Commission on Sustainable Development

Nineteenth Session

3^rd Meeting (PM)

Commission on Sustainable Development Briefed on Working Group Negotiations

 

Meeting briefly at the end of the first week of its annual two-week session, the Commission on Sustainable Development was urged by its Chair to do its utmost — and perhaps go even further — to reach the goal of shaping critical global policies on transport; chemicals; waste management; mining; and a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns.

“The fact is we have to do more,” Commission Chair László Borbély, Minister of Environment and Forests of Romania, told the 53-member body following a status update from the Co-Chairs of its working groups on negotiations for the outcome document it plans to adopt when its three-day high-level segment concludes on 13 May.

With only two working days left before the start of that segment, he said a “tremendous effort was needed to achieve a successful outcome.  After the first week of negotiations, the draft negotiating text had grown from 25 to 55 pages and he called on delegations to concentrate on the most important decisions that they must make, while finding flexibility for less essential ones.

“It is our collective responsibility to make the results of CSD-19 work, not only in New York, but especially in its implementation at the national and regional level,” he said, challenging delegates to use the weekend to open their minds to be flexible and innovative next week.

Eduardo R. Meñez, Commission Vice-Chair and Co-Chair of the working group on mining and transport, said the group had held two meetings on, and completed one full reading of, the text’s section on mining.  While none of the paragraphs in that section had been fully cleared, some progress had been made.  Moreover, no major disagreements on the main issues had emerged and delegations had been meeting both in and outside of the working group’s formal sessions to work out remaining differences.

He said that, in the area of transport, three sessions had been held to date.  While the transport section was comprised of only 14 paragraphs, it was “very substantive” and included many policy options.  The first reading had been completed, and 11 of the 14 paragraphs had been closely examined, and there was clear convergence on the main policy issues.  Nonetheless, more time would be needed next week for consultations and he hoped that delegations taking part in both thematic areas would continue to make good use of their time outside of the formal sessions in order to agree on common language.

Silvano Vergara Vasquez (Panama), Commission Vice-Chair and Co-Chair of the working group on chemicals, interlinkages, cross-cutting issues and means of implementation, said the first reading of the section on interlinkages and cross-cutting issues had been concluded, along with the second reading of the chapeau.  While reporting good progress on reaching consensus to clear bracketed text, he noted that at least three sessions would still be needed on that section and urged delegations to meet outside of the formal meetings to find agreement on difficult issues.

Turning to the section on chemicals, he noted the working group was two paragraphs shy of a full first reading.  He estimated another three or four meetings were likely needed to complete the second reading and suggested contact groups might be established to deal with some issues.

Andrew Goledzinowski (Australia), Commission Vice-Chair and Co-Chair of the working group on the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on sustainable consumption and production, said five sessions had been held on the 10-Year Framework and a full second reading was nearly complete.  The text had roughly doubled in length from the original five pages, although some delegations had made suggestions for substantial cuts.

Welcoming offers for intersessional drafting meetings, he reported that no consensus had yet emerged on the most critical issues, including the structure, funding and status of programmes for the 10-Year Framework.  However, the tenor of the negotiations remained positive, with delegations demonstrating their determination to produce a 10-Year Framework at the Commission’s current session.  To that end, he voiced hope that quicker progress could be made on the less critical paragraphs and noted the general consensus that the framework should be agreed on before the opening of the high-level segment.

Abdelghani Merabet (Algeria), Commission Vice-Chair and Co-Chair of the working group on waste management and the preamble, said three sessions had been devoted to the issue of waste management.  The first reading of the text on that thematic issue — which had grown from 58 to 101 paragraphs — had been completed, but over two thirds must still be covered in its second reading.  Overall, he said, there was broad consensus on the main issues relevant to waste management and its relationship to the three pillars of sustainable development.

Continuing, he said one three-hour session had been devoted to the text of the draft resolution’s preamble.  A first and second reading of the text’s 39 paragraphs had been completed, and there were now a total of 62 paragraphs.  The degree of convergence on the preamble was high, as much of its language had previously been agreed upon, he said.

When the floor was opened to comments from major groups, a representative of indigenous peoples and women noted that both groups were victims of unsustainable development practices and stressed that the Commission must deliver a robust framework to remedy the disastrous legacy of mining.  Outcomes that fell below international human rights standards were unacceptable, she said.  Among other things, the text must retain references to uranium mining.  In addition, the 10-Year Framework must have clear targets and an explicit outline for a 2-year review.

A representative of non-governmental organizations said that, in order to make sustainable development relevant, “it must include the people”.  A mechanism must be included to ensure civil society was heard at every level.  Sustainable development policies must be based on the principles of inclusive decision-making, participation and ownership at all levels.  Additionally, ethics and strong values were critical to creating a world where inhabitants could obtain their basic rights.

A representative speaking for business and industry, farmers and the scientific and technological community said the 10-Year Framework must be a collaborative process and would benefit from the input of the major groups.  He stressed that Governments must increase targeted investments in the priority areas.  Also, education was a prerequisite for innovative solutions.  The farming community emphasized the need for ensuring food security.  Highlighting the role of sustainable consumption and production patterns in that regard, he said post-harvest losses and food waste among consumers must be reduced.  For its part, the scientific and technological community stressed the role that advances in science and technology would play in creating future solutions.  Meanwhile, business and industry underlined the role of clean technologies and stressed that transparency and the fight against corruptive processes was also paramount.

At the meeting’s outset, the Chairman informed the Commission that Mr. Meñez would not be able to continue to serve in his capacity of Vice-Chair.  The Commission elected, by consensus, Yvette Banzon-Abalos ( Philippines) to replace him.

The Commission will reconvene in plenary at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 May, for another update on the negotiations.

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For information media • not an official record