Grenada to host the ninth University of Eastern Finland UNEP course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements

St. George, Grenada, 16 August, 2012 - The Government of Grenada, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the University of Eastern Finland are jointly organizing a high profile two-week Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements from 19 to 31 August 2012 at the Grenada Grand Beach Resort. 

The Course transfers past experience in the field of international environmental law to current and future negotiators of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). In addition, the Course provides a forum to foster North-South co-operation and to take stock of recent developments in negotiations as well as the implementation of MEAs and diplomatic practices in the international environmental arena.

This is the ninth year in which the course will run and – as in previous years – the lectures are given by experienced hands-on Diplomats, national and international Civil Servants and members of the academia. The special theme of the Ninth Course is Ocean Governance. The feature presentation on "Thirty years of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Ocean Governance" will be delivered by Former Senior Lecturer of the University of the West Indies – Mr Anselm Francis. Under the theme, a broad range of subjects will be addressed. In addition, general issues relating to international environmental law-making and diplomacy will be discussed. The Course will be delivered using interactive methods and will also include an intensive two-day negotiation exercise which highlights the theme. 

August 22nd is designated to Grenada, and stakeholders from Grenada will join international participants for a special session at the National Stadium from 9:00 a.m. The day will continue with a Public Forum on Ocean Governance at 4:30 p.m. A reception hosted by the Minister for the Environment, Honourable Glynis Roberts will follow immediately after the Public Forum at the National Stadium. 

The Course is intended for experienced government officials engaged in international environmental negotiations. Other participants include representatives of non-governmental organizations, the private sector and researchers and academics in the field of international environmental law. This year 24 participants from Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and Europe, will attend the Course. Over the last eight years, 275 participants from 107 different countries have completed the course.

For further information, please contact: Ms. S Sally Anne Bagwhan Logie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development, ( sbagwhan.logie@gov.gd or Professor Tuomas Kuokkanen, University of Eastern Finland, (Tuomas.Kuokkanen@uef.fi) or Ms. Sylvia Bankobeza, Legal Officer, UNEP ( Sylvia.Bankobeza@unep.org)