ANPED has a broad mission. To provide structure to the work, several issue-related working groups have been set up where members come together to share their experience and to design common action and advocacy campaigns. The working groups feed their specific competence into an integrated approach towards sustainable production and consumption.
New working groups can be established if there is sufficient support and interest among the members. ANPED runs listserves for each of the working groups. If you would like to be subscribed (members only), please contact the
ANPED International Secretariat.
The current working groups are:
1. Sustainable Production and ConsumptionTo change unsustainable production and consumption patterns are the heart of sustainable development. In this programme we promote and monitor progress on the national and international level. Key elements of the work are ecological fiscal reform; clean and eco-effective production; education, information and public participation for sustainable consumption and production; corporate responsibility and accountability. Please visit the new ANPED SPAC working groups website at
www.spac.anped.org2. Local Action for Sustainable DevelopmentWe support NGOs and other community organisations to achieve real environmental, social and economic sustainability at a local as well as global level. We do this through the promotion of local actions and the involvement of civil society in sustainable development processes. We also seek to ensure that national and international programmes are run in ways that support and empower local action and enable the cooperation between local governments and NGOs.
3. Health and EnvironmentThere are many links between a poor environment and poor health, but too often the links between those working on sustainable development and those working on health are poorly developed. This group is seeking to help build those working links and to help ANPED members make these connections in their own work.
4. Human Rights and Sustainable DevelopmentThe principles of human rights, the right to life and the right to development can not be realized in the absence of the right to a healthy environment. The mission of this working group is to protect and guarantee a healthy environment with the help of the human rights mechanisms and legal instruments.
5. Nuclear Issues/Sustainable Energy We recognise that nuclear energy usage is not sustainable – it is harmful for the environment, human health and also for the economy. Our group consists of mainly EECCA representatives. The goal is to lobby members countries for the acceptance of the EU policy for promotion of renewable energy production.
6. Water, Pollution and HealthWe focus on water deficit, irrigation-drainage system degradation, water anthropogenic pollution, and fish resource depletion mainly in the EECCA territory. Our mission is to empower civil society by means of community activation, and independent monitoring in water-dependant regions.
7. Agriculture, Biodiversity and Biosafety The areas covered in this working group are Genetically Modified Organisms and Biosafety, Organic Agriculture and Biodiversity. Our main aim is forming safe and socially oriented agriculture, food production and nature management in a sustainable manner. We work at the local, national and intentional levels and base our work on sustainable development principals.
8. Carpathian Convention
ANPED is co-ordinating a project to facilitate public participation in the decision-making process of the Carpathian Convention. The aim is to support communities and local stakeholders, to ensure that their views and priorities are reflected in the official decision-making processes and contribute to the effective implementation of the Carpathian Convention. (To join this working group, please contact Pam McCarthy)
