Lead Partner: Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The objective is ambitious forested tropical countries collaborating to reconcile forest stewardship with economic development: facilitating new and improved revenue streams in order to underpin community-driven environmentally sustainable economic growth.
The Rainforest Coalition will facilitate substantive change within existing international frameworks, national regulations, and corporate policies. Specific to Coalition Initiatives, the Rainforest Coalition will:
Standards: Establish methodologies, standards and compliance & reporting procedures related to rainforest management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and climate change
Regulation: Institute domestic regulatory frameworks which uphold the policies and standards developed by the membership while seeking appropriate reform within international regulatory frameworks
Market Access: Facilitate market correction leading to more equitable market access within international markets for carbon emissions trading and certified forest products
Negotiation: Develop a cohesive negotiation platform related to the standards, regulation and market access which underpin the interaction between Developing Nations and Industrialized Economies. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - Department of Environment and Heritage - Government of Japan - Ministry of the Environment - Wetlands International
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: This partnership provides a cooperative framework for conservation of migratory waterbirds and their inland and coastal habitats across the region. The partnership is guided by the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy and associated Action Plans for conservation of Anatidae (Ducks, Swans and Geese), Cranes and Shorebirds. Each of these Action Plan calls for recognition of internationally important habitat for the relevant species group through inclusion in 'Site Networks'. The site network concept links internationally important sites across country boundaries and provides for exchange of information and training opportunities. It provides a powerful tool for cooperation to ensure that the chain of sites required by migratory birds along their migration route is conserved.
In order to achieve their potential, the site networks need to include at least 25% of internationally important sites across the migratory flyways. At present the networks include approximately 10% of internationally important sites. The WSSD partnership provides for expansion of the site networks across the region. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Japan - Ministry of Environment
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: Greenhouse gases emissions from the Asia-Pacific region are increasing while climate change can have serious impact on some countries in the region. In order to implement the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, which is a first step for addressing climate change, the region requires fruitful policy dialogues among countries. Further, it needs to develop and implement a regional strategy addressing climate change. The Asia-Pacific Network on Climate Change (AP-Net) aims to facilitate policy dialogue, exchange of experiences, data, and information among all relevant actors in the region to build institutional capacity. The AP-Net has been operational since 1998, as both a gateway website and an individual website. The partnership will be formed to elaborate the AP-Net cooperatively and utilize it for implementation of joint activities among participant countries and organization. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources - Government of Mexico - Secretaria de Energia
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: The United Nations Economic and Social Councils notes that:
"Access to energy is crucial to economic and social development, and alleviation of poverty. Improving accessibility of energy implies finding ways and means by which energy services can be delivered reliably, affordably and in an environmentally sound and socially acceptable manner, particularly in meeting the energy requirements of developing countries, including their rural areas."
"Furthermore, accessibility of energy is conditioned by security of supply and demand as well as by market stability, all of which need to be addressed in terms of their regional and international dimensions, which include cross-border energy transport infrastructure, storage and shipment by tankers."
The EWG has long noted that ongoing initiatives must demonstrate added value in the context of the World Summit. As such, new partnership initiatives to be undertaken by the EWG, in the context of its ongoing activities, are particularly influenced by the need to improve accessibility to energy and the security of energy supplies.
In consideration of the challenges to improving accessibility to energy, and in response to the directives of APEC Energy Ministers, the EWG will pursue new initiatives to:
(a) Undertake longer-term actions to improve regional energy security
(b) Advance regional energy security through short-term actions
(c) Improve access to energy by addressing the barriers to the interconnection of power grids between APEC member economies
(d) Address sustainability through practical responses that encompass burning fuels more cleanly, capture and geological sequestration of carbon dioxide, the use of new and renewable energy technologies, and improving energy efficiency
(e) Explore new mechanisms for working more closely with international financial institutions to facilitate infrastructure development within the APEC region.
These activities will complement the EWG's ongoing efforts to diversify its energy mix, improve energy efficiency, deploy new and renewable energy technologies, promote clean energy, facilitate energy business and trade, improve data collection and information sharing and encourage private investment through policy and regulatory reform. [more]
Lead Partner: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) - South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The main objectives are:
* Increased availability of adequate, affordable and environmentally sound energy for the sustainable development of all Pacific islanders.
* Accelerate the transfer and adoption of clean and renewable energy technologies.
* The partnership is to assist with the implementation of the Pacific Island Energy Policy (PIEP. [more]
Lead Partner: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The overall goal of this initiative is "to minimise environmental and health impacts from solid and hazardous waste generation and disposal in the Pacific region¿. This will be addressed through the following objectives:
- To raise awareness in Pacific Island countries at the community, government and political levels, and in the wider international community (especially industry), about the need for positive actions in solid and hazardous waste management in Pacific island countries
- To achieve significant reductions in the quantities of wastes currently sent to landfills, through effective waste minimisation programmes including elimination of wastes at source, enhancement of current recycling activities, and the development of recycling/disposal options for other wastes
- To upgrade current waste collection and disposal systems through incremental improvements to existing systems and adoption of best regional practices in all new disposal operations.
- To implement regional clean-up and disposal programmes for those wastes which cannot be dealt with effectively at a national level
- To assess current financial, regulatory, institutional and social barriers to effective waste management in Pacific Island countries and assist governments in developing strategies and systems for overcoming these barriers
- To develop and improve current institutional capacities for effective waste management in Pacific Island countries through targeted national and regional training programmes, and the development of on-going programmes within the relevant tertiary institutions, and the development and maintenance of appropriate information networks
Expected Results
- Significant reductions in the quantities of wastes that need to be disposed by landfill or other means
- Sustainable waste minimisation programmes established in all Pacific Island countries
- Reduced potential for adverse environmental and health impacts from on-going waste collection and disposal activities
- Current environmental and health impacts eliminated through clean-up and disposal of existing waste stockpiles and contaminated sites
- Permanent waste management positions established in relevant government agencies within each country, and staffed with appropriately qualified personnel
- Financial, regulatory and other relevant mechanisms adopted within each country to ensure effective and on-going waste management systems
- On-going community awareness programmes and activities in waste management [more]
Lead Partner: World Health Organization (WHO) - Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) - Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The main objectives are:
* Improved health surveillance
* Coordinated and strategic approach to the reduction of environmental health threats
This initiative is in-line with international WHO strategies for the surveillance and response to epidemic communicable diseases (Global Outbreak and Response, IHR). PPHSN was launched to coordinate, harmonize, and develop public health surveillance activities in the region: it allows to avoid duplication and to optimize the use of scarce resources. [more]
Lead Partner: South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The main objective of the Initiative is to achieve sustainable water and wastewater management in Pacific island countries through:
* the establishment of a regional water network of persons and organisations, inclusive of country governments, development agencies, professional associations and donors, that work in the different fields of water resources management and service delivery in the region, to improve regional coordination and collaboration;
* the implementation of the Pacific Strategies for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene that aim to build and increase the capacity in Pacific Island Countries to deliver sustainable management of water and wastewater as a means to contributing to poverty alleviation. Sustainability has to be achieved in the technical, institutional, financial, environmental and social-cultural areas. SOPAC Member Countries have endorsed these strategies during the 30th SOPAC Annual Session (Majuro, October 2001), which are complimentary with the efforts towards the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the 3rd World Water Forum;
* implementation of the ¿Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Water Management¿, as agreed upon by Ministers, Heads of Delegation and representatives of civil society groups with responsibilities for water affairs from 16 small island countries in the Pacific, as well as East Timor and the Maldives as part of the regional consultation and preparation for the ¿Water in Small Island Countries¿ and ¿Dialogue on Water & Climate¿ themes of the 3rd World Water Forum, during the ¿Pacific Regional Meeting on Water in Small Island Countries¿, held in Sigatoka, Fiji from 29 July to 3 August 2002. The consultation process included the identification of national priority actions as determined by the participating countries on the basis of their national water strategies, national assessments and stakeholder consultations undertaken for WSSD and the 3rd World Water Forum, and the development of agreed regional actions through the consultation meeting process of plenary discussion, working group review and delegation approval.
[more]
Lead Partner: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) - University of South Pacific (USP)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Island Countries Summary: Main objective: Provide long-term community based capacity-building activities to fully integrate environmental and development needs, using people and customs as the central parameters for decision-making, management, fostering social cohesion and the promotion of sustainable community livelihoods.
Principles:
- People are at the core of the pursuit of sustainable development;
- Sustainable community lifestyles for Pacific Island communities and nations are dependent on the sustainable use of terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity and the protection and application of traditional knowledge of this biodiversity.
- Traditional and local knowledge enhances scientific knowledge and can guide future directions to ensure pragmatic and mutually beneficial efforts;
- Environmental and sustainable development are for the people and communities and therefore their aspirations and needs should dominate policies, plans, decision making, management and practice;
- Sustainable development requires Environmental justice, and preservation of human rights.
- Early community involvement and partnering with government in the development and project pipeline presents the best means to suit people¿s aspirations, values, issues and priorities to socio-economic progress.
- Integrating environment and socio-economics in the development process provides the means for better decision making for sustainable development;
- Ensuring equity in development processes and environmental management, with social justice and empowerment through community development frameworks - will assist poverty eradication and improve people¿s quality of life.
Purpose: To develop local and national capacity to institute community development frameworks to assist with partnering, prudent anticipation and decisions regarding the planning for environmental change, as well as the pursuit of sustainable development to enhance the quality of life for all communities. [more]
to collapse the Summary of Partnerships.