Bangkok, September 12, 2003 - A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) workshop designed to help governments and civil society protect biological diversity, address threats to climate, manage hazardous waste, and address a range of other environmental problems begins this Sunday (Sept 14) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer, said "tremendous progress had been made over the past decade in developing a global legal framework to address environmental threats. But much remains to be done to ensure it is understood and supported by communities and enforcement by the state is effective."

The workshop will examine Guidelines on Compliance and Enforcement of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, developed through a UNEP-led process involving experts from more than 75 countries and adopted by UNEP's Governing Council in 2002.

Mr Toepfer said, "the guidelines are a tool box which countries can use to develop the laws, standards, institutions and initiatives necessary to put their environmental commitments into practice."

The workshop will also review a manual that UNEP is producing containing case studies and practical advice on how international environmental agreements are being successfully implemented around the world.

It includes examples from India and the Philippines, where tax credits have been successfully used to promote environmentally beneficial investment. The Mekong River Commission has developed a monitoring and information sharing system among its member countries to improve management of the river. And ability of governments to phase out ozone depleting substances has been enhanced through the capacity building and information sharing activities of a South East Asia and Pacific Network.

"The workshop will allow participants to share their own experiences and successes in implementing environmental law, and thereby revise and expand the manual," Mr Toepfer said.

About 50 governmental officials from 18 countries as well as experts from convention secretariats, universities and other civil institutions will attend the Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Compliance with and Enforcement of Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

It will run from September 14-19 and is supported by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP).

Similar regional workshops are being planned by UNEP in the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

For more information contact:
Tim Higham, UNEP Regional Information Officer, Bangkok, phone +66 2 2882127, email higham@un.org.

UNEP/ ROAP News Release 2003/09