Briefing workshops will be undertaken by the Centre to create awareness of ongoing negotiations on issues of global environmental governance. The aim of the workshop will be to initiate a debate on issues of global environmental governance with special emphasis on the ongoing negotiations in climate change, biodiversity, forests etc. The workshop will aim to arrive at alternate agendas for global environmental governance incorporating Southern perspectives.

Workshops for Strengthening Third World Expertise in International Negotiations

A special target group for these briefing workshops will be diplomats and government officials from developing countries with the aim of providing inputs for better articulation of Southern concerns in international negotiations. The workshops will also help in informing diplomats and government officials of the latest developments in international developments in the field of environment on issues such as biodiversity, climate change, trade and environment, sustainable development etc.

Programmes for creating awareness and interest within the student community

a. Lectures and Training Camps

In order to catalyse interest amongst students in US Universities and to help them research and understand environmental issues from developmental perspectives, we will organise a series of lectures and training camps on global environmental issues and on environment-development linkages in specific colleges working on such issues. The training camps will aim to familiarise students on issues of environment and development and on possible initiatives to be undertaken by interested groups to incorporate Southern perspectives in global decision-making.

b. Student -NGO Programmes

It is also proposed to initiate programmes which can link students with NGOs in developing countries so that they can improve their understanding of diverse perspectives.

c. Environmental Databases

Researchers and students often find it difficult to access information on issues with Southern perspectives. A clearinghouse of such information will help students and research scholars in the US. It is therefore proposed to develop a database of researchers and of organisations in developing countries, especially South Asia, working in these areas; and, information on books, articles, monographs etc., on these subjects.

Dissemination of Information on Global Environmental Issues within the US

In order to create awareness amongst interested and concerned citizens of the US, we will undertake a programme of regular production of newsletters and magazines. It is planned to regularly produce a newsletter on global environmental issues which will be distributed to NGOs, students, academics, journalists, bureaucrats and other key decision-makers.

The Centre also plans to bring out an US edition of Down To Earth, a science and environment fortnightly currently published from New Delhi which brings up-to-date news and analysis of issues in environment, science and technology. The US edition will focus on international developments and present a Southern perspective on such issues.

Clearinghouse of Environmental Information for Developing Countries

The Centre will attempt to bring information to Southern countries by reporting on issues of relevance to developing countries. Apart from reporting on developments in the international environmental arena, the Centre will also focus on issues where there are opportunities for Southern countries to learn from the experiences of USA.