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DRAFTING GROUP III

The Drafting Group considering issues including decision-making and national reporting met during the afternoon. On the draft text regarding integrating environment and development in decision-making (Chapter 8 of Agenda 21), the G-77/CHINA changed the paragraph calling for governments to continue efforts to establish mechanisms and develop strategies for sustainable development to: recognize that the responsibility for change lies with national governments and encourage efforts to establish national mechanisms and develop participatory strategies for economic growth and sustainable development. The US said that “economic growth in the context of sustainable development” would be acceptable.

The US proposed that efforts to “strengthen” technical cooperation in the area of methodological development should be undertaken “within available resources.”

<$TSpInterLn=1401;EfWeight=4>On the draft decision on information for decision-making (Chapter 40 of Agenda 21), the G-77/CHINA requested the ECOSOC working group on informatics to give particular attention to facilitating access by UN member states to environmental databases throughout the UN system. The EU said a working group already has this mandate and suggested acknowledging the group’s achievements. The Secretariat noted that the WWW Home Page would differ by integrating information on sustainable development throughout the UN system, rather than focus on DPCSD activities. The US proposed noting that work be completed “within existing resources.” The G-77/China also requested a reference to “national” indicators to clarify that they are not international.

In the draft decision on major groups (Chapters 23 and 32 of Agenda 21), the EU proposed that ECOSOC be invited to ensure the continuation of the Rio arrangements regarding participation of major groups to the 1997 CSD; and that the GA be invited to ensure appropriate arrangements for the contribution of major groups to the Special Session of 1997 and its follow-up. The US requested clarification of the Rio arrangements.

Australia and the US deleted the specification that governments support, “through financial and other resources,” the initiatives of major groups to make contributions to the 1997 review. The US specified that the contributions would be to the “preparations for” the 1997 review.

The G-77/CHINA deleted the sub-paragraph urging governments to include major group representatives in their national delegations. In the same sub-paragraph, the US deleted the reference to major group representatives in delegations to the Special Session.

The G-77/CHINA added paragraphs recommending that ECOSOC place NGOs accredited to the Commission by Council decision 1993/2.20 on the Roster, and encouraging major groups to strengthen their support to the developing countries by raising funds to finance activities related to sustainable development, including required technology. Canada added two sub-paragraphs, supporting the recommendations agreed to at CSD-2 confirming ECOSOC Roster status of all CSD NGOs, and inviting major group participation during the preparations for and at CSD-5 and in the 1997 Special Session. The US objected.

On national mechanisms and international cooperation for capacity-building in developing countries, the G-77/CHINA proposed noting the need to keep capacity building as one of the central objectives in the promotion of development projects, in accordance with their national priorities. She suggested language calling on governments and international organizations to enhance their efforts on financial mobilization and technology transfer in order to assist developing countries.

On the draft decision on international institutional arrangements (Chapter 38 of Agenda 21), the EU proposed an additional paragraph noting that the CSD welcomes the proposed review by ECOSOC of the regional commissions with a view to strengthening their active participation on the implementation of major UN conference decisions. He also called for mainstreaming all policies to the goals of sustainable development.

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