PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

LAUNCHING REPORT ON ‘TRENDS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT’

Global consumption of energy had been growing less rapidly than industrial and world economic activity, José Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, told correspondents this morning at a Headquarters press conference.

JoAnne DiSano, Director of the Division for Sustainable Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and David O’Connor, Chief, Policy, Integration and Analysis Branch of that Division, also participated in the press conference.

Launching “Trends in Sustainable Development”, a report that provided a factual backdrop for the 1-12 May session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, Mr. Ocampo said that, despite the rapid growth of electricity use, large proportion of the world’s population had little access to electricity, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.  The issue of access to electricity would figure prominently in the Commission’s discussion.  Regarding emissions, he noted that carbon dioxide emissions had been growing less rapidly than world gross domestic product (GDP), and sulphur emissions had declined.  However, major challenges remained, including in the area of access to electricity and energy efficiency, particularly the reduction of certain traditional forms of energy use.

Many issues highlighted in the report related to international trade in energy, he continued.  Some trends indicated in the report were older, such as the large dependence of many industrial economies on oil consumption.  Some were newer, however, including the growing importance of China and India in energy imports and the rise of interdependency.

In terms of industrial development, the report underscored the fact that countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) still dominated world industrial production and trade.  At the same time, developing countries had been rapidly expanding, particularly in Asia.  The opportunities opened by industrial development depended on each country’s level of development.  The report also underscored the importance that industrial development had for developing countries, in general, particularly technological upgrading as an essential element of the industrial process.

In the area of atmosphere and air pollution, he said the report emphasized the fact that many developed countries had gone a long way in air pollution controls since the large-scale introduction of regulations in the 1970s.  The development of many new technologies to reduce air pollution by industrial countries in response to new regulations had benefited developing countries, which had avoided the build-up of air pollution problems.  There were, however, major problems in several developing countries, including the dependence on coal for electricity generation.  Another major issue was pollution generated by cars, he said.  In that regard, the rapid growth of vehicles in developing countries had generated air pollution problems even when they had the latest technologies.

He said major advances in international cooperation had led to a reduction in ozone depleting substances and the gradual phasing out of leaded gasoline, two success stories.

As for climate change, he said, there had been a slower rise in carbon dioxide emissions, one of the major objectives of the climate change conventions, particularly the Kyoto Protocol.  Unfortunately, those emissions were not on track to meet the Kyoto targets in many industrial economies and for economies in transition.  Stronger concerted efforts were needed to meet the targets.

He said there had been a clear consensus on the need to advance on two tracks, one to negotiate a new set of commitments for States Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and a broader dialogue including non-Kyoto Protocol countries, such as the United States and Australia.  He underlined, however, that even in non-signatory countries, many voluntary initiatives had been developed.  Many states in the United States, for instance, were committed to emission reductions.  In China, there had been a major increase in energy efficiency.

There were many opportunities for developing countries to benefit from existing agreements, particularly through the clean development mechanism, he stated.  At the moment, there were some 100 projects under way.  While that could in itself be considered a success story, the fact that most of the projects were concentrated in a few countries represented a challenge to the international community as to how to broaden mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol.

Ms. DiSano, summarizing the Commission on Sustainable Development’s session, said the Commission’s consideration of four global issues [energy for sustainable development; industrial development; atmosphere and air pollution; and climate change] followed a two-phased approach.  During the first year’s session, progress would be reviewed and challenges and constraints identified.  The second year’s session would deal with policy decisions on the four themes.

She said that, during the review year, the Commission would look at progress in implementation of commitments made and would identify continuing challenges, constrains and shortfalls.  The report had taken an integrated approach to the four inter-linked issues, focusing on case studies and lessons learned.  Five preparatory regional meetings, sponsored by the UN regional commissions, had been organized.  The Commission would also benefit from inputs from a range of UN agencies, funds and programmes.

One day of the 10-day Commission session would be devoted to consideration of the issues by small island developing States.  A three-day high-level segment would be attended by a wide range of ministers, not only ministers of environment, but also of industry and energy.  Recognizing the need to include many partners, the Commission had invited a number of chief executive officers (CEOs) of companies that dealt with the issues on the Commission’s agenda.  The session would include daily panels, as well as parallel events such as a partnership fair and a learning centre.  Side events were also being organized by Governments.

In conclusion, Ms. DiSano said the Commission was not the place to come to for “quick fixes”.  The Commission provided an opportunity for real consideration of the issues based on real situations.

In response to a correspondent’s question, Mr. Ocampo said one of the innovative approaches in the report and the Commission was the integration of the issues and their analysis.  During the high-level segment, not only ministers of the environment would participate, but also ministers of industry and of energy.  The crucial message was that sustainable development, and in particular environmental sustainability, was not the sole area of ministers of environment.  Success in the area of environmental sustainability was not possible if it was not fully mainstreamed into other ministries.  What was happening in energy was critical to climate change.  What was happening in social development was also critical for access to energy.

Mr. O’Connor added that one of the striking things in the report was the dramatic progress made by some developing countries and regions in expanding their manufacturing sectors and exports, thereby contributing to a reduction in poverty.  The textile and clothing industry, for instance, was now a major employer of women with limited education.  The changes in sulphur dioxide levels indicated progress in the developing world.  That downward trend translated, among other things, to improved health of the population and reduced damage to crops.

Asked about the role of the United States in the Commission on Sustainable Development, Ms. DiSano answered that the country was certainly taking a very active role in the process.  They were sponsoring several side events and would participate in various panels.

Addressing a question about the trend among major economies to turn increasingly to energy imports, Mr. Ocampo said the availability of energy sources differed among countries.  Increasingly, international exchange of energy not only encompassed oil, but also gas and electricity.  There was an increasing global interdependence in the energy sector.  Experience with food security had borne out that closing borders did not increase that security.  There was global interdependence in the energy sector, and countries with energy resources were as interested in export as were countries with energy demands to import.

Some of the eight to 12 CEOs participating in the Commission’s session had been suggested by the Commission’s Bureau, and some had been approached directly, Ms. DiSano said in response to a question.  Some of them were members of the Global Compact, some were not.  Among participants were CEOs of Shell US, Eskom from South Africa, Alcan and some major utility companies in Europe.  They would share with the Commission their views and perspectives during the high-level segment, followed by an interactive discussion.

Asked whether programmes such as the Global Compact should require companies to disclose the environmental impact of their activities, Mr. Ocampo said many of the global corporate responsibilities were associated with environmental issues.  That was part of the Global Compact.  However, neither social responsibility nor the Commission were exclusively about environmental issues.  The concept of sustainable development involved also social concerns and social issues.  The major social issue of energy access, for instance, figured prominently in the report, as did the economic issue of development and energy efficiency.   The Commission was about inter-linkages between social, economic and environmental impacts.

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