Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Mediterranean Lead Partner: Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE)
Summary: This initiative/partnership on EfES, facilitates the educational community and students to contribute in a systematic and concrete way for the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration goals, through the successful application of innovative Educational Programmes in countries around the Mediterranean basin. These Educational Programmes are based on cross-cutting themes in the existing school-curricula. During the first years of implementation the Initiative focuses on freshwater including all its aspects (sanitation, health, floods, agriculture, etc.), followed by wastes.
The main objectives of the initiative compatible with the principles of sustainable development are:
- Wise management of freshwater resources
- Wise management of wastes
- Facilitation of Educators' networks [more]
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional ASEAN region Lead Partner: Government of Indonesia - Ministry of Environment
Summary: Develop a uniformed mandatory disclosure scheme on emissions of motor vehicles to inform the public on compliance with motor vehicle emissions standards within respective ASEAN countries.
In order to reduce air pollution caused by automotive emission, the MOE of Republic Indonesia has several experiences with performance program (proper) for in used vehicles. The GOI has also started for the "ecolabel" which has focused on green production, which then we will initiate and try to integrate it into this program. We want to know from other partnerships initiative experiences such as experiences in controlling vehicles emissions, fuel consumption labeling scheme, efforts and measures in promoting green vehicles.
In 2003, the new emissions standards for type approval will be launched including certifying mechanism. Besides that various countermeasures such as cleaners fuels, alternative fuel, Inspection and Maintenance, transportation modes has been implemented with various successes.
On the other-hand, we have to develop emission testing facilities and mechanism of exchange data and information within related institutions in disclosing automotive emission within ASEAN as well as public awareness through public campaign and multi media coverage. [more]
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Straits of Malacca and Singapore Lead Partner: International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Summary: Development of a Regional Marine Electronic Highway (MEH) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore - Demonstration Phase: In partnership with the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners and the International Hydrographic Organization
The ultimate goal of this initiative is the use of innovative maritime and environment management technological tools to create network and maintain a marine information infrastructure for enhancing maritime services, improving the safety of navigation and integrated management of the coastal and marine areas of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
The Marine Electronic Highway (MEH) is an innovative marine information and infrastructure system that integrates environmental management and protection systems and maritime safety technologies for enhanced maritime services, higher navigational safety standards, integrated marine environment protection and sustainable development of coastal and marine resources. The backbone of the MEH is precision navigation and will utilize a network of electronic navigational charts (ENCs) in conjunction with Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and other maritime technologies.
This initiative is part of a two-stage MEH Project for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. This initiative, which is a demonstration project, will cover parts of the Straits, mainly the area of the Traffic Separation Scheme. The second stage or full-scale project, which will follow after this initiative, will cover the whole Straits including the coastal waters of the littoral States.
The general objectives of this initiative are to delineate options for the implementation of the MEH system in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore and assess the technical, financial, economic, social, institutional, political and legal aspects of the identified options, assess the integration of marine environment protection system with precision navigation, and develop sustainable financial mechanisms and a managing tool to operate, manage and administer the MEH system. The implementation will also cover the evaluation on the benefits of the system and financing requirements to implement the identified activities leading to the establishment of the MEH system in the Straits. Overall, the development objectives of this initiative are the following:
* Establish the MEH and demonstrate its technical functionalities on maritime safety and marine environment protection for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore;
* Facilitate the integration of marine environment systems and data flow and information exchange through the MEH system;
* Develop the operational and administrative mechanisms for the sustainable management of the MEH system;
* Evaluate the financial, social and economic benefits and legal aspects of the MEH system;
* Promote awareness and participation of relevant stakeholders to support the MEH system; and
* Strengthen national and regional capacity in maritime safety and marine environment protection for the sustainable management of the MEH system; [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: Government of Germany - Federal Ministry for Econ. Coop. and Devt (BMZ) - Government of Germany - Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU)
Summary: This Partnership was founded during the "International Executive Conference on Expanding the Market for Concentrating Solar Power" on 19 -20 June 2002 in Berlin. The presentations and discussions resulted in the following common understanding about the qualities of concentrating solar power (CSP) :
CSP provides sustainable, clean, affordable and reliable energy supply over a range of sizes from 10 kilowatts to 200 megawatts.
CSP plants have proven in more than 100 accumulated operating plant years to be the most efficient technology for direct use of the inexhaustible solar energy.
CSP plants can provide dispatchable power with back up via thermal storage and/or the hybrid mode.
CSP helps to minimize climate change impacts by replacing fossil energy sources.
CSP is an appropriate technology for supporting independence from fossil resources, in particular for developing countries.
A promising base of more than 10 CSP power project opportunities was reviewed by the members of the partnership at the conference. Realising these projects will allow a significant reduction in power generation costs. [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: Government of Netherlands - Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries - Government of Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Summary: The objective of the initiative is to improve market access of food and agricultural products from developing countries to the European market by enhancing cooperation in the field of quality standards related to health, the environment and veterinary and phytosanitary measures. This will contribute to increased global competitiveness of farmers, food processors, retailers and traders in developing countries. The cooperation will also improve mutually understanding on both the need to effective address both poverty in developing countries, as well as on consumer concerns related to food safety and the environment.
The Doha and Johannesburg programmes commit to improve market access, in particular for developing countries. The Doha Development Agenda puts a strong focus on reducing tarief barriers to trade. While reiterating that the Doha-agreements will have to be fully implemented, it will be pertinent to additionally respond to difficulties for particular developing countries to meet quality standards for food and agricultural products. Those standards have been agreed upon in multilateral for a, such as the Codex Alimentarius, WTO-SPS, IPPC, Biosafety Protocol, and CITES. Recently, those fora have started capacity building activities in order to assist parties to cope with the multilaterally agreed terms.
There are however additional challenges countries are facing if they would like to be competive on markets such as of the EU. Specific EU standards been developed, in order to translate the multilaterally agreed standards to the regional contextn or in response to consumer concerns in Europe. Furthermore, food processors and retailers are often using stricter criteria themselves, in order to sell high quality products with the highest competitiveness possible. [more]
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Lead Partner: Government of Germany - Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety - UNEP - Regional Office for Africa
Summary: - Strengthening existing organisational structures and establishing new ones when it is necessary to promote sustainable consumption and production in all African countries (e.g. supporting the development of national action plans on SCP);
- Developing and supporting projects for implementing sustainable consumption and production methods: Initiating the development of an eco-labellinbg mechanism for African products; supporting the development of networks and knowledge based information tools in selected fields of action (e.g. waste management and recycling, biofuels, drinking water);
- Supporting the integration and mainstreaming of environmental education in African schools and universities;
- Promoting sustainable procurement by governmental organisations through training courses and awareness-raising in cooperation with the Marrakech Task Force on sustainable public procurement.
[more]
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - City and County of Honolulu - Government of United States of America - City and County of Honolulu
Summary: The APUI Mayors' Commitments Program is a leadership capacity-building program. It will provide a comprehensive capacity-building service to local political leaders (e.g., Governors, Mayors) and city management executives (e.g., Municipal Commissioners, utility executives) in the Asia-Pacific region who wish to implement more sustainable, pro-poor development (SD) and service strategies for their jurisdictions. The APUI aims to work as a parallel and complementary partner to other programs and institutions, such as Local Agenda 21 and City Development Strategies, that are assisting city administrations in developing SD strategies.
A biennial, regional Summit of participating Governors, Mayors and city executives will be held to report and reward achievements, build new implementation partnerships, and prepare recommendations for policy reforms to provide a better enabling environment for Commitment implementation
The APUI believes that leadership to implement SD strategies involves more than individual skill and will. Leadership is the mobilisation of a community's diverse resources to address a common challenge or to achieve a common strategy. Leadership, therefore, is the product of both personal/professional abilities and an operating environment that enables innovation and sustained collaboration.
Partnership results would include:
- Improved local input into the design of infrastructure, housing, and service systems for their communities, including better consideration of long-term financial sustainability;
- Stronger involvement of sub-national and local political leaders in the preparation and implementation of local strategies and initiatives for sustainable development;
- Development of a tradition, within in the regional community of local government, to base political leadership on clearly defined commitments, objectives and reportable results;
- Improved national-level support and enabling conditions for bottom-up sustainable development initiatives;
- Identification and clarification of policy barriers to the effective participation of local communities in the implementation of Agenda 21 and related sustainable development agreements;
- Stronger representation and voice for sub-national and local government in national and regional processes for pro-poor sustainable development;
- Improved co-ordination of capacity-building support for sub-national and local leaders in the region;
- Increased partnerships between local authorities and national/regional/international NGOs and Major Group organisations to support implementation of local sustainable development strategies. [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: Government of France - Agence Française pour le Développement (AFD)
Summary: The main objectives of this initiative are the reduction of poverty by providing access to energy services, especially to rural populations, and the fight against climate change by controlling the growth of energy consumption and by increasing the share of energy from renewable resources in the energy mix of the developing countries. The initiative falls within the scope of reinforcing technical and institutional cooperation efforts to facilitate the structuring of national energy policies and the setting-up of the necessary structures for the proper design and realization of projects. In particular, it aims:
- To develop renewable energy markets and energy efficiency through the better use of the existing financial mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and the encouragement of "ethical" savings.
- To coordinate - in a structured, simplified way via creation of a common platform - the main financing steps for projects and programmes: identification and preparation of projects by ensuring consistency with activities supporting the reinforcement of capacities (and, in particular, urban/rural solidarity organizations in developing countries) and investment in the projects.
This initiative is characterized by the involvement of the private sector in all phases. [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: International Center of Resources and Innovation for the Sustainable Development-CIRIDD (former Association Agora 21) - Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (IEPF - Institut de la Francophonie Numérique - Unité Jeunesse)
Summary: The aim of the project is to create an information and discussion platform for sustainable development that is accessible to the various groups concerned (States and public administrations, local governments and international bodies, associations, the economic sector, scientists and the academic community, and ordinary citizens) by facilitating exchanges and integration of the available data on a network of Internet sites distributed throughout the French-speaking world.
The second objective is to develop the use of French regarding these topics for the sake of linguistic plurality at the international level, thereby helping to reinforce the capacities of French-speaking participants, especially in the organization of preliminary debates for major conferences. This platform is also an experimental ground for research and development into new tools and approaches that will be transferred to the partners. It will be an extension of various projects and actions. [more]
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Mediterranean Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry for the Environment and Territory - Italian Agency for the Protection of the Environment and for Technical Services (APAT)
Summary: The availability of more reliable information concerning GHG emissions will enable countries with economies in transition and developing countries to comply with their obligations under the UNFCCC, namely the preparation and submission of GHG inventories and national communications, and to actively participate in Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism activities.
This partnership aims therefore at supporting the preparation of consistent and reliable GHG inventories in Mediterranean countries, through exchange of information on activity indicators and emission factors, identification of QA/QC procedures and development of common methodologies.
It builds on the work of the MeditAIRaneo project, currently financed by APAT, which involves government agencies responsible for the preparation of air emission inventories in the northern shore of the Mediterranean. The expertise and the tools developed in the frame of this project (experts' network, web-site, know-how concerning Mediterranean specificities about atmospheric emissions) will be used for the development of this partnership. [more]
to collapse the Summary of Partnerships.