James Sniffen, from the United Nations Environment Program, will provide a picture of how UN Secretariat staff work to support international climate negotiations. Experienced UN staff members such as Mr. Sniffen are expert on the substance of these negotiations. They carry out research, consult with ambassadors and their delegations, and provide supporting documentation to facilitate negotiations and to support international agreements.
4:00-5:30 p.m.--O'Hara Student Center, 4024 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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James Sniffen
Mr. Sniffen has served as the Programme and Liaison Officer in the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1996. He handles the office’s administrative and budgetary matters and represents UNEP in various subsidiary bodies of the UN’s General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. He is also responsible for the office’s media relations and civil society outreach and serves as the focal point for UNEP’s work on inter-faith issues.
Mr. Sniffen joined the United Nations in 1980, working primarily in its Department of Public Information. He also served with the electoral mission prior to Namibia’s independence in 1989-1990. He joined UNEP in 1991 at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, eventually handling the organization’s media affairs. While there, he served as spokesman for several major international environmental conferences on subjects ranging from marine pollution to biodiversity conservation to ozone depletion.
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Registration is only required for groups larger than five.
To register contact Elaine Linn (email: eel58@pitt.edu)
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Fundamental Readings:
United Nations -- Framework Convention on Climate Change – Background
United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon -- Leading on Climate Change
Bjørn Lomborg: The Dissenting Climate Change Voice Who Changed His Tune
World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth -- People’s Agreement
The following supplemental materials provide helpful information for but are not necessary to take part in discussion.
IPCC 2007 Summary for Policy Makers
PPt on IPCC 2007 Summary for Policy Makers
IPCC 2013 Summary for Policy Makers
Global Warming's Terrifying New Numbers
Federalism to the Rescue: US State and Local Government Climate Policy
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