Open Forum On Strengthening International Environmental Governance

24 November 2006, Sydney Opera House

Guest presenters include

Mr Shafqat Kakakhel
Assistant Secretary-General / Deputy ExecutiveDirector, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

H.E. M. Bruno Julien
Head of European Commission Delegation to Australia and New Zealand

A reinforced UN body for the environment

Dealing with environmental degradation was once seen as a luxury problem for industrialized nations. Today we know it is a challenge affecting developing countries and poor people disproportionately. Climate change is possibly the major environmental challenge facing governments and civil society worldwide. All life will be affected with altered environments and subsequent changes in water supplies having a significant impact on our health and economy. Effective international environmental governance will play a key role in managing, mitigating and mobilizing efforts to deal with climate change.

Since UNEP was established in 1972, the environmental crisis has become more acute and more global in scope, leading to repeated calls for a reinforced international environmental structure. At the UN World Summit in September 2005, Heads of States and Government recognized the need for "more efficient environmental activities in the UN system" and for exploring "the possibility of a more coherent institutional framework" to tackle environmental degradation. To meet this need the European Union wishes to stimulate and encourage debate between Governments and Civil Society on International Environmental Governance (IEG) in general and the establishment of a UN Environment Organization (UNEO) in particular.

The European Union along with the IUEU Centre hosted an open forum on strengthening international environmental governance as part of their ongoing efforts to create a resourceful and competent United Nations body on the environment.

Participants included representatives from the Australian Government, academia, the private sector, civil society and independent think tanks. The forum was opened by the Ambassador of Finland to Australia, Mr Glen Lindholm, representing the presidency of the European Union. Presentations were moderated by Professor Don Rothwell of Australian National University, and addressed the following three themes:

1. Principles of International Environmental Governance
Dr Lorraine Elliott, Australian National University
Pr Donna Craig, Macquarie University

2. Current Challenges for International Environmental Governance
Mr Shafqat Kakakhel, Assistant Secretary General / Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
Dr Graeme Pearman, Monash University
Mr Phillip Toyne, Director, Ecofutures
Mr Laurent Stefanini, French Ambassador for the Environment

3. Response to the Challenges - What sort of Organisation Framework will work?
Dr Clive Hamilton, Director, The Australia Institute
Mr Chuck Berger, Legal Advisor, The Australian Conservation Foundation

Closing speeches were given by Mr François Descoueyte, Ambassador of France to Australia; and Mr Bruno Julien, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand.

Further information: delegation-australia@ec.europe.eu or contact Anais Legand on 02 6216 0135