Established in 2010

Environmental Governance Regimes

Τhe 12th Special Session of UNEP’s Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum

March 15, 2012

Τhe 12th Special Session of UNEP’s Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GCSS-12 /GMEF) was held from 20 to 22 February 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya. Nearly 1000 participants from 150 countries, including ministers, representatives of UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, and industry attended the Session.

Ministerial consultations focused on the two central themes of Rio+20: a Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development. As Mr. Federico Ramos de Armas, Spain’s State Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and current President of the UNEP Governing Council, said that the Green Economy was viewed as a way to achieving sustainable development, poverty eradication and the creation of decent jobs “by increasing resource efficiency, supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production patterns and facilitating low-carbon development”.

With respect to International Environmental Governance, over 100 countries and the European Union have backed an upgrading of UNEP to a specialized agency of the UN as part of the Rio+20 outcomes. As Mr. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP and Under Secretary General of the UN, underlined: “The world’s ministers responsible for the environment have sent a clear signal to the Rio+20 Summit – namely that there needs to be an urgent focus on scaling up implementation of sustainable development and that bold, transformative decisions need to be taken in four months’ time in Brazil”.

The GCSS-12 /GMEF concluded with the adoption of two Decisions on “Consultative Process on Financing Options for Chemicals and Wastes” and on “Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination within Chemicals and Wastes Cluster”, as well as of a ten year programme “Work by the United Nations Environment Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production”.

Finally, the UNEP ministerial statement, issued on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, commits “to make Rio+20 a success and develop concrete actions to address the pressing environmental issues that we face as a global community within the context of sustainable development”.

Source: UNEP News Center, IISD Reporting Services
For further information:
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2667&ArticleID=9050&l=en
http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/gcss-12gmef-strives-for-climate-neutrality/
http://www.unep.org/gc/gcss-xii/

About the author

MEPIELAN Centre
Author's Website

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

Related artifacts

Environmental Governance Regimes
Global Landmark Framework on Chemicals Adopted to Achieve Sustainable Chemicals Management

Global Landmark Framework on Chemicals Adopted to Achieve Sustainable Chemicals Management

Convened from 25 to 29 September 2023 in Bonn, the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), organised by UNEP, formally adopted a new global framework for the sound management of chemicals and waste, the “Global Framework on Chemicals – For a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste.” Throughout the Conference, a unique but intense international negotiation process took place where delegates from States, intergovernmental organisations, industry, NGOs, indigenous people, youth, and academia equally joined forces to reach a positive outcome. Indeed, until the very last minute of the negotiations, the draft’s provisions on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, technology transfer “on mutually agreed terms,” and the polluter pays principle remained bracketed demonstrating the intricate function of international environmental negotiations.

Read more text

| Jan 22, 2024 | 6 min read

Environmental Governance Regimes
The Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development Holds its 20th Meeting in Marseille: The Region’s Transition Towards Sustainability

The Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development Holds its 20th Meeting in Marseille: The Region’s Transition Towards Sustainability

The 20th meeting of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) took place in Marseille (France) from 14 to 16 June 2023. The MCSD aims to assist the Contracting Parties in their efforts to integrate environmental issues in their socioeconomic programmes and to promote sustainable development policies in the Mediterranean region. Being unique in its composition, the Commission brings together government representatives, local authorities, socio-economic actors, non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, the scientific community and parliamentarians. All MCSD members participate in its meetings on an equal footing. Notably, the MEPIELAN Centre has been elected as Non-Contracting Party of the MCSD (2016-2019) and Member of its Steering Committee (2019-2021).

Read more text

| Jan 22, 2024 | 4 min read

Editorial Archives

MEPIELAN Activities Forum

Articles Archives

Opinions Archives

Documents & Cases Archives

Books Archives

All News Archives

Thematic News Archives

Member News Archives

Obituaries Archives

Editorial Archives

MEPIELAN Activities Forum

Articles Archives

Opinions Archives

Documents & Cases Archives

Books Archives

All News Archives

Thematic News Archives

Member News Archives

Obituaries Archives

About MEPIELAN eBulletin

MEPIELAN E-Bulletin is a digital academic and practitioner newsletter of the MEPIELAN Centre, launched in 2010.  It features insight articles, reflective opinions, specially selected documents and cases, book reviews as well as news on thematic topics of direct interest of MEPIELAN Centre and on the activities and role of MEPIELAN Centre. Its content bridges theory and practice perspectives of relational international law, international environmental law and participatory governance , and international negotiating process, thus serving the primary goal of Centre: to develop an integrated, inter-disciplinary, relational, context-related and sustainably effective governance approach creating, protecting and advancing international common interest for the present and future generations. Providing a knowledge- and information-sharing platform and a scholarly forum, the Bulletin promotes innovative ideas and enlightened critical views, contributing to a broader scholarly debate on important issues of international common interest. The audience of the Bulletin includes academics, practitioners, researchers, university students, international lawyers, officials and personnel of international organizations and institutional arrangements, heads and personnel of national authorities at all levels (national, regional and local), and members of the civil society at large.