The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) are launching a second round of e-discussions on areas where further dialogue and thinking is needed, as identified during the Leadership Meeting of the Global Consultation on Environmental Sustainability in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, held in San José, Costa Rica, on 18-19 March 2013. This third e-discussion on "Translating global commons and universal agenda to local action and context" will focus on country context and typologies, and on local empowerment. It will follow two other e-discussions on "Unpacking key inter-linkages and principles" and "Moving towards transformational change”.
dates: 13-26 May 2013 location: virtual
The 65th Session of the Executive Council (EC-65) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will meet from 15-23 May 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Session is expected to discuss reports, the Global Framework for Climate Services, implementation of the WMO Strategic Plan 2012-2015, resource management, communications and public affairs, and legal matters, among other things. On partnerships, the EC will hear reports on, inter alia: GFCS partnerships; WMO participation in the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Convention on Biodiversity (CBD); WMO involvement in UN Water, in particular in the framework of the International Year of Water Cooperation; developments in establishing new working arrangements with the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme; Report of the Chair of the IPCC; Report on GEO cooperation with WMO; Future Earth Research initiative (ICSU); and MoUs between WMO and relevant international organizations established since EC-64.
dates: 15-23 May 2013 location: Geneva, Switzerland
The aim of the Fourth Session is to continue the momentum into a durable and sustained effort from all actors (governments, NGOs and civil society, international agencies and organizations, academic and technical institutions, and the private sector) to take shared responsibility in reducing risks and reinforcing resilience in our communities. Sunday, 19 May, will be reserved for a preparation day. Monday, 20 May, will be a day for innovative dialogue. The official agenda will be from 21-23 May. The Session will include an event focused on small island developing States (SIDS), addressing partnerships toward DRR for SIDS.
dates: 19-23 May 2013 venue: International Conference Centre Geneva location: Geneva, Switzerland
The 21st Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit will convene under the theme “Pan Africanism and African Renaissance”. The Summit will comprise: the 26th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) from 19-20 May 2013; the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU from 22-23 May 2013; and the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU from 26-27 May 2013.
dates: 19-27 May 2013 location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The 12th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will take place from 20-31 May 2012. The provisional agenda is now online.
dates: 20-31 May 2013 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The Global Reporting Initiative will hold a Global Conference on Sustainability and Reporting in Amsterdam, on 22-24 May 2013, focusing on the disclosure and use of sustainability information as a basis for building a sustainable global economy.
dates: 22-24 May 2013 location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
The third session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Open Working Group (OWG 3) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is scheduled to take place from 22-24 May 2013. The session is expected to discuss issues of food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, drought, desertification, and land degradation for 1.5 days, and water and sanitation for the other 1.5 days.
dates: 22-24 May 2013 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
This meeting is one of a series of expert group meetings to support the preparation of the Global Sustainable Development Report 2013. The meetings are being organized to review and complete draft chapters of the report, which is expected to be finalized by September 2013. This meeting will discuss the ‘making and measuring progress' chapter, which aims to outline necessary inputs needed to achieve sustainable development, including means of implementation such as education, investment, science, technology and trade, and potential ways of measuring and monitoring progress. The chapter will include sections on input needs and market potentials; follow up on implementation of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20); and measuring and monitoring progress, including measurements beyond gross domestic product (GDP).
dates: 26-27 May 2013 location: Lund, Sweden
The UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the inter-agency Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), which includes the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), are offering an e-learning course, “Introduction to a Green Economy: Concepts and Applications,” from 27 May to 19 July 2013, for people working in the public, private or non-profit sectors. Prospective students can register up to 17 May 2013. A number of fellowships for students from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and non-profit organizations will be awarded.
dates: 27 May - 19 July 2013 location: virtual
The OECD Forum 2013 will bring together representatives from governments, business, labour, civil society and academia. Under this year's heading of "Jobs, Equality and Trust," the Forum will discuss three main themes: promoting inclusive growth and addressing inequalities; rebuilding trust in the system; and fostering sustainability. The Forum is organized alongside the annual OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, which will be held on 29-30 May.
dates: 28-29 May 2013 venue: OECD Conference Centre, 2 rue André Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16 location: Paris, France
The third Vienna Energy Forum (VEF 2013) will focus on the energy dimension of the Rio+20 outcome document. This high level meeting will provider leaders, policy makers and energy practitioners an opportunity to engage in interactive dialogue on key sustainable energy issues, including policies, markets, finance and technologies. The Forum is also aimed at enhancing understanding of how sustainable energy fits into the broader post-2015 development framework. The event, organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), will bring together over 1000 participants, including heads of State, ministers, energy experts, representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector.
dates: 28-30 May 2013 venue: Hofburg Imperial Palace location: Vienna, Austria
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) will hold the Arab Regional Implementation Meeting (RIM) for the 20th Session of the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD 20). The Arab RIM aims to provide a platform for, inter alia, deliberating on the main outcomes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) and their implications for sustainable development agenda in the Arab region, and preparing an outcome document to serve as the region's collective input into CSD 20 and the high-level political forum (HLPF). The outcomes, findings and recommendations from this RIM will be reflected in a final meeting report to be submitted to CSD 20 in view of ensuring an Arab regional contribution to Rio+20 follow-up.
dates: 29-30 May 2013 location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
This meeting is one of a series of expert group meetings to support the preparation of the Global Sustainable Development Report 2013. The meetings are being organized to review and complete draft chapters of the report, which is expected to be finalized by September 2013. This meeting will discuss the themed chapter on the climate-land-energy-water-development (CLEW) nexus. The chapter will include sections on: rationale and nexus examples; national case studies highlighting the utility of the nexus perspective in implementing sustainable development; regional case studies, including identified policy solutions and alternatives ones; a global case study, including policy recommendations from sectoral and thematic assessments; and towards coherent policy menus, which will identify criteria for policy menus across the nexus.
dates: 29-30 May 2013 location: Stockholm, Sweden
This symposium is being organized by, inter alia, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-Institute for Water Education (IHE), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Cap-Net UN development programme (UNDP). Participants will examine the theme “Developing Capacity from Rio to Reality – Who's Taking the Lead?” through discussions on three sub-topics: challenges for water sector capacity development; landscape of experiences with capacity development; and innovation in water sector capacity development.
dates: 29-31 May 2013 venue: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7 location: Delft, Netherlands
Following the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) and the UN Secretary-General's report on Options for a facilitation mechanism that promotes the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologies (A/67/348), the UN General Assembly (UNGA) decided to hold four one-day workshops on the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologies and the connection between clean and environmentally sound technologies and sustainable development. Discussions and recommendations from the workshops will feed into the UN Secretary-General's report to be submitted for consideration by the UNGA at its 68th session. The third and fourth workshops will be held back-to-back on 30 and 31 May 2013. The third workshop will focus on Enhancing countries' capacity to access and utilize environmentally sound technologies through international structures, institutions and initiatives. The fourth one will address strengthening the international architecture for environmentally sound technology development, transfer and dissemination.
dates: 30-31 May 2013 venue: United Nations Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The Fifth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD V) is being convened under the theme "Hand in Hand for a More Dynamic Africa". Discussions are expected to be focused around four main topics: economic growth; achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); consolidation of peace/ good governance; and climate change. TICAD V is organized by Government of Japan, the UN Office of the Special Advisor to Africa, the World Bank, and the African Union (AU).
dates: 1-3 June 2013 location: Yokohama, Japan
The UNFCCC subsidiary bodies will meet from 3-14 June 2013. SBI 38 and SBSTA 38 will convene.
dates: 3-14 June 2013 location: Bonn, Germany
World Environment Day 2013 will be celebrated under the theme "Think, Eat Save," focused on anti-food waste and food loss, encouraging people to reduce their "foodprint". Mongolia will serve as the global host for this year's celebrations.
date: 5 June 2013 location: worldwide additional: Worldwide
The International Labour Organization (ILO) organizes the International Labour Conference (ILC) annually. Among other agenda items, general discussion at the 102nd session will take place on "Sustainable development, decent work and green jobs". This topic was last addressed at the ILC in 1990, with the presentation of a report on “Environment and the World of Work”. Discussion in 2013 is expected to focus on opportunities for net employment creation, upgrading of existing jobs and social inclusion, and the challenges of job losses from economic restructuring, adaptation to climate change and regressive income effects.
dates: 5-20 June 2013 venue: ILO Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland
This meeting is one of a series of expert group meetings to support the preparation of the Global Sustainable Development Report 2013. The meetings are being organized to review and complete draft chapters of the report, which is expected to be finalized by September 2013.
dates: 6-7 June 2013 location: Trinidad and Tobago additional: Port of Spain
This High-Level Symposium is the first major preparatory event for the 2014 Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The multi-stakeholder dialogue will include traditional donors, Southern development cooperation providers and representatives of private philanthropic organizations, local governments, parliaments and civil society, to explore the purposes of a renewed global partnership, its guiding principles, and key features of a post-2015 monitoring and accountability framework. The Symposium is expected to contribute to the post-2015 development agenda.
dates: 6-7 June 2013 venue: Economic Commission for Africa, Menelik II Ave, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The 3rd annual Global Green Growth Summit will be held on 10-11 June 2013, in the Republic of Korea. The Global Green Growth Summit is an annual event centered on green growth and provides an opportunity to review progress and think together about initiatives that can accelerate the transition to a new paradigm of sustainable growth. The two previous Summits were held in 2011 and 2012, and had the themes "Building a Planet-Responsible Civilization" and "Global Governance for Green Growth and the Green Economy," respectively.
dates: 10-11 June 2013 location: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Aiming to create "networks for prosperity," this conference will concentrate on the role and position of middle-income countries in regional and global development issues, and provide inputs to the ongoing debate on the post-2015 development framework regarding: inclusive growth and prosperity; sustainability and green industry; and financing for sustainable economic development. Preparatory meetings and consultations are taking place in Vienna, New York, Washington DC and Geneva. In addition, UNIDO and respective member states are organizing regional preparatory meetings to elaborate on key challenges in a regional context and to identify key priorities to be considered for the High-Level Conference. The regional meetings are scheduled as follows: Latin American and Caribbean Region, 13 May 2013, Mexico City, Mexico; CIS, Eastern and Southern Europe, 16-17 May 2013, Minsk, Belarus; and Arab Region, 23 May 2013, Amman, Jordan. In collaboration with Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), a conference on Network Governance, Knowledge Networking, and the Global Development Potential of Middle-Income Countries will be held on 16 May in Washington DC.
dates: 12-14 June 2013 location: San Jose, Costa Rica
The UN Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) is organizing an Expert Consultation on Water-related SDGs to discuss and finalize a methodological framework for a study to define the scope of water-related SDGs, together with an assessment of means of implementation required to achieve the SDGs. The study is being undertaken by the UNOSD in collaboration with the UN University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). The study will inform work already initiated by the UN Task Team on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (UNTT) and the Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs, and support UN-Water, which is developing specific targets for water-related SDGs.
dates: 13-14 June 2013 location: Incheon, Republic of Korea
The 2013 annual World Day to Combat Desertification will focus on the slogan “Don't let our future dry up.” The day is celebrated on 17 June, to mark the conclusion of negotiations on the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This year's theme of drought and water scarcity takes into account that 2013 is also the International Year of Water Cooperation. World Day to Combat Desertification 2013 will seek to create awareness about the risks of drought and water scarcity in the drylands and beyond, and to call attention to the importance of sustaining healthy soils as part of the post-Rio+20 agenda and post-2015 development agenda.
date: 17 June 2013 location: worldwide
The UN Economic Commision for Europe (UNECE) Timber Committee, along with the European Forestry Commission (EFC), are convening a special session in order to consider: the draft Action Plan for the Forest Sector in a Green Economy; the draft Joint Programme of Work 2014-17 for the Timber Committee and the European Forestry Commission; the results of the UNECE review and its implications on the work programme of the ECE-Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Forestry and Timber Section; and the outcome of the 35th Session of the Joint Working Party on Forest Statistics, Economics and Management to be held the 23-25 April 2013.
dates: 17-18 June 2013 venue: Palais des Nations location: Geneva, Switzerland
The fourth session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Open Working Group (OWG 4) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is scheduled to take place from 17-19 June 2013. The session is expected to discuss issues of health and population dynamics for 1.5 days, and employment and decent work for all, social protection, youth, and education for the other 1.5 days.
dates: 17-19 June 2013 location: New York, United States of America additional: UN Headquarters
The 14th meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP) is to carry out an in-depth review of the oceans-related outcomes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), and how those outcomes would impact and benefit international coordination and cooperation. The consideration of issues relating to sea-level rises and their impact on security and survival, particularly on low-lying coastal areas and island nations, against the background of sustainable development was also suggested by many delegations at ICP 13. They also proposed another theme for consideration, on aspects of marine scientific research related to sustainable development.
dates: 17-20 June 2013 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Council meets twice per year to approve new projects with global environmental benefits in the GEF's focal areas, and provide guidance to the GEF Secretariat and Agencies. Among other matters, the 44th session of the Council is expected to discuss the GEF's role vis-à-vis the global mercury agreement. A consulation with CSOs will take place on 17 June.
dates: 18-20 June 2013 location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
This dialogue, which coincides with the first anniversary of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), aims to: (a) highlight proven sustainable urban planning and transport policies and measures, (b) identify good and best practices in this regard, and (c) facilitate capacity building through national and international exchanges of information and experiences among relevant practitioners, experts and policy makers, in particular from developing countries. It is also intended to contribute to the UN Secretary-General's plan to “convene aviation, marine, ferry, rail, road and urban public transport providers, along with Governments and investors, to develop and take action on recommendations for more sustainable transport systems that can address rising congestion and pollution worldwide, particularly in urban areas.”
dates: 19-21 June 2013 location: Berlin, Germany
The symposium, convened by the UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD), will examine lessons learned from pilot activities linking REDD+ to sustainable development and the green economy. The objective of the symposium is to build a stronger business case for REDD+.
dates: 19-21 June 2013 location: Jakarta, Indonesia
This meeting is one of a series of expert group meetings to support the preparation of the Global Sustainable Development Report 2013. The meetings are being organized to review and complete draft chapters of the report, which is expected to be finalized by September 2013. This meeting will discuss the chapters on ‘review of progress' and ‘future pathways'. The review of progress chapter aims to provide a brief but comprehensive summary of progress on sustainable development from 1950 to 2013, with a focus on the past decade. It will include sections on: sustainable development trends versus goals suggested by science, with a focus on the global level; trends in commitment implementation, institutions and policy, drawing on work conducted in preparation for UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20); making sense of the debate on sustainable development progress, with the goal of showing where there is agreement and where there is divergence in perspectives; and geography of sustainable development progress. The future pathways chapter will tell future pathway stories, including: a dynamics as usual scenario; a sustainable development scenario from 2010 to 2050, including synergies and tradeoffs; global scenarios at the science-policy interface; and policy solutions and lessons learned.
date: 24 June 2013 location: Vienna, Austria
Held under the theme "New Economic Approaches for a Coherent Post-2015 Agenda," the 2013 Public Symposium of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will provide an opportunity for government officials, civil society representatives, academics, the private sector and other interested observers to discuss key trade and development issues. The sessions will focus on two themes: macroeconomic and financial governance in the road to 2015; and trade and investment rules for inclusive and sustainable development.
dates: 24-25 June 2013 venue: Palais des Nations, 8-14, Av. de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 location: Geneva, Switzerland
The ICPD regional meeting for the UNESCWA-LAS region is expected to take place in Cairo, Egypt, from 24-26 June 2013. The conference will identify priorities for the future to prepare for the ICPD beyond 2014 agenda, focusing on ageing, demographic and democratic transitions, migration, family formations, and youth transitions.
dates: 24-26 June 2013 location: Cairo, Egypt
This meeting will consider issues related to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in preparation for the 25th Meeting of the Parties (MOP25) scheduled to convene in November 2013.
dates: 24-28 June 2013 location: Bangkok, Thailand
In preparation for the UN General Assembly's (UNGA) 2013 High-Level Dialogue (HLD) on International Migration and Development, the Office of the President of the General Assembly is organizing a panel discussion to: consider progress in the global migration debate since the 2006 High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Development; identify concrete recommendations for the 2013 event; and provide fresh perspectives on the future of migration and its relation to development. The event will include panels on emerging migration trends and the relationship between migration and development, and measures to promote safe, orderly and legal migration. It will also address follow-up to the 2013 HLD including by integrating migration into the post-2015 development agenda.
date: 25 June 2013 venue: UN Headquarters, 1st Avenue, between 42nd and 48th St location: New York, United States of America
This conference is being organized within the framework of the global International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) beyond 2014 review on implementation of the Programme of Action agreed upon at the IPCD in Cairo in 1994 (ICPD PoA). The conference will bring together 200-250 representatives of governmental authorities, including high-level officials, academia and civil society organizations, as well as members of national parliaments and other national and international stakeholders to review the progress that has been made towards achieving the goals and objectives of the ICPD PoA in the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region, identify neglected areas, and pinpoint what must be done to accelerate the implementation of the PoA and address emerging issues. The Conference is also expected to make recommendations on future policy actions, synergies with the post-2015 UN Development agenda and on how to effectively place the rights, gender equality and empowerment of women, as well as of adolescents and youth, at the core of sustainable development. The Regional report on the implementation of the ICPD PoA, based on the results of the global survey conducted in 2012 in UNECE Member States, will be the basis for conference debate, which will conclude with a chairperson's summary. The Conference is organised jointly by UNECE and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
dates: 1-2 July 2013 location: Geneva, Switzerland
The 2013 AMR section of the annual Substantive Session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will consider the theme "Science, technology and innovation (STI) and culture for sustainable development and the MDGs". This event will seek to highlight the role of science, technology and innovation, and the potential of culture – and related national and international policies – in promoting sustainable development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Regional preparatory meetings are being organized to prepare for the session.
dates: 1-4 July 2013 location: Geneva, Switzerland
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) holds short sessions, ad hoc meetings, round tables and panel discussions throughout the year, to prepare for its annual four week substantive session in July. The 2013 meeting will convene from 1-25 July, in Geneva, Switzerland, and will consist of the following segments: High-level Segment, including the Annual Ministerial Review (1-4 July); Coordination Segment (5-9 July); Operational Activities Segment (10-12 July); Humanitarian Affairs Segment (15-17 July); and General Segment (18-25 July).
dates: 1-25 July 2013 location: Geneva, Switzerland
In 2013, national and regional preparatory meetings will convene to develop inputs for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to be held in 2014. These preparatory meetings will be held in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea (AIMS) region, Caribbean region and Pacific region, as well as inter-regionally. The decision on the preparatory process for the Conference was taken in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 21 December 2012, following consultations in the Second Committee, which approved Resolution A/C.2/67/L.40.
dates: 2-4 July 2013 location: Jamaica
Co-hosted by the Government of the Netherlands, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR), from 7-10 July, this review will provide an opportunity to assess the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD PoA) through an examination of the nexus between human rights, equality, equity and population and development, including in the key areas of gender, empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Using a multi-stakeholder approach, governments, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, human rights experts and UN agencies will discuss human rights developments in the context of the ICPD PoA implementation over the past two decades. The conference will identify successful stories and lessons learned as well as identifying remaining gaps, challenges, emerging issues and priorities for the future to ensure that the ICPD beyond 2014 agenda, as well as the broader development agenda beyond 2015, advance the realization of human rights without discrimination.
dates: 7-10 July 2013 location: The Hague, Netherlands
An interactive thematic debate on inequality will address include income and social inequalities, with the aim of contributing to the ongoing debate on the post-2015 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
date: 8 July 2013 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
In 2013, national and regional preparatory meetings will convene to develop inputs for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to be held in 2014. These preparatory meetings will be held in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea (AIMS) region, Caribbean region and Pacific region, as well as inter-regionally. The Pacific sub-regional meeting is to be hosted by Fiji. The decision on the preparatory process for the Conference was taken in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 21 December 2012, following consultations in the Second Committee, which approved Resolution A/C.2/67/L.40.
dates: 10-12 July 2013 location: Fiji
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will hold an informal, interactive hearing of NGOs and private sector representatives in preparation for the October 2013 High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development.
date: 15 July 2013 location: New York, United States of America
In 2013, national and regional preparatory meetings will convene to develop inputs for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to be held in 2014. These preparatory meetings will be held in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea (AIMS) region, Caribbean region and Pacific region, as well as inter-regionally. The decision on the preparatory process for the Conference was taken in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 21 December 2012, following consultations in the Second Committee, which approved Resolution A/C.2/67/L.40.
dates: 17-19 July 2013 location: Seychelles
The theme of ICMGP 2013 is "Science informing global policy". The conference will celebrate the agreement on the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and consider how to put the treaty into practice. The meeting aims to exchange information on the science of mercury behavior and release, and its effect on ecosystems.
dates: 28 July - 2 August 2013 location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The ICPD regional meeting for the UNECLAC region is expected to take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 12-14 August 2013. The conference will identify priorities for the future to prepare for the ICPD beyond 2014 agenda, focusing on ageing and international migration.
dates: 12-14 August 2013 location: Montevideo, Uruguay
The 20th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 20) was tentatively scheduled to take place from 6-10 May 2013, at UN Headquarters in New York. UN Member States decided in March 2013 to postpone the meeting and to organize it back-to-back with the first meeting of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF). The HLPF is expected to convene in September.
date: 2 September 2013 [tentative] venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The ICPD regional meeting for the UNECA/AU region is expected to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 2-6 September 2013. The conference will identify priorities for the future to prepare for the ICPD beyond 2014 agenda, and will be a preparatory conference for regional youth and civil society.
dates: 2-6 September 2013 location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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.
dates: 5-6 September 2013 venue: Constantine Palace, Strelna, St Petersburg location: Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
The ICPD regional meeting for UNESCAP region is expected to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 16-20 September 2013. The conference will identify priorities for the future to prepare for the ICPD beyond 2014 agenda, focusing on sexual reproductive health, population dynamics and sustainable development, and demographic change.
dates: 16-20 September 2013 location: Bangkok, Thailand
At the opening of the eleventh meeting of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 11), Deputy Minister for Environment and Tourism of Namibia, Pohamba Shifeta, announced that the Republic of Namibia has offered to host the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The meeting is expected to take place from 16-27 September 2013.
dates: 16-27 September 2013 location: Windhoek, Namibia
The 68th Regular Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 68) will convene at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, 17 September 2013. The General Debate will open on Tuesday, 24 September 2013.
dates: 17-30 September 2013 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The UN Global Compact Leaders Summit will meet from 19-20 September 2013, at the Grand Hyatt in New York City, US, to coincide with the opening of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Held every three years, this invitation-only event brings together chief executives, and representatives of civil society, governments and the UN. Chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, this year's Leaders Summit – held on the theme "Architects of a Better World" – aims to link the UN's universal values with a new global architecture for corporate sustainability. As the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2015 deadline approaches, the Summit will set the stage for business to shape and advance the post-2015 development agenda, and forward an architecture for business to contribute to global priorities.
dates: 19-20 September 2013 venue: Grand Hyatt, 9 East 42nd Street at Grand Central Terminal location: New York, United States of America
The first session of the high-level political forum (HLPF) on sustainable development is expected to take place on 24-26 September 2013. This will be the first formal meeting of the HLPF since a decision was taken to establish the forum at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) in June 2012. The HLPF aims to follow up on the implementation of sustainable development, and to build on the strengths, experiences, resources and inclusive participation modalities of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), and to replace the Commission.
dates: 24-26 September 2013 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will hold a one-day Special Event to Follow up Efforts Made Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), during the 68th session of the UNGA in September. This will represent the occasion for leaders to identify actions to complete the MDG process and to provide guidance on priorities to focus on. The date of the meeting has been agreed through consultations and was announced on 14 March 2013 by the UNGA President, during the first meeting on the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.
date: 25 September 2013 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The UN Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) will host this international symposium to strengthen dissemination and sharing of good practices and lessons learned on fostering sustainable cities, in recognition of the role of cities in protecting the environment, improving disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience and reducing poverty. The symposium aims to identify strategies to strengthen local government institutional and technical capacity to address poverty reduction and slum upgrading, urban development, urban economic growth, urban transport and water and sanitation. The symposium also aims to identify areas for further capacity building and knowledge sharing and to identify innovative financing models to support urban infrastructure. The event will bring together representatives of governments, including and local government and planning officials, UN agencies, multilateral and regional development banks, the private sector and civil society in plenary sessions, working group sessions and panel discussions. The symposium is planned to overlap with the ‘Incheon Sister and Friendly Cities Conference,' which will be held in Incheon on 28 September 2013, and include mayors from cities around the world. The two events will have a joint closing session that will discuss advancing and implementing the sustainable urbanization agenda.
dates: 26-28 September 2013 venue: Convention Center, SongdoDong location: Incheon, Republic of Korea
The First International Conference on Global Food Security aims to explore the economic, social, biophysical, technological and institutional drivers of current and future global food security. The topics list includes, inter alia: enabling trade and market policies for local and global food security; sustainable intensification of food production systems; novel ways of feeding 9 billion; land sparing, land sharing and trade-offs; agricultural production as feedstock for renewables; lost harvest and wasted food; nutritional security; and labelling, certifying and striving for quality and sustainability of food production.
dates: 29 September - 2 October 2013 location: Noordwijk, Netherlands
The 4th World Congress of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) is organized on the theme: “Imagine Society, Build Democracy”. It is expected to bring together local and regional leaders, international organizations, the public and private sectors, financial institutions and civil society from over 100 countries. The 2013 World Summit will focus on: local and regional authorities' contribution to the wellbeing of communities and their role in the post-2015 development agenda; and new challenges and useful models to answer the demands of an increasingly urban population, in preparation for Habitat III in 2016. The World Congress will take place concurrently with the 2nd Local and Regional Leaders World Summit, in which leaders will address challenges facing cities and territories, including quality of life, diversity, human investment in men and women, solidarity between territories and the urban future.
dates: 1-4 October 2013 location: Rabat, Morocco
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will hold this High-Level Dialogue (A/67/219) to identify concrete measures to strengthen coherence and cooperation at all levels, with a view to enhancing the benefits of international migration both for migrants and countries, and its important link to development, while reducing negative implications. The two-day Dialogue will address: the effects of international migration on sustainable development, and relevant priorities for the post-2015 development framework; human rights, trafficking, and safe migration; partnerships and cooperation; and labor mobility and development.
dates: 3-4 October 2013 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The Conference will adopt the Minamata Convention on Mercury and a final act that addresses: how to promote and prepare for the early implementation of the Convention; arrangements for the interim period between the signing of the instrument and its entry into force, including arrangements for financial and technical assistance during that period; and secretariat arrangements. A preparatory session will be held on 7-8 October, opening ceremonies on 9 October, and the full Conference on 10-11 October 2013.
dates: 7-11 October 2013 location: Kumamoto, Japan
The Budapest Water Summit will take place sometime in October 2013 the context of the International Year of Water Cooperation, and will seek to contribute to the elaboration of water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to discuss solutions to water-related challenges. It will convene under the theme "The Role of Water and Sanitation in the Global Sustainable Development Agenda". The Summit is organised by the Government of Hungary in cooperation with the United Nations systems and the World Water Council.
dates: 8-11 October 2013 [tentative] location: Budapest, Hungary
This high-level conference, hosted by the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), will address follow-up to voluntary commitments made at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).
dates: 11-12 October 2013 venue: Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies location: New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
The ninth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC 9) will review chlorinated naphthalenes, hexachlorobutadiene, hexabromocyclododecane, and pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters, as well as discuss other technical work such as the impact of climate change on the POPRC's work and common issues in applying Annex E criteria. A joint meeting with the Rotterdam Convention's Chemical Review Committee (CRC) may be held on 19 October 2013, if approved by the joint Basel/Rotterdam/Stockholm COPs.
dates: 14-18 October 2013 location: Rome, Italy
The Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean is a subsidiary body of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) which is convened on a regular basis, at least every three years, to identify women's needs at the regional and subregional levels, present recommendations, undertake periodic assessments of the activities carried out in fulfillment of regional and international plans and agreements on the subject, and serve as a forum for debates on relevant issues. The theme of the twelfth conference will be "women's empowerment, gender equality and information and communications technologies".
dates: 14-18 October 2013 location: Dominican Republic
“Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition” will be the focus of World Food Day in 2013. The official World Food Day theme – announced at the start of every year by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – gives focus to World Food Day observances and helps increase understanding of problems and solutions in the drive to end hunger.
date: 16 October 2013 location: worldwide
MOP 25 is scheduled to consider a number of issues, including nominations for critical- and essential-use exemptions. On 3 May 2013, the Ozone Secretariat announced the change in venue from Kiev (Kyiv), Ukraine to Bangkok, Thailand. The dates are unchanged.
dates: 21-25 October 2013 location: Bangkok, Thailand
The Chemical Reivew Committee (CRC) is a subsidiary body of the Rotterdam Convention that reviews chemicals and pesticide formulations according to the criteria set out by the Convention in Annexes II and IV, respectively, and makes recommendations to the COP for listing these chemicals in Annex III. A joint meeting with the POPRC may be held on 19 October 2013, if approved by the joint Basel/Rotterdam/Stockholm COPs. This meeting was originally scheduled to convene in March 2013, but is now scheduled to meet back to back with the Stockholm Convention's POPRC.
dates: 21-25 October 2013 location: Rome, Italy
This event, which will convene under the theme 'Losing Ground?' is organized by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam, Germany. It will bring together practitioners, policy makers, scientists and representatives from civil society organizations to share knowledge and experience on soil and land related issues and to make plans to advance the global agenda for sustainable development. A call for proposals will be posted soon.
dates: 27-31 October 2013 location: Berlin, Germany
The UN Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) will host the first annual Sustainable Development Implementation Forum (SDIF) from 28-31 October 2013, in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The SDIF aims to serve as a global platform for sharing best practices in formulating and implementing sustainable development programmes, reviewing evidence of impact, and charting out new and improved pathways for sustainable development implementation. The programme of the annual SDIF also will include topics related to: scaling up implementation; finding effective solutions to address implementation constraints and challenges; examining emerging issues in the context of planning and implementation; promoting the science-policy-practice interface to ensure the transition towards sustainability; and promoting and facilitating partnerships, as well as building communities of practice. The SDIF will include high-level policy dialogues, training sessions, seminars, side events, and expert panel discussions covering key cross-cutting sustainable development and green economy issues and good practices in strategy-making and policy implementation.
dates: 28-31 October 2013 location: Incheon, Republic of Korea
Towards the end of 2013 or beginning of 2014, an intergovernmental preparatory committee will convene to prepare for the 2014 Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The decision on the preparatory process for the Conference was taken in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 21 December 2012, following consultations in the Second Committee, which approved Resolution A/C.2/67/L.40. The PrepCom process likely will culminate with a final meeting ahead of the Conference itself, in Apia, Samoa, in 2014.
date: 1 November 2013 [tentative] location: New York, United States of America [tentative]
UNFCCC COP 19 and CMP 9 and the subsidiary bodies will convene in Warsaw, Poland.
dates: 11-22 November 2013 location: Warsaw, Poland
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Finance Initiative (FI) 2013 Global Roundtable will convene under the theme "Financing the Future We Want: China, Emerging Markets and the World Economy," and will be attended by high-level representatives from financial institutions, governments, regulators, civil society, academia and the scientific community to galvanize action on sustainable finance.
dates: 12-13 November 2013 location: Beijing, China
The 49th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) and the Associated Sessions of the four Committees (Finance and Administration, Economic Information and Market Intelligence, Forest Industry, and Reforestation and Forest Management) are scheduled to take place in Libreville, Gabon.
dates: 25-30 November 2013 location: Libreville, Gabon
The week will be celebrated under the theme "Forests, their products and services," and will focus on the contribution of forests to the green economy. The main celebrations will be centred on Metsä 2013, the joint meeting of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Timber Committee and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) European Forestry Commission. Additional events will be held throughout Europe.
dates: 9-13 December 2013 location: Rovaniemi, Finland
The 38th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies to the UNFCCC are expected to take place in June 2014.
dates: 4-15 June 2014 location: Bonn, Germany
The Third International Conference for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is scheduled to convene from 1-4 September 2014, in Samoa. This conference will include a high-level segment to build upon the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) and the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation (MSI), and will identify new challenges for the sustainable development of SIDS. According to UN General Assembly resolution A/67/L.66, "The General Assembly, recalling its resolution 67/207 of 21 December 2012, in which it welcomed the offer of the Government of the Independent State of Samoa to host the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States in 2014, decides that the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States shall be held from 1 to 4 September 2014 in Apia, to be preceded by activities related to the Conference from 28 to 30 August 2014, also in Apia".
dates: 28 August - 4 September 2014 location: Samoa additional: Apia
The 69th Regular Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 69) will convene at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, 16 September 2014. The General Debate will open on Tuesday, 23 September 2014.
dates: 16-29 September 2014 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
An 8-hour Special Session to Follow Up on the Programme of Action from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) is being organized to coincide with the high-level segment of the general debate at the UN General Assembly. The General Assembly has urged all Member and observer States and observers to be represented at the highest political level, including Heads of State or Government. Member States will have opportunity to recommit themselves to the ICPD Programme of Action. Civil society is expected to be involved in this meeting, based on equitable geographic representation.
date: 22 September 2014 venue: UN Headquarters, 1st Avenue between 45th & 46th St, New York location: New York, United States of America
The seventh meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties serving as Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is scheduled for 29 September-3 October 2014. Among other issues, the meeting is expected to address: handling, transport, packaging and identification (HTPI) of living modified organisms (LMOs); risk assessment and risk management; and socio-economic considerations.
dates: 29 September - 3 October 2014 location: Republic of Korea additional: PyeongChang
The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will engage in a mid-term review of the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the Aichi targets. The theme of the meeting will be 'Biodiversity for Sustainable Development.' The Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP MOP 7) will take place immediately before COP 12.
dates: 6-17 October 2014 location: Republic of Korea additional: PyeongChang
The 20th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC is expected to take place in December 2014 at a venue to be determined.
dates: 3-14 December 2014 location: TBA
The World Conference on Disaster Reduction will be hosted by the Government of Japan and organized by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), and is expected to agree a post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (DRR).
date: 1 January 2015 [tentative] location: Japan
From 1 May-31 October 2015, Expo 2015 will be held on the theme, “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. It is organized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which is the body responsible for overseeing and regulating issues relating to the organization of World and International Expos. Recognizing the role of food and nutrition in achieving sustainable development, the event will focus on a variety of related themes, including improving food quality and security, ensuring healthy and high-quality nutrition for humans, and promoting innovation in research, technology, and business practices.
date: 1 May 2015 venue: Expo - Milano 2015 location: Milan, Italy
The 40th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies to the UNFCCC are expected to take place in June 2015.
dates: 3-14 June 2015 location: Bonn, Germany
The 70th Regular Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 70) will convene at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, 15 September 2015. The General Debate will open on Tuesday, 22 September 2016.
dates: 15-28 September 2015 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The 2015 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund will take place in Lima, Peru, in October 2015. The Annual Meetings bring together ministers of finance and central bank governors from the institutions' 188 member countries, and provide a forum for civil society, the private sector, academics and others to engage in discussions on economic issues.
date: 1 October 2015 location: Lima, Peru
The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC is expected to take place in December 2015 at a venue to be determined.
dates: 2-13 December 2015 location: TBA
The 42nd sessions of the subsidiary bodies to the UNFCCC are expected to take place in May 2016.
dates: 18-29 May 2016 location: Bonn, Germany
The 71st Regular Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 71) will convene at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, 13 September 2016. The General Debate will open on Tuesday, 20 September 2016.
dates: 13-26 September 2016 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
The 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC is expected to take place in November-December 2016, at a venue to be determined.
dates: 30 November - 11 December 2016 location: TBA
The 72nd Regular Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 72) will convene at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, 12 September 2017. The General Debate will open on Tuesday, 19 September 2017.
dates: 12-25 September 2017 venue: UN Headquarters location: New York, United States of America
