http://193.138.105.52/ UNIDO Eventsen http://193.138.105.52/typo3conf/ext/tt_news/ext_icon.gif http://193.138.105.52/ 1816UNIDO EventsTYPO3 - get.content.righthttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssTue, 24 Aug 2010 09:41:00 +0200 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=466&cHash=88ed624a65de0510fbc0d2db6232d64d NEW YORK, 26 April 2010 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will present the report of his Advisory...
The Advisory Group will work with UN-Energy, an interagency coordinating mechanism for energy issues, to implement the recommendations in the course of this year. Both AGECC and UN-Energy are chaired by UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella.

The launch of  the report of the Advisory Group will take place on 28 April, “Energy for Development Day”. The event that will bring together officials of UN system organizations, representatives of Permanent Missions to the United Nations, CEOs of leading private sector companies, civil society, as well as energy experts.

Key participants at the event will  include Fatih Birol, Chief Economist, International Energy Agency; José María Figueres, Former President of Costa Rica; Girogina Kessel Martinez, Minister of Energy of Mexico,  Mark Fulton, Global Head of Climate Change Investment Research, Deutsche Bank; Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO, the Masdar Initiative, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company; Lars Josefsson, CEO, Vattenfall; Helge Lund, CEO, Statoil; Jeremy Oppenheim, Global Director, Climate Change Special Initiative, McKinsey & Co.; Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP; Deborah Wince-Smith, President, USA Council on Competitiveness; Timothy E. Wirth, President, United Nations Foundations; Kandeh K. Yumkella, UNIDO Director-General; and Sha Zukang, Under Secretary-General, UN-DESA.

An interactive panel discussion will be moderated by Rana Foroohar, Senior Editor, Newsweek Magazine.   

Journalists are invited to attend the event which starts at 9 AM, on Wednesday, 28 April, in Conference Room 3, North Lawn Building, United Nations Headquarters, New York, to be followed by a news conference.

For further information, please contact:

Mikhail Evstafyev, UNIDO press officer

tel.: +43-650-391-5278

e-mail m.evstafyev@unido.org ]]> Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:28:00 +0200 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=448&cHash=bde5505ac9b04bd06524540af4e62d11 PRAGUE, 2 March 2010 – The winners of the first international awards for Chemical Leasing, an...
The winners, chosen from a total of 27 contenders from 10 countries, include Ecopetrol SA from Colombia for its oil and water treatment processes, and the National Cleaner Production Centre of Colombia for its specialized consulting services. A special award for outstanding efforts in implementing Chemical Leasing in the supply chain was awarded to IKEA India.

The awards, organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, took place during the International Conference on Chemical Control Legislation and Trade Aspects (ChemCon Europe 2010). Some 200 participants took part in the ceremony.

“The results of UNIDO’s work in the field of Chemical Leasing and the numerous applications received for the awards show its applicability to small and medium enterprises and large enterprises from different sectors,” said Petra Schwager,  UNIDO Industrial Development Officer.

“Chemical Leasing has proven to bring economic and environmental improvements to participating companies as it allows them to be more competitive. The awards will further enhance the global visibility of Chemical Leasing, and by acknowledging contributions to its business model, will encourage more innovative applications of the concept.”

The awards recognize the successful implementation of Chemical Leasing at company level and were awarded in four categories: case studies, consulting services, scientific publications, and public relations.

Chemical Leasing forms an integral part of UNIDO’s Global Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production strategy, and is an important element for promoting sound chemicals management services to industry.

For more information on Chemical Leasing, please contact: Petra Schwager
Email


]]> Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:05:00 +0100 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=446&cHash=533d96139fc60ab0bc1a8248782d4226 ABUJA, 1 March 2010 – Ways to boost the development of agribusiness and agro-industries in Africa...
The Conference will also be attended by the heads or representatives of international organizations, including the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping; the Executive Secretary of UN Economic Commission for Africa, Abdoulie Janneh; the Vice President of the African Development Bank, Kamal El Kheshen; the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Kanayo F. Nwanze; the Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, Modibo Traore; and the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Kandeh K. Yumkella.

The Minister of State, Commerce and Industry,  Humphrey Enemakwu Abah, will hold a press briefing at 11:00, on Thursday, 4 March, at the National Press Centre, Radio House Garki, Abuja. He will also open an exhibition at 15:00, on Sunday, 7 March, at the Transcorp Hilton. Journalists are invited to the opening session at 9:00, on Monday, 8 March, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

A news conference will be held at 12.30, on Wednesday, 10 March, at the Media Centre, Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

Conference website http://www.hlcd-3a.org/ Final conference report available here

For further information, please contact:

Mikhail Evstafyev
UNIDO Press Secretary
+43-699-1459-7329
Email m.evstafyev@unido.org

Henry Angulu
Nigerian National Organizing Committee – Chairman, Communication Sub-committee Email henryangulu@gmail.com

George Chukwu
Nigerian National Organizing Committee - Communication Sub-committee
+2348023118166 or +2348033911211
Email jojichuks@yahoo.com

Rabe Mani
FAO Nigeria
+234 9 4616154
Email rabe.mani@fao.org

Erwin Northoff
FAO Media Relations
+39 06 5705 3105
Email Erwin.northoff@fao.org Yinka Adeyemi
UNECA Communication Officer
Addis Ababa: +251-11-544-3537 Lagos: +234 8086019628
Email yadeyemi@uneca.org
]]> Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:35:00 +0100 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=440&cHash=459f76f24da2062dc59c5d7101c59664 After the 2006 war destroyed hundreds of Lebanese enterprises, UNIDO and the Lebanese Ministry of...
Posted February 2010



]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:29:00 +0100 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=424&cHash=bb35b58734a6d9914db51e9557acad05 VIENNA, 7 December 2009 – Kandeh K. Yumkella of Sierra Leone was today re-appointed for a second...
This year’s General Conference has a thematic focus on “green industries” and the opportunities they offer for developing countries in the current economic circumstance. This will serve to highlight the role of industry in finding solutions to emerging and global challenges faced by these countries in achieving their developmental objectives within a framework of environmental sustainability.

Speaking about the future of UNIDO, Yumkella said he would continue to make sure the Organization was “a trusted, efficient and effective partner for development”. “We are now recognized as an agency with a mandate focused on achieving international development goals, and dedicated to building partnerships within the UN system and beyond,” he said. “All developed nations have harnessed industry as the main driver of their prosperity, and it is still the best hope for ending poverty’s reign over the so-called “Bottom Billion” of humankind.”

According to the Director-General, UNIDO’s three thematic priorities - Poverty Reduction through Productive Activities, Trade Capacity Building and Energy and Environment - will remain at the centre of operations. Capacity building, technology transfer, policy and institutional support, gender, and sustainability will underlie these priorities. “By mainstreaming these essential elements across all of our activities, UNIDO can ensure that the aim of growth and competitiveness is reached,” he said.

Yumkella announced the creation of two major cross-organizational initiatives, on Industrial Upgrading and Enterprise competitiveness, and on Greening Industry.

Addressing recent global development trends, Yumkella said that a positive trend was emerging in favour of investments into green industry. Some reports suggest that about 15 per cent of global stimulus packages in 2009 are “green” and include investments in technologies, infrastructure and strategies to combat climate change. The cost of producing renewable energy is dropping fast. A rapid increase in production of solar panels and wind turbines has led to a 50 per cent and 20 per cent drop in unit prices respectively in 2009 alone.

He said that it was not possible to think of a country’s economic growth as a purely internal process, adding: “Manufacturing has become globally integrated, and is shifting in the direction of developing countries at an increasing pace. But not all developing countries and regions are growing together. Commodities now account for less than 8 per cent of global trade – the rest is in higher value products. A number of developing countries – many in Asia – have long realized this need to trade up, and are managing the transition well through sound industrial policy.”

The Director-General also said that adding value must be “one goal for growth in the coming century. So too must economic diversification, especially for those countries with an abundance of tradable natural resources. Diversification provides security against volatility, and extends the benefits of growth to the many instead of the few. Malaysia is an example of a country that used the boon of natural resources – in its case oil and gas revenues – first to fuel an agribusiness-led industrialization model, and later to build a fully diversified economy.”

Yumkella indicated that climate change was a major challenge conditioning developing prospects and the quality of life. “Climate change can be effectively addressed through a new, sustainable trajectory of growth in which industry adopts a low-carbon and resource-efficient means of production. Rather than limiting growth, a Green Industrial Revolution could and should form the core of our response to climate change, and may be our best hope of sustainable recovery from the economic crisis. The potential is there for new, clean, methods of production; industries focusing on mitigation and adaptation services; and greater use of renewable energy,” he said.

In the last decade, UNIDO has more than doubled its technical cooperation services despite the fact its regular budget has not grown. “In our Medium-term Programme Framework 2010-2013, we established an overarching development objective – “industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability” – that better defines the role we play in contributing to international development goals such as the Millennium Development Goals,” added Yumkella.  

In the past four years, UNIDO has also strengthened its normative function, helping to find common global standards that nations can agree to, for example on industrial energy efficiency, and corporate social responsibility.

Yumkella heads the new high-level Advisory Group that advises the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on energy and climate change challenges. He also chairs the inter-agency coordination mechanism known as UN-Energy.

The General Conference, UNIDO’s highest policymaking organ, brings together representatives of the Organization’s 173 Member States. It will also approve the programme and budgets and establish the scale assessments for regular budget expenditures for the forthcoming biennium.    For further information, please contact UNIDO Spokesperson George Assaf email Telephone: (+43-1) 26026-3849

For more information on the General Conference, the Forum and roundtable discussions, please click here For more information on documents relating to the General Conference, please click here.]]> Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:37:00 +0100 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=418&cHash=64b27a2ba92812f7ecf8cd1d670c977d VIENNA, 12 November 2009 – The impact of the economic crisis on the Least Developed Countries’...
The two-day event is expected to bring together Ministers of Industry and Trade from 49 LDCs, as well as representatives of international organizations and experts in the field.

Participants will focus on issues related to the global recession, including its impact on and implications for industrial development, regional trade and agro-industries. The importance of diversification and technology transfer, as well as building up the industrial competitiveness of LDCs will be on top of the agenda. UNIDO’s findings on the global and regional impact of the crisis and its transmission mechanisms into LDCs will be presented, as will the perspectives of LDC ministers on the impact and lessons of the crisis. Special attention will be given to the roles and responses of various UN agencies and development partners in supporting LDCs’ efforts to address the crisis. The event will feature a high-level panel discussion, which will include the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Pascal Lamy,  the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Panitchpakdi Supachai, UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella, and the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States,  Cheick Sidi Diarra. Participants are expected to adopt a Plan of Action to be endorsed by UNIDO’s General Conference which opens in Vienna on 7 December.  

UNIDO’s Conference is one of a series of events leading up to the 2011 global LDCs’ Conference.

Journalists are invited to cover the event which opens at 10:00, on Thursday, 3 December, in Board Room A, M Building of the Vienna International Centre, and a news conference at 11:30 on 3 December.

For more information on the Conference, please click here.

For media accreditation, please contact the UNIDO Public Advocacy and Communication Unit by clicking here. ]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:16:00 +0100 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=417&cHash=5281d5a3f684afb0ec77b6acfb695e41 VIENNA, 4 December 2009 - The General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development... Justin Yifu Lin.

This year, the event will have a thematic focus on “green industries” and the opportunities they offer for developing countries in the current economic circumstance. This will serve to highlight the role of industry in finding solutions to emerging and global challenges faced by these countries in achieving their developmental objectives within a framework of environmental sustainability.

The General Conference, UNIDO’s highest policymaking organ, consists of all 173 Member States. It will re-appoint the Director-General for a period of four years, approve the programme and budgets and establish the scale assessments for regular budget expenditures for the forthcoming biennium. 

Journalists are invited to the opening at 10:00, on Monday, 7 December, in the Plenary Hall, M Building, the Vienna International Centre, to be followed by a press conference at 12:45 in room MOE 71.

The press conference will feature the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, ASEAN Secretary-General, Surin Pitsuwan, and UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella.
Roundtable discussions on 8 and 9 December will also be open to the media. For more information on the General Conference, the Forum and roundtable discussions, please click here

For more information on documents relating to the General Conference, please click here

For media accreditation, please contact the UNIDO Public Advocacy and Communication Unit here]]> Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:56:00 +0100 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=360&cHash=b32ae1b88f3f441a9af3c09670389426 VIENNA, 22 June 2009 – Ways to secure sustainable policies and investments to allow a shift towards...
The three-day event, “Towards an Integrated Energy Agenda Beyond 2020”, was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Government of Austria, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy. It brings together more than 500 government officials, energy and economics experts, and civil society representatives from around the world.

“The current global financial and economic crisis must be used to our advantage to bring about a green energy revolution. This conference was designed to provide a solid framework that would show the way towards a low-carbon global ‘green economy’ powered by ‘green industry’. Promoting domestic and international policies that encourage green investment in the next decade should be a major priority for a climate deal to be concluded in Copenhagen,” said UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella.

He was referring to the United Nations climate change conference taking place in Copenhagen in December where countries are expected to “seal the deal” on a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions targets.

Rajendra Pachauri of India, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, said that energy remained the “missing Millennium Development Goal”. “Providing an adequate supply of energy to the poor should be a key priority. Without it there can be no talk about eliminating poverty in the world,” added Pachauri.

Austrian Foreign Minister, Michael Spindelegger, reminded that the conference marked the tenth anniversary of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy, which facilitates dialogue between key players and encourages public-private cooperation in the field of sustainable energy.

“Vienna has become a dynamic hub for international efforts to promote peace, security and sustainable energy,” added Spindelegger. “This conference reflects the strong commitment of Vienna based organisations to make the city of Vienna an international centre of excellence in bringing forward the sustainable energy agenda.”

He also underlined the fact that Austrian science, technology institutions and companies are known to be at the leading edge of renewable energies and energy efficiency. The Austrian Development Cooperation has been supporting renewable energy projects in developing countries for many years.

IIASA will present the highlights of the Global Energy Assessment (GEA), the most comprehensive and integrated analysis of global energy challenges ever undertaken. The GEA addresses energy access, climate change, security and investment issues simultaneously.

“We are facing a convergence of challenges that require a fundamental transformation of energy systems, 'business-as- usual’ solutions are not an option,” said IIASA Director, Detlof von Winterfeldt. “The magnitude, pace, and scale of the impact of climate change is greater than predicted even as recently as a couple of years ago – the need to respond to this change is urgent.”

He said it was untenable that today 2.4 billion people were without access to modern energy services. GEA early findings suggest that the cost of providing modern energy services for all is not only achievable but affordable in the medium term, if the political will exists.

“Current investment in energy is in the order of $US350billion per annum; over $US100billion of this investment is in renewable energy. Whilst investment has been steadily increasing, the reality is that a three-fold increase is needed. We have an opportunity in the several stimulus packages introduced by many countries in response to the global financial and economic crisis,”
added von Winterfeldt.

Participants will also discuss the role of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which will advise industrialized and developing countries on how to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels by promoting the rapid adoption of renewable energy worldwide. Conference website Visit the conference Photo Gallery

For further information, please contact:

Mikhail Evstafyev, UNIDO Press Officer
Mobile +43-699-1459-7329
email

Leane Regan, IIASA Communications Department
email mobile +43 6644 430 368

Gertraud Findl, Austrian Development Agency
email tel. +43 1 90 3 99 2412 ]]> Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:32:00 +0200 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=343&cHash=beb3f657a5b5aa96b2488dfe7b0ecd7c Scaling up Renewable Energy
For more information, please click here]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:02:00 +0100 http://193.138.105.52/index.php?id=7881&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=337&cHash=53ddc72576c9ebebf480f65770c93fce UNIDO, UNESCAP and UNEP to hold Green Industry conference in Manila – An international conference on Green Industry in Asia, " Managing the Transition to Resource-efficient and Low Carbon Industries", will be organized by UNIDO, UNESCAP and UNEP in Manila from 9 to 11 September 2009.

The event will bring together policy-makers, industrialists and experts who will exchange experiences and views on policies and strategies to integrate sustainability into the industrial development process on optimizing energy, water and raw material use in the production process, and on the development of new value and supply chains around industry-related environmental goods and services. 

A preparatory meeting for the conference took place in Bangkok on 4 and 5 March. Participants agreed that UNIDO will organize a session on cleaner production, UNESCAP on sustaining growth and competitiveness, and UNEP on eco-friendly products and environmental services.

The green industry initiative focuses on raising awareness, knowledge and the capacities of the relevant industry support institutions and government bodies, so that they in turn can give the necessary assistance to their enterprises. The initiative will help industry support institutions and government bodies promote low-carbon paths to industrial development, efficient use of non-energy raw materials, and will assist to recycle industrial and non-industrial wastes as a substitute to virgin raw materials. It will also help adopt products and technologies to meet international commitments or environmental standards in the global markets, and adopt environmental and related management systems as a requirement to enter into global value chains. For more information, please contact:

Heinz Leuenberger
Director
UNIDO Environment Management Branch
Tel.: +43 1 26026 5611
E-mail

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