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The World Summit on Sustainable Development
Third Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-III)
New York, 25 March - 5 April 2002
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Thursday, 4 April

After regional meetings, delegates spent the second half of the morning in Working Groups. WG-I discussed atmosphere and agriculture, while WG-II discussed trade and globalization. Informal informals on energy and oceans met over the lunch hour. In the afternoon, WG-III considered the Co-Chair's new paper on sustainable development governance. In the evening, the informal informals on oceans met, as did WG-II to discuss capacity building, information for decision making, and SIDS.

   
Working Group I: Atmosphere

 

Argentina said that the group would need much guidance in order to accomplish its work in the short time available at PrepCom-III. Chair Akasaka then outlined the Group's programme of work for the next two days. Above: Raul Estrada, Argentina, speaks with Tahar Hadj-Sadok, UNFCCC Secretariat.
 
The US proposed adding language supporting global satellite-based observation of ozone concentrations and other atmospheric trace gases. He called for the deletion of language referring to commitments under the UNFCCC.
 

Hungary highlighted the relationship between UNFCCC and the ozone multilateral agreements.

 

Delegates review the revised compilation text on section IV on protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development.
 
Iraq during Working Group I

Working Group I: Agriculture
Japan was among the countries that supported Switzerland's paragraph on the multifunction of agriculture. Norway said supported use of the precautionary principle when deciding which pesticides to use and where to spread them.
 

Indonesia with Saudi Arabia

On agriculture, the G-77/China requested language on international cooperation to combat illicit crops taking into account the negative social, economic and environmental impacts and the need of countries to gain access to international markets.

 
Along with Australia, Canada and the G-77/China, New Zealand called for the deletion of references to the multifunction of agriculture.
 
Canada expressed his opposition to the concept of agricultural multifunctionality, and stated that the sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD) approach contained in Agenda 21 was better suited.
 
On agriculture, the Czech Republic explained her proposal on promoting integrated and sustainable land-use planning and supporting increasing use of brownfields redevelopment, with specific emphasis given to developed countries and countries with economies in transition. The G-77/China supported this proposal.

Working Group III: Sustainable Development Governance

Co-Chair Lars-Goran Engfeldt (Sweden) with Rod Holesgrove, DESA

 

 
Luis Carpio-Govea, Venezeula, on behalf of the G-77/China, said that the goal of WSSD was not to fix Agenda 21, but to examine why it has not been implemented and to create the institutional architecture to ensure its implementation. She noted certain faults in the paper, such as a tendency to weaken the economic pillar of sustainable development, and too much micromanagement of institutions and governments at the national level.
  

Ihab Gamaledldin, Egypt, and John Ashe, Antigua and Barbuda
 
Nauru emphasized the importance of subregional institutions and called for reference to the Barbados Plan of Action
 
 
Chair Anaedu speaking with representatives of the G77/China regarding tomorrow's threatened deadline for submitting proposals for the revised version of the Chair's compilation text.
Co-Chair Lars-Goran Engfeldt and Ositadinma Anaedu
 

 

Chair Anaedu explained that he wanted to hear general comments from delegations, and that detailed textual proposals should be submitted in writing. He explained that the comments will be compiled by the Secretariat and that actual negotiations will take place at PrepCom-IV in Bali.
 

The EU stated that strengthening sustainable development governance would be an evolutionary process. She said that language on social and human rights should be further strengthened. She expressed the group's support for the IEG process and called for a new section on empowerment of major groups.

In a later intervention, the EU said all countries should ensure they have a national strategy for sustainable development implemented by 2005 at the latest.

 

Saudi Arabia speaks with Senegal
 
The Russian Federation opposed universal membership for the GMEF and CSD. He said that the new functions of the CSD should not only include the implementation of partnerships which have been authorized at the summit, but also the preparation and launching of new partnerships.
 
Turkey noted key elements that should be included in the document, including education, stakeholder participation and access to justice. He stressed the importance of youth involvement
 
Mexico stressed the importance of the Monterrey Consensus, and promoting sustainable development through education and formal apprenticeships.
 
Canada called for adding additional groups, such as educators, to the list of Major Groups. He expressed his opposition to the concept of the "right to development". Norway called for encouraging the involvement of civil society in the multilateral trading system.
 
 

Working Group II

Scenes from WG-II's evening session, 9:30 PM.

Miscelleneous photos

ENB writer Andrey Vavilov with PrepCom Vice-Chair Ihab Gamaledldin

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