Transcript Document
Global Environmental Policies - Module 1: Governments - Global Environmental Policies and Governments Seminar Structure Module 1: Global Environmental Policy Governments Business and Industry NPOs and Communities Today Module 2: National Environmental Policy Module 3: Local Environmental Policy Introduction to the UN • 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. Aims of the United Nations • 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. Principles 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. Issues handled by the United Nations • The UN – through its different organizations, work on a range of issues such as 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 MEA = Multilateral Environmental Agreement (for example, Kyoto Protocol) • • • • • • • • • • • 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 How is a global environment policy set up? Problems are ‘exported’ to other countries … Eg: paper in Japan A local Environment Problem Eg: too much waste … becomes a regional problem Eg: high CO2 in the atmosphere Problems in other countries also impact us. Eg: Smoke in Indonesia/Malaysia Problems are sometimes invisible Eg: Minamata disease How is a global environment policy set up? Problems are ‘exported’ to other countries … Problems in other countries also impact us. Problems are sometimes invisible Citizens complain to the local government Eg: CASA Local Government informs the national government How is a global environment policy set up? The problems now becomes ‘international’ National Government representative to the UN demands international action Eg: Climate Change convention set up NGOs and Universities provide support UN sets up committee to study the problems 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 action to solve problems Local Government asked to implement key projects Eg: Kyoto Protocol Eg: Requirements under the Kyoto Protocol Eg: Cities for Climate Change How is a global environment policy set up? Local Government asked to implement key projects Local environment problem solved (maybe … ) Example: The “Big Three” MEAs Climate Change: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Biodiversity: UN Convention on Biological Diversity Desertification: 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 Next session Module 1: Global Environmental Policy Governments Business and Industry NPOs and Communities Next … Module 2: National Environmental Policy Module 3: Local Environmental Policy Class Communication … Resources, websites, ideas, notes will be available online: www.gdrc.info/gep/ Send me an email anytime! Hari Srinivas [email protected] IMPORTANT: When you send an email, please always put “[GEP]” in the subject line!