Inter-linkages and cross-cutting issues, including means of implementation:
comments and discussions on policy options and possible actions contained in the
Chairman?s draft negotiating document
Thank you, Chair.
Italy fully supports and aligns itself with the statement made by Germany on behalf of
the European Union, and the proposal for elements that should be included in the
CSD15 outcomes.
The decision of working on thematic issues during the two years session of review and
policy gives to countries the opportunity to better identify the clear and strong interlinkages
between each issue and define the appropriate way forward to address the cross
cutting aspects.
A complex point of view and a systemic approach both to the problems and the solutions
needs to be implemented into this policy session. It is very important to focus on these
key areas to increase the awareness of our task and better plan future steps forward.
Means of implementation and cross-cutting issues, as identified by CSD-11, show that
sectoral policies have significant effects also into each of the different sectors and
aspects.
Italy believes that an overarching approach to achieve progress in the field of industrial
development, energy, and consequently air pollution and climate change, resides in
changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns.
Under the umbrella of the broad concept of education for all as a life-long learning
process and considering the key role of education as an essential instrument to achieve
sustainable development, Italy had the pleasure to launch at the past fourteenth session
of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, the Marrakech Task Force on
Education for Sustainable Consumption in order to ensure ongoing contribution to,
foster progress and support the ten year framework of programmes for sustainable
consumption and production, through long term investments in terms of sustainability,
culture and awareness on an equal gender basis.
Today, a year has passed, and again it is my pleasure to inform this Commission that the
structure of the TF has been set up. The first International meeting was held in Genova
(16-17 April, 2007) with the participation of over 100 delegates representing national
governments and regional and international agencies, NGOs, academic and private
sector and members from local authorities.
The Italian Task Force now provides a bridge between the Marrakech process and the
UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development, integrating with other different
processes like the UNECE Strategy for ESD, by focusing the education debates on
Sustainable Consumption issues.
The ambition of the MTF to engage institutional authorities and relevant stakeholders,
together with the private sector, was accomplished and the work is now focused on
finding ways for introducing SC into the national education curricula. and considering
education for sustainable consumption as a means of implementation applicable within
the framework of sectoral strategies.
The MTF on ESC will welcome interested countries to join the TF with the shared aim
to provide technical assistance to help countries to leap-frog the obstacles and address
the negative effects of unsustainable patterns of consumption and production.
Thank you.
