Global contribution The Global Environment Outlook 2000, the flagship publication of the United Nations Environment Program, was recently released, and the REC played an important role in its production. Also known as GEO-2000, the book provides an authoritative and comprehensive review and analysis of global environmental conditions. For Chapter Three: Policy Responses, the REC assessed current policy responses to environmental issues and the impact of international conventions in CEE countries. The REC further edited sections on current policy responses and the impacts of environmental conventions for the whole European region. GEO-2000 concludes that "the global system of environmental management is moving in the right direction but much too slowly... If the new millennium is not to be marred by major environmental disasters, alternative policies will have to be swiftly implemented" (see Time running out for planet). Help with Aarhus After getting through the long name of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, you can now use the new Guide to the Aarhus Convention to better understand and use it. According to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the guide's foreword, the convention is "the most ambitious venture in the area of environmental democracy so far undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations." He adds that the guide can serve as an invaluable tool for assisting governments, parliaments and public officials in implementing the convention, and as a useful reference point for environmental citizens' organisations. The Guide was produced by the REC and published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) with financial support from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.  Accession what? EU accession is sure to have a major impact on the environment in Central and Eastern Europe. But do citizens care, or know what the effects might be? To answer these questions and more, the REC has produced a series of three publications, financed by the EC's environment directorate, entitled The EU Accession Process: Public Acceptance and Its Impact on the Environment, for three countries - Hungary, FYR Macedonia and Romania. Each publication is written in the local language while a separate Comparative Report in English compares the results of the three countries, including indications of what environmental issues are more relevant for which countries. Users of the publications can include national and municipal governments, NGOs and EU accession-related institutions.  Local guidance The Guide to Implementing Local Environmental Action Programs in Central and Eastern Europe is a new useful reference document for environmental officials, NGOs and other stakeholders at the community level. Developed by the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) and the REC, the guide explores how to launch local environmental action plans (LEAPs), assess environmental issues, set environmental priorities, implement selected actions and monitor and evaluate LEAP results.  More green budget info The Green Budget Reform Newsletter is back with its 6th edition focusing on international economic instruments that could affect climate change. Articles include a look at the Kyoto Protocol's flexible mechanisms and their market potential in CEE/NIS countries and a review of carbon and energy taxes in the EU. Now available on-line, the newsletter promotes the exchange of information on priority issues in environmental economics and policy in Central and Eastern Europe. Getting at the source The REC's Media Information Service has just published a new guide listing more than 1,000 experts who are available to give interviews concerning the region's environment. The publication, entitled Media Source Directory: A Journalist's Guide to Environmental Contacts in Central and Eastern Europe, lists English-speaking experts by country, specialisation and sector - academic, business, government or NGO. Hundreds of journalists from around the region will be receiving the guide by mail. An announcement about the guide's availability on the web is expected soon.  Green Horizon, new blood Green Horizon, a publication designed to encourage media coverage of environmental issues in Central and Eastern Europe by keeping journalists informed about those issues, is resuming publication in 2000. The original project had ended in September of last year, but enough interest was generated to ensure continued publication.

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