ENB @ WSSD PrepCom II: 31 January (day 4)

The World Summit on Sustainable Development
Second Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-II)
New York, 28 Jan - 8 Feb 2002

Thursday, 31 January

The Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue segment concluded in a Final Plenary session with a general discussion on opportunities for new implementation initiatives that responded to the identified hotspots, constraints and participatory needs. In the afternoon, delegates heard general statements by governments. Photo: Major groups during the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue

Morning: Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue Segment - Final Plenary discussion on opportunities for new implementation initiatives that respond to the identified hotspots, constraints and participatory needs

Co-Chair Jan Kára's report to Plenary on the work of Dialogue Group #1.

Co-Chair Maria Luiza Viotti's report to Plenary on the work of Dialogue Group #1

(Part one - Part two) The representative for Youth suggested implementing sustainable development education programmes at all levels and in all disciplines, and urged the establishment of a global center for science and technology. The group called for the incorporation of youth input into national policy through national youth commissions.

(Part one - Part two) The representative for NGOs criticized the current development paradigm and called for partnerships in order to reach agreement on solutions for debt relief. He said that peace and stability are prerequisites for sustainable development, and urged the strengthening of the CSD process.

During the ensuing debate, he said food security is crucial, stated the current institutions are inadequate and demanded that financing and debt be addressed. He also called for complete cancellation of debt and suggested a task force address this issue.

Farmers stressed the importance of access to land and water, and for strengthening the knowledge base for environmentally and economically sustainable development.

The representative for Indigenous Peoples emphasized poverty eradication, territory security, economic and natural resource control, and self-determination. She stated that conflict of values and living styles need to be addressed at WSSD.

NGOs highlighted the spiritual value of water and said that spiritual values should be introduced into sustainable development. She agreed with the EU that the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue needed to be further integrated into UN, support for science and technology but also stress access to resources and not just data. She noted agreement on need to further integrate major groups in to process, and called for complete cancellation of debts as it has been recognized that many cannot be paid.

Tuvalu made reference to the spiritual dimension of sustainable development, and questioned whether the social pillar of sustainable development adequately addresses the need for recognizing cultural and spiritual values. He said that many of those involved in sustainable development have attributed failure to lack of human considerations.

Spain, speaking for the EU: noted the importance of continued work to ensure gender perspectives in sustainable development, policy and financial institutions; recognized that unemployment trends need to be reversed; and committed itself to finding innovative solutions to environmental and social issues. He stated that science and technology needs to support and contribute to cleaner technology, especially in the energy sector.

The Netherlands stressed putting people first, and said that poverty eradication should take into account the roles people play, as workers and consumers. He concurred with the report of the Secretary General on the need for pragmatic and action-oriented efforts on good government, finance, cooperation, information sharing and capacity building.

The representative for Business and Industry stated that markets should be restructured to encourage sustainable development behavior. He said that the eradication of poverty and creation of economic growth require innovation in looking at a society's needs.

Science and Technology lamented that sustainable production and consumption patterns should be higher on the agenda, and was disappointed that health and population was not adequately addressed. He highlighted the long tradition for free circulation of scientists, and the importance for fostering understanding between religious groups and governments.

On gender-disaggregated data collections, the representative for Women's groups said there was a need to recognize women as producers as well as consumers. She noted globalization's negative effects on poor women and urged governments to take reform measures to enhance working conditions.

The representative for local authorities said that strong partnerships require strong partners, and called for increased resources for local governments.

The representative for Trade Unions stated that workers' rights need to be recognized as part of the sustainable development agenda and called for focus to be given to bottom-up process of involvement.

During the ensuing debate , the representative from Local Authorities urged governments to ensure basic services (water, health care, education, energy) as these are essential for sustainable development. He criticized the beliefs held by proponents of privatization and deregulation that the marketplace is the best way to allocate these public goods and that governments should simply provide an enabling environment.

South Africa stressed that WSSD should focus on seeking time-bound targets and concrete measures for technology transfer and implementation. She pointed out that high-level commitment was needed from governments as well as other concerned stakeholders.

Indonesia called for equitable benefit-sharing of globalization, and said that this will require bridging the digital divide. He encouraged the consideration of the ethics of sustainable development.

The representative of Trade Unions noted that social dimensions of sustainable development have received higher recognition in this process. He urged countries to focus on core labor standards and rights-based approach that applies to all. He asked that a reference to the ILO convention be included in the final report of this meeting.

Co-Chair from Group 1 wrap-up statement

Co-Chair from Group 2 wrap-up statement

Afternoon: General Statements

Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China, said the Group proposed the following headings for the WSSD: making globalization work for sustainable development; poverty eradication and sustainable livelihoods; changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production; promoting health through sustainable development; conservation and management of resources for development; means of implementation; sustainable development initiatives for Africa; and strengthening the system of international governance for sustainable development.

Spain, speaking on behalf of the EU, said a gender perspective should permeate all preparations for the Summit. She said EU priorities in the run up to the summit are, inter alia, poverty eradication and sustainable livelihoods, making globalization work for sustainable development, sustainable patterns of production and consumption, protecting the natural resources base of economic and social development, strengthening governance on sustainable development at all levels, including public participation, and means of implementation. She supported the idea of a "Global Deal" as a conceptual framework for the WSSD.

Ghana said a key objective of the WSSD should be to reinvigorate international commitment to formulating and implementing strategies for sustainable development by noting the outcomes of the Accra Forum on National Sustainable Development Strategies. He urged the WSSD to agree to significantly strengthen the UNDP/Capacity 21 Programme as a key institutional mechanism for implementation of Agenda 21.

Joke Waller-Hunter, Director, OECD Environment Directorate, OECD, said OECD Ministers asked the Organization to continue to assist governments in their work towards sustainable development by: developing agreed indicators that measure progress across all three dimensions sustainable development; further analyzing the social aspects of sustainable development; and providing guidance for achieving improved economic, environmental and social policy coherence.

The UK reported on the Accra International Forum on National Sustainable Development Strategies, which examined the process of furthering the development of a sustainable development strategy and what principles must underpin it.

Papua New Guinea emphasized the importance of oceans and lamented that the the issue of oceans was treated as a separate theme in the Secretary-General's report and called for a separate them of "Oceans, Coasts and Islands." He said Pacific Islands are not poor, but they are "capital poor" and that their strengths lie in the abundance of ocean resources, and other potential sustainable uses of oceans

Egypt confirmed support for strengthening of the CSD as the apex policy-making institution on sustainable development and called for endowing the CSD with a financial and capacity building mechanism. He said the international environmental governance process should not infringe upon the autonomy of COPs of MEAs nor on the governance structures of other institutions, and should definitely not lead to the establishment of a World Environment Organization nor to the use of environment as a back door for trade protectionism against the exports of developing countries. He also said that although water is an international concern, it is best dealt with at the regional level. He said all efforts, inter alia, should maximize upstream and downstream benefits and help the development of water resources and the protection of water quality for the benefit of all riparian states.

Costa Rica, on behalf of the Rio Group, emphasized, inter alia: innovative financial instruments; diversification of energy sources and promoting their efficient use; further work to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters; achieving universality of the CBD; and elimination of subsidies, protectionist barriers and other trade distorting measures.

Nauru, on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum Group, stressed the importance of oceans and islands to the Group. He said their resources must be developed in a sustainable manner.

Japan proposed the following measures, inter alia: to create a society in which people can enjoy the benefits of sustainable development: expansion of economic activities that harmonize with nature; utilization of scientific knowledge and technologies; measures for mega-cities management; assistance to developing countries; environmental education; sustainable management of natural resources; and social issues.

Canada addressed the following priority areas: linkages between human health and environment, particularly sound chemicals management; strengthening governance; and promoting an integrated approach to the sustainable development of natural resources. He also highlighted the following cross-cutting issues: community-level work; science and partnerships.

India highlighted its recent steps towards democratic decentralization and people's participation in natural resource management, such as its Joint Forest Management Programme. He stated that globalization presents more actual risks than potential opportunities for developing countries. He noted that environmental health-related issues, such as diseases associated with poor sanitary conditions, remain major challenges for his country.

Side event: Linking Poverty Reduction and Environmental Management

This side event discussed linking poverty reduction and environmental management, and a consultation draft prepared by DFID-UK (www.dfid.gov.uk; enquiry@dfid.gov.uk) , the World Bank (www.worldbank.org/environment; eadvisor@worldbank.org), UNDP (www.undp.org; surf-env@groups.undp.org) and the Directorate General for Development, EC (http://europe.eu.int/comm/dgs/development/index_en.htm; development@cec.eu.int) . The paper focuses on ways to reduce poverty and sustain growth through sound and equitable environmental management. It seeks to draw out links between poverty and environment, and to demonstrate that sound and equitable environmental management is a prerequisite for effective and sustained poverty reduction. Photo: Adrian Davis, DFID, Head, Environmental Policy Department, Department for International Development, UK, Ian Johnson, World Bank, Vice-President, Head, Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) Network, Alvaro Umana (UNDP) Leader, Environmentally Sustainable Development Group, ESDG, and Simon Le Grand, EC, Directorate General for Development.

Outlining the main themes of the report, Ian Johnson, World Bank (center), defended the view that environment does matter and is central to the issue of poverty reduction. He identified three broad environment-poverty linkages related to health, income and livelihoods and vulnerability. Regarding health, he underscored air and water pollution as major causes of disease. Regarding livelihood, he noted natural resource degradation, particularly land degradation and depletion of soil, and deforestation, and emphasized the importance of efficient water resource management. Regarding natural disasters, he noted their negative impact on developing countries. Noting that the poor lack good coping mechanisms, he suggested a strategy for poor people to take out insurance against the volatility of climate change and weather. Addressing main policy messages, he said environmental management should be understood as a positive reinforcing factor that can enhance growth, welfare and poverty reduction. He said progress must be made in, inter alia, ensuring environmental factors are integrated in the development agenda, and including stakeholders in the public policy debate. He noted the GEF has played a central role in financing community-based resource management. He said we need to think about how to embed the environment into the mainstream of economic logic and thought, and that natural resource depletion must find its way into national accounting. He also highlighted the role of the private sector and stressed corporate, social and environmental responsibility. He said the issue of subsidies must be addressed, and noted the GEF's success as a real partnership between the UN and the Bretton Woods institutions. He said the GEF represented the only success from Rio in mobilizing additional funds, and said GEF replenishment is essential, in order for developing countries to play a role. In conclusion, he said environmental issues must be mainstreamed into the development agenda, and that environment matters for economic growth, poverty reduction and the future of planet.

For the full text of the document, please contact one of the four contributing organizations. To participate in the e-Dialogue around this paper, starting February 1, 2002, send a blank e-mail to: join-env-rio10@lists.worldbank.org. You will receive a confirmation and further information about how to participate. Your contributions may influence the final version of the paper, which will be available at the WSSD. Selected contributions and periodic summaries will be posted on: http://vx.worldbank.org/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=env-rio-10

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