Mepielan eBulletin - Post RIO +20 Developments

EU Council Adopts Conclusions on the Outcome and Follow-Up to the UNCSD 2012 Summit (Rio+20)

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

On 25 October 2012 the Council of the European Union (Environment) adopted conclusions on the outcome and follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro, in June 2012. These conclusions constitute the first official position by the Council on the outcome of the UNCSD 2012 Conference and also reaffirm the EU and its Member States΄ commitment to the Rio+20 follow up.

The conclusions provide guidance on a number of issues that are going to be discussed in the coming months. First of all, the Council reaffirms that the overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development are poverty eradication, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of consumption, and production and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development. Moreover, the Council stresses the need to operationalize and implement all commitments in “The Future We Want” at EU and Member States level, in particular through the European Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) and the Europe 2020, as well as to review all relevant EU and national policies, strategies and programmes in order to implement through them the Rio+20 outcomes.

In addition, the Council welcomes the Rio+20 agreement that one of the important tools available for achieving sustainable development is an inclusive green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and reaffirms its commitment to pursue a just, global transition to an inclusive green economy in collaboration with other international partners, while stresses the importance of private and public sector engagement in promoting green economy in the context of sustainable development including through public-private partnerships.

Moreover, the Council supports the development of international standards and voluntary initiatives undertaken by business and industry, such as corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability reporting, and underlines the importance to provide people with educational skills, particularly youth and women, to pursue green economy. The Council, also, calls on the UN Statistical Commission to launch the programme of work on broader measures of progress towards sustainability to complement Gross Domestic Programme (GDP) and calls on the Commission to submit in a timely manner its foreseen communication on a follow-up of “GDP and beyond”*.

As far as the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is concerned, the Council welcomes its establishment and stresses the need to ensure added value and avoid duplication with existing structures, highlighting that it should serve as a dynamic platform for sustainable development within the UN system, directly linked with the UN Economic and Social Council. In addition, the Council looks forward to the adoption of a Resolution by the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly implementing the Rio+20 agreement on strengthening and upgrading the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) so that it will be ensured that UNEP delivers its functions as the leading global environmental authority.

In the framework for action and follow-up, the Council stresses the determination of the EU and its Member States to take active part at the UN General Assembly to implement the Rio+20 agreements including: (i) the development of an international instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, (ii) the adoption of a resolution at the 67th Session of UNGA determining the modalities of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to be convened in 2014, (iii) a decision by the 67th Session of the UNGA to designate a UN Member State body to take any necessary steps toward the full, effective and timely operationalization of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10-YFP on SCP)**.

Moreover, the Council underlines the strong determination of the EU and its Member States to constructively take part in the process to develop global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which should be coherent with, and integrated in, the UN development agenda beyond 2015. More specifically, the Council stresses that the SDGs should address and incorporate the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development “in a balanced, holistic, coherent and synergistic way, while capturing inter-linkages and cross-cutting issues”, and that they should be “focused on priority areas for the achievement of sustainable development, being guided by the Rio+20 outcome document and mindful of the position of the EU and its Member States on such areas in the context of Rio+20”. Moreover, the Council underlines that the SDGs should be global in nature and universally applicable to all countries, limited in number, action oriented, easy to communicate and linked to concrete targets, while it anticipates the input and support of the UN system which will provide an essential contribution to this process.

Finally, the Council reaffirms its support for an open follow-up process of Rio+20 and recognizes the contribution and participation of the civil society, private and public stakeholders, trade unions and local authorities in the implementation of Rio+20 outcome.

Notes
* In August 2009, the European Commission published a communication with the title “GDP and beyond – Measuring progress in a changing world” [COM (2009) 433]. This communication aims at improving indicators for better reflecting policy and societal concerns and seeks to improve, adjust and complement GDP with indicators that monitor social and environmental progress. Accordingly, it identifies five key actions for the short and medium term: Action 1: Complement GDP with environmental and social indicators (a comprehensive environmental index, quality of life and well-being); Action 2: Provide near real-time information for decision-making (more timely environmental and social indicators); Action 3: Report more accurately on distribution and inequalities; Action 4: Develop a European sustainable development scoreboard (coordinated by Directorate General for Environment (DG ENV); Action 5: Extend national accounts to environmental and social issues. (Full text: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2009:0433:FIN:EN:PDF). In September 2009, the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress (Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Commission) published a report with 12 recommendations on how to better measure economic performance, societal well-being and sustainability. To answer the challenges presented by these two initiatives, the European Statistical System Committee (ESSC) launched a Sponsorship Group on "measuring progress, well-being and sustainable development". Two important milestones for the work of the Sponsorship Group took place when the Directors General of the National Statistical Institutes (DGINS) adopted the Sofia Memorandum in September 2010 and the Wiesbaden Memorandum in September 2011. An additional milestone to the work of the Sponsorship is the Prague Memorandum, adopted in September 2012.
** The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) adopted the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP). This is a concrete and operational outcome that responds to the 2002 Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) which calls all relevant stakeholders to encourage and promote the development of a 10-Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) in support of regional and national initiatives “… necessary to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production in order to promote social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems...”. (Full text: http://www.unep.fr/scp/pdf/10YFP_english.pdf ).

Source: Council of the European Union
For further information:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/homepage/highlights/environment-ministers-set-out-eu-position-ahead-of-doha-climate-conference?lang=en

African Ministers Adopt Arusha Declaration on Africa’s Post Rio + 20 Strategy for Sustainable Development

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Fourteenth Regular Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) met in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania from 10 to 14 September 2012. The Conference brought together Environment Ministers and government representatives from over 40 African countries. Meeting for first time after the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio + 20), African Environment Ministers discussed the region’s integrated strategy to boost sustainable development and eventually concluded with the adoption of Arusha Declaration on Africa’s Post Rio + 20 Strategy for Sustainable Development.

In the wake of the climate negotiations at Rio + 20, the participants renewed their commitment to addressing an amount of challenges that threatens the future of the continent such as land degradation, climate change, deforestation, low agriculture productivity and poverty in an holistic way that uses the three pillars of sustainable development.

Furthermore, the meeting emphasized the need to speak for the continent in one voice and ensure the adequate representation of Africa in all committees established for the follow up of the outcomes of the Rio + 20. In parallel the delegates identified a set of regional flagship programmes that reflects the countries’ needs in the area of environmental management.*

Regarding the strengthening of UNEP, which was one of the key outcomes of Rio+20**, the ministers urged the General Assembly to:

Establish universal membership in the Governing Council of UNEP;
Ensure secure, stable, adequate and increased financial resources from the regular UN budget (to a level of two per cent of the overall budget), to be supplemented by voluntary contributions;
Strengthen UNEP engagement in key United Nations coordination bodies and empower the agency to lead efforts to formulate United Nations system-wide strategies on the environment;
Progressively consolidate UNEP headquarters functions in Nairobi, as well as strengthen its regional presence, in order to assist countries, upon request, in the implementation of their national environmental policies.

The ministers also requested additional measures beyond the Rio+20 agreement, including upgrading regional offices and establishing five sub-regional offices in Africa, as well as establishing a universal membership body known as the Environment Assembly with a ministerial segment called the Ministerial Conference on Environment.

In his opening speech, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner stressed: “The follow up to Rio+20 needs to mark a moment of renewed commitment, greater urgency and a turning point in terms of implementation of what has already been agreed. A fully engaged Africa at the UN General Assembly and beyond can assist greatly in ensuring that the gains made at Rio+20 are not only secured, but acted upon in order to boost the lives and livelihoods of now one billion Africans and six billion others across this extraordinary world.”

Notes:

* AMCEN flagship programmes include:

African Green Economy Partnership; Ecosystem Based Adaptation Programme for Africa;
African Programme on Sustainable Energy Development;
Partnership for Sustainable Consumption and Production in Africa;
Integrated Waste Management Programme for Africa;
Africa Integrated Environmental Assessment for Sustainable Development Planning;
Sustainable land management and desertification program in Africa;
Poverty and livelihoods;
African Program on Biodiversity and Ecosystems;
African Partnership for Capacity Building, technology transfer and skills development.

** See MEPIELAN E-Bulletin, 7 July 2012 (http://www.mepielan-ebulletin.gr/default.aspx?pid=18&CategoryId=28&CategoryTitle=RIO-+20)

Source: UNEP News Centre

For further information:

http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2694&ArticleID=9274&l=en

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) or Rio+20 Adopts “The Future We Want” Outcome Document

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The third and final meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), Pre-Conference Informal Consultations Facilitated by the Host Country, and the UNCSD were convened back-to-back in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 13-22 June 2012. The UN Conference on Sustainable Development opened on Wednesday, 20 June 2012, and the outcome document of the Conference, entitled “The Future we Want” (A/CONF.216/L.1) was adopted on Friday, 22 June 2012.

Over the course of three days, 191 Heads of State or Government and Vice-Presidents, Ministers and heads of delegation addressed the meeting. The official events included a Rio+20 Partnerships Forum, Sustainable Development Dialogues, SD-Learning and an estimated 500 side events in RioCentro, the venue for the Conference. In parallel to the official events, approximately 3,000 unofficial events were organised throughout Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including a Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development, a People’s Summit and the World Congress on Justice, Governance and Law for Environmental Sustainability. In closing the Conference, UNCSD President Dilma Rousseff (Brazil) stressed that Rio+20 was the most participatory conference in history and was a “global expression of democracy”, demonstrating that multilateralism is a legitimate pathway to build solutions for global problems

Brazil was complemented for its leadership during the Pre-Conference Informal Consultations, during which the organising country developed a revised draft, facilitated three days of discussions, supporting the negotiating process of the draft, and played an important role in facilitating final agreement prior to the opening of Rio+20 itself. On the other hand, criticism arose regarding the overall failure of the multilateral system to deal with sustainable development, as portrayed by the fact that the series of preparatory negotiations was concluded leaving more than half the text of the outcome document open for discussion during the UNCSD. This meant that Brazil’s compilation texts were designed for an optimal rather than an ideal set of outcomes.

The expectations that Rio+20 would significantly alter the international framework, launch new processes and take a bold step in redirecting sustainable development actions, were proved to be not realistic and the UNCSD agreement was characterised as more modest than hoped for or expected. Although some criticized Rio+20 for its failure to make groundbreaking decisions such as establishing a new High Commissioner for Future Generations, upgrading UNEP to the status of an organisation, establishing concrete targets and a “roadmap” for the green economy, others focused on the upcoming real opportunities within the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and other fora to shape the true Rio+20 legacy.

“The Future we Want” outcome document adopted in Rio), in the context of the much debated thematic area of Green Economy, calls for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), at its next session, to decide on designating a body to operationalise the ten-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production (10YFP)., Under the heading of the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD), there are two principal outcomes for which UNGA is also called for to decide on the establishment of a universal intergovernmental high-level political forum to eventually replace the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and on the strengthening of UNEP. UNGA is also called for to decide on the constitution of a working group to develop global sustainable development goals (SDGs) to be agreed by UNGA, and on establishing an intergovernmental process under UNGA to prepare a report proposing options on an effective sustainable development financing strategy. Agreement on a process to develop universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was one of the most important political decisions of the Conference, given its centrality in helping to define the post-2015 development agenda. Further, UNGA is called for to take a decision in two years on the development of an international instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Furthermore, the UN system is encouraged, as appropriate, to support industry, interested governments and relevant stakeholders in developing models for best practice and facilitate action for the integration of sustainability reporting. The outcome also includes text on trade-distorting subsidies, fisheries and fossil fuel subsidies and one paragraph inviting voluntary commitments by all stakeholders to implement concrete actions to promote sustainable development and poverty eradication. By the close of Rio+20, almost 700 pledges had been received with financial commitments from governments, the private sector, civil society and other groups reaching US$513 billion.

Sources: IISD Reporting Services, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) – “The Future we Want”
For further information:
http://www.iisd.ca/download/pdf/enb2751e.pdf
http://www.uncsd2012.org/thefuturewewant.html

European Parliament Releases Report on the “Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development in the Context of the Upcoming Rio+20 Summit”

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A Report on the “Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development in the Context of the Upcoming Rio+20 Summit," was released by the Directorate-General (DG) for Internal Policies of the European Parliament, summarising the current Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD) and the sustainable development governance challenges on the road to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). The Report concludes with recommendations to improve the governance of the sustainable development system.

The Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development is one of the two major topics to be addressed at the forthcoming Rio+20 Summit. Over the last 40 years these frameworks have progressed substantially. The Report identifies the most significant achievements, including the expansion of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the connection between business and sustainable development through Corporate Social Responsibility, the participation of civil society and business in the decision making process, the participation of local, regional and national institutions in sustainable development governance, and the creation of international scientific institutions such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Resource Panel.

Six cross-cutting issues which present challenges to governance for sustainable development are analysed within the frame of reference of the Report:

Lack of integration of the three pillars of sustainable development in global, national and local policy
Proliferation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and fragmentation of international environmental governance
The role of International Financial Institutions (IFIs)
Stakeholder engagement
Leapfrogging towards Sustainable Consumption and Production (The Marrakech Process)*
Governance of the global environmental commons

In the lead up discussions held in the context of the upcoming Summit, there was common agreement that reform of governance structures for sustainable development and environmental protection is greatly needed in order to address the challenges of the 21st century. In that regard, the following reform options are identified:
Option 1: Enhance the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
Option 2: Create an umbrella organisation for sustainable development
Option 3: Create a specialised agency for the environment
Οption 3: Reform the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)
Οption 4: Enhance institutional reforms and streamlining existing structures

The Report acknowledges that, in terms of the likely outcome of the discussions on IFSD “there is little apparent common ground around which to build compromises” and goes on to state that “the current likely scenario is for limited progress”. It concludes by presenting a series of recommendations: 1) promotion of accountability by establishing sustainable development indicators, targets and timetables; 2) integration of sustainable development principles into the operations of the International Financial Institutions; 3) governmental long-term strategic planning and stakeholder involvement in decision-making; 4) use of different governmental mechanisms (such as fiscal policy tools) in order to improve policy coherence and clarify the linkage between Sustainable Development Strategies and government action; 5) strengthening of governance structures beyond the nation-state and government institutions so as to engage stakeholder participation and incorporate non-governmental voices; 6) strengthening science-policy linkages; and 7) establishment of mechanisms to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production.

*Note: The Marrakech Process is a global process which provides a Ten-year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on sustainable consumption and production, as called for by the Johannesburg Plan of Action. The lead managing agencies of the Marrakesh Process are the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).

Sources: IISD Reporting Services, European Parliament Directorate-General for Internal Policies
For further information:
http://uncsd.iisd.org/news/
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201203/20120313ATT40720/20120313ATT40720EN.pdf

Initial Discussions on the “Zero Draft” of the Outcome Document for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20)

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A three-day round of initial negotiations over the proposed (zero draft) outcome document for Rio +20 entitled “The Future we Want” was concluded at the UN Headquarters in New York on 27 January 2012. Member States, United Nations agencies and a variety of civil society actors participated in the first informal round of negotiations, which will be followed by three more negotiating sessions in March, April/May and June in the lead-up to Rio+20 – the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Brazil on 20-22 June this year.

Prior to the January discussions, written comments were submitted by the delegations on the first two sections of the zero draft (the Preamble/Stage Setting and Renewing Political Commitment ) and, as a result, the first round of negotiations revolved around these sections. The submission of written comments on the remaining sections (Green Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication, Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development, and Framework for Action and Follow-Up) was concluded on 29 February 2012. The Secretariat is in the process of developing a compilation document from these comments, which will be used during the first informal-informal negotiations on the draft outcome document, scheduled from 19 to 23 March 2012.

As emphasised by Rio+20 Secretary-General Sha Zukang, the main outcomes of this initial round of negotiations, were the following:

The fact that the zero draft was accepted as a starting point for negotiations and the delegates have begun negotiations was “encouraging”. It is in the hands of governments to make the draft ambitious and action-oriented, and ensure accountability.
The realization that the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) could be one of the most important contributions of Rio +20, provided that they would be defined with a clear timeframe and would give clear direction to build green economies appropriate to national circumstances. The SDGs could help guide a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. The emerged contradicting arguments concerning the relation and possible interconnection between the SDGs and the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals ) require further clarification and a robust framework for action for the SDGs.
There was a call for putting in place a strengthened institutional framework, followed by a request for further guidance on the options.

Source: IISD Reporting Services, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), Zero Draft: The Future We Want

For further information:

http://www.iisd.ca/vol27/enb2716e.html

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?page=view&nr=764&type=230&menu=38

http://goo.gl/PuKzC

Capacity Building Workshop for Major Groups and other Stakeholders on the Road to Rio+20 Negotiating Process

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In preparation for the Rio+20 Conference in June 2012, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) organizes a series of preparatory meetings in order to promote diverse and effective participation of all major groups at all stages of the global negotiating process concerning sustainable development. This process started in November 2011 and its latest event is the Capacity Building Workshop for Major Groups and other Stakeholders which was co-hosted by UN DESA and the Stakeholder Forum and took place on 24 January 2012 in New York with the active participation of more than 200 members representing a wide range of societal actors.

Ms Chantal Line Carpentier, Coordinator for the Major Groups Programme in UN DESA, opened the discussion giving a detailed presentation of the logistics of registration and the format for Rio+20 side events. Representing the Stakeholder Forum, Mr. Jan-Gustav Strandenaes analyzed the potential of substantial participation of Major Groups in the upcoming process, and Mr. Farooq Ulla presented a stakeholder analysis of proposals studied from both the zero draft of the outcome document, as well as the massive compilation document that was composed of more than 600 policy papers submitted by Major Groups, Member States, political groups, Intergovernmental Organizations and other UN system entities.

The capacity building workshop was followed by a “Global Civil Society Workshop on the Zero Draft,” organized by IBON International, (an international division of the IBON Foundation Inc.) One of the key issues discussed in this workshop was the ways in which the engagement from the global South could be encouraged and reinforced. In addition, an informal meeting of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) took place at UN Headquarters (25 to 27 January 2012) to hold initial discussions on the zero draft of the Rio+20 outcome document. Indicative of the rising importance of the public participants’ influence on the negotiating process is the fact that more than 200 delegates from Major Groups participated in the meeting and stakeholder consultations were held alongside the informal-informal governmental negotiating sessions.

As underscored by Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Rio+20 Conference Secretary-General, “Our major groups partners have been active participants in the preparatory process. They have spoken out candidly, and have inspired us with their enthusiasm, hope and ideas. We welcome their contributions, including their submissions to the compilation document.”

Note

As defined in Agenda 21, “the Major Groups” include women, children and youth, indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, the scientific and technological community, and farmers. In addition, the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/236, which refers to the organization of a conference on sustainable development in 2012 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit, also “encourages the active participation of all major groups, as identified in Agenda 21 and further elaborated in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and decisions taken at the eleventh session of the Commission, at all stages of the preparatory process, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Commission as well as its established practices related to the participation and engagement of major groups (Para 21)”.

Sources: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Major Groups Regional and other Capacity Building Workshops
For further information:
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/sustainable/ensure-participation-rio20.html
http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/content/documents/Infosheet%20on%20RegltrainingsAugust16.pdf