ENB:05:78
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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.