CoNGO Committee on Sustainable Development, NY
Environmental, social and economic development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Meeting Minutes, 7 April 2011
1:30—3:00 p.m.
Church Center
Chair: Ann Braudis
Attendees:
Name / EmailAnn Braudis
Sylvain Ehrenfeld /
Joy Garland /
Jo Osborn
Helen Ojarin /
Jerry L. Price /
Celine Paramunda /
Kate Twohy /
Kathleen Quain /
Suzane Golas
L. Kennedy /
Catherine Ferguson /
Mary McDonald /
Madeline Labriola
Patrick Ryan /
Jan Power /
Mary Corbett /
Nancy Moshe /
Iryma Kurarydy /
Jo Albright /
Joe Foley /
Kevin Cawley /
Jan O’Neill /
Jean Stoner /
Martha Gallahew
Tenin Toure /
Griselda Martinez-Morales /
Anne Frawley /
Margaret Mayle /
Nazish Ahmed /
Pat Scharlin
Michele Morek /
C. Gloria Arriagada /
I. Introductions
a. The attendees introduced themselves and shared inspirational thoughts related to forests, planting trees and the environment in light of the Year of the Forest.
b. Sister Ann Braudis shared that Maryknoll is placing a large segment of its property in West Chester under a conservation easement in perpetuity so that the area will never be developed as it is a water buffer area.
II. Jo Ann Murphy, newly elected to the CoNGO board
a. Shared her regrets for not being able to attend the last meeting in March but also expressed her enthusiasm for her new elected role as a representative of the Dickinson University. The first meeting of the Conference of NGOs will be held in July in Geneva where they will be working on restructuring the current programs.
b. She also mentioned as the director of programs of intergovernmental programs, she would like to set up an internship program with the member NGOs.
c. Ms. Murphy further mentioned the need to close the educational gap among representative groups and work on expanding the knowledge and skills to bring back to each respective organization. Ideas and comments can shared with her via email:
III. UNEP Presentation on the Year of Forests
a. Why Forests are important
i. Thirty-five percent of the world is comprised of forests
ii. Thirteen million hectors are lost per year; however the rate has slowed since the 1990s.
1. That is a loss of 1 trillion carbon that would otherwise be captured by these trees
2. And a loss of a source livelihood for the ¼ of the world’s population
a. That is about 300 million people, 60 percent of whom are indigenous
iii. Forests also provided natural watershed protection, disaster risk protection, recreational services, soil fertility and cultural/spiritual well-being.
1. Furthermore, 25 percent of leading pharmaceuticals originated from ingredients found forests; they also help with malaria control because deforested areas experience increased number of rats which directly increase rates of malaria.
iv. Threats to forests include population growth, inefficient consumption patterns and climate change that has caused changes in temperature and changes in ecosystems, habitats and fragmentation in forests.
b. The big issue right now is the ‘Green Economy’
i. The biggest item on the Rio+20 agenda
ii. Have issued statements that an economy changed to be more environmentally sustaining can still contribute to socio-economic growth
1. GNP is still the standard for measurement but does not account for loss of services
iii. UNEP report, available at: unep.org/greeneconomy:
1. Available for comment until the end of summer for Durban in November 2011
iv. Needs to result in policy for land use management and water use policy
c. Questions and Comments:
i. Norway for example has constitutionally mandated an economic change, what other countries are doing it right?
1. Japan made money available both via UN and bilaterally, but now in light of recent events has to pull back
2. Gabon is making efforts to protect large parts of remaining forests
3. Costa Rica is giving communities incentives under Kyoto to protect ecosystems
4. But under the REDD system, have to be watchful because countries can receive credit for cutting and replanting, instead of conserving.
d. Billion Tree Campaign launched in 2006 was a virtual exercise to give attention to local initiatives to plant billion trees by Copenhagen, now there are 11 billion trees planted; leading countries include China, Ethiopia, Turkey, Iran, etc.
IV. Brief Updates and Individual Research
a. Climate Change Working Group
i. Next meeting on 13 April will discuss and prepare for the roundtable for CSD in May; they will host a shared event with Women for Climate Change
b. Sustainable Development and the Integrity of Earth
i. Working with the Bolivian Mission for the Mother Earth observance on 20 April. Also involved in dialogue over Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s Harmony with Nature statement.
c. Mining Working Group
i. Will be conducting a briefing side event during CSD-19 on a rights based approach and the indigenous people. The event will feature a human rights lawyer from Peru who has been working the indigenous people there to fight the ill affects of the mining. The side event will be held on 2 May 2011, in conference room 4.
d. Kathleen Quain for Global Peace shared that the magnetic field for the heart and the Earth are the same and we the group should present ideas along these lines
i. Sister Braudis commented that while the UN is very inspirational, the group has to find how and where we can be grounded to deliver our message.
e. The Earth Chartered adopted by UNESCO also contained foundational pieces that support our work.
f. Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard
i. Newest video on Cap and Trade was watched and led to the closing discussion.
V. The Commission on Sustainable Development begins 2 May 2011; more information for major groups will be send via email.
Submitted:
Nazish A. Ahmed