Daily report for 5 March 1997

Delegates discussed the Co-Chairs’ draft of the Proposed Outcome of UNGASS duringmorning and afternoon meetings. An informal group also met all day to consider thestructure of the document.

WORKING GROUP

The EU called for references to gender in the context of participatory processes and majorgroups and to industry and employment opportunities created by environmental policies.NORWAY linked poverty eradication to implementation of sustainable development,including wealth redistribution and good governance and, with AUSTRALIA, called for afocus on women’s rights. LEBANON called for a section on countries with post-conflictand peace-building processes.

POLICY APPROACHES: On Integration of Economic, Social andEnvironmental Objectives, SWITZERLAND and JAPAN supported the adoption ofnational strategies for sustainable development by 2005. The G-77/CHINA objected tothe 2005 deadline. PAKISTAN and the NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION (NWF)advocated their adoption by 2002. COLOMBIA and BANGLADESH noted that nationalstrategies require support from the international community. NWF called for enhancedconsultation and participatory processes at the national level, particularly for indigenouspeoples.

On Changing Consumption and Production Patterns, the EU called for references to: theroles of financial institutions and the insurance industry in internalizing environmentalcosts and benefits in pricing; producer responsibility; greening government procurementpolicies; and the advertising industry’s responsibility in shaping sustainable consumption.The G-77/CHINA and PAKISTAN called for references to the polluter pays principle andcommon but differentiated responsibilities. NEW ZEALAND proposed that the CSD,with the OECD and WTO, analyze the environmental effects of subsidies. NORWAYcalled for references to: eco-efficiency; government procurement policy; taxation ofresource use and pollution; and removal of subsidies. MEXICO proposed promoting eco-efficiency measures rather than adopting targets to achieve energy and material efficiencyand, with the US, emphasized the importance of education programmes in encouragingchanges in consumption. JAPAN stressed that national economic and energy situationsmust be considered in the reference to international energy efficiency targets. The US didnot support the development of international targets.

NEW ZEALAND and AUSTRALIA recommended extending internalization ofenvironmental costs and benefits to natural resource pricing. COLOMBIA said measuresto internalize environmental costs should not constitute tariff barriers. SWITZERLANDemphasized the responsibility of governments in promoting sustainable consumption andproduction patterns. A CANADIAN YOUTH NGO called for: national awarenesscampaigns directed at youth; youth participation in ecological footprint analysis projects;and the elimination of subsidies for damaging and manipulative advertising.

On Making Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development Mutually Supporting, theEU called for increased responsiveness in the WTO to sustainable developmentobjectives and a reference to a multilateral agreement on investment. MEXICO said theineffectiveness of unilateral measures as a means of environmental protection should bereaffirmed. SWITZERLAND said appropriate environmental policy measures are neededto ensure that trade liberalization does not harm the environment. BANGLADESHemphasized that environmental measures should not impair market access for developingcountries. NWF called for: emphasis on the impact of trade agreements on social goals; ameeting of trade, environment and development ministers to precede the next WTOMinisterial Conference; an understanding that environmental conventions cannot bebound by WTO requirements; an environmental review of the Uruguay Round; and anIntergovernmental Panel on Trade and Sustainable Development.

MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION: On Financial Resources and Mechanisms,UNED-UK called on developed countries to meet the ODA target by 2002. PAPUANEW GUINEA, supported by BANGLADESH, advocated a stronger reference to theimportance of ODA for the least developed countries. The EU, the G-77/CHINA andNORWAY called for recommitment to the 0.7% ODA target. The G-77/CHINA linkedthe integrity of the Special Session to resolving financial problems and recommended de-linking ODA and FDI and acknowledging those countries who have met the ODA target.EGYPT suggested a specific ODA target given the downward trend since UNCED. TheUS did not support targets and reiterated that the US has never committed to 0.7% ofGNP for ODA. He said governments should focus on how to align private sectorspending with sustainable development objectives.

NEW ZEALAND recommended a reference to international and regional revolvinginvestment funds. EGYPT called for a reference to international taxation. NORWAYsuggested a reference to a tax on all aviation fuel. UNED-UK reiterated its proposal forthe establishment of an intergovernmental process to reach consensus and formulateconcrete recommendations on financial issues. The US did not support the creation of anynew intergovernmental processes.

Regarding the GEF, the G-77/CHINA asked that it address the new challenges ofdesertification and forestry and revise its conditionalities. UNED-UK urged caution onwidening its scope without guaranteeing additional resources. CANADA, supported byNORWAY, stated that expanding its scope would reduce its focus and effectiveness.COLOMBIA called for greater transparency and participation in the project approvalprocess. EGYPT suggested at least a doubling of GEF resources. PAPUA NEWGUINEA called for support for environmental management trust funds. The FAO calledfor a forceful statement directed at the GEF, and an evaluation of how efficiently thepolicy concept of global increments has responded to new priorities. PERU called for arestructured GEF.

UNED-UK called for further studies on FDI to focus on appropriate policies for attractingFDI and on strengthening and enforcing social and environmental regulations in hostcountries. EGYPT and NEW ZEALAND called for a reference to the World Bank’sprogramme to relieve heavily indebted developing countries. The EU proposed calling onStates to reinforce domestic mobilization of resources.

On subsidy reform, the EU proposed including a reference to “trade distorting andenvironmentally damaging subsidies.” JAPAN and the REPUBLIC OF KOREA saidenvironmentally damaging subsidies should be specified and country-specific conditionstaken into account. UNED-UK said all environmentally damaging subsidies should beincluded. CANADA suggested focusing on subsidies that are damaging to sustainabledevelopment.

On transfer of ESTs, SWITZERLAND underlined the importance of favorable policyframeworks for investment. CANADA proposed adding a reference to “mutually agreed”terms or deleting the reference to “concessional and preferential” terms. COLOMBIAsaid the international community must establish a policy framework for transfer of ESTson concessional and preferential terms.

JAPAN, supported by AUSTRALIA, highlighted the useful role of South-Southcooperation in capacity-building. CANADA emphasized that strengthening of scientificcapacity is a priority for all countries. The EU and CANADA called for emphasis on thelink between sustainable development indicators and national reporting.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: On the CSD’sfuture role, JAPAN said this should be discussed at CSD-5 in the context of UN reformand emphasized regional implementation. NEW ZEALAND said UNGASS must decide.

On greater coherence in various bodies, AUSTRALIA stressed the need to ensure that theHigh-Level Advisory Board can be tasked by the CSD. COLOMBIA said UNGASSshould highlight the General Assembly’s role as the multilateral mechanism forconference follow-up, and ECOSOC should be entrusted with the role of coordination.He highlighted the relevance of the ACC. NEW ZEALAND said the issue of overlappingand outdated UN bodies needs to be addressed. He also called on the CSD to make moreuse of the work of other ECOSOC functional commissions. The EU emphasized the needfor improved coordination between convention Secretariats, and advocated referring toECOSOC’s responsibility as the overall coordinating body. SWITZERLAND called foroverall system consolidation over time.

On the role of relevant organizations, the EU called for strengthening the role ofinternational financial institutions. JAPAN recommended deleting or rephrasing the callon governments to agree to IDA-12 replenishment at least at the same level as IDA-10.On UNEP’s mandate, JAPAN said the organization should avoid duplication and, withthe G-77/CHINA, called for effective coordination with UNEP. NEW ZEALANDhighlighted the technical capacity of UNEP. COLOMBIA called for strengthening its rolein environmental law. PAKISTAN proposed that UNEP serve as a forum to providesupport to environmental ministries and called for strengthening UNESCO and UNCHS.

JAPAN proposed a special high-level meeting to review implementation of Agenda 21 in2002. UNED-UK called for a clear recommendation for NGO access to national courtsand international legal mechanisms. The EU and AUSTRALIA underlined the need tochange the structure of elections to the CSD Bureau.

AREAS REQUIRING URGENT ACTION: The EU made proposals on AreasRequiring Urgent Action. On poverty, he proposed adding a reference to gender and theoutcome of the UN Women’s Conference in Beijing. He urged caution on establishing anew intergovernmental process on freshwater. On oceans, he recommended references toUNEP’s regional seas programme and the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission. Onenergy and transport, he recommended: calling for a coherent strategy for a sustainableenergy future; promoting guidelines for environmentally friendly transport, fueloptimization and lead phase-out in gasoline; and emphasizing regional approaches totransport. On atmosphere, he said UNGASS should stress the need to adopt a legally-binding protocol at FCCC COP-3. On population, he called for a specific reference toaccess to family planning. On health, he highlighted the need to expand basic healthservices. On land and sustainable agriculture, he called for references to: access to land;the upcoming CCD COP-1; the role of indigenous people; and combating soildegradation. On sustainable tourism, he said continued discussion should be undertakenthrough the CBD and emphasized the need for local community involvement.

INFORMAL GROUP

An informal group, chaired by Antonio Mello (Brazil), met during the morning andafternoon to discuss the structure of the document. Three proposals containing newelements for the section on Strategies for Implementation were distributed. The Co-Chairs’ redraft contained two parts, “Comprehensive Policy Approaches and Means ofImplementation” and “Areas of Focus, Convention Processes and Follow-up to GlobalConferences.” The G-77/China’s draft also contained two parts, “ComprehensiveApproach to Environment and Development,” which was divided into “Integration ofEconomic, Social and Environmental Objectives” and “Conservation and Management ofResources for Development,” and “Means of Implementation.” The Norwegian draft(supported by Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Switzerland) contained threeparts, “Policy Approaches,” “Means of Implementation” and “Areas Requiring SpecificAction.”

Delegates generally agreed to call the section “Implementation in Areas Requiring UrgentAction” and to include three parts in the section: integration of economic, social andenvironmental objectives; sectoral areas; and means for implementation. They could notagree on the title for the subsection on sectoral areas, however, and decided to transmit tothe Co-Chairs their agreement that the section contain three parts.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

WORKING GROUP: The Working Group is expected to meet during themorning and afternoon in Conference Room 3. They are expected to consider Areas Requiring Urgent Action first.