Rio + 20

The focus of the Conference “will include the following themes to be discussed and refined during the preparatory process: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and the institutional framework for sustainable development”.

Many delegations emphasized the need for a stronger institutional framework for sustainable development with a sharper policy perspective and giving greater emphasis to implementation.

This prepcom immediately followed CSD 18 that concluded May 14, 2010.  Hectic discussions also took place as to how to approach this major event in a coherent manner.  The next preparatory meeting for the 2012 Conference will be in March 2011.

CSD takes place in a two year cycle and this year was the Review Year and the Review Session focused on the following thematic issues:

·      Transport

·      Chemicals

·      Waste Management (Hazardous & Solid Waste)

·      Mining

·      10 Year Framework of Programs on Sustainable Consumption & Production Patterns

The Chair’s Summary was published in two parts, Part I and Part II.  The high-level segment of the Commission took place from 12 – 14 May 2010.  In the opening remarks, the Chairman stressed that to harmonize economy, society and environment, it is necessary to build more just, inclusive, equitable and lasting development models, based on environmental justice, bioethics and a cross-generational vision. He highlighted the importance of means of implementation and expressed his view that CSD-18 and 19 can strengthen conventions and enhance existing good practices related to transport, integrated management of chemicals and waste.  

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s stated in the concluding session, “As you are aware, sustainable development is among my highest priorities for 2010.  That is why I will be convening a Millennium Development Goals Summit here in September.  We need to accelerate momentum for meeting the Goals.  We also need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable countries and communities.”

Women’s group called for gender equality in sustainable development, Children and Youth stressed awareness, education and empowerment, and Indigenous peoples noted the overexploitation of natural resources and NGOs called for an organic change in society’s structure.

Based on the conclusions of the Review Session this year policies will be made at CSD 19 in 2011 on the above mentioned thematic topics.

For more information and for Chair’s summary Part I and II please visit http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/dsd_aofw_mg/mg_csd18.shtml

Sixteenth Session
May 5 – 16, 2008

Philo Morris at the  16th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development

The sixteenth session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 16) was convened at the UN headquarters in New York, from 5 – 16 May 2008. After the Earth Summit of June 1992, CSD was set up in December 1992 to follow up on the Summit’s agreements.  In all, 680 Major Group representatives from 126 organizations participated in the event.  Along with the official sessions consisting of Thematic and Regional discussions taking place was the Partnerships Fair, Learning Center events and numerous side events.

The cluster of themes for the implementation cycle 2008-2009 – review session are as follows: 

(a)    Agriculture                           (d) Drought
(b)    Rural development            (e) Desertification
(c)    Land                                       (f) Africa

CSD 16 covering the vast terrain of agriculture, rural development, land, drought,, desertification and Africa was happening at an appropriate time when the global community was facing a human-induced crisis of food prices that are spinning out of control.  The session surfaced critical global concerns. 

Chair’s Summary – Part I and Part II:  In the second week the Chair’s Summary came out in two parts.  G-77 said that the summary needs to be strengthened with references to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities; international cooperation; means of implementation; climate change; agricultural infrastructure; impact of drought; security of land tenure of indigenous people and women; terms of trade; capacity building; technology transfer; science, research and education and water, etc. 

Ministers identified several issues that should be addressed in the seventeenth session in 2009 including poverty eradication in developing countries, rural development, meeting commitments to financing for development, the food crisis, a global development partnership, donor support, environmental governance, improved market access for agricultural exports of developing countries, and the preservation of biodiversity. 

The Food Crisis:  Many governments spoke about the causes of current food crisis.  Mexico reaffirmed its commitment to invest in the land in order to improve their agricultural sector and to promote economically sustainable development.  Many delegates from the developing countries asked for increased Official Development Assistance (ODA) and some brought out the problem of debt servicing and also touched on fair mechanism for trade. 

Dialogue with Major Groups:  In the dialogue with Major Groups women said that women farmers need additional knowledge and access to agricultural services, and drew attention to the high rate of suicide among farmers. 
Closing Plenary:  At the Closing plenary session local authorities stated that rural-to-urban migration might become a “human tsunami” if proper action is not taken.  As part of the closing statement NGOs read out a poem on Africa and called upon the delegates to move from shop talk to workshop and called for result in action oriented policies on the most important issues identified at CSD 16 on bio-fuels, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and nanotechnology.  For a copy of the poem please contact MMS UN office.  For more information on each of the topics covered please visit http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/review.htm

Poem recited by the CSD 16 NGOs at the Closing Session
Africa...                                                      

Land of many nations, many colours and biodiversity
You are part of the world, Africa!
See a partner in Africa!
Fight against drought, fight against desertification,
We can overcome the food crisis;
Land of the Nile, land of the Niger
Let's protect our waters!
Get out the tools… it is time to cultivate the land
Hear the cries of the mothers and daughters of Africa
Hear the cries of the women of the world
 … HUM – OHO!
Let us build Africa, land of natural resources!
Another world is possible
Delegates, think of your children
Tomorrow knocks on the door
We cannot wait for another crisis
Wake, wake, wake
This is no time for sleep!
Together we can save the world!
Today!

The first preparatory meeting of the Conference on Sustainable Development saw lively debate and interactive exchanges between UN Member States, UN agencies and Major Groups on their understanding of what a “green economy” means in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.

The objective of the 2012 Conference is “to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges”.

The UN is organizing the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2012 also in Rio, to Commemorate the 20^th anniversary of the 1992 conference called Rio + 20.  The first meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, took place at the UN Headquarters in New York from 17 – 19 May 2010.  

At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the international community adopted Agenda 21, an unprecedented global plan of action for sustainable development. Ten years later, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, was adopted highlighting concrete steps for better implementing Agenda 21. However, the progress has been slow in achieving internationally agreed goals, and challenges remain in achieving the goals of the three pillars of sustainable development, particularly in the context of the current global crises.