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A Renewable Future lies in our Hands
22 November 2004
A distinguished panel of energy experts shared their views on how far we can and should go in revolutionizing the energy system, what criteria we should use to determine the future energy pathway, and the role that environmental and socio-economic decisions should play in these decisions. "Is the future renewable?" kicked off the Futures Dialogues for IUCN's 3rd World Conservation Congress currently being held in Bangkok, Thailand. The experts agreed that continuing reliance on fossil fuels was not an option; rather, there is a need to reach full potential in energy efficiency, and to promote development of renewable sources of energy and technology transfer. These goals can be met through decisive government action, ideally under a legally binding framework, carried out with government leadership and in close partnership with the private sector.
For a more comprehensive summary of discussions at the Futures Dialogue, click here.
For a copy of the Futures Dialogue flyer, click here.
To learn more about the IUCN Environmental Law Programme's work on climate change and energy, click here.
JUDGES AND THE RULE OF LAW - CREATING THE LINKS - ENVIRONMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS AND POVERTY
17 November 2004
 The 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress has got off to an flying start with IUCN Commission on Environmental Law Judiciary Day attracting judges and practitioners from across the globe, along with representatives of UNEP, UNDP, FAO, The World Bank Institute, The World Bank and leading NGOs working in the area. Judiciary Day analyzed and showcased the role of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law, focusing on the role of judges with respect to the links between environment, human rights and poverty - something that has not gained a lot of focused attention from the perspective of the role of the judiciary. Judiciary Day provided the space for this timely debate, while also addressing judicial capacity building, the ethics of judging, public interest litigation and whether the courts have a role in "judicial activism" - critical issues to all of us with an interest in the importance to society of the rule of law and its role in conservation. The wisdom of the deliberations will not be lost - rather it will be captured in a publication to follow the event in the IUCN Environmental Law Programme series.
For more information on IUCN and the Judiciary, including the Programme click here.
For more information on the IUCN Environmental Law Programme and the Congress click here.
IUCN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROGRAMME CELEBRATES 2001-2004 SUCCESS!
16 November 2004
 Members of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law have gathered in Bangkok, Thailand on the eve of the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress to review the work of the IUCN Environmental Law Programme over the period 2001-2004, and to look ahead to the next Intersessional period, 2005-2008. The meeting heard from Prof. Nicholas Robinson and John Scanlon on the Programme's achievements from 2001-2004, and challenges for the future. An open discussion followed, before moving on to consider the critical role of Specialist Groups. Concurrent sessions helped showcase Specialist Groups and a special session was convened by Thai Commission members. Members of the Commission congratulated all concerned for what has been achieved, and expressed great enthusiasm and optimism for the coming four years. On the 15th November, the Commission held its last Steering Committee under the leadership of Prof. Robinson, who was warmly commended by his colleagues for his role as Commission Chair over the past eight years. The IUCN Membership will elect a new Chair for the Commission on 22nd November during the Members Business Assembly of the Congress.
IUCN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROGRAMME STRENGTHENING ENVIRONMENTAL LAW EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
15 November 2004
 Thirty-five legal experts representing 18 major Philippine law schools and three law professors from various Thai universities gathered at Subic Bay, Philippines from 9 to 13 November 2004 to attend the "Environmental Law Training Course for University Professors in the Philippines." The de facto reunion of the Philippines' leading experts in environmental law was enhanced by the participation of IUCN Commission on Environmental Law and Environmental Law Centre legal experts from South Africa, Costa Rica, the Ukraine, the United States and Singapore. The five-day course included an excursion through the forest to enhance the participants' appreciation of nature. Participants adopted a resolution calling on the Supreme Court to make environmental law a mandatory subject in Philippine law schools. Follow-up sessions in the Philippines' various regions are being planned for the future and discussions are underway to finalize the course proceedings.
For more details, click here.
IUCN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROGRAMME PUBLICATIONS 2001-2004
15 November 2004
 Enhanced communications and the generation and sharing of knowledge and information on environmental law and policy has been a key feature of the IUCN Environmental Law Programme (ELP) during the Intersessional period 2001 - 2004. During this time, 19 substantive publications have been released in the IUCN ELP Environmental Policy and Law Papers series, which is an outstanding achievement. Many of these publications have been prepared in collaboration with IUCN members and other partners. All publications either have been, or soon will be, distributed in hard copy and through the IUCN ELP website. A CD has been released to coincide with the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress, November 2004, in an effort to ensure that the information and knowledge generated through the Programme and other IUCN offices on environmental law and policy over the past four years is shared as widely as possible, including to those people who do not have ready access to the Internet.
Full story
To obtain IUCN Environmental Law Publications click here.
SHARING LESSONS ON ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING IMPLEMENTATION
15 November 2004
 Countries in the Pacific Rim have been pioneers in the development of access and benefit-sharing laws and policies, and have faced a variety of technical and legal difficulties in designing and implementing novel access rules and regulations. Merging national legal obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with the beliefs, expectations and policies of key sectors of society is always difficult. Providing an equitable return for rural and traditional communities, while promoting scientific research has required significant legal innovation - particularly where national law is dependent on still evolving international practices and cooperation. As countries struggle with creating and implementing access regimes, they find a dearth of information about the process and the experience of others. This new publication in the IUCN Environmental Law Programme series will begin to fill this vacuum. Accessing Biodiversity and Sharing the Benefits: Lessons from Implementing the CBD, offers a comparative analysis of laws and policies in the 41 Pacific Rim countries that signed the CBD. IUCN is proud to co-sponsor this publication with the Genetic Resource Conservation Programme of the University of California - Davis.
To download a copy of the publication (4.19 MB) click here.
For more information on the ABS project click here.
For more information on the Genetic Resource Conservation Programme of the University of California - Davis click here.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW AFRICAN CONVENTION RELEASED
12 November 2004
 IUCN's Environmental Law Programme has released an "Introduction to the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources" to coincide with the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress. The new African Convention, adopted by the Assembly of the African Union in July, 2003, is the result of a thorough revision of the original Convention, adopted in 1968. The new text succeeds in making the African Convention a most comprehensive and modern regional treaty on environment and natural resources conservation, and the first to deal with an array of sustainable development matters. The new Convention covers a wide spectrum of issues, including quantitative and qualitative management of natural resources such as soil and land, air and water, and biological resources. "We believe that, well implemented, the Convention will become an important instrument of 'good environmental governance' in Africa. IUCN will continue to assist and support this process" said Achim Steiner, IUCN Director General.
To obtain a copy of the publication click here.
To learn more about the governance related work of the IUCN Environmental Law Programme click here.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT MEDIA BRIEF NOW AVAILABLE
9 November 2004
 Energy is justly called the "lifeblood" of the global economy and modern lifestyle. Whether it is for cooking or lighting, heating or cooling, telecommunications or transportation, it is difficult to imagine life without some form of reliance on energy services. People have always used whatever sources of energy were accessible and affordable: beginning with burning wood and biomass, moving on to fossil fuels - coal, oil and natural gas. During the twentieth century, global use of fossil fuels has grown more than twenty-fold, whilst traditional energy forms such as biomass has tripled, leaving a significant footprint on the environment. We face the twin challenge of expanding the quality and quantity of energy services and at the same time addressing the environmental impacts that go with such use. The latest in a series of IUCN Media Briefs focuses on energy and environment, a topic that has been given high priority by the IUCN Environmental Law Programme during this Intersessional period.
Full Media Brief
To find out more about the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law Climate Change and Energy Specialist Group click here.
SUELOS: DESAFIOS PARA SU CONSERVACION
8 noviembre 2004
 El tema de la conservación de los suelos ha cobrado una gran importancia en los últimos años. ¿Cuan importante es un marco jurídico específico en materia de suelos y su conservación? ¿Como vincular en forma adecuada la protección del suelo, los bosques y el agua? ¿Cuales son los aspectos más importantes de una normativa en materia de conservación y uso sostenible de los suelos? ¿Cual es la dimensión institucional del tema? ¿Cuales son las iniciativas internacionales más importantes destinadas a la protección de los suelos? Estos son algunos de los interrogantes que se discutieron durante 3 días consecutivos en el V Simposio Internacional sobre Legislación y Derecho Ambiental del Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Madrid. Como todos los años, el Simposio convocó a abogados y expertos de otras ramas, estudiantes e interesados en el tema de Iberoamérica, España y Portugal. El VI Simposio, a celebrarse en Madrid en octubre de 2005 se concentrará en la integración de políticas ambientales. Dr. Alejandro Iza, miembro del comité científico, representó al Programa de Derecho Ambiental de la UICN (PDA) como entidad colaboradora y se refirió al tema de suelos y agua virtual.
Para mayor información sobre el PDA y suelos haga un click aquí.
Para mayor información sobre el Simposio y el Departamento de Derecho Ambiental del ICAM haga un click aquí.
English version
CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRADE - MAKING THE LINKS
3 November 2004
 What are the potential areas of synergy and conflict between trade liberalization and global warming? This complex question was discussed at a recently concluded "Roundtable on Emerging Issues in the Relationship between the Climate and Trade Regimes (Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and the WTO)" held in Geneva on 14 October 2004. The roundtable was organized by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and was attended by over 70 participants from the trade and climate change communities. Speakers representing ICTSD, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the IUCN Environmental Law Centre (ELC) made presentations in the morning. A smaller, more focused discussion group was convened in the afternoon.
For more information on the roundtable, click here.
For a copy of the IUCN ELC presentation, click here.
For more information on the IUCN Environmental Law Programme's work on climate change and energy, click here.
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