Daily report for 18 April 1995

PRESENTATION OF NATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

UNDP Administrator James Gustave Speth said national policies are beingtransformed since UNCED despite serious backsliding on commitments byindustrialized countries, particularly on financial resources. The developing world hasbegun to implement Agenda 21 in earnest. Yet, the proliferation of instruments sinceUNCED has been problematic for governments. UNDP is leading a task force toaddress this emerging concern. Speth sought the views of delegations and added thatcapacity building for sustainable development must be a priority for multilateraltechnical assistance agencies and others, including NGOs. UNDP has assisted indisseminating information through its Capacity 21 programme. He highlighted theimportance of sustainable agriculture and land-use planning, which is at the heart ofAgenda 21 concerns about food security, rural development and women'sparticipation.

The CSD then heard presentations on national strategies and experiences in Agenda 21follow-up.

Bolivia: Alejandro Mercado, Under-Secretary of Development Strategy,presented Bolivia's progress report on implementing Agenda 21. UNCED sent aclear message that without environmental management, development will not bepossible. He traced unsustainable policies to historical factors, notably colonization,which replaced agricultural rotation systems with 'consumption abuse.' Otherhistorical factors include inefficient agricultural trade, indiscriminate exploitation ofwood and pollution. Bolivia's approach to sustainable development includescommitments to: economic growth, incorporating environmental costs; rational use ofnatural resources; social equity and participation; recognition of cultural diversity; andgovernability incorporating decision-making capacity and democratization. Reformsunder way address the Constitution, education, capitalization, popular participation tofacilitate redistribution of political and economic power, forestry, land rights andenvironmental law.

Unsustainable forestry practices have resulted from an inadequate institutional modelfor timber resource exploitation. Among actions to be taken is a new forest law thatcomprehensively addresses forest ecology. Bolivia is establishing a national system ofprotected areas, promoting conservation of wildlife and germplasm, and managingwater basins. The Pilcomayo Basin, which is shared by Bolivia, Paraguay andArgentina, is a subject of an inter-governmental agreement.

India: N.R. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests,described Agenda 21 implementation in India. Recent constitutional amendments haveempowered local self-governing bodies to take decisions at the local level. One-thirdof the seats are reserved for women. India has set up a Planning Commission andNational Development and Environmental Councils. India's environment is taxed byheavy industrial and commercial demands, with 50% of the country's energy needsbeing met through coal and fuel wood, although alternative energy sources are activelypromoted. Development is carried out with due regard for the needs of localcommunities in forest areas. India has shifted from forest-based development toregeneration, conservation and sustainable harvesting. NGO involvement has also beenkey to India's sustainable agriculture practices. Despite the environmental impacts,India's green revolution has increased food production. Some of India's ruraldevelopment programmes address: wage employment; water treatment; communityhealth; rural youth training; and integrated rural development. India has over 50environmental laws, including provisions for eco-labeling, and numerous fiscalincentives to promote sustainable development, such as 100% deductions for pollutionabatement equipment.

Poland: Professor Maciej Nowicki, Adviser to the Minister of EnvironmentalProtection, presented Poland's progress report on Agenda 21 implementation. In thetransition to a free-market economy, sustainable development has become a nationalpriority. Poland's fundamental environmental and economic issues include restorationof industrially damaged regions, preservation of pristine areas, and protection fromunsustainable development. Czeslaw Wieckowski, Director of the Department ofEcological Policy, outlined national strategies for environmental conservation with theparticipation of civil society. Poland will have to spend more than US$1 billionannually up to the end of the century to achieve its sustainability goal. Poland isdeveloping an ecological education system with NGO participation. The objective ofsustainable development enjoys wide political consensus, which has enabled progressover the past five years. Professor Nowicki said that the mechanisms established at thebeginning of Poland's economic transition must now be assessed. Industrialproduction is increasing, with a stabilization in coal and steel production. Energyconsumption, after a 1990-91 decrease, has stabilized over the past three years, withenergy savings achieved by industry. These developments will have environmentalconsequences: water discharges have been reduced and protected areas have increasedby 150%. Problems remain regarding the promotion of sustainable agriculture and theincrease in transport use. The prevention of a water shortage resulting from climatechange is also a concern. In the long term Western-style consumption will be the mainobstacle to sustainability in Poland.

Uganda: Mr. Henry Aryamanya-Mugisha, Director of EnvironmentProtection, presented Uganda's National Environment Action Plan (NEAP), whichidentifies environmental problems and provides a framework to integrateenvironmental concerns into national development plans. The NEAP provides a legalframework for: creation of rights and obligations; environmental impact assessments;protection of fragile ecosystems; and the establishment of the National EnvironmentManagement Authority.

Another component of the NEAP is the Investment Plan, which covers: capacitybuilding in environmental management; resource productivity; biodiversityconservation; environmental education and public awareness; and environmental healthand pollution management. Action plans are being prepared for water, wetlands,forests, wildlife, biodiversity, agriculture, mining, climate change, population, droughtand desertification. Raising awareness of environmental issues remains a priority, andthe government requires the inclusion of environmental education in school curricula.Uganda will produce a national 'State of the Environment' report every two years,and district environmental profiles are being prepared. Uganda is also cooperating withTanzania and Kenya to solve the problem of water hyacinth infestation in LakeVictoria, and that while the process of formulating the action plans has progressedwell, implementation remains a problem.

United Kingdom: John Stevens, Assistant Secretary, EnvironmentalProtection Division, Department of the Environment, reported on the UK's Strategyfor Sustainable Development, which looks at both economic development andenvironmental protection toward the year 2012. The government held consultations inpreparing the strategy, including: a seminar at Oxford University; 40 consultativemeetings with experts from different groups and sectors; a questionnaire on publicattitudes in the Daily Telegraph; and consultations with other countries. Theresulting strategy examines: the principles of sustainable development; the state of theenvironment sector-by-sector; the impact on the environment of different sectors of theeconomy; and different types of policy responses. Some environmental groups weredisappointed that the Strategy did not set new targets or policies. The Strategy'salternative approach is to set targets that the government is committed to achieve. TheStrategy identifies new indicators for sustainable development and establishes a taskforce with representatives from all ministries. Strategies on climate change,biodiversity, waste reduction and air quality have been developed. Three new bodieshave been established to implement the strategy: the Government's Panel onSustainable Development, the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development, and'Going for Green,' a public awareness campaign.

France then presented the results of a seminar hosted by the FrenchCommission on Sustainable Development that involved the participation of 24sustainable development commissions in Europe. The meeting enabled representativesfrom national sustainable development commissions to share experiences. Finlandsaid that national strategies on sustainable development seem to be powerful toolsto promote sustainable development. Finland's national strategy includes sectoralstrategies for industry, transport, energy, forestry and agriculture. Chinadescribed its national Agenda 21 and noted that a number of Chinese cities andprovinces have their own environmental plans of action.

DAY OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Mark Hildebrand, UN Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), introducedthe Day of Local Authorities and said preparations began at the second session of theCSD. The moderator, Jeb Brugmann, Secretary-General, InternationalCouncil for Local Environmental Initiatives, said between 1000 and 1200 localauthorities are implementing Local Agenda 21s in 26 countries. Mayor Luis B.Guerrero-Figueroa, Cajamarca, Peru, highlighted the need for a decentralized,participatory and democratic model for local decision-making to implement LocalAgenda 21. Expansion of local leadership has improved democracy, urban-ruralcommunication, conservation and recovery of natural resources. WilliamPearce, Head of Strategic Planning Division, Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth, Canada, said his formerly polluted municipality won an environmentalachievement award in 1994. Using a consensus approach, a task force was set up toconduct consultations with local residents and organizations. He recommendedsustainable development indicators that are measurable, credible and valid.

Derek Bateman, Chair, UK Local Agenda 21 Steering Group, said that 60councils throughout the UK have committed to developing plans. The key elementsare: managing and improving environmental performance; integrating sustainabledevelopment into policies; awareness-raising and education; involving the public;partnerships; measuring, monitoring and reporting; and indicators. Local Agenda 21should be a focus for UN initiatives.

Mr. T.P. Magere, Deputy Principal Secretary of the Office of thePrime Minister, Tanzania, described the project for a Sustainable Dar es Salaam toimprove the standard of living. Solid waste management, urban renewal, air quality,liquid waste, the integration of the informal sector into the urban economy and thecoastal economy were identified as priority areas. Communities choose their ownpriority areas and the government provides the infrastructure. Economic structuraladjustment programmes take account of social services necessary for economicrecovery.

Masami Shibuya, Vice Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, introducedAgenda 21 Kanagawa, a social action programme based on cooperation between localgovernments, citizens, NGOs and the corporate sector. NGO, corporate andgovernment liaison committees were created to formulate concrete programmes.Agenda 21 Kanagawa has four goals: environmentally friendly lifestyles; a society thatconsiders the environment; a symbiotic social system; and international cooperation onthe environment. The prefecture has had problems with pollution and populationgrowth, and is planning a world Conference on Sustainable Cities for local authoritiesto exchange experiences and to promote environmentally friendly lifestyles.

IN THE CORRIDORS

The Bureau and the Secretariat have been working on the draft decisions to beconsidered by the three working groups. The first seven decisions were distributedlate Tuesday afternoon: science; environment and development in decision making;trade, environment and sustainable development; demographics; financial resources andmechanisms; poverty; and major groups. One that has not yet emerged is the mandateof the intergovernmental panel on forests. The Chair asked interested delegations tosubmit their proposals by the end of the day Tuesday. While the draft decision onforests is expected to be considered by the working group chaired by HenryAryamanya-Mugisha (Uganda), some anticipate the establishment of a smaller,informal group.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

PLENARY: The Plenary will hear five presentations on national experiencesin integrated land management and sustainable agriculture. These include: Australia'sLandcare Programme; Influence of Environmental Measures on Chilean Vegetable andFruit Exports; Integrated Land Management and Sustainable Agriculture in Hungary;Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Indonesia; and LandManagement and Sustainable Development in Morocco. In addition, look for theSecretariat to distribute copies of the remaining draft decisions.

CAPACITY 21 PRESENTATIONS: UNDP will host presentations by TheGambia and Costa Rica on their experiences with UNDP's Capacity 21 programme at6:00 pm in Room 5.

THIRD WORLD NETWORK FORUM: Today's forum, which will takeplace at 1:15 pm, will be on patenting of life forms, intellectual property rights and sustainability.