Sounds
and images from Monday 10 September (day 2)
|
| Working
Group I |
 |
Mohammed
Vali Moosa (South Africa) convened Working Group I for a discussion
based on two of the themes in Chair Anderson's "building
blocks" document, namely improving coherence in policy
making - the role and structure of the GMEF, and strengthening
the role, authority, and financial situation of UNEP. He explained
that the intention of the working group was to inform the
preparation of specific proposals to be tabled at IGM-4, in
Montreal, in December 2001, and that the Executive Director
of UNEP and the IGM Chair would prepare these proposals. |
|
|
India,
on behalf of the G-77/China, called for an evolutionary process
without eroding structures such as the Commission on Sustainable
Development (CSD). He clarification of: the role(s) of the
UNEP Governing Council and the GMEF; the implications of universal
membership of the GMEF; and the GMEF's legal relationship
with COPs.
 G-77/China
Opening statement:
Part one Part
two |
 |
|
|
 |
On
the question of UNEP's transformation into a specialized agency,
Canada argued that the proposed status change could break
the logjams facing UNEP. |
|
|
| Colombia
(represented here by Germán Garcia-Durán) called for
clarification of the legal status of the GMEF and for more
work on the interpretation of its UNGA mandate in Resolution
53/242. |
 |
|
|
| Working
Group II |
 |
Working Group II considered two "building blocks"
in Chair Anderson's document, which deal with improved coordination
and coherence between MEAs, and the role of the EMG in enhancing
coordination across the United Nations system. Working Group
Chair Philippe Roch (Switzerland) outlined the proposals contained
in the paper and invited delegates' comments. |
|
|
CITES
said that: coordination and coherence must go beyond working
with MEAs; the emergence of issues is unpredictable, thus
posing difficulties for pre-defining work on coordination;
there is potential for coordination of capacity building;
and that competition over resources among agencies is a reality.
He drew attention to the need for national-level coordination
and requested that UNEP organize a meeting of the heads of
Conventions and establish a clearinghouse for information
on meetings.
Listen
to presentation made by Willem Wijnstekers, Secretary-General
of CITES |
 |
|
|
 |
Working
Group II at work, in Congress Room B. |
|
|
| Reports
of the Working Groups to Plenary |
|
|
|
Presenting
his report on deliberations at Working Group I, Chair
Moosa (photo at top of page) described the
extremely active and constructive participation of
22 delegations. In general there had been support
for Chair Anderson's "building blocks" with
additional proposals to consider sustainable development,
technology transfer, capacity building and finance.
Report
of Working Group I
|
|
|
|
|
Presenting
the Report from Working Group II, Rapporteur Richard Ballhorn
(Canada) noted that discussion had focused on improving
MEA coordination and coherence, that finance issues had
been raised in the discussion under both issues, that only
20 minutes were dedicated to discussion of the EMG's role,
and that finance issues had been raised in the discussion
on both issues.
Report
of Working Group II
|
 |
|
|
Responding
to the summary, the G-77/China: emphasized the need
to recognize the role of the CSD as the high-level
policy body of the UN on sustainable development,
in accordance with GA resolution 53/242 and that the
GMEF input to the MEAs must be advisory. This advice
could address inter-linkages or crosscutting issues,
but should not be policy advice.
Part
one Part
two
|
|
|
|
 |
Belgium,
on behalf of the EU, highlighted its priorities: a pilot project
on MEA clustering; a report from UNEP on functional clustering;
acknowledgement that regional clustering is already happening;
and the need for high-level executive representation in the
EMG.
Part
one Part
two |
|
|
Explaining
the next steps in the IEG deliberations, Chair Anderson
said the UNEP Executive Director will incorporate
participants' views in a revision of his Report
on IEG and a summary of the main points will be
distributed. Chair Anderson will present a refined
proposal to IGM-4 in Montreal, Canada, on 1 December,
to launch the final stage in the IGM process. During
the intersessional period, he will undertake informal
consultations with regional groups and others. Written
submissions to the process will also be circulated.
The United States, supported by Egypt, asked Chair
Anderson to circulate his refined proposal ahead
of IGM-4
Anderson
describes the next steps
|
|
|
|
 |
David
Anderson, Canadian Minister of the Environment and Chair
of IGM-3; Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of UNEP;
Mohammed Vali Moussa, South African Minister of the Environment
and Cherif Rahmani, Algerian Minister of the Environment;
waiting in front of the Palais des Nations for the arrival
of Ali Benflis, Prime Minister of Algeria.
|
| Töpfer
greets Prime Minister Benflis |
 |
|
|
| Closing
Plenary |
|
|
|
 |
UNEP
Executive Director Klaus Töpfer said while he had expected
the meeting to be difficult, the President Anderson's "building
blocks" had enabled the conclusion of a good meeting.
He noted that delegates got down to business but that Cartagena
would be the end of the IGM/IEG process. He also said he had
learned that the information provided on the weaknesses of
the IEG had not been sufficient, there was need for more clarification
on the GMEF and EMG, and to emphasize environmental governance
at the national level.
|
|
|
President
Anderson said that the meeting had been productive
and had advanced the IGM/IEG work, and acknowledged
the importance of the spirit of ownership by delegates
of this process and expressed hope that it would continue.
He stated that regional groups had come with open
and constructive minds and had offered good perspectives,
noting especially the level of engagement and participation
from Africa. He reminded delegates that the IED's
success is vital for the broader preparatory process
of Johannesburg. He expressed confidence about the
possibility to conclude the IGM's work by the next
session of the Governing Council.
Anderson's
closing statement
|
|
|
|
|
Algerian
Prime Minister Ali Benflis noted shortcomings in environmental
governance and said he was confident that constructive debate
had improved the quality of discussion. He stated that environmental
protection requires additional financing, drew attention
to the need to improve UNEP's financial base and expressed
hope that the conclusions reached on institutional issues
would result in revitalizing action on the global environment.
Prime
Minister Benflis' closing statement
|
 |
|
|
|
| Media
attention |
|
 |
 |
|
Above:
Töpfer being interviewed by Algerian radio (left)
and television (right).
Below, from left to right: Rahmani, Anderson,
Töpfer and Moosa during the closing press conference.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| Palais
des Nations Conference Center |
|
 |
 |
|
Above
and below: scenes from inside the Palais des Nations.
Top left: Jorge Illueca, UNEP Assistant Executive
Director chats with Willem Wijnstekers, Secretary-General
of CITES.
|
|
 |
 |
