IEF 6th Annual Conference programme

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The 6th annual conference of the International Environment Forum consisted of a series of parallel events associated with the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg during the period 26 August - 4 September 2002. Because of the practical difficulties arranging Internet connections in Johannesburg, the electronic conference for those unable to come to South Africa took the form of a pre-conference electronic forum during the first half of August. The IEF prepared a set of position papers on each theme and on the overall conference programme at the World Summit for Sustainable Development, as background for the electronic conference and for the discussions at each event. The following programme includes links (underlined) to the separate papers of the presenters where they exist. See also the description of each event in the Conference Report.

Tuesday 27 August

DIALOGUE ON INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Organized by the International Environment Forum
in collaboration with the Stakeholder Forum and other partners
as part of the official Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development
Ubuntu Village Science Forum

The opening panel discussion of leading experts consisted of:

Chair: Dr. Halldor Thorgeirsson, Government of Iceland, and Chair, UNFCCC SBSTA

Introduction: usefulness of indicators for sustainable development
Dr. Arthur Dahl, former Coordinator, UN System-wide Earthwatch, United Nations Environment Programme, Geneva, Switzerland, and President, International Environment Forum

Dashboard of Sustainability
Mr. Jochen Jesinghaus, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Ispra, Italy, and Consultative Group on Sustainable Development Indicators

National level indicators
Ms. Maria Lourdes M. Lagarde, Sustainable Development Officer, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, New York, USA

Indicators at the local level
Mr. Gary Lawrence, President, Sustainable Strategies & Solutions, Inc., Seattle, Washington, USA

Process indicators for decoupling economic growth and environmental impact
Prof. Bedrich Moldan, Director, Environment Centre, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, and former Chairman, UN Commission on Sustainable Development

The challenge of integration across levels
Dr. Sylvia Karlsson, International Science Project Coordinator, International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change, Bonn, Germany, and General Secretary, International Environment Forum

Following the panel, the discussion facilitated by Nigel Gibbs of the Stakeholder Forum focused on potential partnerships for further work on indicators, and for their wider implementation.

See also the IEF position paper on Indicators for Sustainability

Sunday 1 September

EDUCATION AND VALUES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

NASREC Global Peoples Forum

Educating for a sustainable future - the promise of the Earth Charter
Dr Brendan Mackey, Reader in Ecology and Environmental Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, member of the Earth Charter international drafting team, and Director, Earth Charter education programme

Environmental Awards Scheme
Dr Irma Allen (Swaziland), Africa Technical Adviser, USAID's Global Environmental Education and Communication (GreenCOM) Project, working with projects in Egypt, Tanzania and South Africa; Board Member of the Swaziland Environment Authority, and recipient of a UNEP Global 500 Award for her work in environmental education in Africa

System of Tutorial Learning (SAT) in Colombia and Honduras
Michael Richards, natural resources economist with 25 years experience on rural development and tropical forestry issues; Trustee of the Bahá'í Agency for Social and Economic Development (BASED-UK). See separate paper by Michael Richards: SAT - Rural Education for Sustainable Development
Download powerpoint presentation (590 K) or see outline from powerpoint presentation

See also the IEF position paper on Education and Values for Sustainable Development

Saturday 31 August

Annual General Assembly of the International Environment Forum

National Baha'i Centre, Johannesburg

Monday 2 September

INTEGRATING SCIENCE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

University of Witwatersrand

Introduction: Bridging multiple knowledge divides - rationales for local science integration
Dr. Sylvia Karlsson, International Science Project Co-ordinator, International Human Dimensions Programme, Bonn, Germany

Agriflection: Facilitating learning partnerships in applied agricultural science
Mr. Steve Worth, Senior Lecturer and Manager of the Undergraduate Programme, The Centre for Rural Development Systems, University of Natal - Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Science for Rural Education and Development: A Case Study from Colombia
Mr. Michael Richards, Research Consultant in Rural Development and Natural  Resources Economics, Trustee of Baha'i Agency for Social and Economic Development (BASED-UK), United Kingdom.  Download powerpoint presentation (390 K)

Innovative approaches to community-based science education in China
Mr. Keith A. Metzner, Community Development Advisor for Biodiversity Conservation, Eastern Steppe Biodiversity Project, Choibalsan, Mongolia

Linking science and indigenous knowledge for community environmental management
Dr. Arthur Dahl, former Coordinator, UN System-wide Earthwatch, United Nations Environment Programme, Geneva, Switzerland

See also the IEF position paper on Integrating Science in Local Communities

Tuesday 3 September

MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALIZATION

A joint seminar of the International Environment Forum and the European Bahá'í Business Forum
IUCN Environment Center

The distinguished panel of experts on globalization was chaired by Dr. Wendi Momen, President, European Baha'i Business Forum

Environmental and Ecological Dimensions of Globalization
Dr. Arthur Lyon Dahl, President, International Environment Forum, and former Deputy Assistant Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme, Geneva, Switzerland

Economic Globalization: Some Pros and Cons
Dr. Iraj Abedian, Director and Group Economist, Standard Bank, Johannesburg, South Africa

Governance and Political Dimensions
Dr. Felix Dodds, Executive Director, Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future, London, England

See also the IEF Statement on Multiple Dimensions of Globalization

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* The International Environment Forum is an international Baha'i-inspired non-governmental organization that addresses environment and sustainable development. It was accredited to the WSSD in the category of scientific and technological organizations.

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