Earth Summit Info : Rio +20

Sharing our Earth

Welcome to www.earthsummit.info!

This independent + apolitical website aims to help you find out about the history, successes and failures of the UN's Stockholm (1972) and Rio (1992) Earth Summits as well as the Johannesburg World Summit (2002).

www.earthsummit.info is also in the process of being updated to include useful information and links for the UN's 2012 Rio Earth Summit (Rio +20).

If you want to help with this work by suggesting relevant environment and / or development links please email Matt.

www.earthsummit.info hopes that the wider discussion, participation + monitoring of the policies and promises associated with each Earth / World Summit will lead to better levels of action, funding and implementation.

www.earthsummit.info aims to help you to make up your own mind about the challenges, choices and change we face and to where we should go from here.

During the build up to the UN's Johannesburg World Summit, Dr Matt Prescott staged the informal Oxford Earth Summit in Oxford's Natural History Museum.

This student-led event featured talks by over 30 experts from the UN, World Bank, Oxford University, The Royal Society, Oxfam, Water Aid, Friends of the Earth, Birdlife International and The Met office. You listen to these talks which have been archived online here.

Many thanks to Oliver Tickell at www.mylinkspage.com for helping this website to remain online for the past 10 years. Thank you Oliver!

contact us...

Please contact us if you have been involved in the preparations for Rio +20 and want to tell us what you think could / should happen before, during and after Rio +20 or if you have any suggestions regarding how we could improve www.earthsummit.info.

Please email Earth Summit Info Feedback.

1. 2012 : Rio Earth Summit (Rio +20)

The UN's Rio Earth Summit (Rio +20) is officially called the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

The Conference will take place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.

Wikipedia offers an excellent summary of the Background, Objectives, Conference Themes, Calendar of Meetings and External Links.

earthsummit2012.org has been produced by the Stakeholder Forum and offers excellent coverage of the formal preparations, processes and priorities involved in the build up to Rio +20.

2. 2012 : REDD / REDD+

The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in Developing Countries will play a big part in the Rio +20 Earth Summit.

The World Bank's Carbon Finance Unit uses money contributed by governments and companies in OECD countries to purchase project-based greenhouse gas emission reductions in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

UN-REDD Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries.

REDD-Monitor. News, views and analysis about reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

REDD Plus a portal for networking, news and analysis on all aspects of reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation.

REDD+ and Carbon Markets : 10 Myths Exploded. A report produced by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, RAN and FERN critiquing the REDD+ / market-based model for reducing emissions.

Global Witness : REDD Recommendations including (1) Independent Monitoring of REDD, (2) Transparency both in the UNFCC and in national processes, (3) Genuine multi-stakeholder participation in national REDD groups, (4) No REDD funds for industrial logging and (5) Prioritise biodiversity-rich forests and peatlands.

Global Witness : UN Meetings re: REDD A useful summary of how the debate of key issues relating to REDD has developed over recent years. Finance / incentives, accountability, independent monitoring / auditing, civil society participation and anti-corruption safeguards are emerging as major themes.

Norway's International Climate and Forest Intiative. One of the few governments in the world to put its money where its mouth is re: forests. They have an interesting, but rare, focus on protecting natural forests...

The REDD Desk : A new collaborative platform for REDD Readiness initiated by the Global Canopy Programme and the Forum on Readiness for REDD, represented by the Brazilian-based Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM).

The Little REDD+ Book is a guide to the UN negotiations on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD)

Carbon Positive offer a brief analysis of what the COP16 meeting (Dec 2010) in Cancun meant for forests and REDD at the next meeting in Durban (Dec 2011).

The WRI offers some detailed reflections on the Cancun agreements.

Climate Fund Info offers a comprehensive summary of the funding schemes associated with global climate finance and the evolving issues / controversies associated with satisfying donor and recipient nations.

The Prince's Rainforest Project has made a 10 point proposal for a financial mechanism that would have a significant impact on reducing tropical deforestation.

3. 1972 : Stockholm Earth Summit
The 1972 Stockholm Earth Summit (UN conference on the Human Environment) produced an action plan which laid out clearly the educational, informational, social and cultural aspects of environmental issues. The Convention to Combat Desertification was held in 1977 to address land use practices and management of dry area ecosystems in an effort to desist degradation of arid, semi arid and sub-humid dry lands.		The 1971 Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action + international cooperation for the conservation and planned use of wetlands and their resources.

4. 1992 : Rio Earth Summit
Biodiversity won't save itself... but this preamble to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) outlines what needs doing. You can read more about the CBD from here if you are interested. The 1992 Rio Earth Summit was attended by 152 world leaders + led to the signing of conventions on biological diversity +desertification, a framework convention on climate change, principles for sustainable forestry + Agenda 21. Agenda 21 encourages the development of national strategies, plans, policies and processes capable of encouraging sustainable social and environmental development. UNFCC: The mission of the Climate Change Convention is to stabilize greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and prevent potentially dangerous interruption with the climate system. At the Rio Earth Summit a non-legally binding authoritative statement of principles for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of Forests was produced.		The 5 Rio Documents. Rio produced two international agreements, two statements of principles and a major action agenda on world wide sustainable development. The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was created in December 1992 to ensure effective follow-up of Rio Earth Summit (UNCED); to monitor and report on implementation of the Earth Summit agreements at the local, national, regional and international levels. The CSD is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), with 53 members. The The Declaration on Environment + Development was produced after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and outlined 27 agreed principles, with the goal of establishing a new and equitable global partnership through the creation of new levels of cooperation among states, key sectors of societies and people.

5. 1992-2002: Post Rio, Pre Jo'burg
UN World Summit on Sustainable Development All you ever wanted to know about this August 2002 summit and more! What is Sustainable development? Find out at this UK government site! You can also learn about the sustainable development indicators used by the UK government and contibute to a moderated forum. Why not let them know why you think sustainable development and the WSSD are important? The International Institute for Environment + Development's briefing document are crammed full of useful information on all matters biodiverse, sustainable and summit holdable... Earth Summit 2002 Newsletter... Keep you finger on the pulse during the run up to the main event! The International Institute for Sustainable Development advance a wide and rigorous range policy recommendations relating to environmental stewardship, economic development and the well-being of all people over the long-term. Pivotal + practical players... BOND facilitates information exchange and co-ordinates work on advocacy between the various NGO networks and individual agencies. This site has links to a many affiliated NGOs and co-ordinates campaigns such as urging countries to spend 0.7% GNP on aid. The Open University's Earth Summit for All website offered an excellent "discussion portal" which was open to anyone interested in the Johannesburg Summit. CUTS Watch is a multipurpose NGO working on several areas around trade and sustainable development, including sustainable consumption.		The UNED Stakeholder Forum offer an opportunity to learn more and contribute to the international debate. EarthsummitWatch What Have National Governments Done Since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio? A depressing litany of unmet targets... Will 2002 be any different? Let's hope so! The UN + plans for Jo'burg 2002. Learning from failure + building on success... The RING is a global alliance of research and policy organisations that seeks to enhance and promote sustainable development through a programme of collaborative research, dissemination and policy advocacy. The World Ecology news site provides access to regular updates on breaking news within ecology and related fields such as nuclear waste, pollution, renewable energy, science and waste disposal. This site draws on stories from a diverse range of international news organisations and is well worth browsing through. The ISSD's portal offers a vast array of up-to-date and extremely detailed information on the World Summit. It also offers excellent coverage on the activities of a wide variety of interested parties both before and after the summit. During the summit you were able to read the Latest WSSD news courtesy of the IISD. Now that the summit is over the best place to visit for detailed technical updates is the main www.wssd.info portal. The Danish 92 Group Rio + 10 Southern Network website is part of the project of 'Danish support for increased participation of Southern NGOs in the Johannesburg World Summit', which supports NGOs in 30 countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

6. 2002 : World Summit : Outcomes
The 1972 Stockholm Earth Summit (UN conference on the Human Environment) produced an action plan which laid out clearly the educational, informational, social and cultural aspects of environmental issues. In Monterrey, Mexico the International Conference on Financing for Development saw agreements made which are likely to determine how initiatives announced at the WSSD will be funded. In March 2002 the G8 nations announced an Action Plan for Africa.. This plan announced support for NEPAD, better governance, security measures, improved trading conditions + re-emphasised the conditions attached to debt relief... A Critique of the NEPAD proposals has been produced by intellectuals associated with the Alternative Information and Development Centre. The Citizens Guide to the WSSD was developed to provide both an introduction to the Summit and act central reference point for US NGOs engaged in the WSSD process. A useful tool for anyone who wishes to quickly become familiar with the event and the key issues that will be discussed in Johannesburg. The WSSD's preparatory meetings (PrepComs I - IV) have been well covered by the IISD. WEHAB: Water + Sanitation. Framework paper (pdf). WEHAB: Energy Framework paper (pdf). WEHAB: Health Framework paper (pdf). WEHAB: Agriculture Framework paper (pdf) WEHAB: Biodiversity + ecosystem management framework paper (pdf). General Principles, rights + responsibilities associated with sustainable development. Taken from the 1987 Brundtland Report "Our Common Future".		The 1992 Rio Earth Summit was attended by 152 world leaders + led to the signing of conventions on biological diversity +desertification, a framework convention on climate change, principles for sustainable forestry + Agenda 21. At Doha, Qatar the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference saw the battle lines being drawn between those advocating corporate globalisation, human rights and environmental standards. Negotiations on trade are likely to proceed within the framework outlined at this meeting. The NEPAD (New Partnership for Africas Development) document outlines the support of rich countries which will be made available if certain social and economic reforms are made by African countries. At the Rio 10 site the Eco-Equity NGO coalition, consisting of the Northern Alliance for Sustainability, Consumers International, the Danish 92 Group, Friends of the Earth International, Greenpeace International, Oxfam International and WWF International, have presented their comments on the advance unedited text of the draft plan of implementation for the WSSD. A series of WSSD policy briefs have been produced by the Worldwatch Institute. The WSSD Draft plan of implementation was drawn up in late June 2002. This plan is now likely to be replaced by the more focused WEHAB agenda but still helps to illustrate the issues under consideration. The Millennium Development Goals were agreed by 152 heads of state. These leaders pledged to moderate globalisation, foster better governance, 1/2 the number of people living in poverty by 2015, prevent conflict + protect the vulnerable, secure life on earth + strengthen the UN

7. 2002 : World Summit : Johannesburg
The Stakeholder's Forum World Summit 2002 website offers a clear outline of core issues, preparations made before the summit and updates of what has happened since it took place. The Virtual Exhibit (sponsored by business) webcast portions of the UN's WSSD and offers video clips covering a wide range of grass root projects + summit participants. The UN's Johannesburg Summit site offered access to official summit documentation as well as information on the agenda, programme + speakers. The World Wire website offers a very detailed summary of the World Summit's news stories which were sourced from many different media outlets. It also offers good quality resources, links, analysis + commentary. The UK's Guardian newspaper produced many summit-related articles which have now been archived together. It is unclear whether this site will be updated over time, but whatever happens this site will offer a useful historical record. The Open University's Earth Summit for All website offered an excellent "discussion portal" which was open to anyone interested in the Johannesburg Summit. At the Wales and the World conference, the National Assembly of Wales' First Minister, Rhodri Morgan and other eminent speakers set out how Wales could meet it's constitution responsibilities regarding sustainable development. Contact your head of state. This www.earthday.net site gives the contact details for 123 heads of government or state... Still a good idea, even if the excitement of the summit has passed! Why not Make a personal difference by sponsoring one of the 200 sustainable development organisations listed on this website? The World Bank's World Development Report 2003 says that without better policies and institutions, social and environmental strains may derail development progress, leading to higher poverty levels and a decline in the quality of life for everybody. Here you can watch the speeches of Kofi Annan, Tony Blair, Gerhard Schroeder, Romano Prodi, Jacques Chirac, Robert Mugabe + Tariq Aziz as Real Audio files courtesy of the BBC. The videos and text of many more individual speeches are available below. The Heinrich Boell Foundation's www.worldsummit2002.org website provides a great deal of useful information about the World Summit. In particular it outlines the main policy issues and the activities of civil society in the run up to + during the summit. In due course it will also analyse the summit's outcomes.		The ISSD's portal offers a vast array of up-to-date and extremely detailed information on the World Summit. It also offers excellent coverage on the activities of a wide variety of interested parties both before and after the summit. The Daily Summit offered instant news and comment throughout the World Summit and became my favourite site for the duration of the summit. This fantastic "weblog" site is still being updated and the archive offers an unrivalled summary of what went on during the summit's protests and negotiations. Friends of the Earth produced a special website for the World Summit which has now expired. This archive site contains a day-by-day summary of what went on during the summit as well as links to related campaigns and subsequent developments. During the summit you were able to read the Latest WSSD news courtesy of the IISD. Now that the summit is over the best place to visit for detailed technical updates is the main www.wssd.info portal. BBC News Online's "Disposable Planet" coverage neatly sums up the key problems and choices discussed at the World Summit. Comprehensive, concise + highly recommended! The Daily Summit's WSSD useful links page. Compact yet supremely thorough! If only one thing comes out of the World Summit on Sustainable Development what would you like it to be? Vote here. (A ESfA hosted poll). Radio Earth Summit allowed you to "make a noise!", tell your story, listen to other peoples' experiences or send a message to the delegates in Jo'burg. Find out about individuals + organisations that have helped to bring about the implementation of more sustainable development. The first ever Global Poll on the Environment for the Jo'burg Summit. Supported by the BBC, AOL/CNN, MSN and others. Everyone has the chance to have their voice heard. Results announced Sept 3 in Jo'burg. Greenpeace + The World Business Council for Sustainable Development have joined forces to tackle their shared and much greater enemy - climate change. They have agreed to put their mutual mistrust to one side and combine forces to urge that everyone does what they can to support speedier progress on this shared, serious + pressing threat. The Plan of implementation was the most important document negotiated + signed by countries at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. At this site you can also read the political declaration + treaty of events + a short summary of the key outcomes of the summit listing the dollar commitments made by the US, EU and others.

8. 2002 : World Summit : UN Agencies
The UNEP is responsible for extensive monitoring work and for explaining the role of the environment in development. The UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. They work on the ground in 166 countries and try to find local solutions to global and national development problems. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supports developing countries, at their request, to improve access to and the quality of reproductive health care, particularly family planning, safe motherhood, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS. The The Food & Agriculture Organisation is one of the largest specialised agencies of the UN + works to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security. The UNHCR helps the world's uprooted peoples by providing them with basic necessities such as shelter, food, water and medicine in emergencies and seeking long-term solutions, including voluntary return to their homes or beginning afresh in new countries. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This office aims "to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms". This Organisational Chart links to every major organ of the United Nations system.		The UN's homepage The World Health Organisation's homepage with access to the latest news, programmes and events. UNICEF's international website provides access to lots of easy-to-read (and find!) information relating to child poverty, welfare, health, conscription. The UNAIDS Report on the Global HIV/AIDS epidemic 2002 makes sobering reading but maps out the way ahead if we can find the money and resolve needed to turn the tide against this killer disease. AIDS threatens not just individuals but whole countries, however, this report highlights how preventative measures and medicine can and do make a difference if they are allowed to. Set-up in 1963, World Food Programme is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. In 2001, WFP fed 77 million people in 82 countries, including most of the world's refugees and internally displaced people. UNICEF (UK), the United Nations Children's Fund, is a global champion for children's rights which makes a lasting difference by working with communities and influencing governments. The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was created in December 1992 to ensure effective follow-up of Rio Earth Summit (UNCED); to monitor and report on implementation of the Earth Summit agreements at the local, national, regional and international levels. The CSD is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), with 53 members. This UN site lists every part of the UN in alphabetical order + helps you to find out more about the UN's missions, agencies, system + structure.

9. 2002 : World Summit : NGOs
The Conservation Foundation. David Bellamy got many people interested in environmental matters in the 70s and 80s + is still plugging away at making us care... Amnesty International fight injustice wherever it happens. Use the WWF national links page to find the World Wide Fund for Nature office and website for you, wherever you are. OXFAM Provides emergency relief + campaigns for policy and practice change on trade, conflict + humanitarian responses. Also issues such as debt relief, poverty reduction and universal basic education. The IUCN (World Conservation Union) is the international body responsible for drawing up lists of endangered species, conservation policy and action plans. A useful route to official documents, policies + specialist groups. Tree Aid has funded over 70 projects benefiting over 85,000 villagers in some 460 communities in 14 of Africa's poorest countries. Over 4.5 million tree have been planted, providing fuel, food, building materials, medicines and a vital source of income... Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights + other international standards. They have around a million members and supporters in 162 countries and territories. Action Aid work with poor local communities, national governments and international organisations - to bring about real change to the lives of poor people. A focused organisation with education, AIDS, food rights, international aid + peace building as priorities.. The Greenpeace International website for the Jo'burg Earth Summit was set up in January 2002. The documents section also contains all the issues of the ECO-Equity Bulletins prepared by the Rio 10 coalition. The Bretton Wood Project monitors the activities of the World Bank and the IMF + campaigns for their reform. A wealth of interesting briefing material is available from this site and regular "alerts" can be emailed to you on request. The Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit partnership of scientists and citizens combining rigorous scientific analysis, innovative policy development and effective citizen advocacy to achieve practical environmental solutions.		The Worldwatch Insititute advocate creating a more secure world, by protecting the environment and reducing poverty. Find out more about their eminently sensible suggestions in the report section... The International Rivers Network, encourage equitable and sustainable methods of meeting needs for water, energy and flood management. Transparency International a non-governmental organisation dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing both international and national corruption. National chapters try to build systems that combat corruption. The WWF's global network Flora + Fauna International act to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on science and take into account human needs. Water Aid an independent charity working with people in 15 countries in Africa and Asia, to improve their quality of life through lasting improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene using local skills and practical technology. UNICEF's international website provides access to lots of easy-to-read (and find!) information relating to child poverty, welfare, health, conscription. HelpAge International is a global network of not-for-profit organisations with a mission to work with and for disadvantaged older people worldwide to achieve a lasting improvement in the quality of their lives. The Womens Institute (W.I.) form the back bone of many urban and rural communities in the UK and famously held Tony Blair to account last year. They have now launched a campaign called "What Women Want" which asks women to say what they want world leaders to do at Rio +10 Friends of the Earth, campaign locally, nationally and internationally to protect the environment. Well-known for encouraging the use of practical, effective solutions... Why not Make a personal difference by sponsoring one of the 200 sustainable development organisations listed on this website? The Natural Resources Defense Council uses "law, science, and the support of more than 500,000 members nationwide to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things."

10. 2002 : World Summit : Outcomes
The Plan of implementation was the most important document negotiated + signed by countries at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. At this site you can also read the political declaration + treaty of events + a short summary of the key outcomes of the summit listing the dollar commitments made by the US, EU and others. The BBC have produced a simple Summary of the World Summit's conclusions. 30 break-away nations agree to pursue tougher renewable energy targets than could be agreed for inclusion in the summit's implementation plan. The UK's Darwin Initiative will have the current �3m annual budget boosted by �1m next year, �2m the following year, and �4m in 2005. This will more than double the money for Darwin over the next three years, to �7 million a year from 2005/6. A positive step in the right direction! For more details see the D.I. link in our Top 25 sites section. Russia + China have agreed to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol. This means 89 countries will soon have signed up and that countries producing 55% of global emissions will soon have ratified the protocol. Once ratified by all of these nations the protocol will come into force, thus facilitating the transfer of significant expertise and finance to developing countries. The Independent's Geoffrey Lean, an environmental writer for 25 years, reflects on the successes and failures of the World Summit. The UN has decided not to organise any more environment and development summits until governments put into practice what they have decided to do. Instead the UN will establish an International reporting mechanism which will monitor how governments are performing - naming and shaming those that do not do well - and campaigning for change. The Argentinean NGO Fundacion Ecologica Universal (FEU) - a member of the Rio 10 coalition - has drawn up an extremely useful Table showing the agreed targets from the World Summit's draft Plan of Implementation. This table should help everyone to analyse how to implement these commitments in different sub-regions and countries.		In this video Kofi Annan emphasises that it is up to each and every one of us to ensure that we make a difference over the next 10 years. Raised awareness: These UN fact sheets do a good job of summarising issues relating to global poverty, the Millennium Development Goals, why action on clean water + improved sanitation could achieve so much, the advantages of widening the use of and access to clean, renewable energy, the scope to improve basic health care + reduce preventable deaths, to better protect natural environments and to moderate the excesses of consumption + international trade... In the Gauteng Declaration 23 regional governments from 15 countries and 6 continents agreed to establish a global network for sharing information and experience about sustainable development, and promoting collaboration. The implicit message being that regions will get on and implement measures, whether or not nations can agree to put sustainable development at the heart of their decision making. More than $100 million is to be invested by five countries, the World Bank and a number of conservation groups to protect the forests of Africa's Congo Basin. The Brazilian government has joined with the WWF, the World Bank + the Global Environment Facility to launch a new initiative which will triple the amount of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil under federal protection. The Internationational Institute for Sustainable Development's Environmental Negotiations Bulletin offers a comprehensive + technical summary of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Aug 26th - Spet 4th 2002). Business Action (BASD) have now published a list of the Business partnerships set up prior to or during the Jo'burg World Summit. Click here to view partnerships under each of the WEHAB categories: Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Biodiversity + also cross-cutting issues.

11. AIDS/HIV + Malaria + TB
UN general assembly special session on AIDS. Today 36 million people are infected with the HIV virus; more than 21 million have died of AIDS since the 1980s, and there are currently over 13 million children who have been orphaned by this disease. Tuberculosis, Over 30 million will die from it during the next decade. Problems including the HIV/AIDS epidemic and a breakdown of the healthcare are implicated in the re-emergence of this deadly airborne disease. The World Health Organisation's homepage with access to the latest news, programmes and events. Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization Every year, up to 3 million children's lives are saved by immunization. But almost 3 million more lives worldwide are lost from diseases that are preventable with existing vaccines... The UNAIDS Report on the Global HIV/AIDS epidemic 2002 makes sobering reading but maps out the way ahead if we can find the money and resolve needed to turn the tide against this killer disease. AIDS threatens not just individuals but whole countries, however, this report highlights how preventative measures and medicine can and do make a difference if they are allowed to. A Lancet report suggests that we need smaller, more focused UN agencies which are able to establish and assess their development strategies on the basis of apolitical scientific research. Text of speech by Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS (click here for video). The Stop Aids Campaign links page offers many more AIDS links. Medicins Sans Frontieres are campaigning internationally for greater Access to Essential Medicines and support the view that patents are tools of public policy and must operate to serve the greater public good. MSF Access to Essential Medicines Campaign - Target disease Malaria. MSF Access to Essential Medicines Campaign - Target disease Leishmaniasis. MSF Access to Essential Medicines Campaign - Targetting Other diseases		Malaria kills 3000 African children under the age of 5 every day+ between 1 and 2 million people every year. Roughly, 300-500 million new cases occur every year, over 90% of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Even so only a miniscule amount of the world's health budget goes on fighting malaria... Why do we need a Renewed global effort for immunization? 1 in 4 children worldwide still does not receive the "basic" vaccines, the "vaccine gap" between rich and poor children is widening, HIV, TB and malaria - cannot be prevented by existing vaccines... The Stop Aids Campaign is backed by 15 charities + aims to ensure that all people have access to AIDS prevention messages. Those already infected also need access to care and to treatments while those caring for them need emotional, medical and financial support... The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supports developing countries, at their request, to improve access to and the quality of reproductive health care, particularly family planning, safe motherhood, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS. WEHAB: Health Framework paper (pdf). The South African Sparrow Ministries (a christian project)provide a home for destitute terminally ill adults and children with AIDS, to live and die with dignity -and care for all AIDS patients with professional, non-judgemental nursing care, coupled with love and commitment. You can read Alex Kirby's story about their work here. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organisation that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 80 countries. MSF Access to Essential Medicines Campaign - Target disease HIV / AIDS MSF Access to Essential Medicines Campaign - Target disease Tuberculosis. MSF Access to Essential Medicines Campaign - Target disease Sleeping Sickness. The World Health Report produced by the World Health Organisation says that we should do more to reduce risks in order to promote healthier living in both rich + poor countries. It also recommends that more be done in order to counter the burdens of disease, disability and premature death with institutional priorities and funding being changed in order to better tackle the biggest preventable disablers + killers...

12. Biodiversity
Biodiversity won't save itself... but this preamble to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) outlines what needs doing. You can read more about the CBD from here if you are interested. What do we protect first? Conservation International suggest that we use objective criteria to set international conservation priorities. Here CI recommend 25 global biodiversity hotspots + wilderness areas and 10 key marine areas for consideration... English Nature Action Plans. These reports are not available online but are free or cheap to buy. They outline how priority species and habitats are inter-related + how to develop integrated strategies for biodiversity conservation nationally and locally. The UNEP's GEO3 Report examines the policies and environmental impacts of the past 30 years. The report states that improvements have occurred in areas such as river and air quality in places like North America and Europe and the international effort to repair the ozone layer is another notable success. But generally there has been a steady decline in the environment, especially across large parts of the developing world. The In Reverse Report commissioned by a coalition of Australian NGOs says that the Australian government's recent WSSD report "overstates the domestic environmental policy achievements during the past decade, understates the nature of the crisis facing Australia, fails to indicate Australia's persistent + substantial contribution to worsening global environmental problems + makes no mention of Australia's exceptionally negative role in international goverance over the past decade." They don't sound impressed do they! Both Ends supports the work of environmental organisations, primarily in the so-called South (developing countries) and the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The core of their activities are in making connections, between South and North, environment and development, and between different sectors of society. The Energy + Biodiversity Initiative seeks to be a positive force for biodiversity conservation by bringing together 4 major energy companies and 5 leading conservation organizations to share experiences and build on intellectual capital to create value and influence key audiences. At the Rio Earth Summit a non-legally binding authoritative statement of principles for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of Forests was produced. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) helps developing countries fund projects and programs that protect the global environment. Established in 1991, GEF is the designated financial mechanism for international agreements on biodiversity, climate change, and persistent organic pollutants. GEF also supports projects that combat desertification and protect international waters and the ozone layer. The Wilderness Society works to protect The United States' wilderness and to develop a nation-wide network of wild lands through public education, scientific analysis and advocacy. Oceana campaign to protect the world's oceans. They bring together expertise from around the world in order to save the oceans through public policy advocacy, science + economics, legal action, grassroots mobilization, and public education. The Iceland Nature Conservation Association campaigns for sustainable land use and conservation in Iceland, especially in the highlands. Current campaigns include fighting a non-sustainable hydroelectric development + lobbying against the building of an aluminium smelter in eastern Iceland. The updated IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is the world's most authoritative source of information on the status of plants and animals. There are now (at least) 11,167 species threatened with extinction, an increase of 121 since 2000... The Bactrian camel, Iberian lynx, tiger tail seahorse + Ethiopian water mouse are in serious trouble whereas the Lord Howe Island stick insect + the Bavarian pine vole have been rediscovered... see some photos here! Systematic biology is a branch of science which identifies organisms, assesses their evolutionary relationships to one another and enables us to decide whether species are new to science, extinct or the same as those we already know about. Ecologists, molecular scientists + many others rely on this sort of information in order to work out what organisms they are dealing with and find out more about them. An influential House of Lords Select Committee has recently published a report entitled "What on Earth? The Threat to the Science underpinning conservation " which "found compelling evidence that the level of systematic biology expertise in the United Kingdom has, despite some areas of increased activity, continued to fall overall". They advise increasing financial support, enhancing collaborations + the setting of research priorities. Between 29 Oct + 1 Nov 2002, the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit took place in Kyrgyzstan as part of the UN's International Year of Mountains. At this summit the UNEP published a report highlighting the role mountains play in providing clean water to low-lying areas + Birdlife International launched a campaign highlighting the inter-connections between numerous social + environmental issues within the mountainous regions of the world.		If you are a business why not Sign up to the CBD like most governments already have? If you are the US government... Why don't you Sign up too? Consequences of changing biodiversity A Nature insight special: The large ecological and societal consequences of changing biodiversity should be minimized to preserve options for future solutions to global environmental problems. Birdlife Advocate that we gather the information necessary for effective action, develop plans of action for species, protect important bird areas and act to support the environment + people at local to international scales The IUCN (World Conservation Union) is the international body responsible for drawing up lists of endangered species, conservation policy and action plans. A useful route to official documents, policies + specialist groups. Economic Reasons for Conserving Wild Nature An international group of conservation and environmental scientists make the case -- based on a review of more than 300 case studies -- that the economic benefits of continued habitat conservation exceed costs by at least 100 to 1. Ref: Andrew Balmford et al. Science 297, 950 (2002) WEHAB: Biodiversity + ecosystem management framework paper (pdf). The ITDG have produced a briefing paper entitled "Preserving the Web of Life" and seek support for measures to ensure farmers have access to genetic resources for food and agriculture. The WWF + The World Bank have teamed up to create the Forest Alliance. This Alliance is working with governments, the private sector, and civil society to create 50 million hectares (124 million acres) of new protected areas of forest. It is also helping ensure that a similar amount of existing protected areas come under effective management by 2005. Charles Chester at Tufts University (US) has produced a very comprehensive set of Biodiversity useful links. His site contains hundreds of sites under dozens of categories. The Convention to Combat Desertification was held in 1977 to address land use practices and management of dry area ecosystems in an effort to desist degradation of arid, semi arid and sub-humid dry lands. An International ombudsman has been established by The Earth Council + the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in order to prevent + resolve conflicts relating to the environment, natural resources + sustainable development with an international or a trans-boundary dimension. Environmental Defense is a leading US nonprofit organization representing more than 300,000 members. Since 1967, they have linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society's most urgent environmental problems. The Bolivia Sustainable Forest Management Project (BOLFOR) aims to reduce degradation of forest, soil, and water resources and to protect the biological diversity of Bolivia's forests; its purpose is to build Bolivian public and private sector capacity to develop and implement programs for sustainable forest use. Read a BBC article about it here. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources came into force in 1982 and aims to conserve marine life of the Southern Ocean. This site offers an excellent explanation of how and why the inhospitable southern oceans are studied, managed and protected. The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information for policy and action to conserve the living world. They monitor a wide variety of species + habitats, address the relationship between trade + the environment and the wider aspects of biodiversity assessment. Invasive species are organisms (usually transported by humans) which successfully establish themselves in, and then overcome, otherwise intact, pre-existing native ecosystems. Biologists are still trying to characterise this capability to invade in the hope that incipient invasions can be predicted and stopped. Further links can be found here... Biodiversity + Biological Collections Web Server offers links to searchable resources related to botany, herpotology, invertebrates, entomology, ichthyology, mammalogy + several other "ologies". It also offers information on national and international biological societies, natural history museums, identification keys, journals + electronic books... A fantastic resource! The Tree of Life website helps to illustrate how different forms of life are related to one another and offers fascinating information on everything from bacteria, beetles + birds to dinosaurs, flowers + fungi. The popular pages are suitable for anyone who is interested in the diversity of life. The specialist pages offer access to a vast array of cutting edge research, useful links + numerous other resources. The Tree of Life site is probably one of best uses of the web yet and is growing rapidly as more + more collections and genetic databases are put online. A meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has just started in Santiago, Chile. It will attempt to balance the protection of rare species with the promotion of sustainable development... Hot topics include - a review of laws which currently ban the sale of ivory, the risk pirate fishing poses to Patagonian toothfish in southern oceans, the illegal trading of Hawksbill turtles for their tortoiseshell + the numerous threats to seahorses which are caught in vast quantities for traditional medicine and aquaria.

13. Business
The Financial Times, the home of daily business news. Consumers International What are the costs of a lack of social responsibility... a failure to attract good employees, diversions of management attention, obstacles in raising financing, difficulties with customers and suppliers... The Economist Weekly newspaper/magazine covering national and international financial + business news in depth. Data accompanied by intelligent comment and analysis. The Pew Centre represents a number of American companies who are keen to see action on climate change. Read their policy proposals and analysis here. Bill Ford Chairman of the Ford Motor Company spoke at a Greenpeace Conference in 2000. Read his speech here. Ford have developed many new technologies + approaches but need consumers and governments to help out... From the people who bring you the FTSE 100... The FTSE4Good is a series of financial indicators (benchmark and tradable indices) which aid investment in companies with good records of corporate social responsibility. In 1999 Kofi Annan challenged world business leaders at the World Economic Forum to "embrace and enact" the Global Compact, both in their corporate practices and by supporting appropriate public policies. These principles cover human rights, labour + environment. The Oxford Brookes University Environmental Information Exchange offers a useful enabling service to small and medium-sized businesses who have environmental concerns but lack the infra-structure to tackle their problems without practical assistance or specialist advice. The National Assembly for Wales has a turnover of over �8 billion per annum, 3,200 employees and serves 2.9 million customers.The Assembly is looking for commercial partners who can "Win their Business" while helping to achieve positive social, economic and environmental goals. Vote for the Greenwash Oscars and reward the achievements of big business in the field of sustainable development... CorpWatch counter the excesses of corporate-led globalization through education and activism and work to foster democratic control over corporations by building grassroots globalization. Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) is a comprehensive network of business organizations that have come together under one banner in the interests of sustainable development. BASD is a joint initiative of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace offers a great deal of intelligent analysis + here explores fundamental questions relating to Trade, Equity + Development... Such as whether increased trade is necessarily harmful to the environment, whether increased trade negatively impacts jobs and labor standards, and how the forces of trade and financial flows can be harnessed to achieve economic growth and poverty alleviation... Thought provoking stuff !!! Innovest specialise in analysing companies' performance on environmental, social, + strategic governance issues, with a particular focus on their impact on competitiveness, profitability, and share price performance. The UNEP's Finance Initiatives have engaged over 275 financial institutions in order to develop and promote the linkages between the environment and financial performance. These initiatives help to emphasise how wiser energy usage, resource throughput + waste output can enhance the bottom line, can assist with the identification and quantification of environmental risk + promote the development of new products. The National Centre for Business + Sustainability works with private and public sector clients on a wide range of sustainability issues - from applied environmental advice and services, to social accounting and auditing. The NCBS represents an unique not-for-profit partnership between the Co-operative Bank + the 4 universities of Greater Manchester. In a speech at the Jo'burg World Summit BASD Chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart said that in order to maximize its contribution to sustainable development business needs regulation of markets and strong local governance... AccountAbility is an international membership organisation committed to enhancing the performance of organisations and developing the competencies of individuals in social and ethical accountability and sustainable development. They have developed the AA1000 Assurance Standard. The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (US) promotes the use of clean energy solutions to environmental problems (such as pollution and climate change). The council works on climate change, market access, international financing, energy tax policy + R&D; issues. If you want to understand how business thinks and plans it is well worth reading Shell's "People, Planet and Profits" report. This report identifies possible/likely social, economic and environmental trends over the next 20 years and how, under alternate scenarios, they may impact on the way business is done. Learn about the emerging "business class", "government referees", "consumer kings", "beyond-product services", "consumer boycotts" + "The Great Game of Gas".		World Business Council for Sustainable Development Corporate responsibility requires a commitment to sustainable development, working with employees, their families, the local community and the society at large in order to improve the quality of life. Business for Social Responsibility Good behaviour has a positive impact on a business' s economic performance. Improved financial performance, reduced operating costs, enhanced brand image + reputation, increased sales..." Sounds pretty good! HSBC has just given $50 million to the World Wide Fund for Nature (to restore river basins in China, Brazil and the US), the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (to set up seed banks) + Earthwatch..Well done! In 2000, Kofi Annan, launched a Global compact in support of universal values and responsible business operations. This challenged businesses to promote and apply in their activites nine principles in the field of human rights, labour standards and the environment. Www.business-humanrights.org provide access to a mind-boggling array of reports and issues. This site "aims to promote informed discussion of important policy issues" + takes no position on the diverse views presented. An important + informative resource. What is ethical trade? Find out in this thoughtful and well researched paper by Mick Blowfield and Keith Jones. This paper explores the social, environmental and financial implications of ethical supply chains and outlines the experiences of numerous industries and countries A currency speculation tax, or Tobin tax, was first proposed by Nobel prize-winning US economist James Tobin in the 1970s and the idea of has rapidly gained support ever since. A Tobin tax of much less than 1% would also raise a lot of money... estimates range from $50 billion to $300 billion per year. This money could be spent on fighting poverty providing basic health, education and sanitation. Why not find out more about this radical but eminently sensible idea... it might just work! Find out about individuals + organisations that have helped to bring about the implementation of more sustainable development. The Global Reporting Initiative was set up in 1997 in order to provide timely, credible, and consistent information on an organisation's economic, environmental + social performance. The GRI aims to develop globally applicable guidelines for reporting on the economic, environmental + social performance, initially for corporations but eventually also for smaller businesses, governments + NGOs. An International ombudsman has been established by The Earth Council + the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in order to prevent + resolve conflicts relating to the environment, natural resources + sustainable development with an international or a trans-boundary dimension. The mission of UNEP DTIE is to encourage decision makers in government, industry + business to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices that are cleaner and safer, make efficient use of natural resources that incorporate environmental costs, ensure environmentally sound management of chemicals, reduce pollution and risks for human and beings and the environment, enable implementation of conventions. www.biodiversityeconomics.org outlines the business case for biodiversity, identifies corporate biodiversity issues + provides guidance for developing biodiversity corporate action. At the Global Responsibility Forum 2002 (14-16 November 2002, Monaco) the role of the financial services industry, financial institutions + the insurance sector in promoting social and environmental responsibility will be explored. The seven London Principles propose conditions under which financial market mechanisms can best promote the financing of sustainable development. The Rocky Mountain Institute is an entrepreneurial, non-profit organization that fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to create a more secure, prosperous, and life-sustaining world. Business Action (BASD) have now published a list of the Business partnerships set up prior to or during the Jo'burg World Summit. Click here to view partnerships under each of the WEHAB categories: Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Biodiversity + also cross-cutting issues. The SIGMA Project is a partnership between the British Standards Institution, Forum for the Future and AccountAbility. The aim of the project is to create a framework for sustainable business through the provision of 'next generation' business management principles, systems and tools. Plenty of conceptual frameworks, linkages + facilitation are offered on this site! The UK emissions trading scheme is the world's first economy-wide greenhouse gas trading scheme. 34 organisations have already voluntarily taken on a legally binding obligation to reduce their emissions against 1998-2000 levels... Global Witness obtain first-hand information and evidence documenting the impacts and behaviour of the international oil, logging + diamond industries. They challenge corporate and government practices that result in the unregulated + destructive exploitation of resources and aim to break the links between the exploitation of natural resources and the funding of conflict and corruption.

14. Capacity building
The Tropical Biology Association run ecology courses in Africa + has a growing network of individuals and institutions. The TBA is steadily establishing a collaborative framework for conservation and other research activities in the tropics. The Tropical Forest Resource Group (TFRG) is a voluntary association of UK institutions and organisations that have strong tropical forestry research, project management + consultancy backgrounds. Their training courses and collaborative projects build on each others' strengths. The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council is a leading international organisation that enhances collaboration in the water supply and sanitation sector to accelerate the achievement of sustainable water, sanitation and waste management services to all people, with special attention to the unserved poor, by enhancing collaboration among developing countries and external support agencies and through concerted action programmes. An editorial on this site by Sir Richard Jolly quotes Maurice Strong describing the World Summit as "...a struggle between the world's ecosystems and its egosystems".		Action Aid work with poor local communities, national governments and international organisations - to bring about real change to the lives of poor people. A focused organisation with education, AIDS, food rights, international aid + peace building as priorities.. The Development Alternatives Group (India) aims to promote sustainable national development. They endeavour to innovate and disseminate the means for creating sustainable livelihoods on a large scale, and thus to mobilise widespread action to eradicate poverty and regenerate the environment.

15. Climate Change
The Met Office's Hadley Centre provides a focus in the UK for the scientific issues associated with climate change. Stockholm Environment Institute Research activities in 5 main areas; atmospheric environment, climate + energy resources, sustainable development, water resources, risk + vulnerabilities. Developing city scale working models + partnerships. www.changingclimate.org This site invites you to engage with the latest ideas, research and action on all aspects of our changing climate. It has just been launched so please help to get the ideas flowing... The IPCC : The Science of Climate Change (working group 1). The website provides access to synthesis and technical reports on the science of climate change as well as information on the IPCC, publications and meetings. The IPCC : Climate Change 2001 - Mitigation (working group 3). This report outlines the problems associated with tackling long-term, complex, climate-change problems and the potential for different outcomes according the the steps we take next. UK Cilmate Impacts Project The latest climate models suggest global mean surface temperatures will rise by between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees C by 2100. Find out here what this could mean for the UK and elsewhere... The mission of the British Antarctic Survey is to undertake a world-class programme of science in the Antarctic and related regions, addressing key global and regional issues through research, survey and long term monitoring. The BAS also helps to discharge the UK's international responsibilities under the Antarctic Treaty System, especially concerning environmental protection, management and the administration of the British Antarctic Territory. Read the complete text of the Kyoto Protocol. UNFCC: The mission of the Climate Change Convention is to stabilize greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and prevent potentially dangerous interruption with the climate system. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) helps developing countries fund projects and programs that protect the global environment. Established in 1991, GEF is the designated financial mechanism for international agreements on biodiversity, climate change, and persistent organic pollutants. GEF also supports projects that combat desertification and protect international waters and the ozone layer. The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (US) promotes the use of clean energy solutions to environmental problems (such as pollution and climate change). The council works on climate change, market access, international financing, energy tax policy + R&D; issues.		The Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia is widely recognised as one of the world's leading institutions concerned with the study of natural and anthropogenic climate change. The Pew Centre represents a number of American companies who are keen to see action on climate change. Read their policy proposals and analysis here. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was set up in 1988. This body assesses the scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change, addresses the negative and positive consequences of climate change + the options for adaption by nations. The IPCC : Climate Change Impacts, Adaptions + Vulnerabilities (working group 2). This website's report links the scientific, technical, environmental, economic and social aspects of climate change. This website is very interesting, but can be technical... The IPCC : National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme try to develop and refine an internationally-agreed ways to calculate and reporting of national GHG emissions/removals + encourage countries to adopt best practice. Www.co2.org This site is dedicated to helping YOU stop damaging the climate. Climate Care can take the global warming out of the things you do and the products you buy, so that you become part of the solution, not part of the problem. A great website! Greenpeace, environmental campaigners par excellence! Friends of the Earth, campaign locally, nationally and internationally to protect the environment. Well-known for encouraging the use of practical, effective solutions... The In Reverse Report commissioned by a coalition of Australian NGOs says that the Australian government's recent WSSD report "overstates the domestic environmental policy achievements during the past decade, understates the nature of the crisis facing Australia, fails to indicate Australia's persistent + substantial contribution to worsening global environmental problems + makes no mention of Australia's exceptionally negative role in international goverance over the past decade." They don't sound impressed do they! Environmental Defense is a leading US nonprofit organization representing more than 300,000 members. Since 1967, they have linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society's most urgent environmental problems. The UK emissions trading scheme is the world's first economy-wide greenhouse gas trading scheme. 34 organisations have already voluntarily taken on a legally binding obligation to reduce their emissions against 1998-2000 levels...

16. Development: NGOs + Agencies
Jubilee Research (Formerly Jubilee 2000) Organisers of the successful Drop the Debt campaign and convincing advocates for economic reform. The World Health Organisation's homepage with access to the latest news, programmes and events. OXFAM Provides emergency relief + campaigns for policy and practice change on trade, conflict + humanitarian responses. Also issues such as debt relief, poverty reduction and universal basic education. Water Aid an independent charity working with people in 15 countries in Africa and Asia, to improve their quality of life through lasting improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene using local skills and practical technology. The UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. They work on the ground in 166 countries and try to find local solutions to global and national development problems. HelpAge International is a global network of not-for-profit organisations with a mission to work with and for disadvantaged older people worldwide to achieve a lasting improvement in the quality of their lives. Action Aid work with poor local communities, national governments and international organisations - to bring about real change to the lives of poor people. A focused organisation with education, AIDS, food rights, international aid + peace building as priorities.. The International Fund for Agricultural Development does what it can to secure access to land, water and other productive assets is basic to lasting solutions to hunger and poverty. Count the number of smiling faces on this website... it must be close to a world record! Set-up in 1963, World Food Programme is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. In 2001, WFP fed 77 million people in 82 countries, including most of the world's refugees and internally displaced people. The UNHCR helps the world's uprooted peoples by providing them with basic necessities such as shelter, food, water and medicine in emergencies and seeking long-term solutions, including voluntary return to their homes or beginning afresh in new countries. Both Ends supports the work of environmental organisations, primarily in the so-called South (developing countries) and the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The core of their activities are in making connections, between South and North, environment and development, and between different sectors of society. The International Federation of Red Cross + Red Crescent Societies is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, with 178 member National Societies. Their programmes aim to assist the world's most vulnerable people. Funded by appeals, their activities focus on health, disaster response and disaster preparedness. All of their work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. The International Crisis Group (ICG) is a private, international organisation, with staff on five continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict. Oxford University's Refugee Studies Centre have assembled a list of humanitarian organisations working on forced migration- related issues internationally and within Africa, Asia, Europe + North America. Reuter's Alertnet news service is relied upon by 170+ Emergency relief organisations from all over the world. This page links to each of the service's member organisations. Social Watch. An international citizens' coalition monitoring implementation of the world governments' commitments to eradicate poverty and achieve gender equity.		Find out what the Worldbank is doing to fight global poverty. Gateway to the UK's DFID (Department for International Development). Transparency International a non-governmental organisation dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing both international and national corruption. National chapters try to build systems that combat corruption. The International Institute for Environment + Development's briefing document are crammed full of useful information on all matters biodiverse, sustainable and summit holdable... The International Institute for Sustainable Development advance a wide and rigorous range policy recommendations relating to environmental stewardship, economic development and the well-being of all people over the long-term. Pivotal + practical players... UNICEF's international website provides access to lots of easy-to-read (and find!) information relating to child poverty, welfare, health, conscription. Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) specialise in helping people to use technology for Practical Answers to Poverty. ITDG works with poor communities to develop appropriate technologies in food production, energy, transport, shelter, small-scale mining ,disaster mitigation + more. According to the The Population Institute it took all of recorded history until 1830 for world population to reach 1 billion; by 1930 we were at 2 billion; by 1960, 3 billion; 1975, 4 billion; 1986, 5 billion; and in 1999 we crossed the 6 billion mark. At this site you can find out what some of the implications of this massive growth in human numbers are. The The Food & Agriculture Organisation is one of the largest specialised agencies of the UN + works to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security. The World Development Movement campaign for reform of the WTO, the General Agreement on Trade in Servcice (GATS), the cancellation of third world debt and stronger regulation of business. UNICEF (UK), the United Nations Children's Fund, is a global champion for children's rights which makes a lasting difference by working with communities and influencing governments. The Social Science Research Council is an independent + international NGO organization that seeks to advance social science throughout the world and supports research, education and scholarly exchange on every continent. The Danish Refugee Council works for viable solutions that can help and protect refugees around the world and in Denmark The Care International confederation work in 64 countries around the world. They are dedicated to working together with local communities to fight poverty and administer both disaster and long-term development programmes. INCAE is a private, non-profit, international, higher-education organization devoted to teaching and research endeavors in the fields of business and economics. They aim to teach individuals capable of successfully holding top management positions in Latin America. The Overseas Development Institute has compiled a very comprehensive set of humanitarian links covering a wide range of issues and geographical regions. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organisation that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 80 countries. The Development Alternatives Group (India) aims to promote sustainable national development. They endeavour to innovate and disseminate the means for creating sustainable livelihoods on a large scale, and thus to mobilise widespread action to eradicate poverty and regenerate the environment.

17. Development: Issues
Briefing documents from the IIED + RING; equity, global environmental governance, poverty, migration, climate change, biodiversity, health + development, plus much more. Complex issues covered very clearly and concisely! Why do we need a Renewed global effort for immunization? 1 in 4 children worldwide still does not receive the "basic" vaccines, the "vaccine gap" between rich and poor children is widening, HIV, TB and malaria - cannot be prevented by existing vaccines... World Water Day 2002, the UN has warned that more than 2.7 billion people will face severe water shortages by the year 2025 if we do not alter our rates of water consumption. Water is crucially important for sustaining human life + development + conserving the environment! Factor 4 is a simple yet radical concept which, it has been suggested, holds the key to sustainable development. It refers to a hypothetical fourfold increase in 'resource productivity', brought about by simultaneously doubling wealth and halving resource consumption. In Monterrey, Mexico the International Conference on Financing for Development saw agreements made which are likely to determine how initiatives announced at the WSSD will be funded. In March 2002 the G8 nations announced an Action Plan for Africa.. This plan announced support for NEPAD, better governance, security measures, improved trading conditions + re-emphasised the conditions attached to debt relief... The Millennium Development Goals were agreed by 152 heads of state. These leaders pledged to moderate globalisation, foster better governance, 1/2 the number of people living in poverty by 2015, prevent conflict + protect the vulnerable, secure life on earth + strengthen the UN Text of speech by Kenneth G. Ruffing, Acting Director, Environment Directorate OECD (click here for video). Refugee Net is the website of the EU Networks on reception, integration and voluntary repatriation of refugees + is a source of information and ideas related to the Integration of refugees in Europe. Medicins Sans Frontieres are campaigning internationally for greater Access to Essential Medicines and support the view that patents are tools of public policy and must operate to serve the greater public good. Learn how the World Bank, IMF, WTO + G7/G8 are organised and what each of these bodies does. The Global Policy Forum monitor global policy making at the United Nations. They also assess they role of NGOs within the UN, UN reform the UN's financial problems+ more topical issues such as September 11 and the Iraq crisis. The International Water Management Institute is a non-profit scientific research organization specializing in water use in agriculture and integrated management of water and land resources. IWMI works with partners in the South to develop tools and methods to help these countries eradicate poverty and ensure food security through more effective management of their water and land resources. The Dana Declaration on "Mobile Peoples and Conservation" outlines the need to promote sound empirical studies in order to justify either displacing people for conservation or integrating them into the planning and management for sustainable livelihoods and conservation. A paper by the Open University's Joseph Hanlon entitled "Are donors to Mozambique promoting corruption?" says that "Mozambique has become a donor playground, and the Mozambican elite has become highly skilled at giving the donors what they want. Thus management of donor money is transparent and clear. The predatory elite do not steal donors' funds; instead they rob banks, skim public works contracts, demand shares in investments, and smuggle drugs and other goods - and they ensure that the justice system does not work so they cannot be caught." The issues raised in this paper are likely to apply to numerous other countries + although they make uncomfortable reading cannot, and should, not be ignored. Also find out about the assassination of two well-respected Mozambican journalists, Carlos Cardoso + Antonio Siba-Siba Macuacua, as they were about to expose those behind a $400 million banking scandal...		The International Rivers Network, encourage equitable and sustainable methods of meeting needs for water, energy and flood management. Prof. Partha Dasgupta, A Cambridge University expert on the economics of poverty and nutrition; environmental economics; economic measurement; economics of knowledge. Many excellent papers are available via this link. The Stop Aids Campaign is backed by 15 charities + aims to ensure that all people have access to AIDS prevention messages. Those already infected also need access to care and to treatments while those caring for them need emotional, medical and financial support... The Development Gateway offers news articles and links on a vast range of development issues including: Aid effectiveness, business environment, culture + development E-government, environmental law, food security, foreign direct investment, gender and development, HIV/AIDS, indigenous rights, judicial and legal reform, microfinance, NGOs, population + reproductive health, poverty, trade + development, urban managers, water resources management + much more besides! At Doha, Qatar the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference saw the battle lines being drawn between those advocating corporate globalisation, human rights and environmental standards. Negotiations on trade are likely to proceed within the framework outlined at this meeting. The NEPAD (New Partnership for Africas Development) document outlines the support of rich countries which will be made available if certain social and economic reforms are made by African countries. Id21 is a fully-searchable online journal of the latest international development research, specialising in bringing all aspects of development research to an international audience of policy makers, development practitioners and journalists. The Humanitarian Accountability Project. aims to enhance the general quality of assistance provided to people affected by disaster, improve consultation during humanitarian crises, increase the use of local capacities + improve co-ordination between humanitarian actors... This website outlines what is being done to help Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC). It also links to most of the bodies involved in setting the levels of debt relief granted as well as the NGOs involved in the related advocacy work. Agenda 21 encourages the development of national strategies, plans, policies and processes capable of encouraging sustainable social and environmental development. Population Communications International (PCI) encourages people to make choices that lead to better health and sustainable development. Working with local partners worldwide, PCI produces carefully researched and culturally sensitive radio and television soap operas. These serial dramas motivate people to adopt new attitudes and behaviors that foster reproductive and sexual health, gender equality, and environmental protection. Oxfam's "What" campaign highlights the serious problems faced by small-scale coffee producers. The two biggest problems are that much more coffee is being grown than is needed + that the global coffee market is dominated by just four powerful coffee companies. Here you can read Oxfam's recent briefing paper entitled the "The Great Sugar Scam". Although the EU is the most expensive producer of sugar in the world it is also the biggest exporter of this commodity (accounting for 40% of world white sugar exports) + sells sugar at prices 50% to 65% less than those guaranteed within the EU... Subsidies and tariffs generate vast profits for big sugar processors and large farmers - and vast surpluses that are dumped on world markets... The Danish 92 Group Rio + 10 Southern Network website is part of the project of 'Danish support for increased participation of Southern NGOs in the Johannesburg World Summit', which supports NGOs in 30 countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

18. Development: News
Reuter's Alertnet an excellent news service relied upon by 171 Aid agencies! AllAfrica.com offer an up-to-date summary of aid, trade, debt relief, population, wildlife, water and drought news + views. This summary is compiled from the output of 100 news services across Africa. Relief Web is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). It offers news headlines, information on countries receiving emergency relief + details on UN co-ordination services. On October 1st 2002 Kofi Annan warned that the world was falling short in meeting the objectives agreed by global leaders 2 years ago in the Millennium Declaration + outlined a series of steps being taken by the United Nations + its partners to help accelerate progress (watch his press conference video announcing country-level reporting here) towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).		United Nations News (Daily) A fascinating website that covers daily Aid, Health, Politics, NATO, Refugee and World Debt news and links to all UN Programs, national missions and related sites... OneWorld is a community of over 1250 organisations working for social justice. This site offers news from all over the world and access to various specialist news broadcasts covering a raft of development issues. www.IRINnews.org is a UN humanitarian information unit which offers regular news summaries. The most comprehensive news coverage is offered for Africa but central Asia is also covered to a lesser extent.

19. Development: Reports
The Human Development Report 2001 by the UN Development Programme. "Making new technology work for human development" Read Kofi Annan's speech, as Secretary General of the UN, at the issuing of the UN's Millennium Report "We the peoples: The Role of the United Nations in the 21st Century." A Critique of the NEPAD proposals has been produced by intellectuals associated with the Alternative Information and Development Centre. A Lancet report suggests that we need smaller, more focused UN agencies which are able to establish and assess their development strategies on the basis of apolitical scientific research. The World Bank's World Development Report 2003 says that without better policies and institutions, social and environmental strains may derail development progress, leading to higher poverty levels and a decline in the quality of life for everybody. The World Commission on Dams was an independent, international, multi-stakeholder process which addressed the controversial issues associated with large dams. It provided a unique opportunity to bring into focus the many assumptions and paradigms that are at the centre of the search to reconcile economic growth, social equity, environmental conservation + political participation in the changing global context. The Commission completed its work with the launch of its final report + disbanded. In the "Uncovering Greenwash" report civil society organisations from 22 countries have joined forces in order to critically assess the progress that governments have made since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. This rivetting report is packed full of national case studies and calls for "leadership" + "political will" along with the setting of "clear targets, time lines, the means of implementation + monitoring" The World Health Report produced by the World Health Organisation says that we should do more to reduce risks in order to promote healthier living in both rich + poor countries. It also recommends that more be done in order to counter the burdens of disease, disability and premature death with institutional priorities and funding being changed in order to better tackle the biggest preventable disablers + killers...		Human Development Reports 1990-2000, covering in detail the concept of human development and the roles of poverty eradication, human rights, participation, security, globalisation on development. The Human Development Report 2002: Politics matter for human development. Reducing poverty depends as much on whether poor people have political power as on their opportunities for economic progress. Democracy has proven to be the system of governance most capable of mediating and preventing conflict and of securing and sustaining well-being. By expanding people's choices about how and by whom they are governed, democracy brings principles of participation and accountability to the process of human development. The Overseas Development Institute have produced a report assessing the merits and scope of the Humanitarian Accountability Project The G8 Renewable Energy Task Force has produced a report which offers recommendations on the best ways to make renewable energy available to millions of people who currently have no access to clean and reliable forms of energy. Read the report as a PDF file here The International Rivers Network have produced a Citizens Guide to the (400 page long!) World Commission on Dams Report in order to ensure that it's rigorous + useful recommendations and guidelines are more likely to be followed than not. The Food + Agriculture Organisation have published a report entitled The State of Food Insecurity in the World. This report says that world-wide there are currently about 840 million under-nourished people and that this number has only dropped by 2.5 million people per annum over the last 8 years. At this rate it's not looking good for halving the number by 2015 as was agreed at the Millennium Summit two years ago.

20. Ecology + Conservation
The Conservation Foundation. David Bellamy got many people interested in environmental matters in the 70s and 80s + is still plugging away at making us care... Natural Selection is a gateway (search engine) that will help you find quality, evaluated Internet resources in the natural world co-ordinated by The Natural History Museum, London. What do we protect first? Conservation International suggest that we use objective criteria to set international conservation priorities. Here CI recommend 25 global biodiversity hotspots + wilderness areas and 10 key marine areas for consideration... The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. A beautiful garden that is also home to world class research and teaching. Key activities also include conservation, taxonomy, publishing, databases management + curation of a crucially important collection... Link to a wide range of Ecology + Zoology Journals here. Plus a variety of useful internet tools, information on ecological techniques and environment updates. Flora + Fauna International act to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on science and take into account human needs. The Zoological Society of London. The society that runs London Zoo and publishes a range of high calibre journals. The ZSL also run a range of excellent conservation and education programmes. The Game Conservancy Trust conduct research into the ecology and biology of game species and their environmental requirements + publish the useful results of such research. Game species that are studied by the GCT include partridges, pheasants, capercaillie, hares + foxes. The mission of the British Antarctic Survey is to undertake a world-class programme of science in the Antarctic and related regions, addressing key global and regional issues through research, survey and long term monitoring. The BAS also helps to discharge the UK's international responsibilities under the Antarctic Treaty System, especially concerning environmental protection, management and the administration of the British Antarctic Territory. WEHAB: Biodiversity + ecosystem management framework paper (pdf). The Wilderness Society works to protect The United States' wilderness and to develop a nation-wide network of wild lands through public education, scientific analysis and advocacy. Defenders of Wildlife advocate new approaches to wildlife conservation that will help to slow extinction rates and also help to keep species from becoming endangered. Their programs encourage protection of entire ecosystems + interconnected habitats while protecting predators that serve as indicator species for ecosystem health. The Sea Turtle Restoration Project (STRP) fights to protect endangered sea turtle populations in ways that meet the ecological needs of the sea turtles and the needs of the local communities who share the beaches and waters with these gentle creatures. Find out about the biology, conservation, and management of Seahorses at Amanda Vincent's website. Seahorses (and the related pipefish + seadragons) are threatened by habitat destruction and by their over-exploitation as traditional medicines and as curios. The Jane Goodall Institute aims to increase primate habitat conservation, to expand non-invasive research programs on chimpanzees (and other primates) + to promote activities that ensure the well-being of chimpanzees, other primates and animal welfare activities in general. This IUCN Report on the Ethiopian Wolf says that there are fewer than 400 Ethiopian Wolves left in the world and that this species is the most endangered canid in the world. The report suggests that the protection of wild populations + the initiation of well co-ordinated captive breeding will be necessary in order to offer this species a long-term future. The British Natural History Museum's recent "Coffee and Biodiversity Conservation in El Salvador" project aimed to enhance conservation by providing the tools, training and information necessary to empower local people to monitor and assess the biodiversity of the forests associated with Shade Coffee farms in El Salvador. The most critical conservation problem facing Seabirds globally is thought to be the mortality caused by longline fisheries when albatrosses + petrels swallow baited hooks and drown (see here for a list of simple preventative measures). You can also find out what is being done to improve the protection of seabirds and reduce illegal fishing activity... The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information for policy and action to conserve the living world. They monitor a wide variety of species + habitats, address the relationship between trade + the environment and the wider aspects of biodiversity assessment. The Dana Declaration on "Mobile Peoples and Conservation" outlines the need to promote sound empirical studies in order to justify either displacing people for conservation or integrating them into the planning and management for sustainable livelihoods and conservation. Invasive species are organisms (usually transported by humans) which successfully establish themselves in, and then overcome, otherwise intact, pre-existing native ecosystems. Biologists are still trying to characterise this capability to invade in the hope that incipient invasions can be predicted and stopped. Further links can be found here... Between 29 Oct + 1 Nov 2002, the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit took place in Kyrgyzstan as part of the UN's International Year of Mountains. At this summit the UNEP published a report highlighting the role mountains play in providing clean water to low-lying areas + Birdlife International launched a campaign highlighting the inter-connections between numerous social + environmental issues within the mountainous regions of the world.		Birdlife International The people who try to conserve and represent our feathered friends at the global scale. Use the WWF national links page to find the World Wide Fund for Nature office and website for you, wherever you are. The Tropical Biology Association run ecology courses in Africa + has a growing network of individuals and institutions. The TBA is steadily establishing a collaborative framework for conservation and other research activities in the tropics. The BTO's Trends in British breeding birds report. A species by species summary of how different birds are faring in Britain. If only all taxa were this well-known and liked! Carnivore Conservation A fanastic website that links to recent cat, canid, mustelid, bear and general papers/journals. Also summaries of the latest carnivore news, jobs and forthcoming scientific meetings... It's Grrreat! Simbiota a fundraising guide for neotropical field biologists and conservationists seeking funding for their work in the Neotropics. Also of great relevance to people seeking conservation funding for elsewhere in the world... The Wildlife Conservation Society, A zoo and aquarium based society that is heavily involved with captive breeding programmes and studying wild animals in the field. The Oxford Forestry Institute has been the focal point for Oxford University's activities in research, education and information on global forest issues such as policy, conservation + sustainable forest management and use. A centre of excellence with many helpful links! British Trust for Conservation Volunteers Do your bit to protect local or international landscapes and habitats by joining a BTCV conservation holiday or a local weekday/weekend jaunt. The BTCV offer valuable information/advice if you wish to join or set-up a group + raise funds. The Antarctica Project (US) + the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), which is made up of further 240 international groups, campaign to protect Antarctica's pristine wilderness and environment. In additional to monitoring compliance with the Antarctic Treaty System -- the international body that governs Antarctica --this site provides information on 500,000 year old sub-glacial lakes, publications + the region's latest conservation issues. The Rocky Mountain Institute is an entrepreneurial, non-profit organization that fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to create a more secure, prosperous, and life-sustaining world. The National Coalition for Marine Conservation (US) is dedicated to conserving ocean fish, preventing overfishing, reducing bycatch and protecting habitat. The Ocean Conservancy combines science-based advocacy, grassroots activism, litigation, education and outreach to find lasting solutions to issues affecting our oceans and all marine life. Present efforts include attempting to reduce the number of seabirds drowned by fishing hooks, encouraging efforts to better protect the oceans and saving pristine coral reefs. The Charles Darwin Foundation is dedicated to the conservation of the Galapagos Islands' ecosystems. The Foundation operates the Charles Darwin Research Station + conducts scientific research and environmental education for conservation. The Station has a team of over 200 scientists, educators, volunteers, research students and support staff from all over the world. Painted Hunting Dogs are threatened by extinction with only 3000 left in the wild and 50-100 dying in snares each year. Each animal has unique coat markings and can be recognised as an individual with a distinct personality. At this site you find out about Greg Rasmussen's scientific work in Zimbabwe which has resulted numbers rising from 350 to 750+ over the past 10 years - making this the only place in Africa where numbers have gone up. Good on ya Greg! The Orangutan Foundation International work to support the conservation and understanding of the orangutan and its rain forest habitat while caring for ex-captive individuals as they make their way back to the forest. Click this link to hear their Director Ashley Leiman speaking at the Oxford Earth Summit. TRAFFIC aim to help ensure that the wildlife trade is sustainable and conducted in accordance with domestic and international laws and agreements. They do this through investigating, monitoring and reporting on the wildlife trade. A particular effort is made to prevent trade that is detrimental to the survival of flora + fauna or illegal. The Iceland Nature Conservation Association campaigns for sustainable land use and conservation in Iceland, especially in the highlands. Current campaigns include fighting a non-sustainable hydroelectric development + lobbying against the building of an aluminium smelter in eastern Iceland. The updated IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is the world's most authoritative source of information on the status of plants and animals. There are now (at least) 11,167 species threatened with extinction, an increase of 121 since 2000... The Bactrian camel, Iberian lynx, tiger tail seahorse + Ethiopian water mouse are in serious trouble whereas the Lord Howe Island stick insect + the Bavarian pine vole have been rediscovered... see some photos here! Systematic biology is a branch of science which identifies organisms, assesses their evolutionary relationships to one another and enables us to decide whether species are new to science, extinct or the same as those we already know about. Ecologists, molecular scientists + many others rely on this sort of information in order to work out what organisms they are dealing with and find out more about them. An influential House of Lords Select Committee has recently published a report entitled "What on Earth? The Threat to the Science underpinning conservation " which "found compelling evidence that the level of systematic biology expertise in the United Kingdom has, despite some areas of increased activity, continued to fall overall". They advise increasing financial support, enhancing collaborations + the setting of research priorities.

21. Education + Courses
Natural Selection is a gateway (search engine) that will help you find quality, evaluated Internet resources in the natural world co-ordinated by The Natural History Museum, London. Simbiota a fundraising guide for neotropical field biologists and conservationists seeking funding for their work in the Neotropics. Also of great relevance to people seeking conservation funding for elsewhere in the world... The Council for Environmental Education offers links to a variety of educational resources for students and teachers. It also has a very useful and detailed diary of national and international environmental events which is as comprehensive as any I have yet encountered. The Development Education Project provides useful ideas and resources for primary and secondary school teachers... including suggestions on how individual schools can stage their own Earth Summit. The Global Express is an up-to-the-minute magazine resource for teachers of 8-14 year olds on world events and global issues in the news. The ITDG want to make Knowledge Networks work for the poor and are looking for participation in the creation of a global knowledge network to improve access to information on technology for poverty reduction. The British Council is doing pioneering work that helps to better explain (using new media such as the internet) the role of science in society including the sponsoring of the DailySummit.Net initiative.		London's Natural History Museum. The fantastic home of the incredible shrinking Blue Whale... or is it me growing? The Tropical Biology Association run ecology courses in Africa + has a growing network of individuals and institutions. The TBA is steadily establishing a collaborative framework for conservation and other research activities in the tropics. Action Aid work with poor local communities, national governments and international organisations - to bring about real change to the lives of poor people. A focused organisation with education, AIDS, food rights, international aid + peace building as priorities.. The WWF Learning website aims to help 11-16 year old students understand the interdependence and interrelationships between countries including: world inequalities; how resources are used and traded and the need for fair trade; the process of international negotiations, including the role of multinational corporations, NGOs and the media... Use Eco-Portal to search through reviewed environmental internet content, news, links + more. Based on the content of 3000 relevant sites... Www.planeta.com offers a range of resources that will be of interest to anyone wishing to explore the financing of sustainable development through tourism + ecotourism. The site has a global perspective but has focused on the Americas since 1994. Biodiversity + Biological Collections Web Server offers links to searchable resources related to botany, herpotology, invertebrates, entomology, ichthyology, mammalogy + several other "ologies". It also offers information on national and international biological societies, natural history museums, identification keys, journals + electronic books... A fantastic resource!

22. Energy: Companies
Juice provide clean power to around 50,000 homes and is a collaboration between npower and Greenpeace. Tel: 0800 316 2610 for green energy at the same cost as ordinary electricity supplies. Www.GreenEnergyJobs.com advertises a range of technical jobs in various renewable energy sectors and is looking for engineers, consultants, legal professionals, accountants, management, sales representatives, architects, planners. Why not use your skills and experience in an industry which does not compromise your ethics? The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (US) promotes the use of clean energy solutions to environmental problems (such as pollution and climate change). The council works on climate change, market access, international financing, energy tax policy + R&D; issues. Shell. Unfortunately, it is not possible to link directly to Shell's Society + Environment information but you can find this category of information by looking in the "Quick Find" box at the top of the homepage. Interesting info is scattered throughout this site if you are prepared to hunt around + it is worth using the site's search function in order to find what you are after... To start with you could try typing "TINA" (There Is No Alternative) and looking through the "About Shell" section which can be found on the homepage. There is also an interesting report entitled Energy Needs, Choices and Possibilties - scenarios to 2050...		Unit[e] the only company to provide homes with just green electricity. Tel: 0845 6011 410 Email: enquiries@unit-energy.co.uk RSPB Energy offers you 'green' electricity, and gas, which will: Help birds and other wildlife Help ensure a better environment for future generations All at no extra cost to you. Tel: 0800 0288 552 The Energy + Biodiversity Initiative seeks to be a positive force for biodiversity conservation by bringing together 4 major energy companies and 5 leading conservation organizations to share experiences and build on intellectual capital to create value and influence key audiences. BP have put all of their Jo'burg, solar energy, renewable energy, environmental + social responsibility, and sustainable development links in one place. I found the portions covering environmental + social responsibility, water, new technologies (BP Energy) + the activities of BP Solar the most interesting.

Earth Summit Info : Rio +20

Sustainable Development + Biodiversity links...

Sharing our Earth

contact us...

1. 2012 : Rio Earth Summit (Rio +20)

2. 2012 : REDD / REDD+

3. 1972 : Stockholm Earth Summit

4. 1992 : Rio Earth Summit

5. 1992-2002: Post Rio, Pre Jo'burg

6. 2002 : World Summit : Outcomes

7. 2002 : World Summit : Johannesburg

8. 2002 : World Summit : UN Agencies

9. 2002 : World Summit : NGOs

10. 2002 : World Summit : Outcomes

11. AIDS/HIV + Malaria + TB

12. Biodiversity

13. Business

14. Capacity building

15. Climate Change

16. Development: NGOs + Agencies

17. Development: Issues

18. Development: News

19. Development: Reports

20. Ecology + Conservation

21. Education + Courses

22. Energy: Companies

23. Energy: Efficiency

24. Energy: Issues + News

25. Energy: NGOs + Agencies

26. Farming and wildlife

27. Government

28. Health + Medicine

29. Human Rights + Ethics

30. Journals

31. Mammals

32. Marine

33. Media

34. Networks

35. Ornithology

36. Oxford Earth Summit

37. People

38. Plants

39. Politics

40. Poverty + Debt

41. Reports

42. Science Societies + Academies

43. Sponsors

44. Sustainable Development

45. Think Tanks

46. Trade

47. Trees + Forests + Woodlands

48. United Nations + Conventions

49. Universities

50. Water

51. Wildlife Trusts

52. 2002 : World Summit : Programme

53. 2002 : World Summit : Speeches (World Leaders)

54. 2002 : World Summit : Speeches (Others)

55. 2002 : World Summit : News Service

56. 2002 : World Summit : Press Releases

57. 2002 : World Summit : Key People

58. 2002 : World Summit : Local Action

59. 2002 : World Summit : Business Action

60. 2002 : World Summit : Things to do...

61. 2002 : World Summit : Useful sites

23. Energy: Efficiency
How to save energy in your home. Sound advice regarding heating, lighting, appliances, insulation and glazing. Why is saving energy a good idea? Reducing pollution, the risk of CO2-induced climate change and saving money are probably good reasons! In the UK Call 0800 512 012 to contact your local energy adviser or use the map available on this website.		Find out how to Recycle aerosols, batteries, bicycles, cans, christmas trees, computers, furniture, glass, mobile phones, paints, paper, plastic, printer cartridges, tools and used water!!! Fridgesavers will help low-income households upgrade to an energy efficient fridge for �25 or a fridge-freezer for �50... So far 130,000 fridges have been distributed by this scheme.

24. Energy: Issues + News
Www.co2.org This site is dedicated to helping YOU stop damaging the climate. Climate Care can take the global warming out of the things you do and the products you buy, so that you become part of the solution, not part of the problem. A great website! Read the complete text of the Kyoto Protocol. WEHAB: Energy Framework paper (pdf). Power to the People - sustainable energy for the world's poor. This ITDG forum for action on energy and poverty reduction, Jo'burg Expo Centre (Nasrec) 2nd September, 1-3pm. The ITDG will facilitate a multi-stakeholder seminar and workshop on energy and poverty reduction, bringing together inter-governmental organisations, a major private sector company, and leading environmental and developmental NGOs. In May 2002 the UK's Royal Society published a damning report on the preparations that have been put in place, by successive UK governments, in order to deal with the country's existing and mounting Nuclear waste. The report recommends urgent action to strengthen + reform key institutions, the enhancement of independent scientific research and substantial new investment in order to permit the rapid deployment of the best available technologies (not entailing excessive economic cost). Alex Kirby has produced an excellent report for BBC Radio 4's "Costing the Earth"... This programme outlines - with the help of examples from South America + South Africa - what can happened if state-owned utilities, such as electricity + water, are privatised in haste or dogmatically. In particular, this show highlights the importance of taking into account the needs, and limited means, of the poorest of the poor in the setting of prices + the importance of developing safeguards which ensure people don't have to make a choice between buying clean water or energy and food.		The EU have produced a site with information on the socio-economic aspects of energy and cleaner energy systems. The UNDP have launched an "Energy for Sustainable Development" policy document, convened high-level meetings on the role of energy in development and have a knack of outlining core energy issues in an accessible way. The G8 Renewable Energy Task Force has produced a report which offers recommendations on the best ways to make renewable energy available to millions of people who currently have no access to clean and reliable forms of energy. Read the report as a PDF file here The organisers of the All-Energy Opportunities Conference and Exhibition produce a monthly newsletter covering a fascinating range of recent technological developments, innovative applications for technology, events, energy sector legislation + news... If you want to understand how business thinks and plans it is well worth reading Shell's "People, Planet and Profits" report. This report identifies possible/likely social, economic and environmental trends over the next 20 years and how, under alternate scenarios, they may impact on the way business is done. Learn about the emerging "business class", "government referees", "consumer kings", "beyond-product services", "consumer boycotts" + "The Great Game of Gas". The UK's Europe Minister, Peter Hain has said that "... The cost of protecting the West is about $1 a gallon" + "...no amount of money could guarantee secure oil supplies, especially in the next few decades". Mr. Hain also urged a rapid effort to develop renewable and low-carbon replacement fuels.

25. Energy: NGOs + Agencies
The Greenpeace International website for the Jo'burg Earth Summit was set up in January 2002. The documents section also contains all the issues of the ECO-Equity Bulletins prepared by the Rio 10 coalition. The International Energy Agency very sensibly says that "Energy plays a strong role in sustainable development. It contributes to economic activity and high living standards, but is also costly and the source of considerable environmental degradation". Two billion people have no access to electricity and up to three billion depend on bio-mass (wood, charcoal and dung) to meet their household energy needs. This ITDG position paper examines the need for the WSSD to produce strong intergovernmental commitments (Type 1) on sustainable energy to complement voluntary partnerships (Type 2) between governments, businesses and civil society groups. Oilwatch (Ecuador) exposes some of the impacts of oil activity on tropical forests and on the local populations. This site offers reports + photos of what can go on in poor countries when social/environmental standards are weak and/or ignored...		India's Tata Energy Research Institute offers news, discussion papers and research on the sustainable and efficient use of the world's natural resources. The World Energy Council exists to promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all people, by: collating data, promoting research + disseminating useful results, holding workshops and seminars to facilitate innovations in energy supply and uptake and collaborating with other organisations in the energy sector with compatible goals. The Energy + Biodiversity Initiative seeks to be a positive force for biodiversity conservation by bringing together 4 major energy companies and 5 leading conservation organizations to share experiences and build on intellectual capital to create value and influence key audiences. Oilwatch Alaska. Alaskan citizens for accuracy, openness and fairness in the monitoring of the oil industry and government. The Sustainable Energy and Economy Network (SEEN), works in partnership with citizens groups nationally and globally on environmental, human rights and development issues. SEEN have a list of 4 demands for the World Bank + IMF, campaign against the World Bank financing transnational corporations + highlight campaigns by local people in Peru, The Niger Delta + Aceh.

26. Farming and wildlife
The RSPB, Britain's premier bird conservation organisation. The UK's Sustainable Farming Report by Sir Donald Curry outlines how and why the UK should switch from farming for quantity to farming for quality... Top notch stuff! Facts and strategies from farmers Farmers make a crucial contribution to rural society and land management and many have been through a very tough time. Learn how they see the present and what they hope for from the future. The Food Standards Agency. Set up after the BSE epidemic made it clear that objective and rigorous advice was needed in order to improve food standards during the production, preparation and consumption of food in the UK. UKabc bring together UK organisations to encourage equitable use of agricultural biodiversity for local food and livelihood security. An up-to-date source of information on food issues such as sustainability, biosafety, genetic resources and markets. The International Fund for Agricultural Development does what it can to secure access to land, water and other productive assets is basic to lasting solutions to hunger and poverty. Count the number of smiling faces on this website... it must be close to a world record! The UN's Rural Development + Food Security Network offers a variety of resources that are organised by theme and country. WEHAB: Agriculture Framework paper (pdf) The ITDG have produced a briefing paper entitled "Preserving the Web of Life" and seek support for measures to ensure farmers have access to genetic resources for food and agriculture. Here you can read Oxfam's recent briefing paper entitled the "The Great Sugar Scam". Although the EU is the most expensive producer of sugar in the world it is also the biggest exporter of this commodity (accounting for 40% of world white sugar exports) + sells sugar at prices 50% to 65% less than those guaranteed within the EU... Subsidies and tariffs generate vast profits for big sugar processors and large farmers - and vast surpluses that are dumped on world markets...		The official English Nature site is well worth keeping an eye on, though it is often hard to find the info you're after. The National Farmers Union is the democratic organisation representing farmers and growers in England and Wales." The NFU also provides information and help to farmers relating to foot + mouth disease , BSE, farm safety, finance.... The Soil Association set the standards for UK organic farming. They play an important role in setting and enforcing standards, providing technical advice + informing consumers, farmers, shops and government. The Northmoor Trust is a charity based in South Oxfordshire, promoting conservation through exemplary land management, education and research. It's great to know that someone is doing this sort of thing! The Game Conservancy Trust conduct research into the ecology and biology of game species and their environmental requirements + publish the useful results of such research. Game species that are studied by the GCT include partridges, pheasants, capercaillie, hares + foxes. The The Food & Agriculture Organisation is one of the largest specialised agencies of the UN + works to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security. Set-up in 1963, World Food Programme is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. In 2001, WFP fed 77 million people in 82 countries, including most of the world's refugees and internally displaced people. Wyn Grant's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) page offers plenty of mind-boggling facts and figures which will probably shock you as much as they did me... 45% of the EU's (�53+ billion) budget is devoted to the CAP, 1880 farmers receiving the largest subsidies receive 1 billion euros a year, 7% of beneficiaries receive 50% of payments, the EU minimum price at which sugar may be sold on the EU internal market is 632 euros/tonne (the world price at which EU sugar is exported is currently 180 euros). France, Greece, Luxembourg, Ireland + Italy appear likely to resist CAP reform until the existing agreement expires in 2006 whereas the UK, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands + Sweden want reform prior to further EU enlargement...

27. Government
Gateway to the UK's DFID (Department for International Development). The UK's DEFRA (Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs). This department is responsible for animal health + welfare, environment, export + trade, farming, fishing, horticulture, plants + seeds, rural + sustainable development, water + wildlife... UK Environment Agency. These guys play an important role in UK conservation and environmental monitoring. Unfortunately they're best known for letting you know when your house is about to be flooded! The UK's Darwin Initiative seeks to safeguard the world's biodiversity by drawing on UK strengths in this area to assist those countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources. Over 80 British institutions have been involved in setting up collaborative projects. So far the Initiative has committed �27m to over 250 projects and it is currently spending �3 million a year... Very positively, at the Jo'burg World Summit it was announced this figure would increase to �7 million per annum by 2005. The National Assembly for Wales has a turnover of over �8 billion per annum, 3,200 employees and serves 2.9 million customers.The Assembly is looking for commercial partners who can "Win their Business" while helping to achieve positive social, economic and environmental goals. Do you know who your local MP is? Do you know how to contact your elected representative? If the answer to either of these questions is no then Www.FaxYourMP.com can help! All you need to know is your UK post code... Once you know who your MP is you are invited to send a message to them via this website which automatically forwards messages on as a free fax. Apparently, MPs are much more likely to reply to a fax than an email so this site is a wonderful democraticising tool.		Proposals for the monitoring of UK mammals This document puts a convincing case for establishing a national Mammal Monitoring Network founded on rigorous baseline surveys. What is Sustainable development? Find out at this UK government site! You can also learn about the sustainable development indicators used by the UK government and contibute to a moderated forum. Why not let them know why you think sustainable development and the WSSD are important? The Food Standards Agency. Set up after the BSE epidemic made it clear that objective and rigorous advice was needed in order to improve food standards during the production, preparation and consumption of food in the UK. DEFRA Links to key sustainable development efforts within the UK government. Excellent way to find out what the UK is planning to do... Read the Welsh Assembly's recent environmental policy documents. Issued covered include the quality of drinking water, habitat and species protection, the use of GM organisms, air and heavy metal pollution. Contact your head of state. This www.earthday.net site gives the contact details for 123 heads of government or state... Still a good idea, even if the excitement of the summit has passed! The British Council is doing pioneering work that helps to better explain (using new media such as the internet) the role of science in society including the sponsoring of the DailySummit.Net initiative.

28. Health + Medicine
The UK's National Health Service Direct has produced a superb, informative website. Lots of common sense advice + information on a vast array of ailments. It will help you to tell the difference between a bad hair day and something more serious! The World Health Report produced by the World Health Organisation says that we should do more to reduce risks in order to promote healthier living in both rich + poor countries. It also recommends that more be done in order to counter the burdens of disease, disability and premature death with institutional priorities and funding being changed in order to better tackle the biggest preventable disablers + killers...		Carol Bellamy, chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) Board and Executive Director of UNICEF, explains how the immunization initiative is moving forward. Medicins Sans Frontieres are campaigning internationally for greater Access to Essential Medicines and support the view that patents are tools of public policy and must operate to serve the greater public good.

29. Human Rights + Ethics
Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights + other international standards. They have around a million members and supporters in 162 countries and territories. Human Rights Watch defend human rights worldwide. They attempt to prevent discrimination, uphold political freedom, protect people from inhumane conduct, and to bring offenders to justice... Their reports are well researched + frequently shocking. The Rainforest Foundation was founded by Trudie Styler and Sting to help Raoni - a Chief of the Menkragnoti Kayap - tell of his people's plight in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest and warn of the severe threats that face Raoni's and many other rainforest people... Www.commongood.info offers new and varied perspectives on globalisation, economics, ethics, religion, spirituality + information realting to a conference to be held in Oxford at the end of July 2002 entitled 'An Inter-faith Perspective on Globalisation'. Under the banner of www.churchesearthsummit.org.uk 4 Bitish and Irish Christian environmental organisations have prepared briefing materials for churches, including a 'Creation Care' prayer for use on Sunday 25th August, the Sunday prior to the summit. CorpWatch counter the excesses of corporate-led globalization through education and activism and work to foster democratic control over corporations by building grassroots globalization.		Every day Amnesty International's (UK) Urgent Action Network uses letters, emails, faxes and telegrams to come to the aid of victims of human rights abuse. This appeal shows you the direct effects of this work... writing a letter can make a difference! Www.business-humanrights.org provide access to a mind-boggling array of reports and issues. This site "aims to promote informed discussion of important policy issues" + takes no position on the diverse views presented. An important + informative resource. What is ethical trade? Find out in this thoughtful and well researched paper by Mick Blowfield and Keith Jones. This paper explores the social, environmental and financial implications of ethical supply chains and outlines the experiences of numerous industries and countries Www.westpapua.org. West Papua is one of the poorest regions in S.E. Asia yet the richness of its natural resources should make it one the wealthiest. Find out more about the West Papuans' campaign for self-determination + access other important information via this site. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This office aims "to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms". The Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP) campaigns for the implementation of international human rights law in Kurdish regions and less oppressive treatment of both Kurds + non-Kurds by national governments.

30. Journals
Nature Europe's top scientific journal. Link to a wide range of Ecology + Zoology Journals here. Plus a variety of useful internet tools, information on ecological techniques and environment updates.		Science The top science journal from the US! Id21 is a fully-searchable online journal of the latest international development research, specialising in bringing all aspects of development research to an international audience of policy makers, development practitioners and journalists.

31. Mammals
The Mammal Society have put together a great little site here. Great Nut Hunt is the site for the National Dormouse Survey. Go on, take part! A good excuse for a walk in the woods... Proposals for the monitoring of UK mammals This document puts a convincing case for establishing a national Mammal Monitoring Network founded on rigorous baseline surveys. The Zoological Society of London. The society that runs London Zoo and publishes a range of high calibre journals. The ZSL also run a range of excellent conservation and education programmes. The Peoples' Trust for Endangered Species help to fund a large number of practical conservation projects with an emphasis on mammals and endangered species. This site also provides helpful information on Biodiversity Action Plans, surveys and conferences. The Jane Goodall Institute aims to increase primate habitat conservation, to expand non-invasive research programs on chimpanzees (and other primates) + to promote activities that ensure the well-being of chimpanzees, other primates and animal welfare activities in general. The IUCN Canid Specialist Group's report entitled "African Wild Dog Status Survey and Action Plan" (Painted Hunting Dogs). This IUCN Report on the Ethiopian Wolf says that there are fewer than 400 Ethiopian Wolves left in the world and that this species is the most endangered canid in the world. The report suggests that the protection of wild populations + the initiation of well co-ordinated captive breeding will be necessary in order to offer this species a long-term future. Www.lioncrusher.com offers photographs and ecological, behavioural and taxonomic information for 121 species of mammal including members of the dog, cat, mongoose, weasel, bear and civet families. The right place to visit if you want to find out what coatimundi, cacomistle, dhole or fossa are!		WildCRU, one of the world's top wildlife conservation research groups, based at Oxford University. They're a grand bunch! Bats are much misunderstood but incredibly interesting if you take the time to find out more... You probably live closer to bats than any other wild mammal so why not get to understand your helpful neighbours? Carnivore Conservation A fanastic website that links to recent cat, canid, mustelid, bear and general papers/journals. Also summaries of the latest carnivore news, jobs and forthcoming scientific meetings... It's Grrreat! The Sea Mammal Research Unit at St. Andrew's University have a very interesting and informative website. This site provides information on the research group as well as the ecology of a wide variety of marine mammals and their conservations. I found the use of satellites to remotely track animals at sea of particular interest. Painted Hunting Dogs are threatened by extinction with only 3000 left in the wild and 50-100 dying in snares each year. Each animal has unique coat markings and can be recognised as an individual with a distinct personality. At this site you find out about Greg Rasmussen's scientific work in Zimbabwe which has resulted numbers rising from 350 to 750+ over the past 10 years - making this the only place in Africa where numbers have gone up. Good on ya Greg! The Orangutan Foundation International work to support the conservation and understanding of the orangutan and its rain forest habitat while caring for ex-captive individuals as they make their way back to the forest. Click this link to hear their Director Ashley Leiman speaking at the Oxford Earth Summit.

32. Marine
The Marine Conservation Society, The UK's national charity for the marine environment and its wildlife. Find out what fish you SHOULD eat and what state your local beach is in. The Sea Mammal Research Unit at St. Andrew's University have a very interesting and informative website. This site provides information on the research group as well as the ecology of a wide variety of marine mammals and their conservations. I found the use of satellites to remotely track animals at sea of particular interest. Greenpeace, environmental campaigners par excellence! Oceana campaign to protect the world's oceans. They bring together expertise from around the world in order to save the oceans through public policy advocacy, science + economics, legal action, grassroots mobilization, and public education. The National Coalition for Marine Conservation (US) is dedicated to conserving ocean fish, preventing overfishing, reducing bycatch and protecting habitat. The Sea Turtle Restoration Project (STRP) fights to protect endangered sea turtle populations in ways that meet the ecological needs of the sea turtles and the needs of the local communities who share the beaches and waters with these gentle creatures. Find out about the biology, conservation, and management of Seahorses at Amanda Vincent's website. Seahorses (and the related pipefish + seadragons) are threatened by habitat destruction and by their over-exploitation as traditional medicines and as curios. The International Coral Reef Initiative compile a list of web sites related to costal management + marine biodiversity. The list is regularly updated and links to many international marine organisations, various technical resources, conferences AND has a bulletin board full of news and jobs! The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent, global, non-profit organisation based in London. In a bid to reverse the continued decline in the world's fisheries, the MSC is seeking to harness consumer purchasing power to generate change and promote environmentally responsible stewardship of the world's most important renewable food source.		Whale + Dolphin Conservation Society Here you can adopt a whale or dolphin and find out how and why dolphins are caught in fishermens' nets... The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. Worldwide coral reefs are being damaged and destroyed... In fact 27% of the world's reefs have been effectively lost! This site helps gather data and information on coral reefs worldwide and urges action. The Antarctica Project (US) + the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), which is made up of further 240 international groups, campaign to protect Antarctica's pristine wilderness and environment. In additional to monitoring compliance with the Antarctic Treaty System -- the international body that governs Antarctica --this site provides information on 500,000 year old sub-glacial lakes, publications + the region's latest conservation issues. The Ocean Conservancy combines science-based advocacy, grassroots activism, litigation, education and outreach to find lasting solutions to issues affecting our oceans and all marine life. Present efforts include attempting to reduce the number of seabirds drowned by fishing hooks, encouraging efforts to better protect the oceans and saving pristine coral reefs. Find out from Seafood Lover's Guide how a particular seafood is doing and learn how you can choose to eat fish from sources that are more abundant and better managed. For example...Halibut + Striped Bass are good choices while Shrimp + Swordfish are bad... Visit this site to find out why! Coastal + Maritime Management: According to the World Bank 75% of the world's population (3.5 billion people) live within 60km of the coast! This means that coastal and marine resources need to be managed in a co-ordinated fashion and that investment in stronger institutions and the development of effective policies + conservation measures will reap rich dividends. Fisheries + Oceans Canada is responsible for policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans + inland waters. This well put together website is informative, scientifically strong and easy to use. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) co-ordinates and promotes marine research in the North Atlantic. It has recently recommended the complete closure of all fisheries that target cod in the North Sea, Skagerrak, Irish Sea and waters west of Scotland. The ICES advise this because their studies suggest this is the only way of giving these depleted stocks a period of time to recover, and, hopefully, to return to their former productive state. Cod are also caught as a by-catch in mixed fisheries, such as haddock, whiting, flatfish, shrimp and prawn (Nephrops) fisheries. ICES is recommending that these fisheries should also be closed unless they can demonstrate that they are not causing a cod by-catch... How the European Commission and national governments use this advice will obviously have serious implications for both the fish species and fishermen concerned.