SERBIA PRESIDING OVER UNEP GOVERNING COUNCIL PROCLAIMED THE MOST EFFICIENT

Nairobi (Kenya), 16^th - 20^th February 2009 - Recent 25^th United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum presided by Mr. Oliver Dulić, Serbian Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, has been the most efficient thus far, says UNEP.

The efficient presiding over the sessions chaired by Mr. Oliver Dulić, the presiding minister was particularly praised for the rapid reaching of consensus, the importance of the decisions made as well as the initiatives launched.  The effort of Mr. Oliver Dulić, the President of the Governing Council, together with the joint effort of other members of Serbian delegation who presided over the working groups, contributed to the efficient mediation in negotiations as well as to the rapid reaching of consensus.

At the 25th session of the UNEP Governing Council, ministers of environment together with heads of delegations from 147 UN member states were present, as well as the representatives from other international organizations, NGOs and civil society organizations, international scientific panel and other interested parties.

Mr. Jan Dusík, the representative of the Czech Republic, on behalf of EU, proclaimed the 25^th Governing Council as the landmark in the history of the environmental protection. During the session, they exchanged opinions and experiences, and discussed possibilities regarding the following topics: Globalization and Environment, and the International Environmental Governance (IEG) and UN reform.

Environmental ministers together with heads of delegations reached the consensus that from the point of environmental preservation and survival of humankind, the man's attitude towards the environment and former development are no longer acceptable. Moreover, they recognized that the current socio-economic problems and global crisis call for innovative thinking and new solutions.

Furthermore, it was concluded that the economic crisis and the consequences of climate change pose a common problem - the solution of which is to be found in the new Green Economy Initiative.

Current economic crisis in the context of climate change, energetic crises and water and food shortage, represents the unique opportunity to achieve socio-economic changes that will stimulate "green economy" which aims to broaden the exploitation of renewable energy resources, stimulate the opening of new "green" job positions in order to help environmental protection and green economic growth.

For implementing the aforementioned objectives at global, regional and national level, it is essential to reform the system of International Environmental Governance (IEG). They gave special attention to the likelihood of an IEG based on the principles of sustainable development. Thus, both the Governing Council and the UN jointly adopted the decision that defines the IEG development guidelines.

Serbian delegation agreed on the following conclusion: during the implementation of the defined programme priorities, UNEP should equally pay attention to the needs of both developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition. Furthermore, make best use of the achievements of previously implemented or ongoing projects and programs through UNEP regional offices.

During the session, the following guidelines defining the chemical management - particularly mercury, were ratified. Mercury is a metallic chemical element that represents a global problem because it can be transmitted through air to great distances from the release source, and it is not degradable in the living environment; moreover, it can also be accumulated in ecosystems and it has a major harmful effect on both people's health and the environment. In order to solve the problem of uncontrolled release of either mercury or its compounds into the environment, the coordinated activities on a global level are necessary. The activities of the particular regions or countries are not sufficient for resolving this global problem and therefore, the ratifying of the decision concerning mercury pollution at the GC session has provided the basis as well as the international consensus for further activities related to an international binding legal instrument which should regulate the mercury problem management. Likewise, the aforementioned resolution calls for implementing the short-term voluntary programmes aimed at successful resolving of the problem of anthropogenic sources of mercury emissions.  The ratification of this resolution is considered the most significant result of the aforementioned session and also a historic moment.

Furthermore, the following resolutions which define international environmental guidelines, waste management, UNEP water strategy, support to Africa, development of small island states, south-south cooperation, international youth inclusion programs aimed at the activities related to the environment, environmental rights, as well as Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services were adopted.

UNEP's two-year work schedule and the $180 million budget were adopted for the period from 2010 to 2011. In compliance with the aforementioned document, UNEP activities shall be directed towards achieving results referring to six strategic areas of high priority: climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental management, harmful substances and hazardous waste, efficient utilization of resources - sustainable consumption and production. The Republic of Serbia shall be presiding over the UNEP's Governing Council/ Global Ministerial Environment Form for the following two years. Mr. Oliver Dulić, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, shall preside over regular quarterly meetings of the General Council Bureau, as well as other international conferences including 63^rd session of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, 17^th  session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and the 64^th UN General Assembly session.

On this particular occasion, all adopted decisions will be presented and the conditions for the consensus on further action regarding their implementation will be provided both at the global level as well as EU member states level.

Minister Dulić together with Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary and UNEP Executive Director, shall take part in international conferences, in order to present UNEP Governing Council conclusions, primarily the launched Green Economy Initiative and the International Environmental Governance development.