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Highlights
from Tuesday, 24 April
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| Photo:Sweden
(EU) with members of the G-77/China during the Drafting Group
on Energy |
Delegates
met throughout the day in three drafting groups to consider four
draft decisions. Drafting Group I met in a morning session to discuss
the Chair's revised negotiation text on energy. Drafting Group II
met in a morning session and discussed the revised draft decision
on atmosphere, and in the afternoon completed a first reading of
the draft decision on transport, while Drafting Group III met in
an evening session and considered the revised draft decision on
international cooperation for an enabling environment. An afternoon
session to negotiate the draft decision on information for decision
making and participation was cancelled to enable the G-77/China
to participate in the deliberations of Drafting Group II on Transport.
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Mon 16
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Tue 17
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Wed 18
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Thu 19
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Fri 20
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Mon 23
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Tue 24
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Wed 25
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Thu 26
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Fri 27
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Mon 30
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Tue 01
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Wed 02
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Drafting Group
on Transport and Atmosphere
Drafting
Group on Atmosphere in the morning session
During
the morning session, a recurring theme that delegates raised was
whether to include text on climate change issues that is under
consideration in other fora.
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The EU consulting during discussions on atmosphere
An
EU proposal regarding atmospheric monitoring through a global
strategy partnership will be considered in informal discussions.
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Regarding general atmosphere considerations, Iran, for the G-77/China
(right) supported reference to a "balance between" the pillars
of sustainable development, whereas the EU, supported by Australia,
Canada and Mexico, proposed a balanced "and integrated" consideration.
The G-77/China opposed text proposed by the EU noting the effects
of air pollution on cultural heritage. Chair Stuart recommended
that this be discussed informally outside the drafting group.
The G-77/China, opposed by the EU, said climate change issues
are covered in another forum, thus reference to emissions should
be omitted.
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On Transport, Sweden,
for the EU, presented several amendments and proposals on,
inter alia: the polluter pays principle; elimination of environmentally
harmful subsidies; inspection and maintenance schemes for vehicles;
mitigation of emissions and noise from transport; design of recyclable
and safe vehicles; safe infrastructure for non-motorized transport;
and limiting dependence on car travel. CANADA and the US opposed
text on limiting dependence on car travel. The EU also presented
new subparagraphs on the use of strategic environmental and health
assessments and on indicators. |
David
Drake, Canada
Canada
and the US opposed text on limiting dependence on car travel.
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Brazil
opposed the EU's proposals
During
a protracted discussion, a number of countries, including Algeria,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia, South Africa and the US observed that the EU proposals
were too prescriptive and did not take into account different
circumstances among countries.
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Drafting Group
on Energy
Iran,
for the G-77/China
The
EU, opposed by the G-77/China, insisted on removing reference
to the non-prescriptive nature of listed policy options. This
remains bracketed. Agreement could not be reached on the compromise
text relating, inter alia, to: support to market development and
stability to ensure energy supply; enhancement of regional and
international cooperation to assist developing countries in achieving
energy for sustainable development; reference to language from
Rio Principle 10 on the role of major groups in decision making;
the importance of poverty eradication in developing countries
and the consequent need to ensure that environmental standards
do not hinder efforts to eradicate poverty; and reference to the
polluter pays principle and energy taxes.
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Sweden
speaks with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran |
On
encouraging the transfer of energy efficiency technologies to
developing countries on favorable terms, the US, supported by
G-77/China, expressed preference for the language used later in
the negotiating text derived from that of Agenda 21 on technology
transfer. Compromise text is to be drafted informally.
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Colombia
during the energy negotiations
G-77/China
consulting
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China
speaks with Saudi Arabia after the afternoon session of the Drafting
Group on Information and Decision-making was canceled |
SIDE EVENTS:
The Dashboard of
Sustainability: A Measurement and Communication Tool
Organized
by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
Peter
Hardi, IISD Director Measurements & Indicators Program, unveiled IISD's
prototype for a new online application for gauging national sustainable
development achievements, called the Dashboard of Sustainability, or the
"Digital Dashboard". This tool was developed over a 6-year period and
employs 57 measurements of environmental, social and economic indicators
as outlined by the CSD, and contains data obtained from the UN Statistical
Division, the World Bank, the OECD, and other international agencies.
While appearing to be a simple odometer-style dashboard as one might see
in front of a driver's seat, the Digital Dashboard has robust features
which allow for comparative measurement of SD indicators, real-time graphic
representation of data, plotting, sliding-scale forecasting capacities,
with full data citations and the ability to link off to other websites'
data or incorporate simple user-supplied spreadsheets to further expand
its reach. The goal is to enable quick assessment of the strong and weak
points of a nation's SD performance.
Website:
http://www.iisd.org/measure
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Peter
Hardi,
Director, IISD Measurements
& Indicators Programme.
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Jochen
Jesinghaus,
European Commission
Joint Research Center,
Institute for Systems,
Informatics and Safety (ISIS), EU.
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John
O'Conner,
Consultant, OconEco, USA.
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The Global Initiative
on Transport Emissions (GITE)
Sponsored
by the UN Division for Sustainable Development and the World Bank
Organized
by Manager Robin Segal and UN DESA/DSD, the Global Initiative on Transport
Emissions (GITE) side event highlighted presentations from representatives
of GITE partner organisations including the Japan Automobile Research
Institute (JARI), the World Bank, Daimler-Chrysler, China's State Environment
Protection Agency, and the Institute for Transportation and Development
Policy (ITDP).
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| Panelists:
Kiyoyuki Minato, Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI); George
Tharakan, World Bank; Peter Hartmann, Daimler Chrysler; Koi-Nang Mak,
Chief of Energy and Transport Branch, DESA; Keiko Hirato, JARI; Wang
Zhija, State Environment Protection Agency, People's Republic of China;
and Walter Hook, NGO Transport Caucus / Institute for Transportation
and Development Policy (ITDP). |
 GITE
is a public/private partnership for the reduction of emissions from
the transport sector, which was launched at the International Roundtable
on Transportation, Energy and Sustainable Development, held in Cairo
in December, 1999. The objective is to promote fuel efficient, low
emission vehicle technologies, reduce transport emissions through
integrated land-use and transport planning, reduce motorized transport
demand and expand the role of public transportation. The GITE was
undertaken by the UN and the World Bank as part of CSD-9. Program
focus and activities: Partnership for Vehicle and Fuel Tecnology
Modernization (PVFTM) is a consortium of Strategic Business Partners
comprising participating multi-national auto manufacturing and petroleum
companies who are willing to enter into technology sharing arrangements
with developing country industries; Small Initiatives Clearinghouse
(SIC) identifies and defines small potential projects that could
be implemented by private sector interests, by national governments,
or by NGOs, which transfer technology or undertake other actions
that reduce transport emissions; and Transport Emissions Knowledge
Initiative (TEKI) works with national governments and international
agencies to develop an adequate information base, assist in strengthening
national institutions responsible for policy formulation, and coordinate
with international agencies responsible for establishing international
standards. For more information, visit www.giteweb.org |
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George
Tharakan, World Bank, Peter Hartmann, Daimler Chrysler, Koi-Nang
Mak, Chief of Energy and Transport Branch, DESA.
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Keiko
Hirato, JARI, Wang Zhija, State Environment Protection Agency, People's
Republic of China, and Walter Hook, NGO Transport Caucus and ITDP.
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Global Mapping
for Sustainable Development
Organized
by the government of Japan and the International Steering Committee for
Global Mapping (ISCGM)
Briefing on the
Expert Working Group on "Improving the role of government in the
promotion of Environmental Management Accounting" (EMA)
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Tarciscio
Alvarez-Rivero, UN Division for Sustainable Development
This
event highlighted the following: report on the previous three meetings
of the Expert Working Group on Environmental Management Accounting;
briefing on substantive advances by the Group and presentation of
current workbooks; future meetings of the Group (Tokyo, 5-7 June
2001 and Bristol, UK, February 2002); and cooperation with ISO TC-207,
Global Reporting Initiative, and Accountancy Standard setting bodies.
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UN-Corporate Partnerships:
Dangers and Opportunities on the Road to Rio +10
Sponsored
by CorpWatch and Corporate Accountability Caucus
Kenny
Bruno, CorpWatch, and Gemma Adaba, ICFTU
For
more information, visit www.corpwatch.org
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