Daily report for 24 June 1993

INDONESIA: Minister of State for Environment SarwonoKusumaatmadja stated that the recognition of the sovereign rightsof states should be upheld and this includes forests. He shared theview of other ministers that the preparation for the CSD shouldtake place well in advance of the meetings. He supported the ideaof small ad-hoc working groups of experts and eminent persons toidentify relevant issues and draw out plans of action.

SRI LANKA: Minister of Environment and Parliamentary AffairsWimal Wickremasinghe thought that the method of establishingtechnology centers should be discussed. Domestic initiatives areneeded to tackle issues of poverty, population, and consumptionpatterns.Enhanced environmental education and awareness isimportant and green auditing must be developed.

CANADA: Minister of State for the Environment Mary Collinsstressed three themes: the CSD should be an inclusive politicalforum; it must emphasize the importance of national plans forsustainability; and it needs to look at innovative mechanisms inpreparation for the next CSD session. She suggested that next yearthe ministers should sit around a table and talk face-to-face. Shementioned that the IISD in Winnipeg is establishing an informalforum on environment and trade as a contribution to the CSD's work.She also announced the establishment of a Centre for SustainableCities in Vancouver.

VENEZUELA: Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs FernandoGerbasi supported Canada's call for the various actors in theprocess to have the opportunity to participate in the CSD.Governments need to find the machinery to promote theirparticipation in the CSD. He agreed with Germany on the importanceof thematic meetings. UNCTAD and GATT should ensure that ecology isnot used for protectionism.

MOROCCO: Amb. Ahmed Snoussi mentioned that despite somepositive events related to finance and debt, commitments are stillbelow hopes raised in Rio. He reiterated Morocco's pledge in Rio tohost a high-level meeting to deal with freshwater and hopes thatthis will be a valuable contribution to the second session of theCSD.

PHILIPPINES: Congressman Miguel Romero said that a viabledebt relief management program is beneficial for all countries. AnEarth Increment is needed in IDA. Some countries do not have enoughreserves to buy goods and services under the environmental termsdiscussed today.

SWEDEN: Minister of the Environment and Natural ResourcesOlof Johansson said that the essence of the CSD is to givepolitical guidance and have open discussion. He supported the INCDprocess and confirmed Sweden's offer to host a forum on riskassessment and management of chemicals in April 1994. Environmentalsecurity should be part of our concept of security. An "Agenda forDevelopment" is needed as a second pillar in long-term UN actionfor world peace. He supported Germany, Italy and Canada in theestablishment of an independent commission on forests.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY: Juan Prat from the Commission of theEuropean Communities, agreed with India, the Netherlands and USVice President Al Gore who said that concrete steps should be takenin the intersessional period to move projects forward. Theessential question for developing countries is tradeliberalization. Trade and environment should be mutually supportivein terms of sustainable development.

POLAND: Under-Secretary of State Michal Wilczynski offeredhis country's experience as a model in decentralizingimplementation of Agenda 21. He supported regional cooperationnoting the Baltic Sea rescue plan and regretted that intersessionalactivities were not going to be organized regionally. Attentionshould be paid to innovative forms of financing, such as debtswaps, and reporting should achieve comparability and includeregional initiatives.

WOMEN'S CAUCUS: Kwardua Vanderpuye said that poor andilliterate women were the caretakers of food crops and medicinalplants, the preservers of biodiversity, and carried knowledgethrough millennia. New York should be the seat of the CSD to ensuremaximum participation of NGOs as experts.

SWITZERLAND: Federal Councillor Ruth Dreifuss said that theenvironmental aspects of trade should be considered and that changewill come through both official aid and ensuring good conditionsfor adequate private investment. Priority should be given torevitalizing existing institutions and that UN restructuring isimportant. Reports to the CSD should be standardized with averification machinery based on a transparent peer review system,perhaps in a regional framework. She said that Switzerland favorsdoubling the size of the GEF with institutional reform for greaterparticipation of southern countries.

GABON: The representative said that responsibility ofimplementation of the Rio decisions is primarily at the nationallevel. Africa is ready to contribute active participation andsolidarity in implementing sustainable development. Any policyimposing special standards and norms on tropical forests andproducts derived from them would be an impediment to the developingworld.

BULGARIA: Deputy Minister of the Environment Jordan Uzunovsaid that the countries with economies in transition should findconsideration in the work of the CSD. He suggested that the CSDlook at mechanisms for tackling environmental accidents andsituations. He stressed that technology transfer and capacitybuilding are important for overall development.

VANUATU: Amb. Robert Van Lierop agreed with India on theinterrelationship of global benefits and local environmentalimpacts. Like Australia, he said that this is a political processand that we should look for political definitions of terms such asglobal benefits. For small island developing states, the CSDactually is an environmental security council.

DENMARK: Minister for Development Helle Degn, speaking onbehalf of the EC environment and cooperation ministers, announcedan additional 120 million ECU for implementation of Agenda 21 andnew operational strategies to include a policy dialogue withrecipient countries for channeling funds to the poorest group. Sheannounced that Denmark offered to host an intersessional meeting onhealth.

SAUDI ARABIA: President of the Meteorology and EnvironmentalProtection Administration Abdul ar Al-Gain said indicators of theenvironment are going from bad to worse. Environmental concepts areonly beginning in the South and sustainable development should bestressed as mutually supportive for both environment anddevelopment. An action plan for each issue, especially technologytransfer and capacity building, should be developed.

ALGERIA: Rabah Hadid, the Deputy Permanent Representative tothe UN, associated his remarks with Colombia and Tunisia on commoninitiatives being taken in the field of the environment. Thesuccess of the CSD depends on factors such as: the initiation of agenuine North-South partnership; new and additional financialresources for the South; and availability and accessibility ofenvironmentally sound technology.

MALTA: Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment StanleyZammit stated that the ministers should shoulder the brunt, butshare the burden with other ministers. He spoke of Malta's plansfor an environmental directorate. He stressed the role of regionalaction, noting the Mediterranean Action Plan and plans toincorporate Agenda 21 into the Barcelona Convention.

BARBADOS: Minister of State L.V.H. Lewis said that the CSDdepends on comprehensive input on actions and constraints at thenational level. He called for regional and sub-regionalconsultations as a compliment to national reports. He noted theGlobal Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small IslandDeveloping States as one concrete example of UNCED follow-up.

UNITED KINGDOM: Secretary of State for the Environment JohnGummer said that as environmental concerns slip down the politicalagenda things are less "scare-driven." The CSD's concerns arebroader than each minister's portfolio. He stressed nationalstewardship for the environment, and the value of both sharingnational reports and working parties. He warned that instead ofspeaking in a private language, the CSD should use ordinary speechthat communicates a passionate desire.

HUNGARY: Minister for Environment and Regional Policy J nosGyurk stressed the need to strengthen bilateral and multilateralagreements, new financing mechanisms, transfer of environmentallysound technology and the necessary legal framework. Agenda 21cannot be seen in isolation, but is dependent on complex economicfactors.

URUGUAY: Amb. Ramiro Piriz-Ballon spoke about his country'spublic outreach following Rio. Funds to implement Agenda 21 shouldbe based on the principle of shared but differentiatedresponsibility. A new economic panorama to ensure thesustainability of development is needed.

CZECH REPUBLIC: First Deputy Minister of the EnvironmentVladimr Novotny welcomed the CSD as a way to introduce Agenda 21into practical life. He highlighted Czech progress on environmentalissues and said that they are focussing on energy conservation,clean air, freshwater protection and chemical management.

PAKISTAN: Amb. Munir Akram identified five areas in whichcooperation or lack of it determines the sustainable development ofall countries: financial flows, trade, technology flows,consumption patterns and population. Economic and humandevelopment, as well as environmental protection, are elements ofsustainable development. He thought that the unilateral actions ofcountries hosting sectoral meetings should not determine the CSD'sprogramme of work.

BENIN: Amb. Ren‚ Val‚ry Mongbe stressed the importance ofcombatting poverty. He hoped that the international community willcontribute to the drafting of the convention to combatdesertification and will find the financial and technological meansto ensure its implementation. He welcomed the French and Dutchproposals to hold intersessional meetings. He mentioned that Beninis establishing a national Commission on Sustainable Development.

UNITED STATES: The Hon. Timothy E. Wirth said that PresidentClinton has added four new elements to US global policy: democracy,environment, population and sustainable development. He said thatthe US wants to join in partnership with other countries in astrong intersessional effort and to confirm this commitment heannounced that the US is joining with Colombia to contribute topreparation for the intersessional working group on technologytransfer, cooperation and capacity building. COLOMBIAresponded that this is the best possible way to implement theSpirit of Rio and enthusiastically welcomed the new North-Southspirit and partnership for sustainable development.

CHILE: Minister for Natural Resources Luis Alvaradomentioned Chile's awareness of the Rio commitments, passion indealing with these issues, and realism in facing environmentalproblems. He expressed solidarity with the countries in transition.The CSD is primarily a political body and should lay the groundworkfor political consensus.

MALAWI: Minister for Forestry and Natural Resources E.Y.Sambo listed problems that Malawi is facing, including tradeimbalance, poverty, hunger, disease and drought. Malawi ispreparing a national environmental plan.

FRANCE: Minstre de l'Environnement Michel Barnier said workshould be done on the basis of comparable data. Therefore, we needadditional statistical tools and environmental accounting. Heagreed with Switzerland on the need for indicators. He announcedthat France will host a roundtable on water and health.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' CAUCUS: Victoria Tauli-Corpuz stressedthree issues of specific importance to indigenous peoples:biodiversity, biotechnology and intellectual property rights. Sheproposed that the UN system and governments provide mechanisms sothat indigenous peoples can share their views with others on theseissues. She called for a halt to the Human Genome Diversity Projectthat has a pending patent application for 2500 human genes.

JAPAN: Deputy Director-General of the UN Bureau, Mr. Kawai,stressed the importance of capacity-building. Human resourcedevelopment is the key for effective environmental policies.Regional cooperation is important. He also announced that Japan'scabinet will be taking a decision shortly on the Funds forDevelopment initiative.

NAMIBIA: Minister of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism NikoBessinger supported Germany's idea that the CSD should becomehighly political and Canada's idea to change the format of themeeting so ministers can sit around a table and pursue dialogue.The CSD needs discussion and exchange of ideas, otherwise themeeting will be reduced to the bureaucratic level.

ZIMBABWE: Minister of Environment and Tourism Herbert M.Murerwa said: the main dimensions of sustainable development arepoverty, population growth, and consumption patterns. He welcomedintersessional meetings. Better access to information on policiesand strategies is needed, and the CSD should explore ways forbilateral cooperation.

At the end of the session, Razali distributed a Chair's Summary.This 3-page document was not intended to be a negotiated decisionbut rather a summary of the major points of the 2-day High-LevelSegment. After Razali read out the text, a number of delegates tookthe floor to endorse the summary and congratulate the Chair, theBureau and the Secretariat on a job well-done. The common thread inthe closing remarks was that the High-Level Segment had givendirection and political impetus to the CSD.

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

INDONESIA: Minister of State for Environment SarwonoKusumaatmadja stated that the recognition of the sovereign rightsof states should be upheld and this includes forests. He shared theview of other ministers that the preparation for the CSD shouldtake place well in advance of the meetings. He supported the ideaof small ad-hoc working groups of experts and eminent persons toidentify relevant issues and draw out plans of action.

SRI LANKA: Minister of Environment and Parliamentary AffairsWimal Wickremasinghe thought that the method of establishingtechnology centers should be discussed. Domestic initiatives areneeded to tackle issues of poverty, population, and consumptionpatterns.Enhanced environmental education and awareness isimportant and green auditing must be developed.

CANADA: Minister of State for the Environment Mary Collinsstressed three themes: the CSD should be an inclusive politicalforum; it must emphasize the importance of national plans forsustainability; and it needs to look at innovative mechanisms inpreparation for the next CSD session. She suggested that next yearthe ministers should sit around a table and talk face-to-face. Shementioned that the IISD in Winnipeg is establishing an informalforum on environment and trade as a contribution to the CSD's work.She also announced the establishment of a Centre for SustainableCities in Vancouver.

VENEZUELA: Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs FernandoGerbasi supported Canada's call for the various actors in theprocess to have the opportunity to participate in the CSD.Governments need to find the machinery to promote theirparticipation in the CSD. He agreed with Germany on the importanceof thematic meetings. UNCTAD and GATT should ensure that ecology isnot used for protectionism.

MOROCCO: Amb. Ahmed Snoussi mentioned that despite somepositive events related to finance and debt, commitments are stillbelow hopes raised in Rio. He reiterated Morocco's pledge in Rio tohost a high-level meeting to deal with freshwater and hopes thatthis will be a valuable contribution to the second session of theCSD.

PHILIPPINES: Congressman Miguel Romero said that a viabledebt relief management program is beneficial for all countries. AnEarth Increment is needed in IDA. Some countries do not have enoughreserves to buy goods and services under the environmental termsdiscussed today.

SWEDEN: Minister of the Environment and Natural ResourcesOlof Johansson said that the essence of the CSD is to givepolitical guidance and have open discussion. He supported the INCDprocess and confirmed Sweden's offer to host a forum on riskassessment and management of chemicals in April 1994. Environmentalsecurity should be part of our concept of security. An "Agenda forDevelopment" is needed as a second pillar in long-term UN actionfor world peace. He supported Germany, Italy and Canada in theestablishment of an independent commission on forests.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY: Juan Prat from the Commission of theEuropean Communities, agreed with India, the Netherlands and USVice President Al Gore who said that concrete steps should be takenin the intersessional period to move projects forward. Theessential question for developing countries is tradeliberalization. Trade and environment should be mutually supportivein terms of sustainable development.

POLAND: Under-Secretary of State Michal Wilczynski offeredhis country's experience as a model in decentralizingimplementation of Agenda 21. He supported regional cooperationnoting the Baltic Sea rescue plan and regretted that intersessionalactivities were not going to be organized regionally. Attentionshould be paid to innovative forms of financing, such as debtswaps, and reporting should achieve comparability and includeregional initiatives.

WOMEN'S CAUCUS: Kwardua Vanderpuye said that poor andilliterate women were the caretakers of food crops and medicinalplants, the preservers of biodiversity, and carried knowledgethrough millennia. New York should be the seat of the CSD to ensuremaximum participation of NGOs as experts.

SWITZERLAND: Federal Councillor Ruth Dreifuss said that theenvironmental aspects of trade should be considered and that changewill come through both official aid and ensuring good conditionsfor adequate private investment. Priority should be given torevitalizing existing institutions and that UN restructuring isimportant. Reports to the CSD should be standardized with averification machinery based on a transparent peer review system,perhaps in a regional framework. She said that Switzerland favorsdoubling the size of the GEF with institutional reform for greaterparticipation of southern countries.

GABON: The representative said that responsibility ofimplementation of the Rio decisions is primarily at the nationallevel. Africa is ready to contribute active participation andsolidarity in implementing sustainable development. Any policyimposing special standards and norms on tropical forests andproducts derived from them would be an impediment to the developingworld.

BULGARIA: Deputy Minister of the Environment Jordan Uzunovsaid that the countries with economies in transition should findconsideration in the work of the CSD. He suggested that the CSDlook at mechanisms for tackling environmental accidents andsituations. He stressed that technology transfer and capacitybuilding are important for overall development.

VANUATU: Amb. Robert Van Lierop agreed with India on theinterrelationship of global benefits and local environmentalimpacts. Like Australia, he said that this is a political processand that we should look for political definitions of terms such asglobal benefits. For small island developing states, the CSDactually is an environmental security council.

DENMARK: Minister for Development Helle Degn, speaking onbehalf of the EC environment and cooperation ministers, announcedan additional 120 million ECU for implementation of Agenda 21 andnew operational strategies to include a policy dialogue withrecipient countries for channeling funds to the poorest group. Sheannounced that Denmark offered to host an intersessional meeting onhealth.

SAUDI ARABIA: President of the Meteorology and EnvironmentalProtection Administration Abdul ar Al-Gain said indicators of theenvironment are going from bad to worse. Environmental concepts areonly beginning in the South and sustainable development should bestressed as mutually supportive for both environment anddevelopment. An action plan for each issue, especially technologytransfer and capacity building, should be developed.

ALGERIA: Rabah Hadid, the Deputy Permanent Representative tothe UN, associated his remarks with Colombia and Tunisia on commoninitiatives being taken in the field of the environment. Thesuccess of the CSD depends on factors such as: the initiation of agenuine North-South partnership; new and additional financialresources for the South; and availability and accessibility ofenvironmentally sound technology.

MALTA: Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment StanleyZammit stated that the ministers should shoulder the brunt, butshare the burden with other ministers. He spoke of Malta's plansfor an environmental directorate. He stressed the role of regionalaction, noting the Mediterranean Action Plan and plans toincorporate Agenda 21 into the Barcelona Convention.

BARBADOS: Minister of State L.V.H. Lewis said that the CSDdepends on comprehensive input on actions and constraints at thenational level. He called for regional and sub-regionalconsultations as a compliment to national reports. He noted theGlobal Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small IslandDeveloping States as one concrete example of UNCED follow-up.

UNITED KINGDOM: Secretary of State for the Environment JohnGummer said that as environmental concerns slip down the politicalagenda things are less "scare-driven." The CSD's concerns arebroader than each minister's portfolio. He stressed nationalstewardship for the environment, and the value of both sharingnational reports and working parties. He warned that instead ofspeaking in a private language, the CSD should use ordinary speechthat communicates a passionate desire.

HUNGARY: Minister for Environment and Regional Policy J nosGyurk stressed the need to strengthen bilateral and multilateralagreements, new financing mechanisms, transfer of environmentallysound technology and the necessary legal framework. Agenda 21cannot be seen in isolation, but is dependent on complex economicfactors.

URUGUAY: Amb. Ramiro Piriz-Ballon spoke about his country'spublic outreach following Rio. Funds to implement Agenda 21 shouldbe based on the principle of shared but differentiatedresponsibility. A new economic panorama to ensure thesustainability of development is needed.

CZECH REPUBLIC: First Deputy Minister of the EnvironmentVladimr Novotny welcomed the CSD as a way to introduce Agenda 21into practical life. He highlighted Czech progress on environmentalissues and said that they are focussing on energy conservation,clean air, freshwater protection and chemical management.

PAKISTAN: Amb. Munir Akram identified five areas in whichcooperation or lack of it determines the sustainable development ofall countries: financial flows, trade, technology flows,consumption patterns and population. Economic and humandevelopment, as well as environmental protection, are elements ofsustainable development. He thought that the unilateral actions ofcountries hosting sectoral meetings should not determine the CSD'sprogramme of work.

BENIN: Amb. Ren‚ Val‚ry Mongbe stressed the importance ofcombatting poverty. He hoped that the international community willcontribute to the drafting of the convention to combatdesertification and will find the financial and technological meansto ensure its implementation. He welcomed the French and Dutchproposals to hold intersessional meetings. He mentioned that Beninis establishing a national Commission on Sustainable Development.

UNITED STATES: The Hon. Timothy E. Wirth said that PresidentClinton has added four new elements to US global policy: democracy,environment, population and sustainable development. He said thatthe US wants to join in partnership with other countries in astrong intersessional effort and to confirm this commitment heannounced that the US is joining with Colombia to contribute topreparation for the intersessional working group on technologytransfer, cooperation and capacity building. COLOMBIAresponded that this is the best possible way to implement theSpirit of Rio and enthusiastically welcomed the new North-Southspirit and partnership for sustainable development.

CHILE: Minister for Natural Resources Luis Alvaradomentioned Chile's awareness of the Rio commitments, passion indealing with these issues, and realism in facing environmentalproblems. He expressed solidarity with the countries in transition.The CSD is primarily a political body and should lay the groundworkfor political consensus.

MALAWI: Minister for Forestry and Natural Resources E.Y.Sambo listed problems that Malawi is facing, including tradeimbalance, poverty, hunger, disease and drought. Malawi ispreparing a national environmental plan.

FRANCE: Minstre de l'Environnement Michel Barnier said workshould be done on the basis of comparable data. Therefore, we needadditional statistical tools and environmental accounting. Heagreed with Switzerland on the need for indicators. He announcedthat France will host a roundtable on water and health.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' CAUCUS: Victoria Tauli-Corpuz stressedthree issues of specific importance to indigenous peoples:biodiversity, biotechnology and intellectual property rights. Sheproposed that the UN system and governments provide mechanisms sothat indigenous peoples can share their views with others on theseissues. She called for a halt to the Human Genome Diversity Projectthat has a pending patent application for 2500 human genes.

JAPAN: Deputy Director-General of the UN Bureau, Mr. Kawai,stressed the importance of capacity-building. Human resourcedevelopment is the key for effective environmental policies.Regional cooperation is important. He also announced that Japan'scabinet will be taking a decision shortly on the Funds forDevelopment initiative.

NAMIBIA: Minister of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism NikoBessinger supported Germany's idea that the CSD should becomehighly political and Canada's idea to change the format of themeeting so ministers can sit around a table and pursue dialogue.The CSD needs discussion and exchange of ideas, otherwise themeeting will be reduced to the bureaucratic level.

ZIMBABWE: Minister of Environment and Tourism Herbert M.Murerwa said: the main dimensions of sustainable development arepoverty, population growth, and consumption patterns. He welcomedintersessional meetings. Better access to information on policiesand strategies is needed, and the CSD should explore ways forbilateral cooperation.

At the end of the session, Razali distributed a Chair's Summary.This 3-page document was not intended to be a negotiated decisionbut rather a summary of the major points of the 2-day High-LevelSegment. After Razali read out the text, a number of delegates tookthe floor to endorse the summary and congratulate the Chair, theBureau and the Secretariat on a job well-done. The common thread inthe closing remarks was that the High-Level Segment had givendirection and political impetus to the CSD.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

PLENARY: The CSD will hold its last meeting of this sessionin the Trusteeship Council Chamber at 10:00 am. The decisiondocuments should be available in all languages. The CSD will needto adopt the provisional agenda for the next meeting. Therapporteur, Bedrich Moldan of the Czech Republic, will introducethe report of the meeting, including the six decisions, foradoption by the Commission. With the adoption of the report, theCSD will have completed its work and, following brief closingremarks, will adjourn.