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Danish Environmental Assistance and Environmental Conventions ForewordDenmark has been an active player in international forums for many years, working on the basis that many environmental problems are transboundary, or global in nature, and can therefore be best regulated at an overall level. We are therefore party to a range of international environmental agreements and are working actively to encourage more countries to join and respect international agreements. At the same time, Denmark is faithful to the commitments undertaken by rich countries at the 1992 Rio Summit and has, for years, been providing environmental assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Our years of experience in environmental technology and knowledge of environmental regulation will provide a shortcut for these countries to achieve a cleaner environment and better quality of life without repeating the mistakes made by rich countries. Therefore, at my ministry, some staff are deeply involved in administering international conventions, while others administer environmental assistance programmes. Combining these two types of expertise was a natural step to take. It was also logical to expand the ministry’s experience of linking environmental assistance together with implementing international environmental agreements in Danish legislation. Over the years, a series of environmental assistance projects relating to international conventions and agreements have been implemented – activities that can be prioritised and systematised. This publication shows how coordinated work procedures can strengthen activities by uniting the efforts of those engaged in international conventions and environmental assistance. The reference section, including relevant conventions in the four priority areas (climate, biodiversity and natural resources, chemicals and hazardous wastes, and the general public) is for non-specialists. The section also describes the demands countries are expected to fulfil as a party to a particular convention and outlines options for environmental assistance that can contribute to compliance by partner countries with the demands set by the international environmental agreement in question. Naturally, such coherence requires the active involvement of partner countries. A continuing dialogue is needed on the relation between environmental assistance and efforts to comply with international conventions. I am sure that the principles described in this publication will contribute to sustainable development. Svend Auken |