14 May 2013: According to a series of studies that the European Environment Agency (EEA) undertook on the potential for fiscal reform in Spain, Italy, Ireland and Portugal - EU countries affected by the current economic crisis - environmental taxes can achieve environmental objectives while raising revenues and they have a "less negative effect on GDP compared to other types of taxes, such as direct taxes."
7 May 2013: Participants at the Third Global Meeting of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS) have issued 'The Washington Communique,' appealing to the UN High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP) to tackle conflict and fragility.
The Russian Federation has set as the objective of its 2013 Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20): developing a set of measures aimed at boosting sustainable, inclusive and balanced growth and jobs creation around the world. The G20 will look at eight areas in particular in 2013: framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth; jobs and employment; international financial architecture reform; strengthening financial regulation; energy sustainability; development for all; enhancing multilateral trade; and fighting corruption. The G20 brings together finance ministers and central bank governors from 19 countries - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK and the US - plus the EU. The G20 Leaders Summit in September 2013 is preceded by a series of outreach events organized in five streams: think tanks; business; labour; civil society and youth.
8 May 2013: The SEED Initiative has launched its 2013 SEED Awards, calling for entries from start-up entrepreneurs that aim to generate environmental, social and economic benefits at the local level, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, in developing countries, least developed countries (LDCs), or emerging economies.
April 2013: The UN Development Programme's (UNDP) Environment and Energy Group (EEG) has released a report, titled ‘Towards Transformational Change: UNDP's Work in Environment and Sustainable Development 2008-2012.' The publication features a collection of stories from around the world in four strategic areas: mainstreaming environment and energy; mobilizing environmental finance; promoting adaptation to climate change; and expanding access to environmental and energy services for the poor.
6 May 2013: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has welcomed the entry into force of a new human rights mechanism that will permit individuals to seek justice in relation to economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR).
6 May 2013: The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) April News Update highlights the launch of a new research program in South-East Asia and a blog post by the Director General on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
March 2013: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) published the first volume of 'Every Drop Matters,' a publication that highlights water and sanitation activities conducted through the UNDP-TCCC Every Drop Matters Regional Water Partnership. The partnership aims to accelerate achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by improved access to water and sanitation in Armenia, Croatia, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and the Black Sea coastal countries.
26 April 2013: The Commonwealth Secretariat hosted representatives of very small States in a meeting on the specific challenges that micro-States face in delivering sustainable development. Discussions focused on governance, policy and public administration in micro-States.
23 April 2013: The first issue of the 2013 UN Chronicle has been released with a focus on the theme of water cooperation. Articles in the magazine address water cooperation in the context of cross-cutting issues such as development goals, women and agriculture, integrated water resources management (IWRM), and private sector involvement.
| Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) |
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| Conference Reporting Services (CRS) |
