People should be at the forefront of environmental priorities and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, civil society organizations (CSOs) concluded at a workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss how the environment can contribute to effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The workshop, part of the 31 March-2 April Civil Society Forum on Sustainable Development attended by 135 civil society organizations from across Asia Pacific, called for greater inclusion of the poor in environmental policy making and the protection of rights of people who depend on natural resources for their survival, such as fisher folk and indigenous forest communities. It also stressed the need for increased investment from governments to ensure adequate and safe housing for urban poor, particularly marginalized communities and communities that are vulnerable to climate change.
“What we often see are policy makers in capitals and urban centres, often removed from the day-to-day and life challenges that communities are faced with, who make decisions that have direct implications on people’s lives. We are saying that we need to bring the voices of these people, who have a vested interest, into the discussions and advance development justice,” said Wardarina, from the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, who is also co-chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM) and UNEP Asia Pacific CSO representative. “What people also need are skills to access the necessary tools and instruments, including technology, to improve their lives and livelihoods.”
Concerns and issues raised by CSOs on the environmental implications of the Sustainable Development Goals will be placed before the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, which will take place 23-27 May 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya.
“While governments are pivotal in strengthening the policies and regulatory frameworks to realize sustainable development, civil society have a critical role to play in fostering sustainable solutions, innovation, and in the overall implementation of the 2030 sustainable development agenda,” UNEP Regional Director and Representative a.i., Ms. Isabelle Louis told the Asia Pacific CSO Forum.
The outcome of the CSO Forum, organised jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and APRCEM, was also considered by the 3-5 April Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development that met to discuss implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the region.
