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8th Meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development
New York, USA; 24 April - 05 May, 2000
 
| Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27Friday 28 |
| Monday 01 | Tuesday 02 | Wednesday 03 | Thursday 04 | Friday 05 |

| Lundi 24 | Mardi 25 | Mercredi 26 | Jeudi 27 | Vendredi 28 |
| Lundi 01 | Mardi 02 | Mercredi 03 | Jeudi 04 | Vendredi 05 |

Highlights from Wednesday 26 April

On Tuesday, delegates participated in High-Level Segments on Land and agriculture, Preparations for the 2002 Review of Progress since UNCED (Rio+10), and the Outcome of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF). In the evening, delegates participated in a Panel on Trade and Indigenous People in honor of the Day of Indigenous People at CSD-8.

Photo: Louise Fréchette, UN Deputy Secretary-General, and CSD-8 Chair Juan Mayr Maldonado

For a Programme of Work and Activities for the CSD-8, please visit the UN-CSD website at http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd8/csd8pow.pdf 

Click here for the following side events:

  • Developing Global Partnerships for Earth Summit 2002

  • UNDP and European Commission Poverty and Environment Initiative

  • Ten Years of Commitment to European Forests: The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of
    Forests in Europe

 
 

Louise Fréchette (Canada), UN Deputy Secretary-General picks country names to determine the order of speakers for the high-level segment


High-Level Segment with a thematic focus on land and agriculture
Mostafa Tolba, Egypt

Dirk C duToit, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs (South Africa) stressed the importance of delivering basic services/goods to the disadvantaged, redistribute and empower, foremost in agriculture.  "We must actualize the solidarity of mankind".  duToit later suggested that South Africa be the venue for the 2002 Rio+10 Earth Summit.

Nigeria, speaking for the G-77/China

Samoa

Portugal speaking for the European Union


High-Level Segment on Preparations for the 2002 Review of progress since UNCED

Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs (left) noted that focus should be on implementation of commitments made in the 1992 Rio de Janiero Earth Summit.  Within the CSD itself, many work processes lay solid ground for the 2002 Rio+10 meeting such as the successful multi-stakeholder dialogues.  Drawing upon this and other successes, Desai urged delegates to compile a list of sustainable development success stories in order to recognize things that have been accomplished in the interceding years.

UNEP Executive Director Klaus Topfer signaled the importance of addressing and overcoming poverty in a way that doesn't burden future generations and does not compromise the environment.  Questions were also raised about environmental security, liability, and preparations for the 2002 earth summit (Rio+10).
Yolanda Kakabadse, President, IUCN, and former Minister of Environment (Ecuador) advised that the focus should be on the process from now until 2002 instead of the Rio+10 event itself, and the development of measurable indicators. With UNEP concentrating on elevating the organization to the status of an environmental regulatory body, Kakabadse questioned whether existing environmental institutions would be able to deal with sustainable development in addition to their environmental responsibilities.
  David Andersen, Minister for the Environment (Canada) states that the key to success is inclusiveness, and that the proposed meeting should cover all sectoral issues raised in Agenda 21. Further to the discussion on the 2002 meeting, Andersen suggested that outputs of the meeting shift away from the production of a declaration document or result in high level policy statements.
Julia Carabias, Minister of the Environment (Mexico) underscored the need for indicators of sustainable development progress, and mechanisms for positive synergy between instruments such as the Kyoto Protocol, the Cartagena Protocol, and the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
  Jurgen Tritten, Minister for the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety (Germany) noted that CSD faced a lack of implementation.  Trittens suggested that the process to the 2002 summit should pay attention to the issue of poverty and introduced the need for a sustainable framework for globalization.  Germany also supported South Africa's bid to host the 2002 summit. 
Svend Auken, Minister for the Environment (Denmark)
Franz Fischler, European Commission for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries 
 
Kirsten Kuipers (above right) of the Dutch National Youth Council for Environment & Development spoke on behalf of the CSD Youth Caucus. Suggestions put forth by the Youth Caucus included securing the presence of a youth representative on all national delegations at the 2002 Rio+10 earth summit, the establishment of fund to finance participation of youth from the south at Rio+10, and the facilitation of youth plenary meetings leading up to the 2002 summit. The Youth Caucus stated an interest in presenting a review of the last 10 years of the CSD from a youth perspective. They also advocated establishing links with other NGOs, and encouraging the presence of youth at other major international fora.

CSD-8 Chair Juan Mayr summarized the discussion and noted consensus on a number of suggestions for the Rio+10 summit in 2002:

  • it should be a high-level summit
  • it should take place in a developing country
  • it should include a broad participatory process
  • it should cover national, regional, and global issues
  • it should not re-negotiate Agenda 21
  • it should include a review process of Agenda 21 implementation (perhaps undertaken during the preparatory process over the next 2 years)
  • it should include issues such as energy, poverty, globalization, financing, security, etc.
  • the preparatory process should begin as soon as possible

Mayr also asked the question of what kind of preparatory body should be established, if a new challenge should be introduced, if a new commitment to sustainable development should be made, and how this event is going to be financed.


High-Level Segment on the outcome of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests
IFF Co-Chairs Bagher Asadi (Iran) and Ilkka Ristimaki (Finland)

Brent St. Denis, Parliamentary Secretary to Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources (Canada) assured that Canada is proud of itself and its accomplishments in foresty and sustainable development indicators.  It fully supports the IFF proposals and looks forward to prompt implementation of the UNFF for early reporting at national, regional and global levels.

FAO (above) stated that it has been one of the strongest supporters of the IFF process, offering its best expertise, but admittedly has been disappointed in this 5-year process.  It has been pleased with the implementation of National Forestry Programs, and the ITFF.  The FAO made two suggestions : (i) implementation of, and financial mobilizing for proposals for action needs concrete results; and (ii) a clear and strong link needs to be built between this new organization and the FAO.

Carole Saint-Laurent spoke on behalf of IUCN (below) and noted that the UNFF proposal needed clarification on purpose and other key issues.  Recommendations included ensuring participatory methods, providing assessment and progress reports, and developing operational focus issues.  IUCN intends to cooperate with their members and partners to examine these points, offer assistance to achieve best results.

 

Day of Indigenous People at CSD-8: Panel on Trade and Indigenous People

Tomas

Juan Leon

Tonya Gonella Frichner

Ella Henry, New Zealand


ENB Summary of Ad Hoc Open-Ended Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Energy and Sustainable Development
CSD-8 Intersessionals
Linkages CSD page
UN - CSD website with official documents 
ENB's "Introduction to CSD"

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