PAMELA CHASEK, PH.D., LANGSTON JAMES and GOREE VI KIMO

Agenda 21 called for creation of a Commission on Sustainable Development as a means to ensure effective follow-up of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, to enhance international cooperation and rationalize the intergovernmental decision-making capacity, and to examine progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national, regional and international levels. In 1992, the 47th session of the UN General Assembly set out the terms of reference for the Commission, its composition, guidelines for the participation of NGOs, the organization of work, the CSDs relationship with other UN bodies, and Secretariat arrangements, in resolution 47/191.

1993 SESSION

The CSD held its first substantive session at UN Headquarters in New York from 14-25 June 1993. Amb. Razali Ismail (Malaysia) was elected the first Chair of the Commission. During the course of the session, the Commission addressed the following items: adoption of a multi-year thematic programme of work; issues relating to future work; exchange of information regarding the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level; progress in the incorporation of recommendations of UNCED in the activities of international organizations and within the UN system; progress achieved in facilitating and promoting the transfer of technology, cooperation and capacity-building; and initial financial commitments, financial flows and arrangements to give effect to UNCED decisions. On 23-24 June 1993, over 50 ministers gathered to participate in the High-Level Segment on issues related to the future work of the CSD and implementation of Agenda 21.

AD HOC OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUPS

The CSD held two ad hoc open-ended working groups on financial flows and mechanisms and technology transfer and cooperation from 22 February - 2 March 1994. Although the two working groups succeeded in preparing lists of recommendations to be submitted to the CSD, these lists were not nearly as concrete and forward-looking as some delegates and observers had hoped. Some government- nominated experts complained that the discussions were not technical enough due to the large number of representatives from UN missions who participated in the meeting. NGOs commented that the discussions repeated much of the well-worn rhetoric from Rio and other intergovernmental fora. Delegates noted that smaller fora, such as the government- sponsored intersessional meetings, are often more productive than all-inclusive inter-governmental working groups. Most delegates agreed, however, that little progress was made towards resolving the North-South differences on these critical issues.

1994 SESSION

The second session of the CSD met in New York from 16-27 May 1994. During the course of the session, the Commission, under its new Chair, Klaus Topfer, Germanys Minister for the Environment, examined the first cluster of issues according to its multi-year thematic programme of work. Delegates discussed the following cross-sectoral chapters of Agenda 21: Chapters 2 (accelerating sustainable development); 4 (consumption patterns); 33 (financial resources and mechanisms); 34 (technology cooperation and transfer); 37 (capacity building); 38 (institutions); 39 (legal instruments); and 23-32 (roles of major groups). By the conclusion of the session, the Commission adopted seven decisions on: information provided by governments and organizations; decision- making structures; transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity-building; major groups; trade, environment and sustainable development; changing consumption and production patterns; and finance.

On the sectoral side, delegates examined the progress in implementing the following chapters of Agenda 21: Chapters 6 (health); 7 (human settlements); 18 (freshwater resources); 19 (toxic chemicals); 20 (hazardous wastes); 21 (solid wastes and sewage); and 22 (radioactive wastes). By the conclusion of the session, the Commission adopted six decisions on: protecting and promoting human health; human settlements; toxic chemicals; hazardous wastes; freshwater; and radioactive wastes. The Commission also adopted a decision on intersessional work, which calls for the establishment of a new ad hoc open-ended intersessional working group to examine the sectoral issues that will be addressed by the Commission at its 1995 session (land management, desertification, forests and biodiversity). The session concluded with a two-and-a-half day High-Level Segment, attended by over 40 ministers and high-level officials.

The members of the CSD determined that although some progress has been made, until there is an increase in official development assistance and an improvement in the international economic climate, it will continue to be difficult to translate the Rio commitments into action. Likewise, many participants who attended the two- week meeting agreed that unless the CSDs format is changed, it will be impossible to shift from rhetoric and speech-making to dialogue and action.

INTERSESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

CSD Chair Klaus Topfer convened two days of open-ended informal consultations on the issues contained in the work programme of the CSD for 1995. During the course of the consultations, which were held in New York from 22-23 November 1994, representatives from governments, UN agencies and NGOs reported on intersessional meetings or activities that they have undertaken in preparation for the third session of the CSD. Topfers consultations were convened as a result of a G-77 initiative to foster greater transparency during the intersessional period.

Topfer opened the session by informing delegates that the third session of the CSD will meet from 11-28 April 1995 in New York. The session will open with a presentation of the work of the ad hoc open-ended working groups on finance and sectoral issues. On 12-13 April, there will be panel discussions on the issues considered by the working groups. The CSD will then have two days for the sharing of national experiences. Two members of each regional group will be asked to present their experiences so that there will be a total of ten presentations and an open discussion. There will also be one day for sharing experiences on implementing Agenda 21 at the local level. Three drafting groups will then be established to address the cross sectoral and sectoral issues under consideration. During the High-Level Segment, the Bureau will do its best to ensure productive dialogue. It is also hoped that finance and other development ministers will participate in the High-Level Segment.

The following is a summary of the briefings on intersessional activies related to the sectoral and cross-sectoral issues to be considered by the CSD in 1995. The cross-sectoral issues will be outlined first, to be followed by the sectoral issues, according to the order in which they appear in Agenda 21.

COMBATING POVERTY

Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development Nitin Desai reported on the preparations for the World Summit for Social Development, which will be held from 6-12 March 1995 in Copenhagen. The Social Summit is addressing the issues of poverty, employment and social integration. The next PrepCom will take place in New York from 16-27 January 1995. With regard to poverty, which is to be considered by the CSD at its third session, the dominant theme in Agenda 21 is the need to integrate poverty with aspects of environmental protection. For example, rangeland management programmes should contain an element on poverty reduction. Focus should also be on increasing individual capacity building, changing institutions to empower the poor, expanding opportunities in rural and urban areas, and fulfilling basic needs.

CHANGING CONSUMPTION PATTERNS

Joke Waller Hunter of the CSD Secretariat reported that at the next session of the CSD a work programme on changing patterns of production and consumption will be presented and developed in consultation with governments. The Secretariat has identified four major components of such a work programme: (1) a review of long term trends on changing consumption patterns; (2) a review of commitments by industrialized countries; (3) a discussion on the impact of changing consumption patterns in developed countries; and (4) an overview of social and economic instruments.

Norway informed delegates about the upcoming Oslo Roundtable (see Things To Look For). The representative added that possible elements on sustainable patterns of consumption and production that could be included in the CSDs work programme are: (1) an introductory section; (2) setting a new course; (3) focus on the end-use needs; (4) delineation of how responsibility for sustainable consumption and production should be distributed; and (5) a concluding section on the major bottlenecks.

The Netherlands then announced the upcoming Workshop on Facilities for Sustainable Households (see Things To Look For). The OECD representative said that the CSD work programme should: examine terminology and key concepts; assess trends and changes in economic and social effects; and identify policy options, drawing on the OECDs body of work.

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