The Environment Chronicle

Notable environmental events between 2013 and 2013 Deselect

  1. An international summit on the conservation of the African elephant took place in Botswana's capital Gaborone from 2 to 4 December 2013.Germany initiated the summit and also participated in the conference as its main financial sponsor. The conference was organised by the government of Botswana and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Representatives from 30 countries reached agreement on 14 concrete measures. Wildlife crime is to be classified as a serious crime in all participating countries. International cooperation on law enforcement will be stepped up in line with this. In the African countries, the local population will be given a more active role in elephant conservation. In the Asian target markets, educational campaigns will aim to reduce the demand for ivory.

  2. The 19th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Framework Convention and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol was held on 11 - 23 November 2013 in Warsaw, Poland. The conference set a pathway to a new climate agreement, which is scheduled to be agreed in 2015 in Paris and enter into force by 2020. It will be the first universal agreement which establishes binding goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions which apply to every country in the world. Countries must put their plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the new treaty on the table ahead of the Paris conference. Some important technical decisions were reached in Warsaw to enact the 2nd commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol in the Member States. After years of struggle an agreement on a transparent procedure in forest preservation was finally reached. The REDD+ mechanism to protect forests can now be enacted at national level after this breakthrough. The mechanism creates financial incentives to preserve forests.

  3. The Conference for the Minamata Convention on Mercury was held on 10 and 11 October 2013 in Kumamoto, Japan, with a ceremonial opening held in Minamata, Japan on 9 October 2013. At the ceremonial opening, the Government of Japan welcomed delegates and reminded them of the events which led to the recognition of the dangers of mercury poisoning. The meeting was officially opened in Kumamoto, and proceeded to adopt the text of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the resolutions to be annexed to the Final Act, and then the Final Act itself. The Convention and Final Act were then opened for signature, followed by statements from attending governments and other delegates.

  4. At the Special Meeting of the Commission held in Bremerhaven, Germany, on 15 and16 July 2013, two marine protected area (MPA) proposals were submitted to the Commission by CCAMLR Members: one for the Ross Sea Region by New Zealand and the United States, and one for the establishment of a representative system of MPAs in East Antarctica by Australia, France and the European Union. The talks ended with no result. The Russian delegation supported by neighboring Ukraine blocked the initiative.

  5. The conference “Electric Mobility going global” was hosted by the German Federal Government in cooperation with the German National Electric Mobility Platform. The conference, took place in Berlin, Germany on May 27th and 28th 2013. At this event delegates discussed the potential inherent in electric mobility and the challenges it faces, in the form of presentations, panel discussions and expert fora.

  6. The fourth Petersberg Climate Dialogue entitled "Shaping the future" took place in Berlin from 6 to 7 May 2013. Germany and Poland had invited some 35 ministers from all regions of the world. Poland holds the Presidency of the next UN climate summit. The dialogue was be co-chaired by Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier and Polish Environment Minister Marcin Korolec.

  7. The International Conference on Prevention and Management of Marine Litter in European Seas took place in Berlin, Germany, from 10 to 12 April, 2013. The German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the European Commission DG Environment were co-organizers of the conference.

  8. The first meeting of the Platform's Plenary (IPBES-1) was held in Bonn, Germany from 21 to 26 January 2013, hosted by the Government of Germany.