| Major group affiliation: |
- Non-governmental organization
|
| Affiliation with other organizations: |
On behalf of the Francophone Institute of Energy and the Environment of the International Organization of the Francophonie, a) preparation of and presentation of briefing notes for French-speaking negociators at the UNCCD COPs since 2007; b) animation of a news and information portal on the Francophonie's Mediaterre.org website concerning the Rio+20 process and another portal related to Desertification and the UNCCD. On behalf of the General Mechanism of the CCD, providing counsel on the Results Impact Analysis Methodology of the Investment Framework Strategies. Member of the Joint Inspection Unit team that reviewed the environmental management policies and practices of UN organizations in 2009-2010. Accredited with UNEP (Government Council) Accredited with the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) Accredited with the UNFCCC Accredited with the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) 2009 – 2010 – Review of the environmental management policies and practices of UN organizations for the Joint Inspection Unit of the United Nations; 2011 - Participatory evaluation of the institutional frameworks for an optimal governance of sustainable development in French-speaking countries for the Francophone Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEPF); 2010-2011: Providing consultation services to ICAO on the development and implementation of their GHG Emissions Reduction Plan; 2009-2010 – Analysis of the environmental impact of the Quebec Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and Regions' and of the Quebec Ministry of Immigration's activities; 2009-2010 Evaluation of the implementation of the agreement between the General Mechanism of the UNCCD and Denmark; 2009-2010 Process to elaborate a sustainable development plan for Quebec's Administrative Tribunal; 2008 – Facilitation of a strategic organizational planning retreat for the Secretariat of the Convention on Biodiversity. Unisféra has collaborated with organizations in all sectors, whether Intergovernmental Organisations (such as the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, IFAD, UNCCD, UNEP and la Francophonie); Government Agencies (such as the Canadian International Development, Department of Foreign Affairs Canada, Department of Environment Canada, Quebec's Ministry of Sustainable Development, and the National Institute of Ecology - SEMARNAT Mexico); Research Centres and Universities such as the Centre d’études sur le droit international et la mondialisation -CÉDIM - Canada, Centre études internationales et mondialisation - CÉIM, Canada, University of Sherbrooke - Canada, and the Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services - CIRAIG, Canada); and Nongovernmental Organizations (such as Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales - IDDRI, France, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development - ICTSD, Geneva, International Institute for Sustainable Development - IISD, Canada and the Mexican Environmental Law Centre - CEMDA, Mexico). |
| Publications: |
Selected publications include: Marc Paquin, Richard Connor, Co-Lead Author, UNESCO-WWAP World Water Development Report, to be published in March 2015; Francophone Institute of Energy and the Environment of the International Organization of the Francophonie's Guide for Negociators to the UNCCD 2007 Edition and Revised 2011 Edition; Developing Integrated Financing Strategies for Sustainable Land Management - Guidelines, UNDP/GEF, LDC and SIDS Targeted Portfolio Approach for Capacity Development & Mainstreaming of Sustainable Land Management Project, 2008; Julian Lee and Marie-Pier Côté. Carbon markets as a mechanism for development – opportunities for the wind sector in countries of the South Les marchés du Carbone comme mécanisme de développement - Opportunités pour le secteur éolien dans les pays du Sud (10-2008) Revue Liaison énergie francophone number 79; Sélim Louafi (IDDRI) - Jean-Frédéric Morin (Unisféra): International governance of biodiversity : Involving all the users of genetic resources, Les synthèses de l'IDDRI, no. 5, February 2004; Payment for environmental services: study and evaluation of existing systems, (publication in French: Le paiement pour les services environnementaux : Étude et évaluation des systèmes actuels), Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America, 2004; The Economic and Environmental Impacts of Agricultural Subsidies : A Look at Mexico and Other OECD Countries, Instituto Nacional de Ecologia (INE), Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT), Mexico, 2003 |
| Affiliation with other organizations: |
Accredited with UNEP (Government Council) Accredited with the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) Accredited with the UNFCCC Accredited with the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) Unisféra has collaborated with organizations in all sectors, whether Intergovernmental Organisations (such as the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, IFAD, UNCCD, UNEP and la Francophonie); Government Agencies (such as the Canadian International Development, Department of Foreign Affairs Canada, Department of Environment Canada, Quebec's Ministry of Sustainable Development, and the National Institute of Ecology - SEMARNAT Mexico); Research Centres and Universities such as the Centre d’études sur le droit international et la mondialisation -CÉDIM - Canada, Centre études internationales et mondialisation - CÉIM, Canada, University of Sherbrooke - Canada, and the Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services - CIRAIG, Canada); and Nongovernmental Organizations (such as Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales - IDDRI, France, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development - ICTSD, Geneva, International Institute for Sustainable Development - IISD, Canada and the Mexican Environmental Law Centre - CEMDA, Mexico). |
| Publications: |
In addition to Publications mentioned under Sustainable Development and Public Administration, selected publications include: Pierre Marc Johnson, Karel Mayrand and Marc Paquin, Governing Global Desertification : Linking Environmental Degradation, Poverty and Participation, Ashgate Pub Co (June 2006), 292 pp.; 'From Boom to Dust ? Agricultural Trade Liberalization, Poverty and Desertification in Rural Drylands : The Role of UNCCD', published with the financial support of CIDA, 2005; The Articles 14 & 15 Citizen Submission Process of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation : Discussion Paper, 2003 |
| Purpose of the organization: |
The Unisféra International Centre is a non-profit research and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge on sustainable development. By combining its expertise in policy analysis and formulation with its consulting experience, Unisféra is a powerful vector for knowledge-based solutions. Unisféra’s main areas of expertise comprise sustainable development policy, law and management, climate change and adaptation, sustainable land management, desertification, trade & environment, and water policy. |
| Confirmation of the activities of the organization at the regional, national or international level: |
In addition to activities and publications mentioned in the section on Sustainable Development and Public Administration, activities include: For seven years running, organization of an annual conference in Montreal (Canada) on Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility; 2009 – 2010: Providing training on the Global Reporting Initiative in collaboration with LEAD Canada; 2008 – Organization, in partnership with Farm Radio International, UNITERRA/WUSC, Care Canada and the Canadian Council for International Cooperation of a forum on Small Scale Agriculture – an essential component of sustainable livelihoods in the face of land degradation, desertification and adaptation to climate change in Africa; |
| Description of the membership of the organization, indicating the total number of members: |
Not applicable. |
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