Background to
the Initiative
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A. Abbreviation and Keywords
Administrative Committee on Coordination ACC
Clean Development Mechanism CEC
Clearing House Mechanism CHM
Conference of the Parties COP
Department of Economic and Social Affairs DESA (CSD)
Emission Reduction Targets ERT
Emissions Trading ET
Kyoto or Flexible Mechanisms JI, CDM, ET
Joint Implementation JI
Inter-Agency Commission Sustainable Development IACSD
Multilateral Agreement on Investment MAI
Multilateral Environmental Agreement MEA
Meeting of the Parties MOP
Ozone Depleting Substance ODS
Policies and Measures PAMS
Production and Processing Methods PPM
Subsidiary Body on Implementation SBI
Technical Barriers to Trade TBT
Trade Related Environmental Measure TREM
Trade Related Investment Measures TRIM
UN Special Assembly (19th Session) RIO+5 (UNGASS)
B. Preparatory Schedule and Organizational Meetings
- Printing and distribution of Conference's First Announcement
When: mid-February 1999.
One thousand copies of the Conference's First Announcement was printed and distributed to the UNU network in February 1999. This announcement outlines the draft focus of the conference, the target participants and the background for the objectives.
- Letters of invitations to MEA Secretariats,UN Organs and related Organizations
When: February 1999.
From Whom: UNU Rector and UNU Vice Rector.
Letters to the heads of UN agencies and MEA Secretariats were sent last February inviting the organizations' heads to participate in the conference and for their respective organizations to act as a supporting organization to the conference. The letters also introduced two UNU staff members who would be visiting the offices of these organizations to explain in further details the conference organization.
- Visit to offices of MEA Secretariats and UN Organs
When: March to April 1999.
Where: Bonn, Geneva, New York, Washington, Montreal.
Visitors: Jerry Velasquez and W. Bradnee Chambers.
Two UNU staff members visited the offices of several UN organizations, MEA secretariats and other related organizations in order to explain the details of the conference and to answer any questions regarding the conference including the mode of UNU support that would be extended to conference participants. They also tried to firm-up participation of these organizations and also noted their main concerns and advice regarding the substantial conduct of the conference.
- Setting up of a secretariat at the UNU
When: March 1999.
In order to facilitate the smooth organization of the conference, the UNU formally set-up a conference secretariat at GEIC on March 1999. By May 1999, this secretariat has grown to nine people, including 3 full time GEIC staff, 4 temporary staff, and 2 IAS staff. Much of the work of this secretariat also has the full support of the UNU administration especially those from the UNU Environment and Sustainable Development Programme (ESD).
- Contracting academics and practitioners
When: April 1999.
About 20 academics' and practitioners' background papers were contracted out to experts in the field. These papers would serve as background materials for the conference and also as discussion points for the conference working groups. These papers are expected by mid-June. They would then be made available to the conference participants both as hard copy and also through the Internet. The papers would also be summarized and would serve as an official conference document.
- Internet mailing list "I-Link"
When: May 10 to 25, 1999.
Where: Internet based e-mail list.
Participants: More than 70 people (UN Organs, MEA Secretariats, Academics, NGO, etc.)
An Internet mailing list is now being run by the UNU (messages to
i-link@msias.ias.unu.edu) with more than 70 people from UN Organs, MEA Secretariats, Academics, NGO and other participants. The list is intended to let participants to the conference discuss substantial details of the organization. This list would run for 2 weeks ending on 25 May 1999. The suggestions that would be raised through the list would be discussed in the Geneva Organizing Committee Meeting in late May 1999.
- Organizing Committee Meeting
When: 27 May 1999, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Geneva Executive Centre 1st Floor, Geneva.
Participants: About 15 to 20 people (MEA Secretariats, UN representatives, UNU).
The Organizing Committee Meeting would try to come up with concrete suggestions on the organization and make up of the conference working groups, plenary presentations and working paper discussions. The group would also discuss the suggestions made through the Internet mailing list "I-link". This meeting would be chaired by Dr. Peter Kurnz, head of the UNU office in Europe and would be co-chaired by Mr. Bradnee Chambers of the UNU Institute of Advanced Studies and Dr. Salvano Briceņo of UNITAR (Mr. Briceņo was previously the Deputy for the Climate Change Convention and Desertification Secretariats). As of 19 May 1999 we have confirmed the participation of the Climate Change Convention, Economic Commission of Europe, Basel Convention, and the Ramsar Convention. We expect to have the confirmation of other participants within this week.
- Steering Committee Meeting
When: 2 June 1999, 2 to 3 p.m.
Where: UNU Institute of Advanced Studies 2nd Floor Meeting Room.
Participants: Six key people.
The Steering Committee Meeting would finalize the programme and contents of the conference. This meeting would have the summary of both the Internet mailing list "I-link" and the Organizing Committee meeting that would be held in Geneva. This meeting would be chaired by Prof. Motoyuki Suzuki, UNU Vice Rector and would be attended by Prof. Tarcisio Della Senta (or alternative), IAS Director, Senator Akiko Domoto of the Japanese Diet, Mr. Ryutaro Yatsu of the Environment Agency of Japan and Mr. Hiroshi Karube of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Printing and distribution of the Conference Second Announcement
When: early-June 1999.
One thousand copies of the Conference's Second Announcement would be printed based on the finalized programme that would be decided in the Steering Committee Meeting this June 1999. This announcement would contain the final programme, and the complete list of supporting organizations. This would then be distributed together with the UNU official press release, and would go to those who would be officially invited to participate in the conference.
- Press Release
When: mid-June 1999.
An official UNU Press Release would be distributed to the UNU network, the Press and
other related organizations.
- Press Relations Activities
When: late-June to early-July 1999.
A series of press related activities would be initiated by a firm that would be contracted by the UNU for the conference. These activities would serve as a both an awareness building exercise for the conference, and also as a means of promoting UNU work in Japan and overseas.
- Contracting Conference substantial support
When: late May to mid-July 1999.
Several organizations and individuals would be contracted to provide substantial support before, during and after the conference. These include a report contract with FIELD (Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development) who would be responsible for the paper summary and the conference report preparation. One FIELD senior lawyer would also be acting as an IAS visiting fellow during the duration of the conference. Another contract would go to the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, who would serve as the Conference official reporters. They would work closely with the reporters and provide both newsletter and electronic reporting and dissemination of the day-to-day conference activities, results, decisions and reports.
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