Social equity versus private property: striking the right balance

Article Abstract:

Developing countries face significant challenges as they seek to balance their commitments to accessibility and equity under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity against the pressures for private ownership and profit-based systems of reward embodied in the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) agreement of the World Trade Organization. TRIPs, which specifies that intellectual property rights must cover microorganisms and essentially biological processes for their production, seems to go against the spirit of the convention.

Laws, regulations and rules, International trade, Biological diversity, Biodiversity, International trade regulation

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Britain opens biotech regulation to greater public involvement

Article Abstract:

The British government is to change the way biotechnology developments are regulated, with more open access to information and more ways in which the public and special interest groups can make their views known. This is partly in response to a survey which found that people feel there is not enough control over research in the biological sciences. A Human Genetics Commission is to advise on the use of biotechnology in health care and the Agricultural and Environment Biotechnology Commission will study the environmental effects of biotechnology in agriculture.

Environmental policy, Biotechnology

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UNEP rebuffed in search for a wider role

Article Abstract:

Proposals to increase the influence of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) face opposition from both developing countries and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Klaus Topfer, UNEP's executive director has faced opposition before in his attempts to find a new role for UNEP, and few are convinced that strengthening environmental policy should be done through UNEP.

Management, United Nations. Environment Programme

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