Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 12 • Number 30 • 18th September 2008
Events
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Coming up: September 17-23
17 September. Renaissance Hotel, Brussels. AFTER THE G8, INDUSTRY FACING THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE. This discussion will be divided into three parts: implications of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on the electricity sector; implications of the EU ETS on energy intensive sectors; and implications of the EU Climate policy on non-ETS sectors. For further information please contact: Martine Breux; email: breux@ifri.org and Internet: http://www.ifri.org/frontDispatcher/ifri/manifestations/s_minaire_1033636016876/publi_P_energie_mar_s______br_1220277356808
17- 20 September. Crans-Montana, Switzerland. GENEVA TRADE & DEVELOPMENT FORUM (GTDF): TRADE AS A DEVELOPMENT TOOL - PARTNERSHIPS AND POLICIES. The first conference of the GTDF will connect about 250 thinkers, practitioners and decision makers from the trade and development fields from more than 40 developing, transition and OECD countries with the goal to foster a more inclusive globalisation by addressing some of the specific challenges and opportunities of developing countries in their quest to liberalise trade and integrate into the world economy to the benefit of all. The conference is expected to develop country-specific action plans/policy recommendations as well as policy principles on trade governance and new ideas and approaches to promote trade as a development tool. Participants will probe how entrepreneurship, food security, service development, labour mobility, intellectual property rights, commodities, climate change, livelihoods, export development, trade built on decent work, trade rules and governance can contribute to reducing poverty and enhancing integration into the world trading system. IDEAS Centre is organising the GTDF, backed by Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. For more information, visit www.gtdforum.org.
18 - 19 September. Auckland, New Zealand. GEF SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR THE PACIFIC SIDS. The Sub-Regional Workshops are an annual opportunity for GEF Focal Points to meet with their counterparts from other countries in the region and GEF Partners to discuss and review policies and procedures and for peer to peer exchange of lessons and experiences from development and implementation of GEF projects and their integration within national policy frameworks. For more information contact: tel: +1-202-473-0508; fax: +1-202-522-3240/3245; e-mail: secretariat@thegef.org; Internet: http://gefweb.org/interior.aspx?id=21630
18 - 20 September. Cracow, Poland. 12TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF EUROMEDITERRANEAN NETWORK OF EXPERIMENTAL AND REPRESENTATIVE BASINS. The conference will be organised around the theme “hydrological extremes in small basins”. For more information contact: Jagiellonian University; tel: +48-12-664-5276; fax: +48-12-664-5385; e-mail: erb2008@geo.uj.edu.pl; Internet: http://www.geo.uj.edu.pl/konferencja/erb2008/
19 September. Kolkata, West Bengal. REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA WITH A FOCUS ON INDIA-BANGLADESH TRADE. Objectives of this stakeholders consultation are to engage the participation of Indian stakeholders in regional trade initiatives in South Asia and to promote policy responses that would be inclusive of stakeholder preferences. Furthermore its aim includes involving business representatives, farmer organisations, civil society representatives, academics, and government for creating an awareness and momentum towards regional economic cooperation in South Asia in a way that is expected to influence the future policy direction on trade and investment promotion within the country. For further information, please refer to http://www.cuts-citee.org/events.htm
21- 23 September. New Delhi, India. 14TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE. The International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS) aims to foster and communicate the importance of sustainable development in a global society. The society builds upon the 12-year history of the International Sustainable Development Research Conference and its associated journals. For more information contact tel: +91-124-5013050-56; fax: +91-124-2346162; Internet: http://www.avg.com/.
22 September. GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGH LEVEL MEETING ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT. UN headquarters, New York, United States of America. In its resolution (A.RES/L.29/Rev.1), the UN General Assembly (UNGA) decided that the high-level meeting will be held on 22 September 2008, prior to the general debate of the sixty-third session of the General Assembly. It also decided that the meeting will be held at the highest possible political level, including the participation of Heads of State or Government, ministers, special representatives and other representatives, as appropriate. The UNGA decided that the meeting will result in a political declaration on Africa’s development needs and requested the UNGA President to produce a draft text in consultation with member States and based on their inputs, and convene informals on the draft text. The Assembly also requested the Secretary-General to submit to the meeting a comprehensive report, with recommendations, on “Africa’s development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward” in cooperation with relevant development agencies of the UN, the Bretton Woods institutions and other relevant regional and international financial and trade institutions. Internet: http://www.un.org/ga/62/meetings.shtml
22- 24 September. Chicago, United States. CORPORATE CLIMATE RESPONE - WHERE BUSINESS TACKLES CLIMATE CHANGE. Join leading companies this September to find out how they’re responding to climate change and adapting for a low-carbon future. Over 1000 sustainability professionals have already participated in Corporate Climate Response events for the past four years. For more information please contact tel: +44 (0) 20 7801 6333; email: info@greenpowerconferences.com
22- 25 September. Limbé, Cameroon. CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR CENTRAL AFRICA ON NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLANS (NBSAPS) AND MAINSTREAMING OF BIODIVERSITY. This workshop intends on focusing on particular topics including: the Status of development and implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans in the region. Updating and increasing the effectiveness of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans. Integrating biodiversity into sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies including strategies for poverty reduction and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and national and local planning processes. The way forward: discussion on next steps in implementing and updating NBSAPs and on mainstreaming of biodiversity. For further information, please refer to http://www.cbd.int/meetings/.
24- 25 September. Geneva, Switzerland. WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2008: ‘TRADING INTO THE FUTURE’. This year’s Forum - “Trading into the Future” - will provide a platform for reflection on the multilateral trading system’s six decades. In particular, input will be sought on the challenges and opportunities facing the WTO in each of its main functions, as well as on the challenges and opportunities facing the main actors and stakeholders of the system. This dialogue can contribute towards identifying practical and effective ways forward for the multilateral trading system. For further information please refer to: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum08_e/public_forum08_e.htm
25 September. UN headquarters, New York, United States of America. HIGH-LEVEL EVENT ON THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SEPTEMBER SUMMIT). The UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN General Assembly are organising the September High-Level Event on the MDGs. The September Summit will seek to be the central political development event of the year, setting the tone for the Doha Financing for Development Conference in late 2008. It will seek to mobilise world leaders including heads of state, major business leaders, civil society and religious leaders, the heads of foundations, and other stakeholders to agree on the practical steps that are needed to achieve the MDGs. The central objective of the summit is to gather commitments for concrete initiatives from all participants that will translate their promise to support the MDGs into action on the ground. For more information contact tel: +1 (212) 963 3125; e-mail: ngls@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2008highlevel
29 September - 1 October. Stavanger, Norway. AQUAVISION 2008-SIXTH WORLD BUSINESS CONFERENCE ON AQUACULTURE. AquaVision 2008 is organised around the theme “Know the Fundamentals - Create Your Future.” This event aims to bring together executives and professionals, politicians and regulators, investors and customers - including retailers and processors. For more information contact: Blue Planet; tel: +47 5187 4740; Internet: http://www.aquavision.org
30 September- 1 October. Geneva, Switzerland. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES - CREATING GREENER LIVING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. The inaugural Sustainable Cities and Communities conference is jointly organised by the WWF and Green Power Conferences. The Conference will focus on the practical challenges and opportunities cities and communities will face in order to tackle rising greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and congestion. For more information contact: Simon Neil tel: +44 207 099 0600; email: simon.neill@greenpowerconferences.com; Internet: http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/.
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.
17 + 19 September: TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY - BARBADOS
18 September: COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
18- 19 September: COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
23 September: DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY
24- 25 September: WTO PUBLIC FORUM. For more information, see http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/forum08_background_e.htm
Other Upcoming Events
1 - 2 October. Mexico City, Mexico. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY- SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR LATIN AMERICA. The Sub-Regional Workshops are an annual opportunity for GEF Focal Points to meet with their counterparts from other countries in the region and GEF Partners to discuss and review policies and procedures and for peer to peer exchange of lessons and experiences from development and implementation of GEF projects and their integration within national policy frameworks. For more information contact: tel: +1-202-473-0508; fax: +1-202-522-3240/3245; e-mail: secretariat@thegef.org; Internet: http://gefweb.org/interior.aspx?id=21630
5 - 9 October. Bali, Indonesia. INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON TROPICAL RAINFORESTS AND AGROFORESTS UNDER GLOBAL CHANGE. This meeting aims to advance our understanding of human-induced global change processes, such as agricultural intensification and climate change, which threaten rainforests, by using an integrated scientific approach linking ecological, economic and social approaches at different scales. For more information contact: e-mail: info@globalchange-2008.org; Internet: http://www.globalchange-2008.org
6 - 7 October. Gainesville, Florida, US. WORKING FORESTS IN THE TROPICS: PARTNERING RESEARCH WITH PRACTISE FOR CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT. This conference will explore how scientists from universities and research organisations have worked in partnership with government agencies, policy-makers, the private sector, social movements, and natural resource managers to advance conservation and development through applied research and capacity-building. For more information contact: Jhanna Gilber, University of Florida; tel: +1-352-392-5930; fax: +1-352-392-9734; e-mail: jhanna@ufl.edu; Internet: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/tropics/
6- 7 October. Geneva, Switzerland. EIGHTH AND FINAL MEETING OF THE UNCTAD-FAO-IFOAM INTERNATIONAL TASK FORCE ON HARMONISATION AND EQUIVALENCE IN ORGANIC CULTURE (ITF). The project is a joint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development. The ITF has worked since 2003 to remove technical barriers to trade in organic agricultural products that result from the lack of harmonisation and interoperability of organic regulations, private standards, and certification requirements. The six-year working period of the ITF (2003-2008) has led to an increased understanding of issues, dialogue between private and public sectors and among governments, improved cooperation including catalysing regional harmonisation processes and increased influence on new regulations and revision of existing ones. For more information contact email: sophia.twarog@unctad.org; Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=16161
6 - 10 October. Nairobi, Kenya. SECOND MEETING OF THE AD HOC OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP ON MERCURY. This meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held from 6-10 October 2008, in Nairobi, Kenya. For more information contact: UNEP Chemicals Branch, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics; tel: +41-22-917-8183; fax: +41-22-797-3460; e-mail: mercury@chemicals.unep.ch; Internet: http://www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/
13 - 16 October. Accra, Ghana. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADITIONAL FOREST-RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA. This conference will highlight the importance of traditional forest-related knowledge towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable forest management. It is organised by the Forestry Commission, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the University of Ghana in association with the International Union of Forest Research Organisations. For more information contact: Alfred Oteng-Yeboah; e-mail: otengyeboah@yahoo.co.uk; Internet: http://www.iufro.org/download/file/2595/95/ghana08-tftfk-1st-announcemt-call-upd.doc
13 - 17 October. Geneva, Switzerland. FOURTH MEETING OF THE PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANT REVIEW COMMITTEE. POPRC-4 will meet in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13-17 October 2008. For more information contact: Stockholm Convention Secretariat; tel: +41-22-917-8191; fax: +41-22-917-8098; e-mail: ssc@pops.int; Internet: http://www.pops.int/
14 - 17 October. Rome, Italy. FAO COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will host the 34th session of the Committee on World Food Security from 14-17 October 2008, at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This Committee will assess the current global food situation and implications for the future. Special events will also be organised to consider the impact of high food prices on nutrition and the theme of high prices, food security issues and policy responses. For more information contact: Kostas Stamoulis; e-mail: FAO-CFS@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/UNFAO/Bodies/cfs/cfs34/index_en.htm
20 - 24 October. Europe. EUROPEAN FOREST WEEK. European Forest Week will be marked by events in Brussels, Rome and throughout Europe. The week highlights the contribution of European forests in mitigating the effects of climate change, providing wood and renewable energy, promoting fresh water supply and protecting the environment. For more information contact: e-mail: efw@unece.org; Internet: http://www.europeanforestweek.org/home/en/
20 -25 October. Rome, Italy. FOURTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION (PIC COP-4). For more information contact: Rotterdam Convention Secretariat; tel: +41-22-917-8296; fax: +41-22-917-8082; e-mail: pic@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.pic.int
21- 23 October. Gwangju, Korea. SIXTH UNU & GIST JOINT PROGRAMME WORKSHOP ON SOUND MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY. The deadline for receiving applications is 30 June 2008. To further these goals of the UNU & GIST Joint Programme, the 2008 Workshop will facilitate discussion of emerging environmental and energy issues of among researchers from both developing, and developed, countries, focusing on new research trends in the sound management of hazardous chemicals and sustainable energy. Internet: http://www.ists.unu.edu/
1 November. Lahore, Pakistan. 20TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE. The dates for Congress have not yet been set. For more information contact: Illahi B. Sheikh, Secretary, Pakistan National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (PANCI); tel: +92-51-920-1705; fax: +92-51-922-1806; e-mail: pakfloodcommission@hotmail.com; Internet: http://www.icid.org/conf.html
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