The Global Authority on the Environment

SIDS Environment Outlook Partners’ Meeting

Annual GEO Statement

Commonwealth Secretariat, London

12-13 June, 2003

The Global Authority on the Environment

UNEP Global Environment Outlook Process

&

Africa SIDS Environment Outlook

BPoA+10 Regional Preparatory Meeting for Africa

Cape Verde

1-5 September, 2003

Presenter: S. Heileman

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t Launched by UNEP in 1995 in response to the reporting requirements of Agenda 21, and UNEP GC decision for production of a global environmental assessment report

2 components:

- a global environmental assessment process (the GEO Process) that also aims to strengthen capacity in the regions

- GEO outputs: a series of reports on the state of the global and regional environment, and

associated products

The Global Environment Outlook ProjectThe Global Environment Outlook Project

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GEO ThemesGEO Themes

Atmosphere Land Forests Biodiversity Freshwater Coastal & marine areas Urban areas

Cross-cutting issues:

Human health & environment Natural disasters

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Key questions addressed by GEO….

What are the major regional & global environmental problems (current and emerging) ?

What are the major demographic, social, & economic driving forces behind these problems & trends?

Where are we heading if we do ‘business as usual’?

Where do we want to be heading?

What is being done to address environmental concerns?

What can be done in the future to move forward on the path of sustainable development ?

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Some GEO AttributesSome GEO Attributes

Consultative, participatory, cross-sectoral process

Global, regional & multi-stakeholder perspectives

Based on sound data, information, science

Integrates state of environment with policy perspective

Pressure-state-impact-response framework

Provides early warning

Oriented towards sustainable development

Action-oriented

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Collaborating Centre network:analysis of scientific

environmental assessment and policy responses

The GEO ProcessThe GEO Process

Regional consultationson environmental assessment

findings and policy implications

Supported byInternational Working Groups

(data, models, scenarios, policy)Input by UN Organisations through

UN Systemwide Earthwatch

Co-ordination of Global Environment Outlook process

(UNEP)

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GEO PartnersGEO Partners

GEO PROCESSFOR GLOBAL

ENVIRONMENTALASSESSMENT

UNEP CO-ORDINATION

GOVERNMENT POLICY MAKERS

NGO AND SCIENCE COMMUNITIES

GEO WORKING GROUPS(data, modeling, scenario, policy)

GEO COLLABORATING CENTRES

GEO ASSOCIATED CENTRES

DATA BANKS/OTHER RESOURCES

UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATIONS

Policy insight

specialized inputs

methodology

specialized andregional perspectives

specialized inputs

substantive data and information

substantive data and information

PRODUCTS

capacity building

and training

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GEO Collaborating NetworkGEO Collaborating Network

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NESDA

ADIE

IMERCSAIOC

AEO Collaborating Centres network

CT+E

Center for Environment and DevelopmentCenter for Environment and DevelopmentIn the Arab Region and EuropeIn the Arab Region and Europe

Network for Environment andNetwork for Environment and Sustainable Development in AfricaSustainable Development in Africa

Association pour le DeveloppementAssociation pour le Developpement de l’Information Environnementalede l’Information Environnementale

Musokotwane Environment Resource Musokotwane Environment Resource Center for Southern AfricaCenter for Southern Africa

Indian Ocean CommissionIndian Ocean Commission

Core Team & Sectoral Core Team & Sectoral ExpertsExperts

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Global GEO productsGlobal GEO products

Global Environment Outlook GEO-1 (1997)

Global Environment Outlook 2000

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Global GEO productsGlobal GEO products

GEO-3 was launched for GEO-3 was launched for WSSD 2002WSSD 2002

Contents:Contents:

• IntroductionIntroduction

• State of Environment and State of Environment and Policy Retrospective 1972-Policy Retrospective 1972-20022002

• Outlook 2002-2032Outlook 2002-2032

• Synthesis and ActionSynthesis and Action

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Annual GEO StatementAnnual GEO Statement

UNEP Governing Council Decision 22/1/IB (2003) calls for:

“annual global environment outlook statements on the environment, inter alia, highlighting significant environmental events and achievements during the year and raise awareness of emerging issues from scientific research and other sources”

SIDS environment to be highlighted in 2004 Statement

MandateMandate

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Regional GEO ProductsRegional GEO Products

Africa Environment

Outlook (2002)

W. Indian Ocean W. Indian Ocean Environment Outlook Environment Outlook (1999)(1999)

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Further information on GEOFurther information on GEO

http://www.unep.org/geo/http://www.unep.org/geo/

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SIDS Environment Outlook BookletsSIDS Environment Outlook Booklets

SCOPE

Africa (Cape Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Principe, Reunion,

Sao Tome, Seychelles …..)

Caribbean

Pacific Islands

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SIDS Environment Outlook BookletsSIDS Environment Outlook Booklets

Highlight the state of the environment in SIDS regions, showing trends of national, regional and global significance

Provide policy guidance and early warning information on environmental threats

Produce materials to feed into national and regional processes leading up to Barbados +10 meeting

Help to catalyse and promote international cooperation and action based on the best scientific and technical capabilities available

ObjectivesObjectives

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SIDS Environment Outlook BookletsSIDS Environment Outlook Booklets

ISSUES TO HIGHLIGHT

the pressures, impacts and policy responses critical to SIDS for sustainable management of fisheries, coastal areas and exclusive economic zones and the continental shelf

the development of community-based initiatives on sustainable tourism

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SIDS Environment Outlook Booklets SIDS Environment Outlook Booklets

ISSUES TO HIGHLIGHT

measures to help SIDS effectively control waste and pollution, and their health-related impacts

efforts to build capacity for maintaining and managing systems to deliver water and sanitation services, in both rural and urban areas

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SIDS Environment Outlook Booklets SIDS Environment Outlook Booklets

ISSUES TO HIGHLIGHT

issues related to the adverse effects of climate change, sea level rise and climate variability

environmental policy measures aimed at poverty alleviation

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African SIDS Priority IssuesAfrican SIDS Priority Issues

(W. Indian Ocean Islands EO 1999)

Climate change Degradation of coral reefs Loss of coastal habitats and biodiversity Decreasing harvests of marine and coastal living

resources Coastal erosion Coastal and marine protected areas Coastal pollution Waste management & sanitation Freshwater shortages and contamination Ecotoxicology Renewable energy

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Booklet OutlineBooklet Outline

Section I : The Environment and Sustainable

Development in African SIDS 1972 –2003 Timeline of main events (Stockholm, Rio, Barbados 1994,

Barbados +5, WSSD, Barbados +10) SOE issues and sustainable development implications Threats and drivers Impacts (socio-economic, environmental) Responses (include case studies at national, regional and

international levels; not necessarily from SIDS) Scenario development exercise for each of the regions Focus on vulnerability and impacts, outlook, scenarios (related

to SIDS) Development implications, key messages

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Booklet OutlineBooklet Outline

Section II: Policy Analysis 1972 –2003

Assessment of:

Policy responses to issues at the national, regional & global

levels

Regional and international efforts to support policy development

and implementation

(Best and worst practices; use case studies; emphasize key

messages)

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Booklet OutlineBooklet Outline

Section III: Options for Consideration Identification and discussion of policy options and other types of potential interventions for the future which might be national, regional and global in nature and include suggested practices and innovative possibilities

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SIDS Environment Outlook ProcessSIDS Environment Outlook Process

Regional Level Research and draft contents

Review of draft material by experts and stakeholders at national, regional and global levels

Make draft material available to regional preparatory meetings of the Barbados +10 process

Incorporate inputs from regional preparatory meetings of the Barbados +10 process

Revise and finalize draft material

Translation into appropriate languages

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Proposed timelineProposed timeline2003June: Inception MeetingJuly –Aug: Development of expanded outline, researchSept –Oct: Preparation of 1st draft Nov: Technical review of 1st draft Nov – Dec: Preparation of 2nd draft and review

2004Jan: Distribution of 2nd draft at Inter-regional

Preparatory Meeting of the International Meeting of the SIDS (Barbados +10) in Nassau

Feb: Incorporation of feedback from countries into 2nd

draft to produce final draftMar – Jul: Translating, editing, designing and printing Aug: Launch and distribution at Barbados +10

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THANK YOUTHANK YOU