UNEP
We are all here to work together towards attaining the goals set in Rio and Johannesburg, and to define the most effective ways to cooperate in order to achieve sustainable development.
UNEP has been listening attentively to what delegations have had to say over the past few days, and while there are many actions required, it is clear that a number of common challenges are shared ? for example, in terms of finance; the need for capacity building, and technology transfer; and gaps in information or data to design policies and actions. The need for increased cooperation has also been highlighted throughout.
Beyond these challenges are numerous opportunities. I have heard delegations from all over the world stress the potential contribution of the five sectors and themes to economic growth, development and poverty eradication.
How can we overcome the barriers identified? How can we make the most of existing knowledge, technologies and resources?
Throughout the discussions this week, many delegations have shared examples of success stories, with a number of interventions stressing the importance of cooperation, especially through partnerships. In order to break down the barriers to achieving sustainable development, we should pool resources, build on existing experiences and develop innovative tools and partnerships.
UNEP is already cooperating with a number of other UN agencies and other stakeholders on a number of joint initiatives and partnerships to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Let me list some of our initiatives in the five themes of this CSD cycle.
Transport:
Transport is a sector where public - private approaches can work well - some of the most successful transport programs have taken this form. For example the UNEP-led Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles was launched at the WSSD in Johannesburg
in 2002. Today it comprises over 90 partners, including Governments, civil society, international organizations and institutions of higher learning. The Partnership aims to support developing countries in their efforts to improve fuel and vehicle technologies that reduce air pollution.
Further initiatives include:
?
the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI), led jointly with the FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society, International Energy Agency, and International Transport Forum, which will work towards the improvement of average fuel efficiency by 50% worldwide by 2050; and
?
the Share the Road Initiative - a joint initiative of UNEP, the FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society and a growing list of partner organizations. The aim is to improve safe access to sustainable transport by advocating road design and finance that is inclusive of all users.
Mining:
UNEP is cooperating with ICA and ICMM, but there is no partnership so far.
The feasibility of launching a ?Global Initiative for Sustainable Mining? should be considered, with the involvement of the relevant UN agencies, in partnership with key industry, public institutions and NGOs. The overall purpose of such an initiative would be to:
i.
Facilitate policy dialogue between stakeholders
ii.
Assist the development of sustainable mining regimes
iii.
Promote the development of product standards
iv.
Encourage increased and efficient reuse and recycling of metals and mineral products.
Chemicals:
UNEP?s chemicals work is characterized by open intergovernmental and multistakeholder activities, such as the Strategic Approach on International Chemicals Management (SAICM), and mercury negotiations with its Open-Ended Working groups. Most governments are already actively involved in our work, so are the majority of civil society organizations linked with various aspects of chemicals management.
The inter-agency coordinating group on chemicals (IOMC), of which UNEP is a co-founder and plays a key role, was established as a result of the Rio conference. SAICM, which is endorsed and supported by many governments, business and major groups, was a response to recommendations from the Johannesburg Summit. The links between our work programme and the CSD are therefore clear. SAICM has been mentioned by numerous delegations during the past few days as a good example of an open and effective cooperation on chemicals management.
UNEP and UNDP are working closely in many developing countries to assist them to do this, working in an inter-ministerial context in these countries (with the ministries of planning, finance and environment, among others).
Capacity building and data access have been highlighted as challenges over the past few days, and this forms an important part of UNEP?s Chemicals work programme, through its collaboration with the Centre on International Environmental Law (CIEL) chemicals programme.
UNEP is also supporting current efforts to promote synergies between the chemicals MEAs, which will enhance the capacity to implement the various obligations under these conventions.
The CSD process provides an opportunity to consider the wider international governance structure for sound management of chemicals beyond the lifetime of the Strategic Approach. This includes the possibility to develop a global structure for implementing global policy actions on chemicals of concern and to promote a proactive approach to the management of chemicals in order to avoid potential effects on human health and environment.
Waste:
There are opportunities for converting waste into resources. We need to further develop partnerships in order to mobilise the information, technical expertise and financial resources required to implement waste management systems.
?
With this aim, UNEP recently launched a Global Platform on Waste, which will be a coalition of international agencies, governments, the private sector and various fora including inter-governmental, public-private, and nongovernmental fora. The GPW will be open-ended and will address many of the issues raised at the CSD, and allow for the exchange of experiences and practices/policies. It will also provide technical and financial support to implement national and local action plans on integrated solid waste management.
?
Many delegates raised strong concerns about the increasing problems caused by electronic waste. UNEP has also developed a methodology for assessment of e-waste volumes and hazards and has applied it through a demonstration project in Cambodia. However, we also need to establish an international framework to address the transboundary movement of e-waste. This is an example of the kind of working group that could be established under the Global Platform on waste.
Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP):
UNEP has been coordinating with UNDESA the Marrakech Process on SCP since 2003. The Marrakech Process has developed good SCP practices, policies and tools, and new and innovative mechanisms to support SCP implementation at all levels (national, regional and global), involving governments and a wide network of stakeholders. These tangible outcomes were achieved with modest resources.
Within the Marrakech Process we have been working with various UN agencies as well as with most major groups and stakeholders developing joint projects and partnerships. Let me highlight some of them:
1.
Capacity building for sustainable public procurement in developing countries: This is a UNEP managed project, supported by Switzerland, the European Commission and the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie, involving Mauritius, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Uruguay, Chile and Lebanon. The project will enable these countries to design and implement SPP policies and further refine policy recommendations on SPP. The project has also delivered six regional trainings for 130 procurement experts from 50 countries.
o
The Task Force on Sustainable Public Procurement is coordinated by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment and the task force?s membership is composed of 11 governments and six international agencies: UNDESA, UNEP, ILO, European Commission, ICLEI, and IISD.
o
Public spending represents 8 to 30 per cent of national GDP, making most governments the largest single consumers in their countries. Hence, sustainable public procurement provides a major opportunity to accelerate the shift to more SCP patterns. Governments not only can lead by example, but by increasing demand for sustainable products, provide strong incentives for business to transform its products and production methods.
2.
Global partnership on Sustainable Tourism: this partnership aims to transform the way tourism is done worldwide, to transform the way tourism is done worldwide, at all scales, by consumers, enterprises and the governments that plan and regulate destinations. It will transfer experience and tools for sustainable tourism, build capacity, develop innovative policies and management practices, and practical projects and partnerships to help transform sustainable tourism from a niche into a volume market. The Partnership will focus on seven thematic actions: policy frameworks, climate change, environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, cultural and natural heritage, sustainable management practices and finance and investment.
Tourism and travel is a massive creator of jobs, and a leading services export for developing economies. Travel and tourism is expected to contribute 9,2% to global GDP and employ approximately 235 million people (1 in every 12.3 jobs) by 2010. Tourism is the main growth and trade driver for the world?s poorest countries. It can
serve as a means to conserve natural habitats and cultural heritage. However it is also a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, currently accounting for about 5 % of global emissions ? a problem that needs to be addressed.
The partnership already engages the UN World Tourism Organization, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNCTAD, OECD and UNDESA in addition to UNEP. Around twenty countries, including France, China, Costa Rica, Morocco, Brazil, Germany, Norway, Mauritius are already members of have been actively engaged in development of this organization. A further 20 organizations including NGOs like Rainforest Alliance, WWF and IUCN, and business associations like the Tour Operators Initiative and private companies like Expedia are also engaged. Their common aim is to develop new forms tourism products, which sustain the natural and cultural heritage which are core assets of most destinations, and which also deliver decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
3.
Education for Sustainable development: consumer choices have tremendous impacts on natural resources, ecosystems and communities worldwide. These choices also play a key role in climate change, since almost everything we consume demands energy. Education for Sustainable Consumption is a key instrument to achieve resource efficiency and low-carbon lifestyles. It also gives citizens the means to influence markets and production patterns in a positive way.
?
As part of the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) we have been working in close cooperation with UNESCO. A concrete joint project is YouthXchange that has become an important education tool for young people on SCP. It is available in more than 20 countries.
Partnership on Education for Responsible Living (PERL), a network of about 100 higher education institutions from 40 countries has been created with the support of UNEP, UNESCO. This partnership has grown out of and will continue the work of the Marrakech Task Forces on Education for Sustainable Consumption (Italy) and Sustainable Lifestyles (Sweden).
The way forward to develop more cooperation
New partnerships with business, governments and other stakeholders, such as those developed by the Marrakech Task Forces have proven extremely useful. Successful partnerships will need to be scaled up to have broader impacts; some task forces have begun laying the groundwork for this by creating more formal partnerships and by bringing in new actors. PERL and the Global Partnership on Sustainable Tourism have led the way on this.
More needs to be done to make the business and development case for SCP to engage private investors, development cooperation agencies and regional and international financial institutions. These actors can play an important role in building infrastructure and installing resource efficient and sustainable technologies through their capital investments this potential needs to be harnessed to reduce impacts and decouple growth in the sector from environmental degradation and resource depletion. They can offer critical support on waste management, transport, sound management of chemicals and other SCP areas.
UNEPs work on SCP at global, regional and national levels, as well as the work of the Task Forces constitutes an important stock of information, knowledge and best practices that needs to be used to support the elaboration of a 10YFP. This framework could be powerful implementation tool, based on international, multi-stakeholder cooperation, to accelerate the shift to SCP and build green economies at national and regional levels.
UNEP has been listening attentively to what delegations have had to say over the past few days, and while there are many actions required, it is clear that a number of common challenges are shared ? for example, in terms of finance; the need for capacity building, and technology transfer; and gaps in information or data to design policies and actions. The need for increased cooperation has also been highlighted throughout.
Beyond these challenges are numerous opportunities. I have heard delegations from all over the world stress the potential contribution of the five sectors and themes to economic growth, development and poverty eradication.
How can we overcome the barriers identified? How can we make the most of existing knowledge, technologies and resources?
Throughout the discussions this week, many delegations have shared examples of success stories, with a number of interventions stressing the importance of cooperation, especially through partnerships. In order to break down the barriers to achieving sustainable development, we should pool resources, build on existing experiences and develop innovative tools and partnerships.
UNEP is already cooperating with a number of other UN agencies and other stakeholders on a number of joint initiatives and partnerships to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Let me list some of our initiatives in the five themes of this CSD cycle.
Transport:
Transport is a sector where public - private approaches can work well - some of the most successful transport programs have taken this form. For example the UNEP-led Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles was launched at the WSSD in Johannesburg
in 2002. Today it comprises over 90 partners, including Governments, civil society, international organizations and institutions of higher learning. The Partnership aims to support developing countries in their efforts to improve fuel and vehicle technologies that reduce air pollution.
Further initiatives include:
?
the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI), led jointly with the FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society, International Energy Agency, and International Transport Forum, which will work towards the improvement of average fuel efficiency by 50% worldwide by 2050; and
?
the Share the Road Initiative - a joint initiative of UNEP, the FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society and a growing list of partner organizations. The aim is to improve safe access to sustainable transport by advocating road design and finance that is inclusive of all users.
Mining:
UNEP is cooperating with ICA and ICMM, but there is no partnership so far.
The feasibility of launching a ?Global Initiative for Sustainable Mining? should be considered, with the involvement of the relevant UN agencies, in partnership with key industry, public institutions and NGOs. The overall purpose of such an initiative would be to:
i.
Facilitate policy dialogue between stakeholders
ii.
Assist the development of sustainable mining regimes
iii.
Promote the development of product standards
iv.
Encourage increased and efficient reuse and recycling of metals and mineral products.
Chemicals:
UNEP?s chemicals work is characterized by open intergovernmental and multistakeholder activities, such as the Strategic Approach on International Chemicals Management (SAICM), and mercury negotiations with its Open-Ended Working groups. Most governments are already actively involved in our work, so are the majority of civil society organizations linked with various aspects of chemicals management.
The inter-agency coordinating group on chemicals (IOMC), of which UNEP is a co-founder and plays a key role, was established as a result of the Rio conference. SAICM, which is endorsed and supported by many governments, business and major groups, was a response to recommendations from the Johannesburg Summit. The links between our work programme and the CSD are therefore clear. SAICM has been mentioned by numerous delegations during the past few days as a good example of an open and effective cooperation on chemicals management.
UNEP and UNDP are working closely in many developing countries to assist them to do this, working in an inter-ministerial context in these countries (with the ministries of planning, finance and environment, among others).
Capacity building and data access have been highlighted as challenges over the past few days, and this forms an important part of UNEP?s Chemicals work programme, through its collaboration with the Centre on International Environmental Law (CIEL) chemicals programme.
UNEP is also supporting current efforts to promote synergies between the chemicals MEAs, which will enhance the capacity to implement the various obligations under these conventions.
The CSD process provides an opportunity to consider the wider international governance structure for sound management of chemicals beyond the lifetime of the Strategic Approach. This includes the possibility to develop a global structure for implementing global policy actions on chemicals of concern and to promote a proactive approach to the management of chemicals in order to avoid potential effects on human health and environment.
Waste:
There are opportunities for converting waste into resources. We need to further develop partnerships in order to mobilise the information, technical expertise and financial resources required to implement waste management systems.
?
With this aim, UNEP recently launched a Global Platform on Waste, which will be a coalition of international agencies, governments, the private sector and various fora including inter-governmental, public-private, and nongovernmental fora. The GPW will be open-ended and will address many of the issues raised at the CSD, and allow for the exchange of experiences and practices/policies. It will also provide technical and financial support to implement national and local action plans on integrated solid waste management.
?
Many delegates raised strong concerns about the increasing problems caused by electronic waste. UNEP has also developed a methodology for assessment of e-waste volumes and hazards and has applied it through a demonstration project in Cambodia. However, we also need to establish an international framework to address the transboundary movement of e-waste. This is an example of the kind of working group that could be established under the Global Platform on waste.
Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP):
UNEP has been coordinating with UNDESA the Marrakech Process on SCP since 2003. The Marrakech Process has developed good SCP practices, policies and tools, and new and innovative mechanisms to support SCP implementation at all levels (national, regional and global), involving governments and a wide network of stakeholders. These tangible outcomes were achieved with modest resources.
Within the Marrakech Process we have been working with various UN agencies as well as with most major groups and stakeholders developing joint projects and partnerships. Let me highlight some of them:
1.
Capacity building for sustainable public procurement in developing countries: This is a UNEP managed project, supported by Switzerland, the European Commission and the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie, involving Mauritius, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Uruguay, Chile and Lebanon. The project will enable these countries to design and implement SPP policies and further refine policy recommendations on SPP. The project has also delivered six regional trainings for 130 procurement experts from 50 countries.
o
The Task Force on Sustainable Public Procurement is coordinated by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment and the task force?s membership is composed of 11 governments and six international agencies: UNDESA, UNEP, ILO, European Commission, ICLEI, and IISD.
o
Public spending represents 8 to 30 per cent of national GDP, making most governments the largest single consumers in their countries. Hence, sustainable public procurement provides a major opportunity to accelerate the shift to more SCP patterns. Governments not only can lead by example, but by increasing demand for sustainable products, provide strong incentives for business to transform its products and production methods.
2.
Global partnership on Sustainable Tourism: this partnership aims to transform the way tourism is done worldwide, to transform the way tourism is done worldwide, at all scales, by consumers, enterprises and the governments that plan and regulate destinations. It will transfer experience and tools for sustainable tourism, build capacity, develop innovative policies and management practices, and practical projects and partnerships to help transform sustainable tourism from a niche into a volume market. The Partnership will focus on seven thematic actions: policy frameworks, climate change, environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, cultural and natural heritage, sustainable management practices and finance and investment.
Tourism and travel is a massive creator of jobs, and a leading services export for developing economies. Travel and tourism is expected to contribute 9,2% to global GDP and employ approximately 235 million people (1 in every 12.3 jobs) by 2010. Tourism is the main growth and trade driver for the world?s poorest countries. It can
serve as a means to conserve natural habitats and cultural heritage. However it is also a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, currently accounting for about 5 % of global emissions ? a problem that needs to be addressed.
The partnership already engages the UN World Tourism Organization, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNCTAD, OECD and UNDESA in addition to UNEP. Around twenty countries, including France, China, Costa Rica, Morocco, Brazil, Germany, Norway, Mauritius are already members of have been actively engaged in development of this organization. A further 20 organizations including NGOs like Rainforest Alliance, WWF and IUCN, and business associations like the Tour Operators Initiative and private companies like Expedia are also engaged. Their common aim is to develop new forms tourism products, which sustain the natural and cultural heritage which are core assets of most destinations, and which also deliver decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
3.
Education for Sustainable development: consumer choices have tremendous impacts on natural resources, ecosystems and communities worldwide. These choices also play a key role in climate change, since almost everything we consume demands energy. Education for Sustainable Consumption is a key instrument to achieve resource efficiency and low-carbon lifestyles. It also gives citizens the means to influence markets and production patterns in a positive way.
?
As part of the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) we have been working in close cooperation with UNESCO. A concrete joint project is YouthXchange that has become an important education tool for young people on SCP. It is available in more than 20 countries.
Partnership on Education for Responsible Living (PERL), a network of about 100 higher education institutions from 40 countries has been created with the support of UNEP, UNESCO. This partnership has grown out of and will continue the work of the Marrakech Task Forces on Education for Sustainable Consumption (Italy) and Sustainable Lifestyles (Sweden).
The way forward to develop more cooperation
New partnerships with business, governments and other stakeholders, such as those developed by the Marrakech Task Forces have proven extremely useful. Successful partnerships will need to be scaled up to have broader impacts; some task forces have begun laying the groundwork for this by creating more formal partnerships and by bringing in new actors. PERL and the Global Partnership on Sustainable Tourism have led the way on this.
More needs to be done to make the business and development case for SCP to engage private investors, development cooperation agencies and regional and international financial institutions. These actors can play an important role in building infrastructure and installing resource efficient and sustainable technologies through their capital investments this potential needs to be harnessed to reduce impacts and decouple growth in the sector from environmental degradation and resource depletion. They can offer critical support on waste management, transport, sound management of chemicals and other SCP areas.
UNEPs work on SCP at global, regional and national levels, as well as the work of the Task Forces constitutes an important stock of information, knowledge and best practices that needs to be used to support the elaboration of a 10YFP. This framework could be powerful implementation tool, based on international, multi-stakeholder cooperation, to accelerate the shift to SCP and build green economies at national and regional levels.
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