LINKAGES AMONG SYSTEMS" ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS, NEED FOR POLICY COHERENCE, HIGHLIGHTED IN COMMITTEE REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Press Release
GA/EF/2886

LINKAGES AMONG SYSTEMS’ ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS, NEED FOR POLICY COHERENCE, HIGHLIGHTED IN COMMITTEE REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT

The existing linkages and cooperation between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and multilateral environmental conventions needed strengthening, said the representative of Finland this afternoon as the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) considered international institutional arrangements related to environment and development.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, she said that UNEP’s catalytic role in stimulating and supporting collaboration among multilateral environmental conventions and international processes should be enhanced. Those international arrangements must be addressed holistically, under the global policy guidance of the General Assembly, and with due regard to the role of the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD), with full respect for the independent international legal status the various conventions enjoyed.

She added that synergies, complementarities and cooperation could be identified among the respective governing bodies of the conventions, in spite of the fact that those conventions were at different stages of implementation. The streamlining of national reporting, interlinkages of scientific and technical assessments, and a general information exchange might represent some of the potential areas of cooperation.

The representative of the Russian Federation said that better synergies and interlinkages could still be achieved. The aim should be to promote the complementarity of efforts under the various conventions, and to better fulfil Member States’ commitments in a more integral manner. The key role in the process should be played by the Assembly, while taking into account the autonomous nature of the conferences of parties to the various conventions.

Lowell Flanders, Assistant Director, Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), introduced the Secretary-General’s report on international institutional arrangements related to environment and development (document A/54/468). The report was prepared by UNEP in consultation with DESA, with inputs from the secretariats of the various United

Second Committee - 2 - Press Release GA/EF/2886 30th Meeting (PM) 2 November 1999

Nations environmental conventions. Among the issues considered were the design of training and capacity-building programmes, cooperation among the different convention bodies, and cooperation in producing outreach materials to raise public awareness.

The report attempted to provide an overview of progress made, first, in the field of scientific understanding of ecological linkages and, second, in the development of responses by the United Nations system. He also surveyed developments at the intergovernmental level that have given further guidance to enhancing coordination among the environmental and environment-related conventions. While work on providing hard scientific evidence of linkages continues to evolve, consideration could now be given to developing coherent and carefully planned interventions for implementation at the national level, and to identifying the specific issues that each convention can address with one or more of the other conventions.

According to the report, future work in this area, particularly the achievement of a better understanding of linkages among the conventions related to environment and sustainable development, could strengthen the capacities of Governments to participate effectively in the work of the respective conferences of the parties. It could also facilitate the implementation of conventions by parties at the national level through the elaboration of integrated national strategies, and promote more coherent and effective international support for national action.

The report stated that the Assembly was well positioned to play a guiding role in establishing broad policies and providing impetus to furthering the coherent implementation of international environmental law at the national level.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. tomorrow to consider industrial development cooperation as well as business and development.

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