Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Third workshop on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change, Geneva, 25-26 April 2012

Third workshop on water and adaptation to climate change in transboundary basins: Making adaptation work will take place on 25 and 26 April 2012 in the Palais des Nations in Geneva, back-to-back with the fifth meeting of the Task Force on Water and Climate (27 April 2012).

This workshop will bring together persons from all over the world, engaged in activities on water and adaptation to climate change and variability, in particular in transboundary basins. It offers a platform for exchanging experience on climate change adaptation strategies, best practices, success factors and lessons learned.

Abstracts for presentations on the workshops topics (economic aspects, adaptation measures, integrating spatial and governance levels, vulnerability assessment, ecosystem approach, integrating sectoral interests) can be submitted until 5 March 2012. Please note that all contributions should be focused, as much as possible, on transboundary issues and that all topics relate to both extremes of too much and too little water.

More information about the workshop can be found at : http://www.unece.org/env/water/transboundary_adaptation_workshop_2012

International Workshop on "Energy Poverty and Access to Energy in Developing Countries" - March 12-13, Venice, Italy

Reducing energy poverty in the developing world is a necessary condition to promote its economic and social development. No global target is currently in place to tackle this specific problem, and so far only national efforts have been devoted to this momentous task. As a result 1.3 billion people still lack access to electricity and 2.7 billion people rely mainly on traditional biomass.


Extending energy access entails two main issues and their related implications: (i) switching from biomass use to more efficient fuels would avoid the negative externalities of indoor pollution and reduce the time devoted to wood collection; (ii) the diffusion of electricity would generate positive effects on health, education and labour productivity.

In addition, the approach adopted to promote energy access should be compatible with sustainable development. Although on one side the reduced reliance on biomass would relieve the pressure on natural resources, on the other side an uncontrolled use of fossil fuels could determine a dramatic increase in CO2 emissions. Clean energy technologies are thus required to meet the dual need of reducing energy poverty while limiting the impact on the environment.


For this purpose, it is urgent to improve the tools to measure energy poverty, to better understand the determinants and future prospects of energy access, and to design better policies learning from past pitfalls.


The Workshop will address the bi-directional relationship between energy access and poverty reduction, starting from the possible definitions of energy poverty, reviewing the common measurement approaches and highlighting the facts behind the current situation.


Furthermore, the future paths for the diffusion of modern energy sources will be explored, paying particular attention to the extent to which energy access would rely on fossil fuels or on alternative technologies. Indeed, in addition to the assessment of energy access contribution to poverty alleviation, it is worth considering how the adoption of different energy mixes could determine a more sustainable development.


Finally, the Workshop will analyze future policy perspectives, and the contribution of climate finance to enhance energy access.
 


***The programme of the workshop is available here.


The workshop is open to a selected audience.

Contacts
Ughetta Molin Fop
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei
events.ve@feem.it

Monday, February 27, 2012

2012 Asia-Pacific Leadership Programme


The Asia-Pacific Leadership Programme on Environment for Sustainable Development was jointly hosted by UNEP –Tongji IESD (Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development) as a means to provide training for emerging leaders from various backgrounds. 

Its objectives are: 
 ·         To improve the all-round thinking and decision-making abilities of the young and emerging leaders in governmental organizations, NGOs, and private enterprises in the Asia-Pacific Region.
·         To direct young leaders to balance environment and sustainable development in decision making.
·         To set up a platform for emerging leaders in the Asia-Pacific Region to communicate so that they can coordinate factors of human, environment and sustainable development in dealing with complex practical problems.

The Asia-Pacific areas have witnessed the rapid expansion of   Leadership Programme’s influence through its development from 2004 to 2011. In the past 8 Programmes, more than 200 participants from across the Asia-Pacific areas have greatly benefited from the events and put what they achieved into practice successfully. In 2012, the 9th annual programme with the theme of “Green Economy and Sustainable Development” will be held in Tongji University from June 4th to 8th. Emerging leaders from countries all across the Asia-Pacific region will participate in the programme.

Application materials for Leadership Programme are received via e-mail. Please follow the application instructions carefully.
   1. Applicants below 35 from South, Northeast, Southeast Asia and international organizations in the Asia-Pacific Region are generally preferred.
   2. Application Materials:
       • Completed Application form: applicants in need of grant for training, accommodation and air travel fee should also complete the Grand Application form.
       • Résumé/Curriculum Vitae
       • Letter of Recommendation: Letter of reference should be from either an academic or a professional referee who can testify your strengths and experiences in relation to Asia-Pacific Leadership Programme on Environment for Sustainable Development. Please send the scanned copy of the letter through email.
   3. Please send all the application materials to 
iesdleadership@gmail.com with the subject of 'Application for APLP' before 20th April. Normally, decision notification will be mailed to you within one week after the deadline. The final selected applicants will be notified before 27th April, 2012 via email and the list of selected participants will be announced on this website. We highly recommend that you submit all of your materials well in advance of the deadline to avoid delays.

We provide accommodation and training courses, including a field trip to Chong Ming Island during the program. For participants from developed countries, $1500 is needed as training fees, which is $500 for participants from the branch or regional office of international organizations. Applicant, with well-grounded reasons, could also apply for the fund to cover his or her international travel.

Should you have any question, please contact us at:
iesdleadership@gmail.com

►Click here to download the APPLICATION FORM of APLP 2012
►Click here to read the BROCHURE of APLP 2012


Announcemet of the second iteration of blended learning programme on "Science and Policy of Climate Change


Sangeeta Rana: sang.rana@gmail.com

We are announcing the second iteration of our blended learning programme on "Science and Policy of Climate Change" starting from 11th April 2o14. This has been developed jointly by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) and IGES (Institute for Global Environment Strategies, Japan) in collaboration with TDLC. The programme duration for the second iteration has been increased to 12 weeks from the earlier 8 weeks and is scheduled to be conducted from 11 April to 11 July 2012. The program is now being offered to Asia-Pacific and Africa regions.

On-line registration for the program is open from 27 February to 30 March 2012. We already have a large data bank of potential participants who had expressed their interest in the program but could not be absorbed in the first course.

The programme comprises of web-based learning through video-recorded lectures, case studies, academic articles and multimedia. In addition there will be 6 video conference sessions of about 2 to 2 1/2 hours duration each. There are several features built into the design to provide inter-activity with the participants. During the video conferences we would be having world-renowned subject experts to make presentations and interact with the participants. The module VCs would also offer the participants to raise queries or suggestions regarding the specific module contents. All the VCs would also be web-cast live on the internet and their edited version would also be subsequently placed on the program website.

There would be separate discussion forums for each module through which the participants can interact with each other.

Registration charges are US$ 250 per participant, which has to be paid at the Public Information Center, The World Bank Office located at the Durbar Marg.

For detail info, please refer to the program website www.esdonline.org/spcc/
Do not hesitate to contact to me for any clarification and registration.

With warm regards,
Sangeeta Rana


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Summer course Decentralisation and Local Governance, The Hague, The Netherlands, 2 - 6 July 2012

This summer course is especially developed for professionals working at donor and development organisations who are dealing with support to good governance, democracy, decentralisation, local governance and public service delivery.

 

The following questions will be addressed in this course:

·         How can dialogue between national governments and local stakeholders be stimulated?

·         How can local governments be made more accountable to their citizens?

·         In what way can a transfer of power and budgetary resources from central to local authorities lead to better services on the local level?

·         And how can donor and development organisations support a more effective implementation of decentralisation?

·         Moreover, the course provides you with tools for assessing and monitoring decentralisation practices, such as political economy analysis. It also increases your insight into decentralisation processes in different country contexts, like fragile states or countries with ethnic or religious tensions. Fiscal decentralisation, sources for local income generating and social accountability issues are discussed, as well as aid modalities and the role of the donor community.

 

Learning objectives

This course will help you:

assess decentralisation practices in the countries in which you work a.o. by applying the Political Economy approach;

increase your insight into the various factors that influence performance at the local level;

judge the impact of decentralisation policies on domestic accountability;

design and monitor support strategies for more effective implementation of decentralisation in partner countries.

 

Experts

Contributions to this course come from renowned experts and practitioners with extensive experience in decentralisation and local governance in various development and (post-)conflict countries around the world. One of them is dr. Jamie Boex, fiscal decentralisation expert at the Urban Institute in Washington.

 

More information

We offer discounts if you apply with three or more participants from the same organisation. Contact us for more information.

 

To apply for this training course please click here or visit our website www.thehagueacademy.com. You can also contact our Programme Manager Nienke Vermeulen at info@thehagueacademy.com or call +31(70) 3738695.

 

Deadline for application is 4 May 2012. Don’t wait too long to apply since there are limited places available.

 

The Hague Academy for Local Governance

P.O. Box 30435 | 2500 GK The Hague | The Netherlands | +31 [0] 70 37 38 695

info@thehagueacademy.com www.thehagueacademy.com

Sunday, February 19, 2012

2012 International SWAT Conference & Workshops, New Delhi, India

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a public domain model jointly developed by USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Texas AgriLife Research, part of The Texas A&M University System.

SWAT is a river basin-scale model to simulate the quality and quantity of surface and ground water and predict the environmental impact of land management practices on different soil patterns and land use patterns.  

SWAT is widely used in assessing soil erosion prevention and control, non-point source pollution control and regional management in watersheds.

Conference topics include:

        * Large Scale Applications
        * Climate Change Applications
        * Sensitivity Calibration and Uncertainty
        * Biofuel & Plant Growth
        * Environmental Applications
        * BMPs
        * Hydrology
        * Sediment, Nutrients, and Carbon
        * Pesticides, Bacteria, Metals, and Pharmaceuticals
        * Model Development
        * Database and GIS Application and Development
        * Urban Processes and Management
        * Landscape Processes and Landscape / River Continuum
        * InStream Sediment and Pollutant Transport
        * Ganga River Basin Management
        * SWAT applications and development in India

Date: July 16-20, 2012,
Venue: New Delhi, India
Conference location: India Habitat Centre, Delhi
Workshop location: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

For more information, visit: http://swatmodel.tamu.edu/conferences/2012/

Thursday, February 16, 2012

International School Mountain Ecology and Global Change, Austria


Mountain ecosystems are important on a global basis and are particularly susceptible to the effects of diverse global changes. At present, there is accumulating evidence that global changes such as for example, in climate, in land use, and in atmospheric nitrogen pollution are strongly affecting mountain ecosystems, even remote ones. One of the main values of this International School is the unique opportunity participants have to receive a really multidisciplinary overview about the research going on in aquatic and terrestrial mountain ecosystems in different parts of the world. Thus, the objective of this School is to provide the participants with a state-of-the-art overview on the research done in mountain ecosystems and to foster cross-disciplinary links.
Chair:  Prof. Ruben Sommaruga (University of Innsbruck)

When and Where? 
The International School will take place in Innsbruck (Seehof, 300 m above Innsbruck) between 24th and 28th September 2012. Arrival and departure dates are on Sunday 23rd and Friday 28th September.

Who can apply?
The International School invites postgraduate researchers (Ph.D. students) and young postdocs of most diverse specializations ranging from environmental sciences, geography, ecological sciences to conservation biologists with interest in mountain ecology and global change. All participants will need to be proficient in both written and spoken English.

Why join this International School?
Mountain ecosystems are important on a global basis and are particularly susceptible to the effects of diverse global changes. At present, there is accumulating evidence that global changes such as for example, in climate, in land use, and in atmospheric nitrogen pollution are strongly affecting mountain ecosystems, even remote ones. One of the main values of this International School is the unique opportunity participants have to receive a really multidisciplinary overview about the research going on in aquatic and terrestrial mountain ecosystems in different parts of the world. Thus, the objective of this School is to provide the participants with a state-of-the-art overview on the research done on mountain ecosystems and to foster cross-disciplinary links.

Program 
The School will consist of lectures (45 min +15 min discussion) on topics related to aquatic and terrestrial mountain ecology given by members of the Alpine Ecology Research Centre from the University of Innsbruck and guest scientists from Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain, UK, and USA. The lectures will cover a broad spectrum and will include a general introduction to the topic, as well as its state-of-the-art. In addition, participants will be requested to give a short oral presentation (max. 10 min) to introduce themselves and their research interest, as well as to improve connectivity based on similar interests. A mid-week excursion will be organized to a mountain research station with demonstrations/measurements on the way. Program

Registration Fee:
Before 15th August 350 €, after this date 450 €. The fee includes accommodation (Seehof) in a twin bed room, coffee breaks and full board. A limited number of single-bed rooms are available at an extra cost. The fee must be paid in full no later than 20 days after receiving the invoice.

Application: on-line including:
full contact data (name, affiliation, postal address, email address, phone and fax)
a brief CV containing prior studies and/or positions
a 1-paragraph description of scientific interest and motivation for this school
list of publications (if any)

Selection:
Applications will be evaluated by the Scientific Committee and successful applicants will be notified by e-mail about admission by 25th July 2012. Selected participants will receive an invoice. The registration becomes legally binding by means of this invoice.

Local Scientific Committee:
Prof. Ruben Sommaruga (Chair), Prof. Ulrike Tappeiner (Innsbruck University), Prof. Birgit Schlick-Steiner (Innsbruck University), and Prof. Roland Psenner (Innsbruck University).

Help with travel costs:
When meeting the travel costs is impossible please contact the organization to seek for financial assistance (depending on budget availability). This possibility is available only within Europe and will be reserved to exceptional cases both in need and in student’s excellence.

Important deadlines:
Submission of on-line applications - deadline: 1st July 2012
Notification of acceptance to applicants - deadline: 25th July 2012
Payment - deadline: 15st August 2012
Contact:        Ms. Caroline Pichler (Administrative Assistant)
          Institute of Ecology
          University of Innsbruck
          Technikerstr. 25
          6020 Innsbruck
          Austria
           
          Phone: +43-(0)512-507 6181
          Fax: + 43-(0)512-507 6190
          Email: ecology@uibk.ac.at

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Earth System Governance Tokyo Conference: Complex Architectures, Multiple Agents, 28-31 January 2013


Earth System Governance Tokyo Conference: Complex Architectures, Multiple Agents


We invite you to the Earth System Governance Tokyo Conference, to be held 28-31 January 2013 at the United Nations University Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

This event is part of the global conference series organized by the Earth System Governance Project, a ten-year research programme under the auspices of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP). This conference will be the fourth in a global series organized by the Earth System Governance Project. The Earth System Governance Tokyo Conference will be jointly hosted by the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS), the International Environmental Governance Architecture Research Group and the Tokyo Institute of Technology on behalf of the Earth System Governance Project.

Key Dates
•     Deadline for paper abstracts: 1 July 2012
•     Notification of acceptance: 1 September 2012
•     Full papers due: 1 December 2012
•     Conference date: 28-31 January 2013

Conference Themes
Today, a multitude of agents plays a significant role in earth system governance, ranging from traditional state actors to international organizations, civil society organizations, science networks, city coalitions, or business associations. At the same time, the overall governance architecture, from local to global levels, is becoming more complex as a consequence of ever increasing needs for governance and policy-development. This situation poses fundamental questions about the impacts of fragmented and complex governance architectures, the overall effectiveness of earth system governance, and the ways in which multiple agents at all levels influence related processes.
This complex architecture with multiple agents is the core research problem to be discussed at the Earth System Governance Tokyo Conference. The conference will bring together scholars from a wide range of disciplines as well as practitioners from diverse backgrounds to address the nexus between the analytical problems of agency and architecture in earth system governance, and will also consider the other analytical problems identified in the Earth System Governance Science and Implementation Plan. The timing of the Tokyo Conference, half a year after the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (“Rio+20”), will make these discussions especially pertinent and timely. The conference may open up new and fruitful areas of science-policy interaction and strengthen the interface between science and policy in earth system governance.

We invite papers on six interrelated clusters of questions:

1. Earth System Governance Architectures in the 21st Century: The need for reform of the global institutional architecture for environmental and sustainable development governance has been discussed for many years, yet little progress in the political realm has been made so far. While some propose, for example, the creation of a world environment organization, others argue in favour of more decentralized architectures that try to configure multiple actors effectively. We invite papers that address various aspects of the basic design of the architecture of earth system governance. This includes papers that analyse advantages of centralized or decentralized governance architectures, multi-level governance, or governance and vision in the post-MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) era. Also important here is an investigation of the existing architecture and of the roles of various actors and actor networks in governance.

2. Climate and Energy Governance Architectures: Discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of various governance architectures have been particularly lively and fruitful in the area of climate and energy policy. A nuclear disaster in the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan highlighted even more the importance of effective and accountable governance in this domain at all levels. We thus invite papers that explore options for more effective architectures of future climate and energy governance. Papers could address, for example, effective multilevel governance architectures in the nexus between climate and energy security, or the optimal mechanisms to facilitate low carbon technology transfer, or the kind of partnerships that could combine actors of different scales and within and among different regions. Also important is how to fill the policy, implementation and financial gaps in designing the next generation of climate governance architectures.

3. The Nexus between Architecture and the other “A’s” in Earth System Governance: One of the most important research questions in the area of earth system governance is the intersection between architecture and the other four analytical problems (the “5 A’s”) identified in the Earth System Governance Science and Implementation Plan. Hence, we invite papers that explore these linkages and interactions. For instance, how can equity and fairness concerns (‘Allocation and Access’) be addressed in the design and implementation of environmental and development institutions? In what ways can private actors (‘Agency’) be held accountable (‘Accountability’) in environmental governance architectures?  What types of resource re-distribution and social conflicts are created (‘Allocation and Access’) by different ways of structuring efforts (‘Architecture’) to enhance the resilience of social-ecological systems (‘Adaptiveness’)?

4. Political Dynamics in the Interface of Agency and Architecture: How can we recognize emerging agents in earth system governance? For example, how does increasing power of the major emerging economies change the political dynamics and thereby influence the overall governance architecture? What would be the role of regional integration? How to avoid politicization of science bodies, while ensuring political influence? We invite here papers that explore political dynamics of earth system governance in the interface of agency and architecture.

5. Methodological Challenges to Complex Architectures and Multiple Agents: Earth system governance research requires new and emerging technology developments as well as collaboration between social sciences, natural sciences and engineering. We thus also invite papers that utilize innovative technology and methodology in analysing problems related to complexity. They may include, for example, new approaches and findings in the application of agent-based modelling, GIS, socio-economic modelling, or more philosophical approaches and further development of the philosophy of science and the role of post-normal science approaches etc.

6. Special Conference Stream on Nuclear Safety and Post-disaster Governance: Nuclear disaster in the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan posed many governance questions. How should nuclear be governed? What lessons could we learn from the evacuation process? What is the role of science in the face of emergency? What are the causal relationships between energy governance in Japan, which are centred on strong energy companies, and the effectiveness of the response to the nuclear disaster that began in March 2011? There will be a special conference stream devoted for the issues highlighting nuclear and disaster.

* Background:
The challenge of establishing effective strategies for mediating the relationship between humans and the natural world represents one of the most daunting tasks in the quest for environmental sustainability at all levels, from the local to the global. Environmental problems, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, water quality and access problems, soil erosion and others, call into question the fundamental viability of how humans have organized the relationship between society and nature. There is an urgent need to identify and develop new strategies for steering societies towards a more sustainable relationship with the natural world.

The Earth System Governance Project was launched in 2009 to address these problems of environmental governance. In this project, “earth system governance” is defined as the interrelated system of formal and informal rules, rule-making mechanisms and actor-networks at all levels of human society (from local to global) that are set up to steer societies towards preventing, mitigating, and adapting to global and local environmental change and earth system transformation, within the normative context of sustainable development. The Earth System Governance Project’s Science Plan (available at http://www.earthsystemgovernance.org) is organized around five analytical problems. Architecture relates to the emergence, design and effectiveness of governance arrangements. Agency addresses questions of who governs the earth system and how. Adaptiveness research explores the ability of governance systems to change in the face of new knowledge and challenges as well as to enhance adaptiveness of social-ecological systems in the face of major disturbances. Accountability refers to the democratic quality of environmental governance arrangements. Finally, allocation and access deal with justice, equity, and fairness. These analytical problems are united by the cross-cutting themes of power, knowledge, norms and scale.

The Earth System Governance Project is a core project of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) under the auspices of the International Social Science Council (ISSC), the International Council for Science (ICSU), and the United Nations University (UNU).

* Abstract Submission:
We invite abstracts on one of these six conference themes from scholars in the social and natural sciences, as well as practitioners, from the global South and North. Abstracts must be submitted electronically through the conference website http://tokyo2013.earthsystemgovernance.org by 1 July 2012 and may not exceed 300 words. All abstracts will be evaluated in double-blind peer-review by several members of the conference review panel. For additional information on the Earth System Governance Project, including its Science and Implementation Plan, please visit www.earthsystemgovernance.org.

* Hosts
     International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change Earth System Governance Project
     United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies
     International Environmental Governance Architecture Research Group

* Co-hosts and Sponsors
     The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP)
     Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
     Tokyo Institute of Technology
     Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationals (IDDRI)
     L’Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)
     Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

* International Steering Committee
•     Prof. Steinar Andresen, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway
•     Prof. Frank Biermann, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
•     Dr. Karin Bäckstrand, Lund University, Sweden
•     Prof. Michele M. Betsill, Colorado State University, United States of America
•     Prof. Susana Camargo Vieira, Universidade de Itaúna, Brazil
•     Dr. Mark Elder, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan
•     Prof. Joyeeta Gupta, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, and VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
•     Prof. Peter M. Haas, University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States of America
•     Prof. Hironori Hamanaka, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan
•     Dr. Yasuko Kameyama, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
•     Prof. Norichika Kanie, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, Japan
•     Dr. Louis Lebel, Unit for Social and Environmental Research, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
•     Prof. Diana Liverman, University of Arizona, and Oxford University, United States of America
•     Prof. Shunji Matsuoka, Waseda University, Tokyo Japan
•     Prof. Isao Sakaguchi, Gakushuin University, Japan
•     Dr. Heike Schroeder, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
•     Prof. Bernd Siebenhüner, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany
•     Dr. Laurence Tubiana, Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales (IDDRI), France
•     Prof. Kazuhiro Ueta, Kyoto University, Japan
•     Prof. Takahiro Yamada, Tokyo Metropolitian University
•     Prof. Oran R. Young, University of California at Santa Barbara, United States of America 

* Lead Faculty, Earth System Governance Project
•     Prof. Arun Agrawal, University of Michigan, United States of America
•     Prof. Steinar Andresen, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway
•     Prof. Ken Conca, American University, United States of America
•     Prof. Leila da Costa Ferreira, University of Campinas, Brazil
•     Prof. Bharat H. Desai, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
•     Prof. John S. Dryzek, Australian National University, Australia
•     Prof. Carl Folke, Stockholm University, and Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Sweden
•     Prof. Roberto P. Guimarães, Getulio Vargas Foundation, and State University of Campinas, Brazil
•     Prof. Peter M. Haas, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, United States of America
•     Prof. Hironori Hamanaka, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan
•     Prof. Jia Wenhua, China University of Political Science and Law, China
•     Prof. Andrew Jordan, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
•     Dr. Tatiana Kluvánková-Oravská, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia
•     Prof. Ma Zhong, Renmin University of China, China
•     Dr. Elizabeth L. Malone, Joint Global Change Research Institute, United States of America
•     Prof. James Meadowcroft, Carleton University, Canada
•     Prof. Ronald B. Mitchell, University of Oregon, United States of America
•     Prof. Peter Newell, University Sussex, United Kingdom
•     Prof. Sebastian Oberthür, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
•     Prof. Hiroshi Ohta, Waseda University, Japan
•     Prof. Lennart Olsson, Lund University, Sweden
•     Prof. Arthur Petersen, VU University Amsterdam; and PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Netherlands
•     Prof. Qi Ye, Tsinghua University, China
•     Dr. R.B. Singh, University of Delhi, India
•     Prof. Will Steffen, Australian National University, Australia
•     Prof. Simon Tay, National University of Singapore, Singapore
•     Dr. Laurance Tubiana, Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales (IDDRI), France
•     Prof. Kazuhiro Ueta, Kyoto University, Japan
•     Prof. Arild Underdal, University of Oslo, Norway
•     Prof. Eduardo Viola, University of Brasilia, Brazil
•     Prof. Wang Canfa, China University of Political Science and Law, China
•     Prof. Oran R. Young, University of California at Santa Barbara, United States of America

* Funding Support:
We are trying our best to secure some funding to be available to support conference participation by early–career colleagues and those from developing countries. More information will be made available on the conference website.

For additional information on the Earth System Governance Tokyo Conference, please e-mail us here:
TokyoESG2013@ias.unu.edu

We look forward to welcoming you to the first Earth System Governance conference in Asia!

On behalf of all organizers, sponsors, and co-hosts,

Norichika KANIE
kanie@valdes.titech.ac.jp
Chair, 2013 Earth System Governance Tokyo Conference

Erin Kennedy
TokyoESG2013@ias.unu.edu
Conference Manager, 2013 Earth System Governance Tokyo Conference

Saturday, February 11, 2012

International course on Market access for sustainable development: Pro-poor & Smallholder Inclusive Value Chain Development, 05 - 23 November 2012, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Introduction

This popular international course is an introduction to how markets can be used as tools to alleviate poverty in a sustainable manner. It introduces participants to the conceptual frameworks related to the market-economic domain of development. These can be used to identify smallholder inclusive development opportunities.

The course provides practical tools and instruments to develop appropriate interventions. The subject will be addressed through three interrelated questions. First, how can the poor effectively engage in market development? Second, how can their products be tailored and the product flows adapted to better access markets? Third, how can institutions accommodate this inclusive development process best while considering cross-cutting issues like, for instance, gender and equity? The course supports policy makers, development practitioners and professionals of service providers, including research and educational organizations, in their changed roles as market facilitators.

 

 

Application

Interested candidates can apply to Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation for admission to the training. Click here to apply.

 

 

NFP Fellowships

A limited number of fellowships is available from Nuffic - the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for nationals of certain countries. In order to apply for such a NFP fellowship, you have to register through the Nuffic Scholarship Online (SOL) system. Applications for NFP fellowships should be submitted before 1 May 2012. You will be informed by Nuffic whether your application has been accepted. More information on the NFP fellowships.

 

Important

Please note that for a valid NPF fellowship application you need to register directly at CDI as well as at Nuffic (SOL). Your fellowship application will not be taken into account if you register with only one of these two institutions.

 

NFP Fellowships available – apply before 1 May 2012   -

 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

UNIDO Summer Course on "Green Industry: Moving towards the industry of the future", 25 June to 6 July 2012, Budapest, Hungary

To help strengthen further UNIDO’s capacity to respond effectively to the industrial development challenges being faced by Member States, the UNIDO Institute for Capacity Development and Regional Analysis Unit was established to conduct economic analysis with a regional focus and disseminate the findings both within UNIDO and the development practitioners’ community. The overall aim of the Institute is to strengthen UNIDO’s academic partnerships, networking efforts, capacity-building and training activities. It provides a platform for discussions on new approaches towards sustainable industrial development on the international and national level.

 

During the past weeks we have worked on the development of a website dedicated to our Institute where you can find more information on our on-going and planned activities. The launch of the webpage is planned for the end of this month.

 

Our latest initiative is the new Summer Course on Green Industry, entitled “Green Industry: Moving towards the industry of the future”. It will take place from 25 June to 6 July 2012 in Budapest, Hungary.

 

The course will provide participants with the opportunity to reflect on technical and policy level measures to improve industry's environmental performance. Its overall goal is to raise participants' awareness of solutions that help turn the concept of "green industry" into practice.

 

The course is primarily targeted at

  • PhD students focused on technical and/or policy aspects of green industry
  • Emerging, second-in-line young leaders in the public or private sector responsible for managing policy or operations related resource efficient and cleaner production (RECP)
  • Members of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) involved in environmental advocacy and staff from industry as well as support institutions responsible for giving advice/counsel to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) on RECP methodologies, environmental management systems (EMS), low carbon measures, eco-design etc.

Participants will be expected to arrive with a preliminary understanding of global and national framework conditions for green industrial development and to be familiar with core concepts of environmental management, green industry and resource efficiency through advanced studies, reading, research and/or practice. Regional, gender, academic discipline and organizational backgrounds will be considered as part of the selection criteria and balanced to ensure a well-rounded course audience.

 

The Course is addressed to young professionals who have an interest in the fields of resource efficiency and cleaner production.

 

To apply please visit the website of CEU Summer University www.summer.ceu.hu/green-2012

 

Deadline for applications is 29 February 2012.

 

All applicants are eligible to apply for financial aid. The course is supported by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

International course on Local governance and rural decentralisation, 11 - 22 September 2013, Wageningen, the Netherlands


Introduction
Local governance for rural development is increasingly approached as a multi-stakeholder process with interactions taking place at different levels, and amongst actors with different ambitions or perceptions. Efforts of local governments are measured in terms of responsiveness and accountability to citizens; improved service delivery; its leadership in promoting pro-poor economic development; and its capacity to negotiate with the private sector, NGOs, local authorities and central government. As a participant of this course on local governance as multi-stakeholder process you learn:
-      how to deal with the complexity of governance and the engagement with multiple actors.
-      How to analyse existing complex situations, and develop strategies to develop opportunities and overcome barriers.
-      your organisation's current and desired position, roles, and interests in relation to local governance for rural development.

Application
Interested candidates can apply to Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation for admission to the training. Click here to apply.


NFP Fellowships
A limited number of fellowships is available from Nuffic - the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for nationals of certain countries. In order to apply for such a NFP fellowship, you have to register through the Nuffic Scholarship Online (SOL) system. Applications for NFP fellowships should be submitted before 1 May 2012. You will be informed by Nuffic whether your application has been accepted. More information on the NFP fellowships.

Important
Please note that for a valid NPF fellowship application you need to register directly at CDI as well as at Nuffic (SOL). Your fellowship application will not be taken into account if you register with only one of these two institutions.

-      NFP Fellowships available – apply before 1 May 2012

International Course on Landscape functions and people, 28 November – 07 December 2012, Bangkok, Thailand

  
Introduction

Site-based or community level approaches to natural resources management, however successful, can no longer cope with environmental issues exceeding the community's immediate sphere of influence. Larger scale developments of globalisation, market development, increased resource exploitation and climate change increasingly define land use dynamics of larger spatial units called landscapes. Although historically shaped by their internal ecological, economic and socio-cultural dynamics, landscapes increasingly have to accommodate global demands, leading to overlapping resource claims, and conflict. This has turned landscapes into complex arenas of decision-making, driven by local, regional and global interests.
But where and how are decisions regarding the landscape to be made? And who is responsible for necessary trade-offs? Political and administrative decentralisation generally cut across landscape boundaries, and sector based strategies do not take into account the cross-sectoral realities of landscapes. New landscape-level institutions such as multi-stakeholder platforms and networks are emerging, but which are their mandates with regard to landscape-level design, planning and implementation? And how to create robust and resilient landscapes, where economic prosperity does go hand-in-hand with both human well-being and ecological integrity?
In this course, you will not gain clear-cut answers or blue prints. But you will gain new understanding of ecological, economic and social networks, and their dynamics within the landscape. You will gain insight in the inter-disciplinary and integrated character of landscape approaches. And you will learn how to position yourself in your role as manager, policy maker or practitioner within your own landscape, able to make use of a wide range of principles and tools to foster inclusive and informed decision-making at landscape level.

Application
Interested candidates can apply to Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation for admission to the training. Click here to apply.


NFP Fellowships
A limited number of fellowships is available from Nuffic - the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for nationals of certain countries. In order to apply for such a NFP fellowship, you have to register through the Nuffic Scholarship Online (SOL) system. Applications for NFP fellowships should be submitted before 1 May 2012. You will be informed by Nuffic whether your application has been accepted. More information on the NFP fellowships.

Important
Please note that for a valid NPF fellowship application you need to register directly at CDI as well as at Nuffic (SOL). Your fellowship application will not be taken into account if you register with only one of these two institutions.

-      NFP Fellowships available – apply before 1 May 2012   -


International Course on Governance for forest, nature and people, 22 October – 02 November 2012, Indonesia


 Introduction
Forest and landscape governance are increasingly complex issues. Governance is longer no monopolised by governments, but is an increasingly shared responsibility of civil society groups and private sector actors. Where the role of governments has gradually moved from control to facilitation of policy processes, civil society and private sector actors are currently experimenting with their newly assigned roles as co-developers and implementers of forest and landscape governance.
Moreover, forest and landscape governance are increasingly influenced by global trends related to economic growth, climate change, and the growing concern for global food security, leading to increased pressure on the world's natural resources. Due to these trends, classical forms of forest management are no longer sufficient to deal with competing land claims and resource related conflicts. Instead, there is a growing need for more integrated forms of landscape governance, trying to combine local interests with global demands for food, fuel and fibre, and biodiversity. How to foster inclusive and informed decision-making, within an arena of global interests and local needs?
In this course, you will not gain clear-cut answers or blue prints. But you will gain new understanding on how local and global processes are interlinked, and learn how to position yourself in your role as manager, policy maker or practitioner in the field of forest and landscape governance.

Application
Interested candidates can apply to Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation for admission to the training. Click here to apply.

NFP Fellowships
A limited number of fellowships is available from Nuffic - the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for nationals of certain countries. In order to apply for such a NFP fellowship, you have to register through the Nuffic Scholarship Online (SOL) system. Applications for NFP fellowships should be submitted before 1 May 2012. You will be informed by Nuffic whether your application has been accepted. More information on the NFP fellowships.

Important
Please note that for a valid NPF fellowship application you need to register directly at CDI as well as at Nuffic (SOL). Your fellowship application will not be taken into account if you register with only one of these two institutions.

-      NFP Fellowships available – apply before 1 May 2012   -