This meeting is the inaugural meeting of the Congress on Water, Climate and Energy, and participants will explore the topics of resilient and sustainable cities with a focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation. The meeting will further examine how to incorporate climate change adaptation and uncertainty into the city vision and infrastructure, and will include solutions such as the role of regulation, technologies and smart networks. The meeting is organized by the International Water Association in partnership with the UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), and ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability.
dates: 13-18 May 2012 venue: The Convention Center location: Dublin, Ireland
The Food and Agriculture Organization's 31st Regional Conference for the Near East is focusing on food waste, climate change impacts and the creation of a regional trust fund for agricultural development. Climate change discussions are expected to focus on freshwater, fisheries, and forestry and land use management.
dates: 14-18 May 2012 venue: FAO headquarters location: Rome, Italy
These meetings will include: 36th session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 36); the 36th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 36); the 17th session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP 17); the 15th session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA 15); and the first sessions of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action.
dates: 14-25 May 2012 location: Bonn, Germany
The primary sponsors of this symposium are: the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea; the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization. Participants will address the role of climate change on the oceans, including: sea level rise; changes in thermo-haline ocean circulation; acidification; oligotrophy of temperate seas; changes in species abundance; distribution and phenology; and biodiversity loss. The symposium aims to bring together experts from different disciplines to exchange observations, results, models and ideas at a global scale and to discuss the opportunities to mitigate climate change and protect the marine environment and its living resources.
dates: 15-19 May 2012 location: Republic of Korea additional: Yeosu
The 68th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will focus on a four-track strategy to promote shared, sustainable and inclusive growth in the region by promoting market integration, physical connectivity, financial cooperation and joint action to address common vulnerabilities arising from shrinking resources and climate threats. The session will comprise both a senior officials segment (17-19 May), and a ministerial segment (21-23 May). The ministerial segment will include: a roundtable on the "Growing Together: Economic Integration for an Inclusive and Sustainable Asia-Pacific Century;" and a high-level panel on "Steering inclusive development amidst global turbulence and volatility". Paperless Commission Economic Integration for an Inclusive and Sustainable Asia-Pacific Century Survey 2012 Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific coverEconomic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2012 Theme Study on Growing Together Theme Study on Growing TogetherGrowing Together
dates: 17-23 May 2012 venue: UN Conference Centre location: Bangkok, Thailand
This event is co-organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Partners include IUCN. This event aims to strengthen the sharing of knowledge on adaptation through the promotion and showcasing of innovative adaptation research, policies and actions. The first session will be guided by the following question: What is effective adaptation and how can we measure it? The second session will focus on ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) and be guided by the question: How can we assist planners select, design, implement and track effective interventions?
date: 18 May 2012 location: Bonn, Germany
The US will host the 38th Summit of the Group of Eight (G8) at Camp David, Maryland, in May 2012. The G8 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the UK, and the US. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Chicago, back-to-back with the NATO summit, but the US announced the change in location and dates on 5 March (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/05/statement-press-secretary-g-8-and-nato-summits). The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will hold its summit in Chicago from 20-21 May (see http://www.chicagonato.org/ for more information). The Presidents Benin, Ghana and Tanzania and Prime Minister of Ethiopia are expected to join in the discussions on food security in Africa.
dates: 18-19 May 2012 location: United States of America additional: Camp David, Maryland
