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10th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum
Globalization and the Environment: Mobilizing Finance for Climate Change
International Environmental Governance and the United Nations Reform
20-22 February 2008 | Principality of Monaco
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Highlights from Friday, 22 February
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In the morning, delegates to the tenth Special Session of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GCSS-10/GMEF) convened in ministerial consultations on the theme of international environmental governance (IEG) and United Nations reform. The Committee of the Whole (COW) concluded its work by adopting the draft decision on the GEO-4 report and on the International Decade for Combating Climate Change.
In the afternoon, delegates convened for the closing plenary to adopt GCSS-10/GMEF decisions and hear closing statements. They applauded the successful conclusion of the meeting, including the endorsement of the UNEP Medium-term Strategy 2010-2013 and the lively debates on climate change and IEG.
Photo: Grimaldi Forum
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| João Paulo Capobianco, Vice Minister of Environment, Brazil (second from left), presented the outcomes of the Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development: Challenges for International Environmental Governance held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 4 to 5 September 2007. |
| Amb. Claude Heller Rouassant, Mexico, and Amb. Peter Maurer, Switzerland, Co-Chairs of the Informal Consultative Process on the Institutional Framework for the UN Environmental Activities, reported on progress of official consultations on IEG since the Options Paper was presented to the UN General Assembly in June, 2007. |
| James Leape, Director General, WWF, lamented the lack of momentum on IEG despite the urgency of the environmental problems documented in the GEO-4. |
| Claudia McMurray, Assistant Secretary of State, US (left), supported strengthening UNEP to improve its efficiency and effectiveness, and called for clearly defining the mandates of various institutions, strengthening cooperation and adopting a bottom-up approach. Mark Halle, Director of Trade and Investment, IISD (right), advocated for environment to become the foundation for future prosperity, security and equity, and be placed at the heart of economic and political decision making.
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| The Committee of the Whole adopted two final draft decisions and its report at approximatey 12:00 pm. |
| His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the closing ceremony. |
| Slovenia, for the EU (left), voiced appreciation for the lively debate on UN reform and highlighted the MTS among the meeting's achievements. Elfriede Anna More, Rapporteur (right), presented the report of the meeting. |
| Mozambique, for the African Group (left), called for financial and technical support for Africa to address the challenges of climate change, economic growth and poverty reduction in an integrated manner. New Zealand (right) announced it will be hosting the 2008 World Environment Day
on June 5 and invited participants to attend. |
| UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner
said GCSS-10/GMEF exemplified what good governance is all about, illustrated by civil society participation, adoption of the MTS and its contribution to the global climate change and IEG debates. |
Achim Steiner presents outgoing Governing Council Secretary Beverly Miller with a goodbye gift (left photo). In his closing speech, President Roberto Dobles called the session “historic”, one which provided strategic guidance and reaffirmed the commom goal of a strengthened UNEP. He thanked Prince Albert II and the people of Monaco for their exceptional hospitality. After paying tribute to outgoing GC/GMEF Secretary Beverly Miller, he gaveled the meeting to a close at 4:36 pm.
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| Bakary Kante, UNEP, launching the book Green Breakthroughs: Solving environmental problems through innovative policies and law |
| Press conference on Fisheries, Marine Pollution and Climate Change |
Left photo: ENB team: (back row) Cecilia Vaverka, Kimo Goree, Leila Mead, Andrey Vavilov, Xenya Cherny Scanlon, Kunbao Xia (front row) Olivia Pasini and Claudia ten Have
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 up to top
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- UN Climate Change Conference Bali, Indonesia, 3-14 December, 2007
- 24th Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC-24/GMEF) Nairobi, Kenya, 4-9 February, 2007
- Eighth Global Civil Society Forum Nairobi, Kenya, 3-4 February, 2007
- Ninth Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Dubai, UAE, 7-9 February, 2006
- 23rd Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC-23/GMEF) 21-25 February, 2005
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