EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD) WRITTEN AND EDITED BY: Chad Carpenter, LL.M. Peter Doran Kira Schmidt Lynn Wagner Editor Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. Managing Editor Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" Vol. 5 No. 73 Monday, 14 April 1997 CSD-5 HIGHLIGHTS FRIDAY, 11 APRIL 1997 Delegates heard reports on the Rio Conventions, regional activities and other intersessional events during a morning Plenary. They considered national reporting, the Barbados Programme of Action and the budget during the afternoon. In a parallel session, delegates conducted dialogues with youth and the scientific and technical communities. PLENARY PRESENTATIONS: Bo Kjellén, Chair of the INC on Desertification, called for political support to resolve the CCD’s outstanding issues and stressed the importance of water issues. Calestous Juma, Executive Secretary of the CBD, said the preparation of national reports is an important instrument for compliance and stressed setting targets and using indicators. Michael Zammit- Cutayar, Executive Secretary of the FCCC, recommended: integrated scientific assessment; actions for multiple benefits across conventions; information to mobilize public and political support; and a legal framework linking different sets of convention commitments. The Expert Meeting on Synergies Among the Conventions on Climate Change, Biological Diversity, Desertification and the Forest Principles recommended: harmonized data; a national handbook on implementation; inter- COP secretariat cooperation; and streamlined reporting. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific stressed regional capacity-building in cooperation with UNDP. He called for CSD attention to regional activities. The Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean has been involved in activities related to water resource management, energy, mining, urban management, trade and environment, SIDS and transboundary movement of wastes. The Economic Commission on Europe noted the need of economies in transition for assistance and suggested that regional commissions conduct regional assessments of national reports. The Economic Commission for Africa called for an international financial mechanism on cross- sectoral issues. The Inter-American Development Bank described its work to support sustainable development, notably on poverty, equity and the environment. The Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development recommended support for national and local level activities, transparent and sufficient financial mechanisms and the transfer of clean technology. The Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting on Implementation of Special Measures for LDCs in Agenda 21 recommended that: developed countries fulfill their financial commitments under Agenda 21; the WTO Plan of Action in favor of least developed countries be expeditiously implemented; and technology transfer consider local needs. The Earth Council reported on recommendations from the Rio+5 Forum, stressing that the CSD act as a multi-stakeholder forum. He also called for regional participation in world trade and investment regimes. The Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety recommended that development projects involving chemicals management include provisions for capacity-building. The Expert Workshop on Fostering the Linkage Between Energy and Sustainable Development Within International Institutions urged the CSD to address sustainable energy issues during one session. Japan introduced the Tokyo Declaration prepared at the Global Partnership Summit on the Environment. The Declaration recommends life-long environmental education and indicators to measure sustainable production and consumption. The Republic of Korea, 1997 World Enviornmental Day host, described preparations of the Seoul Declaration on Environmental Ethics to enhance understanding of sustainable development. The Russian Federation reported plans for a Moscow seminar in May 1997 entitled "Chernobyl and Beyond: Humanitarian Assistance to Victims of Technological Disasters." Sweden reported on preparations of an Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea region. Sweden is providing a secretariat and coordination for the programme to be adopted in the first half of 1998. Turkey noted activities of the Black Sea Environmental Programme. NATIONAL REPORTING: Joke Waller-Hunter (DPCSD) introduced the documentation regarding national reporting and its streamlining (EN/CN.17/1997/5 and 6, background papers 7-9). One-hundred twenty-five countries have reported on some aspect of national activities. CANADA proposed using national plans containing targets and milestones and, with the EU, supported peer reviews on the basis of such information. The US supported regional peer reviews. The US said streamlining provides the added value of examining consistency among multilateral agencies. OECD stressed the need for donors to coordinate their requirements. PAPUA NEW GUINEA noted that funds used to compile reports could be better used for capacity-building and implementation. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO stressed small countries’ need for assistance in report prepartion. The PHILIPPINES recommended reporting on constraints in implementation. MODALITIES OF THE 1999 REVIEW OF THE BARBADOS PROGRAMME OF ACTION: Joke Waller-Hunter (DPCSD) introduced the document regarding the implementation of the Programme of Action for SIDS (E/CN.17/1997/14). AOSIS, supported by BARBADOS, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, JAMAICA, the BAHAMAS, MALTA and GUYANA, called for greater urgency in implementing the Barbados Programme of Action (BPA) and deplored the downgrading of the BPA’s status by the decision that the CSD review it rather than the General Assembly. She proposed that a full review of the BPA be undertaken at a special session of the UNGA in 1999. The EU said the recommendations must be considered within the context of the programme of work. To implement the BPA, CUBA called for a transfer of new resources and technology, MALTA for more political impetus, and GUYANA for special attention to financing and capacity-building. BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR 1998-1999: Joke Waller-Hunter (DPCSD) introduced the proposed programme of work of the Division for Sustainable Development for 1998-1999 (E/CN.17/1997/CRP.1). The EU and US reserved their positions pending development of budget figures. AUSTRALIA asked if the additional activities would require new resources and staff. Chair Tolba said the purpose of the draft was to present the UN Secretary-General with proposals and let him decide which to undertake. DIALOGUE WITH MAJOR GROUPS YOUTH: Danijela Zunec, Rescue Mission Croatia, and Peter Wilson, Global Kids-Jamaica/USA, introduced speakers from youth-based NGOs in Japan, India, Latvia, the US, Nigeria, Canada, Argentina, the Netherlands, the UK, Zimbabwe and Senegal. They evaluated youth activities since UNCED, including: local environmental initiatives; youth NGO networks; educational seminars; local fund-raising drives; scientific research projects; and a children’s translation of Agenda 21. They highlighted priority issues, including: education, participation in decision-making, gender balance, homelessness, human rights, recycling and sustainable production and consumption. Three speakers identified priorities and challenges for the future. Bijaya K. Pokharel, Students Partnership WorldWide (Nepal), called for financial mechanisms to allow youth’s ideas to be realized. He called on governments to provide access to micro-credit for youth and to invest in training and capacity- building. Adela M. Rodriguez, International Federation of Settlement Houses and Neighborhood Centers (US), emphasized the importance of education and called on governments to fund non- formal education and invest in social services to increase people’s capacity to contribute to a sustainable future. Anuragini Nagar, Rescue Mission India, discussed participation and noted that youth lack access to decision makers and recommended that governments include youth representatives on their delegations. UGANDA noted the need for employment, education and political empowerment for youth and also called for action on AIDS and drugs. WEDO recommended that youth realize and focus on their power to influence through voting. The NETHERLANDS emphasized youth’s ability to change policies at local and national levels. The PHILIPPINES underlined malnutrition as a problem that inhibits youth from realizing their full potential. BELGIUM, the US and a number of youth representatives highlighted the work of Rescue Mission on sustainable development indicators. CANADA asked what youth would like to result from UNGASS. Many responded that they seek access to information, increased support for awareness, skill-sharing and empowerment, and support for new and innovative ways of actively involving youth and NGOs in the sustainable development debate. TANZANIA said youth must communicate with their missions and said their job is to challenge governments. Discussants also focused on peer education, poverty, poor working conditions for youth and marginalization, particularly of indigenous youth. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES: Julia Marton-Lefevre, International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), provided an overview of NGO mechanisms for international cooperation in science and technology. Sophie Boyer King described ICSU partner programmes, including the World Climate Research Programme, the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme and Diversitas Rationale, a research programme on biodiversity, which illustrate a successful coordination of NGOs, IGOs and governmental organizations to produce information for sustainable development. Mohammed Hassan, Third World Academy of Sciences, said sustainable development depends on scientific knowledge and domestic capacity, local solutions and local experts, and full and effective participation of scientific communities from both North and South. He noted the enormous gap between North and South in the ability to produce and access scientific information. Veena Ravichandran, ICSU, noted that bio-resources provide a great opportunity for developing countries to increase their wealth. James Poirot, World Federation of Engineering Organizations, discussed the responsibility of engineers in sustainable development, such as information sharing, education and technological assessment. He highlighted changes to the canon of ethics for the American Society of Civil Engineers that incorporate principles of sustainable development. Roland Fuchs, Global Change System Analysis Research and Training, described programmes on capacity-building strategies, scientific support for policy formulation, and engaging the policy community. Anne White, Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change (GEC), described efforts to examine the socio-economic, industrial and cultural forces driving GEC. Core programmes examine: industrial transformations; institutional dimensions; and GEC and human security and perceptions. George Rabb, IUCN, described humanity's supreme ignorance of biodiversity in terms of quantities of species and their values. He commented on the limitations of protected areas and instruments such as CITES, and the appropriateness of biosphere reserves, sustainable use in regional contexts, and investing in local peoples’ capacities. Panelists proposed that UNGASS engage in a "real" dialogue session. They also called for support for international research and national-level scientific education. Discussants also addressed: research and development priorities; assessment of scientific research efforts; the public image of science; efforts to address desertification; duplication of work; and indigenous capacity-building. IN THE CORRIDORS NGOs are reportedly rallying in reaction to amendments circulated by the OPEC States to the Co-Chairs’ text on energy, transport and atmosphere. One NGO representative said the proposed amendments delete language stressing the importance of adopting a protocol or another legal instrument at FCCC COP-3 and add references to the inability to meet current commitments on lowering emissions and the adverse impacts on economic development. It also modifies language on increased investment in renewable energy research and the damaging impacts of fossil energy use by transportation systems. THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY DRAFTING GROUP: Delegates are expected to meet all day to begin negotiating the final text, using the Intersessional Working Group’s Co-Chairs’ draft as a basis, in Conference Room 2. In the morning they are expected to address the section on "Integration of Economic, Social and Environmental Objectives" and in the afternoon they are expected to examine the section on "Sectors and Issues." DIALOGUE WITH MAJOR GROUPS: Dialogues with women and trade unions will take place during the morning and afternoon, respectively, in Conference Room 1. This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin is written and edited by Chad Carpenter, LL.M. , Peter Doran , Kira Schmidt and Lynn Wagner . The Editor is Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. and the Managing Editor is Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI . French translation by Mongi Gadhoum . The sustaining donors of the Bulletin are the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the Netherlands Ministry for Development Cooperation. General support for the Bulletin during 1997 is provided by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) of the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Ministry of Environment of Sweden and the Swiss Federal Office of the Environment. Specific funding for coverage of this meeting has been provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. 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