ENB:05:62
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INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES AND FORMAT OF THE SPECIAL SESSION
Delegates who spoke favored renewal of the CSD mandate. The EU and ASSOCIATED COUNTRIES said: UNGASS should reconfirm the CSD as the high-level forum for implementing the overarching principle of sustainable development and the ECOSOC review should take this into account; and UNEP should not compete with operationally- tasked organizations in project implementation. The EU also called for further improvement in UN system-wide coordination mechanisms by the Administrative Committee on Coordination, including high-level decision making. CHINA asked how ECOSOC might take full advantage of the expertise of its functioning commissions. UNEP noted that a clear understanding of the respective roles of UN entities is essential and that the ministers to the high-level segment of the Governing Council invited the Special Session to reconfirm UNEP’s role in environmental issues.
BRAZIL said the CSD should not be intrusive in other UN bodies’ decisions or set directives for those bodies. MEXICO said the CSD should not be strengthened to the detriment of other UN bodies, particularly UNEP, and the CSD’s relationship with COPs should be clarified.
CANADA and CHINA said the CSD should encourage improved international coordination. The EU called for: better integration of the UN Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and Energy for Development and of the Committee on Natural Resources into the CSD’s work; CSD emphasis on poverty eradication and sustainable production and consumption patterns; and enhanced cooperation with regional commissions and organizations. MEXICO suggested that the CSD promote the development of uniform and harmonized international law in the field of environment and sustainable development.
CANADA proposed that: the high-level segment be in the form of a roundtable discussion; proposals be drafted more clearly; and national reporting requirements be streamlined and reviewed. BRAZIL recommended that the CSD develop decisions rather than recommendations and that they be operational rather than conceptual. He also supported national reporting that is regular, voluntary and result-oriented. MEXICO suggested strengthening the high-level segment, designating one issue for its consideration and establishing a follow-up mechanism for its decisions.