ECOSOC TAKES UP ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 25 July (UN Information Service) -- The Economic and Social Council began consideration and general discussion this morning of economic and environmental questions, hearing from a series of officials introducing reports on such topics as development policy, science and technology for development, the International Strategy for Disaster Prevention, public administration and development, international cooperation in fiscal matters, and assistance to States affected by sanctions.

Taking the floor were Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization; Eugenio Figueroa, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Development Policy; Lev Komlev, Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Lorraine Ruffing, head of the Technology and Enterprise Branch of UNCTAD; Kenzo Oshima, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; Sarbuland Khan, Director of the Economic and Social Council for Support and Coordination; and Guido Bertucci, Director of the Division for Public Economics and Public Administration of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

In the general debate that followed, Iran, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said natural disasters were occurring more frequently and had their most devastating impacts on developing countries -- a single disaster could eliminate years of economic growth and result in tremendous human loss and suffering.  The Group of 77 called for the United Nations to intensify efforts to mitigate such events through a proactive and concerted approach involving planning, preparedness, prevention, relief and rehabilitation.

On economic matters, a representative of Paraguay said terms of international trade had to be on an equal footing for all developing countries, and the markets of developed countries should not be closed as they were now, nor should their agricultural products be protected from competition as they currently were.

Also contributing to the debate at the morning session were representatives of Belgium (on behalf of the European Union), Switzerland, Bahrain, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Norway.

The Council will reconvene at 3 p.m. to continue consideration of economic and environmental questions.

Background

Under this agenda item, the Commission has before it a series of documents.

A report of the Committee for Development Policy (E/2001/33) on its third session refers to the reappropriation of development in Africa, and governance responsibility in a globalizing world.  Concerning Africa, it mentions mobilization of domestic non-financial resources, among other things.  And on globalization and governance, it contains a chapter, among others, on developing core principles for investment.

The report on the Commission on Human Settlements (A/56/8) contains a resolution that would establish a Committee of Permanent Representatives as an inter-sessional subsidiary body of the Commission on Human Settlements.  The report also includes summaries of the opening statements of the speakers at the Commission's eighteenth session.

A report of the Secretary-General (A/56/76-E/2001/54) on international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon reviews ongoing activities designed to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, as well as the initial recommendations of the Working Group on Climate and Disasters, which has been established by the World Meteorological Organization.

A report of the Secretary-General (A/56/68-E/2001/63) on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction describes the status of the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.  It also reviews the current institutional arrangements for the implementation of the Strategy, on the basis of the experience during its first year of operation, and makes recommendations on the subject.

A report on the second session of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development (E/2000/32) contains a draft resolution and a draft decision relating, respectively, to integration of water and land management, and the provisional agenda for the third session.  The report also reviews issues such as water supply and the sanitation sub-sector, and river basin management.

A report of the Secretary-General (A/56/127-E/2001/101) on the five-year assessment of the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 50/225 on public administration and development includes current trends and challenges affecting public administration, like the alleviation of poverty and income inequality, and analyses public administration responses.

And a note by the Secretariat on the approval of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism contained a resolution of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization calling for the approval of a Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

Statements

FRANCESCO FRANGIALLI, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, said the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development had in 1999 endorsed the concept of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.  The Code spelled out, in a balanced way, the respective rights and obligations of all those who comprised the tourism industry.  On the one hand, it would help minimize the negative impact of tourism on the environment and on cultural heritage, and on the other, it would help to maximize the benefits for residents as well as for private enterprise.  The tourism industry was unique not only because it was the leading item in international trade, but also because it encompassed such a broad array of enterprises, sectors and actors.  The Code was ambitious as it covered a broad range of cultural, environmental and social norms.  For example, the Code included a ban on the sexual exploitation of children in the tourism industry, and recognized the value of eco-tourism and of social and cultural tourism.

Mr. Frangialli went on to say that with the expansion of tourism, there would be a corresponding need for clear and commonly-agreed guidelines on what was, and what was not, acceptable conduct.  Tourism growth, while much desired, also brought with it new challenges.  Pressure on the environment and local communities would increase, requiring the creation of a certain number of rules and principles.  The Code constituted not only a reflection of shared values, but a source of normative guidance for the many actors whose involvement was crucial if tourism was to evolve in a way that benefited all.

EUGENIO FIGUEROA, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Development Policy, introducing the report of the Committee on its third session (E/2001/33), said the report consisted of six chapters dealing with the major themes related to Africa's development strategy; one chapter dealt with identifying those African countries that were least developed, based on criteria revised in the year 2000.  The Committee also described its methods of work and programme of work.  The HIV/AIDS pandemic was a serious threat to African development, as was political instability and armed conflict.  Worsening conditions of these sorts demanded a rethinking of previous approaches to African development and efforts to come to grips with new challenges, such as globalization and the current functioning of the world trade system.  An increase in resources was required from the international community, among other things to bolster education and training programmes in Africa.

LEV KOMLEV, Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said there were now 49 least developed countries (LDCs).  The group represented 10.7 per cent of the world's population and only 0.5 per cent of the world's GHP.  The LDCs were low-income countries with a low level of human resource development and a high level of economic vulnerability.  The UNCTAD note on the benefits associated with LDC status and the question of graduation provided an overview of the benefits offered by the international community to the LDCs that were superior to the benefits generally granted to other developing countries through the international support measures in three areas -- multi-lateral trading system; financing for development; and technical assistance.  Certainly, the overview would need to be complemented by an analysis of the benefits effectively derived by the LDCs from their status.  Such analysis involved assessing the extent to which the theoretical benefits offered or announced by the international community had been effectively delivered, and the extent to which the delivered measures had been effectively absorbed and enjoyed by the LDCs.  The UNCTAD was already taking steps in making an inventory of the theoretical benefits offered by the development partners of the LDCs.

Later, introducing a report of the Secretary-General on ensuring a smooth transition of countries graduating from LDC status (E/2001/94), Mr. Komlev said information was given in it on what was meant as transition from the LDC category.  There was a risk of confusion between two notions of emergence -- transition before, and transition after emergence.  The principle of emergence was important so the Council should be able to check the progress of the LDCs.  Prior to emergence, there were no considerations such as smooth transitions.  Smooth transitions involved a gradual process of the loss of advantages that were received.

LORRAINE RUFFING, head of the Technology and Enterprise Branch of UNCTAD, introducing a report of the Secretary-General on the coordinating role played by the Commission on Science and Technology for Development on efforts to enable developing countries to benefit from science and technology (E/2001/87), said among other things that the UNCTAD Secretariat had prepared a number of proposals for strengthening the Commission's coordinating role; that other commissions had been briefed on cross-cutting issues such as biotechnology, biodiversity, and gender issues; that the United Nations Institute of New Technologies and other relevant United Nations bodies had participated in Commission meetings; that discussions had been held on improving coordination at the last Commission meeting and had been continued during a video conference; that the Commission had chosen a new substantive theme on bridging the "digital divide" and would focus on upgrading in the information technology area; and that the "science and technology for development" network could be used to further coordination efforts.

KENZO OSHIMA, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said two years ago, the Council recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR).  As a vision, the ISDR built on the experience gained during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, particularly the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action, established in 1994.  One of the most valuable lessons learned was that natural hazards did not necessarily lead to disasters.  Disasters resulted from the adverse impact of such hazards on vulnerable economic, social and ecological systems.  In other words, scientifically-based human action could reduce vulnerability.  The main task of ISDR should be therefore the promotion of a global "culture of prevention".  This would require a multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary approach and the active participation of all key actors in the implementation of the Strategy, including the integration of disaster reduction into relevant international efforts, such as sustainable development, climate change, desertification and poverty eradication.

He said the Secretary-General had come to the conclusion that disaster reduction had to be placed higher on the collective agenda.  More resources had to be devoted to disaster prevention.  Also, key institutional arrangements had to be strengthened to harness the concerted efforts of the international community in meeting these daunting challenges.  The experiences of the past two years had clearly demonstrated the need to maintain an effective focal point for the coordination of strategies and programmes of disaster reduction to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the social-economic and humanitarian fields.  The Secretary-General had therefore proposed that the Secretariat for the ISDR should continue to discharge these functions, with the necessary flexibility to adapt to future challenges.  It was also recommended that the Secretariat should expand its regional outreach with special attention to Africa.

Later, introducing a report of the Secretary-General on international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon (A/56/76-E/2001/54), as well as the initial recommendations of the Working El Niño, Mr. Oshima said that of all abnormal weather and climatic events, El Niño was perhaps the phenomenon most likely to lead to extensive and devastating natural events affecting humankind.  This was well-evidenced by the consequences of recent El Niño occurrences.  Unlike other disaster-inducing, natural phenomena that had caused most local or regional impacts, the influence of El Niño traversed the global and assumed many diverse effects.  In light of such concerns, the General Assembly called for international cooperation and established the Inter-Agency Task Force on El Niño.  Following those activities, the Task Force created a Working Group on Climate and Disaster Reduction.  The Working Group considered not only El Niño, but also other climate aspects of disasters within the framework of the ISDR Task Force.  This Working Group was expected to serve as a main forum within the United Nations system for international cooperation to reduce the impact of El Niño.

SARBULAND KHAN, Director of the Economic and Social Council for Support and Coordination, speaking of an upcoming report on information on banned hazardous chemicals and unsafe pharmaceutical products, said the document was being prepared based on contributions provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); since the first triennial review, arrangements for the production of the list had remained essentially the same.  The most recent adjustments were outlined in the current report.  Following agreements reached at consultations in 1995, it was decided to divide the list into two, each being published in alternate years, one focusing on pharmaceuticals and the other on chemicals.  The seventh issue of the list, currently under preparation and scheduled for publication later in 2001, would contain information on chemicals only.

GUIDO BERTUCCI, Director of the Division for Public Economics and Public Administration of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, introducing a report of the Secretary-General on the five-year assessment of the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 50/225 on public administration and development (A/56/127-E/2001/101), said it was prepared in response to a decision by the Economic and Social Council in 1998.  It sought to take stock of current trends and assessed the progress made and challenges faced by Governments and all concerned partners, both within and outside the United Nations system.  The report took inspiration from the Millennium Declaration that despite the great advancements made in every field of human activity and the opportunities unleashed by globalization, the world today still faced great challenges.  This included alleviating poverty and income inequality; advancing human rights and general equality; and making globalization work for all.  The report emphasized the crucial role that the United Nations could play in capacity-building for public administration and development.  Based on the existing mandates and emerging priorities, among the main areas were advocacy; building common understanding; information sharing and exchange of experiences; building strategic capacities and essential skills; and reinforcing core public service values.

Given the critical importance of information sharing and the exchange of experiences, the report stressed that the United Nations should enhance its capacity to collect, organize and disseminate information on public administration and finance, he said.  In this regard, the report suggested that the UN Online Network in Public Administration and Finance (UNPAN) be expanded to encompass national institutions and key national policy-making organs.  The report recommended that the United Nations continue to assist Governments in reinforcing core public service values, in promoting institution-building efforts, and in improving coordination of development assistance.  It highlighted the fact that the administrative and management reform was a continuous and multi-faceted process, and that there was a growing need to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

NASROLLAH KAZEMI-KAMYAB (Iran), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said the Group was very aware that natural disasters could undermine development; that such disasters were occurring more frequently; and that they had their most devastating consequences in developing countries -- a single disaster could eliminate years of economic growth and result in tremendous human loss and suffering.  At the moment vast populations of India and Pakistan were struggling against floods and many people in Peru and El Salvador were still in despair following recent earthquakes.  The Group of 77 was convinced that natural disasters could be mitigated through a pro-active and concerted approach involving planning, preparedness, prevention, relief and rehabilitation.

The United Nations should continue to serve as the main platform for action in this field; there was a need for access to and transfer of technology to developing countries in several areas of natural disaster management; the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction should be consolidated to better perform its functions and the Inter-Agency Task Force should continue to serve as the main forum within the United Nations system for coordinating disaster strategy.  The Group of 77 had presented a draft resolution on international strategy for natural disasters; it reiterated that international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon remained one of the Group's priorities.

C. PAYOT (Belgium), speaking on behalf of the European Union and countries associated with the Union, said implementation of the Habitat Agenda required the political will of all Governments since there were clear obstacles and a discrepancy between commitments entered into and the honouring of those commitments; the European Union renewed its commitment to the two main objectives: adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlement development in an urbanizing world, and its support for two campaigns conducted by Habitat in favour of secure tenure and urban governance.  The follow-up to the General Assembly Special Session on the matter could only bear fruit if all players were fully involved.  Preparations for the Johannesburg Summit on sustainable development would offer a unique opportunity to exploit the synergies between the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21.

The European Union welcomed the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the new momentum given to the global programme of action for the protection of the marine environment from land-based activities, and undertook to participate actively in the intergovernmental examination thereof planned for the end of November.  It welcomed the fact that the UNEP Executive Director had a mandate to examine the need for a strategic approach to the subject of chemical products.  On access to information, the European Union welcomed the request made to UNEP to evaluate the various instruments relating to Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration, and it had high hopes for coordination work to be carried out by the Environment Management Group.

F. NORDMANN (Switzerland) said the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) aimed at coordinating international, national and local efforts to lessen the impacts of natural disasters.  The culture of prevention was an essential priority.  Thanks to the most recent work done by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), it was known that vulnerability to disasters was particularly high to the poorer countries, or those in transition.  The United Nations should better coordinate its work, and should stress early warning.  The ISDR comprised fundamental elements that had to be periodically reviewed and adapted.  All partners had to work together to achieve the goals of the ISDR.  Further, it was hoped that the working bodies would work with the secretariat on the implementation of the ISDR.

LUIS MARIA RAMIREZ BOETTTNER (Paraguay) said the world economy, as it globalized and liberalized, required adaptation by developing countries; the fundamental principle of international solidarity had to be remembered and implemented -- it was necessary to pursue the fundamental welfare of all, and not just that of a few developed countries.  The trade system should be fair and should not leave countries behind; freedom of international trade had to be on an equal footing for all developing countries, and the markets of rich countries should not be closed as they were now, nor should their agricultural products be protected from competition as they currently were.

Paraguay, as a member of MERCOSUR, was conscious of the need for sustainable development, development that respected the environment.  At a meeting held in Asuncion last fall it had been declared that development and environmental policies had to be coordinated and complementary.

FAROOQ AHMED ABDULLA (Bahrain) said the concept of sustainable development was not new.  Societies had always been concerned about the dangers of waste, which was why religions urged man to preserve natural resources.  Following the Rio Summit in 1992, there had been no tangible progress about the international implementation of the resolutions from that conference on sustainable development.  In order to achieve sustainable development, the obstacles that prevented it needed to be overcome.  The developing countries had a difficult time, and the rights of such countries had to be taken into account when implementing sustainable development policies.  Everyone was conscious of the economic affects of the use of the resources of the earth.  Resolutions on the environment had to be on the agenda of international concerns, particularly because there would be an Earth Summit next year.  It was important to provide technical and financial assistance to developing countries so that they could help preserve the environment.  The lack of progress had been referred to by several non-governmental organizations.  They had said the temperature of the Earth would increase by 6 degrees by 2100.  Natural disasters caused serious losses. 

There had to be a study of the direct relationship between economic growth, trade and the liberalization of the economy, he said.  It was the duty of the international community to reaffirm economic human rights -- that was necessary for security and life.  Women were half of society, and they contributed to producing half of the harvests.  Social programmes through the United Nations had contributed in improving the situation of women.  There needed to be projects created that considered the role of women in areas other than the household.  Women held a very important place in Bahrain.

OLUSEGUN AKINSAMYA (Nigeria) said the agenda item on economic and environmental questions dealt with serious matters that would present great challenges to humanity in the new century; although the road to sustainable development might be long and arduous, it was attainable with sufficient will and sufficient assistance from the international community.  The preparations for the world summit on the topic scheduled for next year in Johannesburg provided an opportunity to address major questions; it was important that social, economic and environmental objectives be effectively fused.  Transfer of technology, capacity building, and financial resources needed to be discussed and made the subject of strategic goals at the summit.

The programme of activities, including regional round tables held in various regions, had set out for the preparatory process for the summit a number of useful inputs.  There was a need to establish strong and effective links between the public and private sectors, and heads of State and Governments should make every effort to attend the summit.  All inputs from United Nations bodies, regional groups, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other actors should be reflected in the second preparatory committee session.

MAGALY BELLO DE KEMPEV (Dominican Republic) said the Dominican Republic was a developing country, and was vulnerable to natural disasters because it was an island.  It was working on a preventive strategy with other countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.  The Government last week took before the Senate a bill concerning risk management.  Further, the bill set up a fund for purposes related to prevention strategies.  The Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Agricultural Surveyors, had noted that many schools were located near high-risk earthquake fault lines.  Efforts had been undertaken to educate the public on what to do, and other efforts were being taken to locate new areas for at-risk schools.  Disasters made no distinction between developed and developing countries.  Solidarity was needed between the developed and developing countries.  There was a conference on seismic risk that was held in Santo Domingo recently, and it included participants from all over the region.

The role of environmental agreements also should be considered, she said.  Because of climate change, many of the beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic would disappear.  That would have a devastating effect on the tourism industry, which was very important to the Dominican Republic.  This highlighted the need for international agreements and partnerships. 

JUNE KNESL, of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that in such places as Africa, the Agency focused on enhancing the contribution of nuclear science and technology to development, notably in the human health and water resource sectors.  The IAEA had a joint division with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) essentially devoted to the use of nuclear techniques to improve agricultural production; one major success had been the Pan African Rinderpest Campaign which had all but eliminated that disease from the continent.

Africa lost about $4.5 million annually due to diseases transmitted by the tsetse fly, and the recent eradication of tsetse flies from Zanzibar Island using the Sterile Insect Technique, integrated with other fly-suppression methods, had demonstrated that eradication of tsetse flies was technically feasible; the pilot project, with IAEA assistance, provided the technical framework for a proposal for a continental campaign, and FAO, WHO, IAEA, and the Organization for African Unity

(OAU) subsequently joined forces to treat the tsetse and trypan sorosis problem as an integral part of development and poverty alleviation.  What was urgently needed were the resources necessary for achieving the objectives of the OAU's Pan African Tsetse Eradication Campaign.

ASTRID HELLE (Norway) said the prevention and response to natural disasters had improved significantly over the last decade.  The International Strategy provided new opportunities.  The increased number and scale of natural disasters represented a major challenge to the international community.  This challenge was especially important when it came to the particular needs of the developing countries.  Devastating damages both to social and economic infrastructure were resulting in long-term negative consequences to vulnerable societies around the world.  The International Strategy had an important mission to help societies become more resilient to the effects of natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters and thus, reducing human, economic, social and environmental losses

A different speaker from the Norwegian delegation said the Committee for Development Policy had started a discussion on the issue of the reappropriation of Africa's development and the very important issue of the mobilization of domestic non-financial resources.  The Committee underlined the important role that could be played in the development process by new and dynamic partnerships, both between and within the private and public sectors, and the importance of effective regional cooperation in this regard.

Another topic, he said, was human settlements.  The eighth session of the Commission on Human Settlements featured the positive actions of the increasing number of pledges of financial contributions from developing countries.  This indicated a growing sense of ownership vis-a-vis the important work of Habitat.  One specific issue from the Commission that deserved detailed comments was the decision to consider the issue of the formalization of the status and role of the Committee of Permanent Representatives.  The special session brought out very clearly the nature of the challenges presented by the rapidly increasing urbanization process in the developing countries and the urbanization of poverty.  Also, the challenge of urbanization was very clearly spelled out in the Millennium Declaration, and the Cities Without Slums action plan was strongly supported by the Secretary-General.

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