You are viewing our old site. See the new one here

ENB:05:14 [Next] . [Previous] . [Contents]

ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGIES (ESTS):

Many participants asked how ESTs can be defined. There was division among the participants on whether or not the Working Group could proceed without a definition. Some believed the quest for a workable definition to be beyond the mandate of the Working Group. Others noted that the workshop in Oslo had defined ESTs not in an absolute sense, but in a relative sense by defining what it is not. This led to an emerging consensus that definitions of ESTs will vary from sector to sector. The discussion focused on how to gain and extend access to information on ESTs as well as the methods used to gather and disseminate that information. There was discussion of developing new databases, networking existing sources, the barriers to developing country access and the preferred nature of the information systems. A number of participants stressed that information on ESTs should be as interactive as possible, for example, using the Internet rather than the distribution of CD ROMs. Chile called for the World Bank and regional development banks to be included in information systems on ESTs so that they would apply the same standards and integrate ESTs into all their projects. India and China raised the issue of the imposition of technologies owned and managed by donors as part of bilateral aid packages. Malaysia brought the Working Group's attention to the ongoing work of the Commonwealth Committee on Technology Management. Canada proposed that existing information systems be studied, allowing gaps in information to be identified and strategies developed to fill those gaps. This inventory could be complemented by an examination of which transfers are successful and why. In order for such a study to be objective it should be carried out by an independent body. Canada offered to help in designing the study. A small informal group was convened to begin discussing the terms of reference for such a study which could then be presented to the CSD. Finland called for the establishment of a databank of experts, rather than a databank of information systems. The OECD noted that among its members there is a 5% annual growth in environmental industries. NGOs took the floor twice during this debate. The International Chamber of Commerce listed its ongoing work and initiatives in the field of technology transfer. It stressed that bottom-up approaches worked best and highlighted voluntary peer group initiatives such as the Business Charter on Sustainable Development. The International Synergy Institute stressed that optimal use should be made of existing information resources and called for all documents relating to this and other similar meetings to be uploaded onto the electronic networks. [Return to start of article]