Rio+20, National Policy Making and Sustainable Development ...

Rio+20, National Policy Making and Sustainable Development Policies in
Conflict-Afflicted Courtiers: The case of Lebanon”

Rio+20 Conference and the Zero Draft:
Concepts and Opportunities

Dr. Riccardo Mesiano
Sustainable Development and Productivity Division

May 2nd, 2012



Zero Draft Outcome Document

Zero Draft
Outcome
Document

Zero Draft Outcome Document

In March 2011, the Preparatory Committee for the
United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development (UNCSD) requested the Bureau to
initiate:

 An open, transparent and inclusive process
 Led by member States
 Prepared in a timely manner
 Based upon all preparatory inputs
 To serve as the basis for an outcome document for the

Conference.

Zero Draft Outcome Document

The second Prep Com Meeting invited all member
States, relevant United Nations system organizations, and
relevant stakeholders to provide inputs by 1 November
2011

For inclusion in a compilation text to be presented by the
Bureau to member States and other stakeholders for their
comments and further guidance at the Second Inter-
sessional Meeting on 15-16 December 2011

 Zero Draft, to be presented for consideration by Member
States and other stakeholders by January 2012

Zero Draft Outcome Document

Contributions
by
Stakeholders

Zero Draft Outcome Document

Preamble/stage setting • Set out the shared vision of governments

Renewing Political Commitment • Recall previous commitments and set the stage for
further action

Green Economy in the context of • Frame the context, address the challenges and
sustainable development and opportunities, recognize the need for policy options,
poverty eradication tools and experience sharing, and outline a
framework for action
Institutional Framework for
Sustainable Development • Set out the vision of what the framework should be
for international governance on sustainable
development, particularly within the UN system

Framework for action and follow up • Identify priority thematic areas, ways of accelerating
and measuring progress, and means of
implementation

Zero Draft Outcome Document

Zero Draft Outcome Document

I. Preamble/stage setting: Vision
II. Renewable Political Commitment
III. Green Economy in the context of sustainable

development and poverty eradication
IV. Institutional Framework for Sustainable

Development
V. Framework for action and follow up

I – Preamble/Stage Setting

– To work together for a prosperous, secure and sustainable
future for our people and our planet.

– To free humanity from hunger and want through the eradication
of all forms of poverty and strive for societies which are just,
equitable and inclusive, for economic stability and growth that
benefits all.

– To accelerate progress in achieving the internationally agreed
development goals, including the Millennium Development
Goals by 2015, thus improving the lives of the poorest people.

– To enhancing cooperation and addressing the ongoing and
emerging issues in ways which will enhance opportunities for all.

– Urge bold and decisive action on the objective and themes
for the conference.

II – Renewing Political commitment

A. Reaffirming Rio principles and past action
plans

B. Assessing the progress to date and the
remaining gaps in the implementation of
the outcomes of the major summits on
sustainable development and addressing
new and emerging challenges (Integration,
Implementation, Coherence)

C. Engaging major groups

D. Framework for action

III - Green Economy in the context of sustainable
development and poverty eradication

A. Framing the context of the green
economy, challenges and opportunities

B. Toolkits and experience sharing

C. Framework for action

IV. Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development

A. Strengthening/reforming/integrating the
three pillars

B. GA, ECOSOC, CSD, SDC proposal

C. UNEP, IFI, UN at country level

D. Regional, national and local

V. Framework for Action and Follow-up

A. Priority/key/thematic/cross-sectoral issues and areas
– Food security/Water/Energy/Cities/Green jobs-social
inclusion/Oceans and Seas, SIDS/Natural
disasters/Climate Change/Forests and biodiversity/Land
degradation and desertification/Chemicals and
waste/Sustainable Consumption and Production/
Education/Gender equality

B.Accelerating and measuring progress

C.Means of implementation
-Finance/Science and technology/Capacity building/Trade

Zero Draft Outcome Document

Country
Positions

Areas of convergence

Reaffirming GE as a means to
commitment to Rio achieve SD and a
decision-making
principles framework (rather than a
rigid set of rules)

Respecting countries’ Addressing the social
realities, conditions pillar
and priorities

Avoiding
protectionism and aid

conditionalities

Areas of divergence

G77 + China EU Africa LDCs

• Concrete • Accelerate • Ensure • Support for

mechanisms for transition to GE + participation of finance,

the transfer of roadmap DCs technology

technology • Relying on all • GE and poverty, transfer and

• Commitments on sources of sustainable land capacity building

ODA finance, including use, and food for LDCs

• Reform of the domestic resource security • Investment in

global financial mobilization • Desertification, rural infrastructure

system • Private sector drought, and land • Support for food

• Right of peoples involvement degradation security

to self- •Facilitating trade • Economic • Reducing/

determination in environmental governance to cancelling LDC

goods, facilitate access to debt

technologies and funding • Open markets

services for LDC products

•Democracy, good

governance, rule

of law

Summary of Arab position

General Green economy is NOT

• Adherence to the Rio principles and • An alternative for sustainable
called for developed countries to development, but rather a tool to
honour commitments achieve it;

• Integrating the economic, social and • A standard model applicable to the
environmental pillars of sustainable region as a whole – national
development definitions of GE;

• Arab regional integration • A pretext to create trade barriers
considered as imperative and environmental standards that
are difficult to implement;
• Occupation and conflict perceived
as a major challenge • A basis and precondition for
providing financial support and aid
to recipient countries;

• A means to restrict the right of
developing countries to utilize their
natural resources according to their
own development priorities;

• A tool to exempt developed
countries from honouring their
commitments towards developing
countries

Position of the EU

EU Position 1/2

• Emphasis on broad public participation: Member states to remain

open towards major groups, civil society and the private sector

• Concerns about overall balance of the Zero Draft & adequacy
of coverage of some issues:

– Acceptable as a basis to start negotiations
– Outcome should be concise and operational
– Goals should be in line with MDGs and post-2015 agenda
– Crucial to embrace a multi-stakeholder approach

• Concerning Green Economy:

– Transition offers positive opportunities for SD
– Need more elaboration on economic & social dimensions
– Inclusive economy needs international, regional, national, & sub-

national, bottom-up initiatives
– Roadmap approach that links all levels of action to be made clearer

in the document

EU Position 2/2

• Concerning IFSD:

– Need for improved governance for SD, increased efficiency, and
reducing overlap among mandates & processes

– Support the establishment of a fully-fledged environmental
organization as a UN specialized agency based on UNEP

– Enhanced synergies on Multilateral Environmental Agreements
(MEAs)

• Need to address social & economic development issues:

– Democracy, good governance, human rights and the rule of law
– Gender equality, women’s empowerment, population-related issues
– Employment, equity, health, education, resource efficiency

• EU still committed to ODA but encourage reliance on ALL
sources of finance including domestic resource mobilization

• Facilitate trade in EGS & technology, through reduction/
elimination of tariff & non-tariff barriers

Position of the G77 and China

G77 & China Position 1/2

• Emphasis on ensuring participation of developing countries
• Zero draft lacks vision, ambition, balance, and action oriented

language and fails to reflect the Positions of the G77 and
China

– G77 & China stress the principle of common & differentiated responsibility
– Rio should not retract or re-negotiate previous commitments
– Document did not mention people under occupation
– Need to produce assessment/ stocktaking of why commitments were not

met (Agenda 21, JPOI…)

• Concerning Green Economy:

– Must look at respective capabilities & national priorities
– No consensual agreement on GE definition
– Must address economic & social dimensions, ensure equity & inclusion
– Multi-sectoral approach with tools to catalyze international cooperation

G77 & China Position 2/2

• Concerning IFSD:

– Focus on integration of the three pillars of SD, Agenda 21 & JPOI
– Strengthen role of government, but participate with stakeholders
– Action- & result-oriented approach
– Be consistent with democracy, universality, transparency…

• Need to address social & economic development issues:

– Poverty eradication, social inclusion & equity
– Enhance productive capacities, effective social policies, food security
– Gender equality, women’s empowerment, health & population
– Oceans, seas, and SIDS

• Need for stable financial resources & increase ODA
commitments by developed countries + reform global financial
system

• Facilitate innovation & technology transfer to developing
countries

Position of Jordan and KSA

Jordan Position

• Emphasis on incorporating the linkages between health and
sustainable development

• Emphasis on incorporating the outcomes of the 2009 UN
conference on the impacts of the financial and economic crises
on development

• Introduce a common ethical framework to guide actions
towards SD and building upon Rio principles, JPOI and the
Earth Charter

• Outcome should be action-oriented and go beyond re-
affirmation of past commitments

• Important to underline the three pillars of SD
• More time needs to be allocated for negotiations

KSA Position

• Focus on the principle of common but differentiated
responsibility

• Right to development and eradicating poverty remains
overriding challenge

– Need to abide by previous commitments to eradicate poverty,
change consumption & production patterns, and manage natural
resources

• Framework of action should address the means for
implementation & respect country specificities

• Concerns on Green Economy:

– GE not to undermine SD concepts or Rio principles, esp. principle 12
– GE not to be used for trade protectionism or development assistance

conditionality

• Need to address ineffectiveness of the means of
implementation, renew political will, & allocate the appropriate
resources

Position of the Regional
Commissions

Regional Commissions Position 1/2

• Strongly focus on implementation issues through an action-
oriented outcome document based on Rio principles, esp.
principle 10

• Emphasis on integration of the three pillars of SD

– Importance of a multi-sectoral and a multi-disciplinary approach

• Regional and sub-regional cooperation critical to
implement an effective SD agenda

– Active cooperation among stakeholders to assist country
implementation

• More attention to be given to the institutional framework at
regional and national levels + coherent linkages with global
level

• ECOSOC has a important role and could be strengthened
accordingly.

Regional Commissions Position 2/2

• Need for developing & strengthening SD goals & indicators
incorporating the economic, social, & environmental
dimensions

– Inclusion & equity to underpin any measurement framework
– Include women and youth
– Take into account regional & national specificities

• South-South cooperation to complement North-South
cooperation on the transfer and access to technology &
traditional knowledge

• Sustainable transport needs to be addressed in GE context
• Regional Coordination Mechanism mandated by ECOSOC &

chaired by the RC’s should continue to act as a platform for
collaboration
• RC’s are committed to further accompany the efforts of the
member states related to SD agenda

Summary Matrix 1/3

On General Vision EU G77 + China Arab Countries Regional
of the Zero Draft (Jordan & KSA) Commissions
Concerns over adequacy - Must ensure
On Rio+20 of coverage but may participation of - Need more time for - Must focus on
Outcomes serve as basis to start Developing Countries negotiations implementation issues
discussions - Lacks balance and - Need to address weak
Participation vision implementation, renewal - Need to be action
- Need to be concise & - Did not mention people of political will oriented
operational & in line under occupation - Must look at regional &
with MDGs - Need to consider national specificities
- Multi-stakeholder - Not to retract previous impacts of financial
approach commitments crises - Need to emphasize
- Need to assess why - Need to be action regional and sub-
- Emphasize public commitments were not oriented regional cooperation
participation met - Need ethical - South- South to
- MCs to remain open to - Must look at national framework complement North-
stakeholders specificities - Must look at national South
specificities
Strengthen government
role but cooperate with
stakeholders

Summary Matrix 2/3

EU G77 + China Arab Countries Regional
(Jordan & KSA) Commissions

Common & Focus Focus
Differentiated
Responsibility Focus / Multi-sectoral Focus Focus/ Multi-sectoral
SD Three Pillars approach - Not to undermine Rio approach
integration principles
- Positive opportunities - No agreed definition - Not to be used as trade - More importance
Green Economy for SD barrier or ODA should be given to
- Roadmap approach conditions regional & sub-regional
cooperation + linkages to
Institutional - Need for improved - Should be action - Need to abide by global
Framework governance oriented commitments for - Strengthen ECOSOC &
- Support establishment Poverty Eradication RCM
of Environmental - Improve production &
organization consumption patterns - Develop & strengthen
- Synergy on MEAs SD indicators

Include Economic & Need to address in SD - Need to improve
Social Dimensions /GE context productive capacities
- Social policies
- Food security

Summary Matrix 3/3

EU G77 + China Arab Countries Regional
(Jordan & KSA) Commissions

Democracy, good Need to address in SD Democracy, transparency Emphasis on women &
governance, rule of context youth
law Emphasis Focus on linkages Focus on equity &
Need to address in SD between Health & SD inclusion
Gender/ Youth context Focus on equity and
inclusion
Population, Need to address in SD
employment, context - Need for stable
education, health financial assistance
Increase ODA
Finance/ Official Committed but commitments
Development encourage domestic
Assistance (ODA) resource mobilization Emphasis

Reduction/ elimination

Technology transfer of tariff and non tarif f

barriers

Trade & tariffs Reduction/ elimination
to improve trade in EGS

Thank You!

[email protected]
www.escwa.un.org