Commission on Sustainable Development

Eighteenth Session

6^th & 7^th Meetings (AM & PM)

Delegates Sound Alarm over Consumption, Production Patterns as Commission

on Sustainable Development Continues Review of Key Issues

 

Meeting in four parallel sessions today, delegates in the Commission on Sustainable Development sounded the alarm over consumption and production habits that could put the Millennium Development Goals at risk, as they continued their review of key issues worldwide.

The Commission’s eighteenth annual session, from 3 to 14 May, begins a two-year cycle to review waste management, transport, chemicals, mining and the 10‑year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production.

During the Commission’s thematic discussion on waste management, a representative of the non-governmental organizations major group said the low profile of that issue within the United Nations system was worrying, and pointed out that it was not mentioned in the Millennium Development Goals.  He warned that, if allowed to continue, poor waste management would hurt vulnerable groups most ‑‑ children, slum dwellers, and indigenous and rural peoples who hosted landfills and other types of disposal facilities on their lands.

Egypt’s delegate, speaking on behalf of the African Group, said the “monster” of waste management highlighted flaws in the planning of infrastructure and land-use to cope with urban growth on that continent.  Due to their lack of access to sanitation, the urban poor were often subjected to unhygienic conditions in their settlements, and prone to air- and water-borne epidemics.

The representative of Antigua and Barbuda said that for the Alliance of Small Island Developing States, the problem lay in the shipment of hazardous waste to their shores from more industrialized countries.  Other developing-country speakers voiced concerns about second-hand electronic goods that flooded their markets, quickly turning into waste.

Delivering an impassioned plea for “zero waste”, expert panellist Paul Connett, Executive Director of the American Environmental Health Studies Project, called on communities to exert more pressure to make industry move from producing throw-away goods towards better-designed products.  At the same time, everyday people needed to fight over-consumption, he said, likening it to a “straitjacket”.

But when speakers called for financial assistance and technology transfer to meet the high cost of treatment facilities, Mr. Connett argued that it was not needed, and that waste management was a “low-tech” effort -- a view supported by fellow expert Sonia Jeanet Arevalo Serrano, a public services official from Bogotá, Colombia.  That city had mobilized 6,000 people to travel door-to-door collecting solid waste and then sorting it,she said, adding that some of the waste would eventually be recycled.

Eduardo Meñez ( Philippines), Vice-Chairman of the Commission and Moderator for the session on waste management, said a series of meetings of signatories to the various waste-control treaties was due next year in Switzerland, and the Commission had been invited to contribute.

In a separate session on mining, Patrick Chevalier, expert panellist, argued that mining in developed and emerging countries had been used as a platform for economic and social development, showing that it could contribute to national growth.  The challenge, however, was good governance.  Tensions were inevitable if society did not have the means to manage mining properly, and good governance could help train the focus on mining activities throughout the life-cycle ‑‑ from investment, through to extraction and remedial environmental measures.

Juana Kuramoto Huaman, an economist and consultant, said that although local Governments demanded control of funds derived from mining, they lacked the capacity for financial management.  Meanwhile, already overwhelmed central Governments did not know how to facilitate dialogue between the actors concerned, leading communities and local groups to take extreme positions which sometimes escalated into violence.

Mohammed Alahraf ( Libya), Commission Vice-Chairperson, moderated that discussion.

David O’Connor of the Division for Sustainable Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs presented the Secretary-General’s report on mining, which touched on the need to strengthen the “building blocks of governance” and create stronger links between the mining sector and the broader economy.

Earlier today, the Commission continued its discussion on chemicals, in which speakers underscored the importance of three principles in chemicals management ‑‑ right-to-know, precaution and substitution ‑‑ which needed to be better incorporated into State regulations.  They also stressed the need to raise the level of scientific and technological know-how in poorer countries so as to ensure proper use of raw materials in the economy, while meeting regional and international targets, such as the 2020 goal of sound chemicals management.

The experts discussing chemicals were Craig Boljkovac, Manager of the Chemicals and Waste Management Programme with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and Gillian Guthrie ( Jamaica), regional focal point for the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Tania Raguž ( Croatia), Commission Vice-Chair, moderated the session.

In the session on transport, also continued from yesterday, delegates discussed the way in which ineffective rural transport systems in developing countries could put attainment of the Millennium Development Goals at risk.  Participants drew attention to transport challenges faced by rural residents, as well as indigenous peoples, women, and children.  Speakers from developing countries stressed that they had little access to investments for transportation infrastructure owing to the current global financial crisis.

Panellists in that session were Eran Feitelson of the Department of Geography at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Visiting Professor, Transport Studies Unit, at Oxford University; and Maria Moreira, Executive Secretary and Director of the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development, a London-based non-governmental organization.

Established in 1992, the Commission is responsible for reviewing progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, as well as providing policy guidance for national, regional and international follow-up to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation adopted at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.

The Commission will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, 6 May, to continue its parallel sessions on waste management and mining.

Second Thematic Discussion on Transport

At the outset, participants saw a screening of Rural Transport Improves Lives in Viet Nam, a documentary prepared by the World Bank and the Government of Viet Nam.

Panel of Experts

ERAN FEITELSON, Department of Geography, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Visiting Professor, Transport Studies Unit, Oxford University, said access should be more of a focus in discussions about transport, calling for the development of accessibility maps that measured transport by time and financial cost.  Such data were collected at the local level in developed countries, but most existing data focused on flows of vehicles and people, he added, pointing out that accessibility maps would indicate what options were available to whom.

A closely related issue was a focus on investment in transport, he said.  Investments should be made where inadequate transport constituted a bottleneck to development, as in landlocked countries.  On the other hand, one should also consider that over-investment diverted resources from other development projects.  For instance, investing in rail transportation had environmental benefits, but it was expensive and lacked a distributional beneficiary impact.

High-speed rail was particularly expensive but served only those who could afford it and connected only major cities, he said, adding that many second-tier cities therefore lost accessibility and resources for local rail networks.  Bus rapid transit was more suitable for the vast majority of the world’s cities, and its impact could be enhanced if combined with the use of alternative energy and subsidies.

He said security was a factor not usually addressed in discussions about sustainable transport, even though security concerns were hindering the free flow of traffic in airports, for example.  A more hidden challenge, however, was maritime transport security, which required surveillance, screening systems and monitoring at the global level. 

On the environmental side, he said that in studying how to reduce oil dependency it was necessary to differentiate between types of trips.  Although most trips were short-distance and did not involve commuting, transport systems were developed for medium and longer commutes.  Since public transportation was not usually provided late at night, people used cars to participate in a city’s night life, he said, noting that those types of trips were usually not included in planning.

Emphasizing the need to make alternative energy attractive, he suggested that the first step was to provide fuelling stations for centralized fleets such as buses and trucks.  The most polluting vehicles should be eliminated, sport utility vehicles should be taxed heavily and old cars should be scrapped.  However, none of the many measures available would be effective if implemented by itself, he said, adding that the measures applied must be combined into coherent packages that should also address distribution impacts and subsidies for public transport.

MARIA MOREIRA, Executive Secretary (Director) of the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development, a London-based non-governmental organization, said ineffective rural transport systems in developing countries put attainment of the Millennium Development Goals at risk.  Transport issues in those countries went far beyond the matter of roads, she said, noting that inequalities by gender, race and age often restrained access to health services.

Citing an example, she said the problems that women in labour faced in accessing health services where transportation systems were inadequate highlighted the lack of synergy between the transport and health sectors as well as a disconnection between investments in each sector.  Failure by the transport sector to optimize local and regional health centres was a missed opportunity.

While more information had been gathered on how lack of mobility affected women, children, the elderly and the disabled, large knowledge gaps remained, she said.  Delays in accessing health services were caused by the absence of road infrastructure, distance, high fuel costs, and the condition of available vehicles.  The isolation of certain communities also constrained access to health care when it could only be reached by river.

She said that, in considering the education targets of the Millennium Development Goals, it was important to allow for access to schools.  Safety challenges -- which varied by gender -– should be taken into account, she said, noting that it was also important to understand travel patterns and how they differed by gender.  Adequate transport systems could increase employment opportunities for both men and women, create savings, and reduce the workload of water and wood carriers.

Several challenges remained in addressing issues of transport, she said, citing the need for more analysis of travel patterns and access to transport.  Socio-cultural contrasts limited women’s mobility, while issues of affordability, safety and a personal sense of security for both men and women should be taken into consideration.  In addition, members of civil society should be allowed a voice in an integrated and participatory approach to transport planning and decision-making, she said.  Calling for the revival of research into improving intermediary means of transport, such as rural waterways, she said they provided a very important service for rural communities but received inadequate investment and maintenance due to a major focus on roads and motorized transport.

Interactive Dialogue

Participants in the debate shared national experiences and lessons learned in addressing the problems of sustainable transport systems, greenhouse gas emissions and transport accessibility.  Among suggestions for combating traffic congestion and air pollution in cities were restrictions on parking, levying a high fuel tax and a carbon tax for all activities, and introducing bus rapid transit systems and subsidized public transportation.  Speakers also suggested making cycling more attractive through the construction of bicycle lanes.  Others recommended using a mix of fossil and bio-fuels, but one speaker warned that that would leave a higher overall carbon footprint than actual emissions would have done.

One speaker suggested imposing a purchase tax for cars, differentiated by levels of carbon dioxide emissions.  Other speakers called for exemptions from sale or import taxation as well as free parking for electric and hybrid cars.  Another delegate said taxes on used cars could be increased, depending on their age, adding that all cars older than 10 years could be scrapped.  “The more one decides to pollute, the more one should pay for it,” he added.

Some participants stressed the importance of railway systems, as an environmentally more sound way to transport freight and people when compared with road transport.  Although some speakers cited anti-congestion schemes implemented in London, Paris and Singapore as an example to be followed by others, one participant warned that population density was much higher in developing-world cities, and such schemes might have an adverse socio-economic impact.  An emphasis on rapid transit systems and enhanced traffic management were needed.

Delegates also emphasized the importance of considering transport issues specific to rural areas, including the challenges faced by indigenous peoples, women, and children.  There was a great need for food production near or in rural areas as means to reduce the costs, energy and greenhouse gas emissions related to food movement.  Another speaker said the question of bio-fuels should be approached cautiously because the need to diversify land usage could cause a loss of land for growing food.  Biofuel producers’ “land-grabbing” from indigenous communities was common, another speaker noted.

Speakers also called attention to both alternative and specifically-targeted methods of transport in rural areas, with one speaker describing the use of animals as a “critical component” of rural life that would likely remain so for years to come, and called for increased attention to animal welfare.  It was also important to develop ways to ensure the safety, security and economic development of women, which could have a positive impact on the community.  One speaker cited the introduction of special buses for fisherwomen in coastal areas, saying it would improve carrying capacity and help increase the volume of fish they could take to market.

Emphasizing that they had little access to investments for transportation infrastructure owing to the current global financial crisis, speakers from developing countries called for alternative funding sources, such as debt swaps for infrastructure development.  A delegate from a landlocked developing country suggested simplifying border procedures, while another called attention to the plight of small island developing States, which were often isolated, enduring high transportation costs without the ability to improve transportation infrastructure beyond their control.

A speaker for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) suggested that actions to attain sustainable transport should include:  ensuring investment in non-motorized transport infrastructure; promoting mass rapid transit systems; ensuring the availability of cleaner fuels; reducing fuel sulphur levels; and introducing cleaner vehicles in developing countries.  Investing in cleaner, smaller cars could also offer “green” employment, he added.

A speaker for the Observer Mission of Palestine described the barriers to sustainable transportation caused by foreign occupation, such as illegal settlement whereby traffic arteries were for the exclusive use of settlers; fragmentation of land; the separation barrier; checkpoints; and the blockade of Gaza.

Israel’s representative responded by stating that the Commission was a professional body and not a political one.

The session also heard from representatives of Norway, Indonesia, Switzerland, Mexico, India, Australia, Cuba, Japan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Argentina, Zambia, Barbados, Jordan, Gabon, Republic of Korea, Iran, Maldives (on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, or AOSIS), Morocco, Guatemala, Mongolia, Thailand, Israel and Nigeria.

Also contributing to the discussion were representatives of the following civil society major groups:  indigenous peoples; non-governmental organization; farmers; the scientific and technological community; and women.

Panel Discussion on Chemicals

As the Commission continued its discussion on chemicals this morning, speakers underscored the importance of three principles of chemicals management -- right to know, precaution, and substitution ‑‑ which needed to be better incorporated into State regulations.  They also stressed the need to raise the level of scientific and technological know-how in poorer countries in order to ensure proper use of raw materials in the economy, while meeting regional and international targets such as the 2020 goal of sound chemicals management.

TANIA RAGUŽ ( Croatia), Commission Vice-Chair, presided over today’s expert panel, which comprised Craig Boljkovac, Manager, Chemicals and Waste Management Programme, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR); and Gillian Guthrie ( Jamaica), regional focal point for Latin America and the Caribbean with the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.

Mr. BOLJKOVAC, Chair of the Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals, spoke after the screening of two films -- How Do Chemicals Reach the Arctic? and The Seven Deadly Plastics -- providing an overview of interagency cooperation on the sound management of chemicals within the United Nations.  He said the Programme comprised UNEP, UNITAR, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), World Health Organization (WHO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.

He said the Programme managed a trust fund currently worth $20 million, from which it financed individual country projects designed to enable implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.  Bilateral donors and participating agencies also provided funding.  To ensure the commitment of participating organizations, the Programme had adopted a model of shared responsibilities, with clearly defined roles for each organization, based on their respective areas of expertise, and operated under a rotating chairmanship.

The Programme was currently taking the lead role within the United Nations in addressing emerging issues identified at the Second International Conference on Chemicals Management in 2009, he said.  The issues included the presence of lead in paint, chemicals in products, hazardous substances relating to e-waste, and the manufacture of nano-materials.  The Programme existed partly as a response to many requests from the Commission and other intergovernmental bodies for a coordinated and coherent approach to chemicals work, and for capacity-building assistance to practitioners.

Ms. GUTHRIE, taking up the challenges facing developing countries, urged States to “make the link” between sound chemicals management and the Millennium Development Goals.  In particular, States must learn to highlight the cost of inadequate chemicals management to economic development, as well as to health and quality of life.  In terms of capacity-building for developing countries, she said partner countries must move away from a project-based approach, with little emphasis on continuity and institutionalization, towards a life-cycle approach, where good habits were integrated into national development plans.  Developing countries must take advantage of existing mechanisms, such as the chemical information exchange networks and chemical review committees created under the various Conventions.  She noted that participating countries were meant to have implemented the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals by 2008, but that goal had not yet been met.

Reporting on various chemicals conventions had declined among developing countries over the years, she said.  That was true, for example, for the Basel Convention on the movement of hazardous waste.  Meanwhile, among those who had duly filed reports, some lacked the proper risk assessment procedures.  Among her other recommendations were:  increasing the number of scientists in developing countries to help address chemicals management; and educating the private sector on proper chemicals management, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, which must be given incentives to adopt green targets  In addition, intergovernmental bodies must stop operating in silos.  Similarly, she said, within national Governments, environmental concerns must be integrated into development programmes, backed by ministry-wide collaboration in the areas of finance, environment, health, labour and agriculture.

Interactive Discussion

Building on those ideas, Member States joined the discussion with examples of best-practice models and suggestions for regulation.  For example, the Federal Government of Austria had developed “chemical leasing”, a best-practice model designed to stimulate cooperation between Government and businesses.  It was a business model in which the chemical company supplied a substance for a specific service, dye, for instance, but retained ownership of the chemical.  That business model had the potential to shift the focus from increasing sales of dangerous chemicals towards their more efficient and, hopefully, more responsible use.

Pointing to the dearth of information in developing countries on the 80,000 to 100,000 chemicals registered for use, some speakers suggested the inclusion of “no data, no market” provisions in trade law.  Several speakers said that, with nearly half the workforce in developing countries ‑‑ more than two thirds of which were in sub-Saharan Africa ‑‑ involved in agriculture, States should begin considering a progressive ban on highly poisonous pesticides.  In Kenya, chemicals made up to 7 per cent of inputs for agriculture, manufacturing and services, but inadequate information and preparedness had led to many accidents, illnesses and other undesirable consequences to people and the environment.  That suggested a need for stronger labour and workplace laws.

And yet, the session heard, pesticides like DDT were necessary in some developing countries to eradicate even greater ills, including mosquito-borne diseases like malaria.  With that in mind, some country representatives called for more access for developing countries to affordable and effective alternatives to hazardous chemicals.  Japan, which introduced laws in the 1970s restricting the use of PCBs, suggested that countries also consider moving in small steps from hazard regulation to risk-based regulation.

On the international level, speakers called attention to an ongoing process to establish a legally-binding instrument on mercury.  Many of them referred to the dangers of mercury in fish, a globally-traded food and a staple in much of the world, with the representative of the non-governmental organizations major group requesting that such an instrument address all human sources of mercury.  Other speakers voiced the need for an international accord to ban the illegal transportation of hazardous and toxic chemicals.

One speaker, noting the importance of scientists and engineers for responsible management systems, pointed out that 2011 would be the International Year of Chemistry, urging fellow delegates to seize the opportunity to show how the issue of chemicals intersected with those of environmental sustainability and education, which were Millennium Development Goals 2 and 7.  Holding a workshop under the aegis of the Strategic Approach would be a good start, but there was an absence of funding, one speaker noted.  Also on the subject of financing, another speaker said that, since the money needed to implement the various chemicals conventions was more than donors were able to give, the international community must pay greater attention to economic instruments that would force players to internalize costs.  Perhaps there was potential to siphon a modest percentage of the $3 trillion in turnover from the chemicals industry to build infrastructure for chemicals management.

Others speaking today were the representatives of Austria, Kenya, Japan, South Africa, Turkey, Solomon Islands (on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States), France, China, Spain, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Uganda, Sweden, Botswana, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Namibia and the Czech Republic.

Also speaking were representatives of the following civil society major groups:  non-governmental organizations; workers and trade unions; women; scientific and technology community; farmers; and youth and children.

Delegates from the African Union Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization also spoke.

Panel Discussion on Waste Management

EDUARDO MARTIN MEÑEZ (Philippines), Vice-Chair and Rapporteur of the Commission, presided over the panel of experts, which comprised Nikhil Chandavarkar of the Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Paul Connett, Executive Director, American Environmental Health Studies Project; and Sonia Jeanet Arevalo Serrano, Public Services of Bogota, Colombia.

Mr. CHANDAVARKAR, presenting the report of the Secretary-General on waste management (document E/CN.17/2010/6) following the screening of the video Biogas from Food Waste, noted that waste management had evolved from its focus on collection and disposal to a more integrated approach incorporating waste minimization, recycling, and energy generation.  An integrated life-cycle approach should be used to address waste management issues, he said, emphasizing its focus on reduction, recycling and reuse.  The ideal of zero-waste in consumption and production should also be considered.

He went on to highlight the priority objectives of waste management:  promoting waste prevention and minimization; effective and efficient management of solid and hazardous waste; and focusing on reuse, recycling and recovery of useful materials and energy.  Since local authorities in both developed and developing countries were leaders in the management of solid waste and institutional capacity-building, there was a need for the devolution of responsibilities as well as financing from central governments.  Public education and awareness campaigns were vital in promoting waste minimization and safe, environmentally-sound disposal, he said.

As for the way forward, he listed seven key elements of waste management.  First, comprehensive local and national waste-management policies covering all types of waste must be formulated and enforced.  Secondly, there was an urgent need for investment in the development of low-cost options for waste-management methods that must also be suitable for poor communities.  The sharing of information and technology was also important, he said, adding that the current international partnerships promoting cleaner production and life-cycle management required strengthening.

He also emphasized the pressing need for intensive capacity-building for the development and implementation of integrated solid waste management at the local level, and of financing tools in developing countries and transition economies.  The engagement of communities, non-governmental organizations and other partners was vital to developing public awareness campaigns and education on waste prevention, waste treatment, and waste-related health hazards.

Special attention must also be paid to emerging waste streams such as electronic waste, waste plastics, and used oils and chemicals, with the particular aim of achieving higher rates of recovery, he said.  Lastly, he noted that the quality of global data needed improvement with respect to both the current and expected future amounts of different types of waste.  Such data, used to develop projections, would allow adequate planning for resource recovery and the substitution of virgin materials, he said.

Interactive Dialogue

In the ensuing discussion, participants called attention to the links between waste management and ill health, population growth, infrastructure development, urban planning and the proper handling of hazardous products such as pharmaceutical, medical and chemical waste.  They stressed the importance of low-cost waste-management solutions that could be upgraded as national incomes rose.

Many speakers from developing countries voiced concerns about the gap separating policies, legislation and practice, saying electronic waste was a major concern.  Much of it was illegally shipped to poorer countries from elsewhere, and the main worry for small island developing States lay in hazardous wastes coming from abroad.  Some speakers suggested a complete ban on the transportation of hazardous waste by sea, which had led to the transformation of the surrounding ocean into an “unofficial dumping ground”.

Speakers also underscored the need to transfer information and best practices at the international level in order to help all countries implement international agreements, such as the Basel Convention on transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.  The representative of Algeria, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developed countries and China, said the international community should support the efforts of developing countries through the exchange of information and best practices, and by implementing international agreements such as the Basel Convention.  He called for the conclusion of negotiations on the payment of compensation for damages, in accordance with that treaty.  Another factor to consider was the high cost of treatment facilities, which impeded sustainable waste management in developing countries.

Echoing statements by the expert panellists, several delegates emphasized the importance of effective education to promote awareness of responsible waste management among everyday people.  They also suggested the usefulness of fighting stigma and raising the appeal of waste as an energy source, as in the case of biogas.  Better yet, one speaker said, advocating zero waste, “the best waste is the one that has not been produced”.

Others addressed the need for effective local governance, with one speaker noting that in Africa, the “monster” of waste management highlighted infrastructure and land-use planning methods to cope with urban growth.  Due to lack of access to sanitation, the urban poor were often subjected to unhygienic conditions in their settlements, and prone to air- and water-borne epidemics. 

Highlighting advances in his own country, the representative of Canada described the “extended producer responsibility” project, through which responsibility for waste management extended well beyond production, a process currently under consideration for lamps containing mercury.

Delegates also touched on national legislative instruments, such as the deposit law on beverage containers in Israel.  The country’s representative said landfill levies required operators to pay a levy for every ton of waste.  There was also a tyre recycling law and, most recently, a draft packaging law, which would impose direct responsibility on manufacturers and importers for collecting and recycling the packaging waste from their products.  Revenue from those taxes funded local recycling and recovery projects, she said.

A representative of the non-governmental organizations major group said the low profile of waste management in the United Nations system was worrying, and pointed out that it was not mentioned in the Millennium Development Goals.  If allowed to continue, poor waste management would hurt vulnerable groups most ‑‑ children, slum dwellers and indigenous and rural peoples who hosted landfills and other types of disposal facilities on their lands.

Mr. CONNETT added that, in terms of cooperation, the international community could help with the marketing of recycling efforts.  However that required better organization, education and industrial design.  He also emphasized the importance of cooperation between Governments and citizens, saying it was the only way to achieve sustainable waste management.  In reference to the 3 “Rs” -- reduce, recycle, reuse -- he suggested the addition of three more:  research, redesign and responsibility.  Research, he noted, was needed to develop education on reversing learned consumption trends and should involve more input from academia.  The way in which products were made should be redesigned as part of efforts to achieve long-term sustainability.  Moreover, clear definitions of individual, community, academic and industrial responsibility were required, he said.

Participating in the discussion were the representatives of Algeria (on behalf of the Group of 77 and China), Antigua and Barbuda (on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States), European Union, Egypt (on behalf of the African Group), Australia, Nepal, Canada, Indonesia, United States, Turkey, Colombia, Switzerland, Norway, China, Israel, Iran, and the Russian Federation.

Also speaking were representatives of the non-governmental organization and women major groups.

First Thematic Discussion on Mining

DAVID O’CONNOR, Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, presented the report of the Secretary-General on mining (document E/CN.17/2010/7), noting that demand for ores and minerals was growing rapidly, despite the recent economic crisis.  Reserves and supplies were increasingly concentrated in developing countries, which offered opportunities.  However, there were also challenges as production resulted in the increasing consumption of resources, mostly energy and water for extraction and processing, amid growing pollution and waste generated by the extraction process.

While the mining sector generated large revenues for Governments, it had a limited impact on economic growth and poverty eradication, he said.  Large-scale mining had weak links with the economy, while artisanal and small-scale mining provided livelihoods for millions of people in developing countries, though it carried environmental and health risks.  The environmental impact of large-scale mining included pollution of water sources, large-scale land use and site contamination.  Its social effects included weak application of prior informed consent, conflict with communities, forced resettlement and precarious working conditions entailing exposure to mercury and cyanide.

Conflicts had also arisen over control of mineral resources and revenues, he said, adding that there were debates about the transparency in the flow of resources between Governments and mining companies.  Major international multi-stakeholder initiatives, including the Kimberley Process and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, demanded more transparency, though the latter remained voluntary and did not apply to revenue allocation.

Noting that many countries lacked the capacity to negotiate with mining companies and enforce regulations, he said they had received inadequate compensation for environmental damage.  Corporate social and environmental activities had become more integrated into mining companies, but there was a need for stronger governmental capacities to apply consistently high social and environmental standards, he stressed.  There was also a need to strengthen the building blocks of governance and to help Governments make the most of their mineral resources by creating stronger links between the mining sector and the broader economy while investing in human development.  It was also necessary to decouple economic growth from the extraction of mineral and to invest in economic diversification.

MOHAMMED ALAHRAF ( Libya), Vice Chairperson of the Commission and Moderator of the discussion, said that, from sand for road construction to rare earth elements used in the latest green technology, the extraction of minerals and metals was essential for modern living.  The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation called for action to address the environmental, health and social effects and benefits of mining, minerals and metals throughout their life-cycle, and emphasized the need for enhanced participation by stakeholders, including local and indigenous communities.  There was also a need to foster sustainable mining practices by providing financial, technical and capacity-building support for developing and transition countries.

He said that in order to review progress and identify barriers and constraints, while enhancing the contribution of mining to sustainable development, it might be worth considering what policies were needed to help ensure that the sector contributed to long-term prosperity and greater economic diversification.  One could also ask how the contribution of artisanal and small-scale mining to sustainable livelihoods could be maximized.  There was also a question as to whether mining companies were doing enough to improve their environmental and social performance, he said.

The panellists were Patrick Chevalier, Director, Strategic Outreach and Partnerships Division, Natural Resources Canada, host of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development; and Juana Kuramoto Huaman, an economist and consultant.

Mr. CHEVALIER said there was a perception that mining was inconsistent with sustainable development, that minerals were finite resources with little benefits for communities, that mining could lead to conflicts, and that it left a large environmental footprint.  That negative focus had caused institutions and donors to walk away from the sector, he said, pointing out, however, that while investment in mining continued to grow, developing countries lacked the capacity to manage the sector.

Most mining took place in developed and emerging countries, where it had been used as a platform for economic and social development, he said.  While that demonstrated that the sector could contribute to development, the challenge was good governance.  Tensions were inevitable if society did not have the means to manage mining properly.  Donors should therefore return to capacity-building for mineral extraction, he said, adding that mining could be an engine for growth and employment.  It could also lead to improved infrastructure. 

Good governance would focus on mining activities throughout the life-cycle, from investment, throughout extraction to remedial environment measures, he said.  Sustainable mining was about generating benefits and transforming the capital generated into assets that could be used by society.  There was a need for sustainable development partnerships with donors to develop capacity.  National Governments needed robust mine ministries, he said, emphasizing also that mining companies must have synergies with Governments and local communities.

He said Canada and South Africa had established the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining to improve the contribution of mining to sustainable development, which was a good example of a useful partnership.  The Forum worked in close cooperation with other organizations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Bank.  Over the last five years, it had developed a policy framework for mining that represented a compendium of best practices and lessons learned, he said, stressing that the way forward was to build on successes and learn from failures.

Ms. KURAMOTO HUAMAN, agreeing that the problem in mining was good governance, said that in some regions of Peru the mining industry had caused conflicts, and some local communities were not allowing any new mining operations.  There were also conflicts between indigenous people and informal miners.  Although mining companies wished to maintain the legal status quo, they had established voluntary contributions to communities, while retaining control of project funding and implementation.  While local governments demanded control over funds, they lacked the necessary capacities.  The central Government was overwhelmed by the general situation and did not know how to facilitate the dialogue between actors, she said, adding that all that had led to communities and local groups taking extreme positions and an escalation of violence.

She said the percentage of mining revenues that went to regional and local governments had increased, but varied widely between mineral and non-mineral producing regions.  In some regions, the revenues were spent on useless, expensive projects owing to a lack of capacities in local communities, she said, noting that regions with the most resources performed worst.  Mining industries spent mostly on transport, but some projects had little development impact.  Larger projects that could have an impact remained in the “study phase” because of difficult regulations, she added.  Local authorities had little knowledge of procedures and were therefore ineffectual.  There was also limited coherence between development plans and proposed projects, and an absence of priorities.  The State should therefore increase its presence and provide guidance to local authorities, she said, stressing also the need for agreements between mining companies and communities, and for accountability mechanisms.

Interactive Dialogue

During the ensuing dialogue, speakers from developing countries emphasized that, although mineral resources could catalyse broad-based growth and development, the equitable distribution of benefits was a challenge because developing countries lacked the financial and technological capacity for extraction and often conceded to skewed contracts, resulting in wholesale mining development and unfair returns for Governments.

Unless rooted in long-term development imperatives, mining would operate as an enclave, isolated from the national socio-economic aspirations of developing countries and their peoples, delegates said, calling for measures to optimize the links between mining and the domestic economy.  There was also a need for greater transparency on the part of both Governments and the private sector, he said, adding mining revenues should provide a positive boost for development.

The Minister for the Environment of Guatemala said there was a widespread rejection of mining in Latin America, which sometimes led to violence, because of its environmental impact -- which was often greater than the economic benefits -– and the impact on local cultures.  Behaviour codes looked good on paper, but were not implemented, he added.

Other speakers described the negative effects of mining on the environment and biodiversity, as well as the mining companies’ treatment of women and use of child labour, noting that the sector employed an estimated 1 million children.  The industry often destroyed the environment in which indigenous peoples lived, while mineworkers faced special hazards due to inadequate occupational safety and health standards.  Dependence on mining in African countries had resulted in instability, and mining itself was unsustainable, as it extracted a finite resource, some speakers said.

However, some participants pointed out that in countries with good governance, mining had reduced poverty and offered opportunities for employment, training and the development of local communities.  Of key importance in that regard was a good partnership between Governments, mining companies, civil society and local communities.

They emphasized that mining had contributed to the economic prosperity of indigenous peoples and the industry was important to food security as the agrarian sector depended on minerals for nitrates.  One speaker said many countries had escaped the “resource curse” because they had implemented a clear and consistent regulatory regime at the national and local levels.

In order to address the numerous problems caused by mining, especially in developing countries, many speakers stressed that the mining industry should reduce its carbon footprint by recycling resources used in extraction processes, such as water and chemicals, noting that only 5 per cent of metals were recycled worldwide.  Sustainable mining practices should be based on sound scientific and engineering practices throughout the whole life-cycle of mining, from exploration through extraction to closure and post closure.  The State could have better control over the mining industry and developing countries could establish industries that used the extracted products.

Ms. KURAMOTO HUAMAN, responding to questions and comments, said that recommendations made should be monitored by Governments and United Nations bodies in order to influence the behaviour of both companies and countries.  Diversifying economies depended on mining required good governance and the transfer of technology.  The mining sector’s relationship with industrial and other sectors should be strengthened and lessons learned from other countries applied.

Mr. CHEVALIER, answering a question about the differential treatment that mining revenues enjoyed in comparison with other revenues, said the underlying issue was how to manage a sudden and substantial flow of revenues resulting from mining, mostly in local communities.  That was a matter of good governance, he reiterated, noting that the international community could influence mining activities so as to contribute to poverty reduction and development by forging partnerships in order to build capacity in a coordinated way, especially at the local level.  Mining could create side activities and benefits which could benefit diversification, he said, adding that it also created opportunities for developing human capacities that could be applied to other economic activities.  However, a coordinated economic strategy was of key importance.

Participating in the discussion were the representatives of Indonesia (on behalf of the Group of 77 and China), Guatemala, European Union, Lebanon (on behalf of the Arab Group), Nigeria (on behalf of the African Group), China, France, United States, Canada, Australia, Ghana, Libya, Chile, Senegal, Switzerland, Israel and Bolivia.

Representatives of the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme also delivered statements.

The session also heard from the indigenous people, science and technology, and business and industry major groups.

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For information media • not an official record