United Nations Environment Programme North American Regional Civil Society Consultation In Preparation for the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Facilitator’s Summary

This document is a facilitator's summary of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) North American Regional Civil Society Consultation held on 28 October 2005. The meeting aimed to gather recommendations from North American civil society organizations to inform the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) and the preceding Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF). The consultation focused on three primary policy areas: energy and the environment, chemicals management, and tourism and the environment.

• The 2006 GC/GMEF was designed to focus on three specific policy areas: energy and the environment, chemicals management, and tourism and the environment.
• Regarding energy and the environment, discussions highlighted the impact of disproportionate consumption, the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to climate-related disasters, and the need to prioritize energy efficiency and renewables over simply increasing energy production.
• In the area of chemicals management, the Stockholm Convention was identified as a critical instrument because it was the first legally binding global agreement requiring national-level chemicals management. Recommendations for UNEP included internalizing chemicals management costs to the industry and creating a new GEF operational program with a chemicals focal area.
• Discussions on tourism and the environment distinguished ecotourism—defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people"—from sustainable tourism. Data indicated that 38% of U.S. travelers would pay more to use companies that preserve the environment, and 2/3 believe environmental protection is a hotel's responsibility.
• The consultation emphasized the unique environmental challenges of the Arctic region, noting that global warming is impacting the hunting culture of the Inuit and that the region is facing significant resource development and investment.
• The meeting resulted in the election of representatives for the Global Drafting Session in Bahrain and the GCSF in Dubai. The GCSF representatives included individuals from the Center for International Environmental Law, SustainUS, The Pembina Institute, the United States Partnership of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, TIES/Worldwatch Institute, Earth Day Network, and Friends of the Earth.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2005). United Nations Environment Programme North American Regional Civil Society Consultation In Preparation for the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Facilitator’s Summary. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NA_CSO_FacilitatorSummary_2005.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. United Nations Environment Programme North American Regional Civil Society Consultation In Preparation for the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Facilitator’s Summary. 2005. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NA_CSO_FacilitatorSummary_2005.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=United Nations Environment Programme North American Regional Civil Society Consultation In Preparation for the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Facilitator’s Summary |date=28 October 2005 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NA_CSO_FacilitatorSummary_2005.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2005united, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{United Nations Environment Programme North American Regional Civil Society Consultation In Preparation for the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Facilitator’s Summary}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2005}, month = oct, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NA_CSO_FacilitatorSummary_2005.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }