CSD 1993

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ON ITS FIRST SESSION
(New York, 14-25 June 1993)

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CONTENTS

I. MATTERS CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL OR BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION

A. Adoption of a multi-year thematic programme of work of the Commission

B. Issues relating to the future work of the Commission

C. Exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level: guidelines to the secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments, including information in the form of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as those related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environmental and development issues they find relevant

D. Progress in the incorporation of recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in the activities of international organizations, and measures undertaken by the Administrative Committee on Coordination to ensure that sustainable development principles are incorporated in programmes and processes within the United Nations system

E. Progress achieved in facilitating and promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity-building

F. Initial financial commitments, financial flows and arrangements to give effect to the decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development from all available funding sources and mechanisms

G. Provisional agenda for the second session of the Commission

II. CHAIRMAN'S SUMMARY OF THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF THE COMMISSION

III. ADOPTION OF A MULTI-YEAR THEMATIC PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR THE COMMISSION

IV. ISSUES RELATING TO THE FUTURE WORK OF THE COMMISSION

V. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGENDA 21 AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

VI. PROGRESS IN THE INCORPORATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND MEASURES UNDERTAKEN BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON COORDINATION TO ENSURE THAT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES ARE INCORPORATED IN PROGRAMMES AND PROCESSES WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

VII. PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN FACILITATING AND PROMOTING THE TRANSFER OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGY, COOPERATION AND CAPACITY- BUILDING

VIII. INITIAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS, FINANCIAL FLOWS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE DECISIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FROM ALL AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES AND MECHANISMS

IX. PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

X. OTHER MATTERS

Annex. LIST OF DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE COMMISSION AT ITS FIRST SESSION

Chapter I

MATTERS CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL OR BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION   [ UP ]

A. Adoption of a multi-year thematic programme of work of the Commission

1. The Commission approved its multi-year thematic programme of work as contained in the annex to the present decision.

2. The Commission, in its deliberations under thematic clusters included in the multi-year programme of work, will ensure an integrated approach to environment and development, taking full account of the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and all other aspects of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 47/191 and the cross-linkages between and among sectoral and cross-sectoral components of relevant chapters and related programme areas of Agenda 21.

3. In carrying out its programme of work, the Commission will take into account the results of major intergovernmental events and negotiating processes, with a view to integrating these results and any recommended follow-up activities in the process of review of the implementation of Agenda 21.

4. The Commission will also take into account time-frames with regard to specific targets identified in the relevant chapters of Agenda 21.

5. The multi-year thematic programme of work can be adjusted, as the need arises, at future sessions of the Commission, as provided for in paragraph 12 of General Assembly resolution 47/191.

Annex

MULTI-YEAR THEMATIC PROGRAMME OF WORK OF THE COMMISSION

I. AGENDA 21 CLUSTERS AS RECOMMENDED AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

A. Critical elements of sustainability

1. International cooperation to accelerate sustainable development in developing countries and related domestic policies (chapter 2).

2. Combating poverty (chapter 3).

3. Changing consumption patterns (chapter 4).

4. Demographic dynamics and sustainability (chapter 5).

B. Financial resources and mechanisms

1. Financial resources and mechanisms (chapter 33).

C. Education, science, transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building

1. Environmentally sound management of biotechnology (chapter 16).

2. Transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacitybuilding (chapter 34).

3. Science for sustainable development (chapter 35).

4. Promoting education, public awareness and training (chapter 36).

5. National mechanisms and international cooperation for capacity- building in developing countries (chapter 37).

D. Decision-making structures

1. Integrating environment and development in decision-making (chapter 8).

2. International institutional arrangements (chapter 38).

3. International legal instruments and mechanisms (chapter 39).

4. Information for decision-making (chapter 40).

E. Roles of major groups

1. Preamble to section III on strengthening the role of major groups (chapter 23).

2. Global action for women towards sustainable and equitable development (chapter 24).

3. Children and youth in sustainable development (chapter 25).

4. Recognizing and strengthening the role of indigenous people and their communities (chapter 26).

5. Strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations: partners for sustainable development (chapter 27).

6. Local authorities' initiatives in support of Agenda 21 (chapter 28).

7. Strengthening the role of workers and their trade unions (chapter 29).

8. Strengthening the role of business and industry (chapter 30).

9. Scientific and technological community (chapter 31).

10. Strengthening the role of farmers (chapter 32).

F. Health, human settlements and freshwater

1. Protecting and promoting human health (chapter 6).

2. Promoting sustainable human settlement development (chapter 7).

3. Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources, application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources (chapter 18).

4. Environmentally sound management of solid wastes and sewage-related issues (chapter 21).

G. Land, desertification, forests and biodiversity

1. Integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources (chapter 10).

2. Combating deforestation (chapter 11).

3. Managing fragile ecosystems: combating desertification and drought (chapter 12).

4. Managing fragile ecosystems: sustainable mountain development (chapter 13).

5. Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development (chapter 14).

6. Conservation of biological diversity (chapter 15).

H. Atmosphere, oceans and all kinds of seas

1. Protection of the atmosphere (chapter 9).

2. Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and their protection, rational use and development of their living resources (chapter 17).

I. Toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes

1. Environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, including prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products (chapter 19).

2. Environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, including prevention of illegal international traffic in hazardous wastes (chapter 20).

3. Safe and environmentally sound management of radioactive wastes (chapter 22).

II. PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF WORK

1993 Session

Adoption of a multi-year thematic programme of work (item 2 of the provisional agenda).

1994 Session

Review of cross-sectoral clusters:

A. Critical elements of sustainability

With particular reference to chapters 2 and 4.

B. Financial resources and mechanisms

Chapter 33.

C. Education, science, transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building

With particular reference to chapters 34 and 37.

D. Decision-making structures

With particular reference to chapters 38 and 39.

E. Roles of major groups

Chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32.

Review of sectoral clusters, first phase:

F. Health, human settlements and freshwater

Chapters 6, 7, 18 and 21.

I. Toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes

Chapters 19, 20 and 22.

1995 Session

Review of cross-sectoral clusters:

A. Critical elements of sustainability

With particular reference to chapters 3 and 5.

B. Financial resources and mechanisms

Chapter 33.

C. Education, science, transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building

With particular reference to chapters 16, 34 and 35.

D. Decision-making structures

With particular reference to chapters 8 and 40.

E. Roles of major groups

Chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32.

Review of sectoral clusters, second phase:

G. Land, desertification, forests and biodiversity

Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

1996 Session

Review of cross-sectoral clusters:

A. Critical elements of sustainability

Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5.

B. Financial resources and mechanisms

Chapter 33.

C. Education, science, transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building

With particular reference to chapters 34, 36 and 37.

D. Decision-making structures

Chapters 8, 38, 39, 40.

E. Roles of major groups

Chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32:

Review of sectoral clusters, third phase.

H. Atmosphere, oceans and all kinds of seas

Chapters 9 and 17.

1997 Session

Overall review and appraisal of Agenda 21 in preparation for the special session of the General Assembly in 1997 envisaged in resolution 47/190.

B. Issues relating to the future work of the Commission

6. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a) of the decision on issues relating to the future work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, adopted by the Commission at its organizational session (E/1993/25 and Corr.1, para. 3), the Commission will decide at each session, on the basis of its agenda, on the need for and the number of informal negotiating groups, as well as other specific sessional arrangements for its work, on the understanding that the number of such groups will not exceed three during a particular session and that no more than two of those will meet simultaneously. The proceedings of the informal negotiating groups should be interpreted in all official languages of the United Nations.

7. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the reports of the Secretary-General for the Commission are distributed not less than six weeks before its meetings in all official languages of the United Nations, in accordance with paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 45/238 B.

8. The Commission encourages the participation of ministers in its high-level meetings.

9. The Commission decides that, as a rule, its high-level meetings should last for a period of up to three days and that they should be integral parts of the sessions of the Commission and of its decision- making process. The organization of work of the high-level meetings should provide, inter alia, for an open exchange of views among the participants, as well as for holding informal meetings, as the need arises, to resolve outstanding issues related to its work that require high-level consideration.

10. The high-level meetings should provide necessary political impetus to the implementation of decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the commitments contained therein, as adopted. The meetings should further provide for an integrated overview of the implementation of Agenda 21, consideration of urgent and major emerging policy issues brought to its attention and, in a focused way, of the outcome of discussions held in the Commission. The result of the high-level meeting may be a concise document, should the participants deem that appropriate.

11. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 18 of General Assembly resolution 47/191, the Commission should submit its report with agreed consolidated recommendations to the Economic and Social Council and, through it, to the General Assembly. The sections of the report of the Commission corresponding to particular substantive agenda items could also contain brief summaries of the discussions held. Such summaries are to be prepared by the Rapporteur with the assistance of the Secretariat and shall be approved by the Commission in the context of the adoption of its report.

12. Bearing in mind the functions of the Commission, in particular those contained in paragraph 3 (a) and (i) of General Assembly resolution 47/191, the Commission requests the Economic and Social Council and, through it, the General Assembly to decide on the arrangements required so that the relevant reports or parts thereof of their subsidiary bodies dealing with issues related to sustainable development will be made available to the Commission.

13. The Commission requests the Economic and Social Council to invite relevant organizations of the United Nations system, including international financial institutions and the Global Environment Facility, to prepare specific reports on their activities to follow up the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, focusing on ongoing and future projects and initiatives related to its multi-year thematic programme of work. In that context, the Commission requests the Secretary-General to prepare annually a consolidated analytical report which would synthesize information related to United Nations system activities to implement Agenda 21, outline gaps and assess progress achieved and clarify organizational responsibilities, taking fully into account the report of the Inter-agency Committee on Sustainable Development and other relevant contributions of the Administrative Committee on Coordination.

14. The Commission further invites, through the Economic and Social Council, international, regional and subregional intergovernmental organizations outside the United Nations system to prepare and submit to the Secretary-General reports on their activities related to sustainable development, focusing on ongoing and future projects and initiatives related to its multi-year thematic programme of work. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to prepare annually a report containing an analytical summary of relevant activities of such organizations. This report will be considered by the Commission, together with the reports mentioned in paragraph 13 above, with a view to elaborating policy recommendations aimed at ensuring effective collaboration and greater complementarity of activities of intergovernmental organizations, both within and outside the United Nations system.

15. The Commission recommends that the reports requested in paragraphs 13 and 14 above should be prepared on the basis of comparability of information contained.

16. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to prepare analytical summaries of reports that the Commission may wish to specifically request from one or more organizations of the United Nations system in the future, when such reports are highly technical or specialized in nature.

17. The Commission recommends that the report of the High-level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development, containing its expert advice on issues related to the implementation of Agenda 21, be submitted to the Commission through the Secretary-General. On the proposal of the Secretary-General, the Commission could invite members of the Advisory Board to provide advice to it during its sessions.

18. The consideration of contributions from non-governmental organizations should be based on the procedural arrangements for the Commission set out in Economic and Social Council decision 1993/215. The Commission may decide on specific arrangements for holding special informal meetings during its sessions in order to have a direct informal dialogue with representatives of non-governmental organizations and major groups.

19. This decision does not preclude any other decisions regarding methods of work that the Commission may wish to adopt in the future.

C. Exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level: guidelines to the secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments, including information in the form of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as those related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environmental and development issues they find relevant

20. In accordance with paragraph 3 (b) of General Assembly resolution 47/191, the Commission will consider information provided by Governments, including, for example, information in the form of periodic communications or national reports, regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as problems related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environment and development issues they find relevant.

21. In order to enable the Commission effectively to perform its function to review the progress in the implementation of the commitments contained in Agenda 21, including those related to the provision of financial resources and transfer of technology, Governments are encouraged to provide such information to the Secretariat.

22. Bearing in mind the voluntary nature of information to be provided by Governments and that it will be up to individual Governments to decide on its degree of detail and regularity, the Commission recommends that the information provided to the Secretariat in a given year should be relevant to the Agenda 21 clusters to be discussed that year in accordance with its multi-year thematic programme of work, and that it should be concise and not exceed 50 pages. Furthermore, Governments may wish to provide an executive summary of the information of no more than five pages.

23. In order to allow the Secretary-General to ensure a more focused and coherent analysis of information and data received from Governments, the Commission agrees on the need for the Secretary-General to prepare reports using a standardized format, which Governments may wish to follow, taking into account the format of Agenda 21.

24. For that purpose, on the proposal of the Secretary-General, and in order to give the Secretariat sufficient time for the analysis of information received, Governments are encouraged to submit their information not less than six months prior to the Commission's sessions. Governments may wish to update such information at a later date. In order to facilitate the work of the Secretariat, Governments are encouraged to notify, as far as possible, the Secretary-General of a point of contact that has knowledge of the information provided.

25. The collection and dissemination of such information should be widely based, and as participatory as possible.

26. The Secretariat should take into account the particular clusters of the multi-year thematic programme of work of the Commission and be guided by the following list of issues as regards the information to be included in the analytical reports envisaged in paragraph 28 below:

(a) Policies and measures adopted at the national level to meet the objectives of Agenda 21, including information on national sustainable development strategies or plans and on the major activities and projects undertaken;

(b) Institutional mechanisms to address sustainable development issues, including the participation of non-governmental sectors and major groups in those mechanisms;

(c) Assessments of progress achieved to date. These could be, where appropriate, in the form of statistical sheets or tables;

(d) Measures taken, including indicators, and progress achieved to reach sustainable production and consumption patterns and lifestyles, to combat poverty and to limit the demographic impact on the life-supporting capacity of the planet;

(e) The impact of the environmental measures undertaken on the national economy, which would also reflect information on the social impact of such measures;

(f) Experience gained - for example, descriptions of successful policies/projects that can serve as models - and particularly progress in strategies that improve both social conditions and environmental sustainability;

(g) Specific problems and constraints encountered, including those related to finance and technology, as well as to the adverse impact of economic and trade policies and measures, in particular on developing countries;

(h) The adverse impact on sustainable development of trade restrictive and distortive policies and measures - specifically, trade policy measures for environmental purposes that constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustified discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade - as well as progress in making trade and environment policies mutually supportive in favour of sustainable development, in accordance with principle 12 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development;

(i) Assessments of capacity - that is, the availability of domestic human, technological and financial resources;

(j) Assessments of needs and priorities for external assistance in terms of finance, technology transfer, cooperation and capacity-building and human resource development;

(k) Implementation of Agenda 21 commitments related to finance, including those related to the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance and to the transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity- building;

(l) Assessments of the effectiveness of activities and projects of international organizations, including those of international financial institutions and funding mechanisms, and specific assistance that might be provided by them;

(m) Other relevant environment and development issues, including those affecting youth, women and other major groups.

27. Governments, in providing information to the Secretariat, are encouraged to take into account the above guidelines, in order, inter alia, to facilitate the task of the Secretariat.

28. In order to organize the information provided by Governments, the Secretary-General is requested to prepare, taking into account regional and subregional dimensions, the following analytical reports for future sessions of the Commission:

(a) An annual overview report on progress made in the implementation of Agenda 21, which should focus on the cross-sectoral components of Agenda 21 and the critical elements of sustainability and should contain an analysis of progress made, the main trends, and the main problems countries face in the implementation of Agenda 21;

(b) Thematic reports, corresponding to the Agenda 21 sectoral clusters to be included on the agendas of forthcoming sessions of the Commission, in accordance with its multi-year programme of work. These reports should address the interrelationships between sectoral and cross- sectoral issues, reflecting the integrated nature of environment and development, including its social dimensions, and should include the following information:

(i) Progress achieved to date in the implementation of the objectives of relevant chapters of Agenda 21;

(ii) The main activities that countries are undertaking or planning in order to achieve those objectives;

(iii) The experience gained, particularly experience from which others may benefit;

(iv) Assessments of developments in capacity-building;

(v) Specific problems and constraints encountered by Governments at all levels, including local Agenda 21 activities and activities related to major groups;

(vi) Assessments of the availability of domestic human, technological and financial resources and of needs and priorities for external assistance;

(vii) Assessments of specific expectations from international organizations, financial institutions and funding mechanisms.

29. In order to facilitate an integrated analysis by the Commission of progress achieved at the national, subregional, regional and international levels, the reports of the Secretary-General on the activities of intergovernmental organizations, both within and outside the United Nations system, to implement Agenda 21, requested in section B above, should be structured in such a way as to permit, to the extent possible, comparison of the data and trends therein with those in the reports on national implementation referred to in paragraph 28 above.

30. Bearing in mind the evolving nature of Agenda 21 and the concept of sustainability in general, the Commission, in its analysis of the reports requested above, will focus on sharing local, national, subregional and regional experiences and on the elaboration of recommendations on mobilizing support for national efforts to implement Agenda 21. In the light of future progress in the elaboration of realistic, usable and easily understandable indicators that would provide a basis for a meaningful assessment of progress towards sustainable development, the Commission will consider the possibility of integrating such indicators in the process outlined above.

31. The Commission requests relevant organizations within and outside the United Nations system, as well as bilateral donors, to provide technical and financial assistance to countries, particularly developing countries, in the preparation of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans.

D. Progress in the incorporation of recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in the activities of international organizations, and measures undertaken by the Administrative Committee on Coordination to ensure that sustainable development principles are incorporated in programmes and processes within the United Nations system

32. The Commission, having examined the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.17/1993/8), as well as the reports submitted by the Trade and Development Board (see E/CN.17/1993/13) and the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (see E/CN.17/1993/14), takes note of the initial measures taken within the United Nations system to implement Agenda 21 and to incorporate the outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in particular the principles contained in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, into programmes and processes within the United Nations system, including the establishment of the Inter-agency Committee on Sustainable Development. In this regard, the Commission requested the Secretary-General to continue to inform the Commission on the measures taken to ensure the effective functioning of the Inter-agency Committee on Sustainable Development in this area.

33. The Commission recognizes the crucial role of the Administrative Committee on Coordination in ensuring effective monitoring, coordination and supervision of the involvement of the United Nations system in the follow-up of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. The Commission supports the recent decisions of the Administrative Committee on Coordination to place the Conference follow- up issues high on its agenda and to undertake measures to streamline and reorganize its subsidiary machinery and other inter-agency coordination arrangements to achieve greater complementarity and synergy in giving practical shape to the programme areas of Agenda 21.

34. The Commission recognizes the need for further enhancing inter- agency coordination in the United Nations system to ensure more cost- efficient, effective and result-oriented follow-up to the Conference, to avoid duplication and to ensure more efficient use of resources in the implementation of Agenda 21.

35. The Commission invites the Economic and Social Council and, through it, the General Assembly, to analyse and review, in the context of the ongoing process of revitalization and restructuring in the economic, social and related fields, the functioning of the intergovernmental machinery in relation to the implementation of Agenda 21 and other outcomes of the Conference, with a view to making it more responsive to these tasks, as well as to improving the complementarity in the work of their subsidiary organs, and making compatible their methodologies and data utilized. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to inform it, at its second session, of progress made in this area.

36. The Commission calls upon all countries to maintain consistent positions in various governing bodies in order to achieve greater harmonization of policy direction within the system in relation to the implementation of Agenda 21 and other decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. The Commission emphasizes its readiness to collaborate with the governing bodies of the United Nations system in harmonizing collective efforts towards the implementation of Agenda 21.

37. The Commission takes note of the concerns expressed by the Administrative Committee on Coordination regarding the lack of funding to meet the new mandates stemming from Agenda 21, and, in the context of its decision on finance, requests the Economic and Social Council to invite all organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to provide to the Commission at its second session, through the Administrative Committee on Coordination, information regarding their financial needs and priorities that are relevant to their specific responsibilities, taking into account the system-wide perspective in the implementation of Agenda 21 and other outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as it is developed by the Administrative Committee on Coordination and its Inter-agency Committee on Sustainable Development, bearing in mind agreed objectives reflected in Agenda 21, in particular chapter 33 on the provision of financial resources to achieve sustainable development.

38. The Commission stresses the importance of enhancing cooperation between the organs, programmes and organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations and major groups, under relevant United Nations rules of procedure. The Commission expresses support for the convening of inter-agency consultations with major groups, where specifically provided for in Agenda 21.

39. The Commission invites all international organizations, including international financial institutions, to undertake further measures to fully incorporate the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in their work programmes, and to provide it with further reports on their activities to follow up the Conference, focusing on the clusters of its multi-year thematic programme of work. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the reports requested in section B above will, inter alia:

(a) Assess the progress achieved in the implementation of the relevant chapters of Agenda 21;

(b) Identify gaps and opportunities for cooperation, including cooperation with non-governmental organizations and major groups;

(c) Compare and assess the relevance, strength and usefulness of various programmes and activities undertaken by different international organizations;

(d) Clarify organizational responsibilities within the United Nations system and assess whether allocation of tasks adequately reflects the expertise and comparative advantage of different organs, programmes and organizations;

(e) Assess the progress made in reducing unnecessary duplication of efforts and inefficient use of resources.

40. The Commission takes note of the processes launched within the United Nations system to improve the coordination of programmes related to development data, and requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, to continue to formulate proposals regarding Development Watch, envisaged in paragraph 40.13 of Agenda 21, as well as the elaboration of realistic, usable and easily understandable indicators that would allow the Commission to assess the progress made towards sustainable development.

41. The Commission invites the Economic and Social Council to recommend to the General Assembly that, in order to avoid duplication of reports, the reporting requested by the General Assembly in resolutions 42/186 and 42/187 on the Environmental Perspective to the Year 2000 and Beyond and on the World Commission on Environment and Development, respectively, should be discontinued.

42. The Commission decides that the format of the discussion on the progress made in the incorporation of the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in the activities of international organizations and measures undertaken by the Administrative Committee on Coordination to implement Agenda 21 and to incorporate the outcomes of the Conference, in particular the principles contained in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, into the programmes and processes within the United Nations system, should be improved and should be focused on the clusters of its multi-year thematic programme of work to ensure a constructive dialogue between the Commission and the representatives of international organizations.

43. The Commission invites relevant organizations of the United Nations system to participate, at the highest possible level, in the sessions of the Commission, taking into account the multi-year thematic programme of work, in order to promote in-depth discussions on issues falling within their respective areas of responsibility.

E. Progress achieved in facilitating and promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity-building

44. The Commission emphasizes the crucial importance of the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building for achieving sustainable development in all countries, as well as the importance of operationalizing objectives agreed to at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in this regard.

45. The Commission stresses the need, inter alia, (a) to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, access to and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and corresponding know-how, in particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights; (b) to promote long-term technological cooperation and partnership between holders of environmentally sound technologies and potential users; and (c) to improve the endogenous capacities of those countries to develop, assess, manage and utilize such technologies, through, inter alia, research and development, education and training.

46. The Commission decides that in order to make operational those provisions of Agenda 21 relating to the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building, there is a particular need to focus on, inter alia, the dissemination of information, the removal of barriers and the creation of incentives, financial support and endogenous capacity-building. In this regard, the Commission:

(a) Urges bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as national Governments, to undertake efforts to increase their financial support at the international, regional and subregional levels for activities that are designed to promote and facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, in particular to developing countries and to the building of the endogenous capacities of developing countries to develop and manage those technologies, including state-of-the-art technologies and technologies already in place;

(b) Urges Governments to develop policies and innovative mechanisms that would promote and/or improve access to environmentally sound technologies, in particular of developing countries, and to provide appropriate incentives, fiscal or otherwise, to encourage the private sector to transfer those technologies, in particular to the developing countries, in accordance with paragraph 34.18 (e) of Agenda 21;

(c) Urges all Governments, wherever appropriate and taking into account national strategies, to identify and implement an appropriate mix of economic instruments and normative measures to encourage and support the investment and infrastructure required to promote access to and transfer of environmentally sound technologies, in particular to developing countries;

(d) Urges Governments to formulate policies and programmes for the effective transfer of environmentally sound technologies that are publicly owned or in the public domain;

(e) Recognizes the need to develop methodologies and establish, where appropriate, institutions for technology assessment;

(f) Also recognizes that in addition to promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, the Commission should promote both the development of methodologies for and the assessment of the environmental, health, safety and social impacts of technologies. In this context, national and international measures should be strengthened to promote information exchange on and discourage the transfer of activities that employ hazardous technologies which are not used and/or are prohibited in developed countries;

(g) Urges Governments and appropriate organizations to modify their policies and regulations to facilitate access to, transfer of and introduction of environmentally sound technologies;

(h) Stresses the importance of strengthening national capacities to assess, develop, manage and apply new technologies, and in this context, the need to strengthen existing institutions, train personnel at all levels and educate the end-users of new technologies;

(i) Urges developing countries that are in a position to do so to cooperate among themselves with a view to developing and improving environmentally sound technologies, and exhorts the international community, as well as the institutions of the United Nations system, to provide full support to initiatives intended to promote technological cooperation and capacity-building among developing countries;

(j) Recognizes the positive initiatives of developing countries in the field of environmentally sound technology, for example in biotechnology, and urges developed countries and the United Nations system to support such initiatives.

47. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to initiate actions aimed at the full implementation of paragraphs 34.15, 34.16, 34.17 and 34.26 of Agenda 21, to prepare proposals on ways and means of facilitating such implementation and to inform the Commission at its next session of the progress achieved in this respect. This should include ways and means of:

(a) Considering the designation of a focal point for technology assessment for the implementation of mandated activities on technology assessment within the United Nations system that could serve as a clearing-house for information and referrals;

(b) Ensuring, taking into account initiatives being undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other relevant United Nations bodies, the full implementation of General Assembly resolutions relating to the collection and dissemination of information on environmental emergencies that may result from poor or inappropriate application of technologies, and early warning information aimed at avoiding environmental disasters;

(c) Supporting the establishment of a collaborative network of national, subregional and regional research and information systems, including mechanisms that enable countries, in particular developing countries, to access information at low cost.

48. The Commission supports the establishment of environmental technology centres at the international, regional, subregional and national levels, as appropriate, and the strengthening of existing centres. The objective of these centres would be to improve the capacity to promote the development, transfer and application of environmentally sound technologies and corresponding technical know-how with special focus on developing countries' needs, and to foster sustainable development, in particular in developing countries.

49. The Commission invites Governments, as well as relevant intergovernmental bodies, to provide information on the implementation of science and technology-related provisions of Agenda 21, particularly with regard to progress achieved in the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building, in line with section C above, on the guidelines to the Secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments on issues related to the implementation of Agenda 21. Such information should be provided in accordance with the multi-year thematic programme of work.

50. Recognizing that the Commission has been mandated to review progress concerning the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building for the implementation of Agenda 21, the Commission has decided to prepare for the discussion at its second session through the establishment of an inter-sessional ad hoc open-ended working group, for a trial period of one year, to be composed of Governments that will nominate experts to assist in the task of assessing and suggesting specific measures to support and promote access to and transfer of technology, as indicated in paragraph 34.18 of Agenda 21, in particular subparagraphs (a) and (e), and on the basis of the above, in the development of the policy framework to facilitate, promote and finance technology transfer, particularly in relation to the sectoral clusters under consideration. The Commission calls on its Bureau to coordinate the work of the ad hoc open-ended working group, as well as the inputs from other experts in relevant fields, including non- governmental organizations, the private sector and other major groups. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to provide support, within existing resources, to organize the above-mentioned working group. The Commission will decide on the agenda and procedures for the working group, which will report on its findings to the Commission.

51. In accordance with Economic and Social Council decision 1993/215, the ad hoc working group should have a dialogue and interaction with representatives of non-governmental organizations and major groups, under the relevant rules of procedure, ensuring equitable participation of non- governmental organizations from developed and developing countries and from all regions.

52. The Commission emphasizes the need for effective interaction and collaborative arrangements with intergovernmental bodies which are of special relevance to the work of the Commission in relation to promoting and facilitating the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building, such as with the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the Commission on Transnational Corporations and the Governing Councils of UNEP, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. For this purpose the Commission invites the Economic and Social Council to consider the intergovernmental machinery related to science and technology in the coordination segment of its substantive session of 1994, with a view to clarifying the distribution of labour and cooperation mechanisms.

53. The Commission stresses the need to consider, where appropriate, information, which could be made available by the relevant conference of the parties, on the implementation of environmental conventions as it relates to the support, promotion and access to environmentally sound technologies.

54. The Commission emphasizes the importance of engaging in dialogue and interaction with other relevant intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, including the relevant transnational corporations, and other major groups, to encourage new forms of technology cooperation and partnership in technological areas of particular relevance to developing countries.

F. Initial financial commitments, financial flows and arrangements to give effect to the decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development from all available funding sources and mechanisms

55. The Commission reaffirms the basis for action contained in chapter 33 of Agenda 21 - that economic growth, social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities in developing countries and are themselves essential to meeting national and global sustainability objectives. The Commission expresses concern that the general response to the recommendations and commitments of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development regarding funding falls significantly short of expectations and requirements. The Commission welcomes, however, the initial commitments and pledges made by some countries and the continued high level of assistance of other countries but emphasizes that the inadequacy of financial resources remains a major constraint for effective implementation of Agenda 21 and the phasing-in of sustainable development. The Commission notes that, despite the agreed objectives reflected in chapter 33 of Agenda 21 regarding the necessity of financial resources being adequate, predictable, new and additional, these objectives have not yet been fulfilled. Therefore, the Commission stresses the need for effective and early implementation of all commitments contained in chapter 33 of Agenda 21, including those related to the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP) for official development assistance (ODA). The Commission notes the absence of additional funding in the form of an "Earth Increment" at the Tenth Replenishment of the International Development Association and calls on donor countries and the World Bank to explore ways and means of achieving an "Earth Increment". The Commission recalls the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development that the cost of inaction could outweigh the financial cost of implementing Agenda 21.

56. The Commission emphasizes the importance of ensuring a supportive international economic climate and domestic economic and financial activities conducive to sustained economic growth and development in order to achieve sustainability. The Commission highlights, in this context, the importance of making further progress in such areas as debt relief, in particular for developing countries, as well as of encouraging free trade and access to markets, which will help make economic growth and environmental protection mutually supportive for all countries, particularly developing countries and countries undergoing the process of transition to a market economy.

57. The Commission stresses the importance of promoting sustainable development through trade liberalization and recognizes that an open, equitable, secure, non-discriminatory and predictable multilateral trading system is critical for achieving sustainable development. In this respect the Commission expresses strong support for an early, balanced, comprehensive and successful outcome of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations that would halt and reverse protectionism, improve access to markets, in particular for exports of developing countries, and bring about further liberalization and expansion of world trade. The Commission also recognized the importance of making trade and environment policies mutually supportive and favourable to sustainable development, while emphasizing that trade policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade. The Commission emphasizes that structural adjustment programmes should not have a negative impact on the environment and the social and economic situation of developing countries.

58. The Commission welcomes the initiatives of some donor countries with respect to debt relief for the least developed countries and low and lower-middle-income countries, including debt cancellation, encourages other donors to consider similar measures and emphasizes the necessity of an adequate response to the problems of low and middle-income countries that have continued to service their debt despite severe economic problems.

59. The Commission urges international financial institutions, regional and subregional banks and specialized agencies and programmes of the United Nations system, as well as other institutions involved in the implementation of Agenda 21, to play an increased and more effective role in providing new and additional financial resources, in particular to developing countries, for the implementation of Agenda 21, to make greater progress in integrating the concept of sustainable development into their programmes and projects and to make it an integral part of their decision-making process and institutional objectives.

60. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to use, inter alia, data of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on resource flows to and from developing countries (including ODA, official and private financial flows and debt repayments), on both an individual country and aggregated basis, in the development by the Secretary-General of the information required by the Commission to fulfil its responsibilities in reviewing and monitoring financial flows in relation to specific Agenda 21 clusters, and invites OECD to cooperate in this regard.

61. The Commission, recognizing its mandate to review the adequacy of the financial resources available for the implementation of Agenda 21, decides to establish an inter-sessional ad hoc, open-ended working group composed of Governments, which will nominate experts in order to assist the Commission in the following tasks:

(a) To monitor and review the requirements, availability and adequacy of financial resources for the implementation of different clusters of Agenda 21, taking into account the multi-year thematic programme of work, as well as projects, programmes, activities and sustainable development strategies prepared by Governments, in order to provide a suitable and common basis for action on the part of all Governments, bilateral funding agencies and States members of the governing bodies of the agencies and programmes of the United Nations system, as well as multilateral regional and subregional development banks and funds dealing with the issues of environment and development;

(b) To monitor and analyse various factors that influence the flow of financial and economic resources, such as debt relief, terms of trade, commodity prices, market access and private foreign investment, as well as to review mechanisms for innovative financing in the context of paragraph 33.16 of Agenda 21, taking into account activities at the national level;

(c) To develop, on the basis of the above, a policy framework for the mobilization of financial resources towards a balanced implementation of all aspects of Agenda 21 that would, inter alia, assist Governments, where appropriate, to implement their sustainable development strategies.

62. The Commission calls on its Bureau to coordinate the work of the ad hoc open-ended working group, as well as the inputs to its work from other experts in relevant fields. The Commission requests the Secretary- General to provide, within existing resources, support to the above- mentioned working group.

63. The Commission will decide on the agenda and procedures for the working group, which will report its findings to the Commission.

64. In accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/215, the ad hoc working group should have a dialogue and interaction with representatives of non-governmental organizations and major groups, under the relevant rules of procedure, ensuring equitable participation of non-governmental organizations from developed and developing countries and from all regions.

65. In order to facilitate the task of monitoring financial resources and mechanisms for the implementation of Agenda 21, the Commission invites Governments to provide information related to the financial aspects of implementing Agenda 21 in line with section C above, on the guidelines to the Secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments on issues related to the implementation of Agenda 21. Regarding donor countries, the Commission suggested that such information should include the extent to which the objectives and targets contained in chapter 33 of Agenda 21 have been achieved (for example, ODA as a percentage of GNP), debt relief, aid priorities, main funding arrangements related to sustainable development and specific support to environmental conventions. This information should, as far as possible, include an assessment related to programme areas of Agenda 21.

66. The Commission invites the World Bank and other international, regional and subregional financial and development institutions, including the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and all specialized agencies and related organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with paragraph 21 of General Assembly resolution 47/191, to include in the reports requested in section B above information regarding their experience, activities and plans to implement Agenda 21, in particular those related to the provisions of paragraph 33.14 (a) and (b).

67. The Commission welcomes the decision by the participants in GEF to conclude negotiations on replenishment and restructuring by December 1993 and stresses the importance of:

(a) Improved transparency as well as a more open information policy in GEF for all parties;

(b) Funding activities designed to achieve global environmental benefits, which should cover the agreed incremental costs of relevant activities under Agenda 21 and have sufficient flexibility to expand their scope and coverage to relevant programme areas of Agenda 21, with global environmental benefits, as agreed;

(c) Regular reporting by GEF to the Commission on Sustainable Development on its activities;

(d) According non-governmental organizations an improved consultative status;

(e) Ensuring access to and disbursement of funds under mutually agreed criteria without introducing new forms of conditionality.

68. In reviewing other mechanisms and institutions for capacity-building as referred to in chapter 33 of Agenda 21, the Commission also invites States members of the governing bodies of the agencies and programmes of the United Nations system and multilateral, regional and subregional development banks and funds dealing with issues of environment and development to take steps to ensure that the programme budgets of those institutions receive adequate financial support in order for them to implement the provisions of Agenda 21 according to their respective mandates.

G. Provisional agenda for the second session of the Commission

69. The Commission recommends that the Economic and Social Council approve the provisional agenda for its second session, set out below:

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

3. General discussion on progress in the implementation of Agenda 21, focusing on the cross-sectoral components of Agenda 21 and the critical elements of sustainability.

4. Financial resources and mechanisms.

5. Education, science, transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building.

6. Review of sectoral clusters, first phase:

(a) Health, human settlements and freshwater;

(b) Toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes.

7. Other matters.

8. High-level meeting.

9. Adoption of the draft provisional agenda for the third session of the Commission.

10. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its second session.

Chapter II

CHAIRMAN'S SUMMARY OF THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF THE COMMISSION                                                                        [ UP ]

1. The Ministers and the other participants at the high-level meeting of the first session of the Commission on Sustainable Development recognized the sense of urgency in the promoting of environmentally sound sustainable development through concrete actions by Governments and the international community in general. They emphasized the political importance of effective follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, and of the implementation of the recommendations, decisions and commitments contained in its final documents, in order to achieve sustainable development in all countries.

2. They reconfirmed their commitment to the growing global partnership for sustainable development among nations, as well as among all parties involved in the transition to sustainability at the local, national, regional and international levels, and highlighted the need for further development of such partnerships as that upon which Agenda 21 had been built.

3. They emphasized the dynamic role of the Commission as a central political forum for the monitoring and review, in an integrated and coordinated manner, of the implementation of Agenda 21 and other outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. In that connection, they stressed the need to provide further political impetus and shape to the activities of the Commission.

4. The participants agreed that the overall progress achieved in the one year following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development remained limited, despite some developments at the national and international levels. They emphasized that much more had to be done to translate the commitments of the Conference into action.

5. They stressed the fact that the inadequacy of financial resources was a major constraint on effective implementation of Agenda 21, and emphasized the urgent need to support national efforts to achieve sustainable development in the developing countries with new and additional financial resources.

6. They highlighted the importance of collaboration in the area of the development, transfer of, access to and application of environmentally sound technologies, inter alia, with a view to enhancing the scientific and technological capacity of developing countries to achieve sustainable development. Within this context they welcomed new initiatives by both developed and developing countries in that area and stressed the need for further concrete measures to operationalize relevant provisions of Agenda 21.

7. They urged that there be effective implementation of the recommendations set forth at the first session of the Commission, and invited the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly to attach priority to their consideration of the report of the Commission on its first session at their respective forthcoming sessions.

8. The participants recognized the necessity for all Governments and international organizations, including multilateral financial institutions, as well as all other parties involved, to cooperate actively with the Commission, inter alia, by providing it with updated information on their activities and progress in the implementation of the decisions and recommendations contained in the final documents of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. In that respect, they looked forward to comprehensive reports of the Secretary-General providing a review and analysis of the information received.

9. They emphasized the importance of setting up national coordination and information-exchange mechanisms, as well as of elaborating national sustainable development plans and strategies, in particular with a view to integrating sustainable development considerations within decision-making processes. They highlighted the importance of including in those mechanisms, together with representatives of relevant ministries, representatives of local authorities, legislatures and the private sector, as well as of non-governmental organizations and of youth, women and other major groups.

10. They emphasized the importance of effective international solutions to pressing world issues related to critical elements of sustainability, such as the need for a supportive economic environment, combating poverty, achieving sustainable consumption and production patterns and lifestyles, and limiting demographic impacts on the life-supporting capacity of the planet.

11. They recognized the importance of making trade and environment mutually supportive, as well as of effectively addressing the debt issue.

12. They emphasized the fact that since the Commission was the appropriate intergovernmental forum for addressing issues related to unsustainable production and consumption patterns and lifestyles in their relation to sustainable development, it should take a leading role in that area.

13. They emphasized the need to ensure that the inter-sessional working groups of the Commission on issues related to finance and technology would contribute to adequate preparations for its next session.

14. They welcomed the intention expressed by a number of Governments to host meetings with a view to elaborating action-oriented inputs under specific thematic clusters of the Commission's multi-year programme of work, starting with issues such as health, human settlements, freshwater, toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes, and consumption and production patterns.

15. They invited the Bureau of the Commission and the Secretary-General to monitor the inter-sessional process with a view to enriching the deliberations at its next session.

16. Early efforts could be undertaken by the Commission for the implementation of the Forest Principles agreed to at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, with a view to accelerating the process of sustainable development of forests, and thus preparing the ground for consideration of that issue by the Commission in 1995, as agreed in the multi-year thematic programme of work.

17. They reaffirmed the importance of the principles embodied in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and emphasized the need to promote broad dissemination of those principles at all levels with a view to promoting public awareness regarding sustainable development.

18. The participants welcomed the announcement by some countries regarding increased levels of assistance.

19. The participants also welcomed the inputs from the various non- governmental organizations, and their commitments to work in partnership with Governments in furthering the sustainable development process.

Chapter III

ADOPTION OF A MULTI-YEAR THEMATIC PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR THE COMMISSION                                                [ UP ]

1. The Commission considered item 2 of its agenda at the 2nd, 12th and 20th meetings, on 14, 21 and 25 June 1993. It had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the adoption of a multi-year thematic programme of work for the Commission (E/CN.17/1993/5).

2. At the 2nd meeting, on 14 June 1993, statements were made by the representatives of Egypt, Norway (on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), China, Hungary, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Austria, Japan, India, Colombia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), the United States of America, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Uruguay, Algeria, France and Canada, as well as by the observers for Denmark (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Economic Community) and Saudi Arabia.

3. A statement was also made by a speaker on behalf of a group of non-governmental organizations accredited to the Commission.

4. At the 12th meeting, on 21 June, the Chairman introduced a draft decision (E/CN.17/1993/L.4) entitled "Adoption of a multi-year thematic programme of work" and orally revised it by inserting the words "and related programme areas" in paragraph 2 before the words "of Agenda 21" at the end of the sentence.

5. At the 20th meeting, on 25 June, the Commission adopted the draft decision, as orally amended (see chap. I, sect. A).

Chapter IV

ISSUES RELATING TO THE FUTURE WORK OF THE COMMISSION                                                                            [ UP ]

1. The Commission considered item 3 of its agenda at the 2nd, 12th and 20th meetings, on 14, 21 and 25 June 1993.

2. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of Egypt, Tunisia, Mexico, the Czech Republic, India, Norway (on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), Morocco, Vanuatu and Austria, as well as by the observer for Denmark (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Economic Community).

3. A statement was also made by a speaker on behalf of a group of non-governmental organizations accredited to the Commission.

4. At the 12th meeting, on 21 June, the Chairman introduced a draft decision (E/CN.17/1993/L.2) entitled "Issues relating to the future work of the Commission", which was submitted on the basis of informal consultations. The draft decision read as follows:

"1. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a) of the decision on issues relating to the future work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, adopted by the Commission at its organizational session (E/1993/25 and Corr.1, para. 3), the Commission will decide at each session, on the basis of its agenda, on the need for and the number of informal negotiating groups, as well as other specific sessional arrangements for its work, on the understanding that the number of such groups will not exceed three during a particular session and that no more than two of those will meet simultaneously.

"2. With a view to saving time devoted to consideration of organizational issues during its future sessions, the Commission decides that its Chairman, with the assistance of the Bureau and the Secretariat, should conduct pre-sessional informal consultations with all members of the Commission and other interested delegations on the above issues and make recommendations for the approval of the Commission at its first meeting.

"3. The Commission decides that, as a rule, its high-level meetings should last for a period of up to three days and that they should be integral parts of the sessions of the Commission and of its decision- making process. The organization of work of the high-level meetings could provide, inter alia, for an open exchange of views among the participants, as well as for holding informal meetings as the need may arise to resolve outstanding policy issues that require high-level consideration.

"4. The high-level meeting should provide for an integrated overview of the implementation of Agenda 21, consideration of the outcome of discussions held in the Commission and of urgent and major emerging issues brought to its attention. The result of the high-level meeting should be a concise agreed document that would endorse the overall results of the work of the Commission and give further political impetus to the implementation of decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the commitments contained therein.

"5. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 18 of General Assembly resolution 47/191 of 22 December 1992, the Commission should submit its report with agreed consolidated recommendations to the Economic and Social Council and, through it, to the General Assembly. The sections of the report of the Commission corresponding to particular substantive agenda items could also contain brief summaries of the discussions held. Such summaries are to be prepared by the Rapporteur with the assistance of the Secretariat and shall be approved by the Commission in the context of the adoption of its report.

"6. Bearing in mind the functions of the Commission, in particular those contained in paragraph 3 (a) and (i) of General Assembly resolution 47/191, the Commission requests the Economic and Social Council and, through it, the General Assembly to decide on the arrangements required so that the relevant reports or parts thereof of their subsidiary bodies dealing with issues related to sustainable development will be made available to the Commission.

"7. The Commission requests the Economic and Social Council to invite relevant organizations of the United Nations system, including international financial institutions and the Global Environment Facility, to prepare specific reports on their activities to follow up the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, with a particular focus on ongoing and future projects and initiatives, taking into account its multi-year thematic programme of work. In that context, the Commission requests the Secretary-General to prepare annually a consolidated analytical report which would synthesize information related to United Nations system activities to implement Agenda 21, outline gaps and assess progress achieved. Such a report would be considered by the Commission together with the report of the Inter-agency Committee on Sustainable Development and other relevant contributions of the Administrative Committee on Coordination. Reports of individual agencies might be made available to the Commission as background documents.

"8. The Commission further invites international, regional and subregional intergovernmental organizations outside the United Nations system to prepare and submit to the Secretary-General reports on their activities related to sustainable development, with a particular focus on ongoing and future projects and initiatives, bearing in mind its multi- year thematic programme of work. The Commission requests the Secretary- General to prepare annually a report containing an analytical summary of relevant activities of such organizations. This report will be considered by the Commission, together with the reports mentioned in paragraph 7 above, with a view to elaborating policy recommendations aimed at ensuring effective collaboration and greater complementarity of activities of intergovernmental organizations, both within and outside the United Nations system.

"9. The Commission recommends that the report of the High-level Advisory Board, containing its expert advice on issues related to the implementation of Agenda 21, be submitted to the Commission through the Secretary-General. On the proposal of the Secretary-General, the Commission could invite members of the Advisory Board to provide advice to it during its sessions.

"10. The consideration of contributions from non-governmental organizations should be based on the procedural arrangements for the Commission set out in Economic and Social Council decision 1993/215. On the recommendation of the Bureau, the Commission may decide on specific arrangements for holding a special informal meeting during its sessions in order to have a direct informal dialogue with representatives of non-governmental organizations.

"11. This decision does not preclude any other decisions regarding methods of work that the Commission may wish to adopt in the future."

5. At the 20th meeting, on 25 July, the Chairman introduced a revised draft decision (E/CN.17/1993/L.2/Rev.1), submitted on the basis of informal consultations.

6. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft decision (see chap. I, sect. B).

Chapter V                                                                                          [ UP ]

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGENDA 21 AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL  

1. The Commission considered item 4 of its agenda at the 3rd, 4th, 12th and 20th meetings, on 15, 21 and 25 June 1993. It had before it the following documents:

(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level: guidelines to the Secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments, including information in the form of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as those related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environment and development issues they find relevant (E/CN.17/1993/6);

(b) Report of the Secretary-General on the exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level: ways in which, upon request, the United Nations system and bilateral donors are assisting countries, particularly developing countries, in the preparation of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans (E/CN.17/1993/7).

2. At its 3rd and 4th meetings, on 15 June, statements were made by the representatives of Colombia, Venezuela, Australia, China, Pakistan, Iceland (on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden), the United States of America, the Russian Federation, Egypt, Sri Lanka, India, Brazil, the Philippines, Mexico, Austria, Japan, Poland, Malaysia, Morocco, the Republic of Korea, Algeria, Vanuatu, Bolivia, France and Uruguay. Statements were also made by the observers for Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Denmark (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Economic Community) and Romania.

3. The observer for the Scottish Environmental Forum, a non- governmental organization accredited to the Commission, also made a statement.

4. At the 12th meeting, on 21 June, the Chairman introduced a draft decision (E/CN.17/1993/L.3) entitled "Exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level: guidelines to the Secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments, including information in the form of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as those related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environment and development issues they find relevant", which was based on submissions that had been received. The draft resolution read as follows:

"1. In accordance with paragraph 3 (b) of General Assembly resolution 47/191, the Commission will consider information provided by Governments, including, for example, information in the form of periodic communications or national reports, regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as problems related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environment and development issues they find relevant.

"2. In order to enable the Commission effectively to perform its function to review the progress in the implementation of the commitments contained in Agenda 21, including those related to the provision of financial resources and transfer of technology, Governments are encouraged to provide such information to the Secretariat.

"3. Although it will be up to individual Governments to decide what specific information to provide and in what format, degree of detail and regularity, the Commission recommends that the information provided in a given year should be relevant, as far as possible, to the Agenda 21 clusters to be discussed that year under the Commission's agenda, and that it should cover the following issues:

"(a) Policies and measures adopted at the national level to meet the objectives of Agenda 21, including information on national sustainable development strategies or plans and on the major activities and projects undertaken;

"(b) Institutional mechanisms to address sustainable development issues, including the participation of non-governmental sectors in those mechanisms;

"(c) Assessments of progress achieved, to date. These could be in the form of statistical sheets or tables;

"(d) Measures taken, including targets for changing unsustainable production and consumption patterns and lifestyles, and progress achieved;

"(e) Experience gained - for example, descriptions of successful policies/projects that can serve as models - and specific problems and constraints encountered, including those related to finance and technology;

"(f) Assessments of capacity - i.e., availability of domestic human, technological and financial resources;

"(g) Assessments of requirements for external assistance in terms of finance, technology transfer, cooperation and capacity-building and human resource development;

"(h) Implementation of Agenda 21 commitments related to finance, including those related to the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of GNP for official development assistance and to the transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity-building;

"(i) Assessments of the effectiveness of activities and projects of international organizations, including those of international financial institutions and funding mechanisms, and specific assistance that might be provided by them.

"4. In order to organize the information provided by Governments, the Secretary-General is requested to prepare overview and thematic reports for future sessions of the Commission.

"A. Overview report

"5. The overview report of the progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level, which would take into account regional and subregional factors and the interrelationships between sectoral and cross-sectoral issues, should contain:

"(a) An analysis of the main trends in the implementation of Agenda 21;

"(b) An analysis of the main problems and constraints countries face in the area, including those related to finance and technology;

"(c) An overview of what countries expect from the United Nations system and other multilateral organizations, including multilateral financial institutions, in the way of assistance to achieve sustainable development;

"(d) A highlighting of major new initiatives and emerging sustainable development issues related to the implementation of Agenda 21 which countries may wish to bring to the attention of the Commission.

"B. Thematic reports

"6. The thematic reports, corresponding to the Agenda 21 clusters to be included on the agendas of forthcoming sessions of the Commission, in accordance with its multi-year programme of work, should include the following information:

"(a) Progress achieved to date in implementation of the objectives of relevant chapters of Agenda 21;

"(b) Main activities that countries are undertaking or planning in order to achieve those objectives;

"(c) Experience gained, particularly experience from which others may benefit;

"(d) Problems and constraints encountered by Governments;

"(e) Assessments of the availability of domestic human, technological and financial resources and of requirements for external assistance;

"(f) Specific expectations from international organizations, financial institutions and funding mechanisms.

"7. Information contained in the thematic reports should be organized, as far as practicable, along the lines of paragraph 6 above.

"8. To prepare the reports the Secretariat might send to Governments, at least six months prior to the Commission's sessions, questionnaires based on the above guidelines, with adjustments that may be required for the cluster to be discussed. The questionnaires should be prepared in a way that would facilitate the Governments' response and the processing of the information.

"9. Governments are encouraged to submit their thematic reports and other information they may wish to bring to the attention of the Commission not less than three months prior to the relevant session.

"10. In order to facilitate an integrated analysis by the Commission of progress achieved at the national, regional and international levels, the reports of the Secretary-General on the activities of intergovernmental organizations, both within and outside the United Nations system, to implement Agenda 21 (envisaged in the draft decision under item 3 of the agenda) should be structured in such a way as to permit, to the extent possible, comparison of the data and trends therein with those in the reports on national implementation."

5. At the 20th meeting, on 25 June, the Chairman introduced a revised draft decision (E/CN.17/1993/L.3/Rev.1), submitted on the basis of informal consultations.

6. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft decision (see chap. I, sect. C).

Chapter VI

PROGRESS IN THE INCORPORATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND MEASURES UNDERTAKEN BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON COORDINATION TO ENSURE THAT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES ARE INCORPORATED IN PROGRAMMES AND PROCESSES WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM   [ UP ]

1. The Commission considered item 5 of its agenda at the 9th to 11th, 15th and 20th meetings, on 18, 21, 22 and 25 June 1993. It had before it the following documents:

(a) Report of the Secretary-General on progress in the incorporation of recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in the activities of international organizations, and measures undertaken by the Administrative Committee on Coordination to ensure that sustainable development principles are incorporated in programmes and processes within the United Nations system (E/CN.17/1993/8);

(b) Report of the Secretary-General on recommendations and proposals for improving coordination of programmes related to development data that exist within the United Nations system (E/CN.17/1993/9);

(c) Note by the Secretary-General on information provided by the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the implementation of Agenda 21 (E/CN.17/1993/13);

(d) Note by the Secretary-General on information provided by the United Nations Environment Programme on the implementation of Agenda 21 (E/CN.17/1993/14).

2. Statements were made by the representatives of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations University, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the International Labour Organisation, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, the World Food Programme and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (on behalf of the regional commissions).

3. During the discussion, the representatives of France, Nigeria, India and Morocco raised questions. Statements were also made by the representatives of the United States of America, Iceland (on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), Japan, Egypt, Australia, China, Malawi, Uruguay and Brazil, as well as by the observers for Denmark (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Economic Community) and Romania.

4. A statement was also made by the observer for the Centre for Development of International Law (also on behalf of the International NGO Task Group on Legal and Institutional Matters), a non-governmental organization accredited to the Commission.

5. At the 15th meeting, on 22 June, the Vice-Chairman, Mr. Ghazi Jomaa (Tunisia), introduced and orally amended a draft decision (E/CN.17/1993/L.6) entitled "Progress in the incorporation of recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in the activities of international organizations, and measures undertaken by the Administrative Committee on Coordination to ensure that sustainable development principles are incorporated in programmes and processes within the United Nations system".

6. At the 20th meeting, on 25 June, the Commission adopted the draft decision, as orally amended (see chap. I, sect. D).

Chapter VII

PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN FACILITATING AND PROMOTING THE TRANSFER OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGY, COOPERATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING   [ UP ]

1. The Commission considered item 6 of its agenda at the 7th, 8th and 20th meetings, on 17 and 25 June 1993. It had before it a report of the Secretary-General on progress achieved in facilitating and promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity- building (E/CN.17/1993/10).

2. The Commission heard statements by the representatives of India, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Japan, China, Germany, Egypt, Mexico, Algeria, the United States of America, the Philippines, Colombia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Austria, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Uruguay, Brazil, Morocco, Malaysia, Tunisia, Belgium, Bolivia and Benin. The observers for Denmark (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Economic Community), Sweden and Senegal also made statements.

3. Statements were also made by the observers for the following non-governmental organizations accredited to the Commission: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, International Chamber of Commerce, Sociedad de Amigos en Defensa de la Gran S bana (AMIGRANSA) (on behalf of the ad hoc group of non-governmental organizations on technology), Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (on behalf of the Women's Caucus), International Council of Scientific Unions and Environmental Protection Society.

4. At the 20th meeting, on 25 June, the Chairman introduced a draft decision (E/CN.17/1993/L.7) entitled "Progress achieved in facilitating and promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building".

5. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft decision (see chap. I, sect. E).

Chapter VIII

INITIAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS, FINANCIAL FLOWS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE DECISIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FROM ALL AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES AND MECHANISMS   [ UP ]

1. The Commission considered item 7 of its agenda at the 5th to 7th, 11th, 13th to 15th and 20th meetings, on 16, 17, 21, 22 and 25 June 1993. It had before it a report of the Secretary-General on initial financial commitments, financial flows and arrangements to give effect to the decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development from all available funding sources and mechanisms, including those referred to in paragraph 33.14 of Agenda 21 (E/CN.17/1993/11 and Add.1).

2. Statements were made by the Chairman of the Global Environment Facility and the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change. Several representatives posed questions.

3. Statements were made by the representatives of Austria, Pakistan, Uruguay, Malaysia, Algeria, Norway (on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), Colombia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77), France, China, Burkina Faso, Germany, Japan, the Philippines, the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Australia, Cuba, Brazil, Poland, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Benin, as well as the observers for Denmark (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Economic Community), New Zealand, Sweden and Senegal.

4. The observer for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development made a statement. Statements were also made by speakers on behalf of a group of non-governmental organizations for financing and a group of non-governmental organizations for indigenous peoples, as well as by the observers for the Third World Network and the Environment Liaison Centre International, non-governmental organizations accredited to the Commission.

5. At the 11th meeting, on 21 June, the Chairman introduced a draft decision (E/CN.17/1993/L.5) entitled "Initial financial commitments, financial flows and arrangements to give effect to the decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development from all available funding sources and mechanisms", which read as follows:

"1. The Commission on Sustainable Development expresses its concern that the general response to the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development regarding funding falls significantly short of expectations.

"2. While welcoming the initial commitments and pledges made by some countries, the Commission emphasizes that the lack of financial resources remains the major constraint for effective implementation of Agenda 21 and the phasing in of sustainable development. It stresses the urgent need for effective and early implementation of all commitments contained in chapter 33 of Agenda 21, including commitments related to the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance. The Commission notes the absence of additional funding in the form of an 'Earth Increment' in connection with the tenth replenishment of the International Development Association, and calls on the developed countries together with the World Bank to explore ways and means towards achieving that Increment.

"3. The Commission emphasizes the importance of a supportive international and domestic economic climate conducive to sustained economic growth and development in order to achieve sustainability. The Commission highlights in this context the importance of making further progress in areas such as debt relief, integration of the concept of sustainable development into structural adjustment, and improvement of trade and market conditions in particular for developing countries.

"4. The Commission urges the Bretton Woods institutions, the regional banks and other institutions involved in the implementation of Agenda 21 to make greater progress in integrating the concept of sustainable development into their programmes and projects, and to make sustainable development an integral part of their decision-making process.

"5. The Commission invites countries that provide a relevant information to finance and coordinating organizations such as the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development to consider redesigning their data classification schemes so as to make it possible to assess the flow of development finance in relation to specific Agenda 21 clusters.

"6. Recognizing that the Commission has been mandated to review the adequacy of the financial resources available for the implementation of Agenda 21, the Commission requests the Secretary-General to organize a consultative process involving all relevant parties at all stages to undertake the following tasks:

"(a) To monitor and assess availability and requirements of financial resources for the implementation of different clusters of Agenda 21 taking into account the multi-year thematic programme of work of the Commission in order to assist further discussions in the Commission and provide a suitable and common basis for action by bilateral and multilateral funding organizations;

"(b) To monitor various factors that determine the flow of financial and economic resources, such as debt relief, terms of trade, commodity prices and market access;

"(c) To assist the Commission on the basis of the above in the development of the policy framework for the mobilization and allocation of financial resources towards the implementation of the various elements of Agenda 21.

"The Commission requests the Secretary-General to undertake the above tasks in full consultation with the Bureau of the Commission.

"7. In order to facilitate the tasks of financial monitoring, the Commission invites Governments to provide information related to financial aspects of implementing Agenda 21 in line with decision ## of the Commission on the guidelines to the Secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments on issues related to the implementation of Agenda 21. As regards the donor countries, the Commission suggests that elements of such information include official development assistance as a percentage of gross national product, debt relief, aid priorities, main funding arrangements related to sustainable development and specific support to environmental conventions.

"8. The Commission further invites the World Bank and other international, regional and subregional financial and development institutions, including the Global Environment Facility, to submit regularly to the Commission reports containing information on their experience, activities and plans to implement Agenda 21.

"9. The Commission emphasizes the need for a timely replenishment and restructuring of the Global Environment Facility in accordance with paragraph 33.14 (a) (iii) of Agenda 21 and stresses the importance of:

"(a) Improved transparency as well as a more open information policy in the Global Environment Facility for all interested parties;

"(b) Funding activities designed to achieve global environmental benefits, taking into account environmental problems at the local and national levels;

"(c) Regular reporting of the Global Environment Facility to the Commission on its activities in order to harmonize policy orientations towards the effective implementation of Agenda 21;

"(d) According to non-governmental organizations of an improved consultative status.

"10. Pursuant to reviewing other funding mechanisms referred to in chapter 33 of Agenda 21, the Commission also invites member States of the governing bodies of the agencies and programmes of the United Nations system dealing with issues of environment and development to ensure that the programme budgets of these institutions receive adequate financial support in order that they may implement the provisions of Agenda 21 relevant to their respective mandates."

6. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of Canada, Colombia, China, Egypt, Venezuela, Norway, Brazil, Pakistan, Philippines, the United States of America, the Russian Federation, Australia, Iceland, Japan, Austria, Morocco, India, Uruguay, Benin and Bolivia, as well as the observers for Saudi Arabia, Denmark (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Economic Community), Sweden and Kenya.

7. At the 20th meeting, on 25 June, the Chairman introduced a revised draft decision (E/CN.17/1993/L.5/Rev.1). The Secretary of the Commission made a statement on programme budget implications and informed the Commission that a more comprehensive statement would be presented at the substantive session of 1993 of the Economic and Social Council.

8. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft decision (see chap. I, sect. F).

Chapter IX

PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE COMMISSION   [ UP ]

1. At the 20th meeting, on 25 June 1993, the Commission considered the provisional agenda for its second session (E/CN.17/1993/L.9) and decided to recommend that the Economic and Social Council approve the provisional agenda (see chap. I, sect. G).

Chapter X

OTHER MATTERS   [ UP ]

1. At the 20th meeting, on 25 June 1993, the Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development made a statement on the preparations for the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.

2. Statements were made by the representatives of Barbados, France, Tunisia, Canada, Australia, Germany, as well as by the observer for Saudi Arabia.

Annex

LIST OF DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE COMMISSION AT ITS FIRST SESSION

Agenda Document symbol item Title or description

E/CN.17/1993/4 1 Provisional agenda

E/CN.17/1993/5 2 Report of the Secretary-General on the adoption of a multi-year thematic programme of work for the Commission

E/CN.17/1993/6 4 (a) Report of the Secretary-General on exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level: guidelines to the Secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments, including information in the form of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as those related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environment and development issues they find relevant

E/CN.17/1993/7 4 (b) Report of the Secretary-General on exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level: ways in which, upon request, the United Nations system and bilateral donors are assisting countries, particularly developing countries, in the preparation of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans

E/CN.17/1993/8 5 Report of the Secretary-General on progress in the incorporation of recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in the activities of international organizations, and measures undertaken by the Administrative Committee on Coordination to ensure that sustainable development principles are incorporated in programmes and processes within the United Nations system

E/CN.17/1993/9 5 Report of the Secretary-General on recommendations and proposals for improving coordination of programmes related to development data that exist within the United Nations system

E/CN.17/1993/10 6 Report of the Secretary-General on progress achieved in facilitating and promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity-building

E/CN.17/1993/11 7 Report of the Secretary-General on initial financial commitments, financial flows and arrangements to give effect to the decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development from all available funding sources and mechanisms, including those referred to in paragraph 33.14 of Agenda 21

E/CN.17/1993/11/Add.1 7 Report of the Secretary-General on information provided by Governments on initial financial commitments, financial flows and arrangements to give effect to the decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

E/CN.17/1993/12 10 Report of the Secretary-General on consideration of the outcome of the discussion on the above items, as well as of urgent and major emerging issues, at the high-level meeting of the first session of the Commission

E/CN.17/1993/13 5 Note by the Secretary-General on information provided by the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the implementation of Agenda 21

E/CN.17/1993/14 5 Note by the Secretary-General on information provided by the United Nations Environment Programme on the implementation of Agenda 21

E/CN.17/1993/INF/2 List of delegations

E/CN.17/1993/L.2 3 Draft decision submitted by the Chairman on the basis of informal consultations, entitled "Issues relating to the future work of the Commission"

E/CN.17/1993/L.2/Rev.1 3 Revised draft decision submitted by the Chairman on the basis of informal consultations, entitled "Issues relating to the future work of the Commission"

E/CN.17/1993/L.3 4 (a) Draft decision submitted by the Chairman on the basis of submissions received on exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level: guidelines to the Secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments, including information in the form of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as those related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environmental and development issues they find relevant

E/CN.17/1993/L.3/Rev.1 4 (a) Revised draft decision submitted by the Chairman on the basis of submissions received on exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level: guidelines to the Secretariat for organizing information provided by Governments, including information in the form of periodic communications or national reports and national Agenda 21 action plans regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as those related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environmental and development issues they find relevant

E/CN.17/1993/L.4 2 Draft decision submitted by the Chairman, entitled "Adoption of a multi-year thematic programme of work"

E/CN.17/1993/L.5 7 Draft decision submitted by the Chairman on initial financial commitments, financial flows and arrangements to give effect to the decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development from all available funding sources and mechanisms

E/CN.17/1993/L.5/Rev.1 7 Revised draft decision submitted by the Chairman on initial financial commitments, financial flows and arrangements to give effect to the decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development from all available funding sources and mechanisms

E/CN.17/1993/L.6 5 Draft decision submitted by the Chairman of Negotiating Group I on progress in the incorporation of recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in the activities of international organizations, and measures undertaken by the Administrative Committee on Coordination to ensure that sustainable development principles are incorporated into programmes and processes within the United Nations system

E/CN.17/1993/L.7 6 Draft decision submitted by the Chairman on progress achieved in facilitating and promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building

E/CN.17/1993/L.8 Draft report of the Commission on its and Add.1 first session

E/CN.17/1993/L.9 Draft provisional agenda for the second session of the Commission

(This document has been made available in electronic format by the United Nations. )

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