Finnish university provides international forum in Grenada to discuss negotiating environmental agreements

A two-week course for negotiators of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) will be held in Grenada in August 2012. Jointly organised by the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the course provides a forum for negotiators to discuss international environmental law.

Lectures will be given by experienced diplomats, government officials, international civil servants, and university professors. The Government of Grenada is aiding in the organisation. The Government of Finland is the main donor.

The course is intended for government officials and representatives of NGOs, and interested parties in the private sector. The 30 participants will all have experience in the area of international environmental law and diplomacy.

Participants will be selected to create a gender balance, with equal distribution of representatives from the North and the South. A Diploma will be awarded to all who successfully complete the Course. This is the ninth Course for negotiators of MEAs to be organised by UEF with UNEP. Each Course has had a special theme: the theme for this course is “Ocean Governance”.

The theme of the course will be “Ocean Governance”. The theme of the course will be “Ocean Governance”.

The joint aim of UNEP and UEF in presenting the course is to advance the implementation of the objectives agreed upon at the 2002 Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development. Primary goals are the conservation, protection, enhancement, and support of nature and natural resources.

The official title of the event is the Ninth Annual Course on Multilaterial Environmental Agreements. It will be held at the Grenada Grand Beach Resort & Convention Centre, St George’s, Grenada from 19 to 31 August 2012.

More information can be obtained from the Programme Coordinator, Ms Seita Rompanen ([email protected]) or Professor Tuomas Kuokkanen ([email protected]), both of the University of Eastern Finland.

The announcement for the Course, and an application form, can be found on the web at: http://www.uef.fi/unep(Link to another website.)

UN