Daily report for 3 March 1997

Delegates to the CSD Intersessional Working Group met during the morning to receivethe Co-Chairs’ draft “Proposed Outcome of the Special Session.” Following a briefintroduction of the text, the Working Group adjourned to allow regional and interestgroups to consider the text.

INTRODUCTION OF THE DRAFT

The Co-Chairs introduced the “Proposed Outcome of the Special Session,” an eighteenpage, seventy-six paragraph text. Co-Chair Amorim said the text corresponds withdelegates’ comments during the first week as well as with the mandate of the Group, butit is not yet a negotiating text. The draft consists of four parts: statement of commitment;assessment of progress reached after Rio; strategies for implementation; and internationalinstitutional arrangements.

Co-Chair Osborn said the text contains some young plants that will need nurturing if theyare to grow. He appealed to all to “tread softly or you tread on our dreams,” and called ondelegates to avoid “stirring the sludge” by repeating their positions. The Co-Chairs wereuncertain what the outcome of the meeting would be, but hoped that fruitful ideas wouldarise in the ensuing days.

PROPOSED OUTCOME OF THE SPECIAL SESSION

I. STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT: The draft notes that this section could bea Preamble or a Declaration. The six suggested components note that: the Rio EarthSummit launched a new global partnership; the UNCED documents provide thefoundation for action on sustainable development; an integrated and balanced approach isnecessary; recent UN conferences have advanced international commitment to the socialand economic aspects of sustainable development; more needs to be done, including interms of international cooperation; and there is an urgent need to focus on theimplementation of what has already been agreed and to explore new avenues andapproaches.

II. ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS REACHED AFTER RIO: The text notesthat many developing countries have experienced declining per capita GDP and heavydependence on ODA. Economic conditions and poverty have worsened and incomeinequality has grown, although progress has been made in reducing population growthrates and providing social services. Progress has also been made in institutionaldevelopment, international consensus-building and public participation, but the globalenvironment has continued to deteriorate. The text notes: governmental efforts tointegrate environment and development concerns into decision-making; increasinginvolvement and action by major groups; entry into force, though with limitedimplementation, of several international environmental agreements; and the catalytic roleof the CSD. However, commitments to increase ODA to 0.7% of GNP and to transfertechnology have not been realized.

III. STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

A. Policy Approaches: The draft highlights the need to integrate: energy andtransport; agriculture and water use; and marine resources, food supplies, the livelihoodof fishing communities and the environment. Recommendations call for: national andlocal strategies by 2005; policy instruments including economic, regulatory and voluntarypartnerships; and a participatory process.

Recommendations regarding changing consumption and production patterns are directedtoward industrialized countries and wealthier areas of developing countries. They include:internalization of environmental costs and benefits; evaluation of proposed policies indeveloped countries for environmental and social impacts; assessment of links betweenurbanization, the environment and development effects; international and national energyand material efficiency targets; and assessment of the role of advertising and media inconsumption.

On the issue of trade, environment and sustainable development, the draft identifies theneed to enable all countries to benefit from globalization to accelerate economic growthand poverty eradication. It also calls for capacity-building involving the UN system, theWTO and the Bretton Woods institutions and for policies to reconcile trade liberalizationwith sustainable development. The draft calls for action to: implement the UruguayRound and the WTO Plan of Action for the Least Developed Countries; promote an open,non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system; ensure that environmentalmeasures do not restrict trade; establish mutual recognition of eco-labelling systems; anduse the General System of Preferences to promote sustainable production.

B. Areas Requiring Urgent Action: On poverty, the draft identifies priorityactions, including: improving access to sustainable employment and productiveresources; providing universal access to basic social services; and developing socialprotection systems.

On freshwater, there is a need for, inter alia: integrated land and watermanagement policies; investments to improve water supply and sanitation services; andan intergovernmental process under the CSD. The paragraph on oceans states the needfor: an integrated approach to implementing and monitoring existing legal instruments;governments to consider establishing measurable objectives to eliminate or reduce excessfishing fleet capacity; and action to improve scientific data and enhance public awareness.The paragraph on forests is left pending the CSD’s consideration of the IPF report.

The paragraph on energy and transport calls for: comprehensive energy policies;provision of electricity to unserved populations; increased use of modern renewableenergy sources and cleaner fossil fuel technologies; energy pricing that reflects fulleconomic and environment costs and social benefits; increased investment and R&D inrenewable energy technologies; improved coordination of energy-related activities withinthe UN; and integrated transport policies. The paragraph on atmosphere calls for progressin securing commitments on quantified objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissionsbeyond 2000 and for additional resources to implement projects in developing countriesto phase-out ozone-depleting substances.

On population, the draft states that the slowdown in growth rates must be continuedthrough poverty reduction and expansion of basic education and health care. Oneducation, the text notes that effective, adequately financed educational systems arefundamental for sustainable development and calls for prioritization of women’seducation. On health, the draft calls for: eradication of the major infectious diseases;improvement and expansion of basic sanitation services; and provision of safe drinkingwater.

The paragraph on toxic chemicals and wastes calls for the expeditious conclusion ofconventions on PIC and POPs. The paragraph on land and sustainable agriculture calls forefforts to improve food security and for a global mechanism to finance implementation ofthe CCD. The paragraph on sustainable human settlements emphasizes the need toaccelerate improvements in urban infrastructure and social services. The paragraph onsustainable tourism recommends that the CSD consider adopting an InternationalProgramme of Work.

On biodiversity, the draft calls for: full implementation of the CBD; more attention tobenefit-sharing, biotechnology transfer and traditional knowledge; and rapid conclusionof the biosafety protocol. The paragraph on SIDS calls for external assistance forcapacity-building and transfer of ESTs to attain the goals of the Barbados Plan of Action.

C. Means of Implementation: On financial resources and mechanisms, the draftstates that financial commitments in Agenda 21 need to be implemented. It calls ondeveloped countries to reiterate their ODA commitments and reverse the downward trendin ODA, and notes the role ODA could play in leveraging investments. Adequatereplenishment of GEF resources is a high priority. Actions are proposed to: examineforeign private flows to developing countries; address debt problems of highly indebtedcountries; promote domestic resource mobilization, including macroeconomic andstructural reforms; reform subsidy policies, especially in the energy and agriculturesectors; and increase investment in developing countries though innovative schemes.

On the transfer of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs), the draft notes developingcountries’ need for access to available ESTs on concessional and preferential terms.Equal importance should be placed on the transfer of capital goods and services and thedevelopment of skills to use and maintain new technologies. Further examination of thelinks between foreign direct investment, ODA and technology transfer and ofgovernment-owned technologies is proposed. The draft also notes the need to develop anational legal and policy framework that will stimulate joint ventures and public-privatepartnerships.

The text notes the need for international support for national capacity-building efforts indeveloping countries, and calls for attention to the role of women and South-Southcooperation in capacity-building. Greater efforts to build and strengthen scientificcapacity in developing countries is noted as the highest priority. Finally, the draft notesthe need for further development of cost-effective tools to collect and disseminateinformation for decision-makers at all levels.

IV. INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: The draftidentifies an urgent need for: policy coordination at the intergovernmental level;strengthening of the ACC Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development; andsupport for regional organizations.

The UN is invited to give more emphasis to country and community activity, enhanceUNEP’s role in conformity with the Nairobi Declaration, strengthen the role of UNDP,particularly at the national and local levels, and continue to use UNCTAD linkagesstudies. The WTO Committee on Trade and Environment, UNCTAD and UNEP areinvited to advance their coordinated work, and the CSD’s role is described as wideningthe trade and environment debate. The draft calls on international financial institutions tostrengthen their commitment to sustainable development, with a significant role for theWorld Bank. It calls on governments to agree to IDA-12 replenishment at least at thelevel of IDA-10. The GEF’s role is underlined.

The role of the CSD in reviewing implementation, building consensus and catalyzingaction is reaffirmed. The draft calls for a focus on issues of major significance and invitesECOSOC to decide on an appropriate 1998-2002 Programme of Work.

The draft recommends that, under ECOSOC guidance, the CSD: attract Ministers witheconomic responsibilities to participate; consider more effective review modalities;improve its regional focus; establish closer ties with international financial institutions,the GEF and the WTO; explore effective ways to involve major groups; organize theMulti-Year Programme of Work; use Ad hoc Intersessional Working Groups toconsider issues; draw on the expertise of the UN’s committees on renewable energysources and natural resources; and promote more interaction with the High-levelAdvisory Board. ECOSOC is invited to examine the possibility of changing the pattern ofelection of the CSD Bureau.

IN THE CORRIDORS

Many did not realize that Co-Chair Osborn’s comments regarding “DREAMS” and“SLUDGE” were actually acronyms. The Co-Chair clarified that SLUDGE represents“Slightly Less Unsustainable Development Genuflecting to the Environment.” DREAMSstands for “Development Reconciling Environment And Material Success.” As delegatesreflected on both Co-Chairs’ poetic excursions and their draft “Proposed Outcome,”NGOs sought to remind them that they have eighteen negotiating days left (four in thissession and fourteen during CSD-5), following which heads of State and government willarrive in June to consider their decisions at UNGASS.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

WORKING GROUP: The Working Group is expected to meet during themorning and afternoon in Conference Room 4 to consider the draft “Proposed Outcome.”Delegates are expected to consider the section on strategies for implementation first.