21 May 2013: The International Tropical Timber Organization published the first quarter Tropical Forest Update for 2013. The Update celebrates the entry into force of the International Tropical Timber Agreement 2006 (ITTA 2006), highlighting the objectives of improved trade of sustainably harvested tropical timber and the sustainable forest management (SFM) of tropical timber producing forests.
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17 May 2013: At the Global Land Forum meeting held in Antigua, Guatemala, from 23-27 April 2013, members of the International Land Coalition (ILC) agreed to a series of commitments in the 'Antigua Declaration' related to securing tenure for responsible land governance.
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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.
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10 May 2013: The 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (BC COP11), the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (RC COP6), the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (SC COP6), and the second simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions (ExCOPs2) convened from 28 April-10 May 2013, in Geneva, Switzerland. Over 1000 participants, including over 80 ministers, attended the meetings.
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8 May 2013: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released an addendum to document FCCC/SB/2013/MISC.3, containing the views from three countries on issues related to activities described in paragraph 70 of decision 1/CP.16 (REDD+). The submissions are from Brazil, Japan and Malaysia.
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7 May 2013: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released a miscellaneous document containing the views of parties in ten submissions on matters referred to in paragraphs 44-47 of decision 1/CP.18, including information, experience and good practice relevant to the design and operation of various approaches on market and non-market mechanisms(FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.11).
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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).
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23 March 2013: The UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD) reported plans by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) International Resource Panel to prepare a study on REDD+ and the green economy.
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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.
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6 May 2013: “Countries discussed concrete solutions to speed up and scale up action and they are committed to sticking to their own timetable,” said Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, reporting on discussions held during the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2).
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