The 9th Governing Council Special Session/Global Ministerial Environment Forum 2006 (GCSS/GMEF) meetings attended by nearly 160 countries including around 125 environment ministers, the largest gathering of its kind in the Arab world, came to a successful conclusion in Dubai today.
At the inauguration of the main meetings of the forum, the third cycle of Zayed International Prize for the Environment was awarded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President & Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for his groundbreaking work to protect the environment through various projects.
Dr. Mohamed Bin Fahad, Chairman of the Zayed Prize Higher Committee, said: “Once again Dubai and the UAE have proved that a forum of such great significance can be organized and conducted successfully in the Arab world. This is indeed a proud achievement for the Arab world. We have demonstrated to the entire world community that Dubai can be an ideal venue for holding any major international forum.”
Apart from this, the forum also saw the Dubai Declaration on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), ratified by the member countries. The new initiative covers risk assessments of chemicals and harmonized labelling up to tackling obsolete and stockpiled products.
Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said: “I am delighted that governments could agree to this new chemicals initiative which I sincerely believe will be a step change in the way we use and produce chemicals. All kinds of chemicals are vital in the modern world. They have a key role in overcoming poverty and delivering sustainable development”.
The 7th Global Civil Society Statement was the first most tangible input from the civil society to the Session/ Forum. The statement, developed earlier during the Global Drafting Meeting held on November 21, 2005 in Dubai, and gathered from the regional meetings, focussed on chemicals management, tourism and energy issues.
The ‘Environmentally Sound Technology' showcase, a special exhibition with three themes – Element, Connectivity and Life Cycle – ran concurrently with the meetings. The show demonstrated the effectiveness of cleaner technology to various government organiztions, NGOs, private sector and others.
John Christensen from the UNEP Risoe Centre on Climate, Energy and Sustainable Development, released the Changing Climates, the Role of Renewable Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World report for the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21).
While calling for “emerging consensus” in both the scientific and political communities to avoid the most serious climate change threats, the report pointed out that many renewable energy technologies have “moved from being a passion for the dedicated few to a major economic sector attracting large industrial companies and financial institutions”.
The UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook Year Book 2006 was released during the forum. The report illustrated how governments that invest in air pollution control measures can save billions of dollars as health care costs are slashed, worker productivity soars and ecosystems flourish.
However, it was Mr Annan who demonstrated to the governments how prestigious awards such as the Zayed International prize for the Environment can be used for future generations. Mr. Annan said he planned to use the award as seed money for a foundation to be established to work in Africa for agriculture and girls’ education. He chose ‘agriculture’, because Africa’s people need a green revolution and ‘girls’ education’, because there is no more effective tool for development.
The key note speakers at the closing banquet on February 9, 2006, included Mr. Achm Steiner, Director general, IUCN, Dr. Tom Selannemi, Manager for Sustainable Tourism Aurinkomatkat-Suntours who spoke on “Sustainable tourism and the International Year of the Deserts and Desertification”. Mr. Geoffrey Lipman, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), moderated the session.
As the session wound up on Friday February 10, 2006, with a with a field excursion to the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) and the Dubai Aluminium Company DUBAL, the delegates, business leaders, trade unions, civil society groups and others who came to Dubai praised the UAE’s hospitality and excellent logistical arrangements which saw the forum come to a fruitful and smooth conclusion.
