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Info. News ISSUE 4 June 2002 Part I 3 June to 9 June 2002 Compiled by Richard Sherman Edited by Kimo Goree |
ContentsNEWS ARTICLES
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United Nations Press
Release, 6 June 2002
Partnerships should not substitute for the commitments of governments to promote sustainable development, speakers stressed this morning as the ministerial segment of the fourth and final Preparatory Committee for the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development continued its interactive dialogue in Bali. During the dialogue, which focused on the theme "implementation partnerships initiatives", many speakers spoke of the need to commit governments to specific initiatives, but also of the need to encourage a flexible range of partnerships, the so-called Type 2 partnerships, that advanced the goals of Agenda 21, the guiding principles of sustainable development set down at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992. Type 2 outcomes are voluntary partnership initiatives between governments, citizen groups and the private sector, intended to help promote implementation of the government-negotiated outcome documents in Johannesburg, known as the "Type 1" outcomes. The representative of Barbados strongly supported "Type 2" initiatives, which provided a range of possibilities, but only as a supplement to Type 1 activities. Governments, she said, should not be allowed to abrogate their responsibilities through a shift of emphasis to the Type 2 initiatives, which had less specificity in terms of deadlines and funding, the lack of which had helped lead to failure in meeting the goals of Agenda 21. She said there should be stronger promotion of partnerships at the South-South level and between Small Island Developing States (SIDS). As such a State, her country urged ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, which identified many kinds of partnership activity for the climate protection areas of sustainable development. Effective partnerships were not possible without funding, genuine capacity-building, and follow-up. Spain's representative, on behalf of the European Union, said that it was essential to link up type 2 and type 1 partnerships and to clearly identify funding mechanisms. In addition, partnerships must take into account all the development objectives of all countries involved. All partners must mobilize necessary financial resources and explore options for additional financing. The scope of partnerships should always be international and innovative, providing considerable added value. The World Summit was not a deadline for partnerships activity, which would continue through follow-up mechanisms, he said. Such follow-up would also include monitoring the results of partnerships, for which all partners should actively gather information. That information should then be summed up and reorganized for comparative analysis and exchange of information. It was fundamental that various stakeholders participate in the debate that would ensue. The representative of Australia stressed that not all partnerships had to be multilaterally agreed upon. Some could be created for specific needs in specific areas. Type 2 outcomes should be flexible mechanisms for concrete action. Those outcomes needed to include many voluntary elements and should not be overly predetermined, in order to allow maximum innovation. Developed and developing countries should enter into solid partnerships for which political will was necessary on both sides, Qatar's representative said. The objectives of sustainable development could only be achieved if the necessary financial resources were found and if the requisite technologies were shared. Statements were also made by the representatives of the Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Sudan, New Zealand, Greece, Italy, Japan, Syria, Ghana, Nauru (for the Pacific Islands Forum Group), Canada, Saudi Arabia, Namibia, Lebanon, India, Norway, United States, Philippines, Togo, Tajikistan, Zambia, Thailand, Australia, El Salvador, Bolivia, Maldives, Romania and Marshall Islands. Representatives of the Business Action for Sustainable Development, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Common Fund for Commodities also spoke. The ministerial segment is scheduled to reconvene this afternoon at 3 p.m. to continue its deliberations. BACKGROUND The fourth and final Preparatory Committee for the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development this morning continued its ministerial segment, during which Ministers are expected to discuss follow-up to the Bali implementation plan, partnership initiatives and elements for the political declaration to be adopted at the Johannesburg Summit. The focus of this morning's discussion was the implementation of partnerships initiatives. STATEMENTS The representative of the Republic of Korea said resolving poverty and related issues should be given priority in ensuring sustainable development. Enhancing the status of women and promoting their access to health services and education was key. She also emphasized the importance of recycling and "eco-labeling". Partnerships would reinvigorate the international pursuit of sustainable development. Participation of diverse stakeholders from the initial stages of partnerships must be assured. Caution must be taken to make sure that partnership projects were not used as tools to avoid the outcome of the Summit. The representative of Kuwait said the world was looking to this meeting and awaiting its achievements for the benefit of future generations. A great number of issues related to sustainable development had not been resolved. He stressed the need for transparency in the implementation of Agenda 21. Measures agreed upon by all with set time frames should be instituted. It was appropriate to reaffirm the results and decisions adopted in Monterrey at the International Conference on Financing for Development, and in Doha at the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting. Dealing with desertification and natural disasters required lucid thinking and a comprehensive vision. Constructive cooperation was crucial. He reaffirmed the importance of including major groups and civil society in the process. The representative of Azerbaijan said cooperation among all the stakeholders was required to ensure the implementation of Agenda 21. His country was a young, developing, landlocked State going through economic transition. Sustaining social, economic and environmental development was key. His Government fully supported the establishment of a public-private venture capital fund. A number of action plans to strengthen management capacity in the area of environment had been elaborated. Large financial resources were needed to institute such programmes, and support by the international community was therefore needed. His country fully supported partnerships as part of the outcome of Summit. The representative of Sudan said the slow implementation of Agenda 21 was partly due to lack of deadlines and funding mechanisms, as well as slow transfer of technology. As a result, diseases had spread, poverty had increased, and the situation in many areas had worsened. Peoples were looking forward to initiatives that could reverse those problems. Equitable partnerships, based on an international framework, should include the private sector and civil society to combat desertification, create health services and foster improvement in many areas. None of that would happen without strong political will and documents void of brackets. The representative of New Zealand said there was a partnership in his country between the Ministries of Development and Environment. Type 2 partnerships had received a great deal of funding. Achieving partnerships should take as long a time as was needed by the partner with the least capacity. Genuine partnerships were based on trust and took into account historical facts such as the effects of colonialism. His country was pursuing many partnerships within its region, between countries as well as those including civil society and other stakeholders. The representative of Spain, on behalf of the European Union, said it was essential to link up type 2 and type 1 partnerships and identify funding mechanisms. In addition, partnerships must take into account all the sustainable development objectives of all the countries involved. All sectors should participate in partnerships from the beginning so that all became stakeholders. All partners should also mobilize necessary financial resources and explore options for additional financing. The scope of partnerships should always be international and innovative, providing considerable added value, he continued. The World Summit was not a deadline for partnerships activity, which would continue through follow-up mechanisms. Such follow-up would also include monitoring the results of partnerships, for which all partners should actively gather information. That information should then be summed up and reorganized for comparative analysis and exchange of information. It was fundamental that various stakeholders participate in the debate that would ensue. The representative of Qatar said the objectives of sustainable development could only be achieved if the necessary financial resources could be found. Developed and developing countries should enter into solid partnerships and the necessary political will should be found on both sides. The international community should have a system of international trade without any discrimination, as set out in the Doha Declaration. The problem of lack of technology in the developing countries should be redressed. Unsustainable patterns of production and consumption should also be tackled, he said. Qatar attached special importance to having a successful Summit -- it should make positive commitments to implement agreements already made to promote sustainable development. An approach based on responsible participation was necessary. A representative of the Business Action for Sustainable Development said that whatever targets were agreed at the Summit, sound governance of society, including the business sector, was needed to deliver them. Global governance would be ineffectual unless it was underpinned by strong local governance. Governments would set priorities for sustainable development and "we will cluster our partnerships" under the various headings of energy, water and biodiversity, among others. Poverty eradication needed official development assistance (ODA), but also the development of business, he said. A number of international businesses, in collaboration with other members of civil society, were gathering under the auspices of the Global Compact to see how best they could contribute to sustainable development in developing countries. Businesses looked forward to participating in the Summit. The representative of Greece said her country supported the need to promote partnerships that were results-oriented and that fairly shared the burden between developed and developing countries. They should be based on specific guiding principles clearly set out in the plan of implementation at the Summit. They should also adhere to a multi-stakeholder approach and promote the three pillars of sustainable development. Mechanisms and means of implementation should be established. She said Greece strongly believed that regional partnership initiatives were of great importance to the promotion of sustainable worldwide. It was therefore exploring ways of launching new initiatives to address regional needs, such as desertification and the promotion of renewable energy. The representative of Barbados strongly supported "Type 2" initiatives, which provided a range of possibilities, but only as a supplement to Type 1 activities. Governments should not be allowed to abrogate their responsibilities through a shift of emphasis to the Type 2 initiatives, which had less specificity in terms of deadlines and funding. That lack of specificity had helped lead to the failure of meeting the goals of Agenda 21. She said there should be stronger promotion of cooperation at the South-South level and between Small Island Developing States (SIDS). As such a State, her country urged ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, which identified many kinds of partnership activity. Effective partnerships were not possible without funding, genuine capacity-building, and follow-up. Also important to SIDS were partnerships to combat HIV/AIDS. The representative of Italy said his country had increased the funding available for development partnership initiatives and supported many international agreements in that regard, helping to launch international initiatives for good governance and technology transfer. Italy also participated in such partnership projects as the development of a satellite land mapping systems for fighting desertification in Africa. His country was ready to play its part in creating the right balance between sharply defined initiatives and efforts toward general goals and principles. The representative of Japan said there were diverse views on partnerships that had served to prolong the deliberation on the implementation plan of action. It was crucial that the document was finished during the Bali meeting, with a focused discussion for that purpose. He also stressed the importance of the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, and described the kind of international partnership that Japan favoured, such as its partnerships with African countries in the areas of water, forests, health, education and other areas. Concrete partnership projects should be created in those areas before the World Summit took place. The representative of Syria said his Government was attempting to fulfill its obligations in accordance with international agreements in the areas of anti-desertification, among others. A number of problems had been faced by his country, including the lack of scientific and technological resources. The continued occupation of the Golan also had a negative impact on sustainable development, and peace and security constituted prerequisites for sustainable development. Israel should withdraw from the occupied Arab territories and comply with the relevant United Nations resolutions, he stressed. He was referring, in that regard, to partnerships for peace. He said the United Nations should allow for a just sharing of water resources among all peoples to ensure a partnership in which all interests were taken into account. Means and mechanisms to implement Agenda 21 with clear time frames should be set up. He stressed the importance of developed countries fulfilling their obligations under the principle of shared but differentiated responsibility. The representative of Ghana said while he welcomed the idea of partnerships, in some areas they could not replace the plan of implementation. Partnership initiatives should have a regional aspect. It was important to ensure that partnerships did not become a substitute for existing resource commitments. The comments of participants must be clear and tied to tangible resources and rewards. The establishment of partnerships in the areas of water, energy, agriculture, sanitation, education and health were supported by his Government. The representative of Nauru, for the Pacific Islands Forum Group, said the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) had placed a focus on oceans, which the Group supported. The small island developing States chapter in the implementation plan articulated many pressing concerns for the Group, which took seriously the effective and timely attainment of sustainable goals in the Pacific. He urged the adoption of concrete timetables and targets. The Group had been actively engaged in further developing Type 2 initiatives, which were largely built on regional policies and concerns. The representative of Botswana said no country could go it alone. Africa had therefore come up with the New Programme for African Development (NEPAD) -- a partnership of African governments to work for sustainable development. Governments could not achieve the implementation of Agenda 21 by themselves. That was why she supported the idea of partnerships. Consultation was one of Botswana's national principles -- it permeated all levels of government. Botswana belonged to the Southern African Development Community, a subregional arrangement that promoted development within its member countries. Partnerships should not only be between and among governments, but also between governments and civil society stakeholders. Partnerships should not be one-sided. They should complement government commitments -- not replace them. The representative of Canada said that "type 2" partnerships should complement "type 1" initiatives and should not substitute for them. He emphasized transparency and respect for all partners and described Canada's efforts to form partnership on a range of issues. Good governance, he said, was particularly important for the success of partnerships. The political declaration for the World Summit should include strong support for partnerships. The representative of Saudi Arabia supported the statement by Venezuela on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China and described many areas in which partnerships were needed, stressing particularly in the fight against desertification and water pollution. The representative of Namibia also supported the statement made by Venezuela on behalf of the Group of 77. He stressed that type 2 partnerships should complement type 1 partnerships and not be a substitute for them. All partnerships needed to reinforce existing commitments. They all needed to relate clearly to poverty eradication, livelihood security and the protection of the environment. Formulation of partnerships should include all partners to ensure ownership. A representative of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) underlined the role of regional commissions in promoting partnerships. It was important in promoting Type 2 outcomes that the developing countries be active players. The regional commissions had developed type 2 outcomes with strong subregional and regional dimensions aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting sound management of resources and the environment. The initiatives promoted participation by the major stakeholders. The representative of Lebanon said sustainable development must be achieved by all nations, developing and developed. Partnerships were an important principle to be adopted with a view to realizing common development programmes. Lebanon had made progress through partnership with local governments and the private sector. Despite difficulties over the past decade, progress has been made in environmental protection and health and education through Type 2 outcomes. Despite obstacles, he said, Lebanon remained committed to partnership initiatives for development. The continued foreign occupation of part of his country's land, with its negative impact on civil society and the private sector, impeded the full realization of social, economic and environmental progress. The representative of India said his country had taken sustainable development very seriously and had a lot to feel satisfied about at home. It had shown progress in all spheres and had maintained its strong adherence to the principle of sustainable development. Partnerships were nothing new to the developing world, but they must evolve from the implementation plan and must answer the priorities of national governments. They should not repackage existing agreements and should not be a substitute for government initiatives. What was needed was time-bound action for already negotiated documents. The representative of Norway called for forward movement on commitments already made and stressed that they should not be renegotiated. Responding to the question, "Why are we here"? she said, "we should be here" for one reason -- to bring action in sustainable development forward for the benefit of the poor and the environment. That required an implementation plan that provided for exactly that. It was not too late -- it could still happen, but she was very concerned. The Summit should concentrate on ensuring substantial deliveries in the key areas set out by the Secretary-General, she said. A structuring process must be established to ensure such delivery, and it must be established in Bali. A difference could be made if such a framework was put in place. Grave injustice to the world's poor and to future generations was being faced. Decisions made today would determine whether the injustice would continue or be averted. The representative of the United States said that partnerships, that is, cooperative efforts, should harness the best capabilities of all sectors. A new dialogue between key sectors could therefore prove fruitful for potential partners. Important principles for partnerships were transparency, accountability and a direct relation to the goals of sustainable development. In follow-up, the Commission on Sustainable Development could serve as a focal point for lessons-learned through partnerships. The representative of the Philippines said that partnerships must have the correct emphasis. Capacity-building and transparency could give a boost to sustainable development efforts in developing countries. He stressed that details of partnership initiatives should be clear to the lowest levels of government so that community participation could be included. The representative of Togo said that partnerships could be effective if they took into account the needs of all partners and were created on a sound legal basis. He hoped that many of such effective partnerships would be forged through the Johannesburg process. A representative of the Common Fund for Commodities said 2.5 billion people in developing countries were engaged in agriculture, and many earned income from the export of commodities. Many were also engaged in the extractive-mineral industries. Partnerships were therefore needed in those areas. The Fund was preparing partnerships in the areas of productivity improvement, diversification and value added in a sustainable way, market development and market access. The representative of Tajikistan, on behalf of the countries of the Central Asian region, said those countries were afflicted by the Aral Sea crisis and high rates of disease, among others. A long-term approach to the problems afflicting the area, with the support of the international community, was key. Projects had been undertaken with ESCAP to achieve the objectives of Agenda 21. Regional and subregional programmes were being planned to deal with the problems being faced. The World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) were among the partners in those initiatives. The representative of Zambia said his Government recognized the important role to be played by partnerships. Such initiatives had already been started, including NEPAD. In Zambia, partnerships had been launched in the areas of water, health and management of wildlife, among others. The terms of reference for partnerships should be mutually agreed, and type 2 outcomes should complement Type 1 outcomes. The representative of Thailand said that with the proper guidelines, effective partnership initiatives for sustainable development could move forward. He emphasized partnerships for forest issues and other areas. The representative of Australia strongly supported the partnership approach that had been developed thus far in the preparatory process. Not all partnerships, he said, had to be multilaterally agreed upon. Some could be created for specific needs in specific areas. Type 2 outcomes should contain flexible mechanisms for concrete action. Those outcomes needed to include many voluntary elements, and much should not be overly predetermined, in order to allow maximum innovation. His country was most interested in Type 2 proposals related to oceans, working with Pacific Island partners and other coastal countries, as well as a range of other issues. The representative of El Salvador said that Type 1 partnerships, to advance Agenda 21, should come out of Johannesburg. A participatory approach involving all stakeholders was fundamental. She hoped that new alliances, national alliances linked with international alliances, would be forged at the Summit to further the sustainable development of developing countries, with such priorities as trade access and disaster relief. The representative of Bolivia said his country had made great advances in sustainable development in recent years. He noted the role played by the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt initiative in alleviating poverty in his country. Such partnerships could be extended to other areas of international cooperation focused on sustainable development. He said partnerships should make it possible to discuss market access. Noting the challenges of moving from illegal to legal trade, he stressed that countries such as his needed access to the markets of developed countries for their agricultural products. The Framework of Amazon Cooperation had put forward a declaration in support of sustainable development, which would be conveyed to the Committee. The representative of Maldives said because of the weaknesses of SIDS, voluntary international arrangements tended at times to bypass them. The benefit to SIDS of Type 2 outcomes could therefore be problematic. To benefit from partnership arrangements, capacity-building in the SIDS had to occur. He urged all countries that had not done so to replenish the GEF. He also urged countries that had not done so to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The representative of Romania said setting up partnerships was an appropriate way to realize the Millennium Development Goals. The private sector, especially transnational corporations, had proved to be an important actor in globalization. Encouraging public-private partnerships was important. To set up such partnerships, innovative ideas were needed. Besides global partnerships, regional and subregional partnerships should be encouraged. The recent summit on environmental development in the Carpathian region had been an important contribution to the discussion on partnerships, he noted. The representative of the Marshall Islands said that sustainable development was a long time concern of his people; all sectors had recently participated in a summit on the topic. It had resulted in a programme called "Vision 2018". He strongly supported type 2 outcomes, which could support that programme's goals in sustainable development, and all international initiatives that supported such community-generated initiatives. As a small-island developing State, his country also urged ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. United Nations Press
Release , 5 June 2002
The need to move from ideals to actions to achieve sustainable development was stressed by speakers this afternoon in Bali as the ministerial segment of the fourth and final Preparatory Committee for the upcoming World Summit for Sustainable Development continued its interactive dialogue. During the debate, which was focused on the theme "preparing for implementation", speakers emphasized the importance of producing a strong, action-oriented outcome to the Summit that would promote implementation of and build on commitments made for sustainable development. Lack of funding to implement Agenda 21 -- the plan of action adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio -- access to safe water and health services and measures to ensure more favourable trade conditions for developing countries were among the issues highlighted over the course of the meeting. The representative of Brazil said poverty stemmed from a world order that accentuated regional imbalances. Without an effective overhaul of the subsidies policies of wealthy countries, among other measures, combating poverty would remain an "empty letter" and solutions proposed would be limited in scope. A balanced agenda was needed in which all problems and concerns relating to sustainable development could be reflected. The time for good intentions and proposals was gone -- clear goals must be set in the fields of basic education, health and sanitation. It was not enough to commit to implementation of existing agreements -- there must be forward movement, the representative of Finland stressed. Reduction of poverty and changing patterns of production and consumption was key. His Government was firmly committed to implementing the agenda agreed on at the World Trade Organization meeting in Doha and was also committed to increasing its level of official development assistance (ODA). The outcome of the Summit must be action-oriented, he stressed. Uganda's representative noted that lack of funding had played a role in impeding implementation of Agenda 21. In that regard, he cited the lack of resources to support the Convention to Combat Desertification -- one of the most important treaties for Africa. He called on the international community to support the New Programme for African Development (NEPAD) and to take action to address the problems facing least developed countries (LDCs). The representative of the United States said sustainable development began at home. National action with international assistance was crucial -- through good governance, and investment in education and health care, along with sound market and monetary policies. No plan of action, by itself, would accomplish any of those goals. Partnerships at all levels were the best means for concrete improvements in social and economic conditions. Statements were also made by the representatives of Bhutan, Nigeria, Romania, United Kingdom, Iceland, Samoa, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Sweden, Malaysia, Cote d'Ivoire, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan (for the Central Asian countries), Czech Republic, Iraq, Morocco, Iran, Mauritius, Niger, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Andorra, Algeria, Cuba, Portugal, Armenia and Kenya. Representatives of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and also spoke. The ministerial segment is scheduled to meet again tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. to continue its deliberations. STATEMENTS The representative of Bhutan said that capacity building in human and institutional resources was key for sustainable development. Without assistance in those areas, small countries had difficulties in meeting commitments. Sixty-two per cent of his country, for example, was now protected forest area, and that was important but difficult to maintain. In addition, he said that mountain ecosystems, being particularly vulnerable, should be specifically referenced in the political declaration, and strong support should be given to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The representative of Nigeria said that much of the know-how and will to deal with problems in sustainable development was now present. Now was the time, therefore, to move with deliberate speed to set concrete goals and actions and implement them. It was particularly crucial for Africa, where many economic factors hindered the implementation of Agenda 21. Among priorities should be desertification, health, water sanitation, and protection of coastal and marine environments. Many countries in Africa were doing their best with these problems and needed international support to advance further. The representative of Romania said a strong monitoring system, for the next decade, was necessary to ensure follow-through on sustainable development commitments. Regional centres for that purpose could be useful. In the short and medium term, it was necessary to strengthen the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); in the long-term, an international institution might be set up to concentrate on these problems. The representative of Uganda said despite the many conferences held and the adoption of Agenda 21, environmental degradation continued. The United Nations General Assembly had taken steps to ensure that agreements were fulfilled, among them the creation of the global ministerial environment forum. Action now was required. Lack of funding also impeded implementation of Agenda 21. In that regard, he cited the lack of resources for the Convention to Combat Desertification -- one of the most important treaties for Africa. Climate change was a "nightmare" for Africa. Poverty and hunger could not be eliminated if droughts and floods occurred season after season, he said, calling for commitments by the international community in that regard. He also called on the international community to support the New Programme for African Development (NEPAD) and to take action to address the problems facing least developed countries (LDCs). The representative of Brazil said poverty stemmed from a world order that accentuated regional imbalances. Without an effective overhaul of the subsidies policies of wealthy countries, among other measures, combating poverty would remain an "empty letter", and solutions proposed would be limited in scope. Brazil had confronted the problem within its own borders, he noted. He gave his Government's firm support for NEPAD. A balanced agenda was needed in which all problems and concerns relating to sustainable development could be reflected, he said. The opportunity provided by this meeting was not maximized, as there were attempts being made to renegotiate commitments made in Rio in 1992. The time for good intentions and proposals was gone -- clear goals must be set in the fields of basic education, health and sanitation. The representative of the United Kingdom stressed the need to build on the agreements already reached in the area of sustainable development. How to take forward the Doha development agenda and the Kyoto agreement must be addressed. The huge impact of trading relationships far outweighed direct aid programmes. It was important to get the balance right. The overall approach to sustainable development was what must be dealt with in Bali, she said. Many had pointed out that there had been many fine words in the past -- what was needed now was concrete action. Targeted action with timetables for implementation was needed. There must be targets for sanitation and for renewable energy. She stressed the importance of focusing on the implementation plan. The representative of Iceland said women's issues were central to sustainable development, particularly the education of women and girls and the strengthening of their decision-making capabilities. In addition, marine resources were especially important in the fight against poverty. Oceans had not yet been given the priority they deserved, partly because knowledge of them was poor -- a comprehensive assessment was needed. Her country was strongly behind the Kyoto Protocol and committed to renewable energy and cleaner fuels. A strong signal on renewable energy must be sent in Johannesburg. The representative of Samoa said there must be no retreat from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). What should be done was clear -- the commitments and resources needed to be provided. The Global environment in many cases was worsening. Small island States were particularly vulnerable and were unable to respond to the dangers of climate change. Effective action must be taken. The Kyoto Protocol must be brought into force, and assistance in adaptation must be provided for small island nations that had contributed so little to the problem. In addition, the GEF should be supported as an effective tool to tackle many such problems at the regional level. The representative of the United States said that all further work must be toward concrete action to make a difference in people's lives. Her country would work hard for a consensus outcome on development goals, including those of the Millennium Declaration, such as halving by 2015 the percentage of those without access to clean water and with incomes less than a dollar a day. National action with international assistance was key, she said. Sustainable development began at home, through good governance and investments in education, health care, and sound market and monetary policies. No plan of action would accomplish any of those goals. Partnerships at all levels were the best means for concrete improvements in social and economic conditions, and the United States was actively pursuing them. Future generations were owed nothing less. A representative of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) said much more had been agreed than was being implemented. The credibility of the Summit would depend on whether or not there was added value to the commitments already made. It would be difficult to attract the interest of civil society for an agenda that was aspirational but offered little of credible added value. The recognition of the fundamental indicators on sustainable development that had brought governments together continued to point downwards -- the Summit must address that phenomenon. The Summit must also address the discomfort with the current pattern of globalization. Answers must be given by the Summit to citizens and major groups as to why progress was very difficult. It was clear that a political declaration in itself would not be enough -- credible actions were essential. The representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea also stressed the need for an action-oriented outcome to the Summit. An appraisal of what was hindering sustainable development must be undertaken. Poverty must be addressed, as should destruction of the environment. To implement Agenda 21, realistic solutions should be sought out. All countries should display the necessary political will to promote sustainable development and conditions must be created for sustainable development in the developing countries. Positive steps aimed at eradicating poverty, such as cancellation of foreign debt and implementation of official development assistance (ODA) commitments must be undertaken. He also called for the elimination of discrimination and the promotion of equity in trade. The representative of Finland said it was not enough to commit to implementation of existing agreements --- there must be forward movement. Reduction of poverty and changing patterns of production and consumption were key. His Government was firmly committed to implementing the Doha agenda and was committed to increasing ODA. Globalization could support poverty reduction. Finland had proposed a 10-year work programme to break the link between economic growth and environmental degradation. That meant producing more with less resources and energy. The outcome of the Summit must be action-oriented, and the role of women in promoting sustainable development could not be overemphasized. The question of indigenous peoples was also key. The representative of Sweden said the thought of 30,000 children dying from water-born diseases could be a basis for the ethics of sustainable development, as well as a spur to the action that was crucial. Unfortunately, all implementation measures, in the plan were still under negotiation. Concrete proof of commitment had to be shown and comprehensive action systems had to be developed. The single most effective thing that could be done would be to reduce subsidies for unsustainable economic activities. It was known with certainty that fossil fuel consumption had to be cut -- alternatives must be promoted. Pressure on resources had to be relieved while the welfare of people was increased. International accountability must be developed along with a belief in the future. Quoting Bruce Springsteen, he said, "No retreat, baby, no surrender". The representative of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said his organization was working to identify market-based instruments that could overcome obstacles in the implementation of sustainable development, along with harmful subsidies that needed to be removed for those purposes. It also provided a forum to share best practices between member countries and develop a framework for peer review processes. The OECD was also deepening its cooperation with non-OECD countries in the pursuit of sustainable development. The representative of Malaysia said that recent instabilities in regional economies had been particularly dangerous for sustainable development. International policies to prevent such instability needed to be put into place. In addition, programmes to combat poverty must be coordinated with programmes to protect the environment. The representative of Cote d'Ivoire said that the efficacy of structures for poverty reduction and a more equitable distribution of wealth along with North-South cooperation on a range of issues were essential. His country agreed that a concrete programme of action was needed, but it must be based on consensus. The representative of Bangladesh said the eradication of poverty and hunger and the promotion of livelihoods were central to sustainable development. Promotion of sustainable agriculture and rural development was key. Sustainable development could not be achieved without changes in the way industrial societies produced and consumed. Urgent action must be taken to adopt policies in such societies to change those patterns. Water was central to life in his country and needed appropriate planning and management. Sustainable development would remain a dream if water-related problems were not addressed. The unique ecosystem of the region's wetlands was under threat, and steps were being taken to address the problem. He urged the world community to help those countries under threat from climate change and also stressed the need to ensure that developing countries were not marginalized by globalization. The representative of Uzbekistan, for the countries of Central Asia, said those countries had been actively involved in preparing for the Summit. Plans of action had been undertaken by the countries in the area of sustainable development. He reaffirmed their commitment to Agenda 21. The establishment of favourable international conditions for development and the implementation of commitments undertaken by developed countries was key. In that regard, he noted the decline in ODA since UNCED in Rio. Mechanisms had not been perfectly elaborated for the transfer of technology. His country had in recent years felt the importance of addressing environmental problems -- in that regard, he cited the disaster afflicting the Aral Sea. The representative of the Czech Republic said effective and sound implementation was the only way to bridge the gap between rhetoric and action. Democracy, social stability and economic prosperity were important elements for achieving sustainable development. All countries should take steps to reduce their reliance on foreign assistance. Strong enforcement and good governance remained challenges and urgent work on overcoming obstacles to sustainable development was needed. Precautionary principles should be applied to protect the environment. "We are not in a position to wait -- we must go ahead now", he said. He underlined the great importance of education and science. The representative of Iraq said that foreign occupation and international sanctions were a major challenge to sustainable development, as witnessed by the situations in the Middle East and Iraq respectively. Nations must be freed from such constraints, and influential powers must be stopped from imposing their will in that regard. The representative of Morocco supported the proposals of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China on ways to achieve decent living conditions and preserve the environment. Multilateralism, along with an action programme that combined words and deeds, was a sound approach that would ensure success. The Ministerial Declaration of the Seventh Session of the States Parties to the Convention on Climate Change held in Marrakech integrated approaches on climate change with those on sustainable development. Both required international cooperation at all levels and genuine political will. He urged countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and institute strict rules to limit greenhouse gasses, and he stressed the importance of partnerships in all areas. The representative of Iran supported the positions of the Group of 77, underlining urgency for action. Implementation of the Rio Declaration should be improved but it should not be renegotiated. The access of poor communities to affordable energy was essential. In all areas, a consensus commitment to overcome obstacles was needed. In that regard, the importance of financial contributions and technological transfer should not be overlooked -- there must be an equitable approach to globalization. In other areas, Type 2 commitments should not weaken type 1 partnerships, and good governance should be extended to the international level, with a multilateral approach as opposed to the exertion of unilateral influence. She stressed the importance of dialogue among civilizations in the Political Declaration of the Johannesburg Summit. The representative of Mauritius said the outcome of the Summit should be action-oriented and time-bound. Despite progress made in negotiations on the implementation plan, the situation remained locked with regard to the most fundamental issues related to sustainable development. Negotiating partners did not want to hear about new and additional financing or the transfer of technology -- the balance was tilting towards the developed countries. There must be a full commitment to provide the means of implementation of Agenda 21. The plan of implementation should rest on firm political will and commitment. The GEF should be declared the financial mechanism for the anti-desertification treaty, which was of fundamental importance for Africa. The debt of the heavily indebted poor countries should be cancelled. Globalization should be made to work for developing countries, he stressed. The representative of Niger said food security in Africa had deteriorated to a critical threshold - 200 million were now undernourished. As could be observed, the geography of poverty often coincided with areas afflicted by desertification and soil degradation. He also underlined the importance of the GEF in that regard. He welcomed the excellent relations between his Government and the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in particular. Africans were glad to see the support being extended for NEPAD. The representative of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia said that in the past few days negotiations had been undertaken on the Bali commitments -- however, there were still more paragraphs in bold than those agreed. Many delegations had noticed that "we should continue and upgrade on" recent conferences, such as the trade summit held in Doha. There must be a way found to adopt a document that would have the development agenda as its main focus. It must have a realistic timetable for accomplishment of the main goals, such as poverty eradication and global economic development. Debt relief for countries in transition and those affected by conflict was very important. Private investment and foreign direct investment should be used efficiently -- to that end, good governance at the national and international levels was key. He urged governments to come to an agreement before the end of the meeting. The representative of Andorra said her country wished to join the sustainable development process and the global movement for the environment. Sustainable development lay at the centre of the debate. It was a complex subject. The negotiations on the implementation document had demonstrated that. She stressed the importance of not moving backwards on commitments already undertaken. She supported establishing specific targets and was grateful for the reference made in the text to mountainous regions. The representative of Algeria said that means must be provided to implement commitments, and sustainable development must be the heart of any actions of the international community. Algeria had instituted a national plan for sustainable development with considerable funds allocated. He invited the international community to support such efforts and called for strengthening the governing council of UNEP, along with other follow-up mechanisms, and more focus on Africa. Equity and sustainability were the principles that should underlie the Johannesburg summit, where negotiated solutions among responsible parties must be found. The representative of Cuba gave his full support to the statement of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of 77. He said that it must be ensured that results were forthcoming on sustainable development. Among crucial action, in that regard, was raising the level of ODA, debt reduction, technical and financial assistance, sharing of clean technologies and assistance in capacity-building. Cuba was participating in South-South assistance according to its abilities. He also advocated an assured, adequate use of the GEF, and said the Johannesburg Summit must have its own outcomes and not just repeat the aims of other conferences that had not yet been implemented. Developed countries must contribute serious efforts in that implementation. The representative of Portugal supported the position of Spain on behalf of the European Union. He said his country had developed a realistic policy on sustainable development. Similarly, the World Summit must take on a realizable approach. In addition, he said that Africa must be integrated into the world economy, and he welcomed partnerships in that regard that incorporated current efforts of African nations. Integrated management of river basins was essential, and he urged countries to ratify agreements on non-navigational uses of bodies of water. Integrated management of oceans and coastal areas was also crucial for both development and environmental protection and could be the subject of many levels of partnership. The representative of Armenia said it appeared that the agreements reached in Bali would create a solid basis for the Summit. The outcome document should therefore clearly reflect the key elements of equal partnerships between the private sector, governments and civil society. The text should constitute a basis for States to elaborate national programmes for sustainable development. In a globalizing world, a common effort to achieve sustainable development must be undertaken. The time had come for concrete action. The representative of Kenya said the Summit would invigorate the commitment of the international community to achieving sustainable development and would lead to a new vision based on a concrete plan of action. Despite domestic and international actions, the implementation process had been constrained by old and emerging issues. Developing countries were facing many challenges, including poverty-- deliberate corrective and positive measures must be taken in the Summit's plan of implementation. He also noted issues related to health, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Funds were needed to combat such epidemics. He therefore called for increased financial commitments. Inadequate access to energy services and the need to provide adequate resources to improve agriculture must also be addressed. Efforts must be made to deal with the burden of debt on developing countries. The representative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) said that her organization had held many debates on issues of sustainable development and had encouraged parliaments to become closely involved in issues related to the World Summit, particularly on how efforts on sustainable development could be handled throughout national governments. In the view of her organization, more pro-active policy measures should be included in the implementation plan, which currently relied too much on voluntary and market-based actions, as opposed to needed regulation. 48) UBUNTU VILLAGE POISED TO ATTRACT FOREIGN AND LOCAL INTEREST JOWSCO,5 June 2002
5 June 2002: Preparations are currently underway at the Wanderers Club, where Ubuntu Village is to be positioned, for the arrival at the end of June of Tensile One, the largest temporary mobile structure of its kind in the world hired to house the Ubuntu Exhibition. Major construction will begin later this week, with a geo-technical survey to confirm the land and resource capacity of the area. Later this month, work will begin to remove exotic vegetation and plant life to make way for construction. "We found it necessary to upgrade the infrastructure of the site and remove some of the alien vegetation in the area for the construction and infrastructural upgrade for the erection of Tensile One. Since the vegetation was in any event alien, its removal is in keeping in line with government policy," says Ingrid Blignault, Chief Operating Officer for the Johannesburg World Summit Company (JOWSCO). A comprehensive environmental management plan is being developed to ensure that all construction and renovations are in line with legislation and best practice. Following the Sydney Olympics, the structure will be utilised in its entirety for only the second time during the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development that takes place in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September. Measuring a massive 10 000 square metres in total, the structure will house café and bar facilities and the main SABC broadcast studios and editing suites. Ubuntu Village will host a variety of events, including the Ubuntu Exhibition, SA Pavilion, a conference centre, the Arts and Craft Imbizo, and a cultural programme housed at the Theatre @ the Village. Ubuntu Village will serve as a place for Summit participants and members of the public to unite on common ground. Ubuntu Village will also be the central transport interchange for participants in the Johannesburg Summit. Ubuntu Village will be open from 10 August to 10 September. "We're expecting an interesting visitor profile of local and international media, schools, the public, Summit participants and tourists. It will serve as the service and recreational hub for the Summit," Blignault adds. An integral part of the Village is the Ubuntu Exhibition, open from 17 August to 7 September. The exhibition will showcase best practice examples in sustainable development from around the globe, including themes and issues being discussed at the intergovernmental summit. The exhibition, a first of its kind to accompany a UN Summit, will act as the ideal platform for networking among all stakeholders where people can unite to stimulate dialogue and maximise partnership opportunities. Some of the themes of the exhibition will be water, education, health, rural development, agriculture, food security, urban development, waste management, transport, energy and technology. Particular attention will be paid to combating poverty, promoting sustainable livelihoods and protecting ecosystems. It is envisaged that exhibitors will come from the world's leading institutions that drive sustainable development issues across all sectors of society, including: UN member states and intergovernmental organisations. Five regional Cooperation for Development Agencies (Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Asia). The nine Major Groups as identified by the UN Summit Secretariat (women, youth, indigenous peoples, NGOs, local authorities, trade unions, business and industry, scientific and technological community and farming community). Blignault further comments that the exhibition will also display South Africa's culture and heritage, adding, "An appealing assortment of South African arts and craft will be displayed in a live flea market, called the Arts and Craft Imbizo. In addition, a world-class media centre and a commercial business centre will provide printing, photocopying, secretarial and general business services for the media and Summit participants." Theatre @ the Village is a cinematic theatre where film productions, live performances and presentations linked to the broader Summit themes will be presented. A state-of-the-art information centre will supply information on the Summit, daily programmes, general tourism information and a database on Johannesburg's value-added services, such as business centres, Internet cafes, banking and postal services. 49) POVERTY THREATENS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - KOFI ANNAN The NEWS (Monrovia)
via All Africa, 5 June 2002
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan says population growth, poverty and wasteful consumption habits have continued to threaten the earth's ability to achieve sustainable development. Dr. Annan also pointed out that population, rapid urbanization growth demands for water and energy have placed intense pressure on the planet's life support system. The UN Secretary General's comments were contained in his message on the World Environment Day. World Environment Day is celebrated each year on June 5. This year's celebration is being held under the theme "Give Earth a Chance." He indicated that there is little chance pf protecting the environment without a greater sense of mutual responsibility, especially in an age of interdependence. Dr. Annan expressed hope that all states and stakeholders will come together at the pending World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa. The Secretary General said sustainable development rests on economic growth, social progress and the protection of environment and natural resources. For his part, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Protection (UNEP), Mr. Klaus Toepfer, said World Environment Day is an occasion to pause and reflect on the state of the environment. He said the theme: "Give Earth A Chance" urges the world to looks at the daily impact on the planet and its peoples, and to take action to improve the environmental behavior. "On this World Environment Day, let us all begin to act for the environment and work together to give the earth a chance," Mr. Toepfer said. He added that an unpolluted environment is vital to survival which, can only endure if the earth is given a chance. He underscored the need for urgent environment ethics for the 21st century based on equity, fairness and respect for nature, adding that these values can be drawn from ancient cultures, indigenous beliefs and all religions. The UNEP boss observed that environmental conservation is often found in ancient cultures around the world. 50) CALLS FOR CONCRETE OBJECTIVES ARISE IN BALI MEETING Xinhua News Agency
, 5 June 2002
DENPASAR (Indonesia), Jun 5, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Hundreds of ministers and government officials from over 120 countries gathered Wednesday on the resort island of Bali, the venue for the 4th Preparatory Committee Meeting for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to forge the common interests among different countries towards global sustainable development. United Nations Deputy Secretary General Louise Frechette said: "We are here today because we face great challenges on both sides of the development-environment equation. Three billions of our fellow human beings suffer the dehumanizing conditions of poverty.. . living on less than two dollar a day." She added that the upcoming world summit in Johannesburg would be meant to find another way -- a path that improved standards of living while protecting environment. The relationship between human society and the natural environment would become the core concern of Johannesburg. South African Minister for Environment Mohammed Valli Moosa said that since the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro of Brazil, it had become clear that successful sustainable development required progress on the social, economic and environmental fronts. Kjell Larsson, minister for environment of Sweden called on delegations in Bali to identify and provide more specific means for pursuing sustainable development. Water crisis is among other specific issues that become major concerns of the delegations. Nigerian Minister of Water Resources Precious Ngelale argued that poverty reduction began with water issues. He stressed Bali meeting had to be remembered as a conference that squarely confronted the water and sanitation crisis. Similarly, the representative of Japan affirmed that water issues were a great challenge. A coordination information system must encompass those problems since Japan had many projects in that area. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee Emil Salim underlined poverty alleviation as an essential element of sustainable development. In Addition, unsustainable patterns of consumption and production must change and natural resources must be managed in a way that supported social and economic development. "Those three facets must be merged into one -- that is sustainable development," the chairman said. 51) POLICE SERVICE READY TO PROVIDE SECURITY AT SUMMIT BuaNews (Pretoria)
via All Africa, 5 June 2002
The South Africa Police Service (SAPS) says it is well prepared and ready to ensure the safety of thousands of delegates expected to attend the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. The announcement comes amid intelligence reports hinting the absence of any threat to the gathering or dignitaries. At least more than 60 000 delegates, including 130 heads of state and thousands of journalists, are expected to gather at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September. They will thrash out some global issues that impact on sustainable development, socio-economic and environmental issues, and poverty eradication in developing countries. The United Nation's largest gathering will also discuss global inequalities in accessing water, food, energy and education, amongst others. National police commissioner Jackie Selebi's office says the delegates, visiting dignitaries, Gauteng residents, businesspeople and commuters need not worry about their safety. 'A large number of police officials will be deployed in the environs of the Summit and normal policing will continue in Gauteng as well as in all other provinces,' said Mr Selebi's office. The SAPS said due to the enormity of the task, it has since established a national priority committee, chaired by the elite VIP Protection Service, to coordinate and plan all operations necessary to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place during the event. At its monthly meetings, all information gathered by the intelligence community is closely monitored and plans made and altered accordingly. 'Precautionary measures for any eventuality have been put in place, including routine problems encountered at large gatherings of this nature such as traffic congestions, illegal gatherings and marches.' As part of security measures, police will shut down strategic areas and roads, especially where the presidential motorcade would be passing through. Meanwhile, South African security agencies have in the past shown a good track record of pulling out international gatherings of this magnitude with ease. Such previous events included the Non Aligned Movement summit, World Conference on Racism in Durban, the Rugby World Cup, and the African Cup of Nations. 'We will again prove that we are one of the most efficient and committed police services in the world,' the SAPS said confidently 52) ADDITIONAL US $24 BILLION NEEDED TO REDUCE HUNGER UN Integrated Regional
Information Networks via All Africa, 5 June 2002
An additional public investment of US $24 billion must be made each year in poor countries to halve the number of hungry people by the year 2015, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Tuesday. Without this investment, FAO fears that there would still be 600 million hungry people in 2015, and the target of halving the number of hungry people from 800 to 400 million, set by the World Food Summit in 1996, would not be reached, the agency said in a news release. It stressed that public investment should be accompanied by sufficient private resources. Halving hunger is expected to yield additional benefits worth at least US $120 billion a year, resulting from longer and healthier lives for all those benefiting from such improvements, FAO said on Tuesday as it proposed a new global Anti-Hunger Programme. "Fighting hunger is not only a moral imperative, it also brings large economic benefits", FAO reiterated, adding that almost one person in seven does not have enough food to eat and that most of the hungry people live in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Heads of state and government, international agencies and NGOs will meet in Rome on 10-13 June at the 'World Food Summit: Five Years Later' conference to take stock of progress made towards ending hunger and to identify ways to accelerate the process. FAO noted that more rapid progress in cutting chronic hunger in developing countries was possible if the political could be mobilised, adding that enough was known on how to fight hunger. The Anti-Hunger Programme combines investment in agriculture and rural development with measures to enhance direct immediate access to food for the most seriously undernourished, the release said. It focuses mainly on small farmers and aims to create more opportunities for rural people, representing 70 percent of the poor, to improve their livelihoods on a sustainable basis. The FAO "Anti-Hunger Programme" can be found at: http://ww.fao.org/worldfoodsummit/english/index.html Further information on the World Food Summit: Five Years Later is available at: http://ww.fao.org/worldfoodsummit/english/index.html 53) HOST COUNTRY RECOGNIZED IN THREE-NATION EFFORTS TO PRESERVE WETLANDS United Nations,
5 June 2002
5 June, BALI, Indonesia- Indonesia, together with Australia and Papua New Guinea, today received the World Wide Fund for Nature's highest award, the "Earth Certificate of its "Gift to the Earth," programme, for efforts to protect important and threatened wetland areas in the three countries. The three nations signed a new memorandum of understanding yesterday to continue and intensify their joint programme, the "Tri-National Wetlands Initiative," which is working to preserve over three million hectares of wetlands through the joint projects, shared skills and the exchange of staff. At an awards lunch today, Indonesian Minister of Forestry, Dr. Ir. Muhammad Prakosa, hailed the initiative as a collaborative approach to address the problems faced by the wetlands. The initiative, he said, allowed all stakeholders, including governments, community groups, non-governmental organizations, researchers, and universities, to participate in activities aimed at achieving wetland management. The wetlands include Kakadu National Park in Australia, Wasur National Park in Indonesia, and the Tonda Wildlife Management Area in adjacent Papua New Guinea. Speaking at the awards ceremony today, Australian Minister of Environment and Heritage Dr. David Kemp announced that the Australian Government will increase its contribution to the Initiative by a $250,000 over a five-year period. "This is a very appropriate way to observe World Environment Day," Kemp said. One of the world's great natural phenomena, Kemp said the wetlands were part of the Australasian Flyway, the route taken by millions of birds on their semi-annual migration. But the wetlands, he said, were threatened by intrusive weeds, fire, and feral animals. "We have a great deal to learn from each other," Kemp said, adding that the WWF award was important in building support for these types of projects in Australia and in other countries. "Papua New Guinea recognizes that this is the beginning of a new challenge and not the end," according to Dr. Wari Iamo, Secretary of the Department of Environment and Conservation for Papua New Guinea, and added that it was significant that the award was presented during the PrepCom for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Initiative recognizes the rights of the local people and communities to serve as custodians of the wetlands, and utilizes their traditional knowledge and methods as primary tools to preserve the landscape. Still, new ideas and technique are also put to use. All three wetlands suffer from an invasion of water hyacinth, a weed with a beautiful flower that chokes waterways that people rely on for transport, and crowds out other native plant species. But Jamie Pittock, WWF Programme Director, says that a beetle can play a major role in eliminating the nasty weed, and now local communities are growing the beetle. According to Pittock, the Earth Certificate is the highest accolade issued for achievement in the Give to the Earth Programme. "We want to recognize outstanding achievement and we also seek to mobilize funding for this and other programmes. He said the Tri-National Initiative is a practical example of a government commitment that leads to a systematic result. In this case, the Initiative is a direct result of government commitments to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. According to Delmar Blasco, Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention Bureau, there are presently 131 Contracting Parties to the Convention, and 1173 wetland sites, totaling 101 million hectares, have been designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. "This is a very significant example of conservation in action," Blasco said. Calling the Initiative "impressive," he said the programme was noteworthy for the work that had already been carried out and would continue into the future 54) HIGH-LEVEL PUSH IN BALI TO FIRM UP SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA United Nations ,
5 June 2002
5 June, BALI, Indonesia- In the final phase of the final PrepCom for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, more than 100 ministers from around the world began three days of deliberations in Bali to generate high-level political commitments for action. The Summit will be an historic opportunity to mobilize governments, people, institutions, and resources for sustainable development, and will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September. At stake in the Bali ministerial-level meeting is the strength of government commitments in Johannesburg to set up programmes aimed at improving living conditions worldwide while preserving the natural ecosystem on which people depend. The results of the ministerial discussions will provide the basis for the political declaration that Heads of State and Government will adopt at the Johannesburg Summit. The other key issue for discussion during the ministerial session is the linkage between partnerships and the government commitments in the Johannesburg outcome. "The Summit in Johannesburg is truly a chance to set a more hopeful course of development for all of humanity," United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette told the 118 ministers attending the Preparatory Committee meeting. "The challenge, as ever, is to match aspiration with action, and promise with positive change in people's lives. We know what needs to be done. Now, let's move ahead." Fréchette, in her address, said, "Johannesburg is meant to find another way, a path that improves standards of living while protecting the environment." She added, "That relationship-between human society and the natural environment-is the core concern of Johannesburg, and is what sets Johannesburg apart from other UN conferences and summit." In welcoming the ministers, Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri said the Bali meeting could influence the Johannesburg Summit by helping to build a strong foundation for sustainable development, and make a "real contribution to humanity." "Ten years have passed since we adopted Agenda 21," she said. " It is time for us to follow it up with concrete programmes and activities." The Johannesburg Summit will result in a political declaration, a programme of implementation, and voluntary partnership initiatives by and between governments, citizen groups, and the private sector that will actually carry out sustainable development projects. Negotiations on a programme of implementation-the Bali Commitments-that will serve as the guiding plan for an action-oriented agenda that brings measurable results, are expected to conclude on Friday. While the two-week PrepCom has already produced substantial agreements on promoting activities across a broad range of sustainable development activities, negotiations on the remaining areas of disagreement have proved difficult. According to PrepCom Chairman Emil Salim, the tough negotiations are not unexpected. "Everyone wants to keep their cards close to their chest until the last moment. But for me, this is normal." In fact, in Salim's view, the real negotiations have just begun. But he emphasized that the document would be completed in Bail. "We will be finished in Bali. After Bali, we will prepare the ground to make Johannesburg successful." Progress has been made and many parts of the document are free of bracket, or text where there is still disagreement. Johannesburg Secretary-General Nitin Desai said "the key elements have all been agreed upon," adding that judgement of the text should not be made until the very end, when the final differences are bridged. But beyond reaching minimum expectations, Desai said, "What we're aiming at now is much more. We're aiming at a good, strong programme of action, and we will push these concerns as far as we can take it." Salim said the Bali Commitment would contain new time-bound targets. "It is a realistic plan and it is not 'pie in the sky.' But to implement it, we all have to be committed." Over 4,500 people from 173 countries are attending the Bali meeting, including a large contingent of non-governmental organizations, which Salim said have played a major role in lobbying government delegations for a stronger agreement
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