UNEP NEWS August 2008

PANAIDIS and Climate Change

The Panama Chapter of the Inter-American Sanitary and Environmental Engineering Association ((PANAIDIS, in Spanish), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the School of Mechanical Engineering of the Technological University of Panama (UTP, in Spanish), jointly organized a Forum on Climate Change and Current Methods for Energy Saving.

Jorge Martinez, representing PANAIDIS, attended the inauguration ceremony, along with Martin Candanedo, Vice President, UTP and Marco Pinzon, Program Officer, UNEP.

During the event, nine speakers representing various public and private agencies discussed current issues relating to climate change with professionals and university students.

 UNEP’s Program Officer, Marco Pinzon, spoke about world perspectives arising from the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and how these reports encouraged United Nations countries to develop awareness of the problems they face daily due to phenomena resulting from climate change.

Haiti: Montreal Protocol - Ozono Action

New personnel from Haiti’s new Ozone National Office and the Ozone National Steering Committee received training from August 12-16, 2008.  [Trainees] performed an evaluation of the national activities relating to the Montreal Protocol in Haiti.

Artie Dubrie, Ozone Officer, UNEP/ROLAC participated in the training, and met with the Chief of the Ministry of the Environment, to discuss the establishment of licensing concession systems for Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and to provide training in surveillance and reporting on these substances to young customs officers.

During the meeting, they also discussed how to help National Ozone Officers prepare the 2007 data submissions, and provide follow-up to ongoing UNEP/ROLAC activities in Haiti.

Panama: Training of Zero Consumption of Methyl Bromide

On August 15, 2008 a training workshop including technical assistance and policies to keep methyl bromide at zero consumption levels was organized in Panama.

The purpose of the event was to promote a better understanding and effective control of methyl bromide during container fumigation at Panama’s ports.

Rogelio Moguruza, Minister of Agriculture of Panama and Jose de Mesa, UNEP’s Officer for methyl bromide attended the workshop and training sessions.

Sustainable Consumption and Production

The Sub-Regional Meeting of the Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Council of the Caribbean was held on August 12-13, 2008 in Trinidad & Tobago, and was attended by 32 participants, of which 47% were women from Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam and the host country, Trinidad & Tobago.

Regional organizations, such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI), including the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers, also attended the meeting.

UNEP/ROLAC organized the meeting, and the ROLAC SCP Consultant and the SIDS Senior Officer participated.  The key outcomes of the meeting and the workgroups were: the identification of sub-regional working groups on SCP, with the participation of governments and sub-regional institutions; the exchange of information and experiences among countries and organizations; participation in regional organizations, such as CARICOM; CEHI started-up the Regional Information Center on SPC with the support of UNEP/ROLAC.

Environmental Law and Environmental Audits

In the Framework of the Assistance for the Review of National Decree N ° 57, on environmental audits carried out in Panama, the first evaluation was performed, as well as an investigation on the regional legislation on the subject.

These actions produced the first report, and it was presented to representatives of the National Environmental Authority of Panama (ANAM, in Spanish) during a meeting held on August 20.

The most important issues were identified to establish the next steps for technical assistance.

Development Course for Judges

A series of meetings have been held with different institutions to organize a development course for judges.  Some of the institutions involved are the Environmental Legislation Institute (ELI) and the Democracy and Development Global Foundation (FUNGLODE, in Spanish) in the Dominican Republic, the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica and Konbit Pou Ayiti (KONPAY) in Haiti.

The purpose of these meetings was to organize a development course for judges.  Many teleconferences have been programmed prior to the meeting to agree on organization details.  UNEP/ROLAC participated in the organization of the meeting that was held on August 26 – 28, 2008.

Panama: National Reforestation Day

With the massive planting of over 10,000 timber and fruit seedlings, the National Environmental Authority (ANAM, in Spanish) successfully celebrated “National Reforestation Day.”  The institution’s general management, the regional administrations, environmental volunteers, students, communities, non-governmental organizations and private companies participated in the event.

The goal of the event, which was organized nationwide simultaneously, was to call on all sectors of society to join ANAM in its efforts and institutional proceedings to help guarantee the protection and sustainable conservation of natural resources and the environment, to assure the lives of both present and future generations.

The Minister of Affairs Relating to Environment Conservation and ANAM’s General Administrator, Ligia Castro de Doens, led the planting of over two hundred seedlings on the grounds of the Specialized University of the Americas (UDELAS, in Spanish) in Albrook, Dani Isabel Caballero, Students Affairs Director and UNEP’s Information Officer were also present at the event, as well as special guests, executives and officials from both entities.

Castro de Doens said the event is part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) world campaign, called “Plant for the Planet,” which aims to plant seven billion trees by the end of 2009.  Panama will plant four million seedlings nationwide, and this amount will exceed last year’s figure of 3,178,000.

"Music for Earth" Concert

The National Theater turned out its finest on September 3, with the “Music for Earth” Concert successfully organized by the National Environmental Authority (ANAM), the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the National Culture Institute (INAC, in Spanish).

Ricardo Sanchez Sosa, UNEP Regional Director, thanked the audience for their concern for the environment, and highlighted the support of the agencies and companies sponsoring the event; these are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interoceanica Insurance Company, the Albatros Media Foundation, Panasonic, Norberto Odebrecht Construction Company and the Office of the Old Quarters of Panama.

Sanchez also stressed the importance of the artists’ vision in creating awareness in society of environmental issues.
The National Symphonic Orchestra, under Conductor Jorge Ledesma-Bradley, performed the Mantra for Earth Concerto, with the grand orchestra arrangements of Ricardo Risco Cortés; violin concerto, string orchestra and continued in G minor; Antonio Vivaldi’s Op. 8 No.2 (Summer) and Op. 8 No.3 (Autumn); and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony Concerto No.6, Op. 68 (Pastoral) in C major.

During the event, ANAM announced the winners of the Environmental Excellence Awards, which were selected by independent judges, and nominations were received from all provinces and regions.

After the concert, a photographic exhibit prepared by ANAM (Natural Reserves) and Albatros Media Foundation (Agua Madre) was inaugurated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Collaboration for Haiti is wanted

On August 22, 2008, Isabel Martinez, ROLAC Program Officer attended a meeting which was held with the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Food Programme (WFP) to further cooperation for Haiti’s Food and Environment Conservation Project.

Mexico: Workshop on International Meetings supporting the Environment

The workshop “The Origin of the United Nations and UNEP: Main International Meetings supporting Environmental Policies” was held in Mexico City, Mexico.

Julio Calderon, Natural Resources Officer of UNEP’s Regional Office attended the meeting and led one course session on the Enforcement of Environmental Public Policies in Mexico City for Environment Graduates.

This workshop was organized by the Environment Secretariat of Mexico City, with the support and collaboration of the Universidad Autonoma of Mexico City, and two-day weekly sessions will be held from August 22 – December 13, 2008.

Workshop: Protection in Natural Disasters Situations

Julio Calderon, Natural Resources Officer of UNEP’s Regional Office attended OCHA’s workshop on Protection in Natural Disaster Situations (organized in consultation with global Partners ACNUDH, UNHCR, UNICEF, FICR, CICR), which was held in the City of Knowledge, Panama on August 27th – 28th, 2008.

Coordination mechanisms for protection were among the issues covered by the workshop, as well as OCHA’s Coordinating Role and protection support, Priority Actions and the Request for Additional Support.

Panama: Climate Change

The focal points of Panama’s United Nations System Agencies participating in the Joint Program on the Inclusion of Adaptation Measures and Climate Change Mitigation Measures in the Comprehensive Management of Panama’s Natural Resources in Priority Basins met on August 14, under UNEP’s coordination.

Noted progress included: the conclusion of the Terms of Reference of the Coordinator and the selection process, mapping needs, software needs for project management; the development of an online library/joint website (share point), payment for the liaison among agencies and communication with national counterparts.

UNEP/UNHCR Join Effort

On August 22, 2008, a work meeting was held with the High Commissioner for Refugees, Panama UNHCR Office.  The purpose of the meeting was to develop a project and a joint activities work plan for coming months in the framework of the recent cooperation agreement signed between UNHCR/PANAMA and UNEP/ROLAC to supply technical assistance on water management and residue management practices in small and remote refugee communities in Panama.

Support has also been given to UNHCR during a technical visit to Puerto de Obaldia in Darien Province, Panama (August 24-26) to assess urgent environmental issues, such as residues and water management.

Upcoming Activities

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• September 3rd, 2008
  Concert for Earth, Symphonic Orchestra of Panama, National Theater, Panama City
• September 4th, 2008
  Old Quarter, Panama City, Inauguration of the Art for Earth Month
• September 16th, 2008, Port au Prince, Haiti
  International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
• September 18th - 19th, 2008
  UNEP Executive Director visits Panama
• September 20-21-22, 2008
  UNEP Executive Director visits Mexico
• October 3rd – 6th, 2008
  Training course for journalists and public relations specialists in Bogota, Colombia
• October 29th, 2008
  Mexico City. Inauguration of the International Biannual Mexican Cartel Expo I (theme: Climate Change)
• November 22nd – 23rd, 2008
  Southern Cone Tunza Workshop. Buenos Aires, Argentina
• November 25th – 26th, 2008
  Latin American and Caribbean Civil Society Meeting. Buenos Aires, Argentina