The 2023 Annual Meeting of Aarhus Centres, organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in close collaboration with the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan was was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and virtually on 17 and 18 October 2023.
The meeting was attended by more than 70 representatives of Aarhus Centres, national authorities, non-governmental organisations, international organisations and OSCE field operations. The MEPIELAN Centre was formally invited by the OSCE to participate as an observer in view of its ongoing initiative to establish an Aarhus Centre in Greece.
The annual meeting aims at fostering discussions and enhancing the engagement of Aarhus Centres in advancing effective environmental governance across diverse domains The primary focus of the meeting was the role of Aarhus Centres in promoting public participation in environmental decision-making, promoting the principles of green, and managing hazardous and toxic wastes. It aimed to foster discussions and enhance the engagement of Aarhus Centres in advancing effective environmental governance across diverse domains.
At the Opening Session, Ms. Sylvie Goyet, Deputy Co-ordinator / Head of Environmental Activities at the OSCE, affirmed that the OSCE recognizes the significant contribution of Aarhus Centres in engaging citizens, governments and the private sector in a constructive dialogue on environmental matters and on sustainable development. Dr. Marco Keiner, Director of the Environment Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, underlined that the work of the Aarhus Centres remains as relevant as ever and that their role has become increasingly crucial in promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, and restoring trust. This is of particular importance in light of recent democratic backsliding and increased social and political polarizations in several countries.
Following the positive experience of last year’s edition, the 2023 Aarhus Centres Annual Meeting represented an effective opportunity to conduct a capacity-building session on “Digital Communication and Visibility Strategies”, with the goal of strengthening skills in communicating, presenting and make visible the work of the Aarhus Centres to a national and international audience.
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MEPIELAN Centre
MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.
Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.
MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).
On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable
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MEPIELAN Centre#molongui-disabled-link
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MEPIELAN Centre#molongui-disabled-link
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MEPIELAN Centre#molongui-disabled-link
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MEPIELAN Centre#molongui-disabled-link