Major Group: Business & Industry
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
The current session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) comes at
a critical juncture. Many of the subjects under consideration have been in the past year part
of constructive deliberations at the UNEP Governing Council, SAICM and the Basel
Convention, among others. And as noted in the Chair?s draft negotiating document, the
global community increasingly turns its attention to assessing progress on implementation as
a basis for framing a vision for the Rio+20 meeting
This CSD cycle presents a cluster of issues which have a multi sector and multidisciplinary
significance for business. We regard them as linked across value and supply chains, with
relevance to SCP and greening economies and commercial activities in the context of
sustainable development. Although each is unique, and requires tailored policies and
initiatives, transport, mining, and chemicals sectors have economy-wide relevance and
operate in global value and supply chains.
Business and industry urges governments to support policies that will foster green
technologies, production methods and livelihoods in all areas in the context of a return to
economic growth. In particular, Business and industry support:
With respect to Mining: incentives to advance safety performance that balance regulatory,
enforcement and voluntary activities; the clarification of boundaries of responsibility between
companies, government, and civil society organizations on how to address community health
issues: a regulatory context for artisanal and small-scale mining and large scale mining to coexist;
and collaborative approaches to ensure that governments deliver on their duty to
protect human rights;
With respect to Chemicals: B&I supports SAICM as the core lifecycle forum for achieving
the 2020 goal for sound chemicals management se at WSSD. We endorse SIACM?s
lifecycle approach to chemicals and the strengthening of SAICM including through adequate
resourcing as an innovative model of multi-stakeholder framework to advance sustainable
development. We support private-public partnerships as a catalyst for improved
implementation. An example of this is UNEP?s Senior Experts Resource Group. Sustainable
development for chemicals is best achieved through a combination of transparent, costeffective,
science-based regulations and voluntary initiatives. Industry led initiatives ? such
as the International Council on Chemical Associations (ICCA)?s Responsible Care®, and
Global Product Strategy and CropLife?s International Obsolete Stocks Programme, and, the
International Council on Mining and Metals: Minerals and Metals Management 2020 Action
International Chamber of Commerce
Plan ? can be effective instruments to achieve sustainable development and institutional
frameworks should encourage their further development;
With respect to SCP: international efforts should avoid duplicating or undermining existing
policies and programs and make markets work for sustainable development. Importantly, the
global SCP program should be in support of national and regional initiatives that advance us
toward a more sustainable future and not be driven by top-down prescriptions that would
discourage investment in SCP. SCP should encourage innovation, eco-design and market
introduction of environmentally preferable products, cleaner and leaner production and
improved supply chain efficiency, which is particularly imperative to the agricultural sector in
order to improve farmer?s access to inputs and knowledge and maximize the most efficient
use of resources . Information on environmentally aware choices for consumption, including
through eco-labeling that evolves from consultations with industry stakeholders; and
minimizing the environmental footprint associated with post-consumer waste through
integrated post-consumer waste management systems and policies should also be
supported. These all help to advance us toward a more sustainable future;
With respect to Transport: Technology innovation and deployment, investment in existing
and new infrastructure are all critical for reducing emissions for all modes of transport. B&I
priorities include: enhanced efficiency to save fuel and reduce emissions in all modes of
transport; biofuels sourced from second or new generation biomass, which should be
produced sustainably to minimize impacts on food crops and freshwater usage;
With respect to Waste Management: B&I supports flexible, socially acceptable,
environmentally sound and cost-effective integrated waste management, based on sound
scientific data, including risk and cost-benefit analyses. Priorities include: strengthened
business and multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships to address e-waste issues, such
as the Global e-Sustainability Initiative, which aims to ensure these products are disposed of
responsibly and material is reused or recycled wherever possible; global trade in recyclable
materials and access to recycling facilities worldwide is essential to economic development
and reduction in final disposal. Restrictions in the Basel convention that prevent such trade
and the reasonable and integrated use of recycling facilities should be removed; the use of
alternative and environmentally recommended fuels, for example biomass resulting from the
pulp and paper industry, should not be restricted.
We look forward to the upcoming negotiations, exchange of information, and ideas for
stronger and broader collaboration and implementation. Thank you for your attention.
The current session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) comes at
a critical juncture. Many of the subjects under consideration have been in the past year part
of constructive deliberations at the UNEP Governing Council, SAICM and the Basel
Convention, among others. And as noted in the Chair?s draft negotiating document, the
global community increasingly turns its attention to assessing progress on implementation as
a basis for framing a vision for the Rio+20 meeting
This CSD cycle presents a cluster of issues which have a multi sector and multidisciplinary
significance for business. We regard them as linked across value and supply chains, with
relevance to SCP and greening economies and commercial activities in the context of
sustainable development. Although each is unique, and requires tailored policies and
initiatives, transport, mining, and chemicals sectors have economy-wide relevance and
operate in global value and supply chains.
Business and industry urges governments to support policies that will foster green
technologies, production methods and livelihoods in all areas in the context of a return to
economic growth. In particular, Business and industry support:
With respect to Mining: incentives to advance safety performance that balance regulatory,
enforcement and voluntary activities; the clarification of boundaries of responsibility between
companies, government, and civil society organizations on how to address community health
issues: a regulatory context for artisanal and small-scale mining and large scale mining to coexist;
and collaborative approaches to ensure that governments deliver on their duty to
protect human rights;
With respect to Chemicals: B&I supports SAICM as the core lifecycle forum for achieving
the 2020 goal for sound chemicals management se at WSSD. We endorse SIACM?s
lifecycle approach to chemicals and the strengthening of SAICM including through adequate
resourcing as an innovative model of multi-stakeholder framework to advance sustainable
development. We support private-public partnerships as a catalyst for improved
implementation. An example of this is UNEP?s Senior Experts Resource Group. Sustainable
development for chemicals is best achieved through a combination of transparent, costeffective,
science-based regulations and voluntary initiatives. Industry led initiatives ? such
as the International Council on Chemical Associations (ICCA)?s Responsible Care®, and
Global Product Strategy and CropLife?s International Obsolete Stocks Programme, and, the
International Council on Mining and Metals: Minerals and Metals Management 2020 Action
International Chamber of Commerce
Plan ? can be effective instruments to achieve sustainable development and institutional
frameworks should encourage their further development;
With respect to SCP: international efforts should avoid duplicating or undermining existing
policies and programs and make markets work for sustainable development. Importantly, the
global SCP program should be in support of national and regional initiatives that advance us
toward a more sustainable future and not be driven by top-down prescriptions that would
discourage investment in SCP. SCP should encourage innovation, eco-design and market
introduction of environmentally preferable products, cleaner and leaner production and
improved supply chain efficiency, which is particularly imperative to the agricultural sector in
order to improve farmer?s access to inputs and knowledge and maximize the most efficient
use of resources . Information on environmentally aware choices for consumption, including
through eco-labeling that evolves from consultations with industry stakeholders; and
minimizing the environmental footprint associated with post-consumer waste through
integrated post-consumer waste management systems and policies should also be
supported. These all help to advance us toward a more sustainable future;
With respect to Transport: Technology innovation and deployment, investment in existing
and new infrastructure are all critical for reducing emissions for all modes of transport. B&I
priorities include: enhanced efficiency to save fuel and reduce emissions in all modes of
transport; biofuels sourced from second or new generation biomass, which should be
produced sustainably to minimize impacts on food crops and freshwater usage;
With respect to Waste Management: B&I supports flexible, socially acceptable,
environmentally sound and cost-effective integrated waste management, based on sound
scientific data, including risk and cost-benefit analyses. Priorities include: strengthened
business and multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships to address e-waste issues, such
as the Global e-Sustainability Initiative, which aims to ensure these products are disposed of
responsibly and material is reused or recycled wherever possible; global trade in recyclable
materials and access to recycling facilities worldwide is essential to economic development
and reduction in final disposal. Restrictions in the Basel convention that prevent such trade
and the reasonable and integrated use of recycling facilities should be removed; the use of
alternative and environmentally recommended fuels, for example biomass resulting from the
pulp and paper industry, should not be restricted.
We look forward to the upcoming negotiations, exchange of information, and ideas for
stronger and broader collaboration and implementation. Thank you for your attention.