| The theme of the Stockholm
Conference in 1972 was the human environment.
Its outcome was the establishment of UNEP. The Rio
Summit in 1992 on environment and development, and
was based on the overarching concept of sustainable
development. In follow up to the Rio Summit the
Commission on Sustainable Development was established.
The Summit should
have four principle characteristics:-
- It should be a Summit
of Implementation, addressing existing
gaps between the commitment and implementation.
The visions of Agenda 21 need to become a reality.
- It should be a Summit
of Partnership. Partnerships between governments,
business, non-governmental organizations and other
stakeholders, should be strengthened. Africa,
as a region with great difficulties, realizes
that it has to take its destiny into its own hands
but in partnership with others.
- It should be a Summit
of Responsible Prosperity and Opportunities for
all committed to the eradication of poverty
and equal distribution of the benefits of globalization.
- It should be Summit
of Integration. Environmental, economic
and social development policies should be coherent,
and integrated.
- Overall it should be a Summit
of Concrete Action. A Johannesburg Programme
of Action or a "Global Pact" should
be developed - It should set targets with measurable
benchmarks, and a timetable for implementation.
Ten issues should be addressed in determining
the components of the programme of action or the
Pact. UNEP has been working actively on these
issues, and looks forward to contributing to the
WSSD, and its outcomes.
- Assessment and Monitoring, Capacity Building,
Technology and Technology Transfer, Health and
Environment, Environment and Food Security, Globalization
and Trade, Urbanization, Energy, and implementation.
Overall, the Johannesburg Summit should be an
important milestone to build a sustainable world
based on concrete action and renewed political
commitment.
More information can be found in the following
documents:
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