Global NGO Strategy Meeting in Copenhagen

On June 20-22nd, 70 representatives from NGOs around the world will meet to discuss, how the efforts to solve the global environmental problems and create sustainable development can be strengthened. This meting, the "Rio+8 Copenhagen NGO Forum", will take place at Borups Højskole.

The background for the NGO meeting is a recent decision by United Nation’s Commission for Sustainable Development to initiate the preparation of a world conference on environment and development in 2002. Heads of states and government from a wide spectre of countries are expected to participate in the conference. The aim of the world conference is to assess progress made since United Nation’s Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (1992), and to set the agenda for the international efforts in the next 5-10 years.

The meeting in Copenhagen is the first international NGO strategy meeting dedicated to prepare for the summit in 2002. At the meeting, NGOs will co-ordinate their initiatives and discuss issues such as:

- Is there a need for a global organisation for sustainable development as a counterbalance to the World Trade Organisation?

- How can we put the climate change problem back on the political agenda, and how can we get public support for the necessary measures to curb the climate change problem?

- The clearing of rainforests and forests in general continue unabated, despite the political attention the problem has received – how can we change this situation?

- How can we create attention and international action regarding the need to secure clean water for everyone?

- What can we do to achieve food security in developing countries, and what role should biotechnology play in world food production?

The global meeting is arranged by The ‘ 92 Group which is a coalition of18 Danish environment and development NGOs, and the meeting is part of the Solidarity 2000 week arranged by the Danish Association for International Co-operation.

The NGO meeting will be presented at a press conference on Tuesday June 20th at 1 p.m.

The press conference will take place at Borups Højskole, Frederiksholms Kanal 24, Prismestuen 3rd floor (2. sal). Use the staircase on your left in the gateway, and follow the signs. See below for information about the participants in the press conference.

There are other possibilities for the press to get information about the views of the participating NGOs. Representatives from NGOs from 50 countries in almost every corner of the world will participate, and it will be possible to arrange interviews with the participants.

Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Svend Auken, and head of Greenpeace International’s political unit, Mr. Remi Parmentier, will address the conference, and the press is welcome (please sign up) to attend the speeches and the subsequent discussion. The two speeches are scheduled to take place on:

Wednesday June 21st 9 a.m. - Remi Permentier
Wednesday June 21st 3 p.m. - Svend Auken

Further information: John Nordbo, co-ordinator of The ’92 Group, tel. 40 42 35 09 / 77 31 00 06. Information about the NGO meeting can also be found at www.rio8.dk

Participants in press conference:

Sunita Narain is the Deputy Director of Center for Science and Environment (CSE), and has through a long period worked with issues concerning democracy, climate change, forest related resource management and water.

CSE is one of India’s leading environmental NGOs with a deep interest in sustainable natural resource management.

Felix Dodds is Director of United Nations Environment and Development UK Committee (UNED-UK). He is working with information and lobby, and he has for a number of years been a central figure in international NGO work on sustainable development.

UNED-UK’s primary objective is the promotion of global environmental protection and sustainable development, through support of UN and intergovernmental institutions.

Martin Lidegaard is Head of the Information Department for the Danish Association for International Co-operation.

Kim Carstensen is General Secretary for the World Wide Fund for Nature, Denmark.