Daily report for 16 May 1994

Outgoing Chair Amb. Razali Ismail (Malaysia) opened the meeting andnoted that steps to implement Agenda 21 have been taken at theinternational and national levels, but not with equal effect in allregions of the world. Adequate financing has not been mobilized toattain the CSD's objectives. Consumption and production patternsare a major issue for which little action has been taken. He calledfor the CSD to move from the role of consensus builder to agent ofchange. The CSD should look at cross-cutting issues and linkageswith other conferences and international organizations. Heintroduced Dr. Klaus T”pfer, the German Minister for theEnvironment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, who was thenelected as the new CSD Chair.

Dr. Klaus T”pfer recommended that to ensure concrete results theCSD must: analyze the implementation of the results of Rio;identify shortcomings in implementation; develop possiblesolutions; designate responsible actors at national, regional andinternational levels; and determine political priorities.

Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination andSustainable Development (DPCSD), queried the rumors that the Spiritof Rio is disappearing given the substantial action in areas suchas the GEF, small island developing States, straddling and highlymigratory fish stocks, coastal zone management and environmentalconventions. Governments have set up mechanisms to addresssustainable development issues. Desai asked delegates to addresshow assistance can be provided to NGOs to support their manyactivities.

Minister Hans Alders of the Netherlands reported on the Conferenceon Drinking Water and Environmental Sanitation, which took place inNoordwijk, the Netherlands, in March 1994. The Action Programmeadvocates the efficient allocation of resources, to be accomplishedin part by involving those at the lowest levels in decision-makingprocesses. Alders paraphrased John F. Kennedy's call to action:"Ask not what the Noordwijk Declaration can do for you (that willcome later), ask what you can do for the speedier implementation ofthe Noordwijk Declaration."

Thorbj"rn Berntsen, Minister of Environment of Norway, reported onthe January 1994 Symposium on Sustainable Consumption. The mainpoints of discussion included: the trends and damage from patternsof consumption and production should be studied; the effectivenessof instruments for changing unsustainable patterns should beexamined; educational, training, and public awareness programsshould be expanded; and pilot projects should be supported.

Olof Johansson, the Swedish Minister of the Environment, reportedon the joint WHO/ILO/UNEP International Conference on ChemicalSafety (ICCS) held in Stockholm last month. The Conferenceaccomplished two main goals: establishment of an IntergovernmentalForum on Chemical Safety and development of a set of priorities foraction on the effective implementation of Agenda 21 in the field ofchemical safety.

The next item on the agenda was the election of the remainingmembers of the Bureau: Amb. Mohammad Hamid Ansari (India), Dr.Maciej Nowicki (Poland) and Minister Sergio Florencio Sobrinho(Brazil). The African Group is still consulting on its nominationto the Bureau. The Commission then adopted document E/CN.17/1994/1"Adoption of the Agenda and Other Organizational Matters." TheHigh-Level Segment, originally scheduled for Thursday, 26 May, willnow begin on Wednesday, 25 May. Two working groups will commencework on Wednesday, 18 May. Working Group I will address agendaitems 4 (Financial resources and mechanisms) and 5 (Education,science, transfer of environmentally sound technologies,cooperation and capacity-building). Working Group II will addressagenda item 6 (Review of sectoral clusters, first phase).

OPENING PLENARY

Outgoing Chair Amb. Razali Ismail (Malaysia) opened the meeting andnoted that steps to implement Agenda 21 have been taken at theinternational and national levels, but not with equal effect in allregions of the world. Adequate financing has not been mobilized toattain the CSD's objectives. Consumption and production patternsare a major issue for which little action has been taken. He calledfor the CSD to move from the role of consensus builder to agent ofchange. The CSD should look at cross-cutting issues and linkageswith other conferences and international organizations. Heintroduced Dr. Klaus T”pfer, the German Minister for theEnvironment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, who was thenelected as the new CSD Chair.

Dr. Klaus T”pfer recommended that to ensure concrete results theCSD must: analyze the implementation of the results of Rio;identify shortcomings in implementation; develop possiblesolutions; designate responsible actors at national, regional andinternational levels; and determine political priorities.

Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination andSustainable Development (DPCSD), queried the rumors that the Spiritof Rio is disappearing given the substantial action in areas suchas the GEF, small island developing States, straddling and highlymigratory fish stocks, coastal zone management and environmentalconventions. Governments have set up mechanisms to addresssustainable development issues. Desai asked delegates to addresshow assistance can be provided to NGOs to support their manyactivities.

Minister Hans Alders of the Netherlands reported on the Conferenceon Drinking Water and Environmental Sanitation, which took place inNoordwijk, the Netherlands, in March 1994. The Action Programmeadvocates the efficient allocation of resources, to be accomplishedin part by involving those at the lowest levels in decision-makingprocesses. Alders paraphrased John F. Kennedy's call to action:"Ask not what the Noordwijk Declaration can do for you (that willcome later), ask what you can do for the speedier implementation ofthe Noordwijk Declaration."

Thorbj"rn Berntsen, Minister of Environment of Norway, reported onthe January 1994 Symposium on Sustainable Consumption. The mainpoints of discussion included: the trends and damage from patternsof consumption and production should be studied; the effectivenessof instruments for changing unsustainable patterns should beexamined; educational, training, and public awareness programsshould be expanded; and pilot projects should be supported.

Olof Johansson, the Swedish Minister of the Environment, reportedon the joint WHO/ILO/UNEP International Conference on ChemicalSafety (ICCS) held in Stockholm last month. The Conferenceaccomplished two main goals: establishment of an IntergovernmentalForum on Chemical Safety and development of a set of priorities foraction on the effective implementation of Agenda 21 in the field ofchemical safety.

The next item on the agenda was the election of the remainingmembers of the Bureau: Amb. Mohammad Hamid Ansari (India), Dr.Maciej Nowicki (Poland) and Minister Sergio Florencio Sobrinho(Brazil). The African Group is still consulting on its nominationto the Bureau. The Commission then adopted document E/CN.17/1994/1"Adoption of the Agenda and Other Organizational Matters." TheHigh-Level Segment, originally scheduled for Thursday, 26 May, willnow begin on Wednesday, 25 May. Two working groups will commencework on Wednesday, 18 May. Working Group I will address agendaitems 4 (Financial resources and mechanisms) and 5 (Education,science, transfer of environmentally sound technologies,cooperation and capacity-building). Working Group II will addressagenda item 6 (Review of sectoral clusters, first phase).

GENERAL DISCUSSION ON PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGENDA 21

Mrs. Joke Waller-Hunter, Director, Division for SustainableDevelopment of the DPCSD presented an overview of the Report of theSecretary-General. She noted that some 85 countries haveestablished Sustainable Development Councils and that approximately75% of the reports included NGO input. Some national reportsrecommend the development of indicators that are universallyacceptable and consequently the UN has prepared a background paperon sustainable development indicators for this meeting.

GROUP OF 77: Amb. Ramtane Lamamra (Algeria), speaking onbehalf of the G-77 and China, expressed concern that the Spirit ofRio is fading. The new and additional funding that was promised tosupport implementation of Agenda 21 has not materialized.Consumption patterns should be included as a permanent item in theCSD's agenda. The G-77 proposed that an intersessional open-endedworking group consider the themes of the CSD's 1995 work programme:forests, biodiversity, desertification, and lands.

EUROPEAN UNION: Greece outlined challenges for this sessionof the CSD: set clear priorities for action; review and assessprogress achieved in other international forums; and address tradeand the environment. The EU is addressing the issue ofunsustainable consumption patterns with a wide range of measures,including information, education, training and the development ofenvironmentally sound options for consumers and enterprises.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: The representative suggested that thefirst task of the CSD is to underlie certain basic orientationsthat should guide international discussions on trade and theenvironment. The pollutor pays principle should be taken intoaccount.

BRAZIL: The representative noted that there has not beenmuch political will on the part of developed countries towardsimproving cooperation in the critical areas of financial resourcesand transfer of technology since Rio. Brazil supported the G-77'scall for a new open-ended ad hoc intersessional workinggroup.

CHINA: The representative reviewed the ten-point strategyand other steps his nation has taken to implement the UNCEDagreements. He stressed the relationship between environment andeconomics and commented that the international economic order,especially with regard to debt and trade, should be examined. Hewas disappointed with the action on the part of some developedcountries with regard to funding, technology transfer and otherassistance.

EGYPT: Mostafa Tolba asked what the true impact of theCommission was on other bodies. Are the Commission's advice andrequests taken seriously? He suggested that the gaps anddifficulties in implementation be identified in an executivesummary in national reports, in reports on UN actions and in areport on the achievements of Agenda 21.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: In addressing the issue of trade and theenvironment during this meeting, the representative noted thatpolicies should be mutually supportive, as stipulated in Agenda 21,and least trade restrictive. Financing, exchange of information andconsumption patterns should also receive considerable attention.

UNITED STATES: Amb. William Milam discussed three areas ofimportance: monitoring national and international efforts;sustainable production and consumption; and trade and sustainabledevelopment. To monitor efforts we should find ways to encouragereporting, including the development of more simplified reportingprocedures and the development of key indicators of sustainabledevelopment.

THIRD WORLD NETWORK: Martin Khor suggested that thereduction of aid may be offset through more efficient use ofavailable funds, but other economic issues, such as the debt crisisand commodity pricing, must be addressed. He also stated hisconcern about the ambiguity of the current status of NGOs. Heexpressed his hope that their status would be clarified so thatthey continue to bring the input of local communities into the CSD.

COLOMBIA: Dr. Alfredo Rey commented on the issues of trade,consumption patterns and financing. On trade, he expressed his hopethat the WTO would lead to expanded markets, clear rules and a moredemocratic negotiation process. On the issue of consumptionpatterns, he urged that transnational corporations also makeappropriate commitments. He lamented the lack of resolve bycountries for fulfilling financial commitments.

HUNGARY: The representative noted that the recent political,economic and social changes in Central and Eastern Europe havecreated the conditions necessary for the substantial changes in thesocio-economic path of development. The newly established HungarianCommission on Sustainable Development is addressing these issues.

MALAYSIA: The representative noted that there is much workto be completed by the CSD to cross-sectoralize Agenda 21. Morediverse and fairer trade is preferable to more aid. Malaysia calledon the CSD to simplify the national reporting procedure, suggestingthe development of one report to cover a series of meetings.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Amb. Bedrich Moldan identified a need forindicators for environmental aspects of unsustainability,including: sinks (measures of burden on the global system);resources (how governments deal with managed ecosystems); impact ofhuman activities on life supporting systems; and the impact ofenvironmental factors on humans as receptors.

ALLIANCE OF NORTHERN PEOPLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT: SimoneBilderbeek recommended that the CSD coordinate the policies onsustainable consumption between its members and UN agencies. Shealso called for a working programme to identify how much"environmental space" is occupied by consumers in each country.

SWEDEN: The Chairman of the INCD, Amb. Bo Kjell‚n, updateddelegates on the negotiations for the Convention to CombatDesertification. He urged the CSD to: provide general support; showpolitical support through the High-Level Segment; and providepolitical support for a balanced compromise at the final session inParis in June.

REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMISSIONS: Alfredo Gasdaz of ECLAC saidthe Regional Economic Commissions have provided assistance tocountries in Agenda 21 implementation in: promotion ofinter-regional and regional cooperation; studies on internationaltrade and sustainable development; development of environmentalmanagement plans; and promotion of access to and transfer ofenvironmentally sound technologies.

INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS: LucienRoyer spoke about the need for eco-audits in the workplace. Henoted that auditing is not new for trade unions, especially as itrelates to occupational health and safety, but eco-auditing needssupport for success.

IUCN: Director-General David McDowell cited three lessonsfrom Rio: sustainable development will only come if a truecommitment is made at the national and local level; actions tobring about sustainable development cannot be the responsibility ofgovernments alone; and intergovernmental organizations can play asupporting role.

IN THE CORRIDORS

On Monday morning, Under-Secretary-General Nitin Desai stressed theimportant role of NGOs and their networks, which have contributedso much to the UNCED process. Yet, at the same time, the UNSecretariat has recently taken an administrative decisionrestricting the access and participation of CSD-accredited NGOs,based on its own interpretation of a 1993 ECOSOC decision. In thisdecision, ECOSOC granted Roster status to CSD NGOs, promising thatthey would be treated like other ECOSOC-accredited NGOs. However,this does not seem to be the case. NGOs are urging the CSD tocontinue to allow NGOs to be placed on the ECOSOC Roster, accordingto UNCED accreditation procedures. NGOs argue that they havestrived to serve as a conduit between local and internationalefforts for UNCED follow-up and sustainable development over thepast three years. However, NGOs warn that without access to thevarious UNCED follow-up processes within the UN, this importantlink will be lost.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

PLENARY: The Commission will resume its general discussionon progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 today. There is noofficial speakers' list. The discussion is expected to last allday.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS: There will be several panel discussionstoday in Conference Room 1. WHO will host a panel on health from10:30 am - 12:00 noon. The US will present a panel on energyefficient technologies from 1:00 - 2:30 pm. Habitat will present apanel on human settlements from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. There will also bea panel discussion on accountability for a sustainable globaleconomy in Conference Room 9 from 3:30 - 6:00 pm.

CHINESE BRIEFING: There will be a briefing on China's Agenda21 from 1:15 - 2:15 pm in Conference Room 5.

NGO BRIEFING: The Earth Council, World Resources Instituteand the Natural Resources Defense Council will release a newdirectory and report on progress on sustainable development sincethe Earth Summit today at 2:00 pm at the UN Church Center (12thfloor). All delegates are welcome to attend.