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Third
Session of the Preparatory committee for the World Summit on Sustainable
development :
25 MARCH
– 5 APRIL 2002
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The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), acting as the Preparatory
Committee (PrepCom) for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD),
began its third session (PrepCom III) at UN headquarters in New York on
March 25, 2002.
The session, which ran from 25 March – 5 April 2002, was expected
to be primarily devoted to further consideration, elaboration and negotiations
on elements for decisions contained in the Chairman’s Paper, which
was submitted to delegates during the CSD’s second preparatory session.
1. OBJECTIVES OF THE PREPCOM
PrepCom Chair Emil Salim (Indonesia) announced that PrepCom III will negotiate
elements for decisions contained in the Chairman’s Paper (A/CONF.199/PC/L.1)
and in a discussion paper – Sustainable Development Governance at
the International, Regional and National Levels – prepared by Bureau
Vice-Chairs Ositadinma Aneadu (Nigeria) and Lars-Göran Engfeldt (Sweden).
Chair Salim stressed that PrepCom III should not produce drafting suggestions,
but concrete actions for achieving specific goals of the sustainable development
agenda. He invited international agencies and financial and development
institutions to participate in the three Working Groups and provide technical
expertise to delegations.
Having recently attended the International Conference on Financing for
Development (FfD) in Monterrey, Mexico, WSSD Secretary-General Nitin Desai
briefed delegates on its outcomes and implications for the WSSD. Noting
the success of Monterrey, Desai described the challenges for Johannesburg,
stressing the need to agree on concrete actions. He reiterated that partnerships
(Outputs type II) should not diverge from clear, firm, goal-oriented government
agreements (Outcomes type I), and noted that effective partnerships depend
on policy frameworks that support them. He explained that partnerships
should leverage resources and change the quality of implementation, underscored
the need to consider regional and subregional processes in implementing
Agenda 21, and referred to the importance of sustainable development governance.
Desai also noted that recent processes have reflected an interest of both
the North and South in finding common ground and expressed hope that the
WSSD process will define a framework for new multilateralism in the sustainable
development agenda.
Jan Pronk, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to the WSSD, reported
findings from intersessional visits to country capitals, noting their:
objection to new goals; call for implementation of Agenda 21, Millennium
Declaration goals and past financing commitments; and support for Type
II outcomes – partnerships.
Three main documents are expected for the WSSD:
· Political Declaration
· Action Plan for the Implementation
of Agenda 21
· Partnership Initiatives
The political Declaration for the WSSD will be prepared before and during
the Bali PrepCom IV on May 27- June 7.
The Chairman Paper should evolve to an Action Plan for the implementation
of Agenda 21 with governmental commitments (Type I outcomes). It is the
purpose of the activities of Working Groups I, II, and III.
Working Group I, co-chaired by Kiyotaka Akasaka (Japan) and Maria Viotti
(Brazil), started its work on sections I-IV of the Chairman’s Paper
(A/CONF.199/PC/L.1): introduction; poverty eradication; changing unsustainable
patterns of consumption and production; and protecting and managing the
natural resource base for economic and social development.
Working Group II commenced consideration of sections V-IX of the Chairman’s
Paper (A/CONF.199/PC/L.1): sustainable development in a globalizing world;
health and sustainable development; sustainable development of small island
developing States; sustainable development initiatives for Africa; and
means of implementation.
Working Group III, co-chaired by Ositadinma Anaedu (Nigeria) and Lars-Göran
Engfeldt (Sweden) commenced consideration of sustainable development governance.
2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO WEEKS DISCUSIONS
Delegates started their work with a 20 pages document, the Chairman’s
paper and after two weeks of intensive activities the documents reached
150 pages. The Chairman’s paper was imperfect, non focused and unclear.
The delegates added amendments and amendments. No negotiation was possible
between the delegations about the texts and proposals. The final document
is absolutely not an action programme but a succession of divergent positions.
The positions of each countries or group of countries can be summarized
as follows with obviously some simplification and mistakes because I couldn’t
follow all issues as I have no specific competences in many of them:
· No target and no time frame: US,
Japan, Australia and Canada
· No more fund than those planned
in the consensus of Monterrey: US, EU, Japan, Norway
· No discriminatory environmental
regulations: US, G77/China (not for the same reasons)
· Extensive development of private
section (all OCDE countries)
· Supremacy of WTO: US and others
· Eradication of poverty by encouraging
good governance and free market (US, Japan, Canada)
· Moderate positions in general (UE,
Switzerland and Norway)
Number of delegates by country: Canada: 30; France: 11; Italy: 21; Japan:
35; Saudi Arabia: 35; UK: 37; US: 92; Venezuela: 9; China: 12. The unbalanced
number of delegates gives a subjective idea of influential countries …
.
Approximately 10 side events were organized every day with a participation
of 40 to 50 persons in general, in which official delegates generally
participated.
Africa was under-represented and particularly French speaking countries
(i.e. West Africa). Ghome Hilaire, President of Green Cross Côte
d’Ivoire was in Nairobi for the Regional Preparatory conference last
year and participated to the African NGOs conference in Alger two weeks
ago (report available soon).
3. THE IMPOSSIBLE CHALLENGE
The delegates had to face an impossible challenge, to prepare an action
programme to implement Agenda 21. The Agenda 21, “A blueprint for
Action for Global sustainable Development into the 21st Century”
adopted in 1992, is a comprehensive document of 300 pages, which has needed
at least two years for its elaboration and adoption. In 1992, the cost
of the Agenda 21 had not be exactly calculated but at that time Mr. Strong
and his team estimated that the existing ODA (Overseas Development Assistance)
of $60 billions should double and reach $120 billions.
Today the ODA is less $55 billions per year.
The assessment of Agenda 21 implementation is not realized. Major International
Institutions such as UNEP, UNDP, UNESCO, FAO, the World Bank and many
others are preparing the assessment but it will be only finished in August
for the Johannesburg Summit, that means to late to use it as base document
for the negotiation and to imagine new measures. The objective tools for
analysis and negotiation are not ready.
Lot of delegates even did not have time to read the Agenda 21, containing
the dozen of international agreements signed since 1992. Each MEAs need
its specialists, maybe only US delegation with its 92 delegates was able
to answer to the different issues.
Bellow is the list of the themes that were discussed during the Prepcom:
Biodiversity, Poverty Eradication, Livelihoods, Rural and Agricultural
Development, Settlements and Housing, Health, Disasters and Conflicts,
Industrial Development, Energy, Transport, Waste, Chemicals, Water, Oceans,
Atmosphere, Agriculture, Desertification, Climate Change, Mountains, Tourism,
Forests, Minerals and Mining, Science and Education, Technology Transfer,
Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, Public Consumer
Awareness, Cleaner Production, Corporate Responsibility, Capacity Building,
Information for Decision Making.
Some essential issues were not tackle such as war and sustainable development
and more generally international security and sustainable development.
And also the Ethics and principles that should lead or be issued as a
base for sustainable development were absolutely not tackled.
The Prepcom boat was a vessel without compass or helm and helmer.
4. DECISIONS
4.1. Main Outcomes of the Prepcom III
A non-paper by South Africa circulated on Wednesday. This paper proposes
an approach to action-oriented and time-bound outcomes for the WSSD, with
four elements: clear negotiated texts establishing a process and framework
leading to implementation plans (proposed targets and timeframes, proposed
actions, resources, institutional mechanisms, co-ordination, monitoring,
stakeholder involvement, implementation plan sustainability); a focused
set of priority themes on poverty-related targets (water and sanitation,
energy, agriculture and food security, technology, education, health);
linkages between Type I and Type II outcomes on partnerships and the implementation
process; and an illustrative framework for implementation of the priority
themes. This paper was well received by some countries and mainly NGOs.
The same day, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and 8 other international
NGOs wrote to all Ministers for the Environment in the world to tell them
their deep concern on the state of the WSSD negotiations. In their letter
they ask for a totally new structure of the commitments that should be
structured in order to ensure action on the ground, follow-through and
accountability (Targets and timeframes; Means of Implementation and Financial
resources; Institutional requirements; Monitoring and Reporting).
Finally, on the last day of the Prepcom the Chairman with the support
of all delegations suggested that a new text, short and action oriented
based on the outcomes of this Prepcom be prepared by the Chairman for
negotiation in Bali. Three days for informal discussions are planned in
Bali before the Prepcom (May 27 to June 7).
Also, the delegates agreed on their disagreement.
Finally, the Political Declaration will be finalized and endorsed by the
Ministerial Conference, which will take place on the second week of Prepcom
IV in Bali.
4.2. Water issues
In annex 2 are collected the main elements of the Chapter IV related to
Water Issues. References are made on the themes raised by Green Cross:
Confirming the UN Millennium Declaration, Linkage between drinking water
and sanitation (Japan, US, EU opposed to any target related to sanitation),
Water is a public good (EU), Implementing principles polluter-payer (Switzerland),
Water pricing models which lead to better water use through progressive
water tariffs (Switzerland), Participation, river basin integrated management
Japan, G77), International mechanism on water should ensure a better integration
of water challenges (supported by Switzerland, Norway, Hungary but opposed
by Turkey, US, EU, G 77/China), Encouraging regional and international
cooperation (Norway, EU, Japan), Promoting public-private partnerships
by providing stable and transparent regulatory frameworks, Involving all
concerned stakeholders (EU).
Uzbekistan supports the negotiation of an international convention on
the Aral Sea Basin.
Some important issues are not taken into account, such as Water is a Human
right, and there is nothing about financial commitment.
No word either about the ratification of the UN Convention on the Law
of Non-navigation use of International Watercourses. The Convention is
whisked off (for the moment).
4.3. Energy Issues
The discussions on Energy and Climate Change were tough. US suggested
drafting changes reflecting its position against ratifying the Kyoto Protocol
and for a text on flexible mechanisms of the Protocol and continued development
of adaptation strategies. With AUSTRALIA and CANADA, US supported the
text on the Marrakech Ministerial Declaration. The EU supported the text
“urging all countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol”. The RUSSIAN
FEDERATION objected to specific dates for Kyoto Protocol ratification.
JAPAN opposed, and NEW ZEALAND supported, numerical targets. HUNGARY
supported specific national goals for renewable energy sources, and, with
AUSTRALIA and the EU, opposed TUVALU on a proposal for an “international
legally binding agreement” on renewable energy mainstreaming.
5. GREEN CROSS PREPCOM III PARTICIPATION
Green Cross participated to two side events on Monday 1st of April, the
first one: “Deepening and broadening participation in sustainable
development” presented by the Earth Council and Green Cross International
and the second one, on Water: “Crisis or opportunities?” presented
by UNESCO and Green Cross International (Annex3).
During the first event Bertrand Charrier reported on the first Earth Dialogues
Forum, which addressed key issues to be raised at the WSSD from an ethical
perspective, saying that the Forum agreed on the need for ethical codes
to guide sustainable development and welcomed the Earth Charter as a tool
to support decision making for sustainable development at all levels.
During the second event Bertrand Charrier described the Water for Peace
framework, which focuses on six locally managed transboundary river basin
sub-projects, and underscored the need for political commitment to address
water management issues, and highlighted an NGO initiative appealing for
an international framework convention for water.
The two side events were widely presented in the Prepcom newsletter. The
Earth Dialogues Synthesis report was distributed (600 copies) and commented
all during the week.
6. ANALYSIS AND ELEMENTS FOR GREEN CROSS ACTIONS
6.1. Analysis of the current situation
As often, there are two ways to analyze the current process of the WSSD
preparation. The first one is to amid that the process reaches a situation
of deadlock. Five months before the World Summit, countries are far from
any political declaration and action plan. The second way is to say that
in five months lot of progresses can be achieved.
Pessimism or optimism?
The world leaders do not take the real dimension of the existing and potential
environmental, social and economic turmoil all around the world. The present
paradigm shift imposed by US administration after September 11, prevents
any long-term commitments, targets and timeframes. The world is managed
at the shortest term than never before in a context of non-global war.
The sustainable development cannot be implemented or imagined in global
insecurity and in uncontrolled globalization. Peace is a priority and
new global code of ethics also.
Few political leaders are aware that the current development paradigm
is carrying the world in the Wall. The global ecological crisis associated
to the social and economical crisis is in front of us.
We have no right to miss the World Summit opportunity to raise the world
consciences of the emergency of the situation. The world is leading in
the wrong direction and sooner or later the nature will remember us.
Radical NGOs such as Greenpeace (Rémi Parmentier, political director,
was there – he is an old friend of mine), Friends of the Earth, Oxfam
and less radical ones such as International Institute for Environment
and Development, Globe South Africa, TearFund UK and some others are starting
to mobilize the public opinion on the dangers to miss the Johannesburg
rendez-vous.
IT IS URGENT TO MOBILISE THE THE GLOBAL MOBILISATION OF THE PUBLIC OPINION.
6.2. Preparation of the PrepCom IV of Bali
a) President Gorbachev letter to Heads of State: President Gorbachev will
sign a letter addressed to Heads of State to urge them to take the right
orientation. In his letter a reference will be made on the Prepcom III,
the results of the Earth Dialogues, the Ethics and the Earth Charter,
the need to negotiate an international framework convention for water,
the need to ratify before Jo'burg the Kyoto Protocol.
b) Elements for a political declaration
This Political Declaration is essential and will be signed by Heads of
State in Jo’burg and endorsed before by the Ministers for the Environment.
Green Cross should focus on the promotion of Ethics and the need of adoption
sooner or later of an integrated ethical framework.
We actively work with the Earth Council and propose that the political
declaration includes the following sentence:
“Acknowledges the Earth Charter as a valuable people’s contribution
to the development of a shared vision of fundamental values and the creation
of a global partnership for sustainable development.”
The declaration as a political deal should include concrete deliverables
and partnerships.
The declaration's preamble should be inspirational and provide hope, while
the operational portion should be crisp and concise, addressing challenges
faced in the past decade, specifying priorities for international action,
and providing clear instruction on what needs to be done. The declaration
should include a focus on: poverty eradication; changing unsustainable
production and consumption patterns; water; energy; governance at all
levels; and the integration of environmental, social and economic decision
making. The Heads of State must express their willingness to change the
economic power relations of the world, and give life to decisions taken
under other fora such as the WTO and the Financing for Development process.
Mechanisms to ensure follow-up from Johannesburg and accountability and
coordination of governance issues are also necessary.
The voice of Africa will be represented by Ghome Hilaire and his inputs
our analysis.
Issue coordinated by
6.3. Bali Prepcom IV
The Prepcom IV will take place in Bali, Indonesia from May 27 to June
7. Three days of informal meetings are planned to take place before May
27.
The ministerial conference will take place on June 4 to 7.
Erna Witoelar, National Director of Prepcom IV in charge of the organization
of the whole event, is very supportive to Earth Charter and will do all
her best to promote it. Green Cross representatives must be well represented
in Bali at the highest level and for the whole conference in order to
participate actively to the negotiation on the political declaration and
also on the Chairman’s paper.
Issues coordinated by
6.4. Water Issues
The need for an International Framework Convention for Water is confirmed
by all contacts we have had since the Earth Dialogues Forum. With the
International Secretariat of Water and its network members, the Water
Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, our partners, and other partners
we are ready to launch the Global Appeal worldwide. The text of the appeal
is joint in Annex 4.
The convention will be considered by States only under the pressure of
the civil society, the resistance from States is huge and understandable
but unacceptable for us. The convention is an ultimate goal and will take
some years before being negotiated. In each country, we should create
a committee of celebrities and other persons who support the campaign.
The US delegation is thinking of the creation of a Trust Fund for Water
with the participation of the public and private sectors, foundations
and civil society. The Fund could be created for Johannesburg. Japan,
Switzerland are yet interested, France has some structural difficulties,
but the Trust fund can be considered as a Compensation/Guaranty Fund.
The Trust Fund could be the first step towards the convention.
Issue coordinated by
6.5. Energy Issue
Energy is the second main sartorial pillars of WSSD and beyond. Green
Cross should participate in all efforts made by other NGOs for the ratification
of the Kyoto Protocol.
President Gorbachev has signed a letter published in the Time Magazine
and this effort should continue.
Issues coordinated by Matt Petersen: mpetersen@globalgreen.org
6.6. Earth Dialogues follow-up
The Synthesis Report of the Earth Dialogues in English received a great
success in NYC and many interlocutors had already heard about the Forum.
The Synthesis can be downloaded from the web.
The French version will be also printed and distributed in France and
in French speaking countries.
The need to hold regional Earth Dialogues forums before 2004 was confirmed
in many conversations in NYC.
Issue coordinated by
7. DOCUMENTS AND WEB CONTACTS
7.1. WBCSD
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development launched during
the PrepCom a book named: “Tomorrow’s Markets, Global Trends
and their implications for Business”.
This book prepared with the World Resources Institute and UNEP links the
global economy, environmental and social indicators to market development
in order to help businesses better respond to future challenges. This
very useful book can be downloaded form the following website: http://www.wbcsd.org
7.2. BOELL FOUNDATION
The Heinrich Boell Foundation sponsored a report “Jo’burg Memo:
Fairness in a Fragile World”. This report is also a very useful document
that provides a global vision of the question of a Sustainable world.
Some of Earth Dialogues speakers are writers of the report. It can be
download on www.joburgmemo.org
7.3. JOHANNESBURG WEB
For constant and permanent information on the WSSD, see the following
sites at:
http://www.earthsummit2002.org
http://www.johannesburgsummit.org
http://www.iisd.ca/wssd/portal/html
http://www.johannesburgsummit.org
ANNEX
1
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The WSSD will be held 10 years after the UN Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED). UNCED, also known as the Earth Summit, took place
from 3-14 June 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 100 Heads of State
and Government representatives from 178 countries, and over 17,000 participants
attended the Conference. The principal outputs of the Earth Summit were
the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, a 40-chapter
programme of action on environment and development, the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
and the Statement of Forest Principles.
Chapter 38 of Agenda 21 called for the creation of a Commission on Sustainable
Development (CSD) to: ensure effective follow-up to UNCED; enhance international
cooperation and rationalize intergovernmental decision making; and examine
progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 at all levels. In 1992, the
47th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) set out, in resolution
47/191, the terms of reference for the CSD, its composition, guidelines
for the participation of NGOs, organization of work, its relationship
with other UN bodies, and Secretariat arrangements. The CSD held its first
meeting in June 1993 and has since met annually.
UNGASS-19: At its 47th session in 1992, the UNGA also adopted resolution
47/190, which called for a Special Session of the General Assembly to
review Agenda 21 implementation five years after UNCED. The 19th Special
Session of the UN General Assembly for the Overall Review and Appraisal
of Agenda 21, which was held in New York from 23-27 June 1997, adopted
the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (A/RES/S-19/2).
It assessed progress made since UNCED, examined implementation, and established
the CSD’s work programme for the period 1998-2002.
RESOLUTION 55/199: In December 2000, the General Assembly adopted resolution
55/199, in which it decided to embark on a ten-year review of UNCED in
2002 at the summit level to reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable
development. The General Assembly accepted South Africa’s offer to
host the event. The resolution decided that the review should focus on
accomplishments and areas requiring further efforts to implement Agenda
21 and other UNCED outcomes, leading to action-oriented decisions, and
resulting in renewed political commitment to achieve sustainable development.
PREPCOM I: CSD-10, acting as the Preparatory Committee for the WSSD, held
its first session at UN headquarters from 30 April to 2 May 2001. The
session adopted decisions on: progress in WSSD preparatory activities
at the local, national, regional and international levels, as well as
by Major Groups; modalities of future PrepCom sessions; tentative organization
of work during the Summit; provisional rules of procedure; and arrangements
for accreditation and participation of Major Groups.
NATIONAL, SUBREGIONAL AND REGIONAL PREPARATORY PROCESSES: National Preparatory
Committees for the WSSD have been established to undertake country-level
reviews, raise awareness, and mobilize stakeholders. Subregional and regional
preparatory meetings for the Johannesburg Summit were held between June
2001 and January 2002. Eminent Persons’ Roundtables on the WSSD took
place in all five UN regions, and regional preparatory meetings were held
for the Europe/North America (24-25 September 2001), Africa (15-18 October
2001), Latin America and Caribbean (23-24 October 2001), West Asia (24
October 2001) and Asia-Pacific (27-29 November 2001) regions, as well
as for the small island developing States (SIDS) from 7-11 January 2002.
PREPCOM II: CSD-10, acting as the Preparatory Committee for the WSSD,
held its second session at UN headquarters from 28 January – 8 February
2002. The Committee conducted a comprehensive review and assessment of
progress achieved in the implementation of Agenda 21, including the Programme
for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, as adopted in 1997 (A/RES/S-19/2),
and agreed that the Chairman’s Paper would serve as the basis for
negotiation at PrepCom III. The PrepCom also adopted its report (E/ CN.17/2002/PC.2/L.1),
which contains the Chairman’s Summary of the Second Preparatory Session,
the Chairman’s Summary of the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue Segment,
and the Proposals for Partnerships/Initiatives to Strengthen the Implementation
of Agenda 21. During the session, preliminary informal consultations were
held on the issue of sustainable development governance, which were continued
during the intersessional period.
INTERSESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
SEVENTH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNEP GOVERNING COUNCIL/THIRD GLOBAL MINISTERIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM: The Seventh Special Session of the UNEP Governing
Council (GCSS-7) and Third Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GMEF-3)
took place in Cartagena, Colombia, from 13-15 February 2002. The Session
was preceded by the final meeting of the Intergovernmental Group of Ministers
or Their Representatives (IGM) on International Environmental Governance
(IEG), held at the same venue on 12 February 2002. The IGM failed to reach
agreement on a number of critical issues, in particular, on strategies
to ensure predictable and stable funding for UNEP and on according universal
membership to the UNEP GMEF. However, these issues were resolved during
the GCSS-7/GMEF-3, at which delegates adopted the IGM report on IEG and
agreed to transmit it to PrepCom III. Delegates also agreed to take note
of a statement by the President of the Governing Council on UNEP’s
contribution to the WSSD, and to transmit it to PrepCom III, together
with the report and policy statement prepared for the GCSS-7/GMEF-3 by
UNEP’s Executive Director.
INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOVERNANCE:
An informal one-day consultation on sustainable development governance
was conducted on 28 February 2002 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The consultation was based on an informal paper prepared by the Bureau
Vice-Chairs Lars Göran-Engfeldt (Sweden) and Ositadimna Anaedu (Nigeria).
There appeared to be general support for focusing on existing institutions
rather than creating new ones. Delegates also supported the consideration
of the role of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World
Trade Organization (WTO) in sustainable development governance, although
there were no specific proposals presented. Ideas put forward include:
focusing on the CSD; broadening the scope of international sustainable
development governance beyond the CSD; considering the role of ECOSOC;
considering a structure similar to the Collaborative Partnership on Forests
as one way of involving other organizations in sustainable development
governance and implementation; and incorporating the results of the UNEP
IEG process into sustainable development governance. Based on the discussions,
the Co-Chairs produced a paper that will be presented at PrepCom III.
UNFF-2: The second session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF-2)
took place from 4-15 March 2002 at UN headquarters in New York. Delegates
addressed progress in implementation of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Forests/Intergovernmental Forum on Forests proposals for action and the
UNFF Plan of Action. During a High-Level Segment, the Forum developed
and adopted a Ministerial Declaration and Message to the WSSD.
The Declaration, inter alia, re-affirms commitment to the Forest Principles
and Agenda 21, but notes that much remains to be done. It invites the
WSSD to: advance sustainable forest management as a means to eradicate
poverty and reduce land and resource degradation; enhance political commitment
to achieve sustainable forest management by endorsing it as a political
priority; call for immediate action on domestic forest law enforcement
and illegal international trade in forest products; call for immediate
action to promote sustainable timber harvesting; call for initiatives
to address the needs of areas suffering from poverty and high rates of
deforestation; create and strengthen partnerships and international cooperation
to facilitate the provision of increased financial resources; and strengthen
international cooperation for financing and technology transfer. The Declaration
also calls on countries and the Collaborative Partnership on Forests to
accelerate implementation of the proposals for action and intensify reporting
efforts to the UNFF in order to contribute to an assessment of progress
in 2005.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT: More than 50 Heads
of State, along with other senior government officials from around the
world, met in Monterrey, Mexico from 18-22 March 2002 at the International
Conference on Financing for Development. Governments adopted the Monterrey
Consensus (A/CONF.198/3) and a number of developed countries pledged to
increase foreign aid. In Monterrey, many governments highlighted that
"the Millennium Summit consists of ‘goals’, Monterrey is
the venue for mobilizing ‘resources’ for financing development,
and Johannesburg will be the ‘ideas’ and action plan."
The goal of the Monterrey Consensus is to "eradicate poverty, achieve
sustained economic growth and promote sustainable development as we advance
to a fully inclusive and equitable global economic system." The leading
actions are divided into sections on: mobilization of domestic financial
resources for development; mobilization of international resources for
development, foreign direct investment and other private flows; international
trade as an engine for development; the increase of international financial
and technical cooperation for development; external debt; and economic
issues, and the coherence and consistency of international monetary, financial
and trading systems in support of development. More coordination and interaction
is called for between ECOSOC, the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO. A follow-up
conference to review implementation of the Monterrey Consensus has been
called for, with the modalities to be decided no later than 2005.
ANNEX 2
Main elements of the latest version of the amended Chairman’s paper
extracted from Reviewed Chapter IV on Water Issues.
6 ter. Water is indispensable to human health and welfare and to the economic
growth needed to alleviate poverty, and is essential to all life-sustaining
processes in ecosystems. All nations must make a renewed commitment to
make certain that adequate supplies of water of good quality are maintained
for the entire populations of this planet. It is equally important to
preserve the hydrological, biological and chemical functions of the ecosystems,
adapting human activities with the capacity limits of nature and combating
vectors of water-related diseases. (Norway)
[Action is required to:]
(pre a) Achieve the UN Millennium Declaration target to halve, by the
year 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford
safe drinking water, and to add a corresponding target to halve the proportion
of people lacking access to sanitation by 2015. Access to water and sanitation
is a key element of poverty eradication, and special consideration should
be given to the needs and interests of women. (EU, Norway).
Alternative (a-1) [Improve social equity, gender equality and efficiency
in the (EU) use of water resources at the national level (Can). Allocating
mechanisms should balance the requirement of preserving or restoring ecological
integrity, in particular in fragile environments with domestic, industrial
and agriculture needs, including the safeguard of drinking water quality.
Achieving this will require employing the full range of policy instruments,
such as regulation, monitoring, voluntary measures, market and information-based
tools for implementing programmes to protect water resources, taking into
account that water is a public good. (EU) [, inter-alia by adopting a
water basin approach, by implementing the polluter-pays principle which
includes the development of liability regimes, and by promoting pollution
taxation]. (Swiss)
(a bis) Promote measures to improve the efficiency of water infrastructure
to reduce losses, improve irrigation systems, and enhance recycling of
water with due care to health and ecosystems, including water pricing
models which lead to better water use through progressive water tariffs.
(Switzerland)
(a ter) Promote closer coordination among the various international bodies
working on water-related issues, both within the UN system and between
the UN, international financial institutions, NGOs and other initiatives
within civil society. An international mechanism on water should ensure
a better integration of water challenges, enhance co-operation, and promote
synergies and coherence at the global level for an improved implementation
of Chapter 18 of Agenda 21. The UN should take a leading role in this
process. (Norway, Switzerland)
(b bis) Encourage regional and international cooperation, with the support
of the international community, on international watercourses that are
shared by two or more countries. Encourage riparian states to establish
intergovernmental and other international cooperative mechanisms for information
sharing, protection of biodiversity and ecosystems, negotiation and conflict
resolution. Such mechanisms should recognize existing international and
regional agreements on shared water resources as important instruments.
(Norway, EU, Japan)
(c) Improve governance and institutional arrangements and to enhance (US)
the mobilization of financial resources for water and sanitation infrastructure
and services, capacity-building and [sharing technology and knowledge]
OR [promoting cooperation on science and technology (US), taking
into account [water pricing policies. Governments have the primary responsibiltiy
for ensuring equitable, sustainable and integrated water management and
should ensure (EU) keeping in view that water infrastructure and services
[must] OR [should] be [pro-poor and gender-sensitive]; OR [sensitive
to gender and the needs of the poor;] (US)
(d): Decentralize decision making, implementation of projects, and operation
of services to the lowest [appropriate level] OR [level possible], and
make efforts to ensure that the people, particularly the poor and the
vulnerable, have access to relevant information and of participation in
decision making. (Japan) Promote integrated watershed management to include
all the needs within a river basin, such as sustainable management of
soils, forests, fisheries, wetlands and mountains, using the river basin
and watershed as the appropriate reference unit for the hydrological cycle
and integrated waster resources management. (Japan, G-77)
NEW (h) Promote public-private partnerships by providing stable and transparent
regulatory frameworks, involving all concerned stakeholders, ensuring
that those partnerships remain equitable and transparent, safeguard the
interests of consumers and investors and maintain high standards of environmental
protection. (EU)
NEW (i) Improve economic efficiency to sustain operations and investment.
Water service providers should aim for financial sustainability through
recovering sufficient income from their customers to finance operation,
maintenance and capital cost. Balancing this aim, cost recovery objectives
should not be a barrier to poor people’s access to water supply and
sanitation. (EU)
ANNEX 3
Special Report on Selected Side Events at WSSD PC-III
published by the
International Institute for Sustainable Development in cooperation with
UNDP
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deepening and broadening participation in sustainable development
Presented by the Earth Council and Green Cross International
Erna Witoelar, Indonesian NCSD, says the Earth Charter could link sustainable
development with democratic processes and good governance, and could be
adopted as soft law to provide an ethical foundation for governmental
decision making. Alvaro Umaña, UNDP, said that local involvement
is central to UNDP's work. He highlighted UNDP's successful local development
programmes and said a new Capacity 2015 programme would soon be launched.
He underscored that much can be accomplished with minimal resources at
the local level, and urged the development of governance participation
mechanisms.
Erna Witoelar, Indonesian National Director for WSSD Prepcom IV, described
the Indonesian National Council for Sustainable Development's (NCSD) experiences
with creating a multisectoral process under conditions of political crisis.
She stressed that political realities can support or ruin sustainable
development, and underscored the need for an ethical framework such as
the Earth Charter.
Bertrand Charrier, Green Cross International, reported on the first Earth
Dialogues Forum, which addressed key issues to be raised at the WSSD from
an ethical perspective. He said the Forum agreed on the need for ethical
codes to guide sustainable development and welcomed the Earth Charter
as a tool to support decision making for sustainable development at all
levels.
Dairiijav Dagvadorj, Mongolian NCSD, Alvaro Umaña, UNDP and Carlos
Garcia-Robles, Mexican NCSD, reported on achievements and challenges in
strengthening multi-stakeholder participation and establishing a multi-layered
NCSD, highlighting the need for public participation, democracy and co-responsibility
of civil society and government in the design of political programmes.
Dairiijav Dagvadorj, Mongolian NCSD, attributed the Mongolian NCSD's notable
success to its application of key strategies such as structural reorganization,
creation of a multi-layered sustainable development network, and establishment
of education programmes.
Hiro Sakurai, Sokka Gakkai International, and Fayen d'Evie, Earth Council,
introduced a film on raising public awareness on the WSSD, produced by
the Earth Council in cooperation with UNDP and UNEP, which featured successful
case studies on empowering people and changing mindsets for sustainable
development.
More information on:
http://www.earthcharter.org
http://www.earthdialogues.org
http://www.gci.ch
http://www.un-mongolia.mn/projects/map21
http://www.sgi.org
Contact:
Alvaro Umaña alvaro.umana@undp.org
Erna Witoelar erna@witoelar.com
Bertrand Charrier
Carlos Garcia-Robles carchaos@yahoo.com
Dairiijav Dagvadorj agenda21@mongol.net
Hiro Sakurai sgiunny@pop.net
Fayen d'Evie fdevie@council.ac.cr
Water: Crisis or opportunities?
Presented by UNESCO and Green Cross International
Marcia Macomber, Oregon State University, highlighted the role of transboundary
water management institutions and institutional resilience in water conflict
prevention.Andras Szöllösi-Nagy, UNESCO, and William Cosgrove,
World Water Council, introduced the joint UNESCO/Green Cross International
project "From Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential: Water
for Peace" (PCgCP) and its role in addressing key water security
challenges facing the UN World Water Assessment Programme, particularly
the challenge of "shared water resources."
Marcia Macomber, Oregon State University, described her university's initiative
and partnership on developing water conflict indicators and databases,
which aim to enhance capacity and cooperation in shared freshwater basins
worldwide.
Léna Salamé, PCgCP: Water for Peace, presented the objectives
of the PCgCP project, including defining and surveying conflicts, monitoring
indicators of conflict and potential cooperation, developing educational
materials, providing decision-making tools and disseminating results and
best practices. She highlighted the project's innovative approach, which
combines analysis and research with practical applications.
Bertrand Charrier, Green Cross International, described the Water for
Peace framework, which focuses on six locally managed transboundary river
basin sub-projects. He underscored the need for political commitment to
address water management issues, and highlighted an NGO initiative appealing
for an international framework convention for water.
Discussion: Participants addressed: issues of transboundary aquifer management
and participation of the private sector, youth and civil society in transboundary
water management; and the advantages of local and regional partnerships
over initiatives for a global treaty.
More information on:
http://www.gci.ch
http://www.infocus.com
http://www.worldwatercouncil.org
http://www.transboundarywaters.orst.edu
http://www.unesco.org/water
Contact:
Andras Szöllösi-Nagy a.szollosi-nagy@unesco.org
William Cosgrove wjcosgrove@compuserve.com
Marcia Macomber macomberm@geo.orst.edu
Léna Salamé l.salame@unesco.org
Bertrand Charrier
ANNEX
4
A Global Appeal
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