ENB:05:60
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SECTORAL ISSUES AND MAJOR GROUPS
INDONESIA noted that commitment on cross-sectoral issues is not equal to that on sectoral issues. He called for further agreement on climate change control and forests. He also noted the need to strengthen capacity-building to fulfill CBD commitments and the important contribution of major groups. The RUSSIAN FEDERATION called for further development and use of the Rio principles and for international agreements on transboundary pollutants and chemicals. The CSD should continue to coordinate integrated assessment and implementation of UNCED obligations. He called for a more limited and catalytic role for UNEP. SOUTH AFRICA said equitable access to freshwater resources and services in Africa and other arid regions should feature prominently in the CSD report. He called for regional approaches to capacity-building and risk management to address problems posed by the modification of living organisms and invasive species.
CANADA strongly supported the view that the Special Session should launch negotiations on an international forest convention and called attention to freshwater as a key emerging issue. CHINA noted the importance of sustainable agriculture and the outcome of the World Food Summit. She called attention to the importance of clean energy technology and supported a continued active role for major groups. BRAZIL said the framework should include the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and commitments regarding financial resources and technology transfer. He did not support uniform numerical targets. He said it is premature to establish an intergovernmental negotiating committee on forests.
VENEZUELA emphasized intersectoral connections and the importance of regional efforts. She called for technology transfer, decentralization and observance of the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities. IRAN called on UNGASS to: focus on cross-sectoral issues; avoid overlap and duplication of efforts between the CSD and the COPs of various international environmental conventions; emphasize modalities for provision of new and additional financial resources and realization of ODA targets; and address problems of internal displacement and refugees. UNED-UK urged developed countries to increase contributions to the GEF and to meet the target of 0.7% of GNP for ODA. He noted that while private investment has grown, it goes to only a few developing countries. He called for: improvement in the quality of aid; regulation of private investment; an increase in public funds; progress on new ways to generate funds, such as taxation of aviation fuel; elimination of environmentally damaging subsidies; transparency and accountability in the use of funds; and establishment of an intergovernmental panel on finance.
The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) noted that over 2000 local authorities worldwide are implementing Local Agenda 21s (LA21). He called for more work on fiscal frameworks and core indicators of sustainable development, and announced plans to monitor LA21 activity under the aegis of “Cities 21.” An NGO representative called on the CSD to recognize older people as a major group. People over 60 will number 600 million by 2001. The UNGA has designated 1999 as the International Year of the Older Person. INDIA called for agreement on appropriate principles for sharing resources across countries and generations and the basis for technology transfer and finance. He endorsed the findings of the Fourth Expert Panel on Financial Issues, including the need to collect data on the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows.
BARBADOS expressed hope that the review process would renew the impetus for implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). GHANA noted the importance of access to and transfer of technology and emphasized clearinghouse mechanisms. He supported CSD attention to freshwater resources and called for access to emerging solar technologies. MEXICO supported the call for redoubled efforts to implement Agenda 21, especially at the national level. He said market forces will not solve all problems.
UNEP noted its active involvement in the areas of freshwater, oceans, river basins and tourism and in developing legally-binding instruments on prior informed consent and on persistent organic pollutants. The INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CAUCUS noted that indigenous people also live in substandard conditions in developed countries. He called for: improved information dissemination to indigenous people; examination of their trade-related intellectual property and relevant WTO rules; and a permanent forum for indigenous people at the UN.