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13th COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EXPOSES
DIFFERENCES ON WATER, SANITATION, AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
From April 11-22, Ministers of Environment, Development,
Economy, Finance, and Housing joined non-governmental groups at the United
Nations in New York for the 13th Session of the
Commission
on Sustainable Development (CSD). At CSD-13, participants failed to find new common ground and
struggled even to reaffirm past commitments.
The CSD is responsible for following up on the implementation of international
agreements on environment and development.
Since the World
Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002, the CSD has operated in
two-year implementation cycles, with the first year in the cycle devoted to
review, and the second devoted to policy. The 13th Session was the second year
in the implementation cycle devoted to water, sanitation, and human settlements.
As often happens at the CSD, major disagreements developed between blocs of
countries over the role of the Commission and the path the world should
take to achieve sustainable development. China and the G-77 looked to use the
event as a rallying point for more robust foreign aid programs, greater access
to markets, technology transfer, and trade reform. The EU, among others, wanted
the CSD to identify new, innovative approaches to the thematic focus (water,
sanitation, and urban settlements). And the U.S., backed by
Australia, and at times Japan, New Zealand, and Canada, attempted to make the CSD primarily a forum for expanded public-private partnerships. Stakeholder
groups sided mostly with the G-77/China and the EU in promoting a more
aggressive negotiated outcome.
+ To learn
more about stakeholder input in the CSD process, read the Global Solutions fact
sheet on sustainable development and the UN system.
The U.S.-led group objected strongly to a number of proposals on the floor,
including language to promote “rights-based” approaches to water management and
sanitation, expanded UN resources to address sustainable development problems,
and strong legal frameworks to ensure that states follow through on their
obligations.
Another disagreement, over language denouncing settlements under “foreign
occupation” and “colonial rule,” put the G-77/China at odds with industrialized
countries. The dispute became a sad and unfortunate distraction from the issues
came together to address. The language was eventually omitted.
The final negotiating session, scheduled to conclude on the afternoon of April
22, did not finish until 12:50 a.m. on the morning of April 23. The text of the
decision most closely reflected U.S. positions and did not satisfy developing
countries. In a statement, the G-77/China said they were “deeply disturbed” by
what they called the “selfish” agenda of industrialized nations. However, in a
key concession to developing countries, CSD-13 reaffirmed the international
community’s commitment to provide increased foreign aid to promote sustainable
development. Notably, the CSD also reflected a renewed commitment, at least on
paper, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and a new agreement to
strengthen and support UN-HABITAT as the main body to coordinate human
settlements.
Updated May 2, 2005
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