COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, CHARGED WITH MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF 1992 RIO CONFERENCE, OPENS SEVENTH SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS
Press Release
ENV/DEV/499
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, CHARGED WITH MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF 1992 RIO CONFERENCE, OPENS SEVENTH SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS
19990419 Will Discuss Oceans and Seas, Sustainable Tourism, Consumption and Production Patterns, Problems of Small Island StatesThe Commission on Sustainable Development opened its seventh session this morning, with its Chairman saying the session should produce modest, practical and achievable recommendations that furthered the implementation of Agenda 21, the programme of action adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).
Simon Upon (New Zealand) said the Commission's purpose was not to negotiate, but to illuminate. There was no point in spending energy on creating draft decisions that would leave everyone uninspired. He hoped the Commission would produce short texts with a few important recommendations, as producing grandiose texts that were impossible to implement was a complete waste of time.
Charged with monitoring the implementation of Agenda 21, the Commission's two-week session will focus on: oceans and seas; sustainable tourism; consumption and production patterns; and the problems facing small island developing States.
In introductory remarks, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Nitin Desai, said the world was expecting the Commission to move forward to ensure a unified approach to ocean management. When it came to the planet's oceans and seas, there was a tendency to focus on particular issues. Agenda 21 was the only place where all aspects of oceans were addressed together. The current session should lead to advances in arrangements to ensure the sustainable use of oceans.
On sustainable tourism, he stressed that a wide array of issues were involved. Those were being taken up by the tourist industry and State leaders and he hoped the Commission would develop an active programme of work between the United Nations and other intergovernmental bodies, such as the World Tourism Organization.
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Also this morning, presentations were made by the Co-Chairman of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Consumption and Production Patterns and on Tourism, Navid Hanif (Pakistan), and the Co-Chairman of the Inter- sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Oceans and Seas, Alan Simcock (United Kingdom). A report was also delivered on the status of ongoing informal consultations on the sustainable development of small island developing States.
In addition, the Commission heard statements concerning voluntary initiatives from the representatives of Canada and Switzerland.
Also this morning, the Commission elected by acclamation Sandor Mozes (Hungary) to replace Tibor Farago (Hungary) as Vice-Chairman, who was unable to serve. It adopted its agenda and programme of work for the session, which will include a variety of discussion formats, and invited three intergovernmental organizations to participate as observers.
The Commission will meet again at 3 p.m. today, to begin its multi- stakeholder dialogue on tourism.
Commission Work Programme
The Commission on Sustainable Development met this morning to begin its seventh session. It planned to hold the election of officers, to adopt its agenda and to hear presentations on the outcome of the work of its intersessional ad hoc working groups. In that regard it had before it the reports of those working groups. (For overview of the two-week session see Press Release ENV/DEV/498 issued 16 April.)
The report of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Consumption and Production Patterns and on Tourism (E/CN.17/1999/16) suggests possible elements for a draft decision of the Commission on changing consumption and production patterns. The report suggests that industrialized countries continue to take the lead in efforts to reverse unsustainable trends in consumption and production, especially those that threaten the global environment. Developing countries' priorities should be to eradicate poverty and improve standards of living, including meeting basic needs, while avoiding environmental damage and social inequity.
The report recommends that the implementation of the international work programme incorporate the following priority areas: effective policy development and implementation; natural resource management and cleaner production; globalization and its impacts on consumption and production patterns; and urbanization and its impacts on consumption and production patterns. Progress on work and concrete results in this area will be reported to the Commission at its tenth session in 2002.
The report goes on to say that the Commission might also wish to request that governments take a number of actions in relation to production and consumption, including:
-- Develop further policies for promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns through disincentives for unsustainable practices and incentives for more sustainable practices;
-- Consider a range of economic instruments, including fiscal instruments, and the gradual phasing out of environmentally harmful subsidies, in order to internalize environmental costs and promote sustainable consumption and production; and
-- Work to increase understanding of the role of advertising and mass media in shaping consumption and production patterns, and enhance their role in promoting sustainable development through, among other things, voluntary initiatives and agreed guidelines.
The report also contains possible elements for a draft decision on the topic of tourism. Under the terms of such a draft decision the Commission would decide to adopt an international work programme on sustainable tourism
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development to be implemented between the current session and 2002. It would call upon governments to advance sustainable tourism development policies that would encourage their tourism industry and assist in attracting foreign investment and environmentally sound technologies. The decision would call upon the tourism industry to develop new forms of socially, culturally and environmentally compatible forms of tourism.
By the text, the Commission would also invite governments to:
-- Promote long-term sustainable tourism development that increases the economic and educational benefits from the tourism resources and maintains the cultural and environmental integrity of the host community;
-- Undertake studies on appropriate measures for promoting sustainable tourism development and to clarify further the concept and definition of sustainable tourism and of ecotourism;
-- Develop indicators for sustainable tourism, taking into account the work of the World Tourism Organization, as well as an ongoing testing phase of indicators for sustainable development; and
-- Consider establishing a global network to promote an exchange of information and views on ecotourism and to elaborate a comprehensive set of guidelines for sustainable tourism development, which could be approved by the United Nations by 2002.
The report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Oceans and Seas and on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (E/CN.17/1999/17), contains the possible elements for a draft decision by the Commission, which could serve as a starting point for further deliberations and negotiations during its current session. Among those suggestions, the report states that the Commission could emphasize the fundamental fact that oceans and seas constitute the major part of the planet that supports life, drives the climate and hydrological cycle, and provides the vital resources to be used to eradicate poverty and to ensure food security, economic prosperity and well-being for present and future generations.
The report goes on to say that the Commission could also stress that action should be taken on the basis of the precautionary approach, the "polluter-pays" approach and the eco-system approach, and that, building on the outcome of the sixth session of the Commission, action should also take into account the best available scientific knowledge. Following the 1998 International Year of the Ocean, the Commission could emphasize the importance of international cooperation in ensuring that biological diversity is conserved through integrated management. The Commission could further emphasize the threats to such objectives from the overexploitation of marine living resources and pollution.
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Other recommendations include action by the Commission in regard to: the marine environment; the scientific knowledge of fish stocks; the export of wastes and dumping; the environmental aspects of offshore oil and gas operations; and international coordination and cooperation.
The Commission also had before it a note by the Secretariat, in which it recommends that it invite the following three intergovernmental organizations to participate with observer status: South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP); Latin American Fisheries Development Organization (OLDEPESCA); and the Permanent South Pacific Commission (CPPS).
Election of Bureau
SIMON UPTON (New Zealand) recalled that the Commission had elected its Bureau in May and June of last year. The Secretariat had since been informed that Tibor Farago (Hungary) would not be able to serve as Vice-Chairman. The Eastern European States had nominated Sandor Mozes (Hungary) to take his place as Vice-Chairman.
The Commission then elected Mr. Mozes by acclamation.
Introductory Remarks by Under-Secretary-General
NITIN DESAI, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said that for the first time, the Commission's Bureau had been elected at the end of its previous session. That meant that the Bureau had operated for a full year, preparing for the session. The present Chairman had had a year to provide guidance in preparing for the meeting, and members would see the benefits. Another change in the past year was that innovations of video- conferencing had allowed the Chairman to chair a meeting from more than 10,000 miles away. The use of new technologies had enhanced collaboration between the Bureau and the Secretariat.
The sectoral issue of tourism was in some ways a first for the United Nations system, which had looked at aspects of tourism management, but rarely as a developmental sector, and rarely from a sustainability point of view, he said. He looked forward to the outcome of the dialogue on the subject.
Preparations for the session had been guided by strong inter-agency collaboration, and that would be evident in the active participation of a large number of agency partners in the Commission's work, he said. The session had also benefited enormously from participation of partners from the non-governmental organizations community. His own Department had provided support, particularly the Division of Sustainable Development, which was designed to bring together analytical, normative and operational work. It would make a presentation on capacity for cooperation, as it was linked to the mandate and the concerns of the Commission.
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There were many expectations for the outcome of the Commission's consideration of sustainable tourism, he said. Perhaps guidelines might be developed. Caribbean States were discussing the matter of sustainable tourism at a high level. The tourism industry itself had put forth a variety of initiatives. A wide array of issues were on the table regarding tourism, and he hoped the Commission would make advances on some of those, and develop an active programme of work between the United Nations and other intergovernmental bodies, such as the World Tourism Organization.
Turning then to the theme of oceans, he said the action programme adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) -- Agenda 21 -- was the only place where all the aspects of oceans were addressed together. Otherwise there was a tendency to focus on particular issues. The material before the Commission from the Secretariat and the Ad Hoc Working Group provided much interesting material. The world was expecting the Commission's session to move forward on a unified approach to ocean management. There was an expectation that the session would lead to a further advance in arrangements to ensure the sustainable use of oceans by everyone.
Turning then to the Commission's role in preparing for the General Assembly's special session in September -- to conduct a five-year review of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, adopted in Barbados in 1994 -- he stressed that small island developing States had particular concerns related to their size and geography. Their capacity to implement the ambitious programme that had emerged from Barbados must be strengthened.
He then drew attention to the fact that this year, the outcome of the work of the ad hoc working groups had led to concise and clear proposals for action, rather than lengthy text. The Secretariat was here to support the Commission, he added.
Reports of Ad Hoc Working Groups
NAVID HANIF (Pakistan), Co-Chairman of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Consumption and Production Patterns on Tourism, introduced the group's report. He said it contained a summary of discussions during the session and possible elements for a draft decision by the Commission. The report discussed such topics as: the impact of globalization on consumption and production patterns; urbanization; consumer information and education and social values; and natural resource management and cleaner production.
ALAN SIMCOCK (United Kingdom), Co-Chairman of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Oceans and Seas and on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, said there were a number of crucial issues to discuss in relation to the problems facing the marine environment. The report of the working group contained possible elements for a draft resolution to be
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adopted by the Commission. A number of issues still needed to be discussed, however. Among the issues addressed in the report were: living marine resources; fisheries; coral reefs; marine protected areas; fisheries stocks; and international coordination and cooperation.
JOHN WILLIAM ASHE (Antigua and Barbuda) reported on the outcome of informal consultations on the sustainable development of small island developing States. The informal group, dealing with the issue of the comprehensive review, had been guided by two caveats. Its discussions were viewed against the backdrop of an agreed text to be considered at the Assembly's special session later this year, since there would be no preparatory committee, as such, for the review. Also, the group had been mindful that, because of the nature of the text to be considered, sufficient time should be devoted to allow all delegations to present their proposals.
After a series of meetings, a text had been formulated that could be considered as a basis of negotiations, he said. The process of preliminary negotiations had begun last Friday. While some progress had been made in putting together the elements for a document to be considered by the Commission and recommended to the Assembly, the process was not yet complete. The group would resume its informal discussions on Wednesday and Thursday, and formally report to the high-level segment on Friday.
Voluntary Initiatives
The Commission then heard from representatives concerning voluntary initiatives taken to implement the decisions of the Commission's sixth session.
LINDA DUNN (Canada) said that, during the sixth session of the Commission, many members had noted the value of identifying the potential for voluntary initiatives and agreements to contribute to achieving sustainable development. Prior to embarking on any formal process, however, Commission members felt it was important that major groups discuss and decide on the parameters. It was for that reason that a workshop on voluntary initiatives was held in Toronto from 10 to 12 March 1999. At that meeting, a unique thing happened; non-governmental participants from trade unions, businesses and other sectors volunteered their time not only to attend, but to fully participate and share their experiences and knowledge.
Canada had found that voluntary, non-regulatory initiatives could be used as part of a toolbox to complement regulations, she said. Such initiatives had helped to: create a cleaner and safer working environment for employees; reduce toxic dispersion, waste generation and energy and material consumption; and increase economic competitiveness. Participants at the Toronto meeting agreed that there were at least five important features of voluntary initiatives, namely: multi-stakeholder participation; commitment; mutual trust; assessment; and verification.
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MONIKA LINN-LOCHER (Switzerland) drew the Commission's attention to a brochure from the Swiss Public Agency for the Environment and Landscape entitled "Here and Now: Sustainable Production in Switzerland", produced as the result of the country's preparatory work for the Commission's seventh session.
Since UNCED in 1992, sufficient knowledge had been acquired to allow for a shift from political discussions to concrete measures, she said. The brochure contained 10 examples of voluntary private initiatives, ranging from chemical companies to organic wine makers, which contributed at the national regional or local levels to making production or consumption patterns more sustainable. While responsibility for sustainable production and consumption was shared by all, governments must make initiatives feasible. Therefore, the brochure also included policy measures taken in Switzerland, including economic and action programmes to reduce energy consumption.
Mr. UPTON (New Zealand), Chairman of the Commission, said the agenda for the Commission's session contained some interesting topics and posed a few challenges. Being elected Chairman at the end of last year's session, he had had an entire year to prepare and that should improve the work of the session. The Commission's purpose was not to negotiate, it was to illuminate. There was no point in spending energy on creating draft decisions that would leave everyone uninspired. He hoped the Commission would produce short texts with a few important recommendations.
During the high-level segment, he said, there would be time for both statements and interactive debate. He encouraged ministers not to make long statements and leave more time for the interactive dialogue. For the Commission to remain relevant, there had to be a productive debate and a result that was practical and could be implemented. The Commission needed to produce modest, practical and achievable recommendations during its session. Producing grandiose texts that were impossible to implement was a complete waste of time.
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