INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Transcription

1 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

2 MUTUAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT The concept of mutual cooperation and development was initially used in biology in relation: to evolutionary interaction of two mutually connected species, when typical genetic features determine a better fitness of one of the species, however, the dominating genetic features of this species leave a considerable impact on other species. Within the systems of common development the proportions may change unpredictably. 2

3 PATCHWORK PRINCIPLE Paradigm of common evolution predicts that the progress and harmony of the development of different cultures in future will be determined by the potential of the patchwork principle. The patchwork metaphor implies Baltic Sea region countries should engage in a common development process, using their local knowledge accumulated over the centuries. By preserving the local specifics and cultural diversity in the modern and dynamic world, the countries of the Baltic Sea Region will be able to ensure sustainable development. 3

4 NEW DEVELOPMENT TENDENCIES Today the more developed countries jointly evolve, using: achievements of Western science, fossil hydrocarbon fuel (oil, natural gas and coal), the same or similar chemical fertilizers and pesticides for cultivating similar varieties of corn. Idea of common evolution should be based on the idea of sustainable development. Earlier cultural diversity was possible because : - individual cultures had more space; - representatives of different cultures did not meet as frequently as today; - communities depended on their own resources, labour and technologies. The modern world is going through the process of globalisation: expansion of the market economy, advance of the developing countries towards the common market, increasing uniformity in the world. 4

5 UNIFICATION OF THE WORLD fast-food restaurants and supermarkets take over fewer languages are used expansion of the market economy 5

6 DRIVING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT knowledge values technologies institutional structure all of it is connected with a common environment in each particular country as well as in the whole of the Baltic Sea Region and the European Union in general The preservation of local peculiarities and cultural diversity could be an important feature of sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region. Traditional knowledge has local peculiarities that have evolved as a result of a unique common development of particular social and ecological systems. (D. Orr) Sustainability should be based on not only revival and preservation of traditional knowledge in each country and in the patchwork countries, but also on exchange of knowledge on a much larger scale not only within the Baltic Sea Region but also within the European Union and worldwide. 6

7 INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS Many environmental issues are of an international character, at times becoming global in a political sense as they involve larger territories than the frontiers of countries mark. This refers to such major environmental systems like: Earth s atmosphere World ocean biosphere Although it is divided into the ecosystems of different countries, the loss of balance within an individual ecosystem may have a negative impact on other ecosystems and even entail risks to the existence of the biosphere. Sovereign states are rather tendentious when defending their independence and caring for the quality of their environment and natural resources - individual countries are guided by their interests in assessment of international environmental issues and their solutions. 7

8 QUALITY OF ENVIRONMENT According to the classification of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the quality of environment and its trends of change can be divided into four categories: 1. atmosphere (climate, ozone depletion, air pollution local or trans-boundary), 2. water (inland, coastal and sea ecosystems), 3. earth (forests, desertification, use of land, soil), 4. biological diversity. Considering the complex nature of international diplomatic relations, attempts are being made to distinguish global and trans-boundary environmental issues. The most important global environmental issues concern: climate change, excessive fish catch in the World ocean, prospective exploitation of the Antarctica. 8

9 ANTARCTICA The prospective exploitation of the Antarctica is considered a problem of common environmental significance as many might benefit from it. Territorial claims to the Antarctica are being contested although they are not adjudicated because the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 is still in force. The Treaty established Antarctica territory as a demilitarised zone free of nuclear weapons, also stipulating measures of nature and environmental protection. Potential territorial claims of the countries to the Antarctica. 9

10 ANTARCTICA The "ceremonial" South Pole at Amundsen-Scott Station. An iceberg dwarfs a ship in 1920 s English magazine illustration of a whaler in the Antarctic.

11 Arctic Arktikā gaisa temperatūra sasilst divreiz ātrāk nekā citviet uz mūsu planētas. Kopš gada vasaras 40 % Ziemeļu Ledus okeāna centrālās daļas ir brīva no ledus. Zinātnieki lēš, ka reģiona dzīlēs guļ 13 % no pasaules neatklātajām naftas un 30 % no neskartajām dabas gāzes rezervēm. Jau ap gadu Arktikas ūdeņos varētu tikt atvērti pirmie regulārie kuģošanas ceļi, kas pavērtu iespējas tūrismam, kravu pārvadājumiem un zvejniecībai. Ledus kušana ir atvērusi jaunu kuģošanas ceļu no Šanhajas līdz Eiropai, kas ir par 6400 km īsāks nekā tradicionālie maršruti caur Suecas kanālu. Arktikā varētu izveidoties jauns ūdensceļš, pa kuru no Eiropas līdz Ķīnai varētu nokļūt par dienām ātrāk. Arktikas padomē ietilpst astoņas valstis: ASV Kanāda, Dānija, Islande, Norvēģija, Zviedrija, Somija un Krievija. Organizācija tika izveidota, lai dalībvalstis diplomātiskā ceļā risinātu domstarpības par Arktikas ilgtspējīgu apguvi un vides aizsardzību. Tomēr pēdējos gados novērotas militāras aktivitātes Arktikā gada martā Norvēģijas ziemeļos notika vienas no visu laiku lielākajām militārajām mācībām Arktikā. Tajās piedalījās vairāk nekā 16 tūkstošu karavīru no 15 valstīm. Februārī apjomīgus kopīgus manevrus veica ASV, Kanāda un Dānija. Līdz šim visagresīvāk savas pretenzijas uz arktiskajām teritorijām izteikusi Krievija. Krievu zinātnieku ekspedīcija gadā Ziemeļu Ledus okeāna dzelmē iesprauda valsts karogu, savukārt valsts līderis Vladimirs Putins gadā, viesojoties arktiskajās teritorijās, kādam leduslācim uzlika raidītāju, tādējādi simboliski parādot, kurš ir Arktikas saimnieks. Pērn Maskava paziņoja par plāniem izveidot arktisko karaspēku, kurā tiks mobilizēti kareivju. 11

12 THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS G. Hardin proposed the metaphor of the tragedy of the commons because such world natural resources are very sensitive to overuse or pollution. Nobody owns these resources neither an individual state nor a corporation nor a physical person. This explains the fact that no restrictions have been imposed: there are no private property borders or exploitation quotas. Everybody can go on exploiting the commons for one s needs up to the depletion of the resource or the collapse of the system Any country may emit an unlimited amount of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere or deplete all the fish in a particular fishing area As a result, the common resources are being depleted at an alarming rate! 12

13 PROTECTION OF INTERNATIONAL WATERS As a measure of the World Ocean protection, the 1954 International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil was adopted to minimise the discharge of oil and oil waste from tankers and other vessels. In 1958, the first conference on the Maritime Law took place, but in 1959 the UN established the International Maritime Organisation, which was entrusted with the improvement of security measures at sea, facilitation of the development of regulations and decreasing of pollution. In the early 1970s maritime countries began declaring their coastal waters part of their jurisdiction on an increasingly larger scale. First, it was 3 nautical miles, then 12 and now even 200 nautical miles. (1 nautical mile = 1852 m) The 1982 conference in Jamaica adopted the Convention on the Maritime Law, stipulating that the Convention refers to the areas up to the depth of m from the shore. 13

14 Amoco Cadiz contained 1,604,500 barrels (219,797 tons) of light crude oil from Saudi Arabia and Iran. Severe weather resulted in the complete breakup of the ship before any oil could be pumped out of the wreck, resulting in its entire cargo of crude oil (belonging to Shell) and 4,000 tons of fuel oil being spilled into the sea.

15 PROTECTION OF THE BALTIC SEA In the late 1960s, researchers identified a hazardous and growing water pollution and reduction of the oxygen concentration in the Baltic Sea. All the seven Baltic Sea states Denmark, Finland, the Democratic Republic of Germany, the Federative Republic of Germany, Poland, Sweden and USSR agreed on taking immediate measures to reduce the pollution of the sea. The Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area was adopted in Within its framework, the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) was established to ensure the implementation, monitoring and development of a programme of common activities. 15

16 DEVELOPMENT OF PROTECTION OF THE BALTIC SEA In 1984, during the first meeting of the ministers of the Baltic Sea Region countries, an action plan was adopted concerning four spheres: 1. reduction of pollution 2. scientific research 3. navigation safety 4. prevention of oil leakage Solutions for problems of national character or implementation of projects were not discussed, neither were any binding documents adopted. In the second meeting of the ministers, in 1988, 78 projects were endorsed although many important problems were unresolved. 16

17 HELCOM

18 DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION IN THE WORLD On the whole, many developing countries wished to see the World Ocean as a free-for-all territory, like the Antarctica, rather than have the huge area de facto taken over by the states which had the most up-to-date technology for exploiting the oceanic resources at their disposal. A common tendency can be traced in the conventions adopted and treaties signed: to allot an increasingly significant place to the principle of precaution. The countries of the world are called upon to prevent pollution in case of emergency situations and accidents. Such policy was caused by the catastrophic accident in Chernobyl, on the tanker Amoco Cadiz and similar cases. 18

19 INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The number of institutions and persons involved in international environmental protection is very large; however, by an attempt to group them, the most significant units are: states industry and business international environmental organisations experts individual talented personalities global environmental movements society at large Of all the above-mentioned, it is only governments, or states they represent, that have the right to take inter nationally binding decisions. 19

20 MOTIVATION OF STATES On individual occasions states can hope for some indirect benefit, for example, by promoting good international relations with other countries. However, a higher level of socialisation and friendliness are highly appreciated, which makes it possible to claim a larger portion of the common world reserves. Europe s Nordic countries, which pursue strict demands in the sphere of international environmental management and protection, call on other states: even take on unilateral additional obligations, participate in discussions, encourage other countries and peoples to follow suit. The European Union also supports a more rigorous international management of environment by allowing considerable funds for this aim. However, with the EU expansion, differences in the opinions on the future perspective can be observed among member states. The position of the USA on environmental problems of global significance, especially on restricting climate change and a stronger international management of environment, has been severely criticised. 20

21 Serengeti savannah plains, Tanzania Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

22 POVERTY An early morning outside the Opera Tavern in Stockholm, with a gang of beggars waiting for delivery of the scraps from yesterday. Sweden, Member of Dalits in Jaipur, India. An untouchable or Dalit is considered outside of the caste system. They are the lowest of the low in the Indian social stratification.

23 BLOCKS OF SIMILARLY THINKING COUNTRIES The northern block includes the industrialised welfare states of North America, Europe and other continents. The southern block is represented by the developing countries of Asia, South America and Africa. The former Second World (socialist) countries together with the South-East Asian countries form the block of the developing countries. The block of developing countries has grown from 77 states (G77) to 130 states, and it has a significant proportion of say in making international decisions. The northern block focuses more on such environmental problems as climate change and ozone depletion, whereas the priorities of the southern block are the lack of drinking water and desertification. 23

24 INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS In the majority of cases, international environmental organisations have been set up by mutual agreement of countries for practical measures to tackle global environmental issues, to prepare projects of environmental policy planning, funding and implementation. International environmental organisations have been extremely good at organising broad discussions to prepare : projects of environmental policy planning projects funding and implementation At present there are about 250 international environmental organisations, most of them specialising in preparation and implementation of conventions on both global and local scale. 24

25 THE BEGINNING OF ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS The origins of environmental organisations date back to the time after World War II when the world faced the necessity: create a system to prevent wars restore the demolished economies prepare solid ground for successful development United Nations Environment Programme International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank) The United Nations organized such institutions: World Trade Organisation International Monetary Fund 25

26 INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS Several massive regional organisations came into being: European Union North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) The leading role belongs to the UN and its environmental organisations. The UN was founded in October 1945, when 50 countries signed the UN Charter in San Francisco, the USA. Today the number of its member states has grown to 192. UN initial task was to promote peace in the world, prevent conflicts between states, control armament, protect human rights, facilitate economic and social development and preserve the global environment. 26

27 UN - THE WORLD S MOST INFLUENTIAL INTER NATIONAL ORGANISATION Signing of the UN Charter (26 June 1945, San Francisco, USA) UN Headquarters in New York, USA UN Assembly Hall 27

28 UN AND ENVIRONMENT The necessity of the UN Environment Programme was confirmed during the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972 as a response to the signals of the alarming deterioration of the quality of the environment. Environment Programme (UNEP) Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) The headquarters of the UN Environment Programme is in Nairobi, Kenya, but there are also offices in Switzerland (Geneva) and other countries. UN Environment Programme is rather limited. Therefore, the countries of the world deliberate on substitution of the Programme with the Global Environment Organisation (GEO), which would have wider powers and better funding. 28

29 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST GROUPS Environmental activist groups usually come out against slow and low-quality measures aimed at tackling environmental issues, and they often attract the attention of the society to lesser - known environmental issues. There are numerous environmental activist groups and they have different interests because of their differences in ideology, strategy, institutional structure and goals: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Greenpeace Climate Change Network World Resources Institute Environmentalist groups enjoy strong support! Greenpeace protest action against nuclear energy 29

30 Focus Method Environmentalism, peace Direct action, lobbying, research, innovation Revenue million (2008) Members 2.86 million (2008) Website MV Esperanza, a former fire-fighter owned by the Russian Navy, was re-launched by Greenpeace in

31 Carbon dioxide reaches levels never seen by humans May 11, 2013 at 11:18 The levels of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached 400 parts per million for the first time in human history. The last time levels were this high global average temperatures eventually reached 3 or 4 C higher than now. The polar regions were up to 10 C warmer than today the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets were smaller and Sea level rised higher than today. United we sail Mauritian fishermen, Greenpeace protest against overfishing May 6, 2013 at 12:12 This week, politicians, scientists and fisheries managers from around the world are coming to Mauritius to attend the annual Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) meeting. This organisation is charged by governments to protect tuna stocks across the Indian Ocean, but right now it is abjectly failing in this task. Tuna fishing across the region is poorly controlled too many boats are taking too many fish, and often these boats come from wealthier, distant nations that use wasteful and destructive fishing techniques.

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33 ACTIVITIES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST GROUPS Many environmentalist groups are extremely active at the venues of important negotiations on the problems of the world s environment or sustainable development and also at world environmental congresses. The protesters often wear masks of animals or birds, stick up protest slogans on tall buildings, and actively lobby leaders of official delegations or delegates. Of late they also organise parallel conferences and environ mental forums. Environmental protection activists protest against the world leaders inability to make decisions on definite and immediate actions to diminish the negative consequences of climate change. Copenhagen, COP15 Conference, December

34 COP15 CONFERENCE Copenhagen, December 2009.

35 COP15 CONFERENCE Copenhagen, December 2009

36 INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS The world economic system, which includes individual enterprises, companies, joint-stock companies and international corporations, exploits natural resources, and the result is environmental pollution. It is widely believed that it is the large corporations, exercising a disproportionate influence on political processes, that should be held responsible for the current degradation of the environment and depletion of the world resources. Large companies seldom get directly involved in politics. Usually this is the sphere of specific non-governmental organisations connected with industry and trade: World Business Council for Sustainable Development, representing over 170 sectors of industry, International Chamber of Commerce integrates different organisations to join in the discussions on international environmental issues. 36

37 ROLE OF SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS Scientists definitely play a prominent role in the development of international documents pertaining to environmental policy. J. Evelyn s ( ) research is notable - he announced that the quality of air in London was poor in a publication in Svante Arrhenius ( ), a physicochemist at the Stockholm Högskola, had put forward the theory of the greenhouse effect already in The Swedish chemist Svante Oden ( ) was the first to study the consequences of burning fossil fuel. 37

38 ROLE OF SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS NOWADAYS The scientist as a discoverer of environmental problems performs other important functions in the modern society: as a teacher disseminates knowledge on research and educate the public about the nature and the environment, as a consultant helps decision-makers to prepare optimum solutions, assumes the role of a responsible intellectual by entering discussions and explaining the interrelation between environmental and political issues in the mass media. Application and scientific interpretation of data on the environment are instrumental in assessing global tendencies and developing future tendencies. Danish Bjorn Lomborg in 2001 published the book The Skeptical Environmentalist to prove that the existing state of the environment was not as bad as other scientists found it. 38

39 DEVELOPMENT OF INTER NATIONAL COOPERATION Policy of environmental protection in its first stages has been directed towards specific events. It is easy to attract the attention of the public by pointing out obvious and easily comprehensible problems such as acid rains, seal hunting in order to obtain furs and pollution caused by pesticides. Problems that become evident after a longer period of time, such as the global changes of temperature, expansion of deserts and depletion of biological diversity, it is considerably more diffcult. The point of view of scientists regarding critical and problematic issues does not always coincide with that of the governments and inter national organisations. In international political relations, the emergence of environmental protection issues as problems can be divided into four phases. 39

40 FIRST PHASE OCEAN RESOURCES The first phase began in the 19th century with the signing of bilateral fishery agreements and ended in 1945 when new inter national organisations were established. Dealing with environmental problems was difficult due to the fact that there was no clearly defined ground and strict political approach. There were cultural differences, and all the aforementioned aspects led to different approaches. The attempt to ensure international whale protection turned out to be an especially unavailing episode in the history of international environmental protection. The Convention on Restrictions of Whaling was signed in Geneva in 1931, and 24 states had either ratified or joined it up to However, the Soviet Union and Japan the two states most involved with whaling did not sign the convention. Currently, Japan and the Russian Federation oppose this moratorium. The IWC allows non-zero whaling quotas for aboriginal subsistence and also issues 'Scientific Permits' to governments who apply for them. Japan, Norway and Iceland have all been issued permits since their inclusion in In 1994, the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary (an area of 50 million square kilometres surrounding the continent of Antarctica) was created by the IWC. 40

41 Dutch whalers near Spitsbergen. Abraham Storck, The International Whaling Commission logo

42 SECOND PHASE: ACTIVITIES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MOVEMENT AND THE UNITED NATIONS The second phase began with the foundation of the United Nations and reached its peak during the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. During that time the global problems were related to four important spheres: 1) the ban on distribution of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, reduction of military costs, and prevention of a new war; 2) reduction of poverty; 3) nature and environment crisis that manifested itself in: depletion of resources, reduction of biological diversity, increasing amounts of waste; 4) ensuring of human rights. 42

43 SECOND PHASE: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION During the 60s, there was a significant interest in nature in scientific and economic aspects as the decade left an impact on how environmental problems were viewed in intellectual and political circles. During the 50-60s, the global economy experienced growth; however, afterwards fundamental problems began to develop, resulting in the oil crisis of In 1962, the actual state of environment was uncertain; however, 1970 arrived with a many voiced and unyielding public opinion. Groups of concerned scientists, administrators and environmental protection enthusiasts initiated an explosion of a mass movement, which spread in the industrialised world. In 1962, Rachel Carson published her book Silent Spring which criticised the overly extensive use of pesticides and stressed their negative influence on human health and ecosystems. Although the scientific community criticised the work as being over-emotional, almost all of the pesticides mentioned by R. Carson are banned now. 43

44 SECOND PHASE: THE CLUB OF ROME The Club of Rome was established as a free association of European scientists, technical employees and politicians during the time when the liberal democracy of capitalism was shaken by crises, and issues of civil rights, peace and environment were beginning to dominate. 44

45 SECOND PHASE: DENIS MEADOWS Limits to Growth, based on the research carried out by the Massachusets Institute of Technology (USA) led by D.Meadows was based on the outcomes of prognoses regarding the constant depletion of resources, increase in pollution and population.

46 THIRD PHASE: FROM STOCKHOLM TO RIO DE JANEIRO The third phase ( ) witnessed an explosion of new environmental protection institutions and agreements. A direct outcome of the Stockholm conference was the establishment of a new United Nations agency - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Stockholm s conference was the first time when environmental problems were discussed and analysed in connection with economic and social development in an international forum. Opening of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, June 5,

47 THIRD PHASE: Our Common Future In accordance with the United Nations General Assembly Decision of December 1983, the World Commission on Environment and Development was founded, and the position of chair was entrusted to Gro Harlem Brundtland. The commission organised public conventions in all five continents, and the report Our Common Future prepared by the Commission was published in

48 FOURTH PHASE: THE PERIOD OF INTEGRATION The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development that took place in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 was the most diverse and large scale conference ever organised by the United Nations state representatives and 120 state leaders partook in the Conference. The discussion touched upon issues of inter national importance protection of the atmosphere; - use of the oceans, freshwater and land resources; - preservation of biological diversity; - careful application of biotechnology; - problems regarding toxic and solid waste and hazardous chemical substances. Five documents were signed at the end of the conference, signifying joint national interests and the reached unanimity. This conference was very significant for the future development of the debate on sustainable development, negotiations between developed and developing countries and for the process of explaining the relations between environment and development. 48

49 Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of our generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

50 FOURTH PHASE: UN COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT At the Rio conference, an important United Nations commission Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) - was founded with goal to sum up the results of how the Agenda 21 was implemented on a national, regional and international scale in order to ensure worldwide sustainable development. CSD 19 H.E. MR. LÁSZLÓ BORBÉLY, Chairman (Romania) (Eastern European Group) Vice-Chairs: H.E. Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative at the Australian Mission to the United Nations in New York (West European & Others Group) H.E. Mr. Silvano Vergara, Deputy General Administrator of the National Environmental Auhtority of Panama, (Latin American & the Caribbean Group) Mr. Eduardo R. Meñez was elected Vice-Chairperson of the nineteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, representing the Asian Group. Mr. Abdelghani Merabet was elected Vice-Chairperson of the nineteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, representing the African Group

51 CSD 20 Was suspended from its normal rotation, planned in 2012 owing to the fact that the General Assembly had resolved to hold the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio as a 20 year anniversary to the original conference. United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development would focus on two themes: - Green economy within the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. - Institutional framework for sustainable development. With the objectives: Securing renewed political commitment to sustainable development. Assessing the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed commitments. Addressing new and emerging challenges.

52 MODERN GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION After the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, international environmental agreements have become the main instrument of global environmental administration; however, the emphasis is on international diplomacy, not technical understanding. Approximately 140 international agreements have been signed, ratified and come into force since 1920, but the number of the documents accompanying them (protocols and amendments) is much greater. Some of the conventions and protocols are of greater significance : degradation of the ozone layer, reduction biological diversity, climate change. 52

53 CONVENTIONS The conventions are international laws that independent countries or institutions have agreed upon. Since the conventions set down the obligations and rights of the countries in a particular sphere, the representatives of the states spend quite a lot of time on: harmonising the documents before adoption of the conventions, technical experts develop the project of the convention, highest ranking officials of the states sign the convention during an international conference dedicated to the debate on the questions related to the convention, ratification takes place after signing; it involves an official decision by the parliament confirming that the convention complies with the national legislation and that the state is willing to observe the rules of the convention and undertake international liabilities. If an established number of states (the minimum number of states needed for the convention to function efficiently is decided by the member states themselves) have ratified the convention, they convene the first conference of the parties of the convention to agree upon the actions needed. 53

54 SCIENTISTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Regarding the making of global environmental policy and development of conventions and their protocols, the role of scientists and experts is invaluable. A good example is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), which consists of approximately three thousand scientists. The results of their research and a mutual exchange and collective interpretation of the results have raised global awareness of the current environmental problems and helped in developing a unified policy for subduing the negative consequences of climate change. Nobel Peace Prize 2007 was awarded to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in the official opening of Copenhagen Conference on December 7,

55 UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DECLARATION In September 2000, the General Assembly of the United Nations, which 191 member states took part in, signed the United Nations Millennium Declaration and set eight Millennium Development Goals to be fulfilled until Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Achieve universal primary education 3 Promote gender equality and empower women 4 Reduce child mortality 5 Improve maternal health 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 8 7 Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for development 55

56 Baltic University Programme at the Uppsala University Baltic University Programme has grown to become the largest university network in the world, encompassing more than 200 universities in 14 countries in the Baltic Sea Region. The Programme offers a series of bachelor s and master s courses on issues related to sustainable development at member universities. 56

57 Baltic University Programme at the Uppsala University All the activities are based on the principle of team-work, whether navigating a tall ship in the Baltic Sea or getting together to take on the defining issues of education and sustainable development. Collaboration and networking students participate in a voyage on a sailing ship in the Baltic Sea Other example is the annual students conference in Rogów, Poland, which gathers students from all countries in the region. 57

58 THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!