Network 2002 – May 2002 Issue

Contents:
Earth Summit 2002 Prep. Comm. III report
Editorial
News
Prep. Comm. III views
Prep. Comm. IV preview
Prep. Comm. IV Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues
Convention on Biological Diversity
Meet the International Advisory Board
Conference, Events, Diary Dates
What’s in next months Network 2002

2,500 
Characters in Search of an Author
  In this issue of Network several key players in the Johannesburg process give their perspectives on the events of PrepCom III in New York and the prospects for the final PrepCom in Bali and the Summit itself in Johannesburg.
  Like any good five act drama this one remains full of suspense at this stage. The first two acts in New York set the scene, introduced the actors and outlined the plot. Now at this mid-point of the drama the plot is thickening, the nerves of the audience are being stretched and their grasp of the main threads tested. Nobody can yet see how the denouement and resolution will work out in the remaining two acts. Have we an epic drama or a tragedy on our hands? Have we a hit, or are we heading for a flop? Will key players muff their lines or will it all come right on the night? 
  Some people were full of despondency at the end of the third PrepCom as the negotiators failed to complete their analysis of the Chairman’s text, and as political consensus and leadership seemed to be absent. But for others, including some of the wisest old hands who contribute to this issue of Outreach, there is no reason to be despairing of the process at this stage. Admittedly preparations before PrepCom III had been inadequate, and progress was slowed down further by the new rules restricting late and weekend sittings. But a good deal was accomplished more informally. The South Africans tabled a paper towards the end of the second week, which indicated a much more streamlined and action-oriented way of structuring the text. There are good hopes that the Chairman and the Bureau will now produce a much more manageable and well-centred new text in good time for consideration before Bali. 
  Meanwhile great efforts are being made to shape up the innovative Type II partnerships and projects that will be much more action-oriented and not dependent on full negotiated agreement by all the countries of the UN, and to ensure that they fit well into the overall framework of Type I agreement. Clearly such projects and programmes cannot substitute for full agreement between countries, and the basic Type I negotiations must establish the overall framework. But within that there should be plenty of room for individual schemes, projects, partnerships and programmes to complement and fill out the basic agreement, and to populate it with real implementation work in action.
  At another level again preliminary ideas were beginning to circulate in New York for the political declaration. Political declarations are always difficult because it is hard to establish what they add to fuller negotiated texts. They ought to embody essence of top level political commitment that gives life, energy and commitment to more detailed policy analysis in longer text. They should not just be a précis of the key points from the longer negotiation, but should respond in a more political and sensitive way to the most widespread concerns about the processes of development and globalisation which are causing most stress and anxiety in different parts of the world. 
  Stakeholder Forum’s own activities during PrepCom III paralleled these three main themes. Sustainability Forum developed with its partners several ideas about the structure of agreement and action that would make for a more action-oriented outcome on each theme. We were glad to find that our thinking was close to that of the South Africans on this aspect. At the same time we lobbied hard for specific and concrete actions on a number of the key subjects including sustainable production and consumption, sustainable cities and communities, energy and climate change, biodiversity and natural resources.
  On Type II Stakeholder Forum produced a lengthy briefing paper setting out suggestions for the kind of criteria which Type II projects should satisfy and how they might best be linked to Type I agreements and action programmes. At the same time informal preparations for our own Implementation Conference for stakeholders at Johannesburg proceeded apace. Increasingly it is appearing that the Implementation Conference should be an important occasion for helping to shape Type II outputs and generating new ones to carry forward beyond Johannesburg.
  On the political declaration Stakeholder Forum in consultation with many of its partners endeavoured to distil some key elements that should appear in the political declaration. The opinion poll of stakeholders worldwide, which is reported in this issue, gives further support for some of the key points, and emphasises particularly the importance of addressing the themes of globalisation, corporate responsibility and trade and the environment in a constructive way. Within the poverty debate the poll underlines the particular importance widely attached to water and sanitation issues in a Johannesburg context.
  Our suggestions were that a good political declaration ought to include at least the following elements
  A persuasive vision. Reaffirmation of the Rio and Millennium Declarations, and perhaps endorsement of the inspiring new vision of the Earth Charter.
  Commitment to challenging goals and targets. Reaffirmation of the Millennium targets with one or two additions (e.g. a strong target for sanitation for all to complement the Millennium target of fresh water for all), and some intermediate steps to prompt early action on the way to the Millennium goals set for 2015. Full ratification and implementation of all the Multilateral environmental agreements.
  Making sustainable development a central goal for all countries embodied in strong sustainable development strategies as the unifying framework for guiding action and priorities at national and local level.
  Commitment to strong support for developing countries in the particular challenges which they face in achieving sustainability through fairer North South relations on trade, investment and aid.
  Much stronger commitment to education and capacity building for sustainability.
  Strengthened arrangements for international governance for sustainability, and for monitoring and guiding progress.
  Sometimes in New York we seemed to have 2,500 characters all jostling helplessly in search of an author. At other times, more noisily, we had 2,500 authors, all in search of actors to respond to their bidding. Now as we move towards Bali and Johannesburg we wait once again for the political leadership and the United Nations magic which will turn the PrepCom’s fragments of script and purpose into a harmonious chorus singing and acting out a single sustainability script
Derek Osborn
Stakeholder Forum Chairman

Editorial
  What a mess! There was clutter everywhere. Of the 2 weeks, it took a good 3 days just to get started. I am, of course, reflecting on the last Prep. Comm., earlier this month. Delegates really should have been reminded to leave their baggage at the departure lounge, because the custom’s search which was the first week (trying in vain to find anything to build on from the last 10 years work) merely unearthed dirty laundry. Most of which was aired behind closed doors as the major negotiating blocks (G77, EU and to a lesser extent JUSCANZ) spent much of week one just trying to agree a position. 
  Once the process got going though, there was no stopping it. No stopping it, that is, from descending back to the same old route of reaffirmation, recommitments and redoubled efforts to, well, as far as I could tell, produce more text. Despite encouragement by the chair to focus on action points, governments excelled themselves in displaying their astounding ability to move ahead without expressing the merest hint of using its imagination. 
  Too harsh? Perhaps, but (and I really don’t want to sound like a ‘never satisfied whining NGO’ nay Multi-Stakeholder organisation here) after 10 years, shouldn’t we expect more? Certainly not less. Particularly considering the number of conversations I had in the corridors with governments, stakeholders and UN officials all expressing their exasperation and disillusionment. 
  That was until towards the end of the second week. Having had enough, the South African’s tabled an alternative, unofficial, non-paper to the (still being negotiated) chair’s text, which by this stage had strayed over 200 sides! It proved to be concise, structured, considered and action orientated. Its impact gave space to the Bureau to push the text under negotiation off the edge of the table into the (recycling - well done Youth) bin. Halleluiah.
  So, between now and Bali the Bureau will be plucking the interesting bits out of the bin, guided by the South African innovation to offer us something of more substance. Hopefully the outcome will be something a little more fitting for Ministers (let alone heads of state) which tables action to be taken now, rather than recommitments to actions drafted 10 years ago (believe me, there is a big difference).
  We live in hope.
  Elsewhere the G8 Environment Ministers squabbled predictably on climate change before agreeing a well-crafted, if un-ambitious text for the Summit. The Convention on Biodiversity produced international guidelines on genetically resources, and governments delicately manoeuvred around cultural differences at the Commission on Population and Development.
  Next month we indeed head to Bali, where governments have their last chance to produce something befitting a Heads of State meeting. The needs of future generations has never seemed so tangible.
T. Middleton
Editor
News, News, News
G8 Environment Ministers Meeting
  As a precursor to G8 Heads of State meeting taking place in June, Environment Ministers from the worlds eight richest nations met in Banff, Canada from April 12th to 14th.
  The meetings formal agenda focussed on hammering out a workable agenda for August’s Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Agenda. However, one unofficial issue dominated early proceedings as Environment Ministers set aside an informal breakfast to discus it - Climate Change. 
  Unsurprisingly the discussions split into 3 distinct groups, with Europe on one side, firmly behind the Kyoto Protocol, apposing the US on the other with Canada sat between the two. As hosts of the meeting, Canada played a pivotal role having delayed, but not ruled out, ratifying the Protocol whilst leaning towards supporting the unilateral efforts of the US to addressing greenhouse gas emissions.
  Seeking the middle ground Canada’s Minister Anderson extolled the virtues of the Private sector, not just in terms of climate change but for the Johannesburg process as a whole, citing the ‘new reality’ of development aid. UK Minister Beckett supported this line by dismissing criticism from environmentalists that this would lead to the environment being sacrificed for corporate interests; ‘That’s absolute rubbish. Sustainable Development cannot possibly work if its only being delivered by governments or public sector bodies’ she said.
  Whilst the meeting sought to move on through its agenda, the climate change issue persisted. The EU Environment Commissioner, Margaret Wallstrom, summed up the debate commenting on the tension between the EU and US, ‘but at the same time we are trying to identify areas where we can cooperate, where we can find constructive dialogue, and that includes working on science, completing the knowledge gaps that still exist’.
  One of the meetings key purposes was to deliver a Ministerial text to the Johannesburg Summit. In his closing comments Minister Anderson highlighted some of the central themes of the statement. These included ensuring that the summit produced a ‘Plan of Action that will integrate environmental priorities with economic and social development.’ On issues, the meeting prioritised a focussed list again highlighted in Anderson’s address, including the sustainable management of water resources, some clever language on energy efficiency dealing with the approaches of all on climate change, environment and health and finally Governance both at the domestic and international levels.
  June’s Heads of State meeting will move forward, focussing on three priorities: Strengthening global economic growth; building a new partnership for Africa’s development; and fighting terrorism. Additionally, leaders will review progress in three further areas related to global poverty and the Millennium Development goals. Those being: Promoting universal primary education; fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases; and bridging the digital divide.
Contact: www.g8.gc.ca/kan_docs/20020414-e.asp
UN Commission on Population 
  Convening its 35th Session, the Commission on Population and development met at UN Headquarters from April 1-5th. This years agenda focussed on Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health, with a special reference to HIV/AIDS.
  Much of the meeting focussed on organisational and structural management of the issues. Particularly the importance of a comprehensive interconnection among the agendas of UN bodies.  This was stressed by participants for both the global and national levels as the meeting focussed on delivery of the Commissions Programme of Action.
  Behind this seem to be problems of funding, as the main cause of the lack of acceleration of the processes that provide coherent and global reproductive health services.
  In the opinion of some developing countries who suffer with a strident number of cases, the HIV/AIDS issue was lightly approached. Their concern also related to the lack of resources available to deal with this problem. The expansion of and access to contraceptive services should continue as well as the mobilisation of the necessary resources, funds and political commitment to implement programmes.
  Part of the work of the Commission at its session also highlighted the link between the micro aspects of reproductive health and the marco issues of development. Income inequalities have been associated with health inequalities, demonstrating that reproductive health is a vital component of health services in the broader context of poverty reduction. Here again, drawing attention to the need for integrated agenda’s and approaches by the international community and its agencies in dealing with overarching issues, such as poverty elimination.
  Concluding, several participants expressed opinions that certain issues should have received more attention. This included  the importance of migration as a critical factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS and the thorough discussion of cultural bias against the implementation of sexual and reproductive rights.

Earth Summit 2002 Online Poll Results:
  Stakeholder Forum have been hosting online debates for the past month, helping to shape the priorities for Earth Summit 2002. Below are the results of the first 2 polls.
What is the most critical Poverty issue?
•	Water & Sanitation:				44%
•	Employment:					3%
•	Food Security:					23%
•	Energy:					12%
•	Health - HIV/AIDS				18%
What is the most important Globalisation issue?
•	Foreign Direct Investment:			5%
•	Corporate Responsibility:			18%
•	Human Rights:					23%
•	Labour Standards:				2%
•	Corporate Regulation:				8%
•	Info. & Comms. Technology			8%
•	Trade & Environment  Agree. Coherence		34%
  Two new Polls will be run during May. Check our website to register your vote: www.earthsummit2002.org

Prep. Comm. III Outcomes & Analysis
  As you have probably already seen elsewhere in this issue, the outcomes of the 3rd Earth Summit Prep. Comm. seemed to leave much to be desired. Here we invite a key Bureau member, Government Delegate and Stakeholder to share their views of the process from the eye of the WSSD Storm

A Perspective on WSSD Prepcom III
Richard Ballhorn, Vice Chair - Canada
  The goals of Prepcom III were to complete the detailed implementation text, to begin detailed discussions on the sustainable development governance text and to allow delegates the opportunity to discuss and obtain more information on Type II initiatives. All of these goals were made more difficult to achieve by the new UN rules severely restricting the holding of evening and weekend negotiating sessions which resulted in the actual time available for the three Working Groups to meet being quite limited. Despite this constraint, substantial progress was made on the implementation text, initial discussions were held on the new sustainable development governance text and all delegates had a chance to pursue their particular interests and concerns regarding Type II initiatives. 
  As regards the implementation text, what had been a relatively short opening chairman’s text grew to more than 100 pages once all the national government proposals were compiled in a new text at the end of the first week. In the second week, the objective of the co-chairs in Working Group I and II was to negotiate agreed language or, which was more often the case, to obtain clear drafting instructions so that new text could be drafted by the Secretariat in cooperation with the co-chairs. During the course of the second week it became clear that there would not be time to draft, let alone discuss, a new version of the text. As a result, the Chairman was given a mandate to produce a new text in cooperation with the Bureau and the Secretariat that would be made available in early May. As well two extra days of discussion, May 25-26, were allocated to complete negotiations on the implementation text in Bali prior to the beginning of the fourth Prepcom on May 27. 
  Since Prepcom III, the Secretariat has produced a new text on all of the sections taken up by Working Groups I and II except section VIII on Africa. The co-chairs of Working Groups I and II have met with the Secretariat to clarify proposals, to eliminate duplication, to better organize the text and to make the language more action-oriented prior to the texts being made available to the Chairman. The Bureau will meet with the Chairman April 30 - May 1 to further discuss the texts before they are released by the Chairman in early May. 
  In the case of the section VIII on Africa, a new text only became available to all delegations in the middle of second week and was only the subject of a brief general discussion in Working Group II on the final day of the Prepcom with April 15th being set as the deadline for receipt of further comments. As a result the section of the new text is likely to be more in the nature of a compilation text that will require special attention in Bali if it is to be finalized there.  
  The sustainable development governance text is being redrafted by two co-chairs of Working Group III on the basis of the discussion at Prepcom III and written comments subsequently received. It will be one of the major subjects of discussion at the Fourth Prepcom. 
  The Leaders or Political Declaration will be the major item of discussion at the Fourth Prepcom in Bali but will likely only be finalized by leaders themselves in Johannesburg. The Declaration will build on the implementation text and will likely focus on trends, issues, initiatives and aspirations of particular interest to world leaders. The Chairman has asked myself and Vice Chair Ihab Gamaleldin to work on preparation of the Declaration. To this end we will likely be consulting with the various country groups in New York in the coming weeks in order to take initial soundings on the form and content of the Declaration prior to Bali. A brainstorming session may be held in New York after the new implementation texts are released and before New York-based delegates depart for Bali to further discuss the Declaration.      

The Road to Johannesburg: A Post-PrepCom 3 
Assessment
Jonathan Margolis
Head of U.S. PrepCom 3 Delegation
  As we look ahead to the Bali PrepCom, the world community is at a pivotal juncture as we attempt to shape a Summit that will help build results-oriented international partnerships to foster sustainable development.    
  Two key elements are central to achieving this vision:
·	A concise, action-oriented text: Despite the best efforts of the Bureau and all parties, we all agreed that, by the close of PrepCom 3, the text was becoming increasingly unworkable.  We look to the Chair, in cooperation with the Bureau and Secretariat, to produce a much shorter and more appropriate document that will enable us to complete our negotiations on this text in Bali.
In our view, we have already negotiated the essential blueprint for sustainable development in the form of Agenda 21, the internationally agreed development targets in the Millennium Declaration, the Monterrey Consensus and the outcome of Doha.  At Bali, we need to focus on agreeing to a concise text that accurately reflects this blueprint and moves us forward to action and on developing an appropriate framework in which to showcase the results-oriented sustainable development partnerships that can be brought forward by governments, civil society, and business groups.
 ·	Partnerships for implementation: We need to harness the energy of the Johannesburg Summit to encourage and support effective national efforts to foster sustainable development.    Johannesburg can and should be a forum for forging partnerships among governments, civil society groups, and the private sector to improve the lives of people in countries around the world.  If based on sound principles, these partnerships can address key sustainable development issues such as increasing access to water, energy, and education, protecting forests, restoring coastal zones, and increasing food security.  
We are interested in concrete discussions with those who are interested in working together to explore and develop partnerships that address these issues.  Thus far, we have been actively discussing potential partnerships with a variety of NGOs, business groups, and other governments.  We are eager to continue these conversations and begin new ones as well.
Additionally, a key to enhancing business and civil society participation in implementing sustainable development is building the foundation of good domestic governance in which free markets, sound institutions, and the rule of law are the norm.  In this regard, developed and developing countries must work together, alongside civil society and the private sector.
  The World Summit on Sustainable Development is a tremendous opportunity to further the new international consensus on sustainable development.  To succeed, we need to turn our attention towards implementation.  By agreeing on practical goals and forging partnerships that achieve concrete results, we can make Johannesburg a success.

 Trade Unions Look to Prepcom IV for
Commitments to Action 
Lucien Royer - ICFTU
  At Prepcom III last March, trade unionist delegates endeavoured to establish direct contact with every country delegation and discovered that many were anxious to move beyond text and into action, as were most stakeholders and international agencies. While we were disappointed that Precom III failed to yield a Report, we recognise this as a golden opportunity to create a framework for the WSSD that reflects this desire. We therefore propose that Prepcom IV focus on commitments to promote the following priorities: 
1. Partnerships and voluntary agreements amongst major groups, governments, and international agencies. Trade unions have negotiated thousands such instruments in the form of collective agreements, world-wide ‘framework agreements’, and joint projects with NGO’s and other groups in civil society. 
2. Partnerships for quality research and education to better understand and assess the social and employment impacts of change. 
3. Effective partnerships depend on capacity-building and sharing, and an inventory of resources and capabilities in countries, agencies and stakeholders would reveal enormous opportunity for building and sharing of these. Trade unions, with 165 million members in over 2 million worksites world-wide have much to offer in this regard..    
4. Prepcom IV must seek linkages and integration such as those proposed by trade unions for eco-labels, which link workplace activities with consumption marketing. Likewise, poverty eradication must be linked to economic and environmental planning, and occupational with public health, as proposed in the 1999 WHO Ministerial Declaration.
5. Good governance as a general theme for Prepcom IV, calls for the integration of sustainable development goals into all policies, practices and agreements governing trade, investment, financial decision-making, and corporate accountability. These should be guided by such international standards as ILO Conventions, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Corporations, GRI, and the Global Compact. 
6. Good governance demands an expanded role for government, with stronger regulatory systems, inspections, enforcement, and other instruments of public policy. The current focus on ‘public-private’ partnerships must be balanced with calls for stronger and more effective public institutions, especially at the local level.
7. This requires increased institutional provision for participatory decision-making and implementation, and trade unions propose models based on occupational health & safety programmes, that can link workplace action directly to consumer behavior. ‘Public/public partnerships’ are needed to increase capacity of local government to facilitate community participation. 
8. These intentions must be backed by concrete commitments at Prepcom IV. The ICFTU and TUAC are committed to encouraging the engagement of workers throughout the world to become engaged with employers and other stakeholders to support the outcomes of the WSSD. 
9. While trade unions will focus on concrete commitments at Prepcom IV, we recognise the importance of negotiated text as an outcome for the WSSD, and will do everything possible to encourage wording that that recognises the value of stakeholder involvement. A concrete commitment to social protection and participation requires attention to such instruments as the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles of Rights at Work. As well, social and employment impacts of change must be addressed by a New Deal for equitable transition and poverty eradication to ensure support for WSSD outcomes.   

Towards a New Dream?
Prep. Comm. IV

  "Two thirds of the peoples of the world go to bed hungry every night. They are undernourished, ill clothed, and shabbily clad. Many of them have no houses or beds… There is nothing new about poverty. What is new, however, is that we now have the resources to get rid of it."
Martin Luther King
  What can we hope from the Bali PrepCom?
  A new Chairs text (Programme of Action) will be released shortly. The end of the last PrepCom for Earth Summit 2002 (WSSD) saw G77 with the support of many other countries call for the withdrawal of the compilation text which had growth to over 100 pages. The third PrepCom was extremely frustrating for those of us who attended. It seemed painfully obvious what was needed but until the Wednesday of the second week when the South Africa Government tabled their 'non paper' no one seemed willing to take the political lead. The South African paper brought structure, substance and meaning to the PrepCom. Many countries had been calling for an action orientated text and the South African's showed what that might look like.  
  The Millennium Assembly has given us targets to work to, Monterrey has secured the pledges of funds and Johannesburg should be about defining the Programme of Action to deliver the targets. Can Bali define that Programme of Action in two and half weeks? It took Rio over eight weeks? Can it set incremental targets for 2005 and 2010?  Can it integrate globalisation questions into sectoral agendas such as water, energy, food security and health? Can it address the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders? In particular what is the global approach to ensuring that companies act in a sustainable way where ever they are working? 
  The recent G8 Environment Ministers see this through the promotion of  "Voluntary codes of conduct and initiatives like the OECD Guidelines for Multi-national Enterprisers, the Global Compact, the Global Reporting Initiative and the proposed London Principles can play an important role in promoting sustainable corporate practices." Friends of the Earth and other NGOs say this isn't enough and we need international regulation and they point to the numerous examples of companies who have misbehaved to back up their argument. It is obviously a critical issue for the Summit and represents a shift in thinking from 1992 when we saw the UN Centre for Transnationals closed down due to pressure from some companies.
  The Governance debate in working group three did not produce compilation text. It instead tried to get closer to what governments were looking for before it moved to this stage and it may in Bali find itself closer to agreement because of it. Some good ideas though have already found their way out of the text such as joint meetings between the different UN Commissions at Ministerial level but there is still much to play for in Bali. One issue that hasn't yet been addressed is the work programme for the UN Commission on sustainable Development from 2003-2007. In part this has been as it is unclear what the issues of the Programme of Action are. One possibility being discussed was to make 2003 an organizational meeting of the Commission and defer the work programme until then.
  The negotiation of the Political Declaration will be a major part of the Bali PrepCom and it is expected that Ministers will take a key role here. The Chairs of the Political Declaration were soliciting input from people during the third PrepCom and should produce some initial thoughts before we arrive at Bali.
  This brings us to the issue of Type 2's - partnerships. This is a great idea if we have an effective Programme of Action which tells a story on water, health etc. The type twos should then be indicative of how we are going to work together to deliver the POA. Type twos are potential the touch stone of the Summit. If we have a strong POA then they will flourish. If we have a weak one then they may become the focus for discontent as governments will have been seen to relinquish their responsibilities.
  Will PrepCom 4 be enough to deliver the above? I don't think so I would expect a PrepCom 4 bis either in July in New York or Johannesburg be extended to two and half weeks. Either way we need more time for build trust among the governments and between the governments and stakeholders to develop the right PoA. Johannesburg must be about action as everyone says but that will require funds and require all of us to start delivering what we promised in Rio, Cairo, Copenhagen, Beijing, Istanbul and Rome. We will be attempting to do this at a time when peace and security are foremost in the minds of many governments.   
  In 2000 Stakeholder Forum called for a New Deal between developed and developing countries that would include access to markets, debt relief and increased ODA. Some of that is happening through the new funds released from Monterrey, not enough but a beginning. With the recent developments in France and other European countries we need to balance the New Deal we need a New Dream. Our guiding force, to paraphrase William Beveridge, "should not be self interest or nationalism but the determination not to rest while any are condemned to want, disease, squalor, ignorance or unemployment". 
  Johannesburg should give us our marching orders - a better world, a fairer world, an equitable world  sustainable world.
Felix Dodds
Executive Director 
Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future

NGO’s 
to save the
World?
  After a one Prep. Comm. break, Stakeholders are back on the official programme at Prep. Comm. IV in Bali. Having watched from the sidelines and taken stock during Prep. Comm. III, what can we expect in Bali. Offering an NGO perspective Torleif Jonnasson of the global NGO Co-ordinating organisation, The ‘92 Group, unravels the plot so far.
  When Governments do not want to commit themselves to actions supporting further implementation of sustainable development-principles, they need a push from the civil society. Amongst NGO’s, some rather think Governments needs a kick. 
Whether a push or a kick, the second round of Multistakeholder Dialogues organised in connection to the WSSD-process will take place in Bali, to start off the fourth official preparatory-committee meeting. And the process seriously needs some kick-starting, to avoid another stalemate as experienced during PrepCom 3 last month. 
  With that in mind, the NGO’s are preparing inputs on the full range of issues needing to be addressed in the WSSD-process. As the first MSD was preceded by a dialogue-paper contributed by each major group, so is the second. A couple of versions of the second NGO-contribution have been circulated, but the final version is still underway. 
  Important as they are, words in documents are only one part of the process. Another part is the living voices articulating common and own points of views, and the Major Groups are trying to put together lists of people who will be part of actual dialogues. For many of the Groups these lists will only be indicative, as the NGO-community for instance will try to balance their physical participation by appointing their speakers from the full group of NGO's actually present in Bali.
  A central point for information on the NGO's preparations (including dialogue-papers and participants) is the website www.rio10.dk.
  Another point of for information is the official www.johannesburgsummit.org, where you can find the specific topics for the in total two-day dialogue, to take place from the afternoon Monday 27 until lunch Wednesday 29, planned to be: 
•	Sustainable Development Governance
•	Capacity Building for Sustainable Development
•	Major Groups' Framework for Partnership Initiatives
•	Major Groups' Views on Future Priorities
  As the process is not only about pushing and/or kicking, but as well about the direct participation of civil society and major groups, apart from being somewhat included in the official negotiations, a range of so-called Partnerships are supposed to be part of the Johannesburg-outcome. The idea is good. As sustainable development is not about top-down processes, ways to save the world includes horizontal and down-top co-operation. But amongst NGO’s suspicion is mounting on the issue of content and modalities of forthcoming partnerships. The presentation during PrepCom 3 by CropLife International turned out to be a prime example of how a partnership does not look. What is crucial to NGO's is that the Johannesburg-sanctioned Partnerships are supplementary to an intergovernmental, multilateral agreement, laying down a visionary plan of action for reaching sustainable development within a framework of deadlines, indicators and verification. Framing such a plan could be the concept of a "Global Deal", based on equity, rights, limits, justice, ethics, governance, transparency and access to information -- and not compromising existing agreements.
  The identification of specific Partnership-modalities is part of the PrepCom-preparations, and an interesting exercise is planned for one of the sessions of the MSD where consensus will be tried to be reached amongst the Major Groups on a set of minimum-modalities. 
  The rest of the MSD will be conducted in the usual way, but one might wonder if the usual suspects will be there? The MSD at PrepCom 4 seriously runs the risk of turning into a sideshow as informal intergovernmental meetings are planned to coincide with most of the dialogue-sessions. Not only will governments main focus be directed towards the informals, so will the seriously lobbying NGO's and other Major Groups' be. 
  NGO's ultimate common ambition is to save the world; question is how much closer the MSD's will bring us to that target. But side-show or not, the MSD's serves as an important focus for contributions and arena for presentations and discussions. If common agreements can be reached amongst some of the participants, and if significant outcomes survives in the ensuing intergovernmental negotiations, that could be part of the push come kick.

  Torleif Jonasson, the Danish '92 Group, together with Third World Network and Environment Liaison Centre International facilitating the NGO's participation in the WSSD Multistakeholder Dialogues.

Ministers Chart Global Course of Action on 
Bio-Diversity 
To 2010
  120 Ministers and Deputy Ministers left the Hague on the 19th April after determining a global course of action for Bio-diversity through until the end of the decade. Alongside this, the CBD confirmed the adoption of detailed guidelines on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing, an international work programme on forests, and guiding principles on combating alien invasive species.
  In their declaration Ministers resolved to "strengthen our efforts to put in to place measures to halt bio-diversity loss, which is taking place at an alarming rate, at the global, regional, sub-regional and national levels by the year 2010".
  The adoption of the guidelines confirmed should improve access for foreign companies, collectors and researchers to valuable genetic resources in return for sharing the benefits with the countries of origin and its communities. The guidelines also give advice to governments as how to set fair and practical conditions for users seeking genetic resources. They were essentially developed in response to a growing concern that the commercial and scientific gains realised from their genetic resources were being reaped by foreign bio-prospectors.
  The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Klaus Töpfer, under whose auspices the convention was adopted said, "Although voluntary, these new guidelines establish generally accepted norms that promise a much fairer, more collaborative approach to access and benefit sharing as regard to genetic resources,"
  "Contracts based on the guidelines will give bio-diversity rich countries additional incentives to conserve and sustainably use their resources." Said Hamdallah Zedan, Executive Secretary of the Convention.
  An example of such an access and benefit sharing contract was an agreement made in Costa Rica between Diversa Corp and the Costa Rican National Biodiversity Institute (INBio) during 1995, with subsequent renewal of the contract in 1998. 
  Under the terms of the agreements, INBio collects and collates samples using a mixture of its own technology and proprietary technology provided by Diversa. The guarantee is that INBio will not use this technology to collect or process samples for any other company. All the DNA sequences that INBio isolates for Diversa subsequently become Diversa's property, whereas all the micro-organisms remain the property of Costa Rica.
  Similar arrangements and programmes are also promoted by the Bonn Guidelines on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and equitable sharing of the Benefits out of their utilisation, which offer guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the various parties. These guidelines describe each of the steps involved in the process of obtaining access to genetic resources. To help continue to advance and further define the access and benefit sharing debate a working group has been tasked with continuing the discussions.
  Within the last week of COP6 the meeting was expected to have adopted Fifteen Guiding Principles on how to develop effective strategies to minimise the spread of invasive alien species.
  " Invasive alien species have caused untold damage to natural ecosystems and human economies alike over the past few centuries. Globalisation is accelerating the destruction, as expanding tourism and trade offer more and more opportunities for unwanted species to hitchhike to new homes," said Mr Zedan.
  The first guiding principle invokes the precautionary approach, as the lack of scientific certainty does not justify inaction whilst facing serious or irreversible threat. Other principles advocate the three step approach of hierarchy which are as follow:
1) Prevention
2) Eradication
3) Containment. 
  Specific measures are suggested which include border controls, quarantine measures, information exchange and also capacity building.
  The meeting is also expected to have adopted an international work programme on forests. The programme currently sets out 12 goals, each with a different range of goals and activities, with priorities to be set at a national level. The goals range from the promotion of the sustainable use of forest bio-diversity and improving the understanding of ecosystem functioning and the role of bio-diversity to enhancing the institutional enabling environment and addressing the socio-economic distortions.
  With this charting of a global course of action on bio-diversity for the next 8 years, does this in essence mean that Bio-diversity will not play a part in the WSSD to be held in Johannesburg during August and September this year?
  Although it is true to say that perhaps certain issues will not be able to be fully covered within the WSSD text, it is important to note that Bio-diversity is a cross cutting theme that effects and plays a role in many differing sectors of the environment as a whole. Surely this convention should be seen as the first of many steps to try and secure the worlds wealth of bio-diversity in a manner that protects and sustains the future of our ecosystems.
  The next COP meeting is to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the first quarter of 2004, but at the same time perhaps we will see further momentum during the World Summit on Sustainable Development, bringing bio-diversity to the forefront of the environmental debate.   
  Extracts from UN Convention on Biological Diversity Press Release.
Edited by Simon Ford, Stakeholder Forum

 Meet the
 International
Advisory Board
Aims: ENDA-Maghreb is based in Rabat, Morocco and is a decentralized sub-office of the Southern non-profit nongovernmental organization ENDA-Third World, which is located in Dakar, Senegal. ENDA Third World was created in 1972, and has the general consultative status with ECOSOC. ENDA Maghreb is a member of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development since 1999, and an active member of the Mediterranean Action Plan. 
•	The improvement of living conditions of vulnerable communities, through the creation of income generating activities, a universal access to basic infrastructure and services, social amenities, and information/raising awareness activities;
•	Sustainable management of natural resources and urban environment;
•	Capacity building of local actors (associations, cooperatives, municipal elected members and technicians, local population…) to achieve a participatory governance;                   
•	Experience sharing and valuing of indigenous knowledge at local, regional and international levels; 
•	Partnership and networking.
ENDA Maghreb initiatives aim to ensure sustainability and scale up the involved processes from neighbourhoods to municipal and city levels. 
Beyond the struggle against poverty and for environmental sustainability, ENDA promotes the participation of the civil society stakeholders in the decision making process for development.     
Key Projects: ENDA Maghreb implements various projects, in partnership with local communities, authorities, and associations, both in marginalized urban neighbourhoods and rural areas:
•	Education/environmental awareness;
•	Grassroots communication and advocacy; 
•	Decentralized cooperation at the national and regional level; 
•	Access to basic services and social facilities;
•	Training and capacity building;
•	Alternative management of solid and liquid wastes;
•	An Integrated rural development and sustainable management of natural resources;
•	Social integration through valuing informal sector actors in marginalized neighbourhoods;
•	Sustainable human settlements.     
Some of the ongoing projects of ENDA Maghreb. 
Regional program implemented in Morocco:
•	Domestic waste management at the community level in three cities/Northeast Rabat (Tiflet, Missour, Oulmes). This experimental program aims at improving the management and recycling processes of domestic waste at the municipal level.  
•	Integrated program of social and economic development in two cities located at the periphery of Rabat (Salé and Temara) 
•	Program of the management of biodiversity in protected areas in Essaouira, located 600km south of Rabat city.
•	Program of participatory initiatives in the management of natural resources and for the fight against desertification and deforestation in the Taza Province/Northern Morocco.  
ENDA Maghreb contributes to activities or collaborates with the following entities:
•	Focal point of the international NGO’s network of associations (RIOD) that intervene on the fight against desertification;
•	Member of the Arab Network for Sustainable Agriculture (RAAD);
•	The national focal point of the NGO network Africaucus, for the follow-up of the Istanbul Conference (Habitat II);
•	Founder member of the Moroccan network for the support of urban development and environment protection associations (REMADE);
•	Member of the follow up committee (CDS) of environmental NGO’s in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
•	Member of the Stakeholder Forum;
•	Member of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development;
•	Various institutional bilateral, multilateral, and national partners.            
Geographical Coverage: Although its operational interventions are located in Morocco, ENDA Maghreb privileges, at both the Euro Mediterranean and Sub Saharan levels, exchanges of expertise and experiences; this is effective through field visits, seminars, publications, and various networking initiatives. ENDA Maghreb is also involved in regional operational programs with European and African partners (e.g. WWF, RAED, ENDA Europe, …etc.)  

Diary Dates, Events & Conferences

19 April - 3 May	The Urban Forum. Nariobi, Kenya. Contact: www.unhabitat.org/uf	
8 - 10 May	UN General Assembly Special Session on Children. New York, USA. 
Contact: www.unicef.org/specialsession/	
13 - 15 May	OECD Forum 2002. Paris, France. Contact: www1.oecd.org/media/upcoming.htm	
15 - 16 May	OECD Ministerial Summit. Paris, France. Contact: www.oecd.org/media/upcoming.htm	
13 - 18 May	International Tropical Timber Council. Bali, Indonesia. Contact: www.itto.or.jp	
19 - 22 May	World Eco-Tourism Summit. Quebec, Canada. Contact: www.ecotourism2002.org	
22 - 24 May	4th International Children’s Conference on the Environment. Victoria, Canada. 
Contact: www.unep.org/children_youth/	
22 - 25 May	Sustainable Justice 2002 - Conference on Implementing International Sustainable Development Law. Montreal, Canada. Contact: www.cisdl.org	
25 May - 6 June	Indonesian Peoples Forum. Bali, Indonesia. Contact: www.jakartapeoplesforum.org	
27 May - 7 June	World Summit on Sustainable Development Prep. Comm. IV. Bali, Indonesia. 
Contact: www.johannesburgsummit.org	
5 - 7 June	International Meeting on Mountain Ecosystems. Huaraz, Peru. 
Contact: www.mtnfourm.org/calendar/events/0206imma.htm	
10 - 13 June	World Food Summit: 5 years later.  Rome, Italy. Contact: www.fao.org/worldfoodsummit/	
17 - 22 June	6th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Geneva, Switzerland. Contact: pops@unep.ch	
22 - 26 June	G8 Summit. Kananaskis, Canada. Contact: www.g8.gc.ca	

What’s in next months Network - 2002…

•	Prep. Comm. IV Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues - Preview
•	OECD Ministerial Summit & Forum 2002
•	Indonesian Peoples Forum
•	World Food Summit: 5 Years Later
•	Type II Initiatives Explained