A Guide for Negotiators of Mulitlateral Environmental Agreements

With funding support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), FIELD has developed a guide entitled 'A Simple Guide for Negotiators of Multilateral Environmental Agreements'. The guide is intended for junior negotiators, and aims to better prepare those new to international negotiating processes in understanding and participating effectively in these negotiations. Three regional capacity building workshops have been held to test the Guide and enhance the skills of junior negotiators. The guide was launched at the 24th Session of the UNEP Governing Council held in Nairobi, Kenya in February 2007.

Marshall Islands: National Workshop for Multilateral Environmental Agreement Negotiators: From 19-20 April 2006, FIELD co-hosted a third UNEP workshop for MEA Negotiators in the Marshall Islands, in the Northern Pacific. Approximately 25 government representatives participated in two days of hands-on exercises, which included negotiation preparation and etiquette as well as simulated negotiating exercises. The workshop's goal was to increase the comfort level of government negotiators and to present and pilot test the 'Simple Guide for MEA Negotiators' FIELD has prepared on UNEP's behalf. The workshop was organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Office of Environmental Planning and Policy Coordination (OEPPC), FIELD and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). For further information click here

Participants at a National Workshop for MEANegotiators in the Marshall Islands..

Pacific Regional Workshop for Negotiators of Multilateral Environmental Agreements: From 7-11 November 2005, FIELD co-hosted a second regional UNEP workshop for MEA Negotiators in Nadi, Fiji. The workshop's goal was to review the 'Simple Guide for MEA Negotiators', strengthen the capacity of negotiators of multilateral environmental agreements and prepare Pacific Island Countries for the Eleventh Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP-11) and the First Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP1) to the Kyoto Protocol to be held in Montreal, Canada in December 2005. The workshop was organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Preparatory session for climate negotiators from Pacific Island Countries. (from left, FIELD Lawyer M.J Mace; climate negotiators; Ian Fry, Tuvalu negotiator).

South Asia Regional Workshop for Negotiators of Multilateral Environmental Agreements: From October 5-7 2005, FIELD co-hosted a regional workshop for South Asian negotiators of multilateral environmental agreements in Sri Lanka. Approximately 25 participants attended from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The three-day event consisted of formal presentations on negotiation preparation and etiquette, as well as simulated negotiating exercises. This event is the first of three such events that will be conducted in different regions. The event was sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Government of Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP).

Workshop in Sri Lanka, October 2005

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