EU Presidency Statement - EU Forward-Looking Positions for the General Debate on Sustainable Development

Summary: January 31, 2002: EU Forward-Looking Positions for the General Debate on Sustainable Development (New York)

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, and the associated countries Cyprus and Malta align themselves with this statement.

Sustainable development requires global solutions, integrating the economic, social and environmental dimensions. Good governance, sound policies, democratic institutions, the rule of law and the respect for human rights are a precondition to achieving sustainable development. The EU considers that WSSD should give a major impulse to the implementation of Agenda 21.

Sustainable development is a primary objective in our domestic policies as well as in our international co-operation. The European Council in Laeken last December confirmed the EU Member States´ intention to be represented at the highest political level.

I. Lessons learnt and assessment

The EU agrees with the Secretary General's assessment that while some progress towards sustainable development has been made since UNCED, progress has been uneven.

The significant growth in GDP per capita and industrial production over the past decade has been accompanied by structural change and progress in eco-efficiency. This resulted in some decoupling of this economic growth from resource use. However most of these gains have been offset by the impact of the overall increases in production and consumption. Furthermore, rapid economic growth has failed to sufficiently impact on widespread poverty, inequality and human insecurity. Environmental problems such as climate change, desertification, loss of biodiversity and the unsustainable use of natural resources have intensified. The coherence of policies in the fields of finance - including supply and use of ODA - trade, investment and technology is not sufficiently governed by long-term human needs and the provision of global public goods. Capacity building is essential to provide for implementation of sustainable development since it requires human skills able to face development and change.

Institutions and arrangements at the national, regional and international levels have been implemented and contribute to the creation of an institutional framework for sustainable development. A number of countries, regions and institutions have developed sustainable development strategies. They have also established participatory institutional structures or fora, including councils for sustainable development or interministerial commissions. These have greatly improved the relevance and quality of those strategies. However, the implementation of sustainable development remains a challenge. We agree with the Secretary General that sustainable development policies and programmes at all levels have fallen short of the level of integration required to simultaneously serve economic, social and environmental objectives.

A clear assessment of past performance and the identification of lessons learned are fundamental to developing forward-looking actions. However, the EU agrees that PrepCom II should not reopen on the assessment as presented in the SG's report. We must rather use the available time to elaborate a common approach towards concrete measures to accelerate implementation of Agenda 21 and respond to new challenges. And, given the Secretary General's excellent report, we rely upon our chair to propose an appropriate summary of assessment drawing on the views expressed by participants in the first week of discussion.

II. EU key issues

The main area of challenge and concern that has emerged so far with a large consensus from all regions is that of poverty eradication, which has also been identified as the overarching objective by the ministerial statement of the ECE-region, together with sustainable consumption and production patterns. A gender perspective should permeate all preparations for the Summit. Good governance is a pre-requisite for sustainable development.

The EU priorities in the run-up to the Summit for sustainable development are the following:

Poverty eradication and sustainable livelihoods.
Making globalisation work for sustainable development.
Sustainable patterns of production and consumption.
Protecting the natural resource base of economic and social development.
Strengthening governance on sustainable development at all levels, including public participation.
Means of implementation.

III. Areas for further action

In considering the issues ahead, the European Union endorses the two complementary types of WSSD outcomes proposed by the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD10) as a way to further implement Agenda 21 and to meet the Millennium Development Goals in a practical and deliverable way. Preparations for the Johannesburg Summit will build on other international processes such as the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development and the Doha Development Agenda.

In this respect, we support the idea of a "Global Deal" as a conceptual framework for the WSSD outcome. This deal should be seen as a package, balanced in terms of interests of developed and developing countries and also balanced in reflecting the three pillars of sustainable development. For the EU the objectives of this "Global Deal" are the acceleration of the implementation of Agenda 21, reaching solutions to North-South issues, and contributing especially to poverty eradication and to the achievement of sustainable production and consumption patterns. It also looks for new partnerships with and between major groups.

Therefore, we look forward to engaging in discussions with all countries and major groups to put forward credible and tangible results in order to deliver a "Global Deal" in Johannesburg.

The Agenda 21 follow-up should continue to be based on a strong participatory, open and accessible approach. This has proved to be one of its strengths. The involvement of the major groups should be developed as much as possible, including participation of women at all levels and aiming at a geographical balance. Governments should financially promote the participation of non-governmental actors in this process. Partnerships among major groups are an essential tool in this context, leading to influencing decision-making processes in the case of NGOs and business.

In the following, the EU elaborates on areas for action in further detail. Concrete proposals are needed, with time-bound and specific measures. It seems obvious that work will be needed in the run?up to PrepCom III to further concretize proposals. The EU is ready to use the themes proposed in Chapter VIII of the Secretary General's Report as a point of departure for our discussion.

1. Making Globalisation Work for Sustainable Development

Globalisation results in both opportunities and challenges for sustainable development. It has multifaceted impacts, ranging from purely economic effects to non-economic ones, such as in the fields of environmental protection, social policy or health, including in areas touching on societal and cultural values. When properly harnessed, globalisation can generate sustainable development. This requires integrating and balancing the three inter-related objectives of economic development, social development and environmental protection. Furthermore, globalisation needs to be made more inclusive, notably in terms of developing countries' participation and of the equitable sharing of its benefits in the global economy. Let me mention a few issues of interest to the EU:

The Doha Development Agenda (DDA) offers the opportunity for WTO to play a fuller role in terms of making globalisation work for sustainable development world-wide. We thus strongly welcome the DDA and commit ourselves fully to its implementation. The World Summit on Sustainable Development should aim at identifying measures to support and complement the DDA.
New market openings should be actively pursued by all, including through the elimination of environmentally harmful subsidies. There is the need to integrate all parties concern in the global market in this respect. Increased market access for goods produced in least developed countries is important in order to ensure that they benefit from market access. Other countries should follow the EU's Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative by providing duty and quota free access to all exports originating in the least developed countries (LDC's), as soon as possible, as they committed to in the 3rd UN Least Developed Countries Conference in Brussels in May 2000. Furthermore, we should reinforce the role that preferential trade access schemes can play for sustainable development.
In order to reap the benefits of globalisation, the establishment or strengthening of appropriate institutions and policies in developing countries is needed, including in the social, environmental, health and education areas. This also includes integrating trade policy into national development strategies.
Technical assistance and capacity building efforts in areas such as trade, environment and health should be supported by all partners. Technological co-operation should also be more actively promoted. Donor nations should commit themselves to increased funding for assistance and trade-related capacity building in developing countries. Developing countries must be more effectively involved in the work of international standard setting organisations, such as ISO and Codex, and be supported in these efforts.
Approaches to removing supply-side constraints should be explored. This would include improving trade infrastructure, diversifying export capacity, strengthening institutions and improving productivity and competitiveness. Most of these aims cannot be achieved by public sector action alone. Partnerships with the private sector will have a strong role to play.
Environmentally and socially responsible investments and business practices should be promoted and sustainable FDI in LDCs should be particularly encouraged. In the view of the European Union, WSSD should support initiatives such as the Global Compact. Government support measures for private industry - export credits, investment guarantees etc. - should also be used to encourage good practices by companies operating in developing countries.
Appropriate policy responses at the international level are also essential. Policy coherence with the International Financial Institutions is vital if an environment supportive of sustainable development is to be achieved, in particular in supporting good governance.
Governments must ensure that industrial restructuring that may follow from globalisation is accompanied by effective policies for social protection, such as retraining and adequate social safety nets, and environmental protection.
The social dimension of global governance at all levels needs to be strengthened. Application and respect for key social development policies, like core labour standards, respect for workers' rights, workers' participation, or health care are essential. ILO and WHO should be made more effective in terms of enforcing rules supporting policy implementation.

2. Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Livelihoods

Over 1.1 billion people live in absolute poverty, the majority of them in rural areas with the burden falling most on women and marginalised groups. However, serious attention should also be paid to sustainable urban development. Poverty eradication is central to the achievement of sustainable development. Moreover, environmental degradation inhibits the achievement of sustainable livelihoods and has the greatest impact on the poor. The EU concurs with the SG's report considering that desertification is closely linked with poverty and hunger.

The EU believes that progress towards eradicating poverty -as measured by the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals - will require concerted and coherent action by developed and developing countries, and by civil society, government and business acting in partnership. It is essential to integrate environmental issues into national planning processes, including Poverty Reduction Strategies. Environmental policies by themselves, when applied in a sustainable development perspective, can have a positive impact on poverty reduction.

Creating sustainable livelihoods requires growing economies, which generate opportunities for the poor, including jobs. The recognition of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability will also require actions to empower the poor - in particular women -so as to enable them to influence the policies, processes and institutions shaping their lives. This includes securing their rights to services, particularly education and health, and their access to resources such as land, water and sustainable energy. The EU commits itself to actions to support these efforts.

3. Changing Unsustainable Consumption and Production Patterns

The EU agrees with the Secretary General's report that major improvements are needed in the efficiency of resource use, both in industrialized and developing countries. The EU believes that the WSSD should aim at further operationalising the concept of sustainable consumption and production by agreeing upon concrete commitments and initiatives, particularly in the following areas:

De-coupling economic growth from environmental degradation and promoting eco-efficiency, including developing the concept of factor 4 and factor 10 policies.
Establishing an adequate policy framework, including trade policy and pricing of natural resources, through, for example, economic instruments.
Confronting the negative social, economic and environmental impacts of industrialized countries´ current production and consumption patterns in developing countries.
Strengthening support for and co-operation on technical and social innovation and on best practices.
Promoting increased awareness of sustainable consumption patterns at all levels.
Increasing co-operation between stakeholders involved in the life-cycle of products.
Integrating sustainable development considerations into all economic sectors, including infrastructure and city planning.

Industrial countries in particular should show political will to achieve sustainable consumption and production and thus contribute to enhanced global sustainability and equity.The challenge of a more equal access to resources - covering basic consumption needs for all - is crucial in this context. This requires measures in relation to poverty eradication, food security, access to sustainable energy and freshwater resources, as well as capacity building.4. Promoting Health through Sustainable Development

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a clear example of the close and complex relationship between health and sustainable development. We welcome the initiative of the SG to set up a Global Fund to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Furthermore, we should step up our efforts to combat respiratory and infectious diseases that are caused by poor sanitation and air pollution. In this context, the role of chemicals and food safety should also be addressed.

More generally, governments should ensure universal access to basic health services, including reproductive health services.

The EU supports the system of environmental and health indicators, developed by WHO with the participation of the European Environment Agency, in order to monitor public health and environmental policies.

5. Access to Energy and Energy Efficiency

Energy is an entry point to reach economic, social and environmental objectives. Therefore, the WSSD should strive to define and carry out a work programme to move the world's energy systems towards greater sustainability. Focus should be on improving access to energy services in rural and suburban areas, by intensifying regional and international co-operation to enhance energy efficiency and ensure continued development and deployment of cleaner and more efficient fossil fuel technologies, and increase the contribution of renewable energies to the overall energy mix.

The WSSD should make concrete progress both on policy guidance and on a conducive institutional setting at the national, regional and global levels. Policy guidance should be clear, action oriented and comprehensive in identifying not only the necessary actions, but also all the relevant actors.

Since both CSD-9 and LDC-III recognized the linkage between energy policy interventions and economic and social development, in particular poverty eradication, and since the international community adopted a specific objective in the area of poverty eradication, it should be explored whether it is desirable that the Johannesburg Summit underpin the existing international development targets with a specific objective for energy. As proposed in the Secretary General's Report, this could aim to reduce the number of people without access to modern energy services by half by 2015.

6. Sustainable Management of Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Unsustainable production and consumption patterns, short term economic interests, population pressure and poverty put a heavy burden on the ecosystems, in particular forests, marine and coastal zones, soils, mountains and water basins, thus reducing their potential for providing a multitude of actual or potential societal, economic and ecological goods and services. Integrated management of ecosystems and natural resources, based on an understanding of the interaction between the elements of ecosystems, improves this potential through the conservation, including restoration, and sustainable use and management of the natural resources in an equitable way. This will have a direct positive impact on food security, provision of freshwater, soil conservation, human health, reduction of poverty, social stability and long-term economic development, and must be an integral part of any strategy related to sustainable development.

The WSSD should support and further elaborate the international development target of reversing the current trend in loss of environmental resources at global and national levels by 2015. The EU therefore concurs with the Report of the Secretary General that there is an urgent need to establish a framework of principles for global stewardship to protect all ecosystems while meeting social and economic needs and aspirations.
The ecosystem approach, as defined by UNCBD, is a useful basis for this framework as it states that ecosystems should be managed for their intrinsic values and for the tangible or intangible benefits for human beings, in a fair and equitable way, and recognizes that human beings, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component of many ecosystems.

In order to further operationalise this approach to fully support sustainable development, the WSSD should promote the further development of the ecosystem approach, as elaborated by the UNCBD, as well as its use in all relevant sectors.The ongoing Millennium Ecosystem Assessment will play an important role in providing the necessary input for this further development.

Urgent action is needed now on the following issues:

In order to maintain viable ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity must be effectively halted at the national and global levels. The WSSD should, therefore, give full support to the implementation of the UNCBD.

Degradation of land through desertification, salinization, contamination, etc. is the most critical and increasing threat to sustainable land-use and directly affects the livelihoods of a billion people, particularly in Africa. Unsustainable use of wood, charcoal, etc., leads to deforestation, erosion and soil depletion.

There is a need for integrated planning and management of land resources, to encourage transparent and effective participation of relevant stakeholders.
Furthermore, governments are encouraged to develop policies that support agricultural development and legislation that guarantees well defined land rights and promotes sustainable land tenure.
Given that the majority of poor people are living on rural areas and that there is an urgent need to substantively increase food security for the growing world population, governments and international organizations will have to reverse the trend of declining human and financial resources for rural development and integrated land management.

Mountains are a reserve of valuable resources such as water, energy and biological diversity. Bearing in mind their particular sensitivity, the WSSD should develop specific initiatives on sustainable mountain development. Special attention also needs to be given to the Arctic area as a region subject to high environmental pressure with fragile ecosystems. The Summit should give special consideration to identifying measures to support the advancement of sustainable management, conservation and use of all types of forests, within inter-alia the UNFF and forest-related conventions. The multiple values of forests and, in particular, their global importance, should be recognised.

Furthermore, management of oceans and seas has been confronted with increasing multiple uses and inherent conflicting approaches. Problems stem from global climate change, growing populations, demand for and pressures on living resources and increasing pollution from urbanisation and industrialisation in the coastal zones.

Existing arrangements address mainly sectoral issues. It is thus necessary to shift from sectoral to an integrated and ecosystem-based approach to ocean use and governance; to overcome fragmentation and lack of coordination between programmes, projects and institutions, across several jurisdictional boundaries; to fill gaps in an evolving agenda and emerging issues. Therefore there is a need for:

Implementation and capacity building (institutions and human resources are major constraints, requiring all governments and stakeholders' involvement in integrated management, supported by scientific knowledge and a blend of national, regional, and international instruments and partnerships).
Strengthening integrated approaches through the UN Informal Consultative Process, regular inter-agency co-ordination process and sustainable management of coastal areas and marine resources at all levels (particularly through implementing the Washington Global Programme of Action (GPA), establishing a network of Marine Protected Areas and taking measures to establish sustainable fisheries, as a contribution towards food security and sustainable livelihoods).
Regional co-operation (exploring inter-sectoral impacts and improving inter-sectoral connections, inter-alia through the convening of regional conferences and strengthening of regional seas conventions).
Raising public awareness and creating a framework of principles for global stewardship of the ocean environment at the same time as meeting social and economic needs and aspirations.

7. Managing the World's Freshwater Resources

Concrete actions are needed for the better management of the world's freshwater resources many of which suffer from pollution and the effects of extreme events, namely floods and droughts. The EU believes that countries should be in the process of developing integrated water resource management plans by 2005. These should set appropriate national targets to improve equity and efficiency with which water resources are used. Allocation mechanisms should balance competing demands including those of ecosystem maintenance and take into account the social, environmental and economic values of water.

1.2 billion people lack access to safe freshwater and twice that number lack adequate sanitation. Access to water and sanitation are key elements of poverty eradication. Achieving the Millennium Development goal on access to safe drinking water will require actions by governments with the participation of other stakeholders, recognizing the importance of gender issues. The EU also encourages the adoption of an additional target on improved sanitation.

The Bonn Conference on Freshwater has made concrete forward-looking recommendations. We can build on those recommendations and decide on actions leading up to:

Better governance arrangements, stronger partnerships between public and private sectors and local stakeholders.
Sustainable financing of water infrastructure and services.
Partnerships for sharing technology and knowledge.

We now need commitments from governments and stakeholders for better governance, mobilising financial resources, capacity building and technology transfer.

We welcome the proposals contained in the Secretary General's report in its section on managing the world's freshwater resources which are fully compatible with the outcome of the Bonn Conference and provide a strong position for the Third World Water Forum.

8. Finance and Technology Transfer

8.1. Finance

Financing sustainable development is a crucial cross-cutting issue. We consider the International Conference on FfD, taking place only a few months before the WSSD, as part of a larger process, which will lead us to Johannesburg and beyond.

The EU welcomes and will thoroughly analyze the results so far achieved of the Monterrey Consensus. As clearly stated in the document, domestic resources play a primary role for financing sustainable development. They are complemented by income from trade and external financial sources like, e.g. foreign direct investment. ODA is another element and will continue to play a catalytic role in a number of developing countries.

The European Union is examining the means and the time frame for each Member state's achievement of the UN official development aid target of 0,7% of GDP and has a commitment to continuing its efforts to improve development cooperation instruments.

We also continue our efforts to improve the quality and the effectiveness of development co-operation. More investment and efforts are clearly needed in the fight against poverty and in order to reach the international development targets agreed in UN fora. We believe we should also further explore innovative sources of financing, including financing for the provision of global public goods. In addition, we should aim for more efficient use of financial resources, both in recipient and donor countries, i.a. through the untying of aid and the necessary capacity building in the financial and other sectors.

8.2. Science and Technology

The development and application of scientific and technological knowledge and capabilities is an increasingly critical factor underpinning progress on sustainable development in all countries. We need improved scientific understanding of the challenges we face and the application of technological development to help find effective solutions.
Enabling developing countries to manage their technological development has the potential to help address many of the challenges of sustainable development, and should therefore be an important area for progress at WSSD.
Possible areas on which to focus our attention include:

- Improved collaboration between governments and scientists, and partnerships with all stakeholders, particularly the private sector, on R&D and its widespread application.

- Strengthened international co-operation on Science and Technology in human resources capacity-building at all levels.

- Continuous improvement in policy and institutional frameworks at all levels to stimulate innovation.

The Summit should promote the potential of new Information and Communication Technologies to support sustainable development, including reductions in the use of materials, energy and transport. Attempts should be intensified to bridge the digital divide and enable developing countries to take advantage in the development of Information Communication Technologies.

The EU supports the proposal for a forum on science and technology to discuss its relations with sustainable development.

9. Sustainable Development Initiatives for Africa

The EU welcomes that the Secretary General has given special attention to Africa in his report. In this respect, the EU recognizes the particular challenges facing Africa in achieving sustainable development. Many countries have experienced declining per capita incomes, increasing food insecurity, increased rates of environmental degradation and the impact of conflict and strife. Countries of the African region continue to receive relatively low levels of ODA and foreign private capital, and face significant barriers to exports of many of their major products.

The summit should therefore give special attention to Africa. We regard enhanced regional cooperation as an essential complement to sound national policies for achieving sustainable development, and in this regard support Africa's own initiatives such as the NEPAD. The EU looks forward to learning more about Africa's priorities and concerns towards the Summit during this PrepCom, and is ready to continue to work in partnership with African countries.

We recognise a good convergence between the priorities advanced by the Regional Ministerial meeting of Africa and our own priorities, namely in the field of poverty eradication, sustainable management of natural resources, finance, science and technology and capacity building. We look forward to working with Africa in these priorities.

10. Strengthening the system of International Governance for Sustainable Development

The United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 55/199 decided that the PrepCom from WSSD would address ways of strengthening the institutional framework for sustainable development and evaluate and define the role and programme of work of the Commission on Sustainable Development.

At present, the international governance for sustainable development is inadequate in relation to the challenges it should address. The SG´s Report on the implementation of Agenda 21 presents a broad range of proposals for consideration in its Chapter VIII. The EU welcomes many of these proposals, and looks forward to entering into discussions with partners on these issues. Reform efforts would naturally build on the results of the UNEP process on International Environmental Governance, as well as on relevant parts of the Monterrey Consensus and other relevant UN processes on social issues.

The EU sees international governance for sustainable development as intrinsically linked to institutional building and governance at the domestic level. The Summit should make a renewed and time-bound commitment to elaborate and implement national sustainable development strategies in all countries and encourage the UN system to assist the developing countries and the economies in transition in this respect. Experience has shown the importance of public access to information relevant to sustainable development, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in supporting good governance at the national level. The Summit should encourage further implementation of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration as an important component in strengthening participatory democracy. Education is also a central issue. Access to education in general and efforts to raise public awareness of sustainable development issues in particular are needed.

Finally, we would like to emphasize the importance of indicators for monitoring progress in the implementation of the outcome of the Summit. In this context, the further development and use of common sets of indicators for sustainable development is crucial.

Ref: PRES02-010EN
EU source: EU Presidency
UN forum: Second Committee (Economic and Financial Affairs, Environment)
Date: 31/1/2002

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