The Kyoto Protocol, as detailed in the Marrakech Accords, has now been rendered fit for ratification. In anticipation of entry into force of the Protocol, attention has focused on how Annex 1 countries put a package of climate policies in place to meet their emissions targets. In the meantime, discussions of what comes next are expected to gain increasing legitimacy, given that the Kyoto targets are only the first step towards addressing the long-term global climate issue.

Against this background, the Honolulu-based East-West Center is organizing a three-day International Conference on "Climate Policy After Marrakech: Towards Global Participation", 4-6 September 2003. The Conference aims to bring together experts from governments, academia, business and NGOs

• to discuss and share views on recent developments in climate policies and initiatives around the globe;
• to advance our understanding of the actions and policy frameworks that can contribute to compliance with Kyoto emissions targets; and
• to facilitate discussion on how, when, and under what conditions a climate regime can move from where we are now to a global regime of wider participation and deeper emissions cuts.

This Conference is unique because it combines policy relevance with scholarly excellence by bringing together so many senior technical bureaucrats, well-respected policy analysts and experienced practitioners. These people have played and continue to play a very important role in shaping climate policies of their countries and businesses and international climate negotiations. The Conference covers almost every important issue and features perspectives from most important parties and stakeholders in formulating and implementing climate policies and taking international climate negotiations further.

This Conference has six sessions. Except for the panel session consisting of representatives from a variety of stakeholders, only five speakers are assigned to each half-day session. This structure gives speakers reasonable time to tell stories and leaves plenty of time for interactions among speakers and participants.

Registration
Participants must be registered for attendance. If you are interested in attending, we invite you to submit your registration at this time. Please fill in the registration form available here. Space is limited and is filling up quickly, so be sure to register for this conference early!

Dr. ZhongXiang Zhang has overall responsibility for organizing the international conference. Ms. Penny Higa, Program Officer, is in charge of the conference's registration and logistics. For further information, please contact Ms. Higa at +1-808-944-7131 or by email.