UN UNIVERSITY TO LAUNCH KEY REPORTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AT SEMINAR ON 14 NOVEMBER

Note to Correspondents

UN UNIVERSITY TO LAUNCH KEY REPORTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL

GOVERNANCE AT SEMINAR ON 14 NOVEMBER

The United Nations University (UNU) will launch key reports on environmental governance during a seminar on "Improving the Role of the United Nations in Environmental Governance -- National and Regional Approaches", in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly Second Committee meetings, on Friday, 14 November, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Conference Room 2.  The reports include a study on possible areas of cooperation between the Rio Conventions and a case study on environmental governance in Papua New Guinea.

Results of the 15-country studies on environmental governance already undertaken by the UNU reveal a need to focus on implementation.  Both at national and international levels, there is a tendency to focus on rule-making rather than on implementation, and on structures rather than on practical functions.  These studies are thus of direct relevance to the United Nations Secretary-General's call for a United Nations reform, assessing delivery mechanisms, both at the central headquarters level and at the various United Nations agencies operating at the country level.

The session will focus on the promotion of a synergistic approach to sustainable development governance, particularly opportunities and challenges at national and regional levels.  The purpose is to explore areas where countries can benefit the most from a synergistic approach to the work of international organizations such as the United Nations.  Concrete areas will be highlighted, including aspects of national institutions, capacity development, technology transfer, education and outreach, impacts and adaptation, reporting, and others.

The session is based on research of the United Nations University's Inter-linkages Initiative in the Asia Pacific region.  Background reports regarding the application of the inter-linkages approach to environmental governance include:

--  UNU's Inter-linkages Initiative;

--  National and Regional Approaches to Inter-linkages;

--  National and regional case studies on environmental governance (four Pacific countries, 10 ASEAN member countries, and one country in South Asia);

--  Inter-linkages in Financing Sustainable Development.

The panellists will include Dr. Jerry Velasquez, Coordinator, Inter-linkages Initiative, UNU; Dr. Jacques Mougeot, Legal Adviser, South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP); Godfried Angi, Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Papua New Guinea; and Arturo Garcia-Costas, United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF).  Comments will be made by Werner Obermeyer, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  The meeting will be chaired by Dr. Jean-Marc Coicaud, Acting Head, UNU Office in New York.

Members of permanent missions, agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, Secretariat staff, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the media are cordially invited to actively participate.

For registration and further information, please visit the UNU Office in New York Web site: www.ony.unu.edu or email: unuona@ony.unu.edu; or tel. 1 (212) 96-6387.

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