Summary: October 29, 2001: Speech delivered on behalf of the European Union by Mr. Stephane de Loecker, Deputy Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations. Environment and sustainable development (New York)
24. At the local level, we must fully mobilize the authorities concerned well in advance. Not only have local authorities launched over 1800 Local Agenda 21 initiatives throughout the world but it is also a fact that large towns, regional and federal bodies in various States often have as much or more power to promote sustainable development as States at national level. Furthermore, an important chapter of Agenda 21 is devoted to sustainable human settlements and the recognition of local
authorities as "major groups" which should be involved in promoting sustainable development. It is the local authorities, which have the necessary expertise for ensuring that the essential urban and local dimension of sustainable development is taken into account adequately and which can help us to explore synergies between the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21. We must also ensure adequate participation by local authorities in the Johannesburg Forum.
(National level)
25. At national level, we decided together in 1997 at the Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda 21 (Earth Summit+5) that States would draw up sustainable development strategies by 2002. Within the European Union, our Member States confirmed that commitment at the Göteborg Summit. As in all spheres, coordination of decisions at national level is precondition for any implementation. We therefore call on all States to settle down to the task,
taking advantage of the political impetus given by the preparations for the Summit. Each State must do so flexibly, taking account of its own characteristics, and stressing an inclusive approach so as to ensure the best possible synergies and ensure that the objectives do not conflict with the many framework-planning documents at national level. Obviously the implementation of the strategies is just as essential as their elaboration. The country profiles provided by the Secretariat, which each
country must update, may become useful tools for monitoring implementation.
(Sub regional level)
26. The sub regional level is essential both for the Union and for other groups of countries. At the Göteborg Summit, the Union decided to draw up a European sustainable development strategy prior to the Summit, in accordance with the request made to States by the Earth Summit+5 Special Session of the General Assembly in 1997 to draw up national sustainable development strategies. We will now develop our positions in two respects. On one hand, we will endeavor to draw lessons from the other sub
regional and regional processes and include in our proceedings the wealth of their contributions with regard to topics and possible results of the Summit. On the other hand, we will certainly prepare thoroughly for the first substantive meeting of the preparatory committee, which will examine the major achievements and lessons drawn from the implementation of Agenda 21 and the main obstacles to its implementation.
(Regional level)
27. With regard to the regional level, the Union welcomes the reaching of a consensus on a ministerial declaration in the process conducted under the aegis of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. That statement has the merit of reflecting an agreement within a very varied group of States, covering a very wide range of income levels and political and economic situations. The Union welcomes the fact that in this half of the year the Secretariat is organizing a briefing on the
results of the regional processes. It hopes that a succinct analysis by the Secretariat of the results of the regional meetings will be available well before the preparatory committee's first meeting. It welcomes the degree of political involvement of a large number of our partners and the quality of their contributions and hopes that each group will be actively inspired by the views expressed by its partners.
(International level)
28. At international level, major progress has already been achieved, thanks to the regional processes, with regard to the convergence of the views of the Member States of the United Nations concerning the main topics of the Summit. Similarly, the discussion on international environmental governance has got off to a good start. We wish to particularly welcome the constructive attitude of the Group of 77 and China and the remarkable contributions by the UNEP and Canada.
29. We are bound to note that international discussions on the international governance of sustainable development is lagging behind the remarkable progress made in the sphere of the environment. We consider in particular that detailed discussions should be initiated on the future of the Commission on Sustainable Development.
Mr President,
30. The rapid evaluation that I have just made of the preparatory process at all levels would be incomplete if I did not draw your attention to two special efforts to be made at the level of inclusion and participation in this planetary process.
31. With regard to inclusion in the preparatory process for the Summit, the Union considers that a more pro-active approach must improve inclusion of the social dimension of sustainable development in its many facets. The promotion of fairer, inclusive and sustainable globalization also forms part of the same approach. To this end, more intensive cooperation between all the international and national institutions should be promoted on the basis of a broader concept of partnership involving
co-responsibility.
(Report of the Secretary-General)
32. Of particular value in the discussion of such integration at the political level will be the report of the Secretary-General, which we hope to have in early December. Before we can take action, we shall need to be able to build on creative and consensual suggestions from the Secretariat, the various UN agencies and the secretariats of the multilateral environmental Conventions. We are also counting on political leadership at the highest level on the part of the Secretariat.
(Participation of large groups)
33. As regards participation in the preparatory process for the Summit, the Union considers that the participation of "large social groups" is as important in the Summit as in the preparations for it. This will be not only an essential dimension of the Summit but also a logistical and organizational challenge. It is important that the strengthening of security rules should not undermine the arrangements for the participation of the large social groups.
(Informing the public)
34. An effective public information campaign will help to make the Johannesburg Summit a success. It will also be important that the website of the Division for Sustainable Development can be consulted in all the official languages of the United Nations, especially as most of its documents have already been translated. At present, even the text of Agenda 21 appears on it in only one official language.
Item 98(b) International strategy for disaster reduction
35. As indicated in the Secretary-General's report, the international community has seen an increase in natural as well as ecological and technological disasters.
36. The European Union reaffirms its support for the Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and is pleased to see that a new director, Mr. Salvano Briceño, took up his post in June. It welcomes the fact that the Secretary-General reiterates in his report that the Secretariat must continue to operate as a distinct entity directly answerable to the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. The Union always insisted on this point when it was set up. Priority must
be given to a preventive approach in a context of sustainable development.
37. The European Union applauds the fact that, during the humanitarian segment of ECOSOC last July, there was a consensus on the need to increase national and regional capabilities in terms of response to and preparation for natural disasters. The delegations called for greater cooperation between the United Nations and the national, regional and local partners.
38. In connection with the reduction of natural disasters, technical and technological progress make it increasingly possible, among other things, to detect high-risk areas and to gauge the potential damage. And when disasters have taken place, technology plays a part in improving the coordination of humanitarian operations, especially as regards communications. The European Union is convinced that it is vital to be able to make rapid use of telecommunications in order to reduce the loss of
human life, the suffering and the damage caused by disasters. The Union urges the Member States of the United Nations to sign and ratify the Tampere Convention.
39. The Union welcomes the drafting of a framework of action to implement the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction by the Inter-Agency Task Force. This enables us to have a clear picture of the Strategy's aims and the means for implementing it.
Item 98(c) Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa
The Convention to Combat Desertification interfaces with a number of EU priorities - support for Africa, an integrated approach combining environmental protection and the fight against poverty, and our desire to conserve the natural resources that form the basis for economic and social development.
Item 98(d) Convention on Biological Diversity
41. The Union welcomes the fact that 100 States have signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and calls on the States to ratify it as soon as possible.
42. It is pleased to note the cooperation between the bodies of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Forum on Forests and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It awaits with interest its contribution concerning the implementation of Agenda 21 and the publication of the Global Biodiversity Outlook during the first half of 2002.
43. We hope that the Sixth Conference of the Parties, to be held in The Hague next April, will be able to send a positive message to the Johannesburg Conference.
Item 98(e) Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
44. The European Union is fully aware of the particular vulnerability of small island developing States. It therefore welcomes the important research being done on this subject by UNCTAD, SOPAC and the Joint Task Force on Small States (World Bank and Commonwealth). It hopes that the work on drawing up an environmental vulnerability index will make sufficiently rapid progress to enable practical results to be achieved in the near future.
45. It also welcomes the assistance provided by UNCTAD to the SIDS that are members of the WTO to enable them to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization.
Item 98(f) Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind
46. The Union's massive and unequivocal support for the Kyoto Protocol is well known. Here, we particularly want to wish good luck to our delegations, which have just begun crucial negotiations in Marrakesh. We hope that a solid legal agreement will be found which will open the way for the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and its implementation.
47. The Union would like to take this opportunity to reiterate its support for the institutional link between the Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations.
Item 98(g) Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005
48. At the ninth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, we had an important debate on the subject of energy in the context of sustainable development. We adopted a series of recommendations on promoting the use of renewable energy sources. We feel it is essential that the discussion should continue. As the Ministers of the Union decided in the Environment Council, we would be happy to see the Johannesburg Summit adopt specific initiatives in this regard.
Mr President,
48. I should like to conclude by attempting a commonsense definition of "sustainable development": we have inherited the earth from our parents and our ancestors. It is our duty to hand it on to our children and to future generations in a better state than we found it.
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