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A compilation of items recently posted to the Latin America & Caribbean Regional Coverage knowledgebase Latest News - 14 May 2013 SEED Initiative Calls for Low-Carbon and Gender Equality Start-Up Enterprises 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. continued... Geneva Synergy Meetings Reach Over 40 Decisions 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. continued... GEF Launches Documentary on Toxic Clean-up Efforts 8_May_2013: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has released a documentary, titled 'Mission: Planet DeTox,' highlighting chemicals and wastes projects in five countries. The projects are funded by the GEF and implemented by the World Bank, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). continued... UNFCCC Publishes Views from Brazil, Japan and Malaysia on REDD+ 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.  continued... UNFCCC Releases Parties' Views on Various Approaches 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). continued... CIFOR Working Paper Compares REDD+ Benefit-Sharing Mechanisms in 13 Countries 9_May_2013: The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Bogor, Indonesia, has released a working paper that examines policies for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) benefit-sharing mechanisms in 13 countries. continued... UN Complaints Mechanism on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Enters into Force 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). continued... Report of the Adaptation Fund Board's 20th Meeting Released 6_May 2013: The Adaptation Fund has released the meeting report from the 20th meeting of the Adaptation Fund Board (AFB), during which it approved a new project in Argentina, and placed projects in Belize, Ghana and Uzbekistan in the pipeline. continued... UNEP to Research REDD+ in the Green Economy 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. continued... UNESCO, CITES and UNEP Draw Spotlight on the Need to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade 6_May_2013: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Chinese actress, Li Bingbing, have recently undertaken activities to address wildlife crime and highlight the gravity of its impacts. continued... Member States Urged to Hold National Consultations on Disability and Development 6_May_2013: The co-facilitators of the upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on "the Realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities"(HLMDD) have called on Member States to hold national consultations on the issue, if they have not yet done so, and to submit stakeholders' contributions to the co-facilitators as they prepare the zero draft of the Meeting's outcome document. continued... Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources Advances in Mesoamerica 6_May_2013: As part of the 58th annual meeting of the Central American Cooperative Programme for the Improvement of Crops and Animals (Programa Cooperativo Centroamericano para el Mejoramiento de Cultivos y Animales (PCCMCA), held from 22-26 April 2013, working groups were established to address priorities and challenges in adapting to climate change in the region. continued... UNFCCC Publishes Views on the NAP Process Guidelines 3_May_2013: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released a miscellaneous document containing the views of five parties, one intergovernmental organization, and one NGO on experience with the application of the guidelines for the national adaptation plan (NAP) process for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) (FCCC/SBI/2013/MISC.2). continued... Latin America & Caribbean Regional Coverage Calendar: Current & Upcoming Events Leadership Summit for the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI) British Virgin Islands, United Kingdom 17 May - 18 May Regional Consultation of the Americas on "The Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Agenda in the Post-2015" Salvador, Brazil 17 May - 18 May Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction Geneva, Switzerland 19 May - 23 May Twelfth Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues New York, United States of America 20 May - 31 May    Subscribe to our iCalendar and your computer will gain access to all the events listed in our Latin America & Caribbean Regional Coverage Calendar ( Learn More | Subscribe ) Please send suggestions for articles to Alice Bisiaux, LL.M at alice@iisd.org Generous start-up funding has been provided by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Latin America & Caribbean Regional Coverage is a knowledge management project focusing on delivering news, information, and analysis on international environment and sustainable development negotiations and policy making in Latin America & the Caribbean. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Reporting Services, in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), launched the Latin America & Caribbean Regional Coverage (LARC) Programme in 2010 to improve the transparency of the region's policy discussions on sustainable development and raise its profile. IISD manages and is fully responsible for the content posted on the Latin America & Caribbean Regional Coverage website. Click here for further information on Latin America & Caribbean Regional Coverage