ENB @ WSSD PrepCom-IV (Bali, May-June 2002)

Version française: Bulletin des Négociations de la Terre (BNT)

ENB on the side - a special daily report on selected side events from WSSD PrepCom IV.

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The World Summit on Sustainable Development
Fourth Preparatory Committee (WSSD PrepCom IV)

Bali, Indonesia | 25 May - 7 June 2002

Wednesday, 29 May

Delegates met in a Plenary session for the the final Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue segment, during which the major groups gave closing statements on future priorities. Delegates also heard H.R.H. Willem Alexander, Prince of Orange, report on the outcomes of the Second Water Forum. Working Groups I, II, and III met throughout the day. Contact groups on oceans, Africa and energy also convened.

Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue: Partnerships
Bird's eye view of the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue plenary
	Delegates during the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue Segment
Youth said sustainable development is an effective alternative to militarization, and demanded cancellation of external debt and incorporation of sustainable development into curricula at all levels. They said the right to water must be recognized, and called for increased participation of youth at all levels of decision making particularly with respect to sustainable development, where intergenerational equity is important.
	The Plenary Hall during the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue
On future priorities, the Business Community said partnerships are an essential output for the WSSD, and said the framework must include sound governance and adequate capacity. The representative said NEPAD could be used as a basis for transforming the vision of sustainability to action.
	Local Authorities (left) called for strengthening local government as an equal sphere of government, and said local governments were convening a summit to forward a declaration to the WSSD.

	Chee Yoke Ling, Third World Network, said that it is impossible to get time-bound commitments from governments on sustainable development, but political will is very high and there are very strict time-bound regulations when it comes to the WTO and debt payments. She said the ecological crisis is deepening and environmental racism is a critical issue that needs to be addressed. She said that the political declaration is already in crisis, and that maybe instead of a negotiated declaration, Heads of State should express general concern for issues.
Victoria Tauli Corpuz, Tebtebba, and Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network Victoria Tauli Corpuz urged that the WSSD reaffirm the rights of indigenous peoples to land, waters and resources, and the right to self determination, and to say no to development projects. She called for the initiation of an impact assessment of trade and finance agreements to see how they affect sustainable development and, particularly, capacity of indigenous peoples. She also called on the UN to convene a World conference on Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development.
	Trade Unions said the political declaration must focus on implementation, and highlighted collaboration with UNEP, the ILO and the WHO in order to integrate all the aspects of sustainable development, particularly the social pillar. He said the presence of the ILO is instrumental.
A representative of Women expressed their frustration with not being heard as equal partners in the Sustainable Development process.
	Chair Emil Salim
Norway stressed an open and transparent decision making process, intergenerational equity and participation of youth in delegations. He said implementation and mobilization of political will and major group participation was vital for sustainable development goals to succeed.
	Spain, for the EU, noted the importance of education and good governance.
Kuwait during the Multi-Stakeholder dialogue
	Zehra Aydin-Sipos, DESA Secretariat, and Kiyotaka Akasaka, Co-Chair of the Dialogue on Capacity Building
	The Farmers' representative (far left) called for an assessment of the impact of trade liberalization on the agricultural sector, and, noting that the family is the basic unit of production for farmers, called for the establishment of a legal framework to address the isolation of farmers from local and national administration.
The Scientific and Technological Community (above center) said responsibility for science and technology rests with national governments and the private sector, but needs international collaboration. He said good governance requires good science. He called for a science and technology advisory mechanism to provide independent advice to the CSD.
	Willem Alexander, Prince of Orange (Netherlands) and member of the Secretary-General's eminent persons panel and Chair of the 2nd World Water Forum held in the Netherlands in 2002, said water should be on top of the agenda in Johannesburg. He presented key recommendations and actions outlined in No Water, No Future on four priority areas: shared values, the public-private sector nexus, global governance and science and technology. He said the water crisis is mainly a crisis of governance, not of water scarcity, and said the WSSD should reaffirm the importance of achieving water security.

Working Group I: Agriculture
On agriculture, the EU proposed language on assisting countries to cope with increasing quality demands for food and agricultural products and providing technical cooperation to agro-industries to diversify and upgrade their products, in accordance with internationally agreed standards, but after some debate, this proposal was withdrawn.
	Regarding a paragraph on developing new markets for value-added agricultural products, Switzerland asked for clarification on "value-added," and requested assurance that this did not refer to genetically modified organisms.
The US supported using language from the WTO Doha meeting on substantially improving market access and reducing, with a view to phasing out, export subsidies, and substantially reducing trade-distorting domestic support for agricultural products. The EU requested deletion of this paragraph.
	Brazil, speaking for the G-77/China on agriculture, requested language on improving market access to agricultural products from developing countries and reducing, with a view to phasing out, all forms export subsidies, and reducing trade distorting domestic support, particularly in developed countries.
New Zealand and the US said the Doha round was universal, and opposed reference to developing and developed countries.
	Regarding language on combating illicit crops, Iran proposed referring to illicit drug crops, and Chair Viotti asked Iran to coordinate consultations on this issue in a small group.

Working Group II: Health and Sustainable Development
Co-Chair Ihab Gamaleldin (Egypt)
	The EU and the G-77/China applaud agreement on text on measures to: launch, as appropriate, international capacity building initiatives; improve availability and access for all to sufficient, safe, culturally acceptable and nutritionally adequate food; develop or strengthen, as applicable, programmes to address non-communicable diseases; and mobilize adequate public and encouraging private resources for research and development on diseases of the poor.
	The US bracketed paragraphs on traditional medicine and protection of traditional knowledge, and on implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. The US also opposed references through the text to health care "services".
Delegates receive the revised text on globalization

Working Group III: Governance
	Delegates during the working group meeting on governance.

Contact Group: Energy
Chair Gustavo Anchil, Argentina One delegation proposed language stating that in case some countries choose to use nuclear energy technology for sustainable development absolute priorities should be given to safety.
	John Ashe, Antigua and Barbuda, Moshen Esperi, Iran, G-77/Coordinator on Energy, and Khalid Abuleif, Saudi Arabia Delegations supported the use of CSD-9 language on reduction of flaring and venting of gas associated with crude oil production, as well as domestic programmes for energy efficiency; efforts to improve the functioning, transparency, and information about energy markets.
Delegates from Canada, Australia and Tuvalu

Miscellaneous Photos:
NGOs caucusing
	Norzin Dolma, Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy
Delegates meet in the lounge area

Links

> Side events: ENB on the side (in collaboration with UNDP)
> Version française: Bulletin des Négociations de la Terre

> Official website for PrepCom III - includes links to Chairman's Paper (basis of negotiations),
provisional agenda, proposed programme of work, and all other documents for the meeting.
> Official WSSD website
> South African WSSD website

> ENB's coverage of PrepCom II
> ENB's coverage of the Regional Preparatory Meetings and of PrepCom I
> Linkages Introduction to the Johannesburg Summit 2002 - the essential CSD primer to the
Summit.
> Linkages' Portal to the Johannesburg Summit 2002 - access coverage of all WSSD Regional
Preparatory meetings; Who's Who at WSSD; Publications; Calendar of Events; Preparations
and other online resources.