Geneva Excursion 2011

February 20, 2011

Between 14 and 16 February 2011, the lucky MEG 6 class grasped the opportunity to walk the corridors of power at the United Nations in Geneva. The trip, which was provided courtesy of the MEG Program, took in visits to the Palais des Nations to hear talks from organisations such as UNEP, UNCTAD, and the WTO, and also to neighbouring Gland to hear from the IUCN and WWF. The excursion was a real eye opener for the MEG students. It provided many opportunities for thought provoking and meaty discussions with some of the powerbrokers of international environmental governance, and also excellent opportunities to network.

On the first day of their busy program, the MEGs went directly from Freiburg to the International Environment House in Geneva, home of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).  Whilst there, they listened to interesting talks on many different topics, ranging from UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative, to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and even the ethical and philosophical aspects of international environmental governance.

On the second day of the excursion, following all necessary security checks, the MEGs were let loose within the UN’s headquarters in Geneva, the Palais des Nations.  Although it was tempting to just walk the grounds of the impressive complex and peer into the cavernous auditoriums and meeting rooms, there was real work to be done.  As such, the MEGs embarked upon another gruelling, but thoroughly rewarding, day of lectures and discussions.  To coincide with their chosen topic for the future MEG 6 Student Organised Event, the day was themed around promoting sustainable consumption.  Representatives of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Business Council on Sustainable Development, the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), gave lectures on various topics, with a clear focus on the business vision for sustainable consumption.  The topics discussed included sustainable development in the forestry sector, product labelling and standards and the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energies in creating green cities.  There was ample opportunity for participation for the MEGs and discussions were refreshingly frank and open, considering the focus on the, sometimes controversial, topic of the role of business in facilitating sustainable consumption.

The third day saw the, by now, thoroughly exhausted, but satisfied, MEGs visit the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the small city of Gland, which neighbours Geneva.  Here they were presented with another packed program of lectures on fascinating and relevant topics such as eco-system services and disaster risk reduction, the Ramsar convention on wetlands, the IUCN Biodiversity and Business program, and WWF International’s Global Species Program.

It was not all hard work though, and the MEGs were able to explore the beautiful city of Geneva of an evening.  They were even treated to various elements of the unique Swiss cuisine on both nights of the excursion.  However, those unfortunate souls who were brave enough to try the beef tartare might find their culinary adventurism tempered on future trips to Geneva.  Luckily they were able to settle their churning stomachs with two and a half kilos of melted cheese the following evening at the specialist fondue restaurant.  Needless to say, the cheese dreams were something else entirely.