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Learn how your favorite brands relate to trafficking and other labor abuses. Free2Work provides consumers with information on forced and child labor for the brands and products they love.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How are Free2Work grades calculated?
Free2Work asks each brand a set of 61 questions about its labor policies and practices. Each question falls in one of four categories: Policies, Transparency & Traceability, Monitoring & Training, or Worker Rights. For more information on Free2Work ratings see What do the Ratings Mean?
2. Does an F rating mean the brand uses forced and child labor in its supply chain? What is the difference between an A rated company and a B rated company?
An F grade does not necessarily mean that the brand uses child or forced labor, but rather that it has not instituted effective mechanisms to prevent these abuses, or to remediate them should they occur. Similarly, an A grade does not imply that the company's supply chain is 100% free of forced labor, but rather that the company is taking appropriate measures to ensure workers' rights are upheld and protected. See What do the Ratings Mean? for more information.
3. Can you rate _______ product or ______ company?
We always welcome user recommendations. For the time being we are prioritizing brands that fall within one of our six focus industries: Apparel, Chocolate, Electronics, Flowers & Plants, Jewelry, and Sports Equipment. Please send your suggestions to email@example.com. We do as much as we can with our resources; please be patient as we attempt to handle a large volume of requests.
4. How did you choose these companies or industries?
We rate brands in industries with specific supply chain issues about which our team has expertise. As we grow we will continue to expand our rating categories.
5. How can a brand improve its grade?
Free2Work automatically reassesses each brand once a year; if a brand improves its supply chain labor practices, Free2Work will alter its grade accordingly.
In conducting a brand evaluation, our research team first assesses a brand's own publications alongside relevant independent reports. Next we send our questionnaire to the brand for information and comment, which we in turn review; we allot six to eight weeks for this process. Once a rating is finalized, we encourage the brand to continue to submit new information pertinent to its rating as its practices change. Free2Work is willing to change a company's grade at any time where appropriate, and is engaged in dialogue with many companies on a regular basis.
For companies seeking additional resources, we are currently in the process of creating Industry Best Practice Reports, to be released in 2012. Each report will provide a synopsis of a focus industry's range of supply chain labor management policies and will highlight best practice leaders. It will reveal the industry's performance on key Free2Work indicators and call attention areas of needed growth.
6. What steps can I take to stop forced labor and child labor?
You have already taken the first step – to learn about the issue and care about changing it! You can also contribute by downloading the Free2Work app for iPhone and Android. To get more involved, please also see See What can I do? for more information.
7. How do Certification Programs affect grades?
Oftentimes product certifications will have a positive impact on a brand's grade; however, each certification standard varies in its ability to prevent forced and child labor. Each standard engages these issues through a distinct process. We encourage you as a consumer to be aware and understand these differences.
8. Can a Free2Work grade change over time?
Yes. Brands are reassessed at least annually. If researchers receive additional information relating to a specific grade, Free2Work will reevaluate the brand prior to its scheduled yearly review.
9. How does Free2Work engage with companies to encourage best practices?
For companies seeking additional resources, we are currently in the process of creating Industry Best Practice Reports, to be released in 2012. Each report will provide a synopsis of a focus industry's range of supply chain labor management policies and will highlight best practice leaders. It will reveal the industry's performance on key Free2Work indicators and call attention areas of needed growth.
Beyond this, Free2Work is engaged in dialogue with companies on a regular basis about their supply chains (See How Can a Brand Improve its Grade? above for more info). If you represent a company and would like to speak to the Free2Work research team, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Is your question not on the list? Submit it here!
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This website is provided "as is" without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Free2Work makes no representations or warranties in relation to this website or the information and materials provided on this website.
Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, Free2Work does not warrant that:
- this website will be constantly available, or available at all; or
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Nothing on this website constitutes, or is meant to constitute, advice of any kind. If you require advice in relation to any legal or financial matter you should consult an appropriate professional.
Limitations of liability
Free2Work will not be liable to you (whether under the law of contact, the law of torts or otherwise) in relation to the contents of, or use of, or otherwise in connection with, this website:
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These limitations of liability apply even if Free2Work has been expressly advised of the potential loss.
Nothing in this website disclaimer will exclude or limit any warranty implied by law that it would be unlawful to exclude or limit; and nothing in this website disclaimer will exclude or limit Free2Work's liability in respect of any:
- death or personal injury caused by Free2Work's negligence;
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- matter which it would be illegal or unlawful for Free2Work to exclude or limit, or to attempt or purport to exclude or limit, its liability.
By using this website, you agree that the exclusions and limitations of liability set out in this website disclaimer are reasonable.
If you do not think they are reasonable, you must not use this website.
Other parties
You accept that, as a limited liability entity, Free2Work has an interest in limiting the personal liability of its officers and employees. You agree that you will not bring any claim personally against Free2Work's officers or employees in respect of any losses you suffer in connection with the website.
Without prejudice to the foregoing paragraph, you agree that the limitations of warranties and liability set out in this website disclaimer will protect Free2Work's officers, employees, agents, subsidiaries, successors, assigns and sub-contractors as well as Free2Work.
Unenforceable provisions
If any provision of this website disclaimer is, or is found to be, unenforceable under applicable law, that will not affect the enforceability of the other provisions of this website disclaimer.
About this website disclaimer
We created this website disclaimer with the help of a Contractology precedent available at www.freenetlaw.com. Professional legal templates, including web hosting agreement templates, are supplied by Contractology to customers worldwide.
Do you have a question about Free2Work? Have you checked out our FAQ page? We might be able to answer your question there.
For media inquiries, contact us at email@example.com
Otherwise you can contact us at email@example.com
Thanks for your interest in Free2Work!
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy ("Privacy Policy") describes the information that FREE2WORK ("FREE2WORK") collects through our mobile application and how we use it. For purposes of this agreement, the terms "we," "us," and "our" refer to FREE2WORK. "You" refers to you, as a user of the FREE2WORK application. By accepting our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, you consent to our collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.
Information We Collect
We collect information from and about you and your device. The personal information we collect is the information that you voluntarily provide to us during your creation of an account. Users cannot access the application without creating an account. You can manually create an account on our application, or you can create an account by connecting to our application through Facebook. In either case, we collect from you only your first name, last name, and email address. We also track the products that users scan. This information is used to track how users are interacting with our app in the aggregate, and may also be used to provide users with similar products they may be interested in.
How We Use And Share Information
We use the personal information you provide to us to create an account through which you can utilize FREE2WORK services. Further, by creating an account and providing us with your email address, you agree to receive email communications to provide you additional information about FREE2WORK and Not For Sale's initiatives ("Promotional Communications"). In addition, we use the information we collect about the products users scan to improve FREE2WORK services and users' experiences. We aggregate this information to use in statistical analysis to allow us to track the products that users are interested in and analyze patterns in the use of FREE2WORK.
Except as otherwise stated in this Privacy Policy, we do not sell, trade, rent, or otherwise share for marketing purposes the Personal Information that we collect with third parties without your consent.
In general, this Privacy Policy does not limit our use or disclosure of any non-personal information in any way. We reserve the right to use and disclose such non-personal information to our partners, advertisers, and other third parties at our discretion.
How We Protect Information
We strive to protect your information from unauthorized access, and take precautions against security breaches of our customer databases. We collect only limited personal information, and that information is housed within a dedicated server that has been encrypted using technological measures, including encryption, firewalls, and secure socket layer technology, to ensure security.
This is not a guarantee that your information may not be accessed, disclosed, or altered by breach of such firewalls and secure server software. By using our application, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to assume these risks.
Your Rights and Correcting Your Information
You have a right at any time to stop us from contacting you with additional information about the initiatives of FREE2WORK and Not For Sale. If you receive Promotional Communications from us, you will be able to indicate a preference to stop receiving further Promotional Communications from us and will have the opportunity to "opt-out" by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in the e-mail.
Please note that despite any indicated email marketing preferences, we may send you administrative emails regarding FREE2WORK, including, for example, notices of material updates to our Privacy Policy.
Modifications to Our Privacy Policy
We may revise our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service at any time. We will notify you about any significant changes to our policy by sending a notice to users via email so that you can choose whether to continue using our service. Non material changes or clarifications will take effect immediately; significant changes will go into effect 30 days after we notify. You should periodically check this privacy policy for updates.
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You can contact us about this privacy statement by
Writing us via email at: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Writing to us via postal mail at: 270 Capistrano Road, Suite #2, Half Moon Bay, California 94019
Calling us at: 1-650-560-9990
Learn how your favorite brands relate to trafficking and other labor abuses. Free2Work provides consumers with information on forced and child labor for the brands and products they love.
Electronics Report in JapaneseGet Report
The Electronics Industry Trends (The Truth Behind the Barcode) has been translated and is now available in Japanese. Links to the introduction and report are provided below.
Electronics Trend Report in Japanese
The Electronics Industry Trends (The Truth Behind the Barcode) is now available in Japanese. Please click here to download (or open) the full report:
Here is the Introductory Guide to the Electronics Industry Trends (The Truth Behind the Barcode) Japanese version. Please click here to download (or open) the introduction:
Why Free2Work?About Free2Work
There is a story behind each barcode. Most products travel through various parts of the world and through many hands before they reach us. Free2Work provides consumers with information on how products relate to modern-day slavery. Through the site you can learn how your favorite brands are working to address forced and child labor. You can also access in-depth information about industry issues through our Industry pages and news feeds, and learn more about trafficking and supply chains through our blog posts. Free2Work is additionally working to provide Industry Best Practice Reports for brands seeking management resources, and is available for dialogue with companies on an ongoing basis. Read more…
Free2Work provides consumers with information on how products relate to modern-day slavery. Through the site you can learn how your favorite brands are working to address forced and child labor. You can additionally access in-depth information about industry issues through our industry pages and news feeds, and you can learn more about trafficking and supply chains through our blog posts.
The global slave trade is complex, and product supply chains remain opaque, making it difficult for even the most informed consumers to know how their purchases are connected to labor abuses. Today, brands are more aware of potential issues within their supply chains. Many work with a wide range of initiatives such as monitoring and certification programs to attempt to assure consumers that their products do not violate worker rights. The plethora of approaches is extremely confusing for busy consumers who seek an answer to the simple question, what is the story behind my products?
There is a tale behind each barcode. Most products travel through various parts of the world and through many hands before they reach us. Our goal at Free2Work is to shed light on this process. We aim to empower consumers with information about the likelihood that products are made with forced or child labor. Free2Work conducts extensive research before assigning grades on a scale of "A" to "F" to each brand. We look at company efforts in four main categories: policies, monitoring, transparency, and worker rights (see What do the Ratings Mean? for more information).
Additionally, Free2Work is continually engaged in dialogue with companies about their supply chain practices. For companies seeking further resources, we are currently creating Industry Best Practice Reports, to be released in 2012. Each report will reveal the industry's performance on key Free2Work indicators, highlight best practice leaders, and call attention to areas of needed growth.
Free2Work is a strategic tool that promotes transparency in supply chains, empowers consumers to make informed decisions, and mediates communication between consumers and companies.
Organizations Behind Free2Work:
Free2Work is a project created by Not For Sale and supported by the International Labor Rights Forum.
Not For Sale equips and mobilizes smart activists to deploy innovative solutions to slavery in their own backyards and across the globe. NFSC has developed an international network of people dedicated to ending slavery and forced labor. Sign up for NFS' email list.
International Labor Rights Forum, founded in 1985, promotes just and humane treatment for workers worldwide. ILRF connects policy makers and activists to workers' struggles around the world, promoting better trade policy and legal protections against child and forced labor, discrimination of all kinds, and infringements on workers' right to organize and bargain collectively. Sign up for ILRF's email list.
Funding for this project has been provided by Humanity United and by the Juniper Networks Foundation Fund, a corporate advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
Free2Work is an ever-changing and evolving resource. As companies' processes for addressing forced labor improve, so too will their grades. Please keep in mind that we continuously update this site with new brand and product assessments. We encourage you to provide feedback by email at email@example.com.
What do the ratings mean?Ratings
Free2Work grades are a measure of a brands's efforts to make sure that child and forced labor do not exist in its supply chain. The grades are based on publicly available information and data self-reported by the company. Free2Work conducts each evaluation using a 60+ question assessment tool that focuses on the brand's labor policies and practices. Questions fall in four categories: Policies, Transparency & Traceability, Monitoring & Training, and Worker Rights. Free2Work distils complicated supply chain information by focusing on three main production phases of each brand's supply chain. We examine company efforts down to the raw materials level, where risks of trafficking are often the greatest. Before grades are assigned, we also weigh the specific risks inherent to each particular supply chain. Read more…
What do Free2Work grades represent?
Free2Work grades are a measure of a brands's efforts to make sure that child and forced labor do not exist in its supply chain. They are based on publicly available information and data self-reported by companies.
How does Free2Work conduct assessments?
Free2Work asks each brand a set of 61 questions about its labor policies and practices through our "Evaluation Tool." Each question falls in one of four categories: Policies, Transparency & Traceability, Monitoring & Training, or Worker Rights. We ask most questions three times: once for each of three major production phases in the brand's supply chain. If a company owns multiple brands, we either assess them separately or clump them under one evaluation, depending on how similarly the supply chains are managed.
In conducting a brand evaluation, our research team first assesses a brand's own publications alongside relevant independent reports and data such as third party audit findings and non-governmental organization (NGO) publications. Next we send our questionnaire to the brand for information and comment, which we in turn review; we allot six to eight weeks for this process. Where a brand is non-responsive, we note this on its scorecard. Once finalized, we make all evaluations publicly available through our site for companies, consumers, workers and the activist community to access. We welcome you to submit information we may have missed, including reports of labor violations, to email@example.com.
Free2Work grades each brand according to its response to the risks specific to its supply chain. If a brand is operating in an industry and regions where there is a high prevalence of child and forced labor, it will be graded more strictly than one operating only in lower risk situations. This means that in order to receive an A, such a brand will need to prove that it has significant mechanisms in place to protect workers from abuse.
Supply Chain Phases:
There are many different sorts of supply chains. Some products pass through dozens of hands and countries before they reach the shelves. They can involve harvesting, manufacturing, transportation, intermediaries, and many other phases. Others take little production and are made close to home. Our challenge at Free2Work is to compare these very different supply chains and companies to one another in a way that is meaningful.
In order to do this, we have chosen to simplify things and focus on only three production phases in each supply chain. We look at each brand's management of one main raw material, one main input, and the final stage of production. We generally evaluate a standard set of production processes per industry, and customize these to represent individual brands' efforts where necessary. For example if we are assessing an apparel company, we will standardly look at its management of cotton harvesting (the raw material), textiles production (the input), and cut-make-trim manufacturing (the final stage of production). We assess the company's efforts to prevent trafficking at each of these three levels. In the cases of select industries with less complicated supply chains we assess only one or two production processes instead of three.
Evaluation Categories:
Free2Work asks each brand a set of 61 questions about its production policies and practices. We ask most of these questions three times: once for each production phase. The questions fall into four categories of assessment:
- Policies: We evaluate the brand's code of conduct, sourcing and subcontracting policies, and involvement with other organizations working to combat child and forced labor.
- Transparency & Traceability: We look at both how thoroughly the brand understands its own supply chain, and whether it discloses critical information to the public.
- Monitoring & Training: We measure the adequacy of the brand's monitoring program to address the specific issues of child and forced labor.
- Worker Rights: We assess the degree to which the brand seeks to actively support worker well-being by ensuring that workers claim their rights at work through organizing or earning a living wage.
Risk Analysis:
As mentioned, supply chains are diverse and often complicated. In order to evaluate companies next to each other we need to understand the different risks in which they operate. The prevalence of child and forced labor is much greater in certain countries and production processes than in others, so Free2Work grades those companies operating in "high risk" situations on a stricter scale than those operating in "low risk" areas.
For example, in the jewelry industry, forced and child labor has been found in gold mining in Burkina Faso. Free2Work thus considers sourcing gold from Burkina Faso to be a "high risk" activity, which means that serious precautions need to be taken in production to ensure against trafficking. On the other hand, neither child nor forced labor is prevalent in Canadian gold mining operations, and Canadian rule of law is relatively strong on trafficking. Free2Work consequently considers sourcing gold from Canada to be "low risk."
If a company has "low risk" production, it does not necessarily mean that no trafficking exists in its supply chain, but rather that it is less of a risk relatively speaking. We grade brands sourcing from high risk areas on a more rigorous scale than those sourcing from low risk areas, but expect that even companies with relatively "low risk" production have certain policies and procedures in place. Likewise, a company can still receive an "A" if it is operating in "high risk" situations, but it is expected to take more precautions to ensure against abuses.
Free2Work draws risk data primarily from the U.S. Department of Labor's List of Goods Produced With Child Labor or Forced Labor ("DOL List"). The DOL List reports on the existence of the use of child and forced labor by country and good. We evaluate each of a company's main production processes separately for risk. Companies that either do not publicly disclose or have not traced their countries of production are considered to be operating in "high risk" situations.
Free2Work uses the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons' Trafficking in Persons Report "Tier Placements" as a secondary source of risk information. The report measures government efforts to prevent trafficking. If one of a company's production processes exists chiefly in "Tier 1″ countries, we grade the process on a "low risk" scale as long as it is not also on the DOL List (if a process is on the DOL List we consider it to be "high risk" regardless). The rationale behind this is that government efforts and rule of law are fundamental to the prevention of trafficking, and certain company policies may be less crucial where governments are fulfilling their roles. If a production process is marked as "low risk" it does not mean that there is no risk of child or forced labor, but rather that external protections are likely in place to supplement company efforts. (Note that the one exception is that while Colombia is "Tier 1" for trafficking in persons, the labor abuses that routinely take place in the country are so severe that Free2Work has removed it from its "low risk" list.)
Free2Work finally draws data where applicable from other expert reports and relevant news articles: in some cases there are specific allegations of abuse in a company's supply chain; in these circumstances the production process will be marked as "high risk" regardless of the supply chain.
All production processes that are not either "high risk" or "low risk" are considered to be "medium risk" and graded on a medium scale.
The following are Free2Work's risk definitions. In a given production process:
High risk =
- One or more of the top five countries from which the company sources is on the DOL List; or
- The company does not disclose its top five countries of production; or
- An independent party has made credible allegations of abuse
Medium Risk =
- Zero of the top five countries from which the company sources are on the DOL List; but
- Not all of the top five countries from which the company sources are listed as "Tier 1" on the TiP Report
Low Risk=
- Zero of the top five countries from which the company sources are on the DOL List; and
- All of the top five countries from which the company sources are listed as "Tier 1" on the TiP Report
Finally, the following are the spread of potential grades a company can receive by risk category:
If at least one production process is "low risk": Minimum score: C; Maximum score: A+
If at least one production process is "medium risk": Minimum score: D-; Maximum score: A+
If all production processes are "high risk": Minimum score: F, Maximum score: A+
Scope of Evaluations:
In some cases corporations own multiple brands with similar supply chains and manage these as a unit; for instance a company's head office may take responsibility for ensuring that the suppliers of each of its brands are monitored under a single auditing program. In such a case Free2Work will assess the corporation's brands as a unit.
An example of this is the corporation Gap Inc., which owns five brands (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta). Gap manages the supply chains of all five brands under one umbrella CSR program. Free2Work in response grades all five brands under one umbrella evaluation.
Where supply chain management practices differ from brand to brand, we assess each brand separately. In rarer cases, especially where certification systems are involved, a single brand may manage different product lines with significantly different labor policies; in these cases we will assess each product line seperately. Free2Work maps each company's ownership structures against its corporate social responsibility (CSR) management structures to determine the scope of its evaluation(s).
In all cases, regardless of the scope of the assessment, consumers can search for Free2Work grades easily through recognizable brand and product line names.
How Can I Learn More?Resources
To learn more, you can read about Free2Work, peruse our Resources, browse our blog articles, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or email us at email@example.com.
- The Story Behind the BarcodeHave you ever considered the story behind the products you purchase? Free2Work endeavors to inform consumers the labor conditions behind the products that they purchase on a daily basis. Through a 60+ point assessment tool Free2Work analysis a companies supply chain to produce an A to F scale based on a brands ability to protect workers in their supply chain.
- 2011 Trafficking in Persons ReportThe Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons within the US State Department produces an annual report on the state of trafficking worldwide. The report includes an annual three tier ranking system on countries efforts to address trafficking. Free2Work utilizes this ranking system to inform our risk analysis process.


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Christine Kenny Announces Ongoing Performances
Published Jan 22, 2014, 4:30pm -
Blues vocalist Chris Kenny is performing on a regular basis every Wednesday afternoon, 4-6 pm, at El Rio BBQ in Paso Ancho, a wonderful hideaway by the river just five minutes from Emiliano Zapata.
Originally from Ottawa, Ontario , Canada , Chris has lived in Kenya , England and California, and now makes her home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. A constant in Canada's music scene over the years, she has played many festivals and clubs sharing the stage with some of Canada's best recording blues artists and musicians including; Jeff Healey, Fathead, Jack de Keyzer, Chuck Jackson and members of the Downchild Blues Band. She delivers a diverse range of diva experiences. Her powerful, heartfelt vocal style is truthful and captivating. She has a broad range of cover material as well as many of her own songs. Her singing and writing styles have been influenced by the great ladies of jazz and blues.
For more information, visit her online.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Date submitted: 28 Oct 2011
- Stakeholder type: Member State
- Name: Kazakhstan
- Submission Document: Download
National Proposal of the Republic of Kazakhstan for RIO+20
?Time of Radical Strategic Decisions?
The waves of global crisis that have covered the Planet since the beginning of this millennium are becoming an evident need in joint efforts in searching new ways for common survival and prosperity.
In spite of the declared adherence to the principles of sustainable development and undertaken measures the disproportion of the development continues growing:
- in the economic field the gap in the level of economic development between the countries are becoming greater (since 1985 the gaps in the income level per capita between poor and rich countries have become greater by 78 times compared to 52 in the past);
- in relation to the environment natural disaster events are becoming more frequent and greenhouse gasses emissions are growing (for the period of 20 years CO2 emissions have increased by 30% and in 2010 the global temperature raise approached a critical mark of over 2 C).
- in the energy sector the gap between the groups of the countries with low income and income per capita below the average level in relation to energy consumption per capita has 8 times increased, and in relation to oil consumption up to 6 times.
In the period from 1970 to 2009 six economic crises directly or indirectly related to energy reasons and, as effect, to growing gaps have occurred in the world.
These crisis events, mutually resounding and becoming greater as a result of that have questioned the readiness of the society to solve the tasks successfully in relation to both strategic and mid-term plans. So, the whole system of global community relations is facing great shocks and new challenges, which should be responded in an adequate manner.
It is absolutely clear that separate countries and regions would not cope with current global problems by their own, and considering that, year 2012 was declared as the "International Year of Sustainable Energy for Everyone" according to the Resolution 65/151 of the UN General Assembly dated February16, 2011.
From its side Kazakhstan addressing the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2011, proposed to develop and discuss the Global Energy and Environment Strategy and the large-scale Green Bridge environmental initiative at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
The Global Energy and Environment Strategy should be considered as a system of actions for solution of the most urgent geoeconomical and geopolitical problems related to securing resources for countries and civilization, as well as the conditions for long-term climatic stability in the world. It may become the first step to the development of a common global strategy, which will be focused on the challenges for the world community.
The current international documents on global climate change management basically specify CO2 emissions and global temperature raise. But these are effects, and their cause is in the quality and structure of used energy sources. Presently, exactly this process of energy generation and use is the main source of CO2 emissions and global temperature raise. Forecasted depletion of hydrocarbon energy sources by the middle of XXI century currently is not a less challenge for the mankind than environmental pollution.
It is reasonable to solve both problems in an integrated manner focusing on new organization of energy generation and use that would lead to the reduction of CO2 emissions and global temperature fall.
Under the "Global Energy and Environment Strategy for Sustainable Development for XXI? proposed by Kazakhstan the global prospect on its long-term sustainable development was designed by the scientists from Kazakhstan, Russia, USA, Germany, China and other countries on the basis of the dynamics of civilization?s development with clear definition of required parameters for the future. "Energy-environment-economical" balance in relation to countries and regions was identified and recommendations on the transition to the new process of energy generation and use to secure cost-effective way of prospected parameters achievement for each country were developed.
It should be emphasized that in the world there is a variety of political initiatives, and such an approach will become feasible basing on them.
The Global Energy and Environment Strategy is actual, first of all, in the light of the initiative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization Mr. Pan Ki-moon on "Sustainable Energy for Everyone", and the UN declaring year 2012 the "International Year for Sustainable Energy for Everyone".
Also the priorities declared by the UNEP, including climate, disaster and conflict reduction and efficient resources use - sustainable consumption and production should be noted. Extremely important are the initiatives on the creation of the world oil-and-gas bank, support of the initiative on "Global Village" Energy partnership? for African countries southward of Sahara by developed countries, efforts of the UNEP, MAGATE, UNESCO, UNIDO, the World Bank and a variety of other structures in the field of training specialists in underdeveloped countries, and a variety of other initiatives.
Based on these initiatives and achievements in the field of science and technology, coming from the analysis of social-economic, ecological, natural-resource and energy dynamics of world development for the last 20 years, considering the forecasts of the United Nations Organization and major expert organizations, a draft ?Global Energy and Environment Strategy on Sustainable Development for XXI" has been prepared by the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In relation to energy the goal of the ?Global Energy and Environment Strategy on Sustainable Development for XXI" is the achievement by the middle of XXI century an optimum level to meet the demand of all countries of the Planet in energy and other natural resources, including the following objectives for definite periods:
� every decade ? determining of primary energy sources sufficient for each country and defining the technology on the achievement of national development targets for the next decade.
� since 2020 ? reserving carbon primary energy sources for future generations introducing renewable energy sources.
� by 2050 reduction of energy intensity of the world gross product unit not less, than by 2 times, and creation of conditions for further maintenance of this energy intensity.
� by 2070 creation of the stock of non-renewable energy resources and achievement of triple balance ?energy-economy-environment? .
� by 2100 achievement of a technological level of energy sufficient for each country to secure high index value of human potential.
At present, there is no any international body authorized and responsible for the regulation of global technological development. Certainly, such organizations, as the UNDP, UNIDO, regional associations of Europe, countries of Africa and the Pacific region are realizing their activity and achieving certain success within their own mandates. However, their authority is insufficient for the achievement of significant global breakout, since such activity should be strengthened in all directions of technological development, so Kazakhstan proposes the world community to establish the ?Global Energy and Environment Strategy on Sustainable Development for XXI" envisaging solution of these problems.
The Astana "Green Bridge" Initiative was adopted by the countries of Asia and the Pacific at the 6th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Astana city in 2010. The overarching goal of the Astana "Green Bridge" Initiative is the development of partnership with "green" business and creation of environment for introduction of "green" technology and investment.
The Programme implies joint actions of states, international, non-governmental and scientific organizations and business on creation or development of new green business sectors through implementation of investment projects and reforming of policies, economic and market instruments.
The main approach is practical, long-term and systematic assistance to countries and any organization concerned in attraction of green investment and best available experience and management practices transfer.
The Green Bridge Partnership Programme does not substitute and does not duplicate any other current processes or programs. The objective of the "Bridge" is the relationship between many processes and creation of the partnership of a new level - not only between countries and regions, but also between real economy sectors and businesses, filling existing gaps in short-term or fragmentary actions.
A number of practical measures on the creation of environment and the infrastructure to broaden access to green technologies and innovations for all concerned countries and organizations are envisaged under the Programme. Under the "Green Bridge" Partnership Programme the activity is implemented in two directions: on the one side there are "green technologies", on the other side there are "green goods" produced using these technologies, and ecosystem services required for global sustainability.
The structure of the Programme comprises standard components: targets, main activity areas, a management mechanism, expected results, as well as a statement on partnership.
Principles of the Programme :
? The leading role of the state,
? A long-term approach,
? Participation of all stakeholders,
? Integration and synergy with existing processes and initiatives,
? Efficient management by the Programme,
? Maximum focus on practical results.
The leading role of the state is very important for the creation of favorable framework conditions for the green economy and technology. The Programme will provide for countries adapted recommendations based on successful practices of developed and other countries.
Main activity areas of the Programme:
1. Management: national and international. Best management practices and examples, legislation and available experience will be delivered to concerned countries and organizations, as well as practical assistance in use of them will be provided.
2. Information infrastructure, education. There are great opportunities beginning from the opportunities to receive basic information on green economy and practices of other countries to Internet-TV and remote training programs and courses.
3. The Green business and technologies. Assistance in obtaining available information on best green technology, examples of green business support through administrative and market mechanisms, online consultations of recognized experts in specific technology, equipment and other practical issues.
4. Financial and economical mechanisms. Great opportunities for sharing available experience in tariff and tax reforms, introduction of mechanisms on payment for ecosystem services, greening of state procurements and others will be used.
5. Standards for green economy. Examples and experience adapted for governments, practical assistance in reforming standards systems will allow creating predictable and incentive basis for green business.
The Programme also includes sectorial priorities :
1. Conservation of mountain, water and other ecosystems,
2. Sustainable energy, its accessibility and efficiency,
3. Food safety,
4. Urban infrastructure and transport,
5. Adaptation to climate change and natural disasters.
On each sector, available legislation, international and national programs and projects, as well as the most efficient instruments and policies will be collected and analyzed. All that will be available for countries and organization in local languages. Partner's projects between countries and business on greening these sectors will be supported. This will allow making the efforts of countries in the transition to green economy much easier, and creating the basis for joint actions in future.
Management mechanism .
A standard management structure including the Governing Board and the Secretariat was proposed by the Programme.
The Governing Board will include 12 members on rotary basis, from the representatives of the regions, state and business sectors, international and non-governmental organizations. More detailed procedures and rules will be worked out in the course of consultations under the direction of the Temporary Governing Board in the first year of activity - along with other required documents and procedures.
The Secretariat will be also established on the basis of open international contest and should have international legal basis with required privileges and immunities. Kazakhstan, as a hosting party, can provide a required support to the work of the Secretariat by means of providing of building and other work conditions.
Financial sources for the Programme.
The Program will be based on self-financing through implementation of investment and business-projects. A part of funds from future and cost-effective state- supported green projects, particularly, in such sectors as energy efficiency, resource saving and others, should be used to support general management of the programme and the activity of its working bodies, as well as to support the activity in such areas as education, strengthening the capacity and others. Initial assistance will be required to start the Programme. Kazakhstan, as an initiator, which has already contributed to the development of the Programme and to financing of two regional Conferences for Europe, Asia and the Pacific, will also contribute to this important initiative. But in addition to this strong partners having experience and for confidential purposes are needed.
To undertake practical steps a Roadmap with more detailed schedule for the 1st year of work - with the development of all required basic documents and mechanisms was proposed.
The area of activity of the Programme is rather extensive: this is 3/4 of the population of the Planet, nearly 90% of greenhouse gasses emissions, the most important ecosystems and energy and natural resources. That is to say the opportunities for new technologies, application of best and successful practices, creation and development of new markets of green goods and services are rather great. And there are no problems with such broad coverage and participation, since after all using modern information systems and technology currently allows sharing successful experience available in many countries, delivering best practices and documents to any number of stakeholders - without delay and barriers. A special section - informational infrastructure to support green economy is envisaged under the Programme for that.
So, the Republic of Kazakhstan proposes the Green Bridge Partnership Program as one of the final documents of Rio+20.
To approve the concept on the ?Global Energy and Environment Strategy on Sustainable Development for XXI" proposed by the Republic of Kazakhstan as a scientifically justified and innovation approach required to overcome global crisis and secure sustainable energy for everyone.
To approve the "Green Bridge" Partnership Programme supported at the regional conferences of ESCAP (2010) and UNECE (2011), as a practical mechanism based on voluntary participation for the transition to green economy.
We would like to invite governments, international financial institutions, the Private sector and other concerned parties to join the Kazakhstan initiatives to promote environmentally sustainable, equitable and prospering future.
Global Energy and Environment Strategy.
1) The project on the ?Global Energy and Environment Strategy on Sustainable Development for XXI" proposed by Kazakhstan is science-based and was designed on the basis of calculations for a long-term prospect (till 2100) to achieve economic well-being for all countries and regions within environmental limits of the Planet and without damage to globally significant ecosystems.
2) Within the framework of the Strategy on the basis of the dynamics of civilization development a global long-term prospect for its sustainable development, with clear definition of the parameters required in the future, was developed by scientists from Kazakhstan, Russia, USA, Germany, China and the other countries.
3) The proposed draft "Strategy" includes "energy-environment-economical" balance in relation to countries and regions and recommendations on the transition to the new process of energy generation and use to secure cost-effective way of prospected parameters achievement for each country.
4) 14 tasks based on the initiatives of the United Nations Organization and interstate associations, through fulfillment of which the required environmentally safe energy flow will be secured the for the civilization, are specified in the Strategy.
The proposal on the "Green Bridge" Partnership .
1) The "Green Bridge" Programme is a regional and global significant practical mechanism on the transition to "green economy". This is a document with a completed structure, specifying clear objectives, tasks, principles, activity priorities, management and financial system of the Programme, as well as a roadmap for the nearest 10 years.
2) The Programme is designed for the support of "green" projects in countries with any level of economic development on voluntary basis.
3) The Program envisages simple, practical and efficient measures for experience sharing and broadening access to green investments and innovations for all concerned countries and organizations.
4) The "Green Bridge" Partnership Program envisages equal participation in the management not only for the state, but also for business, international, non-governmental and scientific organizations.
5) The "Green Bridge" Partnership Programme is based on the relationship with real economy sectors and business-projects that may result in a multiplicative and mutually beneficial effect and the opportunity for all partners for practical realization of instruments previously designed by them.
6) The Green Bridge Partnership Programme proposes brand new mechanisms for conservation and reconstruction of globally significant ecosystems, on the basis of green business concerned in the support of ecosystem services.
7) The Green Bridge Partnership Programme creates a stronger basis and greater opportunities for green business-projects and green markets (goods and services) due to its regional and international status and reduces the risks for potential investor.
The present XXI century is an epoch of strengthening integration of civilizations, their dialogue and partnership for solution of emerging global problems faced by the mankind.
It may be stated definitely that the modern world of the beginning of XXI century is a world of local civilizations demonstrating their spatial variety of historical heritage and modern being of the mankind.
In the period not later than the middle of the century the gap in economical parameters between counties should be reduced to the extent allowing all states having an opportunity for securing a high level of human potential development.
This is a very difficult task; it is connected with considerable growth of the world gross product and solution of major tasks both on the global level and, what is particularly difficult, in each country.
The number of these tasks includes redistribution of major industry facilities, insuring of food sufficiency and solution of the global problem related to securing available drinking water.
The implementation of the ?Global Energy and Environment Strategy on Sustainable Development for XXI" should allow ensuring the required environmentally safe energy flow for that, securing through it the achievement of the UN goals on sustainable energy for everyone.
The Green Bridge Partnership Programme proposed by Kazakhstan is a practical mechanism on cooperation between countries, the Private sector and organizations for the transition to green economy. There are a sufficient number of successful examples on such cooperation in the past and present, and currently only the will of the world community, of all civilizations is needed.


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Published: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.
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Editor: The Marine Corps Reserves would like to give the people of Davidson County along with local businesses and churches a huge thank you for all your help with the 2012 Toys for Tots campaign. Because of your generosity and participation in Toys for Tots we were able to collect and purchase 5,512 toys.
This Christmas you helped put a smile on the faces of 2,615 children here in Davidson County.
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- Date submitted: 31 Oct 2011
- Stakeholder type: Major Group
- Name: UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA)
- Submission Document: Download
UKELA?s proposal for the Rio Conference on Sustainable Development
Executive Summary
The UK Environmental Law Association propose that the Rio Conference addresses the following regulatory issues, for the reasons given in this submission:
I. Achieving consistency in language and terminology related to sustainable development.
II. Developing a flexible international definition of Sustainable Development to apply universally. However an overly prescription or limited definition of Sustainable Development will hamper the development of law though other channels.
III. Considering the role of guidance to be used as a mechanism to give effect to duties.
IV. Considering the extent that regulations should be made consistent to ensure that reporting obligations are published, monitored and reviewed and to ensure consistency in the process, content and quality of information.
V. Developing mechanisms to ensure that information provided in voluntary and mandatory reports are meaningful. This could probably be addressed through increased auditing requirements and developing the role of regulators in both guidance and enforcement capacities.
VI. Developing regulation to ensure reporting obligations on local government are publicised, monitored and reviewed.
VII. Scrutinising the interaction between the role of law and the development of international standards more closely.
VIII. Giving consideration to an international court for the environment.
The UK Environmental Law Association
1. The UK Environmental Law Association aims to make the law work for a better environment and to improve understanding and awareness of environmental law. UKELA?s members are involved in the practice, study or formulation of Environmental Law in the UK and the European Union. It attracts both lawyers and non-lawyers and has a broad membership from the private and public sectors.
2. UKELA?s current priorities include:
� Informing and actively influencing the broad law and policy debate on climate change including the measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage their impacts at the international, EU and domestic level
� Helping deliver more effective and efficient environmental regulation including enforcement at the EU and UK level, not lower standards nor less regulation unless the same or better outcomes will be achieved
3. UKELA works on a UK basis and seeks to ensure that best legislation and practice are achieved across the devolved jurisdictions.
1.1 Terminology
Proposed outcome: that the Rio Conference achieves consistency in language and terminology relating to sustainable development.
4. The term ?Sustainable development? was conceived to reconcile tension between environmental and developmental concerns. The term is used globally in policies, strategies and treaties such as UNFCCC. It is often also used interchangeably with the term ?sustainability? although the terms denote different things. ?Sustainability? is used to describe an aspiration for finding a better way for humans to live within our support system. ?Sustainable Development? is the policy manifestation of society?s attempt to achieve that goal.
5. The inconsistent and vague use of language is a fundamental issue that needs addressing to provide an agreed outcome on how the goal of sustainable development should be reflected in legal systems. For example, research, standards and policy documents often refer to ?the principle of sustainable development? or ?principles of sustainable development? or the objective of ?sustainable development?. The lack of consistency and precision is probably a reflection of the diverse stakeholders interested in the development of sustainable development.
6. In legal terms a ?principle? is a rule or standard that:
� is undisputed in legal doctrine
� does not need to be proved
� provides a foundation for the development of other laws and regulations.
7. There are generally accepted principles associated with environmental law and policy, such as the precautionary principle and the preventative principle, that are used to underpin environmental laws at all levels. Sustainable development is often cited as one of these. These principles are general guides to action rather than detailed rules. The status of these principles can alter because of changes in policy. For example, as a result of changes in waste policy the proximity principle is no longer a central principle of EC waste management law. Other principles are so well established that there is discussion on their status as binding norms of international law.
1.2 Definitions and the law
Proposed outcome: that the Rio Conference:
� achieves consensus on the development of a flexible international definition of Sustainable Development to apply universally. However an overly prescription or limited definition of Sustainable Development will hamper the development of law though other channels.
� considers the role of guidance to be used as a mechanism to give effect to duties
8. The most commonly referred definition of Sustainable Development is ?Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?.
9. No definition of Sustainable Development is found in primary International, European or UK law. The European Union has used the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive as means to give effect to the objective of Sustainable Development.
10. Whether ?the law? has played a secondary role in the development of the definition as a global term is an issue that has been raised on many levels. The ?law? can operate on different jurisdictional levels but it is also a term that encompasses:
- the law expressed as a statutory duty/right
- the law embodied in Contract
- the law of Tort
Duties and rights
11. Whilst the term ?sustainable development? is used in some UK and Scottish statutes, there is no definition within the statutes.
12. Where Sustainable Development is expressed as a duty in legislation, the statute requires that a particular body or group of public bodies should act in a certain way. Some of the duties are mandatory but vary in their clarity, strength and the extent they are qualified by other provisions. The discretions that are introduced can be formulated in a broad way, or be limited to ensure that the authority acts in a way that constrains or structures the discretion.
13. Conferring rights on parties in the context of Sustainable Development may require a shift in legal boundaries: for example, it might create new causes of action such as a right to challenge development based on the global allocation of natural resources; or confer standing (locus standi) on currently unrecognised claimants (e.g. NGOs standing as advocates for future generations). This is not impossible, taking into account intergenerational principles and the growing application of wild law.
14. The use of contract as a body of law governing relations between legal persons is another area where the law concerning the application of the goal of sustainable development may lead to legal development, notwithstanding the lack of a precise definition. Whilst the use of express contract provisions, memorandum of understandings and side letters are means employed to ensure that the economic, environmental and social objectives of sustainable development are incorporated into a contract, enforcement for breach of these terms will depend on how the courts interpret the express terms of the contract. Although the UK courts have not had to provide a judgment on whether sustainable development is an implied term in a contract (necessary for ?business efficacy?), it is not impossible that a court in the future could be asked to provide a judgement on the issue, particularly where the trend is towards business and government developing the objectives of sustainable development and sustainability reporting. For example, it may be an implied term of a contract for the design and build of a new commercial building with a projected lifespan of 30 ? 70 years (depending on location) that it is both resilient to the reasonably foreseeable impacts of climate change and ?sustainable?.
15. The question of whether a party has a ?duty of care? owed in relation to sustainable development principles will depend on the nature of the transactions between the parties. Where sustainability is key to a contract (for example in public procurement) there may be room to argue for damages or restitution for unjust enrichment where one party has failed to carry out its services in accordance with what is required.
Highlighting the issues
16. One of the reasons that legislation has played a secondary role in the development of the meaning of the term ?sustainable development? is that the law expressed as a statutory duty, had not been a major driver to ensure the achievement of sustainable development. Arguably, the efficient drivers are energy efficiency costs and savings/resource shortages/business reputation.
17. One problem with an imprecise definition is that it is more difficult for the courts to interpret and enforce in a way that is consistent with the legislature?s intentions. Where duties are imposed by legislation on an agency including the terms ?sustainability?, without an exact definition, this can give rise to issues. For example, Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 required Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to ?have regard to the desirability of securing that anything done whether by SNH or any other person, in relation to the natural heritage of Scotland is undertaken in a manner that is sustainable. The Act provided no definition of ?sustainable? and consequently SNH had to define the term for its own purposes. Given the need for integrated solutions as a matter of public policy it is not useful for every agency to develop its own definition and approach to sustainable development.
18. On the other hand, the imprecise nature of the term may allow for it to be less static and the provision of ministerial guidance in exercising the ?sustainable development? objective or duty can be a beneficial approach.
19. There is also the issue of enforcement. None of the statutes create criminal or administrative offences in relation to sustainable development.
20. Sections 1.3 ? 1.5 give further legal background on the current issues concerning the application of ?sustainable development ?.
1.3 Principles incorporated into Sustainable Development
21. There are generally accepted principles associated with environmental law and policy, such as the precautionary principle and the preventative principle, that are used to underpin environmental laws at all levels. Sustainable development is often cited as one of these. These principles are general guides to action rather than detailed rules.
22. The concept of sustainable development incorporates the principles of intergenerational equity, the sustainable use of natural resources, equitable use of resources and the principle of integration. Sustainable Development was initially reflected in EU law through the ?integration principle?. The integration principle is set out in Article 11 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as ?Environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of the Community policies and activities, in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development?.
23. Intergenerational equity is the principle of administering and preserving resources and assets (such as quality and diversity of environment), which do not belong to any generation but are to be administered and preserved in trust for all future generations.
24. Intergenerational equity is argued to be a key principle underpinning sustainable development, as inequities are a cause of environmental degradation. Poverty deprives people of their ability to exercise choices in an environmentally sound manner.
1.4 The approach of the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Justice
25. In international law, sustainable development as a legal concept has tended to be found in mostly ?soft law' documents such as Agenda 21.
26. In Gabcikovo-Nagyamaros Project (judgement 25 September 1997, para 140) the International Court of Justice referred to Sustainable Development as a concept which necessitates the reconciliation of economic imperatives with Environmental protection, thus enhancing its understanding in international law. There is academic opinion that by invoking the concept of sustainable development, the ICJ indicates that the term has a legal function and both a procedural/temporal aspect. In a separate opinion, Vice President Weeramanty discussed the role of sustainable development in international law in the context of legal instruments and the historical background, concluding that: ?the principle of sustainable development is ... a part of modern international law by reason not only of its inescapable logical necessity, but also by reason of its wide and general acceptance by the global community?.
27. Before the Lisbon Treaty the 1992 Treaty of the European Union set an objective to ?promote economic and social progress which is balanced and sustainable?. The Lisbon Treaty changed the wording by committing to sustainable development as a concept in its own right (Article 3(3) of the revised version of the Treaty on European Union).
28. There are very few references to Sustainable Development in EU case law. The following cases have dealt with the principles indirectly: Greece v Council Case 62/88 and the Court of the First Instances judgment in Artegodan v Commission, Case T-74/00) where it referred to ?the protection of public health, safety and environment is to take precedence over economic reform?. These two examples are by no means exhaustive.
29. In the last decade, there have been increasing developments in the reasoning of the European courts in relation to sustainable development as a concept, and the environmental principles that are said to comprise it (the precautionary principle and polluter pays principle in particular). These legal developments have given a higher profile to these principles in EU law but do not yet form a coherent body of case law, nor do they compel sustainability-focused policy outcomes. Increasingly academic work is being done to analyse and appraise the complex legal changes being brought about by environmental principles in this particular legal jurisdiction (as well as in others), and the analysis is far from straight forward.
1.5 The approach of the UK courts and legislation
30. In the UK ?sustainable development? is appearing more often in UK and Scottish legislation in a variety of legal forms such as duties, objectives and procedural requirements. There is no standard form of a duty. The provisions vary greatly.
31. The English courts have acknowledged ?sustainability? as a material consideration in local planning decisions. A material consideration is capable of being a main issue in planning law decisions and may deserve significant weight.
32. The coalition government?s proposed text for a presumption in favour of sustainable development included in the Draft National Planning Policy Framework(DCLG, 24 July 2011) includes an extended definition of the ?Bruntdland Definition?. The presumption states: ?There is a presumption in favour of sustainable development at the heart of the planning system, which should be central to the approach taken to both plan making and decision making?. The issue is what this presumption means. Framed that way the presumption appears to promise an easier ride for developers. If there were to be a focus on the global allocation of natural resources to give effect to the concept of ?inter-generational equity? derived from the ?Brundtland defintion? then it might impact on development, by limiting developments to give effect to ?sustainability? in a global context,
1.6 The question of mandatory reporting
Proposed outcomes:
33. It is proposed that the Rio Conference achieves consensus on:
� the extent that regulations should be made consistent to ensure that reporting obligations are published, monitored and reviewed and to ensure consistency in the process, content and quality of information
� developing mechanisms to ensure that information provided in voluntary and mandatory reports is meaningful. This could probably be addressed through increased auditing requirements and developing the role of regulators in both guidance and enforcement capacities
� developing regulation to ensure reporting obligations on local government are publicised, monitored and reviewed
34. Companies are using voluntary reporting or are required to produce mandatory reports to demonstrate how they are managing the environmental and social impacts of their operations. In the UK, listed companies are required under the Companies Act 2006, to set out in their business review (using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)) environmental, employee, social, community and supply chain issues. Although this is a legal requirement there is no statutory reporting standard and no requirement that the information in the enhanced business review is audited. In many cases, research by various companies including government agencies has shown that although voluntary and mandatory reporting has increased there is a lack of meaningful data.
35. Legislation can also be used to ensure reporting obligations on local government are publicised, monitored and reviewed. For example statutes may require Ministers or public bodies to produce a strategy, scheme, plan or report on sustainable development. Although these provisions can be easily complied with the question is how this is monitored and enforced. Judicial review can be used but the process is slow, costly and not the most effective means of enforcement.
1.7 The use of International Standards
Proposed outcomes
36. It is proposed that the Rio Conference addresses the need for closer scrutiny of the interaction between the role of law and the development of international standards.
37. Increasingly international standards are being developed to help organisations address issues like life cycle of products, environmental impact, and social impact (such as ISO 26000), health and safety and employment issues and implementing sustainability management systems. The International Standards board has recognized the need to produce a guide for all standard writers with guidelines for addressing sustainability issues. As definitions such as ?sustainability ? are being developed, the lack of an international agreement on the term will impact on the application of the principle in all standards that refer to the guide.
1.8 The issue of international resolution of disputes
Proposed outcome
38. It is proposed that the Rio Conference considers the case for an international court for the environment.
39. Environmental disputes at a domestic and international level are becoming more frequent. This includes actions on misrepresentations by companies in their CSR policies. Resolving disputes at international level is problematic. Often routes such as arbitration are preferred and very little resort is had to the International Court of Justice. The use of different procedures to determine resolutions also leads to inconsistencies. The appellate division of the World Trade Organization also hears environmental cases. However there is also the issue of a lack of enforcement action.
40. For a further discussion on the international dispute resolution see the submission to the Rio 2012 by the BOND-DEG ? UK NGO?s joint Rio Narrative
mso-bi!�.otp� �S ymbol'>� To better integrate sustainable development policies within the UN system, governments need to support overall integrative mechanisms within the UN system that better align the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainable development.
� In order to strengthen national governance, other policy instruments can complement regulation if they are carefully designed. But they are not panaceas.
� International economic institutions must advance transitions to a sustainable economy, including by multilaterally harmonized systems that allow for discriminating between products on the basis of production processes, based on multilateral agreement. Global trade and investment regimes must be embedded in a normative context of social, developmental, and environmental values.
� In order to fill regulatory gaps in international sustainability governance, new or strengthened international regulatory frameworks are needed in several areas, including on emerging technologies, water, food, and energy.
� Public?private governance networks and partnerships should be streamlined and strengthened. However, there is still a strong need for effective and decisive governmental action.
(see policy brief on Transforming Governance and Institutions ? www.icsu.org/rio20/policy-briefs).
New and emerging challenges
� Concerted, global and immediate action is needed to reduce the risk of fundamentally disrupting the stability of the Earth system, with consequences for global economic and political systems. Actions to enhance the resilience and decrease the vulnerability of human communities are also urgently needed. This must be accompanied by concerted global and enhanced action aimed at bridging the development gap between North and South and eradicating poverty, taking into account a growing world population.
� Specific topical priorities which require urgent action include climate change, food security, water security, energy security, biodiversity loss, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable consumption and production patterns, with an overarching goal of human wellbeing and environmental and economic sustainability.
� Other immediate challenges to be addressed include: ocean acidification, pollution and overfishing; disruption of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles; global chemical pollution; deforestation; and megacities and urbanization; all of which need action based on the latest science and technology, coordinated targeted observations and research, and improved governance.
� Addressing human health needs and concerns should generally be among the priority actions towards sustainable development and poverty eradication. It should also be central in addressing most if not all new and emerging challenges identified above. The increasing global mobility of people, animals and goods, as well as global warming, is leading to new disease risks in countries and regions where these diseases did not occur before.
(see the series of 9 Rio+20 policy briefs ? www.icsu.org/rio20/policy-briefs).
Climate change:
� The immediate priority is to stabilize the global climate at a temperature of no more than 2�C above pre-industrial levels. We must reduce the carbon intensity of the global economy, undertake a massive decarbonisation of the energy sector, and effectively manage Earth?s carbon and radiant energy budgets.
� As climate change is already occurring, action is needed by all countries to design and implement strategies to adapt to the consequences of climate change and to limit its socio-economic costs for societies worldwide, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable regions, nations and socio-economic groups. Participation of a broad range of stakeholders will be essential in this undertaking.
� Action is also critical in the domain of science. We must continue to improve our understanding of the climate and Earth system, to refine our predictive tools and reduce uncertainties in projections of future climate and its impacts, particularly at the regional level. Social science research into adaptation and good governance will also be crucial.
Water security:
� Water security is vital to all social and economic sectors as well as the natural resource base on which the world depends. But an expanding population, growing economies and poor water management are putting unprecedented pressure on our freshwater resources.
� We simply cannot continue to use water as wastefully as we have in the past; we have to change the way we manage our water resources.
� Scientists and policy makers have a joint responsibility to work together in the development of more sustainable solutions to existing and emerging water problems.
� Water must be given the prominence it deserves on the global agenda
� Human and environmental water needs must be balanced to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services. Unavoidable compromises should be mediated by science rather than lobbies.
� Water security has multiple dimensions, including social, humanitarian, economic and ecological. Major decisions on water resource management must be made therefore with broad cross-sectoral input.
� There is a need to improve the availability of data and information, particularly on transboundary water resources and planetary thresholds. We need to evaluate our water needs and prioritize allocations.
� There is a need to introduce and implement strong policy and legal frameworks (i.e. water laws).
� Proper finance mechanisms are required to ensure sustainability of water services, while capacity building is required at all levels.
(see policy brief on Water Security ? www.icsu.org/rio20/policy-briefs).
Food security:
� The planet needs to feed an estimated 9 billion people by 2050. There will be a need for a knowledge-based focus on enhancing sustainable production and productivity: increasing yields while minimizing environmental footprints.
� Waste reduction at all stages of the food system (post harvest losses, transport, storage) and resolving distribution issues is also essential, as this would provide much of the extra food needed for a growing population.
� A strong foundation of multi-lateral and cooperative mechanisms that work across disciplines, sectors and national boundaries needs to be put in place. Institutions operating effectively at multiple levels will be at the centre of sustainable food systems; these will need to be flexible, promote appropriate use of innovative technologies and policies, and recognize the increasingly important role of non-state actors in enhancing food systems.
� As the greatest proportion of the world?s poor are small-scale farmers, agriculture must also be a key focus for poverty eradication.
� Investment is needed in training, knowledge sharing and extension services for farmers at all scales.
� Greater involvement of farmers, including small holders and big agro business, in planning and decision making is needed.
� Research is needed for multiscale, multi-level analyses of the dynamic linkages between food security, environmental concerns and development issues.
� A food systems approach is recommended. This links the activities of producing, processing, retailing and consuming food with the outcomes of these activities for food security and other societal goals, showing how food insecurity arises and also providing a framework for policy development to meet the food security challenge.
� A transition to healthier diets as societies grow richer is needed to reduce both environmental and public health burdens.
� Food trade needs to be enhanced to encourage secure access to nutritious food for the poorest and most vulnerable.
� There is an urgent need to develop technologies and policies that will result in sustainable production practices.
� Above all, there is need for a strong focus on resilience, equity and sustainability.
(see policy brief on Food Security ? www.icsu.org/rio20/policy-briefs).
Biodiversity ands ecosystem services:
� We share this planet with millions of other species and varieties of life, and depend on ecosystems for all our basic needs. While current trends in biodiversity and ecosystem services are sharply and dangerously negative, the right actions, developed and implemented promptly, can restore a biologically rich and ecologically viable planet.
� The multiple values of biodiversity and ecosystem services should be incorporated into policy and management decisions.
� Green economies should be created based on ?inclusive wealth?, which includes all forms of capital ? natural, social and human as well as financial and manufactured ? and in which intergenerational wellbeing increases over time.
� Biodiversity and ecosystem services should be incorporated into water and land-use planning at all scales from local to global, including both protected areas and production landscapes and seascapes.
� Policies and practices should be implemented that reduce inequities in access to the benefits derived from biodiversity and ecosystem services, and ensure that those who bear the cost of their provision are fairly compensated.
� Ecosystem governance and management should be restructured to recognize that ecosystems transcend political boundaries.
� Global governance institutions should be developed that work in partnership with national institutions, local organizations and the private sector, to address global-scale drivers of biodiversity change.
� The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011?2020 and the Aichi Targets should be implemented at all scales.
� The important contributions played by the planet?s forests and oceans should be recognised and terrestrial and marine ecosystems should be linked in policy planning.
� Indigenous peoples and their knowledge should be involved in biodiversity research and in the development of conservation strategies and plans.
(see policy brief on Biodiversity and Ecosystems ? www.icsu.org/rio20/policy-briefs).
Energy for all:
� There is no uniform solution for making low-emissions sustainable energy available globally, including for more than one billion people without access to modern energy services. Decisions regarding the use of any given energy technology must be based upon thorough analyses of technological and economic feasibility, diverse energy needs, as well as analyses of long-term sustainability and compatibility with the goals of climate stability, Environmental protection, social equity, and personal health and safety.
� The optimal energy mix for any particular country and sector will depend upon the natural resource base, trade access to energy sources and socio-economic context.
� Efforts to further develop and deploy energy technologies must focus in particular on technologies for energy efficiency and conservation, as well as on advanced renewable energy systems.
� In this context, R&D and investment in renewable and alternative sources of energy should be significantly stepped up; including feed-in-tariffs to incentivise investment in renewable energy.
� There is a need to develop strategies for achieving greater energy efficiency in all sectors, notably the construction and transport sectors.
� In the transportation sector, urgently needed actions include diversification of engine fuels, increased use of low-emissions vehicles, and a strong emphasis on urban mass transit. Enhancing support for R&D in this sector will be essential.
(see policy brief on Energy Sustainability: www.icsu.org/rio20/policy-briefs).
Disaster risk reduction:
� The world faces an increasing loss of human lives, livelihoods and economic assets due to natural and human induced disasters. There is an intrinsic relationship between disaster risk reduction, sustainable development and poverty eradication. An urgent priority is to strengthen significantly disaster preparedness using knowledge, innovation and education for effective response at all levels.
� Integrated natural and social sciences research should be developed, including improved methods for predictive multi-risk assessment and socioeconomic cost-benefit analysis of risk reduction action at all levels. The technical and scientific capacity to develop and apply methodologies, studies and models to assess vulnerabilities to and the impacts of hazards should also be strengthened.
� The resilience of nations and communities to disasters should be enhanced through people-centred approaches to the entire disaster risk cycle, including prevention, preparedness and emergency response as well as recovery and rehabilitation.
Sustainable consumption:
� Unsustainable consumption patterns in industrialized countries and in some parts of the emerging and developing economies are one of the main factors putting increasing pressure on the planet?s social, economic and environmental systems.
� Addressing this problem requires urgent action, and this should be considered throughout efforts to move towards a green economy and sustainable development.
� Practical action, including awareness raising and education, should be underpinned by appropriate knowledge and transdisciplinary research across the multidimensional factors of economics, waste and environment, human behaviour, and lifestyle.
� Communication of clear messages to the public on sustainable consumption and waste reduction will be key, as will clear strategies for public action.
(see policy brief on Human Wellbeing: www.icsu.org/rio20/policy-briefs).
These recommendations are taken from work by the worldwide international scientific community for Rio+20, particularly a series of ICSU-UNESCO regional science and technology workshops in the five UN geo-political regions (see: www.icsu.org/rio20/regional-workshops) and a series of nine policy briefs prepared specifically for Rio+20 (see: www.icsu.org/rio20/policy-briefs) in the context of the Planet Under Pressure science and policy conference (London, 26-29 March 2012).The recommendations also draw on consultations with the constituencies of the scientific and technological community spanning all relevant disciplines in the natural, social, economic, engineering and health sciences, in cooperation with the International Social Science Council (ISSC), the World Federation of Engineering Organization (WFEO), UNESCO, WMO, UNEP and UNU. For further information and recommendations from a disciplinary perspective see submissions for Rio+20 by ICSU?s Scientific Union Members (www.icsu.org/rio20/icsu-members).


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W.D. 'Bud' Booie Jr.
Published: Monday, December 31, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, December 31, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
ADVANCE | W.D. "Bud" Booie Jr., 88, of Fork Bixby Road, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, at his home.
A graveside celebration of life service for Bud will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Ijames Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Davie Funeral Service.
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The Raymond Lee Band will grace the Everett Theatre stage with fresh tunes during their CD-release party on Saturday. Jimmie Davis will open the concert, which will be free.
Based in Bear, The Raymond Lee Band is a Christian rock outfit influenced by the bands such as Switchfoot, David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman.
The Raymond Lee Band's self-titled debut album, which took more than 17 months to compete, features 12 songs, 10 of which covers tunes from some of their favorite praise and worship artists, plus two originals.
WHAT The Raymond Lee Band CD-release party, with opener Jimmie Davis
WHEN 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16
WHERE Everett Theatre, 47 W. Main St., Middletown
COST Free
INFO everetttheatre.com or 378-7038
Location, ST | website.com


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Baltimore County News
Jordan Fish
Baltimore County Tourism & Promotion
If you haven't explored what Baltimore County's wine country has to offer, there is no better time than now. Baltimore County is home to six great local wineries and vineyards, bottling everything from Cabernet Franc to Gingeroot cider, and even a highly successful world-class craft beer operation. That's not all we have to brag about, after many of our vineyards won awards at the premier contest for Maryland wines.
At a reception held by the Maryland Wineries Association First Lady Katie O'Malley announced the finalists and winner of the 23rd Annual Maryland Governor's Cup Competition.
Boordy Vineyards' Vidal Blanc 2012 and Royal Rabbit Vineyards' Chatelaine 2012 (both white wines) took "Best in Class" for Off-Dry Varietal and Off-Dry Blend respectively. Boordy Vineyards held this title last year for its Landmark Reserve 2010.
In all, Baltimore County wines ended up with 18 gold, silver, and bronze medals from the competition's judges. An especially impressive feat, considering the more than 400 wines produced in Maryland's growing wine industry.
Visit one of one of Baltimore County's wineries/vineyards, or see them all along the Piedmont Wine Trail.
Revised April 6, 2016


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Charlotte minister to speak at preaching mission
Published: Friday, September 20, 2013 at 5:32 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, September 20, 2013 at 5:32 p.m.
Bishop Ken Carter will lead the annual Mayme Weaver Preaching Mission at First United Methodist Church on South Main Street.
Carter, along with spiritual story-telling artist Fred Jones, will be the featured mission presenters for Sept. 29 and 30.
An author of eight books, Carter has overseen a children's home campus, two homes for disabled adults, a wilderness trail program and River of Life rafting ministry.
He has served as senior pastor of Providence UMC in Charlotte, which has a membership of 5,000, for eight years.
"I have served in leadership roles throughout my adult life and have clearly understood that to lead, one must be led by the Holy Spirit. I also know that effective leadership in our time is always shared leadership," Carter says in his biographical information supplied by the church.
He is a member of the board of trustees of Bethune-Cookman University, Florida Southern College and the board of visitors of Duke Divinity School.
Jones is an award-winning teacher, painter and artist with a specialty in figure drawing and portraiture. He is known for his volunteer work with children. He believes the classroom can be a learning environment where the mind can be challenged, according to his biography.
He will bring his creative and spiritual storytelling to children, ages 4 and over, during Sunday school, Sunday morning worship, Sunday evening worship and Monday evening worship.
A nursery will be provided during all worship services for infants through age 3.
The community is invited.
The preaching mission is made possible by an endowment created by a donation from Doris Haisley in memory of her mother, Mayme Weaver.
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ASU T&F To Wrap Up Season at NCAA Outdoor Champs
National championships will be on the line in Eugene, Ore., this weekend as the Sun Devil track and field team wraps up the 2012-13 ASU competition calendar.
Sun Devils Finalize NCAA Championship Roster in Austin
The ASU track and field team added five qualifications on the final day of the NCAA West Prelims
Two Advance to Eugene Following Day One at NCAA West T&F Prelims
Chelsea Cassulo and Christabel Nettey will each advance to the NCAA Championships following solid performances in Austin.
2013 NCAA Track and Field Preliminary Rounds Announced
The Sun Devils will have 40 entries total in Austin next week, 20 on the men's side and 20 on the women's.
ASU Women Take Third, Men Fourth at Pac-12 T&F Championships
The Sun Devils won eight conference championships over the course of the competition.
Arizona State: 2012 Outdoor: Advanced to the NCAA Division I Championships in the 200m and as a member of the 4x400m relay team... placed fifth in the 100m and 200m at the Pac-12 Championships with a wind-aided and personal best mark of 10.35 in the 100m and 20.74 time for the 200m... also competed as a member of the first place 4x400m and 4x100m relay teams at the Pac-12 Championships... ran a personal best time of 46.66 in the 400m at the Baldy Castillo Invitational that earned him second place... clocked a career bestin the 200m ath the Tri-Meet with a second place time of 20.65... tagged eight top five finishes not including relays... 2012 Indoor: Competed in the Iowa State Qualifier in the 200 to finish fourth in the 200m with a time of 21.52... placed second overall at the MPSF Championships in the 200m clocking a time of 21.19 while also running as a member of the second place 4x400m relay team... finished seventh at the Texas A&M Challenge in the 60m and fourth in the 200m... clocked a career best 60m time at the New Mexico Don Kirby Elite of 6.76...
Lake Erie College:
Member of the track team from 2008-11 in Painesville, Ohio. A six-time All-American with a CLIAC 100m record with a time of 10.36. Named All-Ohio. Personal records for outdoor: 20.90, 10.29, 47.4. Indoor personal records: 21.07, 47.6.
High School:
Three-year letterwinner at Trotwood Madison High School in Dayton, Ohio. Won the Ohio State Championship in the 4x200 in 2008.
Son of Andre and Dionne Burrows, has one brother Cameron. Majoring in art studies with an expected graduation date of May 2013.


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Using a mix of stock footage, Moon Taxi has created a both modern and vintage homage to Bennie's Boom Boom Room in Mississippi, a club the band frequently plays. "Cabaret" is the title track from the group's forthcoming album due for February 7th, 2012. The song is a marvelous rockish pop rock tune with reggae undertones – it's going to get stuck in your head.
Tour Dates
11/30/11-Brooklyn Bowl-Brooklyn, NY-with The Heavy Pets
12/1/11 – The Fire – Philadelphia, PA
12/9/11-Cosmic Charlies-Lexington, KY
12/30/11- Exit/In- Nashville, TN
12/31/11-Exit/In-Nashville, TN