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Issues Management
International Conference on Synergies and
Coordination between Multilateral Environmental
Agreements
UN University
14-16 July 1999
Brett M. Orlando
IUCN-The World Conservation Union
Overview
What is Issues Management (IM)?
How has it evolved?
The Role of MEAs and Civil Society
Example: Climate Change
Towards the 21st Century
A packed environmental agenda
Overlap in the system
An increasing number of actors (e.g. MEA
processes, NGOs, the private sectors, etc.)
IM proposed as a way to address an
increasing complex and diverse
international system
What is Issues
Management?
Mechanism to promote more cooperative
management of environmental issues
Planning framework and priority setting
thru Task Forces of UN agencies
Results-oriented approach
A dynamic, not static, concept
Evolution of the Concept
UNCED “Working Parties”
Inter-agency Committee on Sustainable
Development
Identifies policy issues, gaps and constraints
Ensures a division on labor
Task Managers have lead responsibility with
support from other agencies
IM represents a further evolution towards
improving the rationality, flexibility, and
cost-effectiveness of the system
MEAs and Civil Society
How would it apply to MEAs?
Memorandums of Understanding (CBDRamsar, Desertification-CBD, etc.)
Information exchange (e.g. between the
Biodiversity-related Conventions)
Joint work programs (e.g. inland waters,
Ramsar-CBD)
MEAs and Civil Society
How would it apply to civil society?
CSD Dialogue Sessions
Convention constituencies (UNFCCC, CBD,
CCD, OZONE, CITES, etc.)
“Partner Organizations” (Ramsar and CITES)
Ecosystem Management Group (WWF, IUCN)
Example: Climate Change
Objective: Reduce emissions to allow
ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate
change
No one institution can achieve that goal
Requires active cooperation amongst UN
agencies, Conventions, and NGOs
Technical bodies
Financial mechanisms
Local implementation
Example: Climate Change
Activities:
Providing analysis and research
Raise awareness and build capacity
Develop policies and strategies
Pre-requisites:
A planning framework and priority setting
Coordinated action
How IM could provide the organizational
framework needs to be further explored