Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change: NGO and Government Perspectives
Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change: NGO and Government Perspectives
A Side Event to the Commission on Sustainable Development
Date: Thursday May 3, 2007
Time: 1:15-2:45 PM
Location: United Nations
Conference Room B
46th and 1st Ave.
New York, NY 10017
****Please note the date, time and location of this event are different from our regular monthly briefings. You will need a pass for the CSD in order to attend. For more information, contact Jessica Hartl.****
RSVP: Full contact information to:
Jessica Hartl, UNA-USA
jhartl at unausa.org
Featured Speakers
- H.E. Ambassador Saúl Weisleder, Deputy Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations
- Richard Donovan, Deputy Director and Chief of Forestry, Rainforest Alliance
- Delegate, German Delegation to the Commission on Sustainable Development
- Jacob Sherr, Senior Attorney and Director, International Programs, Natural Resources Defense Council
Background
In addressing the Security Council’s first-ever debate on climate change on April 17 2007, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated, “‘Limited or threatened access to energy is already known to be a powerful driver of conflict. Our changing planet risks making it more so,” he said. In emphasizing the need to address the problem of climate change through multilateral mechanisms, the Secretary-General continued, “We must focus more clearly on the benefits of early action. The resources of civil society and the private sector must be brought in. And this [Security] Council has a role to play in working with other competent intergovernmental bodies to address the possible root causes of conflict discussed today.”
This panel discussion, hosted by UNA-USA’s Council of Organizations and the Rainforest Alliance, will be an opportunity for NGO representatives to learn more about the efforts of member states - in particular Costa Rica and Germany (on behalf of the European Union) - and NGOs to both mitigate and adapt to climate change through policy and programs.
About the Council of Organizations
The Council of Organizations is a division of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), the nation’s largest grassroots foreign policy organization and the leading center of policy research on the United Nations and global issues.
UNA-USA’s reach extends to millions of Americans through its Council of Organizations, a coalition of more than 100 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with interests in education, religion, labor, sustainable development, human rights, health and women’s issues that share the common goals of promoting greater public awareness about global issues and strengthening the United States-United Nations relationship.
With the United Nations showing an ever-increasing interest in working with civil society and NGOs, the Council of Organizations plays a critical role in offering opportunities for leaders from the NGO community to develop partnerships with the United Nations and each other.
With Executive Committees in Washington DC and New York the Council sponsors monthly briefings featuring UN ambassadors, academics, US government officials, distinguished NGO leaders and top Secretariat officials which keep the NGO community informed while offering a forum to share educational information and advocacy plans regarding issues on the UN agenda. The Council also works to support the United Nations by educating its members about the UN system through joint community work with local affiliates of organizations.
For information on the Council of Organizations, or to inquire about NGO membership, visit www.unausa.org/council or contact: Jessica Hartl, Coordinator, Council of Organizations, jhartl at unausa.org.