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From
the 27th - 30th March 2000 over 70 participants, from a wide range of
interests and backgrounds including governments, inter-governmental
agencies and Major Groups, met at Wiston House, Sussex, England to take
part in the 598th Wilton Park Conference.
Discussion
was on preparations for events associated with the ten-year
comprehensive review of UNCED, Earth Summit 2002.
The meeting was organised by Wilton Park in co-operation with UNED
Forum. What follows is UNED Forum's summary of the key points raised
that could be considered as elements for a CSD decision on 2002.
Format,
Participation and Venue of the 2002 Event
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There
was strong support for a World Summit called the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (i).
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The
process for reviewing implementation of Agenda 21 chapters
(CSD-10) should be separated from the forward-looking Summit
(Earth Summit 2002 -WSSD).
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The
Summit should not be held in New York, strong preference was
shown for it being in a developing country.
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Multi-stakeholder
processes should be integrated into all the international
preparations for the Summit (ii).
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There
should be early consideration of the institutional arrangements
to service the Summit.
The need for a Secretary General for the Summit or a group of
other champion(s) of the process should be considered.
Scope
of the Review of Achievements and Implementation of Agenda 21
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There
should be a comprehensive review of the achievements and
implementation of Agenda 21 by the end of 2001, to be discussed
and approved by CSD-10 and the regular General Assembly in 2002.
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The
review should NOT attempt to renegotiate Agenda 21.
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All
relevant UN Agencies and international Commissions and
Conventions should review their programme of work since Rio and
report on factors contributing to success and on obstacles to
success.
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National
Sustainable Development Strategies should be produced by all
countries by 2002 (UNGASS 1997 agreement).
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The
national assessments (success and obstacle factors) of
implementation of Agenda 21 should be completed by governments
with the involvement of multi-stakeholder groups, utilising
bodies including National Councils for Sustainable Development
where appropriate. These assessments should be completed by June
2001.
Goal
and Focus of the Summit
The
overall goal of the forward-looking Summit should be improving the
quality of life for all.
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There
should be regional preparatory meetings organised by the
Regional Commissions where appropriate (iii).
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WSSD
(Earth Summit 2002) should provide a focus on poverty
eradication.
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WSSD
(Earth Summit 2002) should advance equitable sustainable
consumption and production practices.
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WSSD
(Earth Summit 2002) should address the impact of globalisation
on sustainable development. It should establish a new financial
contract between developed and developing countries. Part of
this work will be done through the Financing for Development
process that WSSD (Earth Summit 2002) should build on. In this
respect there should be agreement on implementation of the key
elements of Agenda 21 and agreement on how they are to be
resourced, including the transfer of appropriate technology and
timetables agreed.
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WSSD
(Earth Summit 2002) should establish agreed indicators for
accessing and monitoring progress (could be agreed at CSD-9).
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Governments,
intergovernmental agencies and Major Groups should give firm
pledges to an action-orientated agenda at the Summit.
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CSD
should encourage governments to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and
Biosafety Protocol by WSSD (Earth Summit 2002).
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WSSD
(Earth Summit 2002) should address issues that have emerged or
become critical since Rio. Four or five should be prioritised
from a list that would include the following: freshwater; health
in the context of environment and development; AIDS; coastal and
marine living systems; transport; environment and security,
access to information, and energy.
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Awareness
raising will play an important role in preparation for the
Summit and in the follow up. For this to happen the education
community and the media, in the broadest sense, should be
engaged in the preparatory process.
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WSSD
(Earth Summit 2002) should be linked to Istanbul +5 and the
other UN Conferences and Summits.
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WSSD
(Earth Summit 2002) should bring together the various processes
from the other Conferences and Summits, and establish a future
mechanism for monitoring progress in a more integrated,
transparent and streamlined manner.
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WSSD
(Earth Summit 2002) should strengthen the global institutions
working on sustainable development - this would include
harmonising the provisions of the environment Conventions,
rationalising sector areas around regional bodies and within
international bodies.
Felix
Dodds
Director,
UNED Forum
fdodds@earthsummit2002.org
April
13, 2000
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i
Other suggestions included the 'World Summit on Sustainable
Livelihood' and 'Life Summit' - with a possible by-line of
'Life, Livelihoods and Lifestyles'.
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ii
This would include bodies such as the CSD NGO Steering
Committee, the Women's Caucus, the WBCSD and ICC, ICLEI and
IULA, ICFTU and other relevant stakeholder groups such as
Indigenous Peoples, youth, the academic community, farmers,
association of cooperatives, the education community and the
media.
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iii
In Europe the preparatory process for Kiev ECE Conference in
September 2002 needs to be taken into account.
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