H.E. Mr. John Ashe
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OPENING STATEMENT BY H .E. JOHN ASHE
CHAIRMAN, THIRTEENTH SESSION
11 April 2005
Mr Under-Secretary-General,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are now beginning our first Policy Session under the new programme of work agreed at the
11th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in 2003 . We will therefore be
setting a precedent for the Commission . In fact I would note that other Commissions are also
moving toward the new organization of work and will be watching our process with great
interest. It is incumbent upon us .to set a good example for them .
Let me run through a brief review of where we have been since CSD-11 and where we stand
today.
At the CSD-12 Review Session in 2004, the Commission examined constraints and obstacles,
best practices and possible approaches for implementation of the goals and targets set out in
Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation for the thematic cluster of water,
sanitation and human settlements .
At that session, delegations reported many impressive initiatives, often involving cooperation
between governments and other stakeholders . The Partnerships Fair and the. Learning Centre,
which were for the first time integral parts of the session, also contributed to a rich exchange of
information on innovative approaches and best practices .
However, the CSD-12 Review Session also concluded that efforts to date are still far below what
is needed to reach the goals and targets agreed to in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, as
well as in the relevant Millennium Development Goals for water, sanitation and human
2
settlements . The challenges, particularly those facing developing countries, are still immense .
The persistence of poverty and the lack of financial resources, technology and capacity were
cited as major challenges and constraints .
The CSD-12 Review Session also noted that delivery of water and sanitation services, as well as
development and maintenance of other infrastructure, were largely a responsibility of local
authorities . Lack of financial and technical capacity at the local level is therefore a major
constraint . Improving cooperation and partnerships among stakeholders and enhancing the role
of women in managing water and sanitation systems, and in urban development in general,
remain as continuing challenges . In rural areas and in urban slums and informal settlements,
improved cooperation between governments, local authorities and community organizations is
critical for expanding services to poor people.
At the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting, in February-March of this year, we examined
policy options and possible actions for overcoming those key constraints and obstacles impeding
implementation . That meeting identified a range of policies and activities that have proven
effective in implementation, as reflected in the Chair's summary of the discussions, as well as in
the accompanying user-friendly matrix prepared by the Secretariat . The IPM outcome can be
seen as a valuable resource from which countries can draw as they develop implementation
strategies that meet their specific conditions, needs and priorities .
Our charge now at CSD-13, with the productive outcomes of CSD-12 and the Intergovernmental
Preparatory Meeting in hand, is to decide on measures that will move us forward, that will have a
measurable impact and that will prove that we can 'fundamentally make a difference .
[particularly in terms of international cooperation] .
At CSD-11, I would remind delegates, we agreed that the Policy Session of the two-year actionoriented,
implementation cycle would take policy decisions on practical measures and options to
expedite implementation . The goals and targets agreed in Johannesburg for water, sanitation and
human settlements, which are largely included in the Millennium Development Goals,s include
reducing by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water, or basic
3
sanitation, developing integrated water resource management and water efficiency plans, and
improving the lives of 100 million slum dwellers . My vision for CSD-13 is to take decisions on
substantial practical measures - perhaps Just a few - with real commitments of resources to
implement them . Not only would this b 0ma)'or contribution to the September MDG Summit but
it would set a strong precedent for the future work of this Commission in the years to come, as
well as setting an example for other functional Commissions of the United Nations .
International cooperation is another area where we could make some decisions . In particular, we
might look at how the United Nations system can be more effectively organized to support the
efforts of Member States, particularly the developing countries, to a ake k~t 1o make
the most effective use of the resources that can be made available, both nationally and
internationally . I believe that we have established, in our consideration of water, sanitation and
human settlements over the past year, that international efforts to address the increasing water
scarcity are fragmented, that insufficient international attention and resources have been given to
sanitation, hygiene and wastewater treatment, and that the urgent problems of the cities of the
developing world - where virtually all future population growth will occur - are not being
adequately addressed. I would invite delegates to consider what decisions or recommendations
we might make that would ensure that the United Nations system, including our own secretariat
in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, better serves the Member States .
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have a daunting challenge ahead of us during these next two week . But, we also have an
opportunity to make a real difference in expediting the implementation of sustainable
development. My contacts with governments and delegations over the past year have convinced
me that the members of the Commission are prepared to make a break with business-as-usual ;
they are prepared to focus on practical and achievable decisions ; and they are prepared to make
commitments .
I am looking forward to working with you all over the next two weeks to achieve these goals .
OPENING STATEMENT BY H .E. JOHN ASHE
CHAIRMAN, THIRTEENTH SESSION
11 April 2005
Mr Under-Secretary-General,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are now beginning our first Policy Session under the new programme of work agreed at the
11th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in 2003 . We will therefore be
setting a precedent for the Commission . In fact I would note that other Commissions are also
moving toward the new organization of work and will be watching our process with great
interest. It is incumbent upon us .to set a good example for them .
Let me run through a brief review of where we have been since CSD-11 and where we stand
today.
At the CSD-12 Review Session in 2004, the Commission examined constraints and obstacles,
best practices and possible approaches for implementation of the goals and targets set out in
Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation for the thematic cluster of water,
sanitation and human settlements .
At that session, delegations reported many impressive initiatives, often involving cooperation
between governments and other stakeholders . The Partnerships Fair and the. Learning Centre,
which were for the first time integral parts of the session, also contributed to a rich exchange of
information on innovative approaches and best practices .
However, the CSD-12 Review Session also concluded that efforts to date are still far below what
is needed to reach the goals and targets agreed to in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, as
well as in the relevant Millennium Development Goals for water, sanitation and human
2
settlements . The challenges, particularly those facing developing countries, are still immense .
The persistence of poverty and the lack of financial resources, technology and capacity were
cited as major challenges and constraints .
The CSD-12 Review Session also noted that delivery of water and sanitation services, as well as
development and maintenance of other infrastructure, were largely a responsibility of local
authorities . Lack of financial and technical capacity at the local level is therefore a major
constraint . Improving cooperation and partnerships among stakeholders and enhancing the role
of women in managing water and sanitation systems, and in urban development in general,
remain as continuing challenges . In rural areas and in urban slums and informal settlements,
improved cooperation between governments, local authorities and community organizations is
critical for expanding services to poor people.
At the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting, in February-March of this year, we examined
policy options and possible actions for overcoming those key constraints and obstacles impeding
implementation . That meeting identified a range of policies and activities that have proven
effective in implementation, as reflected in the Chair's summary of the discussions, as well as in
the accompanying user-friendly matrix prepared by the Secretariat . The IPM outcome can be
seen as a valuable resource from which countries can draw as they develop implementation
strategies that meet their specific conditions, needs and priorities .
Our charge now at CSD-13, with the productive outcomes of CSD-12 and the Intergovernmental
Preparatory Meeting in hand, is to decide on measures that will move us forward, that will have a
measurable impact and that will prove that we can 'fundamentally make a difference .
[particularly in terms of international cooperation] .
At CSD-11, I would remind delegates, we agreed that the Policy Session of the two-year actionoriented,
implementation cycle would take policy decisions on practical measures and options to
expedite implementation . The goals and targets agreed in Johannesburg for water, sanitation and
human settlements, which are largely included in the Millennium Development Goals,s include
reducing by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water, or basic
3
sanitation, developing integrated water resource management and water efficiency plans, and
improving the lives of 100 million slum dwellers . My vision for CSD-13 is to take decisions on
substantial practical measures - perhaps Just a few - with real commitments of resources to
implement them . Not only would this b 0ma)'or contribution to the September MDG Summit but
it would set a strong precedent for the future work of this Commission in the years to come, as
well as setting an example for other functional Commissions of the United Nations .
International cooperation is another area where we could make some decisions . In particular, we
might look at how the United Nations system can be more effectively organized to support the
efforts of Member States, particularly the developing countries, to a ake k~t 1o make
the most effective use of the resources that can be made available, both nationally and
internationally . I believe that we have established, in our consideration of water, sanitation and
human settlements over the past year, that international efforts to address the increasing water
scarcity are fragmented, that insufficient international attention and resources have been given to
sanitation, hygiene and wastewater treatment, and that the urgent problems of the cities of the
developing world - where virtually all future population growth will occur - are not being
adequately addressed. I would invite delegates to consider what decisions or recommendations
we might make that would ensure that the United Nations system, including our own secretariat
in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, better serves the Member States .
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have a daunting challenge ahead of us during these next two week . But, we also have an
opportunity to make a real difference in expediting the implementation of sustainable
development. My contacts with governments and delegations over the past year have convinced
me that the members of the Commission are prepared to make a break with business-as-usual ;
they are prepared to focus on practical and achievable decisions ; and they are prepared to make
commitments .
I am looking forward to working with you all over the next two weeks to achieve these goals .