Tena Kebena is a non-governmental organization in Ethiopia that brings together around 80 children and youth who have been mostly orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The group cleans up and rehabilitates garbage dumpsites around Addiss Ababa through reforestation. The sites are also used for urban agriculture and the herbal medicines obtained from it are sold to provide funding for the project and for the children’s learning activities. 

The steadfast, committed and selfless work of Dr. Rosa Elena Simeón Negrín has been vital for fostering the notions of sustainability amongst and raising the environmental awareness of Cubans.

She took on a position of leadership, which was to continue for some 20 years, just at a time when the issue of the environment was beginning to feature prominently in the political agenda of Governments and international organizations. She was able to witness, from a unique vantage point, a historic moment at the height of the environmental movement in its modern configuration – which places it in the context of development – and she was able to translate the best of those practices into everyday life in Cuba.

In 1989, she participated, for the first time, in the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, whose sixth meeting took place in Brasilia that year. Since then she has played a prominent role in subsequent regional forums and her presence has been widely recognized.

In addition to directing Cuba’s preparations for the Rio Summit, she also presided over this country’s distinguished delegation, comprising ministers and other dignitaries.

She always had a clear vision of the concept of “thinking globally and acting locally” and this same vision impelled her to attend negotiation meetings, at which she was able to meet the need to act within her own country while being able to speak with authority at every international forum.

In 1994 she participated in the development of the Alliance of Small Island States Summit (AOSIS). By that time, she was already an accomplished international mediator and was able to bring the experience which she had gained from her participation in the Rio Summit to bear on that forum, enriched by her years of valuable work at the national level from the perspective of a developing island State.

The ninth meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean took place in Cuba in 1995. Under Elena Rosa’s presidency, this event marked a significant change in those forums, with a shift towards a more pragmatic approach in the way the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) dealt with environmental problems in the region.

Rosa Elena was in Kyoto in 1997, to participate in the discussion of the Protocol that bears that city’s name, a Protocol which was developed for the purpose of implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change.

She was elected a member of the Bureau of the UNEP Governing Council in 2000, in which office she demonstrated her astute judgement and experience.

She participated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa in 2002. Through her presence and pertinent statements she played a key role in ensuring the success of the most important contributions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
 
In 2003, after her decisive role in the negotiation of its headquarters agreement, she presided over the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, which took place in Havana.

Created under her direct supervision, the Cuban environmental system is based on key values and represents the outcome of a meticulous process of design and development, among which the following are particularly worthy of note:

• Clearly drawn up policies and strategies, which are being constantly improved and provided with the necessary follow-up arrangements;

• A conception of environmental management as the ability to implement environmental policy and to take specific measures in that regard, and to operate in coordination with all the bodies and agencies which are concerned with natural resources and have an influence on the sound use of the environment;

• A regulatory and control system with both national and local dimensions, and an acknowledged and growing capacity for the implementation of environmental legislation;

• A range of services and research, which are continuously expanding into new areas, including by enlisting the cooperation of recognized research bodies with the new environmental training centres, now operating in almost all areas of the country.

It is incumbent on those of us who are followers of the work of Elena Rosa to continue efforts to strengthen it, to follow her ideas and above all her actions, and to remember always her loyalty and respect for Fidel and Raul, as well as her great sensitivity to the wishes of the people.

Summary

WEDO, established in 1990 by former U.S. Congresswoman Bella Abzug (1920-1998) and feminist activist and journalist Mim Kelber (1922-2004), brings together women from all around the world to take action in the United Nations and other international policymaking forums. 
Since its inception, WEDO has been a leader in organizing women for international conferences and actions. As a lead up to the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), WEDO organized the World Women’s Congress for a Healthy Planet. This Women’s Congress brought together more than 1,500 women from 83 countries to work jointly on a strategy for UNCED. The result of the Women’s Congress was Women’s Action Agenda 21, an outline for a healthy and peaceful planet that was the basis for introducing gender equality in the official UNCED final documents—Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration. This was an amazing feat that quickly positioned WEDO as a trailblazer in international women’s rights. 
WEDO has built on this experience by mobilizing women’s participation to establish the Women’s Caucus, which advances women’s perspectives at the UN and other forums by proposing amendments to official documents, lobbying delegates, and coordinating political actions. 
WEDO has organized and facilitated the Women's Caucus at key UN conferences such as: UN International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Cairo, Egypt, 1994; UN World Conference on Social Development (WSSD), Copenhagen, Denmark, 1995; UN Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW), Beijing, China, 1995, and UN World Conference on Human Settlements (HABITAT), Istanbul, Türkiye, 1996. 
WEDO owes its successful global activism to its dynamic Board of Directors and Staff, a diverse group of experts and activists. 

Mission and Goals

WEDO is an international organization that advocates for women’s equality in global policy. It seeks to empower women as decision makers to achieve economic, social and gender justice, a healthy, peaceful planet and human rights for all. 
Through the organization’s program areas—Gender and Governance, Sustainable Development, Economic and Social Justice, and U.S. Global PolicyWEDO emphasizes women’s critical role in social, economic and political spheres. 
WEDO’s goals are to:
 
• Advance women’s equality in decision making by pushing for a gender-balance at local, national and global levels;

• Challenge the current economic system and promote a model that seeks to achieve human rights, economic and social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication; 

• Promote multilateralism and international cooperation to advance peace, human rights, and human security. 
In order to achieve these goals, WEDO does advocacy in key global forums such as the UN, supports the efforts of women’s organizations worldwide, and engages U.S. women on foreign policy.

On a sprawling campus in Pretoria, scientists, engineers and researchers are hard at work in South Africa’s biggest and best-resourced laboratory complex. Hunched over microscopes, peering into petri dishes and meticulously recording test results, they have a shared vision: to improve the quality of life for all South Africans, as sustainably as possible. 

For almost eight decades, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has harnessed some of the most brilliant minds to drive innovation in agriculture, energy, chemicals, health care, manufacturing, mining and defence.

In recent years, Africa’s leading science and technology research organization has also developed a series of innovations to tackle plastic pollution, which is taking a mounting toll on the environment.

“Everything that we do as CSIR ought to contribute towards improving the quality of life of the people of South Africa,” said CSIR’s Chief Executive Officer, Thulani Dlamini, in an interview with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “That's the litmus test of whether we are really making an impact.”

For its efforts to develop and apply solutions to plastic pollution, CSIR has been named the 2023 Champion of the Earth for Science and Innovation , one of the United Nations’ highest environmental honours.

“Science-based, data-driven solutions are essential for environmental action to be effective,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director. “The outstanding work undertaken by South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research reminds us that innovation is crucial if humanity is to forge a more sustainable future for people and planet.”

Innovation to improve lives 
Following the end of World War II, South Africa recognized that scientific research and innovation was needed to spur its economic recovery and industrial development. Thus, through an act of parliament, the country established CSIR in 1945.

Throughout its history, CSIR has played a vital role in providing rigorous evidence to inform decision making.

In 2022, it was the first to use Pathways , a software application developed by Pew Charitable Trusts and the University of Oxford to evaluate local strategies to reduce plastic pollution.

Its findings contributed to a report aimed at policymakers, which concluded that South Africa could reduce plastic pollution by 63 per cent by 2040 with interventions across the plastics value chain. Those include limiting the demand for plastic, using alternative materials and increasing waste-collection.

“There is no single solution to effectively address plastic pollution in the country,” said Dlamini. “It will require both upstream interventions – such as reducing demand and coming up with alternatives – as well as downstream interventions, such as improved waste collection, disposal and increasing recycling capability.”

Tackling plastic pollution 
Affordable, flexible and durable, plastic has transformed everyday life and brought about many benefits to society, including in health care, construction, packaging and energy.

However, plastic generates 1.8 billion tonnes of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions a year, 3.4 per cent of the global total. Less than 10 per cent of plastic ever produced has been recycled. The rest is buried, burned or leaks into the environment.

South Africa’s rising population and increased consumption means that, without urgent action, plastic pollution in the country is set to almost double to 865,000 tonnes in 2040 from 491,000 tonnes in 2020, according to CSIR data .

To help reduce that toll, CSIR has developed a compostable plastic. Outside experts say that for very specific applications in which plastic waste is hard or nearly impossible to collect, such as agricultural mulch films, biodegradable plastic may be a useful solution. Products made from CSIR’s plastic alternative can biodegrade within 180 days or, combined with organic waste, turn into compost within 90 days, leaving no toxic residues.

Not all “biodegradable” plastic is what it is purported to be, however.

Thanks to equipment provided by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Government of Japan, CSIR hosts the only laboratory in Africa with the capacity to test plastics that are promoted as biodegradable. Not only does this enhance transparency but the process can also identify any problematic types of new material.

The council has also created the #SolvePlasticsAfrica Hub, an open-source online platform that can help foster solutions, knowledge-sharing and collaboration between private and public sector partners across the continent.

“We don't want to do research that only ends up in the lab. We want to see this being translated where it makes an impact. We want to see the commercialization and scaling up of some of the solutions that we've developed,” Dlamini said.

CSIR employs about 2,400 staff, of whom 1,600 are scientists, researchers and engineers. The council’s cutting-edge research has led to numerous breakthroughs outside of plastics, including the development of a stem cell technology that could hold the key to finding cures to some of Africa's most prevalent diseases. Other highlights include techniques to genetically engineer pearl millet to boost its nutritional value and a high-resolution mapping tool to manage South Africa’s forests and monitor their biodiversity.

“We are not just about making materials or blending polymers,” said Maya Jacob John, a principal researcher at CSIR. “In the long run, [our goal] is solving problems, including plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.” 

 

About the UNEP Champions of the Earth

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP)Champions of the Earth honours individuals and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. The annual Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour. #EarthChamps 

 

About the #BeatPollution campaign

To fight the pervasive impact of pollution on society, UNEP launched #BeatPollution , a strategy for rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. The strategy highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and human health. Through science-based messaging, the campaign showcases how transitioning to a pollution-free planet is vital for future generations. 

Dr. Mohamed T. El- Ashry currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the United Nations Foundation. Prior to joining the foundation, Dr. El-Ashry served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). He served as the GEF Chairman between 1991 and 2002, and was appointed the first CEO and Chairman of the GEF in 1994. Under his leadership, GEF grew from a pilot program with less than 30 members to the largest single source of funding for the global environment with 173 member countries. In 2002, donors cast an extraordinary vote of confidence by replenishing GEF's trust fund by nearly $3 billion-the largest amount ever.

Dr. El-Ashry came to the GEF from the World Bank, where he was the Chief Environmental Advisor to the President and Director of the Environment Department. Prior to joining the World Bank, he served as Senior Vice President of the World Resources Institute (WRI) and as Director of Environmental Quality with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). He has held teaching and research positions at Cairo University, Pan-American-U.A.R. Oil Company, Illinois Geological Survey, Wilkes University, and the Environmental Defense Fund. He has also served as Senior Environmental Adviser to UNDP, as Special Adviser to the Secretary General of the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), and as a member of the World Water Commission.

Dr. El-Ashry received his Bachelor od Science degree with honors in 1959 from Cairo University and his doctorate degree in geology in 1966 from the University of Illinois. He has received numerous international awards and honors and is the author of three books and more than 200 papers.

Dr. El-Ashry is a fellow of the Geological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is listed in "American Men and Women of Science" and "Men of Achievement".

As President of Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea (1980-1982) and as the Chairman of Preparatory Committee and of the Main Committee of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (1990-1992), Professor Tommy Koh of Singapore has contributed greatly to promoting international environmental cooperation. These events are only two of Professor Koh's many contributions in the international environmental arena. 

Professor Koh has also published widely on the environment. For his contributions, Professor Koh received the 1996 Elizabeth Haub Prize for international environment law from the Free University of Brussels and the International Council on Environmental Law on 17 April 1997. Professor Koh has also received other international and national awards for his many contributions to the environment, academia and diplomacy.
 
Professor Koh is a widely respected and eminent person within Singapore and in the international arena. His passion for the environment is well known and his example of leading from the front should be emulated by all Singaporeans and aspiring environmental champions from other countries

Official Appointments and Membership of Organisations / Institutions

Patron, The Nature Society (Singapore), December 1990 to present

Patron, Singapore Association for Environmental Companies (SAFECO), February 1994 to present

Patron, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL), February 1996 to present

Leader of the Singapore delegation to the Preparatory Committee for the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment

President of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, 1980 to 1982

Chairman of the Preparatory Committee and of the Main Committee of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, March 1990 to June 1992

Member, IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, from January 1991, then offered Honorary Membership from June 2005 to present

Member of the Earth Council, April 1993 to 1996

Member of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development, June 1993 to September 1995

Member, Asia-Pacific Council, The Nature Conservancy, USA, May 1995 to January 2004

Member, Independent World Commission on the Oceans, August 1995 to February 1997

Member, UN Task Force on Environment and Human Settlements, March to June 1998

Chairman, Singapore Conference on Model Cities, 19-21 April 1999 Chairman, Drafting Committee of the Berlin Conference, 4-6 July 2000

Chairman, Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, May 2001 to present

Chairman, Advisory Committee for the M.Sc (Environmental Management) Programme, National University of Singapore, 1 May 2003 to 31 April 2007

As General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev was instrumental in bringing the Cold War to an end and ensuring that humanity and our planet does not suffer nuclear devastation.

In 1970, he was elected to the USSR Supreme Soviet.
From 1971 till 1991, Gorbachev was a member of the Communist Party Central Committee.

From November 1978, Gorbachev was a Central Committee secretary in charge of agriculture. In 1978, Gorbachev moved to Moscow for permanent residence. In 1979 -1980, he was a candidate to the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party Central Committee.

From October 1980, till August, 1991 he was a member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party Central Committee.

On March 11 1985, Gorbachev was elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee at the extraordinary Session of the Central Committee.

A member of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet (1985-1988).

In 1985-1988, Gorbachev radically changed the course of the Soviet foreign policy. At the XXVII Congress of the Communist Party (February-March,1986) he unveiled the Soviet program of nuclear-free world to the 2000.

From October 1988, M.G. was a chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.

From May 1989, till March 1990 M.G. was a chairman of the USSR Supreme Soviet.

Gorbachev was elected as the President at the third Congress of People's Deputies, held in March 1990.

Deputy of the 8-11-th USSR Supreme Soviet.

Deputy of the 10-11-th Russian Federation Supreme Soviet.

On August 19 1991 Gorbachev's companions-in-arms attempted to carry out coup d'etat

On August 21 1991, Gorbachev returned to Moscow after coup d'etat was failed due to the Russian authorities' efforts. Since that practically all Gorbachev's decisions were coordinated with the Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
At the end of August Gorbachev resigned from the post of General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee.

On December 25 1991, speaking on T.V., he resigned from the post of the Soviet President. "for principal considerations".
On December 25 1991, Gorbachev also signed a decree on transferring control over the strategic nuclear weapons to the Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Since June 1993 Gorbachev has been the President of the "Green Cross International".

On December 2 1995, in the interview to the "Novaya Ezhenedelnaya Gazeta" (the "New daily") he publicly declared his intention to take part in the Presidential elections. According to Gorbachev's words, he became firmly convinced in his decision, meeting people in the regions.

On January 27 1996, an initiative group was created to promote Mikhail Gorbachov to the presidential post. The Former Federation council Deputy, Alexey Manannikov, heads its organizing committee.
Gorbachev's address "to all democratic forces" - "Give a chance to people"-was circulated by the Initiative group on March, l 1996. It has an appeal to urgently gather the All-Russian democratic forum and to work out common strategy on the eve of the P residential elections in Russia. "All the democratic leaders, parties and movements have to unite their efforts and be the single team. It's necessary to agree upon all the key-posts in the Government before the Presidential elections. This information must be available to all people," the address says.

On March 12 1996, Alexey Manannikov told journalists that M.Gorbachev had managed to collect 1 million voters' signatures necessary to register as an official candidate by the Central Electoral Commission. The organizing committee chairman noted that a 11 the necessary documents would be delivered to the Central Electoral Commission at the end of the month. They will continue collecting voters' signatures to have some reserve.

On Mach 29 1996, at the press-conference in the Central House of journalists M.Gorbachev addressed to the Russian President Boris Yeltsin with a statement. It was called "Elections must be fair and equal". This was urged by the fact that the incumbent president had created a council to organize his reelection. Boris Yeltsin is the head of the Council. The statement stressed that Boris Yeltsin had violated legislation on election campaign. He included some official is to his election campaign Council. They are: the Russian Prime-Minister, director of FSC, as well as, president of the independant T.V. channel (NTV). The copies of the statement were sent to both Chambers of the Russian Federal Assembly, to the Constitutional Court and to the Central Electoral Commission.

On April,4 the Initiative group , promoted M.Gorbachev to the presidential post, delivered the documents necessary to register as a presidential candidate to the Central Electoral Commission. There are 1 410 000 voters' signatures in support of his candidacy. The majority of signatures were collected in St.-Petersburg (over 70.000) and in Moscow (57.000).

Source: http://www.nns.ru/e-elects/e-persons/gorbach.html

Bhutan, a kingdom under the reign of Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) Jigme Singye Wangchuck, has the environment as the centrepiece in its constitution and all of its national development plans. Bhutan has an excellent track record in the field of environment - more than 74% of its land is under forest cover and 26% of this cover is protected areas.

The Paro Resolution on Environment and Sustainable Development, declared in May 1990, states that Bhutan's natural resources base is central to a sustainable and prosperous future of the country. The development of a National Environmental strategy that will ensure the careful stewardship and sustained use of these natural resources was urged. Development should be pursued on a middle path thus ensuring that new industries, new agricultural markets and new forestry products will be carefully developed with respect to their broader environmental ramifications.

Bhutan’s success in preserving its natural resources has been possible because of the country's recent entry into the economic development process, as well as the Buddhist faith, an important factor in all aspects of Bhutanese life.

Bhutan is developing a National Environment Secretariat and an Environmental Trust Fund, as well as new legislation and policies to ensure sustainable utilization of resources, promote community involvement in environmental activities, improve land use planning, and integrate traditional with modern natural resource use practices. Additionally, Bhutan will attempt to base economic growth on environmentally sound technologies, expand environmental education, and develop a family planning policy.

Bhutan boasts the most varied habitats and a rich array of animal and plant species. Under Bhutanese law, 60% of the kingdom will remain forested for all time. There is currently an astonishing array of plants - more than 5500 species, including over 300 medicinal strains. There are 165 species of mammals, including many rare and endangered animals such as the golden langur, the snow leopard and the red panda. To date, 770 species of birds have been recorded, including the rare and endangered black-necked crane.

A progressive integrated conservation and development programme reconciles the needs of the community with environmental protection, the foundation of Bhutan's entire economic ethos. National parks sustain important ecosystems and have not been developed as tourist attractions. In many cases one would not even be aware that one is entering or leaving a protected area.

Bhutan ranks in the top 10% of countries with the highest species density on earth, and it has the highest fraction of land in protected areas as well as the highest proportion of forest cover of any Asian nation.

Development in Bhutan is guided by principles that emphasise preservation of both natural and cultural heritage, as well as sustainability from subsistence to a more modern economy. Renewable natural resources remain the most important sector, and in 1998 contributed 36.1% of the Gross Domestic Product. Thus, short-term profit at the expense of long-term loss of natural heritage is not for Bhutan. Its cautious approach puts conservation first and relegates economic benefits to a secondary role.

By the late 1970s, Bhutan had established an extensive system of protected areas. Since then, among other actions, the nation has:

• Established the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation to provide    long-term financing for conservation;
• Revised and identified nine protected areas representative of Bhutan's diverse    ecosystems, comprising 26% of land area;
• Established the Nature Conservation Division within the Department of Forestry    Services, with a mandate to oversee and manage protected areas;
• Pledged to maintain, in perpetuity, at least 60% of land as forests;
• Enacted the National Plant Quarantine Act (1993) to control the movement of diseases, insects and other pests;
• Included provisions for establishing protected areas and conservation regulations in the Forest and Nature Conservation Act (1995);
• Ratified the international conventions on Biological Diversity and Climate Change (1995);
• Adopted the National Biodiversity Action Plan (1998);
• Adopted the Middle Path, a National Environmental Strategy (1998);
• Initiated a National Biodiversity Programme to oversee ex-situ conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity (1998);
• Legislated environmental assessments for all development and industrial     activities (2000);

Guiding principles for the future development of Bhutan are complemented by a unifying concept the distinctly Bhutanese notion of Maximizing Gross National Happiness (MGNH). The aim of MGNH is to promote important values and to provide direction to the Kingdom's long-term development, and the concept must be translated into tangible goals. Towards this end, five themes are identified and provide powerful objectives for steering the process of change: human development, the promotion and preservation of culture and heritage, balanced and equitable socio-economic development, good governance, and environmentally sustainable development.

His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is popularly known as 'The Man of the Arab Environment'. Under his leadership, development activities have touched all aspects of life in the UAE with agriculture and afforestation as the focus of his main concerns

One of Sheikh Zayed's most remarkable and enduring achievements is the greening of the region's deserts. Under his guidance, 100 million trees have been planted in the UAE - all in an effort to stem the encroachment of sand onto agricultural land and urban areas. Using various irrigation techniques, including the ancient Aflaj (efalf) system and the latest technology in desalination, sewage and farming, today the UAE produces 20% of the world's date palms and myriad species of plants and flowers now flourish. Thank to his vision, his dream of a greener country was realized.

Animals likewise receive attention from Sheikh Zayed. To ensure the protection of his country's biological diversity, he outlawed hunting more than a quarter of a century ago. He went further by creating, on his own island reserve of Sir Bani Yas, a sanctuary for endangered species, such as the Arabian Oryx and the sand gazelle. Thanks to his efforts, the symbol of Abu Dhabi - the Dorcas Gazelle, is a protected species whose numbers are increasing under special programmes. Under an agreement with international conventions such as CITES, turtles are also protected as are the rare Arabian Leopard, the ibex and the dugong (manatee).

In addition, to ensure the preservation of the country's flora and fauna, Sheikh Zayed established the Higher Environment Council.

In 1995, Sheikh Zayed received a gold medal from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, for his agricultural development efforts, not only in the UAE, but in other developing countries. In 1997, he was honoured by the President of Pakistan with a special award for his role in environmental conservation. This was the first time that Pakistan bestowed such an accolade on a Head of State. That same year, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and President Emeritus of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) presented Sheikh Zayed with the "Golden Panda" - WWF's highest award. This was the first time in the history of the award that a Head of State was so honoured. Again in 1997, he received the region's first ever Gulf Business Award for Environmental Action.

Dr. Massoumeh Ebtekar served as Vice President of the Islamic Republic and Head of the Department of Environment from 1997-2005 during the reformist government of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami. Dr. Ebtekar believes that the remarkable achievements of this period were made possible due to the tireless efforts of a coherent and competent team of scholars , directors, experts and personnel particularly environment rangers within the DOE . Also she believes that the widespread transformations in all related sectors and the integration of environmental concerns in the development process would not have been possible without the partnership of directors and experts and scholars NGOS , media and people from all walks of life , particularly at the highest levels of decision making and before all the President himself who envisioned the unrelenting support for the environment as an integral aspect of his agenda. International collaboration and support was also forthcoming in this regard. This was in effect a collective partnership and effort that enjoyed the blessings of the Creator in bringing the hearts and minds of a diverse group of people together. Re-engineering The Iranian Department of Environment (DOE) underwent major re-engineering and restructuring during her tenure leading to a strengthening of its status among national and international institutions. The organizational chart of the DOE was enhanced on the basis of studies performed on the issue more than 1500 new posts were appointed, an educational upgrading of the personnel leading to 70% with academic education in 2005 as compared to only 25% in 1997, a decentralization policy led to the establishment of 57 new DOE offices in smaller cities from 1997-2005. The DOE was facing a new era of capacity building and empowerment , 10 new research centers were established in provinces , the Biodiversity Museum was established and Pardisan Park underwent major transformations. A well equipped and modernized network of 50 research and measurements laboratories for water, soil and air pollution was established and upgraded. The 3 thousand man Environment Ranger’s Force and their scheme and equipment has also faced major transformation in these years enabling them to better protect the natural heritage of the country. Natural Heritage During this era with the untiring efforts of the DOE personnel the area of protected land in Iran rose from 4.75 % of the country’s area to 7.75% amounting to 11 million hectares. A major GIS survey and project leading to the publication of an atlas of the country’s protected areas was initiated and major improvements in management including the involvement of local societies. A well managed wildlife and game policy enabled the biodiversity in many protected areas to flourish. Research centers for , the houbara bustard, the wild ass, the yellow deer , and marine turtles were established and supported. A major strategy to protect the pristine natural forests of the country led to the protection of 10% of all forests in 1998, the establishment of 3 new forest national parks, a serious curbing of logging in the northern sections of country, and the adoption of standards for sustainable management of forests in the Supreme Council of the Environment. Civil Society A major strategy pursued by the DOE during these years was support and advocacy for the civil society . During a environmental campaign initiated by the Head of the DOE people were encouraged to engage in nongovernmental activities in favor of the environment. The government and DOE provided legal , training and basic support for this type of social activity . The result was a fascinating upsurge of environmental NGOs from 20 in 1997 to more than 650 in 2005. These NGOs were active at local ,provincial and national levels. With the support of the DOE they established provincial networks in 2001, regional networks in 2002 and in 2003 the nation-wide network of environmental NGOs was formally established , all with democratic elections and processes. The DOE also embarked on a strategy to train and educate members of 30 thousand local councils in the country on sustainable development. Education During these years with the collective efforts of the DOE and NGOs a major upsurge in environmental education, news and awareness ensued. Environmental education was included and upgraded in the formal school curriculum, at least 20 new degree programs on the environment were established in universities and 20 new research centers affiliated to universities were established with the support of the DOE. Hundreds of publications intended for all target groups including specifically women, rural societies, children and students were published. A dynamic website including thousands of pages of information , news , research data and an interactive museum of biodiversity was launched. A nation wide media campaign for environmental awareness led to significant attention of the public during these years. The national radio and television networks devoted 5% of their time to environment related programs supported by the DOE. The DOE for the first time conducted 8 rounds of annual Environment Awards encouraging and creating incentives for all strata. In an international effort to promote environmental awareness the DOE conducted 4 rounds of the International Green Film Festival introducing hundreds of national and international films to the public at a nationwide scale. (1011 cities were involved in the fourth festival ).Surveys done indicated that the general public was sensitized on environmental issues. Research The DOE established a research council in 1997 led by the Head and provincial councils nationwide, more than 300 scientists and scholars from over 80 academic centers in Iran were engaged in a collective effort to enhance the quality and quantity of environmental research . The DOE followed the principle of ” decisions only based on sound scientific research “ during these years. For the first time an annual Environment Research Letter was published. Environmental Policy The DOE embarked on a serious campaign to influence development policy at all levels in government and private sector enjoying the overall support of President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami. The DOE led the creation of the first National Plan for the Environment in 1997 and the third 5 year development plan1999-2005 reflected strong environmental directions due to the major changes in government policy and attitude. During this period all development sectors made major efforts to implement environmental standards. The fourth 5 year development plan became a reflection of this major shift in policy; more than 20% of this economic, political, and social plan was devoted to environmental legislature. DOE director generals in all provinces and cities were appointed to national planning and development committees thereby gaining the opportunity to directly influence regional and local policy in the direction of sustainable development. Regulation and Incentives : Stick and Carrot Approach Establishment of an office of environment in every ministry became obligatory in 1999 and inter-sectoral cooperation became a major policy of the DOE. A nation wide policy of incentives and regulation was implemented as a win-win policy for the economic and industrial sectors. Industries were regulated in a systematic manner , fines and legal prerogatives were taken very seriously by local implementation authorities of the DOE. On the other hand, a series of incentives intended to encourage and promote environmentally friendly policies were implemented. The DOE convened an annual competition for industrial units entitled “ The Green Industry Award” this prestigious award became an important incentive for the industry and private sector and was used in their advertisement as a prestigious credit. In order to promote environmental technologies, environmental achievements in private and government sectors an annual International Environmental Exhibition was held for 6 years attracting hundreds of national and international firms and tens of thousands of visitors each year. As a result of these comprehensive policies every year hundreds of industries initiated programs to implement environment management and standards in their firms, 20 large industrial cities harboring over 3000 industrial units established wastewater purification and reuse sytems, and implemented environment management systems . The DOE began the enforcement of automotive emissions regulation in 1999 , in a matter of three years 15 production lines proved incompatible with national standards and were closed down 53 car production lines successfully improved their systems to comply to more stringent standards (Euro II) leading to the reduction of pollutants in emissions by 80%. Also important was the establishment a modern national research and standard test center for automotive emissions in 2004. Greening of Petroleum Sector The petroleum sector is potentially one of the most polluting economic sectors. Following the policy shift, the strong regulation and the support of the DOE, the Ministry of Petroleum took major initiatives to correct past practices and measures and to implement environmental policy . As a result , the nationwide out-phasing of leaded gasoline was possible in 2002, 10 large refinery complexes in the country implemented environment management schemes ( spending each up to 30 M USD) for air water and soil contamination control , 12 large petrochemical complexes in the country implemented ISO 14000 standards and gained DOE approval for their emission standards again spending millions of dollars to implement environmental technologies, pipeline control and the execution of environmental impact assessment results. The promotion of natural gas in industries , power plants and vehicles was also initiated and supported by the DOE in spite of hurdles and difficulties created. The Minister of Petroleum was awarded the National Prize for the Environment in 2003 for his spectacular performance in promoting environmental standards and regulations in all sectors of the ministry. Abatement of Air Pollution Since 1999, studies on air pollution in Tehran were compiled by the DOE and a comprehensive plan to combat air pollution was drawn up. After adoption of the plan by the cabinet and allocation of resources the plan was implemented in 7 major projects. Success percentages of the projects indicate the great achievements in this area : Installation of mechanized inspection centers 100% , technical and policy support for natural gas bus production line 100% ( more than 2000 natural gas buses now roam the streets of Tehran). Traffic improvement schemes 100%, inspection and control of car 100 %, motorcycle and bus emissions 75%. Overall the plan in its 5th year of implementation has resulted in the improvement of air quality in Tehran. Similar air pollution abatement plans have also been implemented in 7 other major cities of the country , promising better air quality for more than 20 million citizens . In all projects the major impetus has been set by the DOE. Waste Management The DOE spearheaded a nationwide project for proper planning and management of urban waste in 1998. The plans included a nationwide Clean Earth Day mobilizing NGOs , municipalities and people from all walks on the issue of recycling and proper waste management. Also,the DOE prepared the first comprehensive bill on waste management in 2002 it was finally adopted in the Cabinet in 2003 and in early 2005 the Parliament adopted the National Law on Waste Management . This breakthrough provided new grounds for regulation and management for all types of waste . During these years more than 50 large cities began or enhanced the implementation of waste management and recycling projects amounting to hundreds of thousands of tons of waste being recycled. Data and Information Management The DOE lacked any reliable statistics or database prior to this period. During this period two major projects on the development of a database and statistics for the environment were launched resulting in the creation of the environmental statistics database. Also in 2003 the first project for the preparation of a National State of the Environment report was launched the first SOE was published in 2004 and the second SOE more compatible with international reporting on the environment in 2005. One four year performance report 2001 and one eight year report 2005 were published. The DOE also published the first and second environmental performance scorecard for all development ministries. By 2005 most DOE offices were performing with dynamic software providing management information systems MIS in related areas of specialization such as wildlife management, laboratory management, pollution control , regulation and inspection and other related areas.