ENB coverage of the CSD-7

CSD-7
THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE UN COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Briefing for Monday, 26 April

CSD-7 convenes as preparatory body for special session of UNGA on Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

The high level segment of the seventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development convened Friday morning as the preparatory body for September’s special session of the General Assembly to review the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) on Small Island Developing States. At the close of the high level segment, CSD-7 Chair Simon Upton was congratulated on setting the Commission on a new course by succeeding in enlivening the ministerial exchanges. He looked forward to more ministerial participation in the coming years.

The main points raised during the ministerial discussion on SIDS included:

the importance of emphasizing the continuing validity of the Barbados Programme of Action as a blueprint for the sustainable development of SIDS;
the particular vulnerability of SIDS in relation to both economic shocks and natural disasters;
concern over declining ODA levels;
the importance of the special circumstances of SIDS being taken into account in the next phase of negotiations under the WTO;
the importance of improving donor coordination and strengthening partnerships with all stakeholders in efforts to implement the BPOA;
the opportunity provided by the special session of UNGA for all countries to reaffirm the commitments made at the BPOA.

Ambassador John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda) reported that informal negotiations on the revised draft co-chairmen’s compilation on the CSD’s contribution to UNGA had made some progress. There is some disagreement, however, on sections in the text dealing with globalization and the liberalization of trade, the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, sexual tourism and the measurement of Gross National Product.

Consuming passions

On Friday afternoon, ministers discussed changing consumption and production patterns, noting that during the 20^th century world consumption has undergone tremendous expansion, with huge disparities in consumption between the industrialized and developing countries and widening gaps between the wealthy and the poor. Key focus points during the discussion were:

the need to focus future work through the development of strategies to achieve integrated resource management, cleaner production and eco-efficiency; better understanding of globalization and its impact on consumption and production patterns; and progress in addressing problems relating to urbanization and the impacts of human settlements;
promoting investment in capacity building, technology development and transfer, and promotion of greater efficiency in production, recognizing the roles of governments, international organizations, industry and other stakeholders;
increasing and improving international cooperation in the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries, with the requisite financial support.

IN THE CORRIDORS

Denmark tabled elements for a draft decision inviting the CSD Secretariat to prepare a paper on the modalities for the Rio+10 conference in 2002. The elements began life as an informal paper circulated by NGOs to CSD-7 Chair Upton’s informal ministerial on Friday morning. The draft calls for early attention to: the form of the review, its scope, the nature of the preparatory process and the terms of reference. Two elements were dropped from the original NGO draft. These were suggestions that attention be given to the venue of the conference and that a group of eminent persons produce themes for the Rio+10 conference. Some NGOs are keen to take the conference out of New York.

Photos and RealAudio from 23 April

High-Level Ministerial Segment on SIDS

SAMOA, on behalf of AOSIS, highlighted SIDS’ sense of ownership and responsibility for implementing the Barbados Programme of Action (POA) and underscored the need for renewed partnership and international support.
	CUBA noted that social disparities in SIDS had broadened due to globalization, trade liberalization and unsustainable consumption patterns by developed countries.
The US highlighted the development and sustainable financing of renewable energy as a key issue for SIDS, and looked forward to finding ways in which the Clean Development Mechanism could be used to SIDS’ advantage.
	The EUROPEAN COMMUNITY emphasized the need to support SIDS’ efforts to participate more actively in the multilateral trading system and highlighted partnerships with the private sector as a means to increase private investment and technology transfer.
Gus Speth, UNDP Administrator, highlighted the possibilities of technological innovations, which he said should be transferred to developing countries, and called attention to the UNDP-EC initiative on "Poverty and Environment."
	ST. LUCIA accepted the existence of a rules-based financial, monetary and trade system, but expressed difficulty with one that fails to differentiate between players. She said the “stench of victims” will eventually affect the victors.
Statements from the High-Level Segment the sustainable development of SIDS Samoa, on behalf of AOSIS United States of America European Community St. Lucia
At the conclusion of the day, Chair Upton presented his summary of the High-Level Segment.

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