Search

The article states that the United Nations (UN) suspended the work of the Oslo, Norway based company Det Norske Veritas, the main company that validates carbon-offset projects in developing countries. This development arose at international climate talks that took place in Poland in 2008. The company has validated and certified almost half of the projects approved beneath the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Discusses the amount awarded for biodiversity projects in 1996 by the United Nations Global Environment Facility (GEF). Comparison with the giving in previous years; Comments from Mario A. Ramos, a senior environmental specialist; The tensions between the GEF and the biodiversity convention; The contentious areas.

The article reports on the move of the United Nations (UN) to form the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). It says that the IPBES, which will operate similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is a UN body that will monitor the global ecology. Moreover, the body will conduct periodic assessments of the biodiversity of the earth and its ecosystem services including fresh water, fish, and a stable climate.

Discusses decisions made at the United Nations (UN) biodiversity convention held in Bratislava, Slovakia, in May, 1998. Plans to set up expert panels on marine biodiversity and inland water biodiversity; Writing of guidelines for bioprospecting; Panels not totally independent; Plans to strengthen body of government-appointed scientists; Budget approval; Need for consensus of parties at UN conventions; Intellectual property rights.

Discusses issues related to the December, 1997 United Nations climate convention at Kyoto, Japan. Goal of a new legally binding treaty to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions; Key issue of willingness of governments to set aside differences; Perspectives of various governments; Japan's consensual approach; Developing-country participation; Idea of per-capita emissions.

Focuses on the plans surrounding the five year anniversary of the Earth Summit that took place in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The event planned for March 1997 called RIO+5; Comments from Maurice Strong, the secretary-general of the Earth Summit; The track records of developed countries in terms of their environmental programs in 1997.

Reports on the first United Nations summit on solar energy which began on September 16, 1996. The purpose of the summit; The low attendance of heads of state.

Reports on the call for the panel of scientific advisers to the United Nations (UN) biodiversity convention to restrict their advice to scientific issues. The call coming from the chairman Peter Schei; Complaints that members of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) were using the convention as a political forum; The origins of the biodiversity convention and its participants; The purpose of the SBSTTA.