For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies.
Coming up in the next two weeks
30 November to 8 December, Geneva, Switzerland: TENTH SESSION OF WIPO INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE. The meeting will cover traditional cultural expressions/folklore; traditional knowledge, including draft guidelines on the recognition of traditional knowledge in the examination of patent applications; and genetic resources. For more information, contact the IGC Secretariat; tel: (41-22) 338-8161; fax: (41-22)338-8120; e-mail: grtkf@wipo.int; Internet: http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=11222.
1-2 December, Beirut, Lebanon: REGIONAL SEMINAR ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE AGRO-FOOD SECTOR. Some topics addressed at this UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia seminar include strategies for overcoming obstacles that are hindering the growth of the agro-food sector, ways of enhancing competitiveness through clusters and networks, safety and technical regulations, and labelling and marketing. For further information contact Issa Toubbeh, tel: (+ 961) 1-978117; fax: 981501; e-mail: toubbehi@un.org; Internet: http://www.escwa.org.lb/divisions/sdpd/events/1-2dec05.pdf.
4-5 December, Abuja, Nigeria: SUMMIT ON FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA. Held under the auspices of the African Union and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the themes covered are Availability, Accessibility and Affordability. For further information visit http://www.nepad.org/2005/files/agriculture/SUMMITONFOODSECURITYINAFRICATECHNICALSESSIONDEC4-72O06.pdf.
4-5 December, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia: FIRST INTER-AMERICAN MEETING OF MINISTERS AND HIGH-LEVEL AUTHORITIES ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. The meeting will identify and advance concrete partnerships at the regional and hemispheric level to integrate environmental considerations into development, poverty alleviation, social and economic policies. For further information, contact Joaquin Tamayo, Department of Sustainable Development; tel: (1-202) 458-3506; fax: (1-202) 458-3560; e-mail: JTamayo@oas.org; Internet: http://www.oas.org/main/main.asp?sLang=E&sLink=http://www.oas.org/dsd/MinisterialMeeting/ReunionInterAm_eng_v1.htm.
8 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT. For further information, contact the WTO Information and Media Relations Division, Geneva; tel: (41 22) 739 5007; fax: (41 22) 739-5458; email: enquiries@wto.org.
11-13 December, Geneva, Switzerland: EXPERT MEETING ON ENABLING SMALL COMMODITY PRODUCERS AND PROCESSORS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO REACH GLOBAL MARKETS. Organised by UNCTAD. This meeting will examine the problems faced by small commodity producers seeking to enter organised supply chains. It will examine the relevant issues in this regard and formulate proposals on how governments and commercial entities can partner with each other in building viable commodity supply chains for the benefit of marginal commodity producers in developing countries. For further information, visithttp://www.unctad.org/Templates/meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=11909.
11-15 December, New York, USA: UNFF OPEN-ENDED AD HOC EXPERT GROUP. The Expert Group will consider the content of a Non-Legally Binding Instrument on all types of forests prior to the seventh session. For further information, contact the UNFF Secretariat; tel: (1 212) 963 3160 / 3401; fax: (1 917) 367 3186; e-mail: unff@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/forests/adhoc-nlbi.html.
12-15 December, Nairobi, Kenya: AFRICAN REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE USE. Organised by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Government of the Netherlands, and hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). This will be the third in a series of technical expert workshops on ecosystem services assessment, the sustainable use of biological resources, and the financial costs and benefits associated with conservation of biodiversity. For more information see http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=RWSUAFR-01&tab=3.
14 December, Hong Kong, China: INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES AND TRADE LIBERALISATION. This event, organised by JF ZENGYOREN (the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations of Japan) and YUTAIKYO (the All Japan Seafood Import Consultative Group), will discuss necessary considerations for forthcoming trade rules with regard to ensuring the sustainable development of fisheries and fishing communities. For further information contact JF ZENGYOREN, tel: (+81) 3-3294-9617; fax: 3294-9602; e-mail: kokusai-sato@r6.dion.ne.jp.
14-15 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO GENERAL COUNCIL. For further information, contact the WTO Information and Media Relations Division, Geneva; tel: (41 22) 739 5007; fax: (41 22) 739-5458; email: enquiries@wto.org.
14-15 December, Beirut, Lebanon: REGIONAL SEMINAR ON ENVIRONMENTAL LABELLING ON FAIR-TRADE AND ECO-LABELLING. The seminar is organised be the DELTA association. During the past few years, businesses in developing countries have had to comply increasingly with international requirements related to environmental impacts. This meeting will also be an occasion share information and new research and to discuss the opportunity of establishing labels in the Middle East and to address the procedures. For further information visit http://www.sba-int.ch/pdffiles/FairTradeIncentives.pdf and http://www.sba-int.ch/Library.htm#14.
14-16 December, Bangalore, India: 3RD FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS CONFERENCE: ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT - ANALYSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR REDUCING POVERTY. This meeting is organised by the Institut Veolia Environnement (IVE), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relationships (IDDRI). It will focus on challenges for sustainable development that arise from the nexus between energy, environment, and poverty. For further information, contact: Ulka Kelkar, TERI India; e-mail: eed@teri.res.in; Internet: http://www.teriin.org/events_inside.php_id_17298.
Other Upcoming
17-19 December, Algiers, Algeria: DESERTIFICATION AND THE INTERNATIONAL POLICY IMPERATIVE. This conference will interlink with and build upon other meetings and conferences held in 2006 to celebrate the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. It is hosted by the Algerian Government and organised by the UN University (UNU). For further information, contact Caroline King, UNU, Ontario, Canada; tel: (1-905) 525-9140, Ex. 24517; fax: (1-905) 529-4261; e-mail: conference@inweh.unu.edu; Internet: http://www.inweh.unu.edu/inweh/drylands/IYDD.htm.