NGO RESPONSE TO COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, PRESS CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY UNITED STATES
Press Briefing
NGO RESPONSE TO COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, PRESS CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY UNITED STATES
19960506
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
Representatives of three non-governmental organizations from among some 100 who attended the fourth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development held a Headquarter's press conference Friday, sponsored by the United States, on the results of the two-week session which was to conclude Friday afternoon. The representatives were introduced by Craig Boljkovac of the Canadian Environmental Network.
Clifton Curtis of Greenpeace International spoke about the sectoral theme of atmosphere and oceans, as well as the bigger picture discussed during the high-level segment -- namely the Commission's future. He told correspondents that many of the non-governmental organizations concerned with fisheries or aqua-culture issues were disappointed with the results of the current session. The sectoral focus on atmosphere and oceans had been adversely affected by the beginning of the five-year review of achievements since the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.
He said that far too little attention had been given to the critical issue of excess fishing capacity, which included, but was not limited to, the concept of "too many boats chasing too little fish". The issue was addressed in principle by the United Nations Convention on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) code of conduct on responsible fisheries, but not with nearly enough detail. Although there had been some signs of progress, several paragraphs addressing those issues, as well as the problem of unsustainable aqua-culture were removed from the report which came out of the Commission's inter- sessional meeting in February.
The reason those items were not getting the attention they deserved was partly because the two camps -- the coastal States and the distant-water- fishing States -- had continued their old negotiating style during the current session. The result had been a minimalist approach in the Commission's final text. It also required the FAO to report on progress on fisheries issues at its Committee on Fisheries meeting in March 1997.
Regarding the Commission's future, he said there had been some important advances on certain issues and cross-sectoral themes. However, as a whole, the focus on trade and the environment, consumption patterns, the linkages between poverty and the environment had not been dealt with in the way needed.
Next year would provide a critical opportunity for assessing progress. It should not be a time for another review of Agenda 21. Finance would a critical issue for non-governmental organizations. Efforts must be made to include non-governmental stake-holders more effectively, including during the drafting sessions where textural changes were made and during the review of decisions which would affect the Commission's final results.
Angela Harkavy, a representative of The Humane Society and also United States Citizens for Sustainable Development, said that the large number of non-governmental organizations participating in the Commission had been unprecedented. However, they had been surprised at United States opposition to non-governmental organizations participation in next year's Special Session of the General Assembly, as it was usually countries from the South who opposed such participation. Fortunately, the United States position had been reversed and the final text asserted non-governmental organization participation during preparations for the Special Session and during the Assembly itself. There was still a need for non-governmental organization participation during informal meetings and drafting sessions.
Agenda 21 was not a significant enough document to be called an "earth charter", she continued. The issue of such a charter, which had been raised at Rio, had been introduced again by the Earth Council. An "earth charter" was important because it would include values to motivate people to really help implement sustainable development.
Pail Kamarakafega from the Small Island States NGO Forum, said the Commission should recognize the importance of the International Decade of Indigenous Peoples. His organization would ask the Commission to pay particular attention to the current draft of the declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, which, if implemented, would address many of their concerns. It had asked the United Nations and the Commission to organize with the indigenous peoples, a Day to highlight their concerns and various contributions with regard to implementing Agenda 21.
He said the Commission should pay special attention to the devastating effects that climate change had on efforts to achieve sustainability; the effect of unfettered international free trade instead of fair two-way trade and the unchecked negative environmental impact of ships and tankers on small island developing States and the fragile ecosystems of coral reefs. Quick and positive action was needed now as called for in the Barbados Action Plan. Financial assistance to implement Agenda 21 had not materialized.
A correspondent asked what factors, other than financial, had caused the retreat of governments in implementing their commitments to Agenda 21. Mr. Curtis said that it was always easier for governments to make commitments on paper rather than implement them. Political will had been utterly lacking
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since Rio. Too many governments had been waiting for someone to lead and there were no leaders.
Ms. Harkavy said the different agendas between the countries from the North and the South was a factor. When it came down to implementation, the West, which had an environmental agenda, had not met proposed plans for cutting emissions. Countries from the South had an agenda for development so their emphasis was different. The South needed extra resources for the new technologies necessary to implement sustainable development. The north had not come up with those resources. The Commission was examining private investment and non-governmental organizations would evaluate the impact of private investment on sustainable development. Many commitments made at Rio depended on financial mechanisms which had not yet materialized.
A correspondent asked if there had been a falling off in commitment particularly with regard to the Convention on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. Mr. Curtis replied that it had been particularly disappointing that governments had not moved forward on the issue. There was a feeling that the problem had been solved because a piece of paper had been signed to protect bio-diversity, solve the problem of wastage and discards, and address the issue of over-fishing and excess capacity. Therefore, governments could now concentrate on getting more fish than their neighbours. That was a tragic outcome. Governments were not acting individually or collectively on their commitments.
Another correspondent asked how free trade was damaging the environment and what proposals did non-governmental organizations have to deal with the problem? Mr. Kamarakafega replied that the South wanted the emphasis to be not so much on free trade, as fair two-way trade. For example, desalination plants were used in some small islands which did not have adequate water supply for large tourist hotels. The residue was dumped in oceans and affected the coral reefs and the fish. Most of the money from the tourist industry, apart from a few local jobs, went back to the North and there was no real inclusiveness for the local industry.
Ms. Harkavy added that values were important. Local civil life and the environment were as important as free trade. People's values must also be changed if Agenda 21 was to be fully implemented. The media had not fully informed people on the size of the environment threat and how local conditions had an impact globally and vice versa. People could not change their values without the correct information. An earth charter was fundamentally important as a tool to teach people how important it was for them as well as governments to change.
Mr. Curtis said that he had been impressed with the high-level panel yesterday afternoon which discussed trade and the environment and the critical need to protect basic human rights and the environment. Those issues must be
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integrated into global trade arrangements. A panel of non-governmental organizations and some government officials was being formed to try to present a set of clear recommendations for action at the Commission's next session.
A correspondent asked about the non-governmental organization agenda for the Special Session. Mr. Curtis said that even Greenpeace did not have its act together yet for 1997. There were a diverse array of issues.
Another correspondent asked about the change in values in such organizations as the FAO and the World Bank. Ms. Harkavy said that last year, the Humane Society had sponsored a two-day spiritual conference with the World Bank, which discussed values for sustainable development. It was an extraordinary event and showed that the issues were open for discussion. There was a general belief that if people were not better informed and did not change their values then "the whole thing was not going to happen".
Mr. Curtis said it would take a collective will from a number of fronts to change values. It was exciting that the Commission had the potential to bring together some of the progressive voices in government with non- governmental organizations, labour, women, youth, and green business to make a difference, although it was not easy, he added.
Mr. Kamarakafega said most mechanized farms put a lot of people out of work. Small island States did not like mechanized farming as it only encouraged a movement from rural to urban areas. Western consumption patterns and models did not have to be imitated.
A correspondent asked if next year's fifth anniversary of Rio would have any substance. Mr. Curtis said bringing in heads of State would help move the bureaucrats to come up with something of substance for discussion.
Mr. Kamarakafega said his organization was conducting a survey throughout small island States on what had been achieved since 1992 by governments and non-governmental organizations.
Ms. Harkavy said the non-governmental organizations would be active in calling on their governments to report on what they had actually done since Rio.
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