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Events convened on Tuesday, 2 April 2002 |
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Water
governance: Adapting to climate variability and change
Alvaro Umaña, UNDP, emphasized that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a critical development issue, whose impacts will be felt most severely in developing countries. He noted that water resources in many developing countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change. He emphasized that water is critically linked to meeting the Millennium Development Goals, and stressed the need to help countries develop frameworks for sustainable use of water resources, adapt to climate change, and integrate adaptation into national development planning and strategies for poverty eradication. He said many of these issues are related to water governance, and highlighted the Dialogue on Effective Water Governance, which is bringing stakeholders together to examine political processes and analyze water governance issues.  Listen
to Umaña's presentationBill Cosgrove, International Steering Committee of the Dialogue on Water and Climate (DWC), explained that the DWC aims to improve capacity in water resources management to cope with the impacts of climate variability. Its objectives and outputs include, inter alia: synergies between water and climate communities; awareness raising for water resource managers and decision makers; guiding principles; and regional assessment and adaptation strategies. Listen
to Cosgrove's presentationPavel Kabat, International Secretariat of the DWC, explained that the DWC is facilitating national and basin-level multi-stakeholder dialogues that highlight examples of how adaptation and coping strategies are being applied in hotspots of vulnerability to climate change and variability. Current dialogues are addressing, inter alia: vulnerability and low capacity to cope with flooding in Bangladesh; combined impacts of land-use and climate variability in China's Yellow River basin; and sea-level rise in Pacific small islands. Listen
to Kabat's presentationRoberto Lenton, International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, reiterated that the water crisis is mainly a crisis of governance, and stressed that effective water governance should address how water managers can better cope with climate variability and change. He highlighted the Global Water Partnership's Framework for Action Towards Water Security, and outlined additional issues requiring attention, including: improving mechanisms for decision making under uncertainty; strengthening links between the water management and climate communities; connecting the knowledge base to governing institutions; and forging partnerships and broader alliances that transcend water resources. He highlighted UNDP's comparative advantage in helping to address these issues, including through efforts to build cross-sectoral capacity, strengthen management and institutions, and promote partnerships. Listen
to Lenton's presentation
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The way to Bali Presented by Greenpeace International
Steve Sawyer, Greenpeace International, stressed that the WSSD will only achieve meaningful outcomes if the Kyoto Protocol is ratified, and recommended that the WSSD address access to clean and affordable energy and include an action plan to ensure high portfolio standards and redirect energy subsidies toward renewables. Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, expressed pessimism about the ability of PrepCom III to generate positive results, but said a joint NGO lobbying effort could help ensure that clean and affordable energy is incorporated in the WSSD outcomes. Mariam Mayet, Greenpeace South Africa, said that millions of people in Africa hope that the WSSD will have a positive impact on their lives, but noted that thus far there has been a disconnect between WSSD negotiations and real issues affecting people. Marcelo Furtado, Greenpeace Brazil, stressed the need to address corporate accountability and the supremacy of international environmental agreements over WTO rules in the WSSD agenda. Discussion: Participants agreed on the need for Type I outcomes on access to clean and affordable energy, and discussed the damaging effects of the US, Canada and Australia on the WSSD process and the critical role of the G-77/China in negotiations. The need for more aggressive lobbying was underscored.
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Indigenous peoples' assessment of ongoing negotiations Presented by the Tebtebba Foundation
Stella Tamang, Nepal Temang Women Ghedung, presented an update on progress with indigenous peoples' agenda at the PrepCom, expressing dissatisfaction with the level of inclusion of indigenous peoples' language in the official documents. Lucy Mulenkei, African Indigenous Women's Organization, highlighted difficulties faced by indigenous peoples of Africa, who receive less formal recognition than peoples in other regions. She underlined the low level of representation by African indigenous peoples within the WSSD process. Moises Gutierez, Taype Ceqe, discussed indigenous peoples' experiences with water privatization in Bolivia, which include uprisings by indigenous peoples who want to restore the social, cultural and ritual values they associate with water. Rodion Sulyandziga, Russian Indigenous Training Center, presented proposals for textual amendments to the Chairman's Paper that incorporate indigenous peoples' concerns, and expressed hope that the newly-established Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues would establish strong links with the WSSD process. Joji Cariño, Tebtebba Foundation, addressed indigenous peoples' unique position among major groups in negotiating at the State level. She also stressed the need for prior informed consent for activities affecting indigenous peoples or lands, and emphasized the need to address imbalances in respect and power in partnership processes.
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Public finance instruments for urban environmental infrastructure Presented by the US Environmental Protection Agency
Heather Ruth, Finance and Public Policy Consulting, highlighted the need to increase environmental investments in developing countries based on lessons learned from developed country experiences. She highlighted challenges in this process, including: legal certainty; accounting standards; regulatory frameworks and enforceability of laws; willingness to adopt financial techniques; flexibility in using financial techniques; and economic and technological realism. Gersan Zurita, Fitch Ratings, described barriers to investment initiatives in developing countries, including: lack of good management, transparency and communication among stakeholders; lack of clarity in relationships between public service companies; the amplitude of economic cycles; and the need for projects that fit economic development priorities.
Thomas Cochran, MBIA Insurance Corporation, stressed the fundamental need
to develop indigenous capital markets, and the need for realism in terms
of the economic, financial and ecological viability of projects.
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Powering sustainable development Presented by e7 in cooperation with UNDESA, UNEP and UNIDO Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, opened this event with a discussion of the importance of energy sustainability, stressing that "no power is more expensive than no power."
Dale Heydlauff, American Electric Power, outlined major goals of UNEP's WSSD electricity sector report, including the adoption of guidelines on best practices in energy sustainability and enhancement of global cooperation to expand electricity provision. Christian Stoffaës, Electricité de France, said access to electricity is a precondition for poverty eradication, and advocated recognition of the right to electricity for all. Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel, UNEP, described a proposed Global Network for Sustainable Energy, which would link existing regional centers for energy, environment and development issues to foster sharing of information and experience. Irene Freudenschuss-Reichl, UNIDO, presented a UNIDO initiative on rural energy that incorporates information and communication technologies into renewable energy efforts. Gurneeta Vasudeva, Tata Energy Research Institute, presented outcomes of the recent Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, including the need for major investments in natural as well as physical capital, and the importance of focusing poverty alleviation strategies on strengthening human and organizational capacity. Other speakers described the sustainable energy activities of Droit à l'Energie - SOS Futur, a multi-stakeholder energy organization, UNDP, and the G-8 Task Force on Renewable Energy.
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Ecological values for development Presented by the Temple of Understanding and the Tribal Link Foundation
Gerald Barney, Millennium Institute, explained that the values incorporated into computer models used by the World Bank and the IMF for country assessment are in conflict with the values inherent in the Earth Charter and the Millennium Development Goals. He noted that these models consider only the costs but not the benefits of education, health and the environment. He introduced an alternative to these models, the Threshold 21 Integrated Model, which integrates social, economic and environmental issues; is country-driven, results-oriented and comprehensive; helps countries to set priorities and build partnerships; and employs long-term timeframes.
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The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) on the Side is a special publication
of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in
cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Editor
of ENB on the Side is Kira Schmidt
kira@iisd.org
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| © 2002, IISD. All rights reserved. |
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