Mr.
Surendra Shrestha, UNEP Regional
Director, led a UNEP Mission
to DPR Korea, 26 -31 June. Consultations
were held with senior officials
from the National Coordination
Committee on Environment and
the Ministry of Land and Environment
Protection. Discussions focused
on the UNEP Framework Agreement
with DPR Korea including Trust
Fund, Regional Cooperation and
priority projects in the environment
sector. The mission also participated
in a workshop on mainstreaming
environment in the overall national
development plan. The Planning
Commission, Finance Ministry,
Environment Ministry and 10
other agencies and institutions
participated and provided inputs.
The Workshop agreed to work
together towards preparation
of the National Sustainable
Development Strategy (NSDS).
Final programme of the Mission
were meetings with the UN Resident
Coordinator and senior officers
from UNDP to discuss possible
areas of cooperation. Mr. Purna
Chandra Lall Rajbhandari, Senior
Program officer at RRC provided
support during the Mission.
Third Session
of the Working Group on Future
Development (WGFD3) of EANET
The Third Session of the Working
Group on Future Development (WGFD3)
of the Acid Deposition Monitoring
Network in East Asia (EANET) was
held in AIT, Thailand, 17-18 May.
Representatives from Cambodia,
China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR,
Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Republic of Korea, Russia, Thailand,
and Viet Nam participated in the
Session. Representatives from
the EANET Secretariat and Network
Center, and an expert from the
United Nations University Institute
of Advanced Studies also attended.
Mr. Mylvakanam Iyngararasan of
RRC represented UNEP in the Session
and delivered the Opening Remarks.
The Secretariat made presentations
on the following: 1) Revision
of the Terms of Reference of
the Working Group on Future
Development; 2) Draft Components
of the Instrument to Provide
a Sound Basis for Contribution
to EANET; 3) Draft Report on
review of the RRC.AP/AIT system
to examine the possibility for
the Secretariat to move to the
UN system; 4) Revision of Procedures
and Guidelines for Contribution
to EANET to propose appropriate
mechanism on voluntary financial
contributions; and 5) Report
on Establishment of a Trust
Fund for EANET. The Session
discussed the above reports
and the Five-Year Medium Term
Plan for EANET as presented
by the Network Center.
TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS
Malé Declaration
emission inventory preparation,
scenarios and atmospheric transport
modeling workshop
A
training workshop on emission
inventory preparation, scenarios
generation, atmospheric transport
modeling, and integrated information
and assessment modeling (IIAM)
was conducted at UNEP RRCAP,
3 - 8 July. The training aimed
to build capacity in eight Malé
Declaration countries for studying
the air pollution issues especially
transboundary transport of air
pollutants, its potential impacts,
and consequently enablingthe
participants to design science-based,
integrated policy options to
mitigate the adverse effects
of air pollution. Participants
included representatives from:
8 Malé Declaration countries
(Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka), SEI, IIIEE, SMHI,
and UNEP. Mr. Mylvakanam Iyngararasan,
Ms. Naw Wah Wah Htoo, Mr. Jacob
Kurian, Ms. Pwint Phyu Aung
and Dr. Maheswar Rupakheti of
RRC participated in the training
workshop.
Thailand
Inception Workshop on National
Sustainable Development Strategy
(NSDS)
A
workshop with 62 government, international
organization, NGO and business
representatives was held at the
Royal Princess Hotel in Bangkok,
Thailand,12 July, to discuss and
develop an outline for the National
Sustainable Development Strategy
(NSDS). The objectives of the
meeting were to: (1) provide an
overview of NSDS objectives, approaches,
and challenges; (2) take stock
of the progress in Thailand's
national sustainable development
agenda; (3) review and provide
feedback on a draft outline of
the NSDS for Thailand; and (4)
discuss and develop consensus
on the implementation plan for
preparing the NSDS. Mr. Surendra
Shrestha, UNEP Regional Director,
delivered theinaugural speech.
Dr. Subrato Sinha and Dr Yuwaree
Inna of UNEP ROAP and Dr. Aida
Karazhanova of RRC participated
at the workshop and made presentations
on the various aspects of NSDS.
The workshop was hosted by the
Thailand Environment Insitute
(TEI) and the National Economic
and Social Development Board (NESDB).
The Participants expressed their
constructive comments and the
vision on the draft outline of
the NSDS for Thailand as reference
to the next consultation meeting.
Republic
of Kazakhstan: Formation of Institutional
Basis for Sustainable Development
A
workshop with 50 government,
international organization,
NGO and business representatives
was held in Astana, Kazakhstan,
22-23 June, to discuss the development
of a National Sustainable Development
Strategy (NSDS). H.E. Minister
Dr. Nurlan Iskakov and Deputy
Minister Mr. Alzhan Braliyev,
Ministry of Environmental Protection,
chaired the 2-day workshop.
The objective of the workshop
was to discuss the main issues
of sustainable development concept
in Kazakhstan in order to: a)
learn the international experience
on the National Councils for
Sustainable Development and
on the preparation of NSDS;
and b) discuss the methodology
of the development, structure,
contents and main priorities
of NSDS (Kazakhstani Agenda
21). Based on existing long
term development strategies
and national priorities identified
in the Address of the President
to the nation, the Minister
presented quantitative goals
to be achieved in environment,
social and economy sectors by
the target years. The Minister
emphasized quality of life as
major goal of Sustainable Development
and the need for ecosystem approach
(8 river basin ecosystem) in
addition to administrative territorial
approach. Dr. Subrato Sinha
and Ms. Saule Yessimova from
UNEP ROAP and Dr. Aida Karazhanova
from UNEP RRC participated at
the workshop and made presentations
on the various aspects of NSDS.
In relation to this, a meeting
of the Kazakhstan Council on
Sustainable Development (CSD),
chaired by the Prime-Minister,
was held to finalise the Draft
Concept on Transition of Kazakhstan
for Sustainable Development
(Kazakhstani Agenda 21), Astana,
29 June. Members of the CSD
and invited participants accepted
the concept positively and discussed
a number of issues on methodology,
indicators, and the difference
on competitiveness and sustainable
development. It has been agreed
that comments would be forwarded
to the Ministry of Environment
in one month. The group of national
experts supported by the Government,
UNEP and UNDP will revise the
draft based on the UNEP guidelines.
The final Concept on Sustainable
Development will be submitted
during the 3rd CSD Meeting scheduled
in November 2006. Dr. Aida Karazhanova
from RRC represented UNEP in
the meeting.
Awareness
Seminar on Acid Deposition Monitoring
and Management, Philippines
The National Public
Awareness Seminar/Workshop on
Acid Deposition Monitoring and
Management was held in Camelot
Hotel, Quezon City, Philippines,
6-7 June. Participants included
representatives from the government,
private sector, NGO, academe,
and media. The Environmental Management
Bureau (EMB) organized and facilitated
the Seminar/Workshop. Ms. Adelaida
B. Roman, Programme Officer, EANET
Secretariat/RRC, presented the
Report for Policy Makers. The
two main outputs from the workshop
were: a) review of draft Filipino-version
of the Report for Policy Makers;
and b) Action Planning and Commitments
for awareness on acid deposition.
Inception
workshop for preparation of Bhutan
Environment Outlook 2006 Report
A 2-day
inception workshop on the preparation
of the Bhutan Environment Outlook
(BEO) report was jointly organized
by the National Environment commission
(NEC) and UNEP in Namsey Choling
Resort, Paro, Bhutan, 27 -28 April.
The objective of the workshop
was to discuss the methodology
and indicators needed to analyse
the national environmental issues
towards the preparation of the
BEO. Mr. Sonam Yangely, NEC Director,
gave the opening speech on behalf
of HE Mr. Daso Nado Rinchen, NEC
Deputy Minister. Participants
included senior representatives
from various government agencies
and the UNDP. By the end of the
training session, a tentative
draft BEO outline prepared by
NEC was discussed. The major environmental
issues discussed include: population
growth; land; air pollution; water
resources and pollution; waste
generation and disposal; climate
change; and biodiversity and natural
heritage. Mr.Jinhua Zhang , Acting
Regional Coordinator, and Mr.P.
L. Rajbhandari, Senior Program
Officer, of RRC participated in
the workshop.
Bhutan
Inception Workshop on National
Sustainable Development Strategy
(NSDS)
The Bhutan Inception
Workshop on National Sustainable
Development Strategy (NSDS) was
held at the Namsay Choling Hotel
in Paro, Bhutan, 25-26 April.
Participants included senior representatives
from the government, international
organizations, NGO and business
sector. The objectives of the
meeting were: a) to provide an
overview of NSDS objectives, approaches,
and challenges; b) to take stock
of the progress on Bhutan's national
sustainable development agenda;
c) to develop an outline on vision,
goals, objectives and targets,
and means for implementation of
NSDS programme; and d) to discuss
an institutional mechanism for
implementation of NSDS in Bhutan.
Presentations included: a) 10th
Five Year Plan and Sustainable
Development by Mr. Tenzin Wangmo,
Planning Commission; b) State
of the Environment and Developments
in Environmental Policy in Bhutan
by Ms. Sonam Lhaden, National
Environment Commission (NEC);
and c) Options for the Preparation
of a Sustainable Development Strategy
for Bhutan by Mr. Ugen Tenzin,
NEC. Dr. Subrato Sinha from UNEP
ROAP and Dr. Aida Karazhanova
of RRC facilitated the workshop.
A session was held on the second
day to discuss and develop agreement
on the best option for implementing
NSDS programme. Small group discussions
to develop the draft NSDS outline
were also initiated.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New
Staff
On April 18, the Institute
for Global Environmental Strategies
(IGES) has appointed Dr. Peter
N. King as the new Representative
for the IGES Project Office in
Bangkok based at RRC. Dr. Peter
King replaces Ms. Taeko Takahashi
who has completed her term and
was stationed back to IGES Headquarters.
Major activities of the IGES Bangkok
office includes the Greater Mekong
Subregion (GMS) and Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic Cooperation
(BIMSTEC) projects. Contact at
(66-2) 524-6440.
Champions
of the Earth
UNEP is seeking nominations
for its annual 'Champions of the
Earth' award, which recognizes
prominent and inspirational environmental
leaders from each region of the
world. More information at
Student
Assistants and Interns (Contact
at +66-2-5246442)
Ms.
Liu Wenman from the National University
Singapore joined theEarly Warning
Component as anintern,1 May -
5 Aug. Mr.Utsav Maden from Nepal
is an intern under the Tunza -South
Asia Youth Environment Network
(SAYEN) programme. Utsav worked
assisted with the e-KH programme,
1 May - 30 Aug. Mr. Matthew Szelag
is an intern from University of
Washington, Seattle. He is assisting
the NSDS programme, 26 June -
15 Sept.
For the period May-Aug, 3 students
from the Asian Institute of
Technology (AIT) assisted in
various projects of RRC: Mr.
Brahmanage Upul Kaluhetti, Mr.
Arvind Kumar and Mr. Ilkhom
Nazarov.
Copyright
© 2013 RRC.AP | Top
of page 
Mr.
Surendra Shrestha, UNEP Regional
Director, led a UNEP Mission
to DPR Korea, 26 -31 June. Consultations
were held with senior officials
from the National Coordination
Committee on Environment and
the Ministry of Land and Environment
Protection. Discussions focused
on the UNEP Framework Agreement
with DPR Korea including Trust
Fund, Regional Cooperation and
priority projects in the environment
sector. The mission also participated
in a workshop on mainstreaming
environment in the overall national
development plan. The Planning
Commission, Finance Ministry,
Environment Ministry and 10
other agencies and institutions
participated and provided inputs.
The Workshop agreed to work
together towards preparation
of the National Sustainable
Development Strategy (NSDS).
Final programme of the Mission
were meetings with the UN Resident
Coordinator and senior officers
from UNDP to discuss possible
areas of cooperation. Mr. Purna
Chandra Lall Rajbhandari, Senior
Program officer at RRC provided
support during the Mission.
A
training workshop on emission
inventory preparation, scenarios
generation, atmospheric transport
modeling, and integrated information
and assessment modeling (IIAM)
was conducted at UNEP RRCAP,
3 - 8 July. The training aimed
to build capacity in eight Malé
Declaration countries for studying
the air pollution issues especially
transboundary transport of air
pollutants, its potential impacts,
and consequently enablingthe
participants to design science-based,
integrated policy options to
mitigate the adverse effects
of air pollution. Participants
included representatives from:
8 Malé Declaration countries
(Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka), SEI, IIIEE, SMHI,
and UNEP. Mr. Mylvakanam Iyngararasan,
Ms. Naw Wah Wah Htoo, Mr. Jacob
Kurian, Ms. Pwint Phyu Aung
and Dr. Maheswar Rupakheti of
RRC participated in the training
workshop.
A
workshop with 62 government, international
organization, NGO and business
representatives was held at the
Royal Princess Hotel in Bangkok,
Thailand,12 July, to discuss and
develop an outline for the National
Sustainable Development Strategy
(NSDS). The objectives of the
meeting were to: (1) provide an
overview of NSDS objectives, approaches,
and challenges; (2) take stock
of the progress in Thailand's
national sustainable development
agenda; (3) review and provide
feedback on a draft outline of
the NSDS for Thailand; and (4)
discuss and develop consensus
on the implementation plan for
preparing the NSDS. Mr. Surendra
Shrestha, UNEP Regional Director,
delivered theinaugural speech.
Dr. Subrato Sinha and Dr Yuwaree
Inna of UNEP ROAP and Dr. Aida
Karazhanova of RRC participated
at the workshop and made presentations
on the various aspects of NSDS.
The workshop was hosted by the
Thailand Environment Insitute
(TEI) and the National Economic
and Social Development Board (NESDB).
The Participants expressed their
constructive comments and the
vision on the draft outline of
the NSDS for Thailand as reference
to the next consultation meeting.
A
workshop with 50 government,
international organization,
NGO and business representatives
was held in Astana, Kazakhstan,
22-23 June, to discuss the development
of a National Sustainable Development
Strategy (NSDS). H.E. Minister
Dr. Nurlan Iskakov and Deputy
Minister Mr. Alzhan Braliyev,
Ministry of Environmental Protection,
chaired the 2-day workshop.
The objective of the workshop
was to discuss the main issues
of sustainable development concept
in Kazakhstan in order to: a)
learn the international experience
on the National Councils for
Sustainable Development and
on the preparation of NSDS;
and b) discuss the methodology
of the development, structure,
contents and main priorities
of NSDS (Kazakhstani Agenda
21). Based on existing long
term development strategies
and national priorities identified
in the Address of the President
to the nation, the Minister
presented quantitative goals
to be achieved in environment,
social and economy sectors by
the target years. The Minister
emphasized quality of life as
major goal of Sustainable Development
and the need for ecosystem approach
(8 river basin ecosystem) in
addition to administrative territorial
approach. Dr. Subrato Sinha
and Ms. Saule Yessimova from
UNEP ROAP and Dr. Aida Karazhanova
from UNEP RRC participated at
the workshop and made presentations
on the various aspects of NSDS.
Ms.
Liu Wenman from the National University
Singapore joined theEarly Warning
Component as anintern,1 May -
5 Aug. Mr.Utsav Maden from Nepal
is an intern under the Tunza -South
Asia Youth Environment Network
(SAYEN) programme. Utsav worked
assisted with the e-KH programme,
1 May - 30 Aug. Mr. Matthew Szelag
is an intern from University of
Washington, Seattle. He is assisting
the NSDS programme, 26 June -
15 Sept.