Espoo, Finland
2-4 July 2003

Background

Two workshops were organized by the secretariat in response to a mandate by COP 6, and a mandate by SBSTA 17. Participants discussed ways to increase the effectiveness of activities with other conventions and multilateral agreements. International organizations presented their approach to promoting synergy between conventions. Representatives from Parties briefed participants on their national experiences on cooperation between conventions. Participants highlighted the importance of avoiding duplication of work and promoting cost-effectiveness, coherence and complementarity of the objectives of different conventions.

Report of the workshops

Agenda     

List of Participants 

ENB summary report

SBI workshop on possible synergies and joint action with the other Multilateral Environmental Conventions and Agreements

Different approaches to addressing synergies among MEAs

Presenter	Organization	Subject
Mr. Vijay Samnotra	UNEP	UNEP Opening statement (95 kB)
Mr. Khalid Husain	UNDP	UNDP’s Climate Change Activities: Synergies between Environmental Conventions (674 kB)
Mr. Avani Vaish	GEF	GEF approach to synergistic action on global environment issues (82 kB)
Mr. Jerry Velasquez	UNU	The UNU Inter-linkages Initiative (150 kB)
Ms. Annie Roncerel	UNITAR	Legal and Institutional Prescriptions for the Implementation of the 3 Rio Conventions (393 kB)
Ms. Maria Socorro Manguiat	IUCN	The IUCN Approach to Synergies and Cooperation between Conventions: A Sampler (92 kB)
Mr. Nick Davidson	Ramsar Convention on Wetlands	The Ramsar Convention and Synergies with other Conventions (2117 kB)
Mr. Carlos Corvalan	WHO	Global Environmental Change and Human Health: Biodiversity, Climate and Desertification (37 kB)

Biological diversity perspectives

Presenter	Organization	Subject
Mr. David Cooper	CBD	Biological Diversity Perspectives (1073 kB)

Desertification perspectives

Presenter	Organization	Subject
Mr. Gregoire de Kalbermatten	UNCCD	Promoting Synergies at National Level - the UNCCD Experience ( presentation (71 kB) and statement (136 kB) )

SBSTA workshop on cooperation with other conventions

Presentations by participants on national experiences

Presenter	Party	Subject
Mr. Suhel al-Janabi	Germany	Global Environmental Conventions - Synergies and Coordination in German Technical Cooperation (729 kB)
Ms. Virginia Sena	Uruguay	Uruguay’s Efforts to address Synergies among the Conventions (73 kB)
Ms. Gisela Alonso Dominguez	Cuba	Cuba's National Experience with Synergies (347 kB)
Ms. Outi Berghall	Finland	National Efforts to Increase Cooperation and Synergies between MEAs in Finland (103 kB)
Mr. Rawson Piniel Yonazi	Tanzania	Addressing National-level Synergies: Tanzania´s Experience (60 kB)
Mr. Tibor Faragó and Ms. Dora Kulauzov	Hungary	Reinforcing the Synergies of the Rio Conventions (94 kB)

Panel discussions on cross-cutting areas under the three Rio conventions

Presenter	Organization	Subject
Mr. Jerry Velasquez	UNU	Technology Transfer, Education and Outreach and Capacity Development (234 kB)
Mr. Vijay Samnotra	UNEP	Harmonization of Information Management and Reporting for Biodiversity - Related Treaties (126 kB)
Mr. Avani Vaish	GEF	Impacts and Adaptation - GEF’s Evolving Approach (86 kB)
Mr. William Westermeyer	GCOS Secretariat	Research and systematic observation: Global Climate Observing System (200 kB)

Background documents

• Cross-cutting thematic areas and activities under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Convention on Biological Diversity and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Information Note)

• OECD DAC Guidelines for Integrating the Rio Conventions into Development Co-operation

• Interlinkages Between Biological Diversity and Climate Change and Advice on the Integration of Biodiversity Considerations Into the Implementation of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol ( Report (71 kB) )

• Minutes of the fourth meeting of the Joint Liaison Group (19 kB)

• UNU Newsletter (819 kB)