Commission on Sustainable Development

Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting

8^th & 9^th Meetings (AM & PM)

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PREPARATORY MEETING PREPARES DRAFT POLICY OPTIONS

ON ENERGY, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, AIR POLLUTION, CLIMATE CHANGE

Measures Will Be Framework for Discussion, Decisions

At Sustainable Development Commission’s Fifteenth Session, 30 April - 11 May

Concluding week-long talks on global warming and the influence of fossil-fuel burning and other human activity on the environment, an Intergovernmental Meeting at United Nations Headquarters today took note of a draft set of policy options Governments could use to expedite programme implementation on energy for development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change.

The measures will be forwarded to the upcoming fifteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development -- running from 30 April to 11 May -- and serve as a framework for discussions on concrete policy decisions to help advance the commitments contained in “Agenda 21” (adopted at the 1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development) and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (adopted at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development).

Presented as a “Chairman’s draft negotiating document”, the output of the Commission’s Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting addresses many emerging issues, such as renewable energy sources, transboundary air pollution and fuel switching, and includes calls to strengthen technology cooperation, including collaboration in research and development, as well as the transfer of new technologies.  To that end, it calls for full and effective implementation of the 2005 Bali Strategic Plan, a United Nation-backed framework for boosting the capacity of Governments in developing countries and economies in transition to coherently address their needs, priorities and obligations in the environmental field.

Four years ago, the Commission, which is the key United Nations forum bringing countries together to consider ways to integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development -- economic growth, social development and environmental protection -- approved a multi-year programme of work featuring different thematic clusters of issues for each cycle.  The first, in 2004-2005, addressed water, sanitation and human settlements.  The 2008-2009 cycle will focus on agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa.

By the Chairman’s text, the Meeting reaffirmed that eradicating poverty, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development.  It called on Governments and the United Nations system, working in partnership with major groups and other stakeholders, to take specific actions related to energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change.

The text, which will be attached to the Meeting’s draft report (document E/CN.17/IPM/2007/L.2), is organized into four main sections, in line with the priority themes, featuring brief introductions and includes a separate section on cross-cutting issues.  A final section recommends review and follow-up on progress in the implementation of the decisions taken by the Commission in the thematic priority areas during one- or two-day sessions in the 2010-2011 and 2014-2015 cycles.

On energy for sustainable development, it states that fossil-fuel energy sources will remain the major contributor in the energy mix for many decades to come.  Other energy sources, including renewable energy, are important, and energy efficiency measures and cleaner and advanced technologies are needed for sustainable development.  Among the policy options in this area, the text suggests expanding the use of renewable energy sources, as appropriate, including biofuels, hydropower, geothermal, wind solar and other forms of renewable energy.

It also suggests supporting clear action and measures for the expansion of energy services to the poor, in particular in rural and remote areas in developing countries, including small island developing States; expanding the use of cleaner fuels for heating and cooking; and strengthening public and private partnerships in energy research and development, including cleaner advanced fossil-fuel technologies and renewable energy.

The text states that industrial development is crucial for sustained economic growth, eradicating poverty and employment creation, was well as achievement of globally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.  It also notes that there is a mutually reinforcing relationship between industrial development, social advancement and environmental protection.

National Government policies and actions might, therefore, include, among others, promoting more sustainable patters of production and consumption, including through more efficient use of natural resources, pollution reduction, waste minimization and recycling; through education and raising awareness to change consumer behaviour towards more sustainable lifestyles; and through supporting trade-related capacity-building, including for customs procedures simplification, trade promotion and quality control, so that products could meet international standards.

Stating that air pollution is a major threat to human health and the environment that should be addressed in an integrated manner at national, regional and international levels, the document contains 33 policy options, including the integration of indoor air pollution into national sustainable development strategies, poverty reduction strategy papers and other national development plans, emphasizing access of women and the poor to clean cooking and heating technologies; improving women’s access to modern energy services; improving control of emissions from different sources to mitigate air pollution; and assisting developing countries in the transfer of efficient and environmentally sound technologies, traffic management know-how and related capacity-building.

According to the text, climate change is not just an environmental issue, but is firmly placed in the context of sustainable development and requires the urgent attention of the international community.  Decisions taken by the Commission on Sustainable Development are meant to complement, but not duplicate, the work of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol.

The 28 policy options mentioned in the document include the recommendation to strengthen North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation in research, development and demonstration initiatives, and to support and accelerate the development, deployment and diffusion of low-carbon energy technologies, including energy efficiency, renewable energy and cleaner and advanced fossil-fuel technologies.

The policies and actions regarding climate change should be based on the principles of sustainable development, and participatory approaches should be taken, including regional cooperation and partnerships, as well as public-private partnerships.  Participation of the private sector in combating climate change should be promoted and women should be involved in all aspects of decision-making relating to adaptation and mitigation.

Climate change adaptation and mitigation should be mainstreamed into development cooperation activities, and access to financial and technological assistance for adaptation should be improved.  There should also be support for early warning, risk management and disaster reduction and response measures for developing countries, in particular for the most vulnerable, such as small island developing States and least developed countries.

Finally, the text notes that an integrated approach to the four thematic issues, addressing in a balanced way the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainable development, will enhance effectiveness and assist in realization of co-benefits of policy action.  Cross-cutting issues needs to be mainstreamed into policy approaches.  The means of implementation are critical to turning commitments into action.  The document then lists some 25 policy options and possible actions regarding interlinkages and cross-cutting issues, including means of implementation, the first of them being that efforts to implement commitments in the Monterrey Consensus, notably early and full realization of the 0.7 per cent official development assistance target, should be reinforced.

Consideration of Chairman’s Text

Following the presentation of the Chairman’s text earlier in the day, delegates were offered a chance to comment on a draft negotiating document submitted yesterday.  Delegates’ comments were then included in the final draft negotiating document presented in the afternoon.

One delegate, speaking on behalf of a negotiating bloc of developing countries and economies in transition, said that, regrettably, the Chairman’s draft text was not all-inclusive and that changes during the day had not led to a balanced document reflecting the commitments made at the Rio and Johannesburg Summits.  As it stood, the text did not reflect the richness and depth of the discussions held during the past week, meaning that negotiations would get off to a slow start at the Commission.  He added that the Meeting’s approach would not only frustrate the Rio and Johannesburg implementation processes, but would ultimately put the reputation of the Commission at risk.

A speaker on behalf of more than 50 small island developing States expressed concern that many of their recommendations had not been considered in the draft and that others had been diluted.  The section on climate change did not reflect the sense of urgency the issue had for many countries, she said, and expressed surprise that only one reference to small island developing States had been made, while those countries were the most vulnerable to climate change.  Another small islands delegate looked forward to concrete action at the Commission, because the thematic issues were not merely important, but a matter of life and death for some small island developing States.

Representatives of the major groups of non-governmental organizations, local authorities, farmers, the scientific and technological community, workers and trade unions, indigenous peoples, youth and children, and women also made short statements.

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For information media • not an official record