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Statement by Canada to the Organisational Session of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development |
Mr.
Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to make some
brief remarks outlining Canada's views on the agenda we have before us
over the next three days, and on the broader agenda leading to the World
Summit in Johannesburg next year. We would like to take this opportunity
to thank in particular South Africa and Indonesia, hosts of the World
Summit and the final Preparatory Committee meeting respectively. Perhaps the most important element of our work here
this week will be to define a constructive role for major groups in the
process leading to the World Summit. One of the greatest factors in the
success of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro was the engagement of
civil society organizations and major groups in design of the global
sustainable development agenda. Canada feels very strongly that we
should build upon this experience. We need to find ways to further
enhance the engagement ofmajor groups as we prepare for 2002, not just
in policy discussions, but also, and perhaps more importantly, as active
participants in the implementation of what we agree upon in
Johannesburg. Donor countries must be ready to support the participation
of groups from the South, and ensure a strong southern civil society
voice in Johannesburg. As we discuss the logistics and timing of the
various events leading to Johannesburg, Canada would urge that we make
every effort to keep our approach simple. We commend the Secretariat on
the work it has done so far in tenns of developing a plan to bring
countries together with clear objectives. We need to use the preparatory
process, and the specific events that the Secretariat proposes, to come
to agreement as early as possible on the parameters of an agenda for the
World Summit, so that we may focus our attention on issues of common
concern. Each of the scheduled meetings should build momentum to the
next, bringing greater focus on a core agenda which will give Leaders a
foundation for successful and forward-looking Summit. We must also keep
in mind the need for flexibility, recognizing that there are a number of
international organizations and processes that could have valuable input
into the evolution of the World Summit agenda. Since 1992, the world has been struggling with a
complex and expansive sustainable developmept agenda. We need now to
focus on practical steps to implement existing agreements and get things
done. Canada's approach to this challenge domestically has been to work
within a thematic framework, agreeing upon a very broad agenda and then
working with other orders of government and major groups to define
priority issues within that framework. We have identified five themes: .Health and Environment -capturing the concern we
all share about the impact of environmental factors on our health and
that of our children- .Conservation
and Stewardship -focusing on the sustainable use of natural resources to
meet human needs, and the conservation of our natural heritage for
future generations .International Environmental Governance -recognizing
that we need to find new ways to work together more effectively to meet
global challenges. .Sustainable Communities -looking at sustainable
development as an issue which touches upon the lives and livelihoods of
all people. .Innovation and Partnership -pursuing shared
responsibility for sustainable development, drawing upon the capacities
of government, major groups, individuals, and most notably the private
sector in realizing sustainable development. A fundamental consideration that is influencing our
approach to the Summit is that if it is to be successful, we need focus
our efforts on bringing sustainable development within reach of the
world's poor. An effective partnership between North and South will be
fundamental to the success of the World Summit, and the future of global
sustainable development. Canada hopes that our approach might be helpful in
designing the way forward for the international community as we head to
Johannesburg. At the same time we look forward to learning how other
countries are approaching their own preparations, in order to learn from
their experience. We welcome the opportunity to participate in this
first preparatory committee meeting for the World Summit, and hope to
playa constructive role as the preparatory process unfolds. Thank you Mr. Chairman. |