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INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: Delegates continued to debate references to: the UNEP Governing Council decision of 4 April 1997; UNEP’s role; UNCTAD’s role; IDA replenishment; GEF designation as a permanent funding mechanism; CSD’s role in regard to ECOSOC; reviews by and among countries within regions; arrangements for interaction with major groups; and integration of the committees on renewable energy sources and natural resources into the work of the CSD. Informal-informal consultations took place during the evening.

PROGRAMME OF WORK: Sectoral themes discussed for CSD consideration were: freshwater; oceans and seas; land resources/management; and atmosphere/energy. Cross-sectoral themes considered were: poverty eradication and consumption and production patterns as overriding themes; transfer of technology/capacity- building/education/science/awareness-raising; trade and investment/globalization; finance/trade/economic growth; and information for decision-making. Economic sectors considered were: industry; tourism; fisheries; agriculture; forestry; and transport. Consultations are expected to conclude Thursday.

FORESTS: In the introductory paragraph, delegates added references to forests as carbon sinks and reservoirs and a significant source of renewable energy, especially for LDCs. The group made limited progress on further clarification of issues arising from the IPF, agreeing to highlight “international cooperation in financial assistance and technology transfer and trade and environment relating to forest products” from the IPF report. Several developing countries preferred adding traditional forest-related knowledge but some developed countries objected to specifying issues other than those remaining unresolved from IPF. A footnote on terms of reference for an intergovernmental process and options for institutional follow-up remains pending.