Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 12 • Number 18 • 21st May 2008
Events
Coming up: 22-29 May
22 May, Worldwide. INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. "Biodiversity and Agriculture," is the theme of the 2008 International Day for Biological Diversity. Agriculture is a key example of how human activities have profound impacts on the ecosystems of our planet. This year’s theme seeks to highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture, not only to preserve biodiversity, but also to ensure that we will be able to feed the world, maintain agricultural livelihoods, and enhance human wellbeing into the 21st century and beyond. For more information please refer to the Convention on Biological Diversity website at http://www.cbd.int/ibd/.
22 May, Washington, DC. OECD BREAKFAST SERIES: AFRICAN ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2008. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Center and the African Development Bank will present the recently released African Economic Outlook (AEO), the essential economic reference on Africa. Now in its seventh year of annual publication, the AEO presents a comprehensive analysis of economic, political and social development on the continent. The AEO is the only report on Africa produced by African institutions, in partnership with international organisations. For more information and key findings of the AEO please refer to the event website http://www.oecdwash.org/NEWS/EVENTS/washevents.htm.
24-26 May, Kobe, Japan. G8 ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS MEETING. The meeting is one of many convened in preparation for the 2008 G8 Summit, to be held 7-9 July 2008 in Hokkaido, Japan. For more information please refer to the conference website at http://www.do-summit.jp/en/about/summary02.php.
27 May, Copenhagen, Denmark. LOCAL LIVLIHOOD AND CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIES PART II. The seminar is the second installment of the "Local livelihood and climate change" presentation, which is part of the Danish Development Research Network (DDRN) and the Danish Institute for International Studies seminar series on "Poverty and Environment." The aim of the Seminar Series is to exchange experiences and new knowledge on poverty-environment related issues, with a particular emphasis on cross-fertilisation between practice, research and other forms of knowledge. The "Local Livelihood Strategies and Climate Change" theme focuses on climate change as a high profile issue, but one where little is known about the implications for the poorest and their livelihood strategies. For further information please visit: http://www.diis.dk/sw53133.asp.
27 May, Jönköping, Sweden. WORLD BIOENERGY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2008. This will be the third World Bioenergy Conference and Exhibition held. The purpose of the event is to promote the commercial implementation of bioenergy technologies and solutions. The Conference is based on the unique "Taking you from Know-How to Show-How" concept, combining conference sessions, field excursions and tradeshow into one comprehensive event. For more information please refer to the conference website at http://www.elmia.se/worldbioenergy/.
28-30 May, Geneva, Switzerland. 19TH SESSION OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY 21 PROJECT. The Energy Efficiency 21 project is a region-wide project to enhance trade and co-operation in energy efficient, environmentally sound techniques and management practices in order to help close the energy efficiency gap between actual practice and best technologies, and between ECE countries, in particular market developed countries and economies in transition. The first day of the meeting will be dedicated to a conference on the International Cooperation in Energy Efficiency as a contribution to a low-carbon economy. This conference is jointly organised by UNECE with the Energy Charter and the International Energy Agency. The second day of the Steering Committee will review progress made and next steps of the Energy Efficiency 21 Programme. For more information please refer to the UNECE website at www.unece.org/ie/ and the Energy Efficiency 21 Project at http://www.ee-21.net.
WTO Events
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at: http://www.wto.org/meets_public/meets_e.pdf. 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. Unless otherwise indicated, all WTO meetings are held at the WTO, Centre William Rappard, rue de Lausanne 154, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and are open to WTO Members and accredited observers only.
21+23 May: TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY - CHINA
22 May: COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
26+30 May: NEGOTIATING GROUP ON TRADE FACILIATION
Other Upcoming Events
2-7, June, Manila, Philippines. ASIA CLEAN ENERGY FORUM (ACEF) 2008: INVESTING IN SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY SOLUTION. In recognition of the pursuit for clean energy solutions that address the growing challenges of climate change and energy security by policymakers, private sector firms, and non-governmental organisations, the Asian Development Bank, and cooperating partners, will host the Asia Clean Energy Forum 2008. The Forum aims to promote increased use of clean energy in Asia and the Pacific through donor cooperation and the promotion of successful clean energy policies and finance solutions that respond to the region’s climate challenge. The Forum will bring together a diverse group of 400-700 clean energy professionals including: government officials and policymakers; national and multinational financial institutions; private sector manufacturers, project developers and service providers; and researchers, academics, civil society groups, and development professionals working on clean energy and climate change. For further information please refer to the website at http://www.adb.org/Documents/events/2008/ACEF/default.asp; email: cleanenergy@adb.org.
3-5 June, Rome, Italy: HIGH LEVEL CONFERENCE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY: THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIOENERGY. Securing world food security in light of the impact of climate change may be one of the biggest challenges we face in this century. The recent thirty-fourth session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Conference, held during November 2007, called for a series of expert meetings and stakeholder consultations on climate change and bioenergy, to be followed by a High-Level Conference on World Food Security and the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy. The preparatory meetings were held January-April 2008. This High-Level Conference has become even more relevant in light of soaring food prices and the additional challenges this situation poses to achieving global food security. Many Heads of State and Governments have confirmed their attendance, as well as the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, transforming the June High-Level Conference into a true Summit on world food security. For further information, please refer to the website at http://www.fao.org/foodclimate/home1.html?no_cache=1.