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Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda 21

Late Breaking News from Earth Summit +5

Updated 25 June 1997

 On Wednesday, participants at the 19th UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) heard 43 statements in Plenary and met in numerous negotiating groups to consider outstanding issues in the draft UNGASS texts. Two Heads of State and Government, one Crown Prince, six Vice-Presidents and Deputy Prime Ministers, 26 Ministers, six international government heads and two NGO representatives spoke during morning and afternoon Plenary meetings. Discussions on the outstanding issues in the political statement and the Proposed Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 continued in the Committee of the Whole, informal ministerial consultations and a contact group on forests.

One of the "hot" topics at this meeting is forests, specifically how governments should proceed with the international dialogue on forests. In Wednesday's ministerial consultations on forests, delegates outlined their support for one of three options for follow-up: establishing an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) right away; setting up an inter-governmental forum on forests which would "elaborate elements of and build consensus for" an INC by 1999; or establishing the forum that would "consider the need for...a legally binding instrument by 1999."

Those supporting the establishment of an INC noted that, while the two-year Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) process had been very useful in clarifying key issues, more concrete action was now needed. Deforestation trends were worse since Rio, and the world was waiting for UNGASS to signal a real commitment to stem deforestation. Some in this group noted that financing for a convention remained an essential question requiring further discussion. Those opposing the establishment of an INC at this stage emphasized that the need for a convention was not yet clear. Instead, the clear need of the hour was to implement IPF recommendations for action. These countries called instead for an inter-governmental forum to oversee the implementation of IPF recommendations, and include within its mandate issues such as trade, financing and technology transfer, which were left pending by IPF. It would also examine whether an INC was necessary, and/or build consensus for it, and would report to the CSD by 1999.

In theory, the Committee of the Whole is supposed to adopt the two documents on Thursday. While delegates have reached agreement on most of the text, the outstanding issues, including finance, climate change and forests, among others, remain the subject of tough negotiations expected to last late into the night. It is unlikely that delegates will get much sleep in the next 24-48 hours as the last minute, frantic push towards consensus gets underway. Meanwhile on Thursday, all eyes and ears will be on US President Clinton when he addresses the Plenary. He was originally scheduled to address the Plenary on Thursday morning, however, he will probably not speak until late Thursday afternoon, due to a last minute change of plans. While many hope that he will make a major new announcement on the US position in the current climate change negotiations, others are not holding their breath, especially given the US position expressed at the "Summit of Eight" in Denver last weekend.

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