21 June 2012: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on the draft guidance for the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) animals.
19 June 2012: The Secretariats of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) signed an agreement for a joint project to develop electronic CITES permitting in the eight ACTO nations (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela) for the traceability of specimens of CITES-listed species in international trade.
June 2012: The EU's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published the proceedings of a workshop on socio-economic impacts of genetically modified (GM) crops. The report finds that there is insufficient evidence for a proper analysis of socio-economic impacts, and calls for the development of indicators to facilitate socio-economic studies.
21 June 2012: A study by the EU's MarBEF network (Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning EU Network of Excellence) finds that, while the European public is willing to pay for biodiversity conservation, its preferences regarding conservation of specific species vary with cultural and regional associations, including the impact of a species' "charisma." The study assessed the willingness-to-pay of 1502 participants to determine how they value mammals, fish, birds, invertebrates and algae.
22 June 2012: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the EU's Committee of the Regions (CoR). The MoU seeks to strengthen the role of local and regional authorities within the policy decision-making process, and emphasizes the importance of placing sustainable cities at the heart of the global strategy on sustainable development.
15 June 2012: The European Commission has initiated the search for the city that will win the title European Green Capital 2015. The title is awarded to a city that serves as a role model for others by providing environmentally-friendly urban living that is “fit for life.”
11 June 2012: The European Environment Ministers met in the Environment Council to adopt conclusions on setting the framework for the 7th EU Environment Action Programme (EAP) and on preparations for key biodiversity and climate meetings, among other items.
The EU will hold a forum to address major development issues in the EU Outermost Regions (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint Martin, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands) in light of the Europe 2020 Strategy to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Issues to be addressed include: oceans; agriculture modernization; environmental challenges; social challenges; and jobs, innovation and business competitiveness.
5 June 2012: The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released the 2012 edition of its "Signals" report, titled "Building the Future we Want," which focuses on the impacts of consumption and production patterns, and ways to reduce their impact on the environment.
1 June 2012: Forty negotiators from CARIFORUM countries, which include Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member States, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, took part in a training workshop to better represent their national and regional interests in negotiations involving multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs).
| Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) |
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| Conference Reporting Services (CRS) |
