The 11th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), which will convene in New York from 7-18 May 2012, will consider the special theme of "The Doctrine of Discovery: its enduring impact on indigenous peoples and the right to redress for past conquests (articles 28 and 37 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)".
dates: 7-18 May 2012 venue: UN Headquarters, North Lawn Building location: New York (New York), United States of America
The fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP 5) to African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) will be organized by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat and will convene in La Rochelle, France.
dates: 14-18 May 2012 location: La Rochelle (Poitou-Charentes), France
Organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) through its Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and its Coordinating Office on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), this workshop aims to support countries in making use of the findings of the TEEB study, as well as similar work at national or regional levels, by: providing economic arguments for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; promoting synergies and enhanced cooperation among relevant policy areas and sectors; and supporting the updating of national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) in light of the new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.
dates: 15-17 May 2012 location: Santiago (Region Metropolitana), Chile
The primary sponsors of this symposium are: the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea; the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization. Participants will address the role of climate change on the oceans, including: sea level rise; changes in thermo-haline ocean circulation; acidification; oligotrophy of temperate seas; changes in species abundance; distribution and phenology; and biodiversity loss. The symposium aims to bring together experts from different disciplines to exchange observations, results, models and ideas at a global scale and to discuss the opportunities to mitigate climate change and protect the marine environment and its living resources.
dates: 15-19 May 2012 location: Korea, Republic of additional: Yeosu
The International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise (IDBHP) aims to promote public support through various events and exhibitions at museums and scientific institutions around the Baltic Sea riparian states. The aim is that IDBHP will be observed by at least one notable institution in every country around the Baltic Sea. The IDBHP offers an opportunity to highlight the critical status of the Baltic population of the harbour porpoise and the threats to its survival.
date: 20 May 2012 venue: Baltic Sea Riparian States location: worldwide
The 80th General Session of the OIE World Assembly will address, among other issues: the adoption of international standards regarding the safety of world trade in animals and animal products; the fight against animal diseases and zoonoses and improving the quality of veterinary services; and the elections of the Council, the Regional and Specialised Commissions. It also will discuss national and international experiences and roles in previous and future developments in the “One World, One Health” approach, and celebrate the OIE's 80th anniversary.
dates: 20-25 May 2012 venue: Maison de la Chimie, 28bis rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris location: Paris (Ile-De-France), France
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)'s Committee on Agriculture (COAG) will consider technical work relating to: options for stakeholder dialogue in support of sustainable livestock developments; sustainable crop production intensification; perspectives of land and water resources in a changing climate; and improving statistics for food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development.
dates: 21-23 May 2012 venue: FAO Headquarters location: Rome (Lazio), Italy
The theme for this year's International Day for Biological Diversity is marine biodiversity.
date: 22 May 2012 location: worldwide
Organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) through its Coordinating Office on the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this workshop seeks to: provide decision makers in Eastern Europe and Central Asia with economic arguments for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; promote synergies and enhanced cooperation among relevant policy areas and sectors by mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem services; and support the revision and review of national biodiversity strategies and action plans in light of the new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.
dates: 29-31 May 2012 location: Tbilisi (T'Bilisi), Georgia
The project on "Groundwater Governance: A Global Framework for Country Action" was initiated by the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and the World Bank. This regional consultation is the second of a series. Additional consultations include: in Uruguay for Latin America and the Caribbean, in April 2012; in Jordan in October 2012, for the Arab countries; and in China in December 2012, for Asia. The fifth Regional Consultation dedicated to the European region as well as institutions from the private sector will be hosted by the Netherlands in the first quarter of 2013. The results of the regional consultations will contribute to the preparation of Global Groundwater Governance Diagnostic.
dates: 29-31 May 2012 location: Nairobi (Nairobi Area), Kenya
The 13th meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea is expected to convene in New York, US, from 29 May-1 June 2012.
dates: 29 May - 1 June 2012 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York (New York), United States of America
The Bureau of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) announced, on 4 May 2012, that an additional week of informal informal consultations on the UNCSD outcome document would take place from 29 May-2 June 2012.
dates: 29 May - 2 June 2012 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York (New York), United States of America
This conference will address opportunities for marine biotechnology to contribute to global challenges such as of food and fuel security, population health, green growth and sustainable industries. The event aims at raising awareness among policy makers of the potential of the marine environment and how this potential could be realized through the use of marine biotechnology, in particular in the areas of generating economic benefit and environmental sustainability.
dates: 30-31 May 2012 venue: Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 West Hastings Street ,Vancouver, BC, Canada location: Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council is the main governing body of the GEF. It functions as an independent board of directors, with primary responsibility for developing, adopting, and evaluating GEF programmes. Council members representing 32 constituencies (16 from developing countries, 14 from developed countries, and two from countries with transitional economies) meet for three days, twice each year.
dates: 4-7 June 2012 location: Washington (District of Columbia), United States of America
Organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the PoWPA Friends Consortium and hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning of Serbia, this workshop aims to build capacity to: create national action plans for implementation of the programme of work on protected areas (PoWPA); access funding based on these action plans; and strengthen implementation of the PoWPA on the themes of governance, climate change, sustainable financing, and valuation of the costs and benefits of protected areas.
dates: 4-8 June 2012 location: Serbia additional: Belgrade
The first session of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) in charge of advising member countries in the implementation of the Protocol on Marine Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol) will take place in Aruba. The LBS Protocol is one of several to the Cartagena Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, France, Guyana, Panama, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US are Parties to the Protocol. The UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit (CAR/RCU) provides the secretariat services for the Convention, its Protocols and its associated bodies such as the STAC. The first session of the STAC will discuss, inter alia: emerging pollution issues for the WCR; state of the WCR coastal and marine environment; implementation of the LBS Protocol; and new projects/needs.
dates: 4-8 June 2012 location: Oranjestad (Aruba), Aruba
World Environment Day 2012 will be celebrated under the theme "Green Economy: Does it include you?" and will be hosted by Brazil. World Environment Day 2012 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Day.
date: 5 June 2012 location: worldwide
This regional workshop aims to increase the number of indigenous and local community (ILC) representatives, with an emphasis on women, effectively involved in the CBD processes, as well as to build their capacity to do so. This sub-regional workshop will focus on Articles 8(j) (traditional knowledge), 10(c)(customary sustainable use), and related provisions, as well as the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing, and aims at preparing ILC representatives for the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which will be held in Hyderabad, India, from 8-19 October 2012.
dates: 12-15 June 2012 location: Bujumbura (Bujumbura), Burundi
The UN General Assembly, in December 2009, adopted a resolution calling for a UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, also referred to as Rio+20) to be convened in Brazil in 2012. This meeting will mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The General Assembly resolution specifies that a three-day PrepCom should convene in May 2010, a two-day PrepCom should convene in March 2011, and a three-day PrepCom should convene immediately before the UNCSD (PrepCom III). On 4 November 2011, Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil, announced a proposal to change the dates to 13-15 June 2012 for PrepCom III and 20-22 June 2012 for the UNCSD, in order to allow for highest-level participation. The previously scheduled dates were 28-30 May 2012 for PrepCom III and 4-6 June 2012 for the UNCSD.
dates: 13-15 June 2012 location: Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil
The Rio Conventions Pavilion at Rio+20 is a collaborative outreach activity of the Secretariats of the Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, UNCCD and CBD), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and 25 other international, national and local partners. It aims to promote and strengthen synergies between the Rio Conventions at implementation levels by providing a coordinated platform for awareness-raising and information-sharing about the linkages in science, policy and practice between biodiversity, climate change and combating desertification/land degradation.
dates: 13-22 June 2012 location: Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil
The ICLEI World Congress 2012 takes place every three years and provides mayors, local government officials, representatives of international institutions and other partners opportunities for peer exchange, knowledge-sharing, capacity building and on-site visits and exhibits. ICLEI is supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), the World Bank and others. Key themes to be addressed during the conference include: green urban economy; changing citizens, changing cities; greening events; and food security and how can biodiversity protection be integrated into municipal planning and decision making.
dates: 14-18 June 2012 location: Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), Brazil
The 2012 celebration of World Day to Combat Desertification, an annual event on 17 June, will focus on the theme "Healthy soil sustains your life: LET’S GO LAND-DEGRADATION NEUTRAL". In 2012, World Day to Combat Desertification falls three days before the start of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), and the global observance is planned to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
date: 17 June 2012 location: Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil
The Global Ocean Forum will organize "Oceans Day" during the thematic days immediately preceding the UNCSD.
dates: 17-19 June 2012 [tentative] location: Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and other international organizations are organizing this full-day side event during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). The event will highlight the role of forests and industry in fostering local livelihoods at the resource base and in enabling product transition to a low-carbon bio-economy among consumers, and will cover the following themes: the role of the forest sector in emerging bio-economies; forest certification; and contributions of forest industry in rural development.
date: 18 June 2012 venue: Ribalta location: Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil
This Roundtable is coordinated by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), in the lead up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). It is based on the recognition that forests have been largely excluded from most of the key discussions in the preparations for Rio+20, despite making important contributions toward solving many sustainable development challenges. The event aims to ensure that forests remain high on the agenda in 2012. Participants will discuss new research findings, remaining knowledge gaps and the policy implications for integrating forests into the solutions to several key challenges to progress toward a green economy, namely: energy, water, climate, food and income. CIFOR is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
date: 19 June 2012 venue: Royal Tulip Hotel location: Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil
The Inter-American Development Bank is organizing an event on Climate Change and Sustainability on the sidelines of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). The event is open to the private and public sectors as well as civil society. Discussions will address, among other topics: mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilient low carbon development, biodiversity, sustainable energy and the challenges of a local level sustainability agenda.
date: 20 June 2012 location: Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil
This meeting is also referred to as Rio+20. The UN General Assembly, in December 2009, adopted a resolution calling for a UNCSD to be convened in Brazil in 2012. This meeting will mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The General Assembly resolution specifies that a three-day PrepCom should convene in May 2010, a two-day PrepCom should convene in February-March 2011, and a three-day PrepCom should convene immediately before UNCSD. On 4 November 2011, Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil, announced a proposal to change the dates to 13-15 June 2012 for PrepCom III and 20-22 June 2012 for the UNCSD, in order to allow for highest-level participation. The previously scheduled dates were 28-30 May 2012 for PrepCom III and 4-6 June 2012 for the UNCSD.
dates: 20-22 June 2012 location: Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil
The Congress will provide a platform for African forest scientists, forest managers and policy makers and their colleagues from other parts of the world to share and exchange information and experiences on critical issues affecting forest and wildlife resources in Africa. The overall goal of the congress is to demonstrate how forest science is impacting on livelihoods, environmental management and development in Africa. The Congress will highlight research that puts relevant information in the hands of forest communities, forest managers, policy makers, the private sector and civil society. Specific themes to be covered will include: Forests and Climate Change; Forests and Water; Forest Policy, Governance and Trade; Forest Biodiversity and Conservation; and Agroforestry, Energy and Food Security. IUFRO is the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations. FORNESSA is the Forestry Research Network of Sub-Saharan Africa, which is supported by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). The conference is in part supported by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
dates: 25-30 June 2012 location: Nairobi (Nairobi Area), Kenya
The Ad Hoc Technical Advisory Committee on the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA) and the Multilateral System (MLS) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) advises the Treaty Secretary on implementation questions raised by users.
dates: 26-28 June 2012 location: New Delhi (Delhi), India
The Global Biodiversity Informatics Conference (GBIC) aims to discuss how informatics can best meet the challenges posed by biodiversity science and policy. It will focus on the practical steps needed to provide the information needs of global commitments such as the Aichi 2020 targets to halt biodiversity loss. The conference will bring together experts in the fields of biodiversity informatics, genomics, Earth observation, natural history collections, and biodiversity research and policy. Attendance at GBIC will be by invitation only. The outcome will be published in the form of a Global Biodiversity Informatics Outlook (GBIO).
dates: 2-4 July 2012 venue: University of Copenhagen location: Copenhagen (Kobenhavn), Denmark
The second meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Equitable Benefit-sharing Arising from their Utilization (ABS), organized by the CBD Secretariat, was orginally scheduled to take place from 9-13 April 2012. It was rescheduled to take place from 2-6 July 2012.
dates: 2-6 July 2012 location: Delhi (Delhi), India
The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) called for the creation of an Intersessional Working Group (IWG) on the mid-term evaluation of the ten year Strategy for the Convention. The IWG is expected to consist of 14 members: the President of the Conference of the Parties (COP); the chairpersons of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) and of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST); two members from each of five regional groups; and one CSO representative.
dates: 2-6 July 2012 location: Bonn (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Germany
The Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention is the intersessional executive body that represents the COP between its triennial meetings, within the framework of the decisions made by the COP.
date: 4 July 2012 location: Bucharest (Bucuresti), Romania
The 11th meeting of the contracting parties (COP 11) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat will be preceded by the 44th meeting of Standing Committee planned for 4 July 2012, and an additional day of regional meetings on 5-6 July 2011, as requested by many Contracting Parties. The Standing Committee agreed that the broad theme for World Wetlands Day 2012 and COP 11 is “Wetlands, Tourism and Recreation.”
dates: 6-13 July 2012 location: Bucharest (Bucuresti), Romania
The 30th session of COFI will review activities of the COFI Sub-Committees on Aquaculture and Fish Trade, progress on the implementation of the CCRF and associated IPOAs, as well as the priorities for the FAO work programme on these issues.
dates: 9-13 July 2012 location: Rome (Lazio), Italy
With the theme “Building a Blue Economy: Strategy, Opportunities and Partnerships in the Seas of East Asia,” the Congress 2012 will address the new opportunities for the ocean economy of East Asia, the range of partnerships that have developed and are required in order to realize the full potential of a blue economy, and the progress and achievements in governance of regional/sub-regional seas within the framework of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia.
dates: 9-13 July 2012 location: Korea, Republic of additional: Changwon
The 22nd session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will continue text-based negotiations for an international instrument/instruments, focusing on traditional cultural expressions.
dates: 9-13 July 2012 location: Geneva (Geneve), Switzerland
The CITES Standing Committee provides policy guidance to the Secretariat concerning the implementation of the Convention and oversees the management of the Secretariat's budget; coordinates and oversees, where required, the work of other committees and working groups; carries out tasks given to it by the Conference of the Parties; and drafts resolutions for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.
dates: 23-27 July 2012 venue: Centre International de Conférences de Genève (CICG), Rue de Varembé 17 location: Geneva (Geneve), Switzerland
This workshop is convened by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). It aims to facilitate the description of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), and will include one day of training on the application of EBSA criteria, as well as a four-day workshop. The workshop will include CBD National Focal Points and SBSTTA Focal Points in the Southern Indian Ocean region: Australia, Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom.
dates: 30 July - 3 August 2012 location: Mauritius
The first workshop, to be held from 13-16 August 2012, will focus on Articles 8(j) (traditional knowledge), 10(c) (sustainable customary use) and related provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), as well as the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing, and aims at preparing indigenous and local community representatives for the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD. In support of "Train the Trainer" methodology, the second workshop, to be held from 17-18 August 2012, is focused on indigenous and local community trainers and aims at familiarising trainers with Convention training materials and preparing them for the further dissemination of information received.
dates: 13-18 August 2012 location: Asuncion (Nueva Asuncion), Paraguay
The Eastern Tropical and Temperate Pacific regional workshop to facilitate the description of ecologicallly or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs) is convened by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS). It will include one day of training on the application of CBD EBSA criteria and a four-day workshop.
dates: 27-31 August 2012 location: Ecuador additional: Galapagos Islands
The aim of this meeting is to result in proposals on strategies to mobilize resources from all sources to support the implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM), the achievement of the global objectives on forests and the implementation of the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests. The meeting will be held in late 2012.
date: 1 September 2012 [tentative] location: TBA
The SPREP meeting is held annually for its member countries and donors, to highlight progress made and discuss strategic plans and other regional conventions that pertain to SPREP's mandate.
dates: 3-7 September 2012 location: Noumea (New Caledonia), New Caledonia
The Congress theme will be Nature+, a slogan that captures the fundamental importance of nature and its inherent link to every aspect of people's lives. The Congress will explore many of the most pressing environmental and development challenges from this perspective and how strong and resilient nature is intricately linked to solving these issues, including Nature+climate, nature+livelihoods, nature+energy and nature+economics.
dates: 6-15 September 2012 venue: International Convention Center location: Jeju (Cheju-Do), Korea, Republic of
The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six countries working together to sustain extraordinary marine and coastal resources by addressing crucial issues such as food security, climate change and marine biodiversity. This regional exchange aims to review and share the recent activities in the Coral Triangle countries related to vulnerability assessments and early actions towards resiliency and climate change adaptation learning networks.
date: 12 September 2012 location: TBA
The 67th regular session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 67) will convene at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, 18 September 2012, at 3:00 pm. The General Debate will open on Tuesday, 25 September. The preliminary list of items to be included in the provisional agenda is contained in document A/67/50. A draft programme of work of the plenary is expected to be issued in July 2012.
date: 18 September 2012 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York (New York), United States of America
The IFAD Executive Board is the Fund's second main Governing Body, consisting of 18 elected Members and 18 Alternate Members. The Executive Board has full authority to decide on the programme of work, approval of projects, programmes and grants and to adopt/recommend action, pending the final approval of the Governing Council, on matters related to policy, the annual administrative budget, applications for membership and staffing within the Fund.
dates: 20-21 September 2012 location: Rome (Lazio), Italy
This symposium is sponsored by the Scientific Committee on Oceanographic Research (SCOR), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). The symposium aims to attract over 300 of the world’s leading scientists to discuss the impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms, ecosystems, and biogeochemical cycles. It will also cover socioeconomic consequences of ocean acidification, including policy and management implications.
dates: 24-27 September 2012 location: United States of America additional: Monterey
The 21st session of the FAO Committee on Forestry will convene at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, in October 2012.
dates: 24-28 September 2012 venue: FAO headquarters location: Rome (Lazio), Italy
The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 6) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is organized by the CBD Secretariat. The provisional agenda includes: report of the compliance committee; operation and activities of the Biosafety Clearing-House; matters related to the financial mechanism and resources; cooperation with other organizations, conventions and initiatives; and report of the Executive Secretary. Substantive issues arising from the Programme of Work and past COP-MOP decisions include: handling packaging and identification of living modified organisms (LMOs); notification requirements; liability and redress; unintentional transboundary movements and emergency measures; risk assessment and risk management; socio-economic considerations; monitoring and reporting; and assessment and review.
dates: 1-5 October 2012 location: Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), India
The project on "Groundwater Governance: A Global Framework for Country Action," was initiated by the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and the World Bank. This regional consultation is the third of a series. Additional consultations include: in Uruguay, for Latin America and the Caribbean in April 2012; in Kenya, for the Africa region, in May 2012; and in China, in December 2012, for Asia. A fifth Regional Consultation dedicated to the European region as well as institutions from the private sector will be hosted by the Netherlands in the first quarter of 2013. The results of the regional consultations will contribute to the preparation of Global Groundwater Governance Diagnostic.
dates: 8-10 October 2012 location: Amman (Amman), Jordan
The 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is organized by the CBD Secretariat. The High Level Segment will be held from 17-19 October 2012. The provisional agenda includes consideration of: the status of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilization; implementation of the Strategic Plan 2011-2020 and progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; issues related to financial resources and the financial mechanism; issues related to cooperation, outreach and the UN Decade on Biodiversity; operations of the Convention; Article 8(j) and related provisions; in-depth review of the programme of work on island biodiversity; ways and means to support ecosystem restoration; marine and coastal biodiversity; biodiversity and climate change; other substantive issues arising from COP 10 decisions, including dryland, forest, inland waters, mountain, and agricultural biodiversity, protected areas, sustainable use of biodiversity, the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, biofuels and biodiversity, invasive alien species, the Global Taxonomy Initiative, incentive measures, and biodiversity and development; as well as administrative and budgetary matters.
dates: 8-19 October 2012 location: Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), India
This conference is organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, (ICIMOD) and aims to bring together mountain women and men, researchers, policy makers, and development practitioners from the Hindu Kush-Himalayas region and around the world for a comprehensive update, stock-taking, and new agenda setting after the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20). The conference will include plenary sessions, panels, and discussions on the following six themes: Climate Change: Gender and Adaptation; Livelihoods: Inclusive Sustainable Development; Governance: Gender-Responsive Policies and Plural Institutions; Gender-Positive Change: Successes, Challenges, and Agenda-Setting for Gender ‘Mainstreaming’; Ecosystems: Benefit Sharing, Access, and Equity in Diverse Environments and Common Property Regimes; and Water: Equitable Access, Control, and Benefits of Water Resources.
dates: 15-19 October 2012 location: Bhutan additional: Thimphu
STAC 6 for the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol of the Cartagena Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) will meet on 22 October 2012 to review and make recommendations regarding the list of protected species proposed for the Protocol, review and assess reports on protected areas proposed for listing under the Protocol, and review the draft guidelines for exemptions under Article 11 of the Protocol. COP 7 of the SPAW Protocol will meet 23 October to review and approve the STAC 6 recommendations, decide on the 2013-14 work plan and budget for SPAW-related work, and review and agree on further activities of the Regional Activity Centre (RAC) for SPAW in Guadeloupe.
dates: 22-23 October 2012 location: Punta Cana (La Altagracia), Dominican Republic
The first session of the Conference of Parties (COP 1) to the Protocol on Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol) to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) will be held to: review and approve the recommendations of the first meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee (STAC 1) for the Protocol held from 5-7 June 2012; review and agree on further activities of the LBS Regional Activity Centres (RACs) in Cuba, and Trinidad and Tobago; and decide on the 2013-14 work plan and budget for activities under the Protocol and the Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution (AMEP) sub-programme of UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP).
date: 24 October 2012 location: Punta Cana (La Altagracia), Dominican Republic
This workshop will be organized by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the Asia Pacific Network for Environmental Governance, and the Australian National University. The organizers are inviting papers on: the social and economic impacts of corruption in biodiversity management, climate change activities, fisheries, forestry, and water management; and the theory and practice of anti-corruption policies in resource and environmental management. CIFOR is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
dates: 25-26 October 2012 location: Jakarta (Jakarta Raya), Indonesia
The biennial Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) is the major forum of the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP). The Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) is the principal legal framework for CEP, together with its three current Protocols on Cooperation in Combating Oil Spills, Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol), and on Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW Protocol). IGM 15 and the 12th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 12) to the Cartagena Convention will be held jointly from 25-27 October to: review and adopt the CEP work plan and budget for 2013-14; review and act on the decisions from LBS COP 1 and SPAW COP 7, as well as the recommendations of the Sixth Meeting of the Steering Committee to the Oil Spills Protocol held 9-10 May 2012; review progress on implementing the decisions of IGM 14 and Cartagena Convention COP 11; and evaluate projects and activities implemented with the CEP framework during the 2010-12 biennium.
dates: 25-27 October 2012 location: Punta Cana (La Altagracia), Dominican Republic
The 48th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) and the Associated Sessions of the four Committees (Finance and Administration, Economic Information and Market Intelligence, Forest Industry, and Reforestation and Forest Management) is scheduled to take place in Yokohama, Japan.
dates: 5-10 November 2012 location: Yokohama (Kanagawa), Japan
The Ad Hoc Technical Advisory Committee on the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA) and the Multilateral System (MLS) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) advises the Treaty Secretary on implementation questions raised by users.
dates: 6-7 November 2012 location: TBA
The Ad Hoc Technical Advisory Committee on sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) will advise the Secretary and Bureau of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) on a number of issues. These issues include: identification of needs and opportunities to facilitate the sustainable use of PGRFA; development of a toolbox on sustainable use of PGRFA in order to assist Parties in the implementation of ITPGR Article 6; elaboration of a draft work programme on sustainable use of PGRFA, based on elements generated by stakeholder consultations; and cooperation with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), the Global Crop Diversity Trust, the International Agricultural Research Centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and other international processes and institutions in the field of sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
dates: 8-9 November 2012 location: TBA
The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, along with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Israeli Foreign Ministry, are orgainzing the Fourth International Conference on Drylands, Deserts and Desertification (DDD). This conference will gather scientists, field workers, industry representatives, government workers, civil society organizations, international development aid agencies and other stakeholders from over 60 countries to discuss issues related to land degradation in the drylands, and their sustainable use and development. The 2012 conference will focus on the outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) and will consider the science required for implementing the UNCSD's recommendations relevant to drylands and desertification. Local case studies will be highlighted alongside success stories from around the world with an emphasis on indicators of progress. Additional sessions will be held considering a broad range of topics associated with sustainable living in the drylands and the means to address desertification, as well as achieving the target of zero net rate of land degradation. Registration opens on 1 April and the abstract submission deadline is 17 June.
dates: 12-15 November 2012 venue: Sede Boqer campus of Ben Gurion University location: Israel additional: Sede Boqer
The 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 8), among other associated meetings, are scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar.
dates: 26 November - 7 December 2012 location: Doha (Ad Dawhah), Qatar
The sixth session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses will mark the 20th anniversary since its adoption. The MOP will adopt a work programme for 2013-2015 and will address the future evolution of the Convention becoming a global instrument with a forthcoming entry into force of the amendments opening it to countries outside the UNECE region.
dates: 28-30 November 2012 location: Rome (Lazio), Italy
A project on "Groundwater Governance: A Global Framework for Country Action" was initiated by the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and the World Bank. The Asian regional consultation is the fourth in a series. The others have included consultations in: Uruguay, for Latin America and the Caribbean, in April 2012; Kenya, for the Africa region, in May 2012; and Jordan, in October 2012, for the Arab countries. The fifth Regional Consultation, dedicated to the European region as well as institutions from the private sector, will be hosted by the Netherlands in the first quarter of 2013. The results of the regional consultations will contribute to the preparation of Global Groundwater Governance Diagnostic.
date: 3 December 2012 [tentative] location: Beijing (Beijing), China
The First Meeting of Signatories (MoS1) to the UN Environment Programme/Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS) Raptors Memorandum of Cooperation (MoU) will be held 9-11 December 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
dates: 9-11 December 2012 location: Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi), United Arab Emirates
The Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP 7) to the Nairobi Convention is convening under the theme "Partnering for a Healthy West Indian Ocean". This meeting will feature a "Science for Policy" Workshop from 10-11 December 2012. A policy makers and expert meeting to review decisions will be held on 12 December 2012, followed by the COP from 13-14 December 2012. COP 7 is expected to foster collaboration between international, regional and local organizations and secure partnerships between key players. The Nairobi Convention area includes Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and South Africa.
dates: 10-14 December 2012 location: Maputo (Maputo), Mozambique
The IFAD Executive Board is the Fund's second main Governing Body, consisting of 18 elected Members and 18 Alternate Members. The Executive Board has full authority to decide on the programme of work, approval of projects, programmes and grants and to adopt/recommend action, pending the final approval of the Governing Council, on matters related to policy, the annual administrative budget, applications for membership and staffing within the Fund.
dates: 12-13 December 2012 location: Rome (Lazio), Italy
The meeting to negotiate the institutional and legal framework for the Central Asian Flyway under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) will be held from 12-13 December 2012, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
dates: 12-13 December 2012 location: Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi), United Arab Emirates
The inaugural International Water Summit will be hosted by Masdar and held alongside the 2013 World Future Energy Summit. The aim of the International Water Summit is to provide an opportunity for participants to network with global politicians, experts from the international water community and leaders from the public and private sectors, and collaborate in the development of solutions for some of the world’s most water-scarce regions.
dates: 15-17 January 2013 location: Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi), United Arab Emirates
The 27th session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC 27/GMEF) of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is scheduled to convene from 18-22 February 2013, in Nairobi, Kenya. In pursuance of General Assembly resolution 53/242 (Report of the Secretary-General on environment and human settlements) of 28 July 1999, the Governing Council constitutes the annual ministerial-level global environmental forum in which participants gather to review important and emerging policy issues in the field of the environment.
dates: 18-22 February 2013 location: Nairobi (Nairobi Area), Kenya
The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is expected to convene in March 2013.
dates: 3-15 March 2013 location: Thailand
The Chemical Review Committee (CRC) is a subsidiary body of the Rotterdam Convention established to review chemicals and pesticide formulations according to the criteria set out by the Convention in Annexes II and IV respectively and make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties for listing such chemicals in Annex III. This meeting is expected to take place from 11-15 March 2013.
dates: 11-15 March 2013 location: Rome (Lazio), Italy
The focus of the tenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF 10) is forests and economic development, including agenda items on: forest products and services; national forest programmes and other sectoral policies and strategies; reducing risks and impacts of disasters; and benefits of forests and trees to urban communities.
dates: 8-19 April 2013 location: Istanbul (Istanbul), Turkey
The COP will take place in a country in Eastern Europe.
dates: 11-22 November 2013 location: TBA
The 49th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) and the Associated Sessions of the four Committees (Finance and Administration, Economic Information and Market Intelligence, Forest Industry, and Reforestation and Forest Management) are scheduled to take place in Libreville, Gabon.
dates: 25-30 November 2013 location: Libreville (Estuaire), Gabon
The 38th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies to the UNFCCC are expected to take place in June 2014.
dates: 4-15 June 2014 location: Bonn (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Germany
The UN General Assembly approved a resolution to organize a high-level plenary meeting in 2014 (the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 2014) to share perspectives and best practices on the realization of indigenous peoples’ rights, including to pursue the objectives of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
dates: 15-19 September 2014 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York (New York), United States of America
The 20th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC is expected to take place in December 2014 at a venue to be determined.
dates: 3-14 December 2014 location: TBA
The 40th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies to the UNFCCC are expected to take place in June 2015.
dates: 3-14 June 2015 location: Bonn (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Germany
The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC is expected to take place in December 2015 at a venue to be determined.
dates: 2-13 December 2015 location: TBA
The 42nd sessions of the subsidiary bodies to the UNFCCC are expected to take place in May 2016.
dates: 18-29 May 2016 location: Bonn (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Germany
The 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC is expected to take place in November-December 2016, at a venue to be determined.
dates: 30 November - 11 December 2016 location: TBA
