The Global Gender Gap Index annually benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions (Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment). It is the longest-standing index tracking the progress of numerous countries’ efforts towards closing these gaps over time since …
An international meet of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ( cites ) of wild flora and fauna, held recently in Nairobi with over 2,500 delegates from 150 countries attending saw Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe buckle under pressure from India and Kenya and agree to delay …
During one of the meetings of the World Water Commission, which recently submitted its report in The Hague to a bevy of water ministers, a member had strongly emphasised the need for educating politicians about the importance of water. I, however, found that argument incorrect because I have rarely met …
sectarian violence is passe. In keeping with the latest trends today, blood is being spilt over water - an inalienable right which can no longer be taken for granted. The daily news contains harrowing accounts of people facing the drought in Gujarat. With the worst days still ahead, the situation …
even in a scene which was as spectacular, chaotic and confusing as a circus, it was a lone, odd voice. While all the participants were harping on the water scarcity facing the world, a pamphlet doing the rounds at the Second World Water Forum, held at the Hague in the …
I t's official. Bill Clinton will not be coming to India to discuss the nuclear issue, or the Indo-Pak issue. Environment and energy will top his list of priorities. This may come as a surprise to Indian politicos, who consider this a 'soft agenda'. But Clinton will be addressing an …
CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY In force December 29, 1993, Ratified by 175 countries The convention The Convention on Biological Diversity ( cbd ) recognises the rights of countries on their genetic resources. It emphasises - the conservation of biodiversity - its sustainable use - fair and equitable sharing of benefits …
UN CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION In force from December 1996, Ratified by 145 countries The convention The persistence of countries from Africa, where two-thirds of the land area is either desert or dryland, led to the decision to adopt the Convention to Combat Desertification ( ccd ) at Rio in …
Ongoing negotiations on a legally binding instrument for international action on certain PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS Deadline for the treaty to be signed:2001 The negotiations National governments have now come together to negotiate a global treaty to control and eventually eliminate pop s from the environment. - European countries have been …
INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS ON FORESTS Intergovernmental Panel on Forests set up in 1995 Intergovernmental Forum on Forests set up in 1997 Forest diplomacy Forest trade, particularly of finished wood products, is dominated by a few Northern countries in both exports and imports. Their timber lobbies have prevailed upon their governments to …
INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT History of conflict - The world initiated a multilateral trading system with the establishment of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade ( gatt ) in 1946 to promote trade liberalisation. - The Uruguay Round, held between 1986 and 1994, led to the creation of …
THE MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT ON INVESTMENTS Attempted agreement The first suggestion for a multilateral agreement on investments came during the Uruguay Round in 1994. It was strongly opposed by Southern countries as it threatened to take away regulatory control over foreign investment. The eu made an unsuccessful attempt to introduce the …
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITY Established in October 1991, number of members: 165 The institution The World Bank designed the institutional structure for the Global Environmental Facility (gef ), initiated in 1990. The us made sure gef began on a temporary three-year term. With Australia and Canada, the us maintained that such …
EVOLVING INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE UN Reform to perform The un 's attempts to streamline its environment programme have been consistent. The results have not. The reform process began in 1992. It involved extensive reassembling and bringing all units dealing with economic and social matters under …
UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE In force from March 1994, ratified by 176 countries KYOTO PROTOCOL Signed by 84 countries, not yet in force A political process driven by climate scientists, which began in the mid-1980s, resulted in the Framework Convention on Climate Change ( fccc ), signed by …
The Supreme Court's contempt notice to the Delhi government for defying its earlier directive to shut down water-polluting industrial units has put senior bureaucrats in a fix. If they fail to obey the apex court's orders a jail term faces them and if they go against their political bosses they …
" this is a vital book. It will have far-reaching influence on Indian and global thinking. I am privileged in receiving it. I congratulate the Centre for Science and Environment (cse) and its director Anil Agarwal for bringing out this book and for sensitising the Indian government and the public …
at a meeting of international scientists and non-governmental organisations ( ngo s) at the Netherlands recently, a list of controversial issues related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( unfccc ) was put to vote, to prioritise discussions. The list contained a range of issues, from the …
When Union finance minister Yashwant Sinha said he would be presenting a harsh budget, very few thought it would be harsh on the environment. Today apart from the fiscal deficit, the biggest crisis facing India is the crisis on the environmental front. This budget has even shed the pretense of …
in an event hailed as a "major breakthrough" by Klaus Topfer, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme ( unep ), a liability protocol which offers monetary compensation to victims hurt in the process of handling toxic wastes came into being in December 1999. While it is the first …
