Major Groups were widely praised for their constructive and thorough input throughout the process. Twelve statements by representatives of NGOs and other major groups were made in the General Assembly.

Ambassador Razali of Malaysia, President of the General Assembly, concluded that
"I think that the job is cut out for the NGOs to re-examine this document, see what is wanting, then go back to the grass-roots and push and agitate for more sincere, honest implementation of all the aspects of Rio. It is time to go around and say "we won't elect you if you don't do this or don't do that". That is when the NGOs apply leverage; and this is the right time for it."

A United Nations Perspective

Poverty

Governments agreed that full implementation of the Social Summit programme of action is essential and listed priority actions. A proposal in the draft political statement that Governments would reduce by half, by the year 2015, the proportion of people living in absolute poverty was not kept when the statement was dropped.

Consumption and Production Patterns

An initiative by the European Union on eco-efficiency -- to consider setting a target of achieving a tenfold improvement in productivity in the long term, with a possible four-fold increase in the next two or three decades -- was agreed after it was specified that the targets were intended for industrialized countries. Governments agreed to promote measures to internalize environmental costs and benefits in the price of goods and services, and to consider shifting the burden of taxation on to unsustainable patterns, including by reducing and eliminating subsidies to environmentally harmful activities.

Population

Governments agreed that the current decline in population growth rates must be further promoted through national and international policies, consistent with the report of the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development.

Forests

It was decided to set up an Intergovernmental Forum on Forests under the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). The Forum, which will report back to the CSD in 1999, is to monitor and promote implementation of the action proposals agreed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests, as well as build consensus for international mechanisms, for example a legally binding instrument.

The World Bank announced that it would work with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to achieve by the year 2000 a network of protected areas amounting to at least 10 per cent of each of the world's forest types.

Fresh Water

Giving the issue "highest priority", Governments called for a dialogue beginning at the 1998 session of the CSD to consider a strategic approach to preserve and protect freshwater supplies and to build consensus on means of implementation.

Oceans                                                                                                   [ Up ]

Governments agreed on the urgent need to eliminate overfishing, to consider the impact of subsidies to fishing fleets, and to strengthen implementation of existing agreements on marine pollution and sustainable use of oceans.

Climate

After long and divisive negotiations, Governments compromised and agreed to consider "legally binding, meaningful, realistic and equitable targets" for developed countries that will result in "significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions within specified time frames, such as 2005, 2010 and 2020."

The European Union had sought more specific language -- to reduce emissions by 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010 -- and many European leaders, including United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, challenged the United States to do likewise. Acknowledging that the US produces 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions and needs to "do better", US President Bill Clinton pledged to hold a national conference on climate change to build public support for strong action in Kyoto.

The World Bank expressed its support for "joint implementation" under the Framework Convention on Climate Change -- a contentious concept which would allow developed countries to earn credits for assisting developing countries in reducing their emissions -- and its willingness to launch a Carbon Investment Fund to implement such a scheme if it were agreed in Kyoto.

Energy

On the contentious issue of energy subsidies and pricing, it was agreed to encourage Governments and the private sector to consider ways to promote internalization of environmental costs in energy prices, and to recognize the need to encourage the reduction and gradual elimination of subsidies that inhibit sustainable development. The need was recognized for "evolving commitments" for the transfer of clean technologies to developing countries. It was also agreed that talks on how to advance sustainable production and use of energy should take place at the CSD in the year 2001, with preparations to take place within an open-ended intergovernmental group of experts.

Land/Desertification                                                                               [ Up ]

It was agreed that Governments should ratify and implement the Convention to Combat Desertification, but while developing countries urged that donor countries provide "new and additional financial resources" to the Global Mechanism to fund the Convention's implementation, developed countries preferred to support a Mechanism that would be able to promote the "mobilization and channeling of substantial resources". Despite protracted talks, a compromise could not be reached and both points of view were reflected in the text. The financing issue is likely to be revisited at the first Conference of Parties to the Convention in September 1997. On other land issues, Governments agreed to combat soil degradation, promote sustainable agriculture, and put into action the recommendations of the World Food Summit.

Toxics, Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes

Governments agreed that safe substitutes for toxic chemicals should be developed and those technologies transferred to poorer countries. The Basel Convention should be further strengthened to define hazardous wastes covered, and a protocol should be negotiated on liability for damage from hazardous wastes shipped across national borders. Governments agreed on the need to support the clean-up of contaminated sites from nuclear activities. In general, radioactive wastes should be disposed of in the country in which they are generated, and each country has a responsibility to ensure proper management, taking into account transboundary effects. Governments should make efforts to prohibit the export of radioactive wastes to countries that do not have appropriate disposal facilities, and they should not allow storage or disposal of radioactive wastes near the marine environment.

Biodiversity

Governments agreed on the urgent need to take decisive action to conserve genes, species and ecosystems, to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity, paying further attention to the provision of new and additional resources, and to complete rapidly the biosafety protocol under the Convention.

Financing

Although no new specific financial commitments were made, Governments agreed to a general statement that developed countries should fulfil their commitment made in Rio to reach the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP for ODA, and that "intensified efforts" should be made to reverse the downward trend in ODA since 1992. A ministerial-level contact group that had sought to set target dates for ODA increases as part of a finance package ended without agreement. Donor countries were urged to provide new and additional resources through a satisfactory replenishment of the Global Environment Facility.

An international tax on aviation fuel -- proposed by the European Union both to incorporate the hidden environmental costs of air travel and to raise funds for sustainable development -- encountered opposition. Governments agreed that studies should continue on the use of such economic instruments in the aviation sector, and the EU is considering applying the tax within its own region.

A proposal for an intergovernmental panel or process on finance for sustainable development was dropped on the understanding that it would be referred to the UN Economic and Social Council.

Technology Transfer                                                                              [ Up ]

Governments called for the urgent fulfilment of all Rio commitments concerning concrete measures for the transfer of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) to developing countries, to be reviewed regularly by the CSD. Recognizing that the most advanced ESTs are held by the private sector, they called for the creation of an environment conducive to technology-related private investment and public-private partnerships.

International Institutions

Governments called for an enhanced role and adequate funding for a revitalized UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The work programme was decided for 1998-2002 for the Commission on Sustainable Development, which will continue to be the central forum for reviewing implementation of Agenda 21. The next review by the General Assembly was set for 2002. A joint initiative by the Heads of State of Brazil, Germany, Singapore and South Africa, proposing the creation of a global environmental umbrella organization under the UN with UNEP as a major pillar, was not reflected in any official decisions.

Participation

For the first time ever, statements were heard in the General Assembly Plenary by twelve representatives of the "major groups" defined in Agenda 21. Some 1,000 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended the session, and dozens of side events advanced new ideas. A Business Roundtable brought together CEOs from a dozen corporations with top-level Government and UN officials to consider how the private sector could be a more active partner in sustainable development.

Other Initiatives

Governments agreed to accelerate the phasing out of leaded gasoline as soon as possible. They also asked the CSD to undertake a work programme to promote sustainable tourism.

taken from http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/sustdev/5years_2.htm
General Information at: http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/sustdev/indexsd.htm

A Media Perspective: Earth Negotiations Bulletin                              [ Up ]

The issues that proved most difficult to resolve in 1992 are still problematic today. Questions related to the provision of financial resources and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries have haunted conferences from Barbados to Cairo, from desertification negotiations in Paris to climate change negotiations in Berlin and biodiversity negotiations in Buenos Aires. Forests have been the subject of four meetings of the CSD's Intergovernmental Panel on Forests, yet heading into UNGASS there was no agreement on how to proceed. Setting targets and timetables for greenhouse gas emissions reductions proved impossible during the negotiations that resulted in the Framework Convention on Climate Change and are the subject of current negotiations expected to culminate in Kyoto in December. Regulating biotechnology safety almost derailed the biodiversity negotiations in 1992 and is now the subject of negotiations under the Biodiversity Convention.

Earth Negotiations Bulletin UNGASS Summary, 1997, Vol 5 No.88

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