About nrg4SD ...

The Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development, nrg4SD is an international organisation representing regional governments at the global level.  The network promotes understanding, collaboration and partnerships in sustainable development and seeks greater international recognition of the importance of the contribution which regions make to sustainable development.

nrg4SD was formed by the regional governments that attended the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002), and was legally registered in 2004 as an "International non-profit-making association".

nrg4SD has the following basic objectives:

• To represent Regional Governments at a global level;
• To promote Sustainable Development at the regional government level throughout the world;
• To share information and experience concerning Sustainable Development policies with Regional Governments throughout the world;
• To promote understanding, collaboration and association between its members;
• To seek international recognition of the contribution to Sustainable Development made by Regional Governments;
• To obtain representation at International Organisations and National Governments.

The managing bodies of nrg4SD are the Steering Committee and the General Assembly.  The Treasury for the network is provided by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR).
 

The Steering Committee governs nrg4SD and meets twice per year.  It convenes the General Assembly on an annual basis and strives to ensure a geographical balance, encouraging the membership of regions from developing countries.  The Steering Committee members are elected for a period of three years without restrictions on re-election and appoint two co-chairs, a Treasury and a Secretariat from its members.

The Steering Committee has the following tasks:

• guiding and supervising the work of the Secretariat and the Treasurer;
• requesting the Secretariat and the Treasurer to produce regular reports on the implementation of the Work Programme and the financial affairs of the network; andsupervising the preparation of the annual report and accounts to be submitted to the General Assembly.

The General Assembly will, at least:

• adopt the annual report;
• adopt the annual accounts and the budget;
• appoint and dismiss the members of the Steering Committee;
• take decisions concerning the acceptance or exclusion of members;
• take decisions with regard to amendments to the articles of the statutes; and
• take decisions concerning the voluntary dissolution of the association.

According to the Statutes, the ordinary General Assembly will meet once per year. There shall be two types of ordinary General Assemblies (ordinary annual General Assemblies, and Summits) and Extraordinary General Assemblies.  The ordinary annual General Assemblies are convened yearly to adopt the annual report, the annual accounts and the budget and will also be able to:

• appoint and dismiss members of the Steering Committee;
• take decisions concerning the acceptance or exclusion of members;
• decide on amendments to the articles of the Statutes which are not of an essential character;
• approve all proposals to set or to alter the level of membership fees;
• appoint auditors;
• approve policy papers.

The Summits convene every three years and the members of nrg4SD are represented at the highest possible level.  At the Summits, the General Assembly decides not only on ordinary issues as above, but also on the Strategy of the Network, nrg4SD policy papers, strategic cooperation projects and other issues of interest.  The Summits are accompanied with a programme of activities, presentations and workshops on sustainable development themes with the aim of fostering partnerships and networking.

For more information regarding the Statutes please visit the documentation section.
 

At every Summit, the Steering Committee appoints two Co-chairs of nrg4SD for a period of three years.  At least one of the two co-chairs represents a region of a developing country.  The current co-chairs are Sao Paulo and Wales.
 

Since 2004, the accreditation process of nrg4SD before the United Nations has advanced rapidly.  To enable the network to promote the importance of regional government, especially in the fight against climate change, nrg4SD obtained observer status before the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, in November 2005.

In February 2007, the nrg4SD Network was accredited and obtained observer status before the United Nations Environmental Program's (UNEP) Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF).