Global Environmental Policies - Module 1: Governments - Global Environmental Policies and Governments

Business and Industry NPOs and Communities Module 1: Global Environmental Policy Module 2: National Environmental Policy Module 3: Local Environmental Policy Seminar Structure Today

The UN was formed on 24 October 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. Introduction to the UN

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. Aims 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. Principles of the United Nations

The UN – through its different organizations, work on a range of issues such as - Issues handled by the United Nations 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 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 MEA = Multilateral Environmental Agreement (for example, Kyoto Protocol)

How is a global environment policy set up? A local Environment Problem … becomes a regional problem Problems in other countries also impact us. Problems are ‘exported’ to other countries … Problems are sometimes invisible Eg: too much waste Eg: high CO2 in the atmosphere Eg: paper in Japan Eg: Smoke in Indonesia/Malaysia Eg: Minamata disease

How is a global environment policy set up? Problems in other countries also impact us. Problems are ‘exported’ to other countries … Problems are sometimes invisible Citizens complain to the local government Local Government informs the national government Eg: CASA

How is a global environment policy set up? The problems now becomes ‘international’ National Government representative to the UN demands international action UN sets up committee to study the problems NGOs and Universities provide support Eg: Climate Change convention set up 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: Cities for Climate Change Eg: Kyoto Protocol Eg: Requirements under the Kyoto Protocol

How is a global environment policy set up? Local environment problem solved Local Government asked to implement key projects (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: 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

Governments Business and Industry NPOs and Communities Module 1: Global Environmental Policy Module 2: National Environmental Policy Module 3: Local Environmental Policy Next session Next …

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