Washington Communique Calls on HLP to Address Fragility [viewed]

G7Plus7 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. 

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Brazilian Diplomat Succeeds Pascal Lamy as WTO Head [viewed]

Ambassador Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo (Brazil)14 May 2013: Following extensive informal consultations among members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the WTO General Council has approved the appointment of Ambassador Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo (Brazil) as the next Director-General of the WTO. Azevêdo will take office on 1 September 2013.

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Event: 2013 G20 Leaders Summit [viewed]

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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SEED Initiative Calls for Low-Carbon and Gender Equality Start-Up Enterprises [viewed]

Seed8 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.

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Event: 22nd Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry [viewed]

The Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has approved the dates of the next Committee on Forestry (COFO), set for 23–27 June 2014. The biennial session will be held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, and will bring together heads of forest services and other senior government officials to identify emerging policy and technical issues, to seek solutions and to advise FAO and others on appropriate action. Participants will also include representatives from other international organizations and non-governmental groups. Participation in COFO is open to all FAO member countries.  

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Geneva Synergy Meetings Reach Over 40 Decisions [viewed]

ChemicalCOP201310 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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GEF Launches Documentary on Toxic Clean-up Efforts [viewed]

GEF8 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).

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UNFCCC Publishes Views from Brazil, Japan and Malaysia on REDD+ [viewed]

UNFCCC8 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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UNFCCC Releases Parties' Views on Various Approaches [viewed]

UNFCCC7 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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CIFOR Working Paper Compares REDD+ Benefit-Sharing Mechanisms in 13 Countries [viewed]

CIFOR9 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.

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