Daily report for 25 May 1994

CSD Chair Klaus T”pfer welcomed the delegates and asked SavitriKunadi, Chair of Working Group I, to introduce that Group's work.She noted that although discussions were difficult, they hadreached consensus on five texts. They did not completeconsideration of the trade and environment and consumption andproduction patterns drafts, although separate consultations wereongoing. The Plenary then adopted ad referendum the texts ondecision-making structures, role of major groups, and informationprovided by governments and organizations. The finance text wasadopted ad referendum, as amended.

Dr. Tunguru Huaraka introduced the agreement of the informalworking group on intersessional work. Tunisia, supported byMorocco, suggested that the ad hoc group on finance considerinstitutional building and case studies, in addition to thefinancial aspects of the transfer of environmentally soundtechnologies (ESTs) (paragraph 3(a)). Japan, the EU and the USdisagreed, noting that the draft agreement had been agreed thenight before. T”pfer suggested that the brackets around paragraph15.1 of the technology transfer text (report on issues of ESTtransfer to the ad hoc groups) could be removed and then thetwo documents would reference each other. The text was adoptedad referendum on this understanding.

Delegates then addressed the bracketed sections in the technologytransfer text. The US suggested retention of the call forinvolvement of experts, the private sector and NGOs (paragraph15.3), and deletion of all but the references in 15.1 to the twointersessional ad hoc working groups. The text was adoptedad referendum, as amended.

Delegates then addressed the text on trade, environment andsustainable development, which was negotiated in aninformal-informal meeting late Tuesday night. The text was adoptedad referendum, as corrected by the Secretariat and amendedby China. T”pfer then suggested that Dr. Huaraka coordinateinformal negotiations on the text on changes in consumption andproduction patterns, which was distributed earlier in the morning.

Dr. Maciej Nowicki, Chair of Working Group II, presented hisGroup's work, noting that its meetings had been very constructive.The Plenary adopted the texts on toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes,water and human settlements ad referendum. Slight amendmentswere made to the drafts on human health and radioactive wastes toreflect the decisions of the Working Group, and they were alsoadopted ad referendum. The US announced it wasdisassociating itself from paragraphs 10 and 11 (UNEP involvement)in the hazardous wastes text, on the grounds that UNEP does nothave the expertise to carry out the indicated tasks.

PLENARY

CSD Chair Klaus T”pfer welcomed the delegates and asked SavitriKunadi, Chair of Working Group I, to introduce that Group's work.She noted that although discussions were difficult, they hadreached consensus on five texts. They did not completeconsideration of the trade and environment and consumption andproduction patterns drafts, although separate consultations wereongoing. The Plenary then adopted ad referendum the texts ondecision-making structures, role of major groups, and informationprovided by governments and organizations. The finance text wasadopted ad referendum, as amended.

Dr. Tunguru Huaraka introduced the agreement of the informalworking group on intersessional work. Tunisia, supported byMorocco, suggested that the ad hoc group on finance considerinstitutional building and case studies, in addition to thefinancial aspects of the transfer of environmentally soundtechnologies (ESTs) (paragraph 3(a)). Japan, the EU and the USdisagreed, noting that the draft agreement had been agreed thenight before. T”pfer suggested that the brackets around paragraph15.1 of the technology transfer text (report on issues of ESTtransfer to the ad hoc groups) could be removed and then thetwo documents would reference each other. The text was adoptedad referendum on this understanding.

Delegates then addressed the bracketed sections in the technologytransfer text. The US suggested retention of the call forinvolvement of experts, the private sector and NGOs (paragraph15.3), and deletion of all but the references in 15.1 to the twointersessional ad hoc working groups. The text was adoptedad referendum, as amended.

Delegates then addressed the text on trade, environment andsustainable development, which was negotiated in aninformal-informal meeting late Tuesday night. The text was adoptedad referendum, as corrected by the Secretariat and amendedby China. T”pfer then suggested that Dr. Huaraka coordinateinformal negotiations on the text on changes in consumption andproduction patterns, which was distributed earlier in the morning.

Dr. Maciej Nowicki, Chair of Working Group II, presented hisGroup's work, noting that its meetings had been very constructive.The Plenary adopted the texts on toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes,water and human settlements ad referendum. Slight amendmentswere made to the drafts on human health and radioactive wastes toreflect the decisions of the Working Group, and they were alsoadopted ad referendum. The US announced it wasdisassociating itself from paragraphs 10 and 11 (UNEP involvement)in the hazardous wastes text, on the grounds that UNEP does nothave the expertise to carry out the indicated tasks.

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

CSD Chair Klaus T”pfer opened the High-Level Segment by thankingdelegates for their hard work over the past 10 days. He suggestedthat next year's meeting include more time for dialogue and hopedthis would be discussed during the High-Level Segment. He noted theneed to discuss how well everyone is sticking to their Riocommitments. He stressed the right to development. The conflictbetween East and West has ended and a new Cold War between Northand South must be avoided. He suggested the need to: identify themeans to find new, additional and innovative financial resources;achieve a balance between trade and environment and sustainabledevelopment; and give the CSD the political weight and profile toachieve effective work.

UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali noted that it is twoyears since the Earth Summit opened a new era in internationalcooperation and brought a permanent change in the way States viewthe environment. Sustainable development is at the heart ofdevelopment activity in the UN and is now recognized as thecornerstone of national development policy. The crucial challengeis to maintain political will. In the Agenda for Developmentpublished this morning, the UN has tried to set development in abroader context. The next stage will require sustained commitmentand new resources, alliances and partnerships. This was the messageof Rio and should be the message of the CSD.

INDIA: Kamal Nath, Minister of Environment and Forests, saidthat India and the UK will host an international workshop onforests in July in New Delhi. If the aims of sustainabledevelopment are to be met, two parallel processes are necessary:fulfillment of basic needs of all people and moderation of resourceconsumption.

UNITED STATES: Amb. Madeleine Albright stated that the CSDhas taken significant strides in making the Rio vision a concretereality. The US intends to support next year's meeting by:promoting the conservation and sustainable management of allforests; seeking an effective convention to combat desertification;and implementing the Biodiversity Convention.

BRAZIL: Henrique Brandao Cavalcanti, Minister of Environmentand the Amazon, noted the central position of financial resourcesand transfer of technology in implementing Agenda 21. He noted theimportance of sustainable development and changing consumptionpatterns. He stressed the importance of the new ad hocintersessional working group on sectoral issues.

GREECE: Elissavet Papazois, Under-Secretary of theEnvironment, Town Planning and Public Works, said the CSD must:establish itself as a powerful political forum; give equalattention to environment and development; develop its monitoringand review role; identify new and emerging issues in sustainabledevelopment; and have transparent and flexible arrangements forintersessional activities.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Commissioner for the Environment,Yannis Paleokrassas, explained the EU's strategic approach forachieving sustainable development and moderating consumption andproduction patterns. Environmental protection should be a centralelement in the strategy to combat recession.

BENIN: Jean Roger Ahoyo, Ministre de l'Environnement, del'Habitat et de l'Urbanisme, said that after hundreds of statementsand documents, it is time to focus on action. He noted theimportance of financial resources and mechanisms, the target of0.7% of GNP for ODA, and debt relief. The convention to combatdesertification will help eliminate the nightmare of landdegradation and poverty.

UNITED KINGDOM: John Gummer, Secretary of State forEnvironment, said that much has been accomplished and there shouldnot be too much complaining. In the end, people's lifestyles mustchange. The CSD still lacks the language that will enthuse all.Sustainable development is a boring, although accurate, phrase.Action should focus on: national reporting; forestry; and trade andthe environment.

MALAYSIA: Datuk Law Hieng Ding, Minister of Science,Technology and Environment, said international trade is importantfor sustainable development. Developed countries should stop usingquestionable measures to prevent developing countries frombenefitting from liberalized trade. Production and consumptionpatterns must be addressed. Commitment of new and additionalresources and technology transfer have not been translated intorealities.

COLOMBIA: Manuel Rodriguez Becerra, Ministro del MedioAmbiente, did not share in the UK's optimism because two yearsafter Rio he finds the picture to be disappointing. A drop in theresources for developing countries, unilateral protectionist trademeasures and obstacles to the transfer of technology all reflect alack of commitment and political will. The CSD also needs activeparticipation of finance, planning, industrial and agriculturaldevelopment ministers.

THE NETHERLANDS: Jan Pronk, Minister for DevelopmentCooperation, agreed with Colombia that we cannot be too optimistic.The world has changed a lot since 1992 -- there are more civilwars, unemployment and budgetary restraints -- and, thus, it ismore difficult to focus on the environment. The CSD has not mademuch progress on a number of cross-cutting issues, such as trade,consumption patterns and finance. He hoped the High-Level Segmentwill give a boost to additional financial resources.

AUSTRALIA: John Faulkner, Minister for the Environment,Sport and Territories, said that the CSD must play an effectiverole in monitoring, assessment and coordination. The test will beif the measures adopted here make a difference in the real world.National reporting and the development of sustainability indicatorsare essential. Genuine sustainable development will be achievedonly if governments grapple with the hard issues.

ITALY: Altero Matteoli, Minister of the Environment, saidthat Italy adopted a National Plan for sustainable development inDecember 1993 and has also adopted a national programme for thestabilization of carbon dioxide emissions. Italy will organize anintersessional conference on sustainable development in theMediterranean.

PANEL DISCUSSION

The informal Ministerial Panel on Sustainable Development and theEconomy, organized by Germany, focused its discussions on financeand technology. The panelists were: Enrique Iglesias(Inter-American Development Bank), Jonathan Lash (World ResourcesInstitute), Lin See Yan (Bank of Malaysia), Maurice Strong (OntarioHydro and Earth Council), and Vito Tanzi (IMF).

Canada noted that those in attendance were "the converted." Mostagreed that all governments should internalize external costs,especially environmental costs. Lin noted that the cost toimplement Agenda 21 is US$625 annually, requiring many policychanges such as taxes, tradeable permits and incentives. Whilethese concepts are not new, the question of how to implement themon a global scale has not been answered. Accordingly, the CSD hasbeen asked to continue with detailed studies in this area.

Lash was concerned that in most countries it was still notprofitable to be "green" because the full environmental costs ofprojects are not internalized. When asked if industries move toStates with lower environmental standards, Lash replied that whilethere is a strong visceral belief that companies do move, he knowsof no evidence to support this.

Strong mentioned some greening of Ontario Hydro and called for theCSD to provide a strong impetus for the drive towards energyefficiency. He acknowledged that energy prices are too low and donot reflect the environmental cost. The Chair asked if the recentBasel ban of hazardous wastes from OECD to non-OECD countries wouldin fact make matters worse by moving environmentally unsoundindustries out of OECD countries and into non-OECD countries,especially small island States. Denmark responded that the ban wasone of the few substantial things to have happened since Rio and itis unlikely to have such an effect. Denmark also called for similarbans on hazardous chemicals and pharmaceuticals, noting howdisgraceful it is that what cannot be sold in some countries can beexported to less developed countries.

The US asked how the economic costs of health impairments can bebetter reflected and included in financing decisions. She describedhow the removal of leaded gasoline in the US has savedapproximately US$400 million in reduced healthcare costs, not tomention the benefits to the lives of millions of children to whicha cost cannot be given. She also asked how progress in theimplementation of financial mechanisms can be measured andquestioned whether indicators could be developed. Lin suggestedthat the global implementation of internalizing environmental costswould require a "green round" of negotiations.

IN THE CORRIDORS

Youth delegates to the CSD were pleased with the outcome ofWednesday's Youth Round Table. Six youth delegates, who editedRescue Mission: A Children's Version of Agenda 21, met withdelegates. While delegates often talk about the important role ofyouth, they finally got a chance to hear about youth activitiesrelated to Agenda 21. For example, one youth who had lived in theformer Yugoslavia discussed the relationship between the militaryand the environment. Another described her work to prevent animalabuse and efforts to bring Agenda 21 to the youth of Turkey.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT: The High-Level Segment still hasapproximately 20 speakers on the list. The ministers are alsoexpected to discuss specific items. Economics and sustainabledevelopment, with a focus on technology and finance, was scheduledto be discussed in the morning. Trade and sustainable developmentand production and consumption patterns was scheduled for theafternoon. Look for a rearrangement of the schedule due to thenumber of ministers who wish to give prepared statements and thelength of those statements!

HIGH-LEVEL PANEL DISCUSSION: At 5:00 pm a panel discussionon women and sustainable development is scheduled to take place.Invited panelists include: Nancy Barry (President, Women's WorldBanking); Sheila Copps (Minister for the Environment, Canada);Elizabeth Dowdeswell (UN Under-Secretary-General and ExecutiveDirector of UNEP); Dr. Nafis Sadik (Executive Director of UNFPA andSecretary-General of the International Conference on Population andDevelopment); and Chief Bisi Ogunleye (Nigeria).

INFORMAL NEGOTIATING GROUP: It is possible that the informalnegotiating group chaired by Namibia will continue today. Thisgroup was established to negotiate the Chair's draft text onchanging consumption and production patterns. The first meeting washeld Wednesday evening and the group is supposed to achieveconsensus by today.