Negotiating in the context of a region in conflict No direct dialogue No direct dialogue Different values and frames Different values and frames Differences in narratives Differences in narratives Distrust Distrust Lack of political support Lack of political support

Context of the Middle East Differences of religion Differences of religion Differences of culture and language Differences of culture and language Different levels of economic development Different levels of economic development Different government structures and levels of democracy Different government structures and levels of democracy Different levels of freedom of the media Different levels of freedom of the media Little trade between the parties Little trade between the parties

Environmental issues Water, water, water Water, water, water Spatial aspects of land Spatial aspects of land Supply of environmental infrastructure Supply of environmental infrastructure Inadequate pollution control of industry Inadequate pollution control of industry Marine and coastal management Marine and coastal management Natural and cultural resource protection Natural and cultural resource protection Global environmental responsibilities Global environmental responsibilities

Drawbacks of an ‘island’ situation Management of shared resources eg. Aquifers Management of shared resources eg. Aquifers Cross boundary pollution, eg. Downstream Cross boundary pollution, eg. Downstream Protection of cross boundary habitats Protection of cross boundary habitats Duplication of infrastructure Duplication of infrastructure

Barriers to cooperation Claims of historical rights Claims of historical rights Allocation of blame Allocation of blame Claims for compensation Claims for compensation Lack of taking responsibility Lack of taking responsibility Division by borders and fences Division by borders and fences Neglect of frontier zones Neglect of frontier zones

Barriers to negotiation Lack of appropriate frameworks Lack of appropriate frameworks Lack of common conceptual language Lack of common conceptual language Internal opposition Internal opposition Intensified distrust if previous agreement failed to materialize Intensified distrust if previous agreement failed to materialize

Role of transgovernmentalization Removes environment from political context Removes environment from political context Transforms language to common professional conceptual framework Transforms language to common professional conceptual framework Transforms attitudes to achieving common goals Transforms attitudes to achieving common goals Allocates joint or separate responsibility Allocates joint or separate responsibility Encourages transparency and accountability Encourages transparency and accountability

Opportunities for transgovernmentalization at government level International International Regional Regional Multi lateral Multi lateral Bilateral Bilateral Role of facilitators Role of facilitators Role of donors Role of donors

Opportunities for transgovernmentalization outside government Between local authorities Between local authorities Through non governmental organizations Through non governmental organizations Through academic research Through academic research Through the private sector Through the private sector

Types of agreements Ratification of international conventions Ratification of international conventions Bilateral agreements Bilateral agreements Decisions by international organiztions eg. UNEP Decisions by international organiztions eg. UNEP Conditions on funding by investors or donors Conditions on funding by investors or donors

Difficulties of implementation No real interest No real interest Lack of resources Lack of resources Lack of professional expertise Lack of professional expertise Lack of valid, accepted joint data base Lack of valid, accepted joint data base Lack of contingency mechanisms Lack of contingency mechanisms Lack of compliance mechanisms Lack of compliance mechanisms

Characteristics of a transgovernmentalization mechanism Trusted as neutral by both parties as above and outside the conflict Trusted as neutral by both parties as above and outside the conflict Professional respect by the parties Professional respect by the parties Proactive, capable of introducing innovative ideas and opportunities Proactive, capable of introducing innovative ideas and opportunities Proactive in enabling implementation Proactive in enabling implementation

Found (and lost) opportunities in the Middle East Multilaterals (Madrid) included environment working group (led by Japan) Multilaterals (Madrid) included environment working group (led by Japan) EEC environmental experts committee under the Israeli-Palestinian interim agreement EEC environmental experts committee under the Israeli-Palestinian interim agreement UNEP Desk study (see simulation exercise) UNEP Desk study (see simulation exercise) Jordan Rift Valley (under Jordan-Israel peace agreement) Jordan Rift Valley (under Jordan-Israel peace agreement)

Missed opportunities in the Middle East Barcelona Convention for Mediterranean Barcelona Convention for Mediterranean Jeddah convention for Red Sea Jeddah convention for Red Sea West Asia/WEOG regional groups in UN West Asia/WEOG regional groups in UN Great Rift Valley in UNESCO and UNEP Great Rift Valley in UNESCO and UNEP Dead Sea – lowest park on earth Dead Sea – lowest park on earth