IISD Reporting Services Blog

GFSE-7 closes in Vienna

Panelists at the GFSE-7 Meeting

The Seventh Meeting of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy (GFSE-7) was held from 21-23 November 2007, at the Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria. The meeting convened under the theme “Energy Efficiency for Developing Countries – Strong Policies and New Technologies,” and considered policies, case studies, and initiatives related to improving and promoting energy efficiency in developing countries, as well as opportunities, barriers, and the way forward.

GFSE-7 was organized by the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy in collaboration with the Austrian Development Cooperation at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, and the Austrian Energy Agency.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF

POPRC-3 approves risk management evaluation for five chemicals, and recommends that COP-4 consider listing under Annex A, B, or C.

POPRC members and observers met in plenary throughout the day.

The third meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC-3) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) took place from 19-23 November 2007, in Geneva, Switzerland. Over 100 participants attended the meeting, including all 31 Committee members, 39 government and party observers and representatives from 24 non-governmental organizations. POPRC-3 considered several operational issues, including the naming of commercial products and mixtures and the listing of precursors. The Committee approved the risk management evaluation for five chemicals, and recommended that COP-4 consider listing under Annex A, B, or C: lindane; chlordecone; hexabromobiphenyl (HBB); pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE); and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), its salts and PFOS fluoride (PFOSF). Risk profiles were approved for four chemicals, and POPRC-3 adopted a draft work programme to prepare draft risk management evaluations for those chemicals, namely on: commercial octabromodiphenyl ether, pentachlorobenzene, and alpha and beta hexachlorocyclohexane.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF

IPCC Closing Day in Valencia

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received the first copy of the Summary for Policymakers of the Synthesis Report. 

The 27th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was held from 12-17 November 2007 at the Museo de las Ciencias in Valencia, Spain, to finalize its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). Nearly 450 participants attended the meeting, including Lead Authors and representatives from governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, industry and academia. Following an all-night session and many long discussions, the meeting approved and adopted the AR4 Synthesis Report (SYR) late on Friday night, 16 November. On the final day of the meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the Panel.

Read the full report (and in PDF)

Delegates Approve Key Decisions at the ITTC-43

Incoming ITTC Chair Katharina Kuehmayer presented outgoing Chair Amb. Luis Macchiavello with a framed gavel in appreciation for his service.

The forty-third session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC-43) took place from 5-10 November 2007, in Yokohama, Japan. This was the first Council session to be held during the tenure of the new Executive Director, Emmanuel Ze Meka. Delegates discussed issues concerning operational, project and policy work for 2008-2009, including, inter alia: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listing proposals by members; annual review and assessment of the international timber situation; and preparations for entry into force of the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), 2006.

The Council approved 15 projects and three pre-projects, and pledged US$5.6 million in project financing. The Council adopted the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Biennial Work Programme for 2008-2009, with a total budget of US$9.2 million. Part of the funding announced at this session included US$4 million targeted at Tropical Forest Law Enforcement and Trade, provided by a major contribution by the Netherlands coupled with Japan, the US, Australia, Norway and the Japan Lumber Importers Association. The Council also reviewed the status of the ITTA, 2006, which has only been ratified by four countries – the US, Malaysia Switzerland and Poland – but which must be ratified by 10 consumer and 12 producer countries before it enters into force.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF

Delegates Adopt Warsaw Declaration and resolutions on “Forests, Wood and Energy” and “Forests and Water.

Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the Signatory States signed the Warsaw Declaration and Resolutions.

The Fifth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE 5) was held from 5-7 November 2007 at the Sheraton Warsaw Hotel, in Warsaw, Poland. The conference, which centered on the theme “Forests for Quality of Life,” was attended by Ministers responsible for forests and high-level representatives of 44 European countries and the European Community, as well as representatives of 14 observer countries and 31 observer organizations. The conference provided an opportunity to discuss and take decisions on the future of the protection and sustainable management of forests in Europe.

Conference participants adopted the Warsaw Declaration and resolutions on “Forests, Wood and Energy” and “Forests and Water.” The documents focus, inter alia, on the role of forests in energy production, mitigating climate change and protecting water quality and quantity. Ministers also adopted Ministerial Statements on the Southern European forest fires and on declaring 20-24 October 2008 as the Pan-European Forest Week 2008.

Full IISD Report HTML and PDF