, on
the tanker Amoco Cadiz and similar
cases.
On the whole, many developing countries wished to see the World Ocean as a
free-for-all territory, like the Antarctica, rather than have the huge area de facto
taken over by the states which had the most up-to-date technology for exploiting
the oceanic resources at their disposal.
A common tendency can be traced in the
conventions adopted and treaties signed: to
allot an increasingly significant place to the
principle of precaution.
The countries of the world are called upon to
prevent pollution in case of emergency
situations and accidents.
18
DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION IN THE WORLD
society at large
Of all the above-mentioned, it is only governments, or states they represent, that
have the right to take inter nationally binding decisions.
The number of institutions and persons involved in international environmental
protection is very large; however, by an attempt to group them, the most
significant units are:
international environmental
organisations
19
states
industry and business
global environmental
movements
experts
individual talented personalities
INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
20
The position of the USA on environmental problems of global significance,
especially on restricting climate change and a stronger international
management of environment, has been severely criticised.
On individual occasions states can hope for some indirect benefit, for example, by
promoting good international relations with other countries.
However, a higher level of socialisation and friendliness are highly appreciated, which
makes it possible to claim a larger portion of the common world reserves.
Europe’s Nordic countries, which pursue strict
demands in the sphere of international
environmental management and protection, call
on other states:
even take on unilateral additional
obligations,
participate in discussions,
encourage other countries and
peoples to follow suit.
The European Union also supports a more rigorous international management of
environment by allowing considerable funds for this aim.
However, with the EU expansion, differences in the opinions on the future perspective can
be observed among member states.
MOTIVATION OF STATES
Serengeti savannah plains, Tanzania
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
An early morning outside the Opera Tavern in Stockholm, with a gang of beggars waiting for delivery
of the scraps from yesterday. Sweden, 1868.
Member of Dalits in Jaipur, India. An “untouchable” or Dalit is considered
outside of the caste system. They are the lowest of the low in the
Indian social stratification.
POVERTY
23
The ‘northern’ block focuses more on such environmental problems as climate
change and ozone depletion, whereas the priorities of the ‘southern’ block are the
lack of drinking water and desertification.
The ‘northern’ block includes
the industrialised welfare states of North
America, Europe and other continents.
The ‘southern’ block is represented
by the developing countries of Asia,
South America and Africa.
The former Second World (socialist) countries
together with the South-East Asian countries form the
block of the developing countries.
The block of developing countries has grown from 77 states (G77) to 130 states,
and it has a significant proportion of say in making international decisions.
BLOCKS OF SIMILARLY THINKING COUNTRIES
24
In the majority of cases, international environmental organisations have been set
up by mutual agreement of countries for practical measures to tackle global
environmental issues, to prepare projects of environmental policy planning,
funding and implementation.
At present there are about 250 international environmental organisations, most of
them specialising in preparation and implementation of conventions on both
global and local scale.
International environmental organisations have been extremely good at
organising broad discussions to prepare :
projects funding and
implementation
projects of environmental
policy planning
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
25
The origins of environmental organisations date back to the time after World War
II when the world faced the necessity:
create a system to prevent wars
restore the demolished economies
prepare solid ground for successful
development
World Trade
Organisation
The United Nations
organized such
institutions: International Bank of
Reconstruction and
Development (the World Bank)
International Monetary
Fund
THE BEGINNING OF ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
United Nations
Environment Programme
26
The leading role belongs to the UN and its environmental organisations.
The UN was founded in October 1945, when 50 countries signed
the UN Charter in San Francisco, the USA. Today the number of its
member states has grown to 192.
Several massive regional organisations came into being:
European Union
North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA)
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
UN initial task was to promote peace in the world, prevent conflicts between
states, control armament, protect human rights, facilitate economic and
social development and preserve the global environment.
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
UN Assembly Hall
Signing of the UN Charter (26 June 1945, San Francisco, USA)
UN Headquarters in New York, USA
27
UN - THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL INTER NATIONAL
ORGANISATION
UN Environment Programme is rather limited. Therefore, the countries of the
world deliberate on substitution of the Programme with the Global Environment
Organisation (GEO), which would have wider powers and better funding.
28
The necessity of the UN Environment Programme was confirmed
during the UN Conference on the Human Environment in
Stockholm in 1972 as a response to the signals of the alarming deterioration of the quality of the environment.
• Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Development Programme (UNDP)
• Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The headquarters of the UN Environment Programme is in Nairobi,
Kenya, but there are also offices in Switzerland (Geneva) and other
countries.
UN AND ENVIRONMENT
Environmentalist groups
enjoy strong support !
“Greenpeace” protest action against nuclear energy 29
Environmental activist groups usually come out against slow and low-quality
measures aimed at tackling environmental issues, and they often attract the
attention of the society to lesser - known environmental issues.
There are numerous environmental activist
groups and they have different interests
because of their differences in ideology,
strategy, institutional structure and goals:
World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF)
“Greenpeace”
Climate Change Network
World Resources Institute
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST GROUPS
30
Focus Environmentalism, peace
Method Direct action, lobbying, research, innovation
Revenue € 196.6 million (2008)
Members 2.86 million (2008)
Website www.GreenPeace.org www.GreenPeace.mobi
MV Esperanza, a former fire-fighter owned by the Russian
Navy, was re-launched by Greenpeace in 2002.
The levels of the carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere has reached 400 parts per million
for the first time in human history.
The last time levels were this high global average
temperatures eventually reached 3 or 4 C°
higher than now.
The polar regions were up to 10 C° warmer than
today the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets
were smaller and Sea level rised higher than today.
This week, politicians, scientists and
fisheries managers from around the world are
coming to Mauritius to attend the annual Indian
Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) meeting. This
organisation is charged by governments to
protect tuna stocks across the Indian Ocean, but
right now it is abjectly failing in this task.
Tuna fishing across the region is poorly
controlled – too many boats are taking too many
fish, and often these boats come from wealthier,
distant nations that use wasteful and destructive
fishing techniques.
United we sail – Mauritian fishermen, Greenpeace protest against overfishing May 6, 2013 at 12:12
Carbon dioxide reaches levels never seen by humans May 11, 2013 at 11:18
33
Environmental protection activists
protest against the world leaders’
inability to make decisions on
definite and immediate actions to
diminish the negative consequences of
climate change. Copenhagen,
COP15 Conference, December 2009.
Many environmentalist groups are extremely active at the venues of important
negotiations on the problems of the world’s environment or sustainable
development and also at world environmental congresses.
The protesters often wear masks of animals or birds, stick up protest slogans
on tall buildings, and actively lobby leaders of official delegations or delegates.
Of late they also organise parallel conferences and environ mental forums.
ACTIVITIES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST GROUPS
COP15 CONFERENCE Copenhagen, December 2009.
COP15 CONFERENCE Copenhagen, December 2009
36
It is widely believed that it is the large corporations, exercising a disproportionate
influence on political processes, that should be held responsible for the current
degradation of the environment and depletion of the world resources.
The world economic system, which includes individual enterprises, companies,
joint-stock companies and international corporations, exploits natural resources,
and the result is environmental pollution.
Large companies seldom get directly involved in politics. Usually this is the
sphere of specific non-governmental organisations connected with industry and
trade:
World Business Council for Sustainable Development, representing
over 170 sectors of industry,
International Chamber of Commerce integrates different organisations to
join in the discussions on international environmental issues.
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS
Svante Arrhenius (1859–1927), a physico-
chemist at the Stockholm Högskola, had put
forward the theory of the greenhouse effect
already in 1896.
The Swedish chemist Svante Oden (1924–1986) was
the first to study the consequences of burning fossil fuel.
Scientists definitely play a prominent role in the development of international
documents pertaining to environmental policy.
J. Evelyn’s (1620-1706) research is notable - he announced that
the quality of air in London was poor in a publication in 1661.
37
ROLE OF SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS
Application and scientific interpretation of data
on the environment are instrumental in assessing
global tendencies and developing future tendencies.
Danish Bjorn Lomborg in 2001 published the book The
Skeptical Environmentalist to prove that the existing
state of the environment was not as bad as other
scientists found it.
38
The scientist as a discoverer of environmental problems performs other important
functions in the modern society:
as a teacher disseminates knowledge on research and educate the
public about the nature and the environment,
as a consultant helps decision-makers to prepare optimum solutions,
assumes the role of a responsible intellectual by entering discussions and
explaining the interrelation between environmental and political issues in the
mass media.
ROLE OF SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS NOWADAYS
39
Policy of environmental protection in its first stages has been directed towards
specific events.
Problems that become evident after a longer period of time, such as the
global changes of temperature, expansion of deserts and depletion of
biological diversity, it is considerably more diffcult.
It is easy to attract the attention of the public by pointing out obvious and
easily comprehensible problems such as acid rains, seal hunting in order
to obtain furs and pollution caused by pesticides.
In international political relations, the emergence of environmental
protection issues as problems can be divided into four phases.
The point of view of scientists regarding critical and problematic issues does not
always coincide with that of the governments and inter national organisations.
DEVELOPMENT OF INTER NATIONAL COOPERATION
40
The first phase began in the 19th century with the signing of bilateral
fishery agreements and ended in 1945 when new inter national organisations were
established.
Dealing with environmental problems was difficult due to the fact that there was
no clearly defined ground and strict political approach. There were cultural
differences, and all the aforementioned aspects led to different approaches.
The attempt to ensure international whale protection turned out to be an
especially unavailing episode in the history of international environmental
protection.
The Convention on Restrictions of Whaling was signed in Geneva in 1931, and 24
states had either ratified or joined it up to 1935.
However, the Soviet Union and Japan – the two states most involved with
whaling – did not sign the convention.
FIRST PHASE – OCEAN RESOURCES
Currently, Japan and the Russian Federation oppose this moratorium. The IWC
allows non-zero whaling quotas for aboriginal subsistence and also issues
'Scientific Permits' to governments who apply for them. Japan, Norway and Iceland
have all been issued permits since their inclusion in 1986.
In 1994, the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary (an area of 50 million square
kilometres surrounding the continent of Antarctica) was created by the IWC.
The International Whaling Commission logo
Dutch whalers near Spitsbergen. Abraham Storck, 1690.
42
The second phase began with the foundation of the United Nations and reached
its peak during the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in
Stockholm.
During that time the global problems were related to four important spheres:
1) the ban on distribution of nuclear, biological and
chemical weapons, reduction of military costs, and
prevention of a new war;
2) reduction of poverty;
3) nature and environment crisis that manifested itself in:
depletion of resources,
reduction of biological diversity,
increasing amounts of waste;
4) ensuring of human rights.
SECOND PHASE: ACTIVITIES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION MOVEMENT AND THE UNITED NATIONS
43
During the 60s, there was a significant interest in nature in scientific and
economic aspects as the decade left an impact on how environmental problems
were viewed in intellectual and political circles.
In 1962, Rachel Carson published her book Silent
Spring which criticised the overly extensive use
of pesticides and stressed their negative
influence on human health and ecosystems.
Although the scientific community criticised the
work as being over-emotional, almost all of the
pesticides mentioned by R. Carson are banned
now.
During the 50-60s, the global economy experienced growth; however, afterwards
fundamental problems began to develop, resulting in the oil crisis of 1973.
In 1962, the actual state of environment was uncertain; however, 1970 arrived with a
many voiced and unyielding public opinion. Groups of concerned scientists,
administrators and environmental protection enthusiasts initiated an explosion of a mass
movement, which spread in the industrialised world.
SECOND PHASE: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
44
The Club of Rome was established as a free association of European scientists,
technical employees and politicians during the time when the liberal democracy of
capitalism was shaken by crises, and issues of civil rights, peace and
environment were beginning to dominate.
SECOND PHASE: THE CLUB OF ROME
Limits to Growth, based on the research carried out by the Massachusets
Institute of Technology (USA) led by D.Meadows was based on the outcomes
of prognoses regarding the constant depletion of resources, increase in
pollution and population.
SECOND PHASE: DENIS MEADOWS
Opening of the United Nations Conference
on the Human Environment
in Stockholm, June 5, 1972.
46
A direct outcome of the Stockholm conference was the establishment of a new
United Nations agency - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The third phase (1972–1992) witnessed an explosion of new environmental
protection institutions and agreements.
Stockholm’s conference was the first time when environmental
problems were discussed and analysed in connection with
economic and social development in an international forum.
THIRD PHASE: FROM STOCKHOLM TO
RIO DE JANEIRO
47
In accordance with the United Nations General Assembly
Decision of December 1983, the World Commission on
Environment and Development was founded, and the
position of chair was entrusted to Gro Harlem Brundtland.
The commission organised public conventions in all five continents,
and the report Our Common Future prepared by the Commission was
published in 1987.
THIRD PHASE: Our Common Future
Five documents were signed at the end of the conference, signifying joint national
interests and the reached unanimity.
This conference was very significant for the future development of the debate on
sustainable development, negotiations between developed and developing
countries and for the process of explaining the relations between
environment and development. 48
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development that took place
in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 was the most diverse and large scale conference
ever organised by the United Nations - 179 state representatives and 120 state
leaders partook in the Conference.
The discussion touched upon issues of inter national
importance – protection of the atmosphere;
- use of the oceans, freshwater and land resources;
- preservation of biological diversity;
- careful application of biotechnology;
- problems regarding toxic and solid waste and hazardous
chemical substances.
FOURTH PHASE: THE PERIOD OF INTEGRATION
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs
of our generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
At the Rio conference, an important United Nations commission – Commission for Sustainable
Development (CSD) - was founded with goal to sum up the results of how the Agenda 21 was
implemented on a national, regional and international scale in order to ensure worldwide
sustainable development.
FOURTH PHASE: UN COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
H.E. MR. LÁSZLÓ BORBÉLY, Chairman (Romania) (Eastern European Group)
Vice-Chairs:
H.E. Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative at
the Australian Mission to the United Nations in New York (West European & Others
Group)
H.E. Mr. Silvano Vergara, Deputy General Administrator of the National Environmental
Auhtority of Panama, (Latin American & the Caribbean Group)
Mr. Eduardo R. Meñez was elected Vice-Chairperson of the nineteenth session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development, representing the Asian Group.
Mr. Abdelghani Merabet was elected Vice-Chairperson of the nineteenth session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development, representing the African Group
CSD 19
CSD 20
Was suspended from its normal rotation, planned in 2012 owing to the fact that the General Assembly had resolved to hold the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio as a 20 year anniversary to the original conference.
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development would focus on two themes:
- Green economy within the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.
- Institutional framework for sustainable development.
With the objectives: • Securing renewed political commitment to sustainable development. • Assessing the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed
commitments. • Addressing new and emerging challenges.
52
After the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972,
international environmental agreements have become the main instrument of
global environmental administration; however, the emphasis is on international
diplomacy, not technical understanding.
Approximately 140 international agreements have been signed, ratified and come
into force since 1920, but the number of the documents accompanying them
(protocols and amendments) is much greater.
degradation of the ozone layer, reduction biological diversity, climate change.
Some of the conventions and protocols are
of greater significance :
MODERN GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
If an established number of states (the minimum number of states needed for
the convention to function efficiently is decided by the member states
themselves) have ratified the convention, they convene the first conference of the
parties of the convention to agree upon the actions needed. 53
The conventions are international laws that independent countries or institutions
have agreed upon. Since the conventions set down the obligations and rights of
the countries in a particular sphere, the representatives of the states spend quite
a lot of time on:
harmonising the documents before adoption of
the conventions,
technical experts develop the project of the convention,
highest ranking officials of the states sign the convention during an
international conference dedicated to the debate on the questions
related to the convention,
ratification takes place after signing; it involves an official decision by the
parliament confirming that the convention complies with the national
legislation and that the state is willing to observe the rules of the convention
and undertake international liabilities.
CONVENTIONS
Nobel Peace Prize 2007 was awarded to the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
in the official opening of Copenhagen Conference on
December 7, 2009.
54
Regarding the making of global environmental policy and development of
conventions and their protocols, the role of scientists and experts is invaluable.
A good example is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), which
consists of approximately three thousand scientists.
The results of their research and a mutual exchange and collective
interpretation of the results have raised global awareness of the current
environmental problems and helped in developing a unified policy
for subduing the negative consequences of climate change.
SCIENTISTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
55
Develop a global partnership for development
In September 2000, the General Assembly of the United Nations, which 191
member states took part in, signed the United Nations Millennium Declaration and
set eight Millennium Development Goals to be fulfilled until 2015.
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Ensure environmental
sustainability
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
1
Achieve universal primary education 2
Promote gender equality and empower women 3
7
Reduce child mortality 4 Improve maternal health 5
6
8
UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DECLARATION
The Programme offers a series of bachelor’s
and master’s courses on issues related to
sustainable development at member
universities.
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Baltic University Programme has grown
to become the largest university
network in the world, encompassing
more than 200 universities in 14
countries in the Baltic Sea Region.
Baltic University Programme
at the Uppsala University
Other example is the annual students’
conference in Rogów, Poland, which
gathers students from all countries in the
region.
All the activities are based on the
principle of team-work, whether navigating a tall
ship in the Baltic Sea or getting together to take on
the defining issues of education and sustainable
development.
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Collaboration and networking –
students
participate in a voyage on a
sailing ship in the Baltic Sea
Baltic University Programme
at the Uppsala University
THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION !