March 2007
A monthly e-newsletter by UNEP/MAP
IN THIS ISSUE:
UNEP NEWS
MAP COMPONENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
and BARCELONA CONVENTION
An Alternative Energy Agenda For Africa
MEDPOL Phase IV Prepared In Mytilini
EU Ozone Pollution High Again In 2006
Africa must be bold and follow the examples of Brazil and
MEDPOL National Coordinators from the Member Countries
Summer smog in Europe was at its second worst level in a
Germany to plan an energy future around renewable and
of the Barcelona Convention held an extraordinary meeting
decade in 2006, according to a report issued by the European
alternative sources.
in Mytilini, Greece on the 26- 28 March to look at the specifi c
environment agency on Thursday.
operational tasks of the Med POL Phase IV Programme.
Global Ecotourism Conference To Take Place In
Our Climate, Our Actions, Our Future
Norway In May
Improved Water Policies Could Save 25% Of
Community-based action to address causes of climate
The co-organizers of the Global Conference on Ecotourism
Water By 2025
change will be the focus of an estimated 35 million people in
2007 announced the list of speakers and presenters for the
During the 3rd Regional Water Workshop convened by Blue
over 120 countries this year as part of one of the world's larg-
conference, which will be held in Oslo, Norway, May 14th
Plan, a UNEP/MAP regional activity centre, in Zaragoza, 19-21
est environmental campaigns Clean Up the World.
through the 16th.
March, it was recommended to the national political authori-
ties of the Mediterranean countries to include, in accordance
Steiger Award for UNEP ED Achim Steiner
to the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development
On 17 March, Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and (MSSD), water demand management in the national priority
UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, has
strategies.
been honoured as one of the recipients of the 2007 Steiger
Award.
Developing A Euro-Mediterranean Know-how
On Water Management
On the 5th March, MEDPOL joined a meeting of the Steering
Committee to develop a regional water observation mecha-
nism in the Mediterranean region.
INDEX
UNEP NEWS
AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AGENDA FOR
organizers.
Mr Steiner said: "I am delighted to have been
UNEP NEWS
AFRICA
Topics to be presented and discussed at the
among the winners of the Der Steiger award for 2007.
conference include:
It brings together so many individuals from the worlds
An alternative
Africa must be bold and follow the examples of
Local Partnerships for Community-Based
of politics, culture, sports and the entertainment. It is
energy agenda for
Brazil and Germany to plan an energy future around
Ecotourism
also recognition of our work in the United Nations on
Africa
renewable and alternative sources, said Achim
Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility
global environmental issues".
Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, at a development
in Travel & Tourism
This is the third year that the Der Steiger awards
Global Ecotourism
conference in Kenya on 22nd March.
Nature and Culture Interpretation as Key
have been made. In the past two years "THE STEIGER"
Conference to take
Many of the plans being considered by African
Components of Ecotourism
has been awarded to numerous national and
place in Norway in
governments, including huge hydropower dams and
Architecture & Landscaping in Ecotourism
international personalities like Prime Minister Shimon
May
fossil fuel plants, were simply "more of the same",
Ecotourism and its Impacts on Wildlife
Peres, Dr. Mohamed El-Baradei, Prime Minister Jean-
according to Steiner.
Co-hosted by UNESCO, the United Nations
Claude Juncker, Boris Becker, Maestro Josè Carreras,
Steiger Award for
Many would be able to supply the huge appetite
Foundation, and Counterpart International, and
Sabine Christiansen, Peter Maffay, H.I.M. Empress
UNEP ED Achim
of industry and city dwellers on the world's poorest
supported by key international organizations such
Farah Diba-Pahlavi of Iran, artist Otmar Alt, musician
Steiner
continent, he said, but they would "lock in" the rural
as IUCN, Environmental Defense, Rainforest Alliance,
Robin Gibb from the BEE GEES, actors Pierre Brice and
majority to decades without power.
National Geographic Society, PAN Parks Foundation
Friedrich von Thun, Claude Nobs, James Rizzi and the
"We should not live with the dream of a trickle-
and WWF, the conference will mark an important step
well-known German journalist Friedrich Nowottny.
down of energy supply (to villages) in 20 to 30 years
forward in reinforcing ecotourism's global brand.
www.der-steiger-award.de
time. Africa should not follow the technological path
www.ecotourismglobalconference.org
the rest of the world is willing to give it access to,"
Steiner said.
STEIGER AWARD FOR UNEP ED ACHIM
"More imagination, honesty and boldness to set an
STEINER
African agenda is what the continent is screaming for
today."
On 17 March, Achim Steiner, UN
Under-Secretary General and UN
GLOBAL ECOTOURISM CONFERENCE TO
Environment Programme (UNEP)
TAKE PLACE IN NORWAY IN MAY
Executive Director, has been
The co-organizers of the
honoured as one of the recipients
Global Conference on
of the 2007 Steiger Award. Mr
Ecotourism 2007 the
Steiner was awarded in the
International Ecotourism
category of the Environment for his
Society (TIES), Ecotourism
"commitment and important work
Norway and UNEP
for the protection of our planet".
announced the list of
He was joined by other winners
speakers and presenters for
in categories ranging from sports and music to
the conference, which will be held in Oslo, Norway,
journalism and politics, including H.E President Hamid
May 14th through the 16th.
Karzai of
With the support and participation of various
Afghanistan, Franz Beckenbauer, Wolfgang
intergovernmental organizations, UN agencies,
Niedecken, boy band US5, Peter Scholl-Latour and
international NGOs, governments, and national and
Hans Dietrich Genscher.
regional ecotourism associations, the conference
Der Steiger, which translates into English as `the
seeks to develop action plans on key issues including
miner', refl ects the coal mining roots of the North
biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation, and
Rhine Westphalian region of Germany where the prize
tourism industry reforms, according to conference
is held. The award refl ects the philosophy of straight-
forwardness, honesty, fairness and helpfulness.
INDEX
MAP COMPONENTS and BARCELONA CONVENTION
MAP
MEDPOL PHASE IV PREPARED IN MYTILINI
Mediterranean
sounder management of drinking water supply.
countries for
These global estimates are based on concrete
COMPONENTS
MEDPOL National Coordinators from the Member
instance are
experiences carried out in some countries, Tunisia
and
Countries of the Barcelona Convention held an
endowed with only and Morocco for instance . It is also crucial to take
BARCELONA
extraordinary meeting in Mytilini, Greece on the 26-
13% of the total
all necessary measures to raise the awareness of the
CONVENTION
28 March to look at the specifi c operational tasks of
water resources
public, by informing them of the challenges involved
the Med POL Phase IV Programme.
available.
and by identifying, and making use of good practices
MEDPOL Phase IV
The Contracting Parties had requested this process
The
current
concerning the maintenance of water distribution
prepared in Mytilini
during the Portoroz meeting in November 2005. The
national policies
systems, individual consumption of drinking water
main issues to be tackled were "the examination of
are mainly supply-
and its rational use in agriculture.
Improved water
the operational aspects of MED POL Phase IV, the
increase-driven,
Among the recommendations from the
policies could save
preparation of an information System and the draft
but in so-doing
Workshop, it was prompted the establishment of
25% of water by
elements that could form the basis for the legally-
they constantly
a Mediterranean Water Observatory which would
2025
binding text containing the measures and timetables
deteriorate natural
compile data information and good practices useful
for implementation required under Art. 15 of the LBS
resources, and
to Mediterranean stakeholders and decision makers.
Developing a Euro-
Protocol".
present severe risks Every two years, Blue Plan will also issue a report
Mediterranean
Since the Portoroz Meeting, the MED POL
in the long-term,
on progress accomplished in the Mediterranean, it
know-how on water Secretariat had been working on those issues with
such as the rapid depletion of some fossil resources,
will contribute to establish a compendium of good
management
the assistance of regional experts and presented the
the destruction of coastal aquifers through seawater
practices and will organise in 2012 the 4th Regional
fi nding and related documents in Mytilini.
intrusion, the degraded quality of water and aquatic
Workshop in Water Demand Management.
In particular one of the documents presented
systems, reduced fl ows and the drying-up of wetlands.
elaborates the principles, objectives and activities
Supply-based policies are therefore reaching physical,
DEVELOPING A EURO-MEDITERRANEAN
of the adopted MED POL Phase IV programme and
socio-economic and environmental limits in Algeria
KNOW-HOW ON WATER MANAGEMENT
describes the modalities of implementation. An
for instance some reservoirs have already lost 25% of
additional text was discussed, which identifi es the
their initial capacity.
On the 5th March, MEDPOL joined a meeting of the
elements to be used in the elaboration of the legally-
The 3rd Regional Water Workshop indicated
Steering Committee to develop a regional water
binding text for the SAP (Strategic Action Programme) that problems connected with water demand
observation mechanism in the Mediterranean
to address pollution from land-based activities.
management should also be properly integrated
region. The meeting was organised by the Euro-
The participants were also presented a draft
within the global environmental problems, such
Mediterranean Information System on Know-How in
Information System prepared by INFO/RAC combining as climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem
the Water Sector (EMWIS) and the Ministry of Ecology
all available pollution data. This system is currently
conservation, to which they are strongly related.
and Sustainable Development in France.
being reviewed and tested.
In addition it recommended to the national political The joint feasibility study is developed in
authorities to promote the implementation of water
cooperation by EUROstat, the EEA, MEDPOL and INFO/
IMPROVED WATER POLICIES COULD SAVE
demand management also by mobilising all necessary RAC.
25% OF WATER BY 2025
instruments and tools, normative, tariff, fi scal,
During the meeting, the participants reviewed the
contractual and market tools in the region.
fi rst phase of the feasibility study, which indicated
Policies aimed at improving effi ciency of use and
During the 3rd Regional Water Workshop convened
that water directors in the region fully support the
further reduce losses and poor usage can help to
by Blue Plan, a UNEP/MAP regional activity centre, in
initiative that would assist Mediterranean countries
invert the current trends. An improved water demand
Zaragoza, 19-21 March, it was recommended to the
to streamline and harmonise their national water
management would make it possible to save 25% of
national political authorities of the Mediterranean
resources databases and information systems.
water demand, approximately 86km3/year in 2025.
countries to include, in accordance to the Mediterranean
During the second phase, between March and
The improved management of irrigated agriculture
Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD), water
September 2007, four additional national pilot studies
could help save a total 65% of water demands, a
demand management in the national priority strategies
will be launched, as well as a web portal for the
further 22% can be expected from the industry
In the Mediterranean Region, water resources
information system, a catalogue of data sources and
through water recycling, and another 13% from a
are scarce and unevenly apportioned, the Southern
an interactive map of prototypes system.
INDEX
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
UNEP/MAP Key 2007 Dates
ENVIRONMENTAL
OUR CLIMATE, OUR ACTIONS, OUR FUTURE
NEWS
7-11 May
REMPEC Focal Points,
Community-based action to address
Malta
causes of climate change will be
EU ozone pollution
the focus of an estimated 35 million
high again in 2006
21-22 May
Reporting Meeting,
people in over 120 countries this year
Istanbul, Turkey
as part of one of the world's largest
Our climate, our
environmental campaigns Clean Up
actions, our future
23-25 May
Compliance Meeting,
the World.
Istanbul, Turkey
Clean Up the World, held in conjunction with the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
brings together businesses, community groups,
30-31 May
MCSD, Istanbul, Turkey
schools, governments and individuals in a range
EU OZONE POLLUTION HIGH AGAIN IN
of activities and programs that positively improve
2006
local environments. Since the fi rst Clean Up the
4-8 June
Joint meeting BP/PAP/INFO/RACs
Summer smog in Europe was at its second worst level
World campaign in 1993 the improvements achieved
Focal Points, Rome, Italy
in a decade in 2006, according to a report issued by
due to the efforts of millions of
the European environment agency on Thursday. In the concerned volunteers around the
5 June
World Environment Day Exhibition
last ten years ozone pollution has only been higher in
world have been astounding.
on climate change "Envisioning
2003.
In the lead up to World Water
Change",
As in past years, Mediterranean countries such as
Day on 22 March, organisers have
Oslo, Norway (until 20 August).
Italy, France and Spain experienced highest levels of
urged more communities to get involved in Clean
It will then travel to Brussels, Belgium and
ozone pollution.
Up the World to ensure a huge global effort on water
next year to Chicago, United States
The report notes that ozone pollution remains a
conservation and other climate change issues in 2007.
12-15 June
SPA/RAC Focal Points,
problem despite cuts in emissions of ozone precursors The Australia-based Chairman of Clean Up the
Rome, Italy
over the past decade. The phenomenon has been
World, Ian Kiernan said people involved in Clean
"substantially induced" by climatic variability, with hot
Up the World produce great benefi ts for their
26-28 June
MED POL Focal Points,
dry summers causing increased ozone levels, it says.
communities and the 2007 theme of "our climate, our
Tunis, Tunisia
The EU's alert threshold of 240 micrograms per
actions, our future" refl ects that when action is taken
cubic metre (ug/m3) was exceeded 190 times in
locally, the benefi ts spread globally.
2006, compared with 127 in 2005 and 99 in 2004.
"Clean Up the World is a practical and immediate
2-3 July
Bureau of the Contracting Parties,
However, this still pales in comparison with the 720
way to help reduce some of the causes of climate
Madrid, Spain
exceedances reported in 2003 linked to that summer's change. This is a challenge for our generation and the
damaging heatwave.
next. The environment must be a priority for all of us,"
September
publication of UNEP's 4th Global
In addition, the information threshold value of
said Mr Kiernan.
Environmental Outlook GEO4
180 ug/m3 was exceeded at 56 per cent of 2,000
"Members of Clean Up the World receive a range
monitoring stations in 2006, versus 42 per cent in
of support materials to help drive local projects and
16-19 October
MAP Focal Points,
2005 and 35 per cent in 2004. The highest recorded
assist with implementation of environmental activities
Madrid, Spain
ozone level was in Italy at 370 ug/m3.
in local communities."
The EU target value of 120 ug/m3 which member
"Anyone can participate. I urge you all to visit the
24-27 October
First International Conference on
states must try to reach by 2010 - was breached at
website, register and start making a difference to our
Marine Protected Area,
most stations. At 42 per cent of them there were more
environment," Mr Kiernan
France
than 25 exceedances of this value, up from 30 per cent
said.
in 2005.
www.cleanup.com.au
10-13 D
10-13 Dec
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Almeria, Spain
Almeria, Spain