PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY FOR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN HARMONY WITH ENVIRONMENT
Press Release
DEV/2177
PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY FOR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN HARMONY WITH ENVIRONMENT
19971205 Tokyo Gathering, in May 1998, Will Aim to Devise Mechanisms For Municipalities Worldwide To Work Together towards `Eco-Society'TOKYO, 5 December (United Nations Information Service) -- A preparatory meeting for an international conference next year on urban development and the environment was held here today. The World Conference on International Cooperation of Cities and Citizens for Cultivating an Eco-Society -- known as "Eco-Partnership Tokyo" -- will take place, under the joint auspices of the United Nations and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in Tokyo, from 26 to 29 May 1998.
Today, the combined technical and organizing committee for the Conference held its third meeting, under the chairmanship of Nitin Desai, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. The Vice-Governor of Tokyo, Masami Higaki, also addressed the meeting. There was also an exchange of views with the Governor of Tokyo, Yukio Aoshima, on matters related to the Conference.
Governor Aoshima welcomed the nomination by the United Nations Secretary- General of Mr. Desai, an expert on environmental issues, as his official representative on matters related to Eco-Partnership Tokyo. The Governor said he appreciated the support of the Secretary-General whom he hoped may be able to open the Conference.
The Eco-Partnership Tokyo is expected to be attended by about 500 delegates from all over the world, including governors, mayors, prominent experts, municipal administrators, government officials, private citizens, representatives of non-governmental organizations, private enterprises, and United Nations entities and other intergovernmental bodies.
In his statement today, Mr. Desai characterized the term "Eco-Society" to mean reducing greatly the ecological footprint which modern society, through its patterns of production and consumption, leaves on the natural environment. He observed that the Tokyo Conference next year would stress need for effective partnerships, both within countries and among cities worldwide.
Asked what was expected from the Eco-Partnership Tokyo, Mr. Desai said it would be important to achieve concrete results. They might include the
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formation of networks for cooperation among cities and the establishment of tangible mechanisms to effectively assist cities and municipal governments in strengthening partnerships in the creation of an Eco-Society.
Mr. Desai said the consolidated Department of Social and Economic Affairs of the United Nations was in a better position to respond to challenges and needs of Member States. Issues of sustainable urban development were a prime concern of the United Nations. This had been highlighted in a message from the Secretary-General, and in the conclusions of several recent major United Nations conferences. Development, he said, must be economically, socially, and environmentally viable and sustainable.
Vice-Governor Higaki said progress in the preparations for next year's conference was the result of contributions from the various United Nations agencies, and he anticipated the participation of more of them.
A comprehensive brochure on the Eco-Partnership Tokyo, in both English and Japanese, is being made available in hard copy. It can also be obtained through the home page and e-mail of the Secretariat to World Conference on International Cooperation of Cities and Citizens: URL: http://www.tokyo- teleport.co.jp/world-ccc/; e-mail: ccc-info@tokyo-teleport.co.jp.
Further information may be obtained from Shin Yamamoto or Masanori Sugitani, International Conference, International Affairs Division, Bureau of Citizens and Cultural Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, at the following address: 8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku 2-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-01, Japan; tel: 81-3-5388-3097 or 3155; fax: 81-3-5388-1329, or from Ms. Itoko Suzuki or Ms. Juxia Yan, Governance and Public Administration Branch, DGPAF/DESA, room DC1-984, United Nations, New York 10017, U.S.A.; tel: (1212) 963-6052, fax: (1212) 963-2916.
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