UN Climate Change Talks in Tianjin: Progress or
Losing Ground
On
4-9 October more than 2,000 participants,
including government delegates as well as
representatives from business and industry,
environmental organizations, civil society and
research institutions, gathered at the UN
Climate Change Conference in Tianjin, China, to
continue discussions on the development of a
long-term shared vision to deal with climate
change; on adaptation and mitigation; on key
operational elements, such as climate finance,
technology transfer and capacity-building; and
on the future of the Kyoto Protocol. Although
some considered that progress was made, others
noted the remaining divisions between developed
and developing countries regarding further
emission red! uctions by developed countries; a
second commitment period under the Kyoto
protocol; climate change funding; and developing
countries’ accountability on climate change
mitigation.
More information is available
online.
Human Rights Council Concludes 15th Session,
adopts 34 texts
The
Human Rights Council concluded its 15th regular
session, held from 13 September - 1 October, by
adopting 34 texts which included establishing
the mandates of a Special Rapporteur on the
rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of
association; a Working Group on the issue of
discrimination against women in law and practise;
and a Working Group to elaborate a legally
binding instrument on the regulation of the
activities of private military and security
companies on the enjoyment of human rights.
More information is available
online.
UN Conference on Sustainable Development – Major
Groups Questionnaires
In
light of the
UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD,
and in response to the decisions made at the
First Preparatory Committee Meeting for
UNCSD, the UNCSD secretariat has prepared five
questionnaires for its
major groups to collect information on
experiences, success factors, challenges, and
risks with regard to the objective and themes of
UNCSD.
The objective of the Conference
is to secure renewed political commitment for
sustainable development, assessing the progress
to date and the remaining gaps in the
implementation of the outcomes of the major
summits on sustainable development, and
addressing new and emerging challenges. To this
end, the focus is on two themes:
(a) a green economy in the context of
sustainable development and poverty eradication;
and (b) the institutional framework for
sustainable development.
The questionnaires can be submitted by email or
online. The deadline is 31 October 2010.
More information is available
online. |