Introduction to the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), Side Event, 11 June 2008, Third meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, Riga, Latvia
SAICM Secretariat, UNEP and UNITAR will hold a side-event on "Introduction to the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)".
Further information and the programme, please click visit UNITAR website at http://www.unitar.org/cwm/whats_new.html#saicm_latvia.
Side-event “UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers: Ready for take-off”
On 10 October 2007 the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), with the support of the Government of Switzerland organized a side-event “UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers: Ready for take-off” within the Sixth Ministerial Conference ‘Environment for Europe’ (Belgrade, 10-12 October 2007). National experts from Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Russian Federation, Serbia, and Switzerland and representatives of the Aarhus Convention Secretariat, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) discussed various aspects of implementation of registers under the Kiev Protocol on PRTRs and challenges to developing PRTRs. As a part of the discussion linkages between the Kiev Protocol and global and regional MEAs were highlighted.
For more information please contact the UNECE Aarhus Convention secretariat: e-mail: michael.stanley-jones@unece.org.
PRTR Awareness Raising Workshops
Over 45 participants from various government agencies, industry and NGOs attended the PRTR Awareness Raising Workshop that took place in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia on 10 -11 March 2007. The Workshop served as a stepping stone for the Project on Design of a National PRTR System to Strengthen National Capacities for the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention. In the following two years Armenia will design a pollutant release and transfer register that will be focused, but not restricted to, on the persistent organic pollutants. It is expected that the project outcomes will contribute towards implementation of the UNECE Protocol on PRTRs and demonstrate how PRTRs can be used a tool for the Stockholm Convention implementation. Methodological and technical support to the project is provided by UNITAR. The financial support was kindly provided by the Government of Switzerland.
Another PRTR Awareness Raising Workshop took place in Lomé, Togo on 21-22 March 2007 with the objective to introduce a PRTR concept to the participants and define the objectives of the National PRTR in Togo. The workshop’s conclusions will provide the starting point for an in-depth feasibility study. Togo is a leader in the PRTR development process in West Africa and its pilot experience will be shared with other African countries.
For more information please contact Ms Tatiana Terekova, email: tatiana.terekhova@unitar.org.
The PRTR Capacity-Building Matrix and Donor Invitation for PRTR Framework Programme on Capacity Building
The PRTR Capacity-Building Matrix and Donor Invitation for PRTR Framework Programme on Capacity Building are now available in the PRTR Virtual Classroom. To download these documents please log-in to the Virtual Classroom using your Username and Password and visit Document Section at the Open Forum.
UN Agencies, Belarus host SAICM Side Event Promoting Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers
As SAICM regional consultations focus on enabling actions, Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs) appear on the implementation horizon.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Government of Belarus co-hosted the side event, PRTRs in Action, as part of the Central and Eastern Europe regional meeting on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).
PRTRs in Action: Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers as a tool for SAICM and Multilateral Environmental Agreements implementation addressed how PRTRs can help with implementation of SAICM and Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Craig Boljkovac, UNITAR’s Deputy Coordinator of Programmes in Chemicals, Waste and Environmental Governance, chaired the session.
The side event took take on 5 December 2006, in the Conference Hall “Kampenhauzen”, Hotel Konventa seta.
For more information, see http://www.unece.org/env/pp/prtr/docs/PRTR_side_event_Riga.pdf or contact the UNECE Aarhus Convention secretariat: e-mail: michael.stanley-jones@unece.org or UNITAR: email: tatiana.terekhova@unitar.org
Updating the PRTR Virtual Classroom list of relevant links and library
The PRTR Virtual Classroom has undertaken some initial efforts to update the list of the PRTR related links. However this list may not be complete without your input. Please provide us with information about your organization/agency (including the name and website address) and we will post it on the PRTR Virtual Classroom.
Likewise, if your agency/organization has developed any documents on PRTRs (e. g. reports, publications, guidance, etc.), we will be pleased to post them in the PRTR Virtual Library. Please note that you need to enter your Username and Password to access the PRTR Virtual Library.
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
The second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will take place in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005. The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 endorsed the holding of the WSIS in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003. An accredited side event Capacity building for Electronic Information Tools and the Environment panel, organized by UNECE and UNEP will be held on 14 November 2005.
A new discussion Forum starts on March 14, 2005
A new discussion group "Strengthening Public Capacities in the EECCA region to Participate in the PRTR Process" (in Russian), commenced on Monday March 14 and will end on June 14, 2005. The discussion will mainly focus on raising public awareness, assessing public capacities to promote the PRTR Protocol and identifying techniques available to NGOs to allow them to participate in the PRTR process. If you wish to participate, please contact greenwomen@nursat.kz.
A new discussion Forum starts on December 10, 2004
A new discussion forum entitled: "PRTR Protocol Guidance Forum" starts on December 10, 2004 and finishes on February 28, 2005. This discussion Forum is intended to support the preparation of a draft guidance document for implementation of the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers. This guidance document will facilitate prospective Parties to interpret and fulfill their obligations under the PRTR Protocol. The Forum will focus primarily on technical questions related to preparation of the guidance document. It is not intended to serve as a drafting group.
Michael Stanley-Jones from UNECE will be moderating it. If you wish to participate or need more information, please contact Mr. Stanley-Jones at: Michael.Stanley-Jones@unece.org.
Select the topic to be discussed through the Virtual Classroom
All members of the Virtual Classroom are invited to nominate topics for furhter discussion about PRTR related issues. If you want to know more about some PRTR related subjects, nominate them for further discussion in September 2004. The nomination of Topics for Discussion Forums will take place from June 21 to July 2, 2004.
Participate in the Open Forum starting 24 May 2004
All members of the Virtual-Classroom are automatically registered for the Open Forum which starts on 24 May 2004 and is open ended. The Open Forum is the main "meeting place" of the Virtual Classroom. During its intial phase, the Open Forum provides an opportunity for all members to ask questions and provide comments about the Virtual-Classroom. Also, members can use the Open Forum to initiate specific Groups.
How to become a Participant in the Virtual Classroom
All participants that had already registered for the pre-phase of the Virtual-Classroom have been automatically registered for the Virtual-Classroom pilot phase in 2004, but will be asked to update their Profile. All newly interested participants would need to reqister to become a member of the Virtual Classroom. Please fill out the online form. You will then receive your Username and Password via email.
Virtual Classroom on PRTRs Launched on May 3rd 2004
The Virtual Classroom on PRTR was launched on May 3rd 2004 at the occasion of the Meeting of the Working Group of the Aarhus Convention which took place from May 3rd until May 4th in Geneva. The Virtual Classroom aims to assist countries interested in developing national PRTR systems to learn about the activities and experiences of other countries and organizations related to PRTR development and implementation.
The Virtual Classroom is open to participants from all countries in the world. The Pilot Phase of the Virtual Classroom which will last until the end of 2004 has kindly been supported by the Government of the Netherlands.
