EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD) WRITTEN AND EDITED BY: Chad Carpenter, LL.M. Peter Doran Kira Schmidt Lynn Wagner Editor Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. Managing Editor Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" Vol. 5 No. 78 Tuesday, 22 April 1997 CSD-5 HIGHLIGHTS MONDAY, 21 APRIL 1997 CSD-5 delegates met in two Drafting Groups and two informal groups to negotiate the draft outcome of the Special Session. DRAFTING GROUP I In 24 (sectors of concern), delegates noted the potential effects of a failure to reverse current trends on social and economic development "and environmental protection for all countries" (EU), "particularly in the developing countries" (G- 77/CHINA). A G-77/CHINA reference to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, inter alia, was added, as were "the need for integration in all sectors" and a list of areas in which integration is urgent. The G-77/CHINA will add sectors to the list. On 25 (freshwater), the G-77/CHINA proposed two additional paragraphs that note the factors leading to freshwater scarcity and call for a commitment for financial resources by the international community. The G-77/CHINA also proposed language noting, inter alia, that the lack of freshwater will hinder development unless action is taken to facilitate an economic transformation for developing countries. These proposals will be revisited. The EU proposed: ensuring that the commitments of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade are met within ten years; launching an initiative leading to a global programme of action; and concentrating on water along with land management at the CSD’s 1998 session. The US proposed replacing "ten years" with "as soon as possible." The EU will convene an open-ended group on its proposed initiative. On 25(a) (integrated watershed management), AUSTRALIA and the EU supported, and the G-77/CHINA opposed, a CANADIAN proposal on the interrelationship between water, "land and air." Delegates added text on the interrelationship between water and land, including "estuarine environments" (AUSTRALIA) and "wetlands" (CANADA). The MARSHALL ISLANDS’ insertion of "climate," supported by the EU and AUSTRALIA but opposed by SAUDI ARABIA, was bracketed. US language on a watershed basin approach to protecting supplies, opposed by the G-77/CHINA, remains bracketed. In 25(c) (participation), the EU modified a NORWEGIAN proposal by deleting a reference to the principle of subsidiarity and proposing to manage development and use at the lowest "appropriate," rather than "possible," administrative level. The G-77/CHINA objected to prescribing decentralization and preferred the original formulation. The text remains bracketed. On 25(d) (enabling environment), delegates agreed to provide an enabling "national (US) and international (G- 77/CHINA)" environment for investment. The EU supported G- 77/CHINA language on commitments to support developing countries’ efforts to provide access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all, provided that "time-bound commitments" be bracketed pending consultations on the chapeau. The US said calls for financial commitments should be adequately addressed in the cross-sectoral issues section. On 25(e) (valuation of water), the G-77/CHINA stressed that water was a basic need and proposed deleting language on water as an economic good. Delegates agreed to an EU proposal recognizing water as a social and economic good with a vital role in the satisfaction of basic human needs, food security, poverty alleviation and "ecosystems (AUSTRALIA)." The G-77/CHINA proposed that economic valuation of water should be seen in the context of its social and economic implications. He also proposed that implementation of pricing policies "may be appropriate in developing countries." The US and the EU objected. The US proposed that strategies include programmes to minimize water consumption and increase wastewater recycling. Delegates agreed, inter alia, that gradual implementation of pricing policies could be considered in developing countries when they reach an appropriate stage in their development. On 25(f) (information management), delegates deleted references to specific non-UN organizations and added language on the importance of technical assistance. Delegates will discuss 25(g) (international support) in the EU-coordinated informal group. On 25(h) (international watercourses), the G-77/CHINA proposed language encouraging watercourse states to develop international watercourses with a view to achieving sustainable utilization and benefits. On oceans, the Chair summarized proposals for the chapeau, which address, inter alia, progress achieved, declining fish stocks and pollution and improved decision-making. Delegates also debated references to support for developing countries, the definition of "progress" and fair access to marine resources. The Chair will submit a revised chapeau. Regarding a G-77/CHINA proposal calling for universal membership and participation in the framework of existing ocean-related instruments, CANADA, the EU and TURKEY objected to "universal membership." The Chair suggested a compromise encouraging all governments to ratify or accede to and effectively implement relevant agreements as soon as possible. On 26(a) (implementation and monitoring of existing instruments), the MARSHALL ISLANDS supported a G-77/CHINA proposal for cooperation on integrated coastal management (ICM) and for institutional links between mechanisms developing and implementing ICM, including identification of funding requirements. The Chair suggested the alternative of adding a reference in the chapeau to assisting developing countries in achieving ICM, but the MARSHALL ISLANDS said this would not address the need to identify funding requirements to apply ICM. The EU supported the G-77/CHINA text without the call for identifying funding requirements. DRAFTING GROUP II On 17 (economic, social and environmental objectives), the G- 77/CHINA expected SWITZERLAND to drop the labor standards issue. In 17(a) (national strategies), the G-77/CHINA accepted a US reference to assistance provided "as appropriate" through international cooperation. In the G-77/CHINA-proposed text on the international economic environment, the US and the G- 77/CHINA agreed to consult on mutually acceptable language on globalization and the impact of an unsupportive international environment. The US deleted the "increasingly widening" gap between developed and developing countries and the "urgent" need for a dynamic international environment. On 17ter (dialogue and partnership), the US, supported by CANADA, inserted "inter alia" before a reference to "common but differentiated responsibilities," as the Rio Principle 7 applies to the environment and not to the economic environment. In 18 (eradicating poverty), delegates added text noting: the severity of poverty, particularly in developing countries, and that eradication is one of the fundamental goals of the international community, as reflected in Commitment 2 of the Copenhagen Declaration (G-77/CHINA); eradication is essential for sustainable development (CANADA); eradication is an overriding theme of sustainable development for the coming years (EU); national governments’ efforts and international cooperation and assistance should be complementary (revised US); the 20/20 initiative as referred to in the WSSD Programme of Action (revised NORWAY); and the need for urgent implementation of relevant commitments agreed since Rio (G-77/CHINA). A NORWEGIAN reference to redistributive policies was bracketed. In US-proposed language on participation in poverty eradication, the G-77/CHINA objected to participation in monitoring and assessing strategies and ensuring that programmes reflect people’s priorities and perceptions. In 18(d) (poverty and women), a BANGLADESH-proposed amendment to include micro-credit was accepted. ARGENTINA inserted after a call for full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action "consistent with the report of the FWCW." The US limited the call to "relevant portions." The amendments were bracketed. On 19 (changing consumption and production), the G-77/CHINA objected to a CANADIAN reference to changing patterns in "rapidly industrializing countries." The G-77/CHINA agreed to consider Chair Amorim’s suggestion that their amendment on industrialized countries be deleted along with existing text on similar patterns in developing countries. The references were bracketed. On a US-proposed amendment on elaboration of national policies, the EU advocated policy making at both the international and national levels. With the exception of a reference to international ["policy"] elaboration, a reformulation of the US amendment was agreed. In 19(a) (environmental cost internalization), the EU modified a G-77/CHINA proposal to "seek to avoid potential" effects for market access by developing countries. The G-77/CHINA objected to text calling for a move towards pricing natural resources in a way that fully reflects economic scarcity. A NORWEGIAN proposal suggesting that governments consider shifting the burden of taxation to unsustainable patterns of production and consumption was added. G-77/CHINA-proposed text on the role of business was added with bracketed text "encouraging/taking" action and calling for "publishing of environmental and social audits on their own activities." On 19(b) (core indicators), a G-77/CHINA amendment on monitoring critical trends "particularly in the industrialized countries" was bracketed after a US objection. On 19(e) (energy and material efficiency), the G-77/CHINA preferred deleting a reference to targets and, with the US, deleting timetables for implementation. The EU wanted to retain both "international" and national programmes and timetables. The reference to "targets, goals or action" was bracketed. The G-77/CHINA agreed to consider retaining the call for timetables "as appropriate." References to EU proposals on studies to increase resource productivity ten-fold and, as an intermediate step, "by a factor of 4," were bracketed following objections by the G-77/CHINA. The EU linked its acceptance of a G-77/CHINA amendment on assisting developing countries to acceptance of the EU initiative. A new subparagraph regarding voluntary and transparent use of eco-labelling was added. INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS FORESTS: Delegates debated whether the purpose of a subparagraph on further clarification of issues is to identify issues "arising from the IPF" or issues that remain unresolved from the IPF, and whether technology transfer is among these issues. One delegation proposed specifying that such issues include: trade- related measures affecting forest products and services; the potential role of enhanced trade in promoting SFM; and forest- related traditional knowledge. A new subparagraph was proposed calling on national, regional and international programmes to include synergies in the use of forests as sources of renewable energy for local communities in least developed countries. A G- 77/CHINA position was presented on the paragraph on promoting the implementation of the IPF’s action proposals. A revised draft text incorporating these and other amendments was circulated in the afternoon. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: The group began negotiating a new draft text. Issues discussed included: the "context of the broader reform agenda of the UN;" administrative and budgetary autonomy for convention secretariats; assessment of national reports by the UN Regional Commissions; coordination at the field level; and a reference to UNEP’s 19th Governing Council’s decision of 4 April 1997. IN THE CORRIDORS Members of the EU delegation were reportedly feeling less than comfortable Monday after they found themselves countering an attempt by the G-77/CHINA to get them to drop their Factor 10 initiative on productivity efficiency. Bilaterals are expected and the EU will stress the lead role of industrialized countries in the initiative. The threat to the ministerial-led initiative will also heighten the importance of an EU non-paper due out Tuesday. THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY DRAFTING GROUPS: Morning and afternoon meetings of the two drafting groups are expected in Conference Rooms 1 and 2. They will commence discussing energy and trade and environment, respectively. INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS: Informal consultations are expected on the CSD programme of work, institutional arrangements and forests. Check CSD Today for times and rooms. HAPPY EARTH DAY! This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin is written and edited by Chad Carpenter, LL.M. , Peter Doran , Kira Schmidt and Lynn Wagner . The Editor is Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. and the Managing Editor is Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI . French translation by Mongi Gadhoum . The sustaining donors of the Bulletin are the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the Netherlands Ministry for Development Cooperation. General support for the Bulletin during 1997 is provided by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) of the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Ministry of Environment of Sweden and the Swiss Federal Office of the Environment. 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