Intergovernmental Group Research Articles

ЭТИЧЕСКОЕ И ПРАВОВОЕ ИЗМЕРЕНИЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ ИСКУССТВЕННОГО ИНТЕЛЛЕКТА: ИГРА ПО ПРАВИЛАМ И БЕЗ

Artificial intelligence (AI) is called the end-to-end, closing and most discussed technology of the 21st century. Along with issues of the effectiveness of technologies, ideas about a better life as a result of their implementation, there are pressing questions about how to regulate and manage them in terms of justice, the safety of society, its individual groups and future generations. Yet at the same time besides growth in the number of new Al-based products and their widespread use, there are issues of reliable AI, security and control of potential risks up for debates. In this regard, the beginning of the 2020s is marked with the search for optimal regulatory tools in the field of AI. Academic structures, universities and institutions for development, along with governments and business community in the broad sense, are key platforms for discussing the social implications of new technologies, as well as the tools and mechanisms for their regulation. The materials of such discussions were taken as the basis for this study - these are two panel discussions (2022 and 2023), which were held at Tomsk State University as part of the International Congress “Language, Culture and Technological Transits: New Facets of the Human”. The study was conducted using the focus group method. The list of participants for the panel discussions was formed in a similar way, so as, on the one hand, to preserve the interdisciplinary contour of the discussion due to the nature of AI technologies and, on the other hand, to provide a comparison of the two discussions and consisted of representatives of leading companies developing AI, researchers in the field of law, philosophy, ethics and sociology, academic structures represented by vice-rectors. Representatives of business and academia included participants in government councils and intergovernmental groups on AI development. Questions for discussion included the following blocks: co-production of technology and society in relation to AI, changing concepts of risk and benefit; issues of regulation of digital and AI technologies, ethical dilemmas in the AI era and ways to solve them; maintaining a balance of interests and building trust in the field of AI development. The dilemmas of “government - governance” of AI as well as options for social and business responses to the use of AI were considered. Based on the results of a qualitative analysis of the expert discussion, we can conclude that, under turbulence in the AI technology itself, ethics becomes the basis that provides an opportunity to dialogue and development of optimal norms and rules at this stage for all players involved. Moreover, variability and flexibility of these norms and rules are being observed. Ethics as an instrument of soft law comes forward with a self-regulation mechanism, which is evidence-based and which builds up public confidence and fosters the development of AI technologies. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

Expert perspectives on the changing dynamics of policy advisory systems: the COVID-19 crisis and policy learning in Belgium and Australia

Expert advice played a pivotal role in shaping the COVID-19 policy responses of different countries. Such measures had wide ranging impacts beyond health, including education, economy, law, and other societal aspects. Thus, analysis of how expertise was utilised and adjusted to adapt to changes during the crisis can draw valuable insights into how to better prepare policy advisory systems to respond to future crises. Here we examine the dynamics of COVID-19 policy advisory systems in Belgium and Australia through interviews with 34 experts directly involved during the first two years of the crisis. We examine the temporal changes in how expert advice was sought, provided, and utilised for crisis decision-making, and the various expert groupings and their relationships over time. In both countries, there was policy learning and adjustment, signalled primarily by an expansion in the breadth of perceived relevant expertise as the scope was re-framed from a ‘health’ crisis to an all-encompassing socio-economic crisis. In Australia, policy responses were shaped by a relatively cohesive inter-governmental group of senior health bureaucrats who became gatekeepers of the evidence presented to state and federal government leaders in the National Cabinet. In Belgium, the more fragmented and changing array of advisory groups reflected tensions within crisis management arrangements, resulting in divergent expert opinions both within the formal advisory groups and in the public realm throughout the crisis. Our findings build on the policy advisory systems and policy learning literature and suggest that more adaptive frameworks and principles be developed for specific contexts.

The UN Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) — An ocean science-policy interface standing the test of time

Addressing the wide range of marine pollution problems facing the global ocean requires a continual transfer of credible, relevant and timely scientific information to policy and decision makers in coastal and ocean management. The United Nations GESAMP (Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection) is a long-standing scientific advisory group providing such information on a wide range of marine topics and emerging issues of concern to ten UN Sponsoring Organizations. This paper presents an overview of GESAMPs operation and examples of its current work. The group's scientific output is often cited by national governments, inter-governmental groups, and a range of non-governmental groups. Given the growing concerns about ocean health and the impacts of many stressors in an era of climate change, the development of timely and effective ocean policy and decision making would benefit from wider recognition and application of GESAMPs work.

Современные агроклиматические условия горных ландшафтов Северного Кавказа

Introduction. For the first time, the problem of global warming was officially announced in 1976 by the World Meteorological Organization. The most complete picture of ongoing climate change, causes, consequences and response strategies can be obtained from the reports of the IPCC (intergovernmental group of experts). There are many works devoted to regional climate changes, including those in the North Caucasus. However, these works do not reflect the modern agro-climatic conditions of the mountainous landscapes of the North Caucasus which occupy 27% of the territory and are actively involved in agriculture. Aim - analysis of modern agro-climatic conditions of the mountain landscapes of the North Caucasus in a changing climate. Materials and research methods. To assess agro-climatic conditions, traditional agro-climatic indicators were used, such as annual and average monthly air temperatures; sums of active temperatures exceeding 5 and 10°С; dates of stable transition of the average daily air temperature through 0, 5 and 10°C in spring and autumn; the duration of the period with an average daily temperature of 0, 5, 10 ° C, the average temperature of the coldest and warmest months of the calendar year, annual precipitation, hydrothermal coefficient. The processing of the material was carried out by methods of mathematical statistics using Excel spreadsheets. Processed data on temperature and precipitation in the period from 1961 to 2020 for six meteorological stations. Research results. For the period from 1961 to 2020, within the mountain landscapes of the North Caucasus, there is an increase in annual air temperature compared to the previous period by an average of 0,5 °C. Against the background of an increase in annual temperature, such agro climatic indicators as the sum of active temperatures increased, exceeding 5o and 10oC by 6 and 13%, respectively. The stable transition of the average daily air temperature through 0, 5, 10°C has also undergone changes. In spring, on average, this happens 5, 1, 6 days earlier. Whereas in autumn, on the contrary, 3, 1, 5 days later. The duration of the period with an average daily temperature of 0, 5, 10 °C increased by an average of 10, 3, 13 days, respectively. Precipitation increased at all meteorological stations, with the exception of the Klukhorsky cross, by an average of 45 mm. The hydrothermal coefficient, which characterizes precipitation during the growing season, remained within the limits of natural fluctuation, except for the Klukhorsky cross, where it decreased due to a decrease in precipitation during the warm period. Discussion. The analysis of the agro-climatic conditions of the mountain landscapes of the North Caucasus for 1961-2020. revealed trends in the growth of annual temperature and precipitation, however, the moisture supply of the active vegetation period, estimated using the HTC, remained unchanged. Our results correlate with the official data of Rosgydromet, published in the Report on the peculiarities of the climate of the Russian Federation for 2021. Conclusion. The study allows us to state that in the mountainous landscapes of the North Caucasus, climatic changes proceed according to the scenario of an increase in air temperature and precipitation. As a result, agro-climatic indicators have changed: the sum of active temperatures has increased, exceeding 5o and 10oC and the duration of the period with an average daily temperature of 0, 5, 10oC, the dates of a stable transition through 0, 5, 10oC have changed, precipitation has increased, but the HTC has remained within the natural fluctuation . The stability of the HTC indicator indicates the stability of landscape boundaries, despite the observed changes in agro-climatic indicators. Resume. The observed climatic changes within the mountain landscapes of the North Caucasus contribute to an increase in the productivity of agricultural production by improving the conditions for heat and moisture supply to the territory. Suggestions for practical application and direction for future research. The results of the study can be useful for updating the schemes of agricultural zoning of the mountainous territories of the North Caucasus, as well as for developing land use schemes based on contour farming, which reduces the risks of adverse natural phenomena, including those caused by climate change.

Drafting an International Legally Binding Instrument on Business and Human Rights

Abstract This article deals with the process of creating a convention in the field of human rights, the working name of which is the ‘International Legally Binding Instrument on Business and Human Rights’. The author analyses the existing legal grounds for the responsibility of business for human rights violations in international law. She has assessed non-binding instruments, leading her to draw the conclusion that mechanisms strengthening protection are required in human rights protection law. The process of the creation of a new convention itself is subjected to an in-depth review. A special place is given to the issue of the position of a victim of human rights violations committed as a result of the activity of transnational enterprises, the rights of the victims of such violations and the mechanisms of international cooperation in the combatting thereof. In the conclusion the author states that human rights require actions that move beyond existing divisions, and that the work of the intergovernmental group led by Ecuador should be seriously supported by the European Union and the United States.

Prospects for the international legal regulation of electronic commerce and the digital eco - nomy

The article deals with the development of international legal regulation of international economic relations. In particular, aspectscovering the evolution of e-commerce, its further development and the transition to the stage of formation of the digital economy. Thechanges caused by the large-scale introduction of information and communication technologies are considered by the authors from thestandpoint of the large-scale development of e-commerce processes, changes in the nature of economic relations, and as a consequenceof the prospects for the development of international legal regulation.The authors study the problems of the development of the digital economy from the standpoint of a number of issues proposedin the framework of the work of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Electronic Commerce and the Digital Economy. In parti -cular,a) from the standpoint of creating value in the digital economy and the consequences for states with different levels of digitaldevelopment;b) from the standpoint of opportunities and challenges for developing states, in the context of interaction with global digital platforms;c) from the standpoint of states that are pursuing policies aimed at overcoming the digital divide, developing entrepreneurshipand using the potential of digital platforms;d) from the standpoint of cooperation between states in promoting the development of the digital economy.The authors come to the conclusion that currently new legal approaches are needed to the formation of contractual and institutionalmechanisms for regulating international economic relations, which would take into account the elements of the global platformeconomy, and also eliminate the problems of “digital inequality” and develop digital entrepreneurship, digitalization of enterprises inthe new conditions of profit formation, competition, taxation and labor market development.

ACS donates to anti-chemical weapons center

The American Chemical Society has contributed $10,000 (€8,202) to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to help build the intergovernmental group’s new Centre for Chemistr...

Building a Natural-Hazard-Resilient High-Quality Seismic Network: How WI Network Sustained Hurricanes Maria and Irma

Abstract Between 2008 and 2014, the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) and the University of the West Indies, Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) designed and built a regional seismic network across the Lesser Antilles. One of the goals of the network is to provide real-time seismic data to the tsunami warning centers in the framework of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group working toward the establishment of a tsunami and other coastal hazards early warning system (ICG-CARIBE-EWS) for the Caribbean and adjacent regions (McNamara et al., 2016). In an area prone to hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, we chose different techniques and technologies to ensure that our cooperated network could survive and keep providing data in case of major natural hazards. The Nanometrics very small aperture terminal (VSAT) technology is at the heart of the system. It allows for duplicated data collection at the three observatories (Trinidad, Martinique, and Guadeloupe; Anglade et al., 2015). In 2017, the network design and implementation were put to the test with Saffir–Simpson category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria that went, respectively, through the north and central portion of the Lesser Antilles, mainly impacting the sites operated by volcanological and seismological observatories of IPGP in Martinique (Observatoire Volcanologique et Sismologique de Martinique [OVSM]) and in Guadeloupe (Observatoire Volcanologique et Sismologique de Guadeloupe [OVSG]). Our concepts proved to be valid with a major data shortage of less than 12 hr and only two stations having sustained heavy damage. In this article, we review the strengths and weaknesses of the initial design and discuss various steps that can be taken to enhance the ability of our cooperated network to provide timely real-time seismic data to tsunami warning centers under any circumstances.

Identification of Aberrantly Expressed Genes in Murine Glioblastoma During Radiotherapy via Bioinformatic Data Mining.

ObjectiveGlioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive tumor with a fast growth rate. Radioresistance of GBM can lead to high recurrence. In general, due to the protection of the blood–brain barrier, the immune environment of the central nervous system is unique. The immune response induced by radiotherapy is weak in GBM. In the present study, aberrantly expressed genes during radiotherapy were assessed in murine models based on microarray RNA data.MethodsThe microarray data were extracted from the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) screened out. Gene expression profiles of 115 samples in GSE56113 were analyzed and 104 genes were identified as aberrantly expressed based on GEO2R 8 d after radiotherapy. Then, the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery was used to analyze Genome Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene pathways and Gene Ontology (GO) terms. The 20 core candidate genes were identified using protein–protein interaction network analysis and Cytoscape software with Molecular Complex Detection plug-in.ResultsPost-irradiated tumor tissues expressed significantly more immune-associated genes than contralateral brain tissues. GO and pathway analyses showed core DEGs were mainly enriched in the chemokine signaling and IL-6 signaling pathways, which could lead to immunosuppressive inflammatory monocyte infiltration and radioresistance. Chemokine signaling and IL-6 signaling pathway-associated genes were increased in the irradiated U87 cell strain.ConclusionChemokine signaling and IL-6 signaling pathways were activated after radiation in murine glioma and human glioma cell lines which could lead to changes in the immune microenvironment and treatment failure. The results of the present study could provide potential therapeutic targets especially when immune therapy and radiotherapy are combined to treat GBM patients.

CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES TO CLASSIFICATION OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS

International Accounting Practice Accounting is multifaceted and heterogeneous. First distinguish between international standards and national standards. National accounting standards for each country is being developed independently. The leading countries in the field of national accounting standards are the United Kingdom and the United States, which is determined by the role of these countries in international financial markets. In different countries, national accounting standards are called differently; in addition, various bodies are involved in their development: in some these are state bodies, in other countries professional organizations. International accounting standards are implemented and developed at 2 levels: international, global and regional. In the regional aspect, the main role belongs to the EU Accounting Commission, which regulates these matters in the EU countries. World standards are developed by several organizations: International Federation of Accountants, Committee on International Accounting Standards, Intergovernmental Group of Experts on International Standards Reporting and Accounting Center for Transnational United Nations Corporation, Economic development and cooperation. There is a great variety of accounting systems around the world. The differences between them are explained mainly by the different business environments in which they operate. Among many classifications, which are based on various principles, two main classifications can be distinguished. The first one is based on the “geographical” principle, i.e.: the UK-US system, the Continental system, the Latin American system. In the second classification, systems are clustered based on their typical properties and hierarchy. The upper level defines the objectives that the accounting system focuses on. Next, systems are rated based on whether the state insists on applying the theoretical approach or the actual legislative requirements and business needs. It might be difficult to classify a system as belonging to a specific group if the country’s accounting system is unstable. Thus, in the 60s of the 20th century, New Zealand started to separate from the UK, although many provisions of its accounting system were taken directly from the standards developed by the English Institute of Financial Accountants. In view of the existing challenges and various approaches to the classification of national accounting systems, the importance of such classification can hardly be overestimated. The proximity of national accounting systems in countries that belong to the same model suggests the possibility of harmonization of accounting principles at the international level. Based on the above: - the possibility of grouping national accounting systems into clusters makes it possible to level out the differences between them during standardization; - the convergence of economies of different countries due to the globalization of the world economy contributes to the unification of accounting principles at the global level.

The Outcome of the Negotiations on the Global Pact for the Environment: A Commentary

In May 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution “Towards a Global Pact for the Environment”. This resolution established an intergovernmental working group to discuss the opportunity to open treaty negotiations to codify the fundamental principles of international environmental law into a treaty dubbed the Global Pact for the Environment. In May 2019, the intergovernmental working group completed its mandate and adopted a set of recommendations that were formally endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in August 2019. Contrarily to what the supporters of the Global Pact for the Environment project had hoped for, the working group only recommended the preparation of a “political declaration” without referring to the codification of the principles of international environmental law. This paper offers a critical commentary of the outcome of these negotiations. The analysis suggests that the decision to elaborate a Global Pact for the Environment would have entailed considerable risks for international environmental law and that if adopted, this instrument would not have necessarily helped to increase the problem-solving capacity of international environmental law. Based on the language used in the recommendation to prepare a “political declaration”, the paper also discusses some of the key elements that could shape and inform the upcoming negotiations of this declaration.

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSAL INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN BUSINESS SPHERE

The article focuses on the functioning of the international universal institutional mechanism for the protection of human rights in business sphere. The importance of the statutory bodies of the United Nations, the officials who are empowered to make decisions on many issues related to a wide range of subjects of international legal relations, including the protection of human rights in business sphere, is emphasized, in particular: the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Security Council, the Secretary-General. The role of the Human Rights Council as a body of the United Nations, which is responsible for promoting the universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, in the creation of specialized, narrow-profile human rights protection structures in business sphere has been defined. The powers of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises have been described, with an emphasis on the significance of “Protect, respect and remedy” framework proposed by him. The attention is paid to the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises. The importance of the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights as a dialogue center for the cooperation on business and human rights issues is highlighted. The emphasis is placed on the mandate of the Open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights, which provides the development of a legally binding instrument for regulating the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises in international human rights law. It is emphasized on the tasks performed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in business and human rights issues, and its cooperation with specialized bodies in this area; its role in the promotion and implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is highlighted.

PROBLEMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ATTRACTION OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE BLACK SEA REGION

Topicality. The importance of using new opportunities for economic development, sustainability and connectivity in the region and beyond is enhanced in terms of the growing strategic importance of the Black Sea region for the EU. Investments are the basis of socio-economic development of the region. Investments related to the deepest foundations of economic activity, they determine the process of economic growth in general. In modern conditions, they are the most important tool of ensuring the conditions for the overcoming the economic crisis, for structural changes in the countries, for the growth of technological progress, for the improvement of quality indicators of economic activity at micro and macro levels. Aim and tasks. The purpose of the article is to identify the problems of economic development and the associated features of attracting foreign investment in the Black Sea region. Research results. The basic social and economic indicators of the Black Sea region - GDP (GDP), the index of human development, the population, the share of comparison is used to determine the structure and dynamics of incoming and outgoing flows volumes of direct foreign investments regional GDP in the world, are determined, the strategic importance is emphasized on the geopolitical map of the world of the Black Sea region, according the current political and economic challenges in Asian-European relations, dynamics and structure of incoming and outgoing investments of the countries of the region over the last nine years are defined. On this basis was concluded about the significant drop in investment activity in the region since 2014. A list of the main reasons for the decline in investment activity in the region is formed and relationship with the general indicators of economic development of the region is defined. The connection of problems of economic development and attraction of foreign investments to the countries of the Black Sea region is substantiated, which, unlike the existing approach, covers the participants of the whole region, and not a separate country. Approaches to the joint solution of investment problems of the countries of the Black Sea region are developed, which, unlike the existing ones, provide a synergistic effect and greater attractiveness for investors. Research results can be used by enterprises in attracting investment in cross-border projects, also can be used by intergovernmental groups to formulate strategies for joint provision of investment attractiveness of regional programs, can be used by participants in joint enterprises of the Black Sea region. Conclusion. The countries of the Black Sea region are heterogeneous in their economic indicators, thet are belonging to various economic and geopolitical associations. There are explicit leaders among the countries - Russia and Turkey, which have different geopolitical interests in the region and are not able to become a unifying factor in the region. For several years, the Black Sea region is not in the sight of international investors, and all Black Sea countries must work together to become investment attractive again. China's investment interests are identified in a region that does not hold back political commitments to any of the countries in the region. Business opportunities are the most powerful determinants of FDI.. But the particularities of the investment climate, such as strong institutions and regulatory instruments, are also important for developing countries and countries with economies in transition which looking for attraction of additional FDI. With a poor regional investment climate, foreign investors and their host economies may not be able to take full advantage of business opportunities created by market size and growth potential.

Scenario forecast of changes of the water balance components in the Ob-Irtysh river basin in connection with potential climate change

An intergovernmental group of experts on climate control obtained the forecast options of the dynamics for the weather components of the Ob-Irtysh river basin in the XXI century for four global climatic scenarios of the family “Special Report on Emissions Scenarios” complying with the set scenarios of economic, technological, political, and demographic development of the civilization, which served as the basin for the estimation of the options of possible changes of the water balance components of the specified river basic up to the middle of the XXI century. The calculation technique is based on using the physically based model of heat and mass exchange between the land surface and atmosphere SWAP and the climatic scenarios generator MAGICC/SCENGEN. The changes of the annual flow of the Ob river due to potential global climate changes were compared herein with its natural fluctuations caused by the weather noise.

Reparations of victims in light of a Treaty on Business and Human Rights

This study aims to analyze the attempts at an international level to implement rules capable of ensuring accountability of transnational corporations for human rights violations. It verifies, amongst the advances and setbacks of recent decades, the edition of National Action Plans by states since 2011, and the main issues considered by an intergovernmental group discussing the drafting of a treaty on the issue with regard to the victim compensation. It will be assessed that, although there is some information on the compensation of victims in the already existing National Action Plans, more development in this field is necessary, especially in the treaty that is being discussed. This essence is also in consonance with the Sustainable Development Goals, that constitutes UN 2030 Agenda. The method is focused on (i) primary sources and (ii) secondary sources. The method of interpretation results mainly from secondary sources that address (i) a critical reading of Contemporary International Law, and (ii) the relationship between International Law, Human Rights and International Policy. Its value arises from the perspective on the compensation of victims – the recognition of their suffer - and the necessity of a binding norm that can make States and corporations accountable for human rights violations.

Inter-group performance of oil producing countries: a meta and global frontier analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to compare the production efficiencies and frontiers differences of oil-producing countries (OPCs) in four inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) in the international petroleum industry with the aim of providing such countries understanding of group characteristics that help maximize their supply interests.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical analysis is based on 14 years of panel data covering the period from 2000 to 2013. In all 46 unique countries who are members of four IGOs relevant to the international petroleum industry are examined on individual and group bases. The authors use both metafrontier analysis and global frontier difference in examining the group average and group frontiers, respectively.FindingsGroups with high inter and intra-group collaborations which ensure exchange of information, organizational learning and innovation tend to do better than groups with even higher hydro-carbon endowment. Additionally, hydro-carbon resource endowment may not be the solution to group inefficiency without higher endowment in human capital, economic stability, technology and infrastructure.Practical implicationsChoice of inter-governmental organizational membership should be based on the level of inter- and intra-group collaborations, human capital endowment among others and not mere historic links or even resource endowment.Originality/valueThis is among the few studies to compare and rank IGOs. Specifically, it is among the first studies to analyze the petroleum production efficiencies of IGOs involved in the international petroleum industry. This study assesses the performance differences among OPCs with the aim of identifying for OPCs the characteristics of inter-governmental groups that are beneficial to efficiency in upstream petroleum activities.

Geo-Information Tools, Governance, and Wicked Policy Problems

The emblematic intergovernmental Group of Earth Observations (GEO) sees food, water and energy security, natural hazards, pandemics of infectious diseases, sustainability of key services, poverty, and climate change as societal challenges [...]

Temporal Variabilities of the Climate along the Mauritanian Coast over the Last Decades

Climate conditions affect all socio-economic spheres due to changes in the natural environment either in a geomorphological aspect or natural resources and biodiversity. The Sahelo-Saharan region has been subject to a very large number of climate studies after the main hazard of the 20th century that is called the “Great Drought” . Studies that focused on Mauritania and more specifically on its marine and coastal area, are very few whereas the government policies on this coastal area have been on the increase. The challenges of development are crucial such as the sustainability of the fishing sector, natural resources and infrastructure, for example the projects of two new on-going harbor. Another issue is the biodiversity world heritage that is present in this coastal area and perhaps in future, will be the tourism sector. Flood prevention for Nouakchott city which also represents a national challenge that has been subject to studies. Several climate parameters have been studied with an ecological approach. The aim was to identify the different temporalities of variation of climate in the perspective to compare with environmental changes. The study parameters have been selected with regard to their link with marine or coastal processes. The data used are from the synoptic weather stations of Nouadhibou and Nouakchott managed by the National Meteorological Office, ONM. The study period covers the four to seven last decades according the availability of data series. This period allows one to characterize the current situation and then, discuss the future at short to medium termes when regarding the projections from the Inter-governmental Permanent expert group for Climate Change and the national results reshaped by the ONM. This multi-decadal time scale corresponds to the one giving for strategy of development. The periodic and cyclic temporalities of variation have been revealed dominant. The air temperature is the only parameter which shows a long-term trend. The current deficit in easterly-wind appears to be the cause of the drastic increase in the vulnerability of the coast and islands to natural hazards. Such a situation has already occurred in the 1970s but the concerns about consequences have totally changed with development patterns and the advances in scientific knowledge. The seasonal to multi-decadal time scales of the study bring new insights on the current situation. The results also clarify certain on-going changes in environment.

The ERC: from before then to anniversary celebrations.

The European Research Council (ERC) is now 10 years old. This beautiful child has grown and thrived, and its many parents should look at it with pride. I first wrote about the ERC in 2000 [1], because it was a conversation piece among European scientists. At the turn of the millennium, many scientists had given up hope that such a structure could come into being after many barren years of aligning the right arguments for it. That collective expert negative view turned out to be wrong, because of an unusual persistence by scientists and the organisations that represent them, and a change in the rhetoric of the European Commission (EC), which eventually became the ERC's surrogate mother. Ever since, the EU has nurtured and supported, often in inventive ways, the council, which it now rightfully presents as one of its major successes. Julio Celis and the late Jose Mariano Gago have written an excellent commentary on the history and the barriers that had to be overcome before the ERC's launch in 2007 [2]. Julio was Secretary General of the Federation of Biochemical Societies (FEBS) during that period and the Danish representative in the intergovernmental group that supported the activities of EMBO and EMBL. Jose Mariano was Minister of Science in Portugal for most of that period. I will not do a disservice to their article by paraphrasing it. Rather I will present some of the story behind the series of meetings before the ERC became “an idea whose time has come”, which was an often‐repeated phrase during those discussions. The idea of EU funding agency for basic research seems to have moved from the agenda of scientists to that of decision makers at a meeting of the Royal Academy in Sweden in 2001 to discuss future expenditures …

‘Trying to fulfil our destiny’

Abstract ‘Trying to fulfil our destiny’: Ambassador Emile Schiff and the Dutch-Indonesian relations between 1963 and 1968After the Netherlands lost control of New Guinea in 1962, it took less than five years for them to regain a prominent role in Indonesia. This new role had as its vehicle the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia (IGGI), an international aid consortium chaired by the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation. Between 1963 and 1968 Dutch civil servants faced an impossible task: to establish a neo-colonial relationship without appearing to do so. How did they achieve this? The Dutch ambassador Emile Schiff was the key player throughout these turbulent times. It is in his correspondence that we find the answer to this question: colonial ideas couched in post-colonial rhetoric. Schiff strove to realize sustainable Dutch-Indonesian relations in order to facilitate trade, garner international prestige, and further the mission to civilize Indonesians.