Economic and Social Council

2010 Substantive Session

43^rd Meeting (AM)

Economic and Social Council Adopts Consensus Decisions on Range of Issues

 

Also Hears Reports from Subsidiary Bodies Dealing

With Development Policy, Human Settlements, World Food Security

With dramatic socio-economic and geographic stresses increasing urban poverty and slowing efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the Economic and Social Council today adopted eight consensus decisions that envisioned a world in which economic progress, social advancement and environmental protection were mutually reinforcing elements of sustainable development.

On the penultimate day of its general segment, the Council covered a range of issues taken up by its subsidiary bodies under its agenda items on economic and environmental questions — from statistics and human settlements to population and cartography.

By one decision, contained in the report of 2010 substantive session of the Statistical Commission, the Council decided that the upcoming forty-second session of the body would be held in New York from 22 to 25 February 2011, and also approved its provisional agenda.  By another text put forward by Council Vice-President Somduth Soborun of Mauritius, the Council requested the Secretary-General to submit a report on global geographic information management under a “Cartography” sub-item at its 2011 substantive session.

The Council also decided that the tenth session of its Committee of Experts on Public Administration, by the terms of another decision, would be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 4 to 8 April 2011, and approved that body’s provisional agenda.  By its terms, that decision took note of the Committee’s focus on “public governance for results to improve the quality of human life”, particularly towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, as the theme of its multi-year programme for 2011-2013.

Two oral decisions adopted by consensus focused, respectively, on the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on its eleventh special session, and on the reports of the Ninth United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference of the Americas and the Eighteenth United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific.

Prior to action, Adil Najam of the Committee for Development Policy, presented that body’s report on its twelfth session, held from 22 to 26 March, saying that crises — man-made or otherwise — were regressive and tended to accentuate existing inequalities.  Women were affected differently than men, due to their weak positioning in economic, legal, and sociocultural spheres, and were often less resilient to shocks.  Yet, policy approaches to the global financial crisis had shown little if any gender sensitivity.

The Committee had also examined policy coherence to address climate change, he said, determining that the funding to help poor countries shift to climate-resilient development paths was vastly insufficient.  The report argued that the financial architecture for climate change should be governed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Sounding the same alarm on the issue of rapid urban growth, Yamina Djacta, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) New York Office, said 2007 had marked a turning point:  today, more than half of the world’s population lived in cities and, of those people, one in every three in developing countries lived in slums.  Without remedial action, those numbers would rise to nearly 2 billion by 2020.

She said the Secretary-General’s report on the coordinated implementation of the Habitat Agenda outlined the agency’s efforts to strengthen coordination with its partners and other United Nations bodies.  Efforts included partnerships with regional banks, such as the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, which had resulted in increased flows of critical pro-poor investments into the water and sanitation sector.

In the discussion that followed, speakers reminded the Council about the severe impacts of the recent food crisis, pointing out the need for strong agriculture sectors.  It was important to ensure accountability in implementing strategies and programmes for sustainable development.  While agreeing, Saint Lucia’s representative noted it was often difficult to pinpoint which activities to undertake to make sustainable development credible.  He suggested a universal concept that would integrate activities in various fields, such as agriculture, fisheries, education, health and nutrition, energy, urban development and tourism.

Other decisions adopted today included those on:  “Report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its eighteenth session and provisional agenda for the eighteenth session of the Commission”, contained in the report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its eighteenth session, held on 15 May 2009 and 3-14 May 2010 (document E/2010/29); “Human Settlements” (document E/2010/L.25), submitted by Vice-President Somduth Soborun (Mauritius); and “Report of the Commission on Population and Development on its forty-third session and provisional agenda for its forty-fourth session”, contained in the report of the Commission on Population and Development on its forty-third session (document E/2010/25).

Also making general statements today were representatives of Belgium (on behalf of the European Union), Ukraine, China, Belarus, Bahamas, United States, Russian Federation, Iraq, Guatemala, Brazil, Indonesia and Canada.

A representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) also made a statement.

Awsan Abdullah Ahmed AL-AUD (Yemen), speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters” (document E/2010/L.10).

Thilmeeza Hussain ( Maldives) introduced the draft resolution entitled “Review of the United Nations support for small island developing States” (document E/2010/L.24).

The Chair of the Committee on World Food Security discussed that body’s report before the Council (document A/65/73-E/2010/51).

The Economic and Social Council will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 22 July, to continue and conclude its general segment.

Background

The Economic and Social Council met today to continue its general segment, considering economic and environmental questions under agenda item 13 and taking action on several draft resolutions and draft decisions recommended for adoption by its subsidiary bodies.  The Council was expected to touch on a range of issues, including sustainable development; statistics; human settlements; population and development; public administration and development; assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions; and cartography.

Introduction of Draft

AWSAN ABDULLAH AHMED AL-AUD (Yemen) representative, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters (document E/2010/L.10), stressing the importance of strengthening assistance and international cooperation on such matters.  The draft proposed to convert the Committee into an intergovernmental subsidiary body of the Council.  The Group of 77 looked forward to the Council adopting the text by consensus.

Reports by Council Subsidiary Bodies

ADIL NAJAM, Representative of the Committee for Development Policy, said that the report of that body’s twelfth session addressed four major issues:  the impact of the global crises on gender equality and the empowerment of women; the support by the United Nations system for small island developing States; coherence on the climate change agenda in relation to its financial architecture and to other development agendas; and the international support measures available for least developed countries.  Maldives and Samoa — which were earmarked for graduation from that category — were also monitored in the report, as well as Equatorial Guinea, whose graduation date was soon to be determined.

He said that crises, man-made or otherwise, were regressive and tended to accentuate existing inequalities.  Women were affected differently than men, due to their weak positioning in economic, legal, and sociocultural spheres, and were often less resilient to shocks.  Although Governments’ responses to the financial economic crises were swift, their approaches lacked gender sensitivity.  In order to “mainstream” gender objectives in policymaking and uphold the achievements made since Beijing, a greater focus must be placed on generating employment for women, incentives to keep girls in school, and better access to health services.

On the whole, small island developing States had consistently maintained good levels of social and economic outcomes, which were above average among developing countries.  However, many lagged behind and were included on the list of least developed countries.  While support for small islands by the United Nations system was apparent, the information available on such support was too fragmented, incomplete and not sufficiently results-oriented.  The Mauritius strategy tended to be too general in scope, and contained numerous recommendations but lacked concrete targets or milestones.  The mandates and operational functioning of these entities should, therefore, be reviewed and strengthened.

Additionally, the level of funding for mitigation and adaptation of climate-resilient development paths was vastly insufficient.  The report argued that the financial architecture for climate change should be governed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and recommended that action be prioritized with regard to funding allocation, he continued.  With regard to least developed countries, there had been inadequate levels of external support, while misguided domestic policies and poor governance hampered national strategies.

Existing measures should be enhanced rather than dropped, and existing compensatory financing mechanisms should be complemented with subsidized insurance schemes.  While official development assistance (ODA) flow still needed to be increased in line with the 0.15 per cent target, this would still be insufficient and additional measures would be necessary.  In conclusion, he said that, while some countries were still on track towards non-least-developed-country status despite crises, Samoa’s near-term economic outcome was still uncertain due to the tsunami of September 2009, and adequate international support was needed.

YAMINA DJACTA, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) New York Office, introduced the Secretary-General’s report on the coordinated implementation of the HABITAT agenda (document E/2010/72).  The world, she said, was witnessing a rapid and chaotic urbanization, as well as dramatic socio-economic changes resulting in increased urban poverty.  The year 2007 marked a turning point in urban growth, and now more than half of the world’s population lived in cities.  Of those people, one out of every three in developing countries lived in slums.  If no remedial action was taken, their numbers were projected to rise to nearly 2 billion by 2020.

In light of challenges arising from poorly planned and managed urbanization in terms of urban poverty and deprivation, the Governing Council of UN-Habitat had adopted several landmark resolutions.  In a key decision, the Governing Council recommended that the General Assembly consider convening a United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in 2016.  She noted that the World Urban Forum — a non-legislative technical forum in which Government officials, mayors, the private sector and civil society organizations could engage equally — had grown into the world’s premier conference on cities.

The fifth session of the Forum, held in Rio de Janeiro from 19 to 26 March 2010, brought together over 10,000 participants for global dialogue and mutual learning on sustainable urbanization.  Toting climate change and its impacts on cities as a key agenda item, the Forum also included the first meeting of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Guidelines on Decentralization and Access to Basic Services.  During the meeting, the Steering Committee made three important recommendations on the implementation of the guidelines.

Those recommendations would lead to the finalization and dissemination of a draft handbook to support the implementation and adaptation of the guidelines at national and local levels, she said.  Also during the Forum, UN-Habitat had launched the World Urban Campaign in efforts to become a catalyst in the coordinated implementation of the Habitat agenda.  The Campaign enabled the agency to forge effective partnerships between the public sector, private sector and civil society, as well as provide a platform for policy development and knowledge sharing.

Turning to the Secretary-General’s report, she said it outlined UN-Habitat’s efforts at the inter-agency level to strengthen coordination with partner organizations and other United Nations agencies.  She highlighted several examples of the agency’s collaborative efforts, including its partnerships with regional banks and the private sector.  Partnerships with regional banks such as the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank had resulted in increased flows of critical pro-poor investments into the water and sanitation sector.  New partnerships with additional development banks, such as the European Investment Bank, would help scale up those efforts, she noted.

In efforts to bridge knowledge gaps on global human settlement conditions and trends, UN-Habitat had worked with several partnerships to produce its biennial flagship reports, including the “State of the World’s Cities 2010-2011”.  The report used the framework of the “urban divide” to analyse the complex social, political, economic and cultural dynamics of urban environments, and focused on ways in which urban dwellers were excluded from the advantages and opportunities of city life.

“In a rapidly urbanizing world, sustainable urbanization is synonymous with sustainable development”, she stressed, underscoring the need for new approaches to development and major changes in public policy, resource allocation and decision-making.  In that regard, the Secretary-General’s report recommended that a Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development be convened in 2016, as proposed in Assembly resolution 64/207.  The report also recommended that Member States actively participate in the World Urban Campaign by organizing National Habitat Committees, if they did not already exist.

Next, NOEL DE LUNA ( Philippines), Chair of the Committee on World Food Security, whose report was before the Council (document A/65/73-E/2010/51), said the Committee was a central component of the global partnership for food security and food nutrition.  Having undertaken some reforms, the Committee was expected to constitute the foremost platform for key stakeholders to support country-led processes towards the elimination of hunger.  It expected to implement its new role in two phases, the first of which would include providing policy convergence and advice.  In the second phase, it would take on coordination at national and regional levels and sharing best practices at all levels.

Discussing the Committee’s composition, he said there was now an expanded bureau, a steering committee and high-level panel of experts.  It was supported by a secretariat comprised of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).  It had begun to make regional and international links and was working to make a realistic assessment of global food security.  The Committee also had started work on a global strategic framework for food security.

General Statements

DELPHINE DELIEUX ( Belgium), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said her delegation welcomed the report on the eighteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development.  In preparation for the nineteenth session next year, she stressed that a well-structured, open and coherent process, as well as a clear mandate, were needed.  In that regard, she encouraged the Chair of the nineteenth session to propose such a process as soon as possible, with the support of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

She noted that the report of the twelfth session of the Committee for Development Policy covered four “attention-grabbing” issues, including the question of climate finance.  Turning to the Secretary-General’s report on the coordinated implementation of the UN-Habitat Agenda, she said sustainable urban development required the collaboration of all parties at all levels, as well as the inclusion of women and other groups.

The European Union attached particular importance to the implementation of the international Guidelines on Decentralization and on access to basic services for all.  Moreover, it recognized the need to promote public-private partnerships as an important tool to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including poverty eradication.  With regard to the report on the United Nations Environment Programme’s Governing Council, she highlighted two of that panel’s decisions which the European Union considered noteworthy:  the decisions on the Intergovernmental Science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems and on International Environmental Governance.

Also speaking on behalf of the European Union, CHRISTOPHE DE BASSOMPIERRE (Belgium) emphasized the importance of international cooperation on tax matters, for both developed and developing countries.  The mobilization of domestic financial resources for development was central to the global partnership for sustainable development, especially in support of the Millennium Goals.  Furthermore, efficient and fair tax systems were crucial for growth, poverty reduction, good governance and State-building.  “In an ever-globalizing economy, it becomes increasingly difficult for national tax systems to operate efficiently without international cooperation,” he stressed.

Awareness of the urgency of better cooperation had only increased in the aftermath of the economic and financial crisis, he continued.  For its part, the European Union was fully engaged both internally and internationally in improving cooperation in tax matters.  In April 2009, the European Union had adopted a Communication on Good Governance in Tax Matters, primarily aimed at improving exchanges of information and good practices among its members.  It had also recently adopted another Communication on Tax and Development and prioritized support to developing countries in designing efficient and cooperative tax systems.

The United Nations, through its Committee of Experts, had an important record of contributing to international cooperation on tax matters.  The Council had been mandated — via the Doha Declaration — to examine how to strengthen institutional arrangements to promote cooperation in that area.  However, implementation of that mandate required thorough and informed analysis and discussion, he said.

OLEKSANDR PAVLICHENKO (Ukraine), aligning his delegation with the statement made on behalf of the European Union, said it was necessary to strengthen the close cooperation and coordination within the United Nations system with regard to sustainable development.  The productive discussion in the framework of the eighteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development gave hope that during that body’s next session, the current implementation cycle would be successfully completed.

He emphasized the importance of the successful implementation of the outcome of the seventeenth session, as the issue was relevant to the food crisis, the consequences of which required further consideration.  To assist those suffering from hunger, in 2009 Ukraine had contributed $580,000 to the WFP.  Sustainable development would be difficult to achieve without first overcoming the negative impact of climate change, which could have sudden and dramatic consequences if not urgently, properly, and effectively addressed.

Recalling and supporting the Copenhagen Accord, he said Ukraine considered the United Nations Framework Convention and its Kyoto Protocol constituted a solid background for the future “post-Kyoto” agreement.  Ukraine was still coping with the lasting environmental problems caused in 1986 by the accident at the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which had resulted in widespread radioactive contamination in Ukraine.  Those unprecedented negative impacts and their consequences on human health, economic and social development and the environment, had made it difficult for Ukraine to achieve broad sustainable development.  He expressed the hope that Governmental activities in that field would be supported by the international community.

WANG QUN ( China) said that achieving sustainable development was an urgent task facing all countries of the world.  For nearly two decades, the international community and national Governments had made unremitting efforts for the implementation of the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and had made important headway in the integrated development of population, resources and environment.

While various forms of regional and bilateral cooperation in environment and development had continued to develop, he acknowledged that the international community had not yet turned the tide of global environmental degradation.  In the face of that situation, he said, countries should reinforce their political will, shoulder their responsibilities and make common efforts to promote the realization of global goals of sustainable development.  Achieving sustainable development was a common investment in the future of mankind and, therefore, effective financial mechanisms should be put in place for technological transfers so that scientific research could be widely applied to resource utilization, environmental protection and ecological work.

He said China was a major force in pushing for sustainable development, and was working vigorously to implement its strategies.  Numerous laws and regulations on environmental protection had been formulated and improved, and economic and industry structures were being adjusted to develop a green economy.  China had joined the conscientiously implemented chemical-related conventions such as the Rotterdam Convention, the Basel Convention and the Stockholm Convention, and a series of conventions on environmental protection, including the United Nations Framework Convention and the Convention on Biodiversity.  With a large population, fragile ecological environments and uneven economic development, China faced daunting challenges but intended to work tirelessly to strengthen cooperation and to achieve sustainable development, he said.

SERGEI SERGEEV ( Belarus) expected the next session of the Commission on Sustainable Development to see various recommendations issued, including on the crafting of 10-year plan for implementing programmes related to sustainable consumption and production.  In the area of human settlements, the United Nations should develop new approaches to provide housing for the most vulnerable and develop environmentally clean technologies in housing construction.  Special focus should be placed on the functioning of rural towns.  Belarus was developing a new policy by which it was transforming downtrodden, small settlements into industrial villages and towns with production infrastructure.

On the environment, he said Belarus was a party to many conservation treaties, noting that its emissions growth was significantly lower than the rate of gross domestic product (GDP) growth.  As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention, Belarus had pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 8 per cent by 2012, consistent with commitments of leading industrialized European countries.  Belarus was grateful to those States that had adopted the so-called “Belarus Amendment” to the Kyoto protocol.

Belarus had been affected by negative trends in population, he said, but it was the first Commonwealth of Independent States country to have adopted a law on demographic security.  It also had implemented a national programme of demographic security for 2007-2010.  As a result of those efforts, the birth rate and life expectancy had risen, while infant mortality had fallen.  Despite that programme’s implementation, however, population continued to decline.  In closing, he noted the effective interaction between Belarus and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

PAULETTE BETHEL (Bahamas), speaking on the issue of international cooperation in tax matters, said the Report of the Committee of Experts on such cooperation added to a long history of that body’s excellent work on areas including double taxation and negotiation of bilateral treaties between developing and developed countries.

She called for the conversion of the Committee into an intergovernmental subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council, as that would allow for much-needed intergovernmental discussion on tax matters within the context of the United Nations — a truly universal international forum providing for the effective participation of developing countries, particularly small developing countries.  Moreover, a United Nations intergovernmental body with a clear development agenda, would allow developing countries to move towards the achievement of sustainable development more realistically.

She said that upgrading the Committee to an intergovernmental body would also allow Member States to better consider how the Committee could be strengthened at an operational level.  Through the process of upgrading, Member States would be able to address difficult issues in a comprehensive manner, including those related to the inadequate budgetary support provided to the Committee, which had resulted in the lack of resources for meetings and for important capacity-building and technical assistance opportunities.

SITA FARREL ( United States) said her delegation was pleased to have hosted the global celebration of World Habitat Day in October 2009.  UN-Habitat had taken steps to improve programme focus.  The results framework for the Medium-Term Strategic and Institutional Plan was an important tool and she looked forward to its continued successful implementation.  Further, that agency had a clear leadership in identifying best practices, monitoring key indicators and delivering technical advice.  Its regional reports and flagship State of the World’s Cities report were examples of its excellent normative work.  She endorsed its call to increase attention to such issues within the United Nations system and looked forward to promote understanding of the challenges facing cities.

Regarding statistics, the United States was impressed with the Statistical Commission and its development of standards and guidelines that fostered better compilation of national data, she said.  She urged States to take steps to improve their basic economic statistics, particularly as quality statistical data were critical to evaluating progress and determining what work remained to meeting the Millennium Development Goals.  The United States had been impressed by perennial professionalism by UN-Habitat’s members and their commitment to efficiency and transparency.  UN-Habitat had attracted the world’s top statisticians and her Government looked forward to celebration of World Statistics Day, 20 October 2010.

SERGEY KONONUCHENKO ( Russian Federation) said his delegation believed that the Commission on Sustainable Development showed a determination to promote the Organization’s sustainable development agenda, despite the continuing inauspicious conditions of various global crises.  During the biennial cycle of its work, the Commission must take into account socio-economic realities, and foster a balanced approached that took into account all issues falling into the thematic cluster of the cycle, while avoiding “rush jobs”.

He welcomed adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 64/267, which created a “World Statistics Day”, as that decision underscored the significance of official statistics in modern society.  He also welcomed the activities of UN-Habitat in the field of addressing problems of urbanization with regard to housing.  Vulnerable groups must be assisted through the development of financing mechanisms, protection of environment in human settlements, and with a focus on mitigating the environmental and social impact of natural disasters and climate change.  He said those factors needed to be considered in the context of the core activities of the UN-Habitat agenda, as did efforts to guarantee decent housing, and to tackle social problems in times of urban development.

The Russian Federation was keen for further development of comprehensive cooperation for the Cairo agenda, and welcomed the adoption of the decision to focus on the special theme of youth.  He also said that the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters was very important, and supported an improvement of its framework, although the proposal to give the Committee intergovernmental status did not enjoy consensual support.

YAHYA IBRAHEEM FADHIL AL-OBAIDI ( Iraq) said that, despite development plans that emphasized the principle of sustainability, Iraqi development was still in its early stages.  Compared to international standards, achieving broad development in Iraq would require much time and money.  Further, the country would not achieve sustainable development without a long-term strategy and coordination of international efforts to prioritize more efficient use of technology in processes of production, consumption and energy.  In that context, he said the Astronomy and Space Physics Centre in the Ministry of Science and Technology had mounted a wind turbine prototype station for renewable energy applications, which would be the first electric plant operated by wind.

He went on to say the Government had adopted a five-year plan for the 2010-2014 period, by which it undertook an economic analysis and evaluated the status of public services, as well as social and humanitarian issues, including poverty reduction and good governance efforts.  There also had been a review of previous policies and their impacts.  Iraq had been among the pioneering States to protect the environment, with the 1974 establishment of the Higher Council of Human Environment.  Since that time, environmental action had become more comprehensive.  On 6 May 2009, Iraq acceded to the United Nations Framework Convention and Kyoto Protocol.  On 10 May 2010, it acceded to the United Nations Framework to Combat Desertification.  Indigenous communities had lived in Iraqi wetlands for centuries, and the Government was working to preserve those fragile areas, after the “Saddam regime” had tried to drain them.  More efforts, however, were needed.

JIMENA LEIVA ROESCH ( Guatemala) said it was vital that, during the rest of the year in the run-up to its nineteenth session that the Commission on Sustainable Development continued to work to adopt decisions that could have real impact and long-term effects.  During the year covered by the Commission’s eighteenth session, it had analysed the specific challenges that existed for all to achieve sustainable development.

Concerning mines, the Commission could, for example, develop voluntary goals for Member States so there would be less of an impact on the environment and communities.  She said her delegation was committed to supporting the work of the Commission and would continue to support its work during the nineteenth session, and an outcome document that enjoyed the consensus of all its members.

FÁBIO MOREIRA CARBONELL FARIAS ( Brazil) stressed the importance of finding new systems of affordable housing in the aftermath of the global economic and financial crisis.  The Government appreciated the key role played by the public sector in setting priority budget allocations and subsidies.  Brazil had created a Ministry of Cities with a view to increasing access to affordable housing.  Indeed, about 82 per cent of Brazilians lived in urban areas; however, 6.6 million people had no shelter.  Dealing with that situation required commitment at all levels of the Government and more international cooperation.

He went on to say that Brazil had launched a growth programme that established rules and guidelines for promoting growth and social inclusion in four pillar areas:  logistics; energy; social development; and urban development.  Projects in that programme took into account issues such as climate change.  The role of cities had been incorporated in the promotion of inclusive urban development policies.  Work must be expanded to bring on board the major players to address the needs of the most vulnerable.  “We urgently need more international cooperation, adequate policy options” and financing, he said.

DANNY RAHDIANSYAH ( Indonesia) welcomed the successful reform of the Committee for World Food Security, and encouraged the sharing of national and regional strategies on such matters, as that would enhance the efforts of regional organizations.  He said that members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) had implemented numerous joint programmes in the food and agriculture sectors.  He welcomed the progress which had been made towards implementing the reform of the Committee, as that new structure would allow for synergies that would create an enabling environment for successful reform.  Looking back at the food crisis several years ago, it was important to ensure that sustainable development and accountability be maintained, and for the support of Member States to be continued.  Those elements were pivotal so such tragedies would not be repeated.

DONATUS KEITH ST. AIMEE ( Saint Lucia) said it was often difficult to pinpoint which activities to undertake to make sustainable development credible.  As such, he suggested a concept for both sustainable development and environmental protection, which integrated activities in various fields, agriculture, fisheries, education, health and nutrition, energy, urban development and tourism among them.  He urged that the next session of the Commission on Sustainable Development examine such a concept.  Agriculture was particularly important, as it affected everything from health and nutrition to education.  Structures put in place for small island developing States should be those that were unique to those countries.  The small islands were interested in transforming agricultural losses into productive assets, he added.

JUANITA CASTANO, Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said that the eleventh Global Ministerial Environment Forum Special Session was of particular significance in that it marked the first decade of the establishment of the Forum in 2000.  In the Nusa Dua Declaration, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the Forum had cited five areas in which international action was paramount.  Those areas included climate change; international environmental governance and sustainable development; green economy; and biodiversity ecosystems.

In addition to the adoption of that Declarations, the eleventh session had also adopted a number of important decisions on diverse issues such as international environmental governance; oceans; consultative process on financing options for chemicals and wastes; and the United Nations Environment Programme support for Haiti, including strengthening environmental responses to post-disaster matters.

KEITH MORRILL ( Canada) welcomed the work of and report by the World Urban Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Action on Drafts

The Council then took action on various draft texts included under its agenda item 13, which concerned economic and environmental questions.

Turning its attention to the report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its eighteenth session, held on 15 May 2009 and 3-14 May 2010 (document E/2010/29), the Council adopted without a vote a draft decision in Chapter I entitled, “Report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its eighteenth session and provisional agenda for the eighteenth session of the Commission”.

Regarding recommendations contained in the report of the Committee for Development Policy on its twelfth session (document E/2010/33), Council Vice-President SOMDUTH SOBORUN ( Mauritius) said action would be taken once the draft proposal was issued as an official document.

Next, THILMEEZA HUSSAIN ( Maldives) introduced the draft resolution entitled Review of the United Nations support for small island developing States (document E/2010/L.24), saying that informal consultations were under way and being facilitated by Australia.  She expressed hope they would shortly conclude.

Under its agenda item on statistics, the Council had before it the report of the Statistical Commission on its forty-first session (document E/2010/24).  Adopting by consensus a draft decision contained therein, the Council took note of the Commission’s report on its forty-first session; decided that the forty-second session would be held in New York from 22 to 25 February 2011; and approved the provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-second session.

Under sub-item (d) — human settlements — the Council adopted by consensus a draft decision on Human Settlements (document E/2010/L.25), submitted by Vice-President Somduth Soborun ( Mauritius), on the basis of informal consultations.  By that text, it took note of the Secretary-General’s report on the coordinated implementation of the Habitat Agenda, deciding to transmit it to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixty-fifth session.  It also requested the Secretary-General to submit a report on the coordinated implementation of the Habitat Agenda for the Council’s consideration at its 2011 substantive session.

Council Vice-President Mr. SOBORUN said action on a draft resolution on “Consolidated list of products whose consumption and/or sale have been banned, withdrawn, severely restricted or not approved by Governments” would be taken at a later stage.

Turning to sub-item (e) — environment — the Council adopted by consensus an oral decision taking note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on its eleventh special session (document A/65/25 (Supp. No. 25)).

Taking up next the report of the Commission on Population and Development on its forty-third session (document E/2010/25), under the sub-item on population and development, the Council adopted by consensus a draft decision contained therein entitled “Report of the Commission on Population and Development on its forty-third session and provisional agenda for its forty-fourth session”.

Speaking before action, Peru’s delegate, referring to a resolution on “Health, Morbidity, Mortality and Development” contained in that report, said Peru would consider the provisions of that resolution to the degree that they were compatible with its constitutional norms and human rights obligations.  Sexual and reproductive health would allow people to be informed and avoid non-desired pregnancies.

Chile’s delegate, also speaking before action, recalled that his Government looked favourably on the resolution entitled “Health, Morbidity, Mortality and Development”, provided that it was compatible with national legislation and Chile’s Constitution and that there was no incompatibility with the right to life.

Turning to sub-item 13 (g) — public administration and development — the Council had before it the report of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration on its ninth session (document E/2010/44), containing a draft resolution of the same name.  Following informal consultations, the Council would revert to that draft resolution at its organizational session for 2011.

Next, the Council adopted without a vote a draft decision entitled “Provisional agenda for the tenth session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration” (document E/2010/L.29), submitted by the Council Vice-President on the basis of informal consultations.  By that text, it decided that the tenth session would be held at United Nations Headquarters from 4 to 8 April 2011; approved that session’s provisional agenda; and took note of the Committee’s focus on public governance for results to improve the quality of human life.

Turning to its agenda item on international cooperation in tax matters, the Council postponed action on the draft resolution entitled, “Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters” (document E/2010/L.10), by which it would to convert the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters into an intergovernmental subsidiary body.

Under sub-item 13 (i), assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, the Council Vice-President Mr. SOBORUN said no advance documentation had been submitted and no proposal was before the Council.  Attention was drawn to the annotations in the Council’s agenda under that item, which provided the background and rationale for the item’s continued inclusion in the agenda.

The Council then adopted by consensus a draft decision submitted by Council Vice-President SOBORUN under sub-item 13 (j), entitled “Global geographic information management" (document E/2010/L.23), thereby deciding to request the Secretary-General to submit to the Council at its 2011 substantive session a report on global geographic information management under the sub-item on “Cartography”.

In an oral decision, adopted without a vote, the Council took note of the report of the Ninth United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference of the Americas and the report of the Eighteenth United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record