Daily report for 9 April 1997

Delegates to CSD-5 heard over fifty statements from ministers, ambassadors and NGOs.The President of the UN General Assembly, Razali Ismail (Malaysia), also addressed themeeting. Delegates elected Vice-Chairs Czeslaw Wieckowski (Poland) for the EasternEuropean Group and Bagher Asadi (Iran) for the Asian Group.

UNGA President Razali said the poor must be the primary beneficiaries of UNGASS. Hecalled for an analysis of cross-sectoral issues on a par with that of sectoral issues. He saidthe CSD should: place poverty eradication at the center of debates; address unsustainableproduction and consumption patterns; respect the rights and needs of indigenous people;go beyond the current debate over ODA and FDI; and examine the role of internationalfinancial institutions. He also recommended: setting frameworks to examine thespeculative nature of capital flows; analyzing the impact of deregulation; and addressingdevelopments in the WTO.

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

Delegates continued to offer their views on the proposed outcome of the session.CANADA stressed the need to “move from Rio to reality” and called for achievablemilestones, improved mechanisms to share experiences, and the streamlining andimprovement of international institutions. COSTA RICA called for action to implementexisting commitments. THAILAND said UNGASS should provide new political impetusfor implementation after a critical examination of national efforts. ITALY said thatsustainable development remains a principle whose degree of application in policydevelopment and implementation at the national and regional levels has been inadequate.

MALAYSIA proposed defining sustainable development in terms of economic and socialdevelopment, environmental protection and equity. NORWAY recommended that thepolitical declaration reflect the importance of peace, security, democracy and respect forhuman rights as preconditions for sustainable development. SOUTH AFRICA said hiscountry’s advances reflect the historical lessons that inequality and tyranny areunsustainable. SWITZERLAND said sustainable development depends on povertyeradication and integration of environmental protection into all sectors. IRELAND saidthat poverty eradication and meeting basic food and shelter needs must continue to be themajor focus of the Rio follow-up.

The RUSSIAN FEDERATION said the level of international coordination on sustainabledevelopment does not match the magnitude of the current critical situation.

MEXICO underscored the need to identify priorities and specific measures and torecognize common but differentiated responsibilities in environmental conventions. ThePHILIPPINES stressed effective information, education and communicationprogrammes. LITHUANIA emphasized collaboration at bilateral and regional levels.SLOVAKIA recommended strengthening the CSD so that it may target its efforts. TheCZECH REPUBLIC underlined the importance of indicators and economic instrumentsfor sustainable development. NICARAGUA called for training to assist with nationalreporting commitments.

ALGERIA and MALAYSIA proposed a fund for facilitating technology transfer. IRANsaid the CSD should focus on technology transfer, technical assistance and changingconsumption and production patterns. BENIN highlighted the Francophone countries’priorities: freshwater; energy; desertification; and sustainable forest development.TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, for the ALLIANCE OF SMALL ISLAND STATES(AOSIS), stated that the priority issues should be energy, oceans and sustainable tourismand, with GUYANA, called on the international community to actively support theBarbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States.

SPAIN and ALGERIA emphasized the importance of addressing desertification. EGYPTcalled for support for the Global Mechanism to ensure implementation of the Conventionto Combat Desertification. The INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR LOCALENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES said the CSD should establish a target for the spreadof local Agenda 21s. The INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CAUCUS called on the CSD toadopt the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. CHILE recommendedstrengthening the draft language on toxic waste. The ZANZIBAR ASSOCIATION FORPROGRESS stressed the need for expanded participation in all decision-making fora andfor consistency between representations at the UN and in capitals.

MALAYSIA proposed adding globalization as a cross-cutting issue for annual CSDconsideration. PANAMA called for consideration of globalization in any CSDexamination of progress in implementing Agenda 21. SLOVENIA said globalizationsuggested a need for differentiated regional approaches to implementation.

NORWAY said social and environmental concerns must be taken into account by theglobal trading system, and liberalization should not be allowed to weaken environmentalstandards and agreements. SWITZERLAND proposed bringing international actors ontrade and environment together on an equal level. EGYPT noted developing countries’concern that environmental protection not be used as a guise for protectionism. CUBAsaid there would be no equity in sustainable development if countries focus only onprivatization and pursuit of the perfect market.

Several speakers called for a reversal of declining ODA flows and for a renewedcommitment to the ODA target of 0.7% of GNP. GABON and INDONESIA noted thatODA is the only source of external financing for many countries and sustainabledevelopment is impossible in its absence. INDONESIA stressed that FDI is not a viablealternative to ODA. FINLAND stated that ODA should be channeled to the poorestcountries and used to improve the enabling environment for private sector operations.SPAIN said UNGASS should adopt specific commitments on: increased donor countryefforts; improved developing country efficiency; improved quality of ODA; increasedcontributions from transnational corporations; and international trade reform.

CHINA said some developed countries unilaterally call on developing countries toundertake obligations beyond their level of development, disregarding the principle ofcommon but differentiated responsibilities. NAMIBIA called for an internationalenvironment that will reinforce national efforts in developing countries. NICARAGUAcalled for a flexible approach to debt relief to assist heavily indebted countries inimplementing sustainable development. BRAZIL suggested that developed countries useincentives to ensure enhanced commitment of international private capital flows tosustainable development. The WORLD BANK highlighted the need for changes in thepattern and efficiency of financing and market transformation through partnerships.NORWAY recommended that proposals for an international tax on aviation fuel and foran international panel on finance be considered at UNGASS.

A number of speakers, including NORWAY, GABON and SWITZERLAND, called forstrengthening UNEP. THAILAND called on Member States to provide the necessaryfinancial support for UNEP and supported a strengthened CSD role in internationalenvironmental issues. MEXICO emphasized the distinction between the mandates ofUNEP and the CSD and the importance of cooperation between them. NEW ZEALANDexpressed concern that discussions on global environmental issues would be relegated toUNEP. Several delegations stressed the importance of GEF replenishment, includingEGYPT, FINLAND, PANAMA and AOSIS.

NORWAY emphasized the need to explore eco-efficiency and said business should beencouraged to adopt codes of conduct and management systems for promotingsustainable development. SLOVENIA called for the internalization of environmentalcosts of production at the international level. AUSTRALIA called for increased use ofeconomic instruments to internalize environmental costs, improve efficiency and modifyconsumer behavior. LUXEMBOURG stressed that industrialized countries mustreexamine unsustainable production and consumption patterns and developing countriesmust accept that they cannot reproduce this unsustainable model of economic growth.

NORWAY and ICELAND called for increased use of renewable energy sources.AUSTRIA recommended setting and monitoring goals to improve energy and materialefficiency, supported the development of a strategy for a sustainable energy future, andstressed the need for intergovernmental work on this issue. SWITZERLAND andDENMARK proposed an intergovernmental panel on energy. The WORLD BANK notedthe need to reform the energy sector. HUNGARY suggested that the CSD coordinate andsynthesize existing energy sector initiatives and programmes within the UN. The NGOENERGY CAUCUS called for the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies and increasedprogrammes for energy efficiency.

AOSIS highlighted the importance of implementing early and substantial reductions inGHG emissions. AUSTRIA appealed to industrialized countries to commit to substantivereduction targets and timetables as soon as possible. LUXEMBOURG said UNGASSshould call on FCCC COP-3 to adopt a protocol for realistic and legally-bindingreductions. ITALY recommended for COP-3: a legally-binding commitment to reduceemissions by 15% in developed countries; active involvement of developing countries;commitment by newly industrialized countries to adopt new technologies and products;and the use and dissemination of energy efficient technologies.

AUSTRIA, FINLAND, SLOVAKIA and ITALY supported an international conventionon forests. INDONESIA emphasized the need for continued dialogue to implement theIPF’s action proposals, but said its ultimate objective should be to seek agreement on aconvention. AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND said that the international debate onforests has not yielded a convincing case for a legally-binding instrument. GABONstressed the importance of implementing the Forest Principles and said proposals for aconvention should be seriously studied and take into account all IPF recommendations.BRAZIL said the international debate on forests should continue under the CSD throughan intergovernmental forum to assess and monitor implementation of the action proposalsand elaborate possible elements of a convention or other arrangements. GREENPEACEINTERNATIONAL highlighted the importance of the IPF's action proposals and saidsome countries are diverting attention from them by calling for a global convention.FINLAND called for further development and national implementation of criteria andindicators on a cross-sectoral and participatory basis.

AUSTRIA underscored the urgency of access to freshwater and called on the CSD toelaborate a global plan of action. The PHILIPPINES advocated an integrated approachand recommended a multilateral fund to support efforts in water resource management,technology transfer and information exchange. SOUTH AFRICA noted huge disparitiesin access to clean water and sanitation in many African countries. URUGUAY andINDIA supported freshwater as a CSD priority.

ICELAND called for: prioritization of marine issues in relevant UN agencies;improvement of the scientific basis for work on oceans; and a phase-out of fishingsubsidies. GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL called for an FAO mandate for strongaction on fishing over-capacity.

IN THE CORRIDORS

The US convened a meeting of the Vinci group Wednesday to discuss the outcome of thedecision taken by the Governing Council on the future of UNEP. Observers described themeeting as the beginning of an exercise in mending relations between Western countriesand the G-77 in the wake of the debate over UNEP’s future. They reported that the firstmeeting of the new ministerial body to oversee UNEP’s work will meet duringUNGASS. It is understood that Spain became the first of those countries who suspendedtheir contributions to UNEP to declare its intention to resume payments. The UK isreported to be waiting until the new governance structure has been tried and tested, whilethe US resumption, when it comes, may have strings attached.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT: The High-Level Segment will consider the report ofthe Intergovernmental Panel on Forests during morning and afternoon meetings.