Late Breaking News from CSD-5

Updated 14 April 1997

Negotiations began in earnest today at CSD-5. The relative calm that pervaded the corridors and conference rooms at UN Headquarters last week exploded today in a flurry of activity as formal sessions and informal consultations on the draft document to be adopted at the Special Session got underway.

In the drafting group, delegates began to discuss the section on Implementation in Areas Requiring Urgent Action in the draft final document. Issues discussed included trade, poverty, freshwater, energy, oceans and transport. The G-77 and China proposed major amendments to sections on freshwater and energy. Also relevant to the discussion on these two issues, delegates debated the need for targets and timetables at length. An informal group on freshwater was created.

Delegates discussed the Co-Chairs' draft text on institutional issues during informal consultations, chaired by John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda). At informal consultations on forests chaired by Amb. Bagher Asadi (Iran), delegations requested that the Secretariat draft a text, based on the IPF report and ministerial statements, for further negotiation. Delegates suggested that the text: endorse and call for implementation of the proposals for action agreed by the IPF; recognize that trade and funding mechanisms are outstanding issues; and outline the IPF's options regarding institutional follow-up. A draft text was circulated during the afternoon.

Meanwhile, in the daily dialogue with major groups, the focus was on women in the morning and trade unions in the afternoon.

Tuesday's issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin summarizes Monday's meeting. You can also download the Earth Negotiations Bulletin in either text or PDF format.