earthsummit 2012

1. earthsummit2012 Outcomes from PrepCom1

2. Process Focus – Sustainable Development Goals Short and focussed outcome document. Set of sustainable development goals as extension to MDGs. Integration and Collaboration Avoid duplication, especially with CSD. Promote interagency collaboration with input from relevant UN agencies. Access and Engagement Promote participation and engagement in ‘Spirit of Rio’ New media and web Inputs Governments and Major Groups are being to provide inputs to inform the Secretary General’s Report on the objectives and themes of the conference. Deadline of 31st October 2010.

3. Assessing Progress Spirit of Rio – diverse actors and renewed political commitment. Emphasise ‘3 pillars’ approach.   New Vs Old Commitments - tensions between countries arose on the need for renewed political commitment on existing commitments, and the need for new commitments that reflect the 21st rather than the 20th century. Equity – green economy must include social elements. Not privatisation of natural assets. No new conditionalities. Embrace diverse approaches. Consumption - patterns of production and consumption remain fundamentally Finance – financial support inadequate despite some increases in ODA commitments. Mechanisms needed to enhance accountability to commitments. Coherence - commitments in one area should not adversely affect the ability to meet commitments in other areas e.g. trade Information and Data - gaps on information and data for sustainable development indicators. The Role of the Private Sector - importance of the private sector for achieving sustainable development goals. Public-private partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility

4. New and Emerging Challenges Multiple Crises – not new but multiple crises occurring simultaneously making difficult to respond Challenging the Global Development Model - Reappraise development model and review role of markets Water Resources Management – increasing water scarcity matching increasing demand Education – adult and child education for sustainable development. More emphasis on science, engineering and technology. Less on economics, environmental management. Climate Change – particular challenge for achieving sustainable development – SIDs Global Biodiversity Loss – natural resource depletion, degraded ecosystems

5. Green Economy Green Economy to advance Sustainable Development – ‘pathway to sustainable development’. Green growth interchangeable with green economy Green Jobs and Green Growth – job creation opportunities, green growth more labour-intensive than brown growth. Job losses must result in retraining and social protection. No ‘one size fits all’ – variety of manifestations, dependent on national circumstances. Ecosystem Valuation – emphasises full costs of ecosystem destruction, but must be careful not to ‘marketise’. Economy-Environment Interface – must not neglect social element. Use green economy for livelihoods. Trade – need supporting international environment without protectionism and conditionalities.

6. Green Economy Cntd… Principles – to guide transition to a green economy, roadmap and tool-kit Finance and Stimulus – promoting implementation, assessing investment needs, generating ‘stimulus package’ for developing countries. Study and Research - risks and challenges of green economy: To inform discussions on the green economy further it was proposed that UN DESA, UNEP and other relevant organisations assess the benefits as well as the risks and challenges associated with the transition to the green economy in the following areas: • Macroeconomic policy implications • Potential loss of competitiveness in some industries, loss of comparative advantage of some countries • Risk of green protectionism and trade-distorting green subsidies • Contribution of green economy to poverty eradication.

7. Sustainable Development Governance Three pillars of sustainable development – promote greater convergence Commission on Sustainable Development – strengthen, action-orientated, promoting partnerships, integrating into UN work. More consultation with IFIs. Interagency Co-ordination - greater UN cooperation, interagency co-ordinating mechanism. ‘Unified framework on sustainable development’ Integrated Environmental Governance – IEG incoherent, duplication, reporting burden. Rationalisation, assisting development countries to implement. Consultative process anticipated. National Councils for Sustainable Development – institutional frameworks on SD at national level to promote integration Action-orientated Vs Normative UNEP – UNEP as action-orientated programme like UNDP, or normative, enforcement like WTO Finance – adequate funds to support institutional framework.

8. Country Positions Green Economy Supportive: Barbados, China, EU, Indonesia, Norway, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, FAO, UNEP, UNIDO, Workers and Trade Unions Unclear: Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, G77 and China, Mauritius, Mexico, Uruguay, Women, NGOs, Local Authorities Sceptical/Negative: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Japan, Indigenous Peoples   Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development   Supportive: Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, EU, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland, USA, UNEP Unclear: China, Workers and Trade Unions, Science and Technology Sceptical/Negative: NGOs