Daily report for 17 May 1994

During the morning, CSD Chair Klaus T”pfer announced that the 1994CSD Bureau is now complete. Amb. Ansari (India) is unable to assumethe position of Vice-Chair and has been replaced by Ms. SavitriKunadi (India). Dr. Tunguru Huaraka (Namibia) was electedVice-Chair from the African Group. T”pfer also announced that Indiawill chair Working Group I and Poland will chair Working Group II.

INDIA: Amb. M. H. Ansari noted that there has been usefuldiscussion and action related to the physical environment since thelast CSD High-Level Segment, however, important questions remain.He called the delegates' attention to the role of women indevelopment, and advised that the productivity and status of womenlead to and derive from the process of sustainable development.

TURKEY: Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Environment™zger Akad stated that the challenge of sustainable development isa challenge of urban settlements. Habitat II, which will be hostedby Turkey in 1996, should establish human settlement policies thatare vital to the achievement of Agenda 21 goals.

POLAND: Dr. Maceij Nowicki noted that consumerism ishampering the process of sustainable development. People in manydeveloping countries and countries in transition want to adopt thesame type of lifestyles as people in rich countries, as readilyseen through satellite television. The CSD must develop strategiesutilizing the same mediums that shape lifestyles.

FAO: The representative noted the imbalances in levels ofproduction and consumption of food. Wide differences exist inproduction levels and the efficient use of resources. Some 800million people are undernourished. He recommended that the CSD payclose attention to global, national and local aspects of foodsecurity.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: The representativereported that the business community is making progress inenvironmental management. UNEP and ICC recently held a jointmeeting to foster business progress in environmental management indeveloping countries and countries with economies in transition.

NORWAY: The representative noted that in addressing theconsumption and production issue, green taxes, cost coveringcharges, stronger liability legislation and other economic measuresare of the utmost importance. The full cost pricing principletogether with the polluter pays principle must be incorporated inany effective strategy.

CANADA: Amb. John Fraser noted that the major review ofAgenda 21 in 1997 requires the development of indicators. The CSDneeds to address the following: are we changing behavior on theplanet, in our economies, and how we use natural resources; and arewe making progress on the implementation of sustainable developmentin the long term?

EUROPEAN UNION: Greece, on behalf of the EU, reacted to twopoints raised Monday. The EU supports Amb. Razali's suggestion thatelections for the Bureau take place prior to the CSD meeting. TheEU still needs time to consider the Brazilian proposal for an adhoc intersessional group. He suggested that Working Group Itake up the issue.

DENMARK: Amb. Erik Fiil reported on the Copenhagen Workshopon Health, the Environment and Sustainable Development. TheWorkshop recommended establishing priorities for the promotion ofan integrated approach. Increased funding for health and theenvironment is needed, and planning should be participatory anddecentralized.

FRANCE: Amb. Jean Ripert informed the Commission that a fullreport of the French-sponsored meeting on water issues would bemade in the working group. With regard to the G-77's concern aboutthe proliferation of meetings, he noted the distinction betweenintersessional work organized by the Commission and the expertgroups and roundtables that are less formal channels forconsultation.

UK: The representative presented a summary of nationalprogress in implementing Agenda 21, including the creation of aGovernmental Panel on Sustainable Development and the UK Roundtableon Sustainable Development.

THE NETHERLANDS: Minister Hans Alders recommended thatrealistic targets need to be set in the follow up of the DrinkingWater Conference. The format of national reporting must besimplified. The complexity of solutions to consumption andproduction must be understood.

AUSTRALIA: Amb. Richard Butler mentioned four key areas:trade and environment; consumption patterns; institutionalarrangements; and standards. He attached great importance to theCSD's role and hoped that the political consensus developed herewill help coordinate future activity in the UN system.

AUSTRIA: Amb. Harald Kreid addressed trade, production andconsumption patterns, hazardous substances, and the usefulness ofintersessional meetings. He noted that budgetary constraints do notallow for discussion of all relevant issues, and supportedgovernment-sponsored intersessional meetings.

GATT: Janet Chakarian outlined the report on GATT'sactivities related to trade and the environment, submitted to theCSD (E/1994/43). The GATT will be hosting a public symposium ontrade, the environment and sustainable development in June.

UNCTAD: Ren‚ Vossenaar discussed the UNCTAD report(E/1994/47) submitted to the CSD. The report expands on theinterlinkages between trade, environment and development anddescribes UNCTAD's cooperation with other internationalorganizations.

SWEDEN: On behalf of the Nordic countries, Amb. Bo Kjell‚nwelcomed the decisions on trade and environment adopted inMarrakech and called for close cooperation between the UNEP and theWTO. He noted the growing role of green consumer movements, andsuggested that developing countries be supplied with appropriateinformation so they can also profit from this trend.

JAPAN: Itaru Umezu suggested that more successfulrule-making with regard to trade and environment could result fromproviding input to the WTO. He suggested that an eco-labelingsystem should govern domestically produced and imported productsand be transparent.

PHILIPPINES: Ronald Allarey reported on activities at thenational level. Soon after UNCED, a Council for SustainableDevelopment was established and a National Action Plan forSustainable Development was adopted.

PAKISTAN: Tariq Aziz warned the CSD against the tendency tocontinuously redefine Agenda 21. The CSD should review theimplementation of Agenda 21 and should not lean on policydevelopment. In carrying out the policy development role, we fallin the trap of continuously revising the commitments made at Rio.

IRAN: Amb. Gholamali Khoshroo, on behalf of the ContactGroup of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), described theactivities of this new regional organization. ECO has a newCommittee on Environment and Health to enhance cooperation betweenmember States. Major obstacles for the ECO region are theinadequacy of funding and technology.

URUGUAY: The representative described national actionsUruguay has taken to comply with Agenda 21. Uruguay's programmeobjectives include: combating poverty; promotion of environmentalawareness; concentration on freshwater resources; change inconsumption patterns; and meeting agricultural needs withoutdestroying the environment. They have also developed an electronicsystem for the exchange of information on the environment.

SRI LANKA: Amb. Stanley Kalpag‚ said the CSD has a graveresponsibility to ensure the effective follow-up of Rio, includingkeeping the spirit alive. He noted that a promising development hasbeen the acceptance by industrialized countries that theirconsumption and production patterns have been a major cause ofenvironmental deterioration.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION: While elaborating upon sustainabledevelopment activities, the representative announced that theRussian Federation will soon ratify the conventions on climatechange and biodiversity. Russia supports holding intersessionalmeetings on specific topics and urges that these be continued inthe same manner.

MEXICO: The delegate noted that Mexico circulated the textof Agenda 21 domestically. He suggested that the CSD should havetimely reports from other international bodies regarding theirdecisions on trade and environment.

INDONESIA: The representative noted that anything thathampers free trade is of concern to Indonesia. He stated thatgreater access to markets is one of the best guarantees forprogress in sustainable development. He noted that ASEANresolutions have spelled out policies that member nations mustadopt to promote progress on environmental issues.

SWITZERLAND: The representative commented on three points:the role of the CSD; national reporting; and trade and theenvironment. Priority should be given to the CSD's coordinatingfunction. National reporting should be simplified and informationprovided by the reports should be comparable. The CSD provides anexcellent forum for work in trade and environment.

INTER-PARLIAMENTARIAN UNION: The representative noted thatwhile there is growing awareness among parliaments aboutsustainable development issues, the work of the CSD is rarelybrought to their attention. The Union requested greater contactwith the CSD.

WOMEN'S ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION: Therepresentative noted that consumption patterns are a significantlong-term contributor to the problems that must be addressed. WEDOis concerned that the words "equity" and "justice" have been usedcarelessly by the CSD. WEDO urged that the High-Level Segment focuson women and development.

AUSTRIA: Amb. Winfried Lang reported on the symposium on"Sustainable Development and International Law." Recommendationsincluded: more frequent use of non-legally binding instruments; useof compliance-control machinery in international treaties;encouragement of capacity building; and priority to disputeavoidance over dispute settlement.

VENEZUELA: The representative of Venezuela rapidly noted herGovernment's measures to implement Agenda 21 including: the startof a national environmental plan; approval of new environmentallaws; human resource capacity building in sustainable development;and adoption of new techniques for the management of toxic wastes.

SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Pincas Jawetz notedthat sustainability means finding a new architecture for thespontaneous social and political forces that are at work and forthe necessary institutions needed at each level to manage the worldin a sustainable way.

In his summation to the Plenary, T”pfer mentioned that now theWorking Groups must translate discussions into concrete decisions.He mentioned that NGOs must be integrated into the discussions ofthe Working Groups and referred to a non-paper on the participationof NGOs and major groups, prepared by Amb. Arthur Campeau (Canada)and circulated by Amb. Razali.

GENERAL DISCUSSION ON PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGENDA 21

During the morning, CSD Chair Klaus T”pfer announced that the 1994CSD Bureau is now complete. Amb. Ansari (India) is unable to assumethe position of Vice-Chair and has been replaced by Ms. SavitriKunadi (India). Dr. Tunguru Huaraka (Namibia) was electedVice-Chair from the African Group. T”pfer also announced that Indiawill chair Working Group I and Poland will chair Working Group II.

INDIA: Amb. M. H. Ansari noted that there has been usefuldiscussion and action related to the physical environment since thelast CSD High-Level Segment, however, important questions remain.He called the delegates' attention to the role of women indevelopment, and advised that the productivity and status of womenlead to and derive from the process of sustainable development.

TURKEY: Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Environment™zger Akad stated that the challenge of sustainable development isa challenge of urban settlements. Habitat II, which will be hostedby Turkey in 1996, should establish human settlement policies thatare vital to the achievement of Agenda 21 goals.

POLAND: Dr. Maceij Nowicki noted that consumerism ishampering the process of sustainable development. People in manydeveloping countries and countries in transition want to adopt thesame type of lifestyles as people in rich countries, as readilyseen through satellite television. The CSD must develop strategiesutilizing the same mediums that shape lifestyles.

FAO: The representative noted the imbalances in levels ofproduction and consumption of food. Wide differences exist inproduction levels and the efficient use of resources. Some 800million people are undernourished. He recommended that the CSD payclose attention to global, national and local aspects of foodsecurity.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: The representativereported that the business community is making progress inenvironmental management. UNEP and ICC recently held a jointmeeting to foster business progress in environmental management indeveloping countries and countries with economies in transition.

NORWAY: The representative noted that in addressing theconsumption and production issue, green taxes, cost coveringcharges, stronger liability legislation and other economic measuresare of the utmost importance. The full cost pricing principletogether with the polluter pays principle must be incorporated inany effective strategy.

CANADA: Amb. John Fraser noted that the major review ofAgenda 21 in 1997 requires the development of indicators. The CSDneeds to address the following: are we changing behavior on theplanet, in our economies, and how we use natural resources; and arewe making progress on the implementation of sustainable developmentin the long term?

EUROPEAN UNION: Greece, on behalf of the EU, reacted to twopoints raised Monday. The EU supports Amb. Razali's suggestion thatelections for the Bureau take place prior to the CSD meeting. TheEU still needs time to consider the Brazilian proposal for an adhoc intersessional group. He suggested that Working Group Itake up the issue.

DENMARK: Amb. Erik Fiil reported on the Copenhagen Workshopon Health, the Environment and Sustainable Development. TheWorkshop recommended establishing priorities for the promotion ofan integrated approach. Increased funding for health and theenvironment is needed, and planning should be participatory anddecentralized.

FRANCE: Amb. Jean Ripert informed the Commission that a fullreport of the French-sponsored meeting on water issues would bemade in the working group. With regard to the G-77's concern aboutthe proliferation of meetings, he noted the distinction betweenintersessional work organized by the Commission and the expertgroups and roundtables that are less formal channels forconsultation.

UK: The representative presented a summary of nationalprogress in implementing Agenda 21, including the creation of aGovernmental Panel on Sustainable Development and the UK Roundtableon Sustainable Development.

THE NETHERLANDS: Minister Hans Alders recommended thatrealistic targets need to be set in the follow up of the DrinkingWater Conference. The format of national reporting must besimplified. The complexity of solutions to consumption andproduction must be understood.

AUSTRALIA: Amb. Richard Butler mentioned four key areas:trade and environment; consumption patterns; institutionalarrangements; and standards. He attached great importance to theCSD's role and hoped that the political consensus developed herewill help coordinate future activity in the UN system.

AUSTRIA: Amb. Harald Kreid addressed trade, production andconsumption patterns, hazardous substances, and the usefulness ofintersessional meetings. He noted that budgetary constraints do notallow for discussion of all relevant issues, and supportedgovernment-sponsored intersessional meetings.

GATT: Janet Chakarian outlined the report on GATT'sactivities related to trade and the environment, submitted to theCSD (E/1994/43). The GATT will be hosting a public symposium ontrade, the environment and sustainable development in June.

UNCTAD: Ren‚ Vossenaar discussed the UNCTAD report(E/1994/47) submitted to the CSD. The report expands on theinterlinkages between trade, environment and development anddescribes UNCTAD's cooperation with other internationalorganizations.

SWEDEN: On behalf of the Nordic countries, Amb. Bo Kjell‚nwelcomed the decisions on trade and environment adopted inMarrakech and called for close cooperation between the UNEP and theWTO. He noted the growing role of green consumer movements, andsuggested that developing countries be supplied with appropriateinformation so they can also profit from this trend.

JAPAN: Itaru Umezu suggested that more successfulrule-making with regard to trade and environment could result fromproviding input to the WTO. He suggested that an eco-labelingsystem should govern domestically produced and imported productsand be transparent.

PHILIPPINES: Ronald Allarey reported on activities at thenational level. Soon after UNCED, a Council for SustainableDevelopment was established and a National Action Plan forSustainable Development was adopted.

PAKISTAN: Tariq Aziz warned the CSD against the tendency tocontinuously redefine Agenda 21. The CSD should review theimplementation of Agenda 21 and should not lean on policydevelopment. In carrying out the policy development role, we fallin the trap of continuously revising the commitments made at Rio.

IRAN: Amb. Gholamali Khoshroo, on behalf of the ContactGroup of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), described theactivities of this new regional organization. ECO has a newCommittee on Environment and Health to enhance cooperation betweenmember States. Major obstacles for the ECO region are theinadequacy of funding and technology.

URUGUAY: The representative described national actionsUruguay has taken to comply with Agenda 21. Uruguay's programmeobjectives include: combating poverty; promotion of environmentalawareness; concentration on freshwater resources; change inconsumption patterns; and meeting agricultural needs withoutdestroying the environment. They have also developed an electronicsystem for the exchange of information on the environment.

SRI LANKA: Amb. Stanley Kalpag‚ said the CSD has a graveresponsibility to ensure the effective follow-up of Rio, includingkeeping the spirit alive. He noted that a promising development hasbeen the acceptance by industrialized countries that theirconsumption and production patterns have been a major cause ofenvironmental deterioration.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION: While elaborating upon sustainabledevelopment activities, the representative announced that theRussian Federation will soon ratify the conventions on climatechange and biodiversity. Russia supports holding intersessionalmeetings on specific topics and urges that these be continued inthe same manner.

MEXICO: The delegate noted that Mexico circulated the textof Agenda 21 domestically. He suggested that the CSD should havetimely reports from other international bodies regarding theirdecisions on trade and environment.

INDONESIA: The representative noted that anything thathampers free trade is of concern to Indonesia. He stated thatgreater access to markets is one of the best guarantees forprogress in sustainable development. He noted that ASEANresolutions have spelled out policies that member nations mustadopt to promote progress on environmental issues.

SWITZERLAND: The representative commented on three points:the role of the CSD; national reporting; and trade and theenvironment. Priority should be given to the CSD's coordinatingfunction. National reporting should be simplified and informationprovided by the reports should be comparable. The CSD provides anexcellent forum for work in trade and environment.

INTER-PARLIAMENTARIAN UNION: The representative noted thatwhile there is growing awareness among parliaments aboutsustainable development issues, the work of the CSD is rarelybrought to their attention. The Union requested greater contactwith the CSD.

WOMEN'S ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION: Therepresentative noted that consumption patterns are a significantlong-term contributor to the problems that must be addressed. WEDOis concerned that the words "equity" and "justice" have been usedcarelessly by the CSD. WEDO urged that the High-Level Segment focuson women and development.

AUSTRIA: Amb. Winfried Lang reported on the symposium on"Sustainable Development and International Law." Recommendationsincluded: more frequent use of non-legally binding instruments; useof compliance-control machinery in international treaties;encouragement of capacity building; and priority to disputeavoidance over dispute settlement.

VENEZUELA: The representative of Venezuela rapidly noted herGovernment's measures to implement Agenda 21 including: the startof a national environmental plan; approval of new environmentallaws; human resource capacity building in sustainable development;and adoption of new techniques for the management of toxic wastes.

SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Pincas Jawetz notedthat sustainability means finding a new architecture for thespontaneous social and political forces that are at work and forthe necessary institutions needed at each level to manage the worldin a sustainable way.

In his summation to the Plenary, T”pfer mentioned that now theWorking Groups must translate discussions into concrete decisions.He mentioned that NGOs must be integrated into the discussions ofthe Working Groups and referred to a non-paper on the participationof NGOs and major groups, prepared by Amb. Arthur Campeau (Canada)and circulated by Amb. Razali.

IN THE CORRIDORS

Delegates have been talking about how to facilitate the CSD'sconsideration of the sectoral themes in 1995 -- forests,biodiversity, desertification and land management. While some maythink this discussion is premature, given the fact that the CSD hasbarely begun to discuss this year's sectoral themes, this hasbecome a divisive issue along North-South lines. The G-77 supportsthe establishment of an intersessional open-ended working group toconsider these four issues. Many developed countries, however,support the continuation of government-sponsored expert meetings,because they provide better opportunities for concrete discussionof issues on the CSD's agenda. Brazil and others claim that this"growing proliferation of fora" harms the legitimate participationof developing countries. Look for debate to continue on this issuein the corridors.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

WORKING GROUP I: Working Group I will convene for the firsttime this morning under the chairmanship of Dr. Maciej Nowicki(Poland). The discussion is expected to focus on Agenda Item 4,"Financial resources and mechanisms."

WORKING GROUP II: Working Group II will begin its work underthe chairmanship of Ms. Savitri Kunadi (India). The discussion isexpected to focus on Agenda Item 6(a), "Health, human settlementsand freshwater."

OTHER MEETINGS: UNEP will host a panel discussion today ontoxic chemicals and hazardous wastes from 1:00 - 2:45 pm inConference Room 4. The United States will host a presentation onpollution prevention in urban and industrial areas in ConferenceRoom 1 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm.

WOMENS CAUCUS: The Womens Caucus is meeting daily from 8:00- 9:00 am on the 12th Floor of the Church Center. All delegates andNGOs are welcome to attend.

NGO-GOVERNMENT DIALOGUE: WEDO is hosting a discussion onimplementing Agenda 21 at 6:00 pm.

AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM: The OECD has tabled copies of aprogress report on implementing Agenda 21. On Tuesday, the OECD wasbumped from the speakers' list and was unable to announce its newwork on consumption and production patterns, particularly thedevelopment of a conceptual framework for examining currentpatterns, an analysis of costs and benefits of changes and anidentification of cost-effective policy options and instruments.