Daily report for 14 April 1997

CSD delegates began negotiating the Intersessional Working Group Co-Chairs’ draftoutcome for UNGASS. Dialogues with women and trade unions took place in parallelmeetings. Informal consultations on institutional issues and forests also took place.

PLENARY

IMPLEMENTATION IN AREAS REQUIRING URGENT ACTION. Integration ofEconomic, Social and Environmental Objectives: In paragraph 17(introduction), the EU noted the importance of democracy, respect for human rights,transparent government and participation of civil society. The G-77/CHINA noted thatsustained economic growth is an essential precondition of sustainable development andmust be guided by equity, justice, social and environmental considerations. The US saidsound economic growth is an important goal in the context of sustainable development.The G-77/CHINA added text regarding an enabling international economic environment.

On 18 (eradicating poverty), CANADA said the empowerment of women iscritical. NORWAY added a reference to the 20/20 concept. The US called for thereduction of overall poverty in the shortest possible time and the eradication of absolutepoverty. The G-77/CHINA proposed intensifying international cooperation to supportpoverty eradication efforts in developing countries. NORWAY recommendedcooperation among donors and recipients to allocate increased shares of ODA to povertyeradication. The US amended the text with: national strategies with targets to reduceabsolute poverty; cooperation with and involvement of people living in poverty todevelop and implement poverty reduction programmes; and analysis of policies’ impactson poverty.

On 19 (Changing Consumption and Production Patterns), the US recommendeddeveloping national policies to encourage changes in consumption patterns. CANADAproposed policies to encourage greater consumer awareness. On 19(a)(environmental cost internalization), the G-77/CHINA added avoidance of negativeeffects on market access for developing countries and promotion of business' role inshaping more sustainable consumption patterns and deleted natural resource pricing.NORWAY added green tax reforms and reducing environmentally-damaging subsidies.On 19(e) (energy and material efficiency), the EU recommended considerationof a ten-fold improvement in resource productivity in the long-term and an increase by afactor of four in the next 2-3 decades. The G-77/CHINA deleted targets and timetablesand added measures to assist developing countries to improve efficiency. The US deletedreferences to timetables and international targets.

In 20 (Making Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development MutuallySupporting), the G-77/CHINA noted the need to eliminate discriminatory trade practicesand added that environmental standards may have unwanted costs in developingcountries. In 20(b) (multilateral trading system), NORWAY called for WTOattention to environmental impacts of subsidies and taxation. The US called on nationalgovernments to encourage coordination between trade and environment officials. The G-77/CHINA called for measures to mitigate adverse impacts on developing countries.

Sectors and Issues: On 25, (freshwater) the EU called forfreshwater for all within ten years and for a global programme of action. The G-77/CHINA highlighted the lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation indeveloping countries and the importance of water for satisfying basic human needs. In25(e) (pricing policies), the G-77/CHINA deleted recognizing water as aneconomic good. NEW ZEALAND suggested its recognition as a “public” good.AUSTRALIA inserted protection of ecosystems and promotion of water conservation.The US added programmes to reduce water consumption and increase recycling. The G-77/CHINA: added text on international support for developing country efforts to shift tomore high-value, less water-intensive modes of agricultural and industrial production;replaced a reference to the Global Water Partnership with bilateral and regionalinitiatives; and deleted the call for an intergovernmental dialogue. The US proposed texton demand-side solutions and waste-water reuse, recycling and recovery programmes.

In 26(b) (existing oceans agreements), the G-77/CHINA called for universalparticipation in existing agreements. JAPAN objected to the reference to the Moratoriumon Commercial Whaling. In 26(c) (excess fishing fleet), the G-77/CHINA calledfor reduction and elimination of wasteful fishing practices, especially in developedcountries. JAPAN objected to the reference to subsidies. The EU called for considerationof positive and negative impacts of subsidies on fisheries. A US redraft referenced workby FAO’s COFI22. ICELAND suggested that subsidies be reduced by 50% by 2002.NORWAY added text on control and enforcement. In 26(d) (UN activities), theG-77/CHINA called for public awareness of oceans as a finite resource. The EU calledfor comprehensive CSD follow-up in 1999. EGYPT called for preparedness for oil spillaccidents in regional agreements.

On 28 (energy), the G-77/CHINA's reformulation emphasized increased energyservices in developing countries; international cooperation to reduce environmentalimpacts of fossil fuel development; and consideration of countries dependent on fossilfuel exports and those vulnerable to effects of climate change. The EU called for anintergovernmental forum to elaborate a common strategy for a sustainable energy future.Additions to 28(c) (modern renewable energy) included: use of energy-intensivematerials (EU); reducing life-cycle costs (US); and cost-effective and environmentally-sound renewable energy sources (CANADA). The G-77/CHINA's amendment called fortime-bound commitments to technology transfer. In 28(e) (pricing policies), theEU, the US, JAPAN and AUSTRALIA deleted a reference to eliminating subsidies forfossil and nuclear energy within ten years. CANADA deleted nuclear energy and addedmovement towards energy pricing that reflects full economic and environmental costs.JAPAN inserted “reduction” of subsidies. Proposals for new subparagraphs included:international cooperation to address negative consequences of energy consumption(JAPAN); increased use and transfer of safe and environmentally-sound energytechnologies (EU); and promoting safety measures regarding radioactive waste(NORWAY).

In 29 (transport), the G-77/CHINA deleted references to oil and fossil energy, aswell as text on policies to improve energy efficiency. The UKRAINE andSWITZERLAND said the call in 29(d) (guidelines and targets) for a phase-out oflead additives in ten years is unrealistic. The EU called for an international tax onaviation fuel.

In 30 (atmosphere), the EU specified legally-binding commitments that COP-3should adopt. The US called for a satisfactory result at COP-3. CANADA and JAPANcalled on COP-3 to include legally-binding and quantified measures, respectively.SAUDI ARABIA said the outcome should not be preempted.

On 32 (chemicals and wastes), the G-77/CHINA added text on facilitating accessto environmentally-safe substitutes to POPs and on enhancing awareness of theimportance of safety and management and ensuring prevention of accidents.

DIALOGUE WITH MAJOR GROUPS

WOMEN: Bella Abzug, WEDO, recalled how women have advancedrecognition of their essential role in sustainable development. She highlighted poverty,globalization, free trade and biotechnology. Chief Bisi Ogunleye, Country WomenAssociation, recalled UNCED’s commitment to allow the poor to voice solutions topoverty. The Micro-Credit Summit (1997) set the goal of using $21.7 billion to help 100million families out of poverty. She suggested that UNGASS call for 1-2% of developedcountry aid and World Bank funding to be set aside for micro-credit.

On food security, women have been forced to become unwilling partners in destructiveagricultural processes. Delegates were asked to resist the language of “agriculturalsustainability” associated with export-driven agriculture and to uphold the right to foodrather than its commodification. Jocelyn Dow, Red Thread and WEDO, described thenegative consequences for sustainable agriculture when trade rules change. EvaCharkiewicz, Central and Eastern European Network for Sustainable Development, saidthe CSD could identify “hot spots” of industrial contamination and proposed that theCSD address the effect of commercial advertising on unsustainable production andconsumption. Thais Corral, REDEH, provided examples on the integration of women intolocal Agenda 21s and urged the CSD to examine practices to better integrate women intolocal councils in cities and towns.

Topics addressed during the dialogue included: changing the way men perceive theirroles in society; links to the Commission on the Status of Women; nuclear contaminationand women’s reproductive health; the precautionary principle; human rights abuses;transboundary movements of hazardous materials; national efforts to include women ingovernment; and reflecting the “paradigm shift” of the Beijing Conference at UNGASS.

TRADE UNIONS: Clayola Brown, Union of Needletrades, Industrial andTextile Employees, said that sustainable development can be achieved through“collective engagement,” a process of education and action that puts workers at the centerand promotes action. Nilton Frietas, Central Unica Dos Trabalhadores, described anational accord reached through consultation that helped thousands of workers who weresuffering from benzene contamination. Bertil Grahn, Graphical Workers Union, presenteda case study on workplace and community partnerships that incorporated environmentalconcerns into all aspects of production.

Paul Hackett, OECD, announced plans to publish a guide on cleaner production acrossEurope. Vlastimil Altner, Mine, Geological and Oil Workers, builds environmentalawareness into health and safety training programmes and promotes eco-audits. MichaelBoggs, Laborers’ International Union, called on donor organizations to fundenvironmental remediation programmes and recycling and recovery of urban waste tobuild housing. Isaac Mudyandaruva, Zimbabwe Council of Trade Unions, describedcooperation with local authorities and local communities to research and address housing,local environments, unplanned urban growth and poverty. Else-Marie Osmundsen, ILO,recommended that governments ratify ILO conventions and develop national reportingand trade union participation. Per Erik Boivie, Swedish Confederation of ProfessionalEmployees, described initiatives on eco-labelling for computers and green and ergonomicoffices.

David Bennet, Canadian Labour Congress, focused on controlling chemicals throughharmonization and standard setting and the work of the Intergovernmental Forum onChemical Safety. Owen Tudor, Trades Union Congress, spoke about EU eco-management and audit schemes and the campaign for international codes of conduct.Kalpona Akter, Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Union, described a complaintmade to the ILO involving violations of workers' rights in Bangladesh. She called on theCSD and the international community to get rid of inhuman working conditions. Thedialogue session focused on a number of topics, including: the relationship of eco-auditing and the ISO 14000 approach to environmental management; the adaptability ofthe auditing system to developing countries; and “informal” economies. Also discussedwere: deregulation of national systems; trade unions in UN and EU deliberations; globaltargets for management; and funding for worker participation.

INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS

Delegates discussed the Co-Chairs’ draft text on institutional issues during informalconsultations, chaired by John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda). At informal consultations onforests chaired by Amb. Bagher Asadi (Iran), delegations requested that the Secretariatdraft a text, based on the IPF report and ministerial statements, for further negotiation.Delegates suggested that the text: endorse and call for implementation of the proposalsfor action agreed by the IPF; recognize that trade and funding mechanisms areoutstanding issues; and outline the IPF’s options regarding institutional follow-up. Adraft text was circulated during the afternoon.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

PLENARY: Delegates will continue negotiating the Co-Chairs’ draft text on"Sectors and Issues" in Conference Room 2.

DIALOGUE SESSIONS: Dialogue sessions with indigenous peoples and NGOswill take place in Conference Room 1.

INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS: <M>Informal consultations on institutionalarrangements and forests are expected to continue today.