IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin- 13 June

Earth. Negotiations. .Bulletin. .UNCSD .... ........... ...... #2 A Reporting Service for Environment and Development Negotiations Online at http://www.iisd.ca/uncsd/rio20/enb/ Vol. 27 No. 42 Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Thursday, 14 June 2012 UNCSD PREPCOM III: outcomes in thematic areas such as energy, water, cities and WEDNESDAY, 13 JUNE 2012 education; and a framework for action that “does not just look good on paper.” The third meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom)began its work on Wednesday, 13 June 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, SPLINTER GROUPSBrazil. Seven “splinter” groups continued negotiations on SDGs AND MOI: On SDG measurement (SDG 7), delegatesthe draft outcome document to be considered for adoption by discussed whether to retain language on targets and indicatorsthe UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, and whether to include language on differentiation by nationalRio+20), which is set to open on 20 June. Many consultations circumstances. On SDG reporting (SDG 8), delegates addressedalso convened during the day, along with approximately 20 side the extent to which this process should be prescribed and theevents, and numerous other events that took place throughout the linkages between reporting at the regional and global levels.city of Rio de Janeiro. Many delegates wanted to retain and move reference to the limitations of GDP as a measure of well-being and sustainablePLENARY development (SDG 9) to another chapter, while others wanted PrepCom Co-Chair Kim stressed that negotiators had only to delete this paragraph. Discussion also addressed whetherthree days to finalize the text, and urged them to work with a the UN Statistical Commission or the UN Secretary-Generalsense of urgency and spirit of compromise. He said Working is the appropriate place for this work. On the process of SDGGroup I will continue handling Sections V and VI, and Working development (SDG 6), delegates discussed, inter alia: theGroup II would handle Sections I, II, III and IV of the draft extent to which this process should be intergovernmental; theoutcome document. He explained that splinter groups would be model which should be used to develop and define the SDGs;used, with only five meeting at any one time. Working Group I the role of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in endorsingwould have splinter groups on: means of implementation (MOI) the outcomes of this process; a structure that provides theand sustainable development goals (SDGs), facilitated by Selwin necessary technical backstopping; and the need for strong andHart (Barbados); sustainable consumption and production active stakeholder involvement. Hart said he would formulate(SCP), water and climate change, facilitated by Jimena Leiva alternative text after consulting informally with main negotiators(Guatemala); oceans, facilitated by Chris Schweizer (Australia); of interested groups. gender, education, health, cities, transport and mining, On MOI, on finance, some delegates requested addressingco-facilitated by Heidi Kvalsoren (Norway) and Franz Jacovalla text on corruption, innovative financing mechanisms and the role(Canada); and chemicals and desertification, co-facilitated by of the private sector as part of a “package of issues” that wouldDamaso Luna Corona (Mexico) and Chris Cannon (Australia). be addressed later.Working Group II would have splinter groups on green On technology, some delegates could not accept theeconomy in the context of sustainable development and poverty facilitator’s proposed title of “Technology, Development anderadication, facilitated by Patrick Wittmann (Canada), and Transfer,” preferring to focus on the content before the title.institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD), Delegates did not agree on language related to the transfer offacilitated by Marianne Loe (Norway). environmentally sound technologies, with some supporting Sha Zukang, UNCSD Secretary-General, said the intensive reference to “diffusion” of technologies and others tothird round of informal informal consultations in New York “innovation.” Consensus could not be reached on including: thehad shown real progress, not just in terms of the numbers of need for enabling environments for “dissemination” versusparagraphs agreed, but also in the way in which negotiators “transfer of” environmentally sound technologies; the role ofdiscussed the issues and shared commitment to a successful patent protection and intellectual property rights; and optionsoutcome to Rio+20. He said the three days of PrepCom were to facilitate clean technology dissemination to developing“make or break” and underscored that “the whole world is countries.watching what we do here.” He urged negotiators to focus onkey deliverables such as: SDGs; IFSD; sharing experiences andknowledge about pilot efforts in green economy; action-orientedThis issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © <enb@iisd.org> is written and edited by Peter Doran, Ph.D., Delia Paul, Keith Ripley, Nathalie Risse,Ph.D., James Van Alstine and Lynn Wagner, Ph.D. The Digital Editor is Leila Mead. The Editor is Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D. <pam@iisd.org>. TheDirector of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The Sustaining Donors of the Bulletin are the EuropeanCommission (DG-ENV), the Government of the United States of America (through the Department of State Bureau of Oceans and InternationalEnvironmental and Scientific Affairs), the Government of Canada (through CIDA), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German FederalMinistry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and NuclearSafety (BMU), and the Government of Australia. General Support for the Bulletin during 2012 is provided by the Norwegian Ministry of ForeignAffairs, the Ministry of Environment of Sweden, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SWAN International, the Swiss FederalOffice for the Environment (FOEN), the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for GlobalEnvironmental Strategies - IGES), the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (through the Global Industrial and Social Progress Research http://enb.iisd.mobi/Institute – GISPRI), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Funding for translation of the Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government ofFrance, the Belgium Walloon Region, the Province of Québec, and the International Organization of the Francophone (OIF and IEPF). The opinions expressed in the Bulletin arethose of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD or other donors. Excerpts from the Bulletin may be used in non-commercial publications with appropriateacademic citation. For information on the Bulletin, including requests to provide reporting services, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at <kimo@iisd.org>, +1-646-536-7556 or 300 East 56th St., 11D, New York, NY 10022, USA. The ENB team at Rio+20 can be contacted by e-mail at <lynn@iisd.org>.

Earth Negotiations Bulletin .................................. Thursday, 14 June 2012 Vol. 27 No. 42 Page 2 Delegates were close to agreeing to text on exploring the planning and building sustainable cities and urban settlementspossibility to establish a global fund for voluntary contributions (Cities 2), including adding reference to raising awareness,by States. Text on recognizing the need to facilitate informed and deleting previous proposal from Japan on “low carbon” (inpolicy decision-making on sustainable development issues was reference to infrastructure and technology). On partnershipsagreed ad referendum. among cities and communities (Cities 4) discussions mostly On capacity building, delegates discussed language on focused on reformulating part of the paragraph related tosupporting developing countries in capacity building “and involving the relevant UN entities including UN-HABITAT.development” for developing resource efficient and inclusive Discussions were held but no agreement was reached, on usingeconomies and agreed language on North-South cooperation. either “managed effectively and properly” or “properly managedReference to urging all countries to increase capacity-building and effectively regulated” on text on mining as an opportunitysupport to developing countries was deleted. to, inter alia, meeting internationally agreed development goals OCEANS: The splinter group on oceans discussed possible (Mining 1).problems involving references to ecosystem and precautionary SCP, WATER, CLIMATE CHANGE: On SCP, delegatesapproaches in the main paragraph, and concerned delegations discussed what entity could or should adopt the 10-yearagreed to work directly on compromise language. Two Framework of Programmes (10YFP) for SCP, with onedelegations agreed to work on language regarding references to delegation questioning whether the Conference could instructinternational instruments. Small side groups were tasked with another institution to do something and others calling forhandling paragraphs on ocean fertilization and fish stocks. After flexibility, noting that the same debate has taken place before,a group discussion about the relationship of a subsidies reference and supporting agreement on the paragraph on the adoption ofin illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing paragraph to the the 10YFP.standalone subsidies paragraph, all delegations were asked to On water, delegates agreed to wait to address the paragraphssubmit proposed revisions to the Secretariat for discussion. All on rights at the end. On text recognizing the importance ofparties were asked to have their work submitted for discussion water infrastructure (Water 5), one group proposed replacingon Thursday. it with text from the JPOI on supporting capacity building for GENDER, EDUCATION, HEALTH, CITIES, sanitation infrastructure. Another group called for measures toTRANSPORT AND MINING: A reformulated paragraph address water scarcity, droughts and floods. On Water 6 (adopton urging educational institutions to adopt good practices measures), one delegation supported retaining the concepts(Education 4) was proposed by the facilitator, which included addressed in the paragraph – pollution, wastewater treatment,language on encouraging educational institutions to be examples water efficiency – in the text. Delegates also discussed whetherof sustainable management on their campuses and in their to reference transboundary water issues in the text.communities and on the active participation of all. On climate, delegates discussed whether to use text proposed In text on resolving to ensure full and equal rights and access by a previous facilitator or by the Co-Chairs as the basis forof women (Gender 5), many countries supported replacing Climate 1 (protect the climate system), and debated how tothe existing text on access to productive resources through the reference common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR),rights to own property, inheritance, credit and to financial and with one proposal to follow the reference with “and respectiveextension services with paragraph 60f of the Beijing Declaration capabilities reflecting current and future realities.” One speakerand Platform for action. In a paragraph inviting donors, stressed that this process should focus on areas where it caninternational organizations and others to mainstream gender in bring new commitments.their decision-making (Gender 7), new language was proposed GREEN ECONOMY: This splinter group began discussionto reflect, inter alia, the need to support developing countries on the section title, and the option of including a subtitle onefforts to integrate fully gender equality considerations and framing the context and other approaches, visions, and modelscommitments. In a paragraph on non-communicable diseases as of sustainable development and poverty eradication. Discussionone of the major challenges for sustainable development (Health was deferred pending the resolution of the first paragraph. On4), a group of countries asked for deletion of the proposal linking the introductory paragraph (paragraph 50), delegates agreedreductions in air, water and chemical pollution to positive effects to a number of amendments qualifying references to the greenon health, while other countries opposed. economy, and on natural resources. On whether green economy Several modifications were brought to paragraphs on policies should be guided by international law, including humanimplementing the Programme of Action of the International rights law, in addition to the Rio Principles (paragraph 51), theConference on Population and Development (Health 8) and on facilitator signaled that references to the Rio Principles wouldreducing maternal and child mortality and improving the health have to be streamlined across the text. There was an extendedof women, adolescents and children (Health 9). discussion on common but differentiated responsibilities. The In a paragraph on supporting development of sustainable facilitator suggested incorporating text into sections on what thetransport systems (Transport 2), it was agreed to replace green economy should do (paragraph 52). However, delegates“sustainable transport system for transit” with “sustainable transit could not agree.transport system” in reference to UNGA resolution 66/214. On what the green economy should do (paragraph 52), In text on cities for promoting economically productive, text with some brackets was streamlined on respect for eachsocially cohesive, and environmentally sustainable societies country’s national sovereignty and national circumstances in(Cities 1) it was proposed to replace “access to basic services” relation to the three dimensions of sustainable development.with “access to basic goods and services” in order to capture References to fulfilment of human rights (52 a bis) and rightsreference to the access to food. Various amendments were to development (from paragraph 52a) were incorporated into abrought to a paragraph on promoting an integrated approach to subparagraph on promoting sustained and inclusive economic

Earth Negotiations Bulletin .................................. Vol. 27 No. 42 Page 3 Thursday, 14 June 2012growth (52c). On closing technology gaps between developed WORKING GROUP Iand developing countries (52f), one group complained that he During an evening meeting of Working Group I, delegatescould see no willingness to move forward on fundamental issues. heard reports from the splinter group facilitators. In the groupDelegates reserved on the subparagraph, pending discussion of on gender, health, education, mining, transport and cities,related paragraphs. Delegates agreed to refer on proposals by the co-facilitators reported little progress. On chemicals, thethe facilitator to their groups, underlining developing countries, facilitator reported plans to undertake bilateral discussions within subparagraphs on the vulnerable (53 h) and non-market delegations to address outstanding issues. On desertification,approaches (53 k). the facilitator reported four outstanding issues: whether targets DESERTIFICATION AND CHEMICALS: The splinter such as a “land degradation-neutral world” or zero net landgroup on desertification deleted a phrase on a coordinated degradation, are useful; whether to mention the Global Soilglobal approach to ensure land is used, managed and restored Partnership and Changwon Initiative; consideration of anin a sustainable manner, and a reference to contributing to food intergovernmental panel; and ways to refer to soil degradation.security and improving the livelihoods of the vulnerable, while On SCP, water and climate change, the facilitator reportedadding reference to poverty eradication. The group agreed in streamlined text has been prepared on SCP and water, awaitingprinciple to express deep concern over cyclical drought and delegates’ consultations. On climate change, she highlighted thefamine in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, but disagreed over need to find a balance between sending a strong message fromreferencing action by the international community. Delegations Rio+20, without disturbing other negotiation tracks.disagreed over references to: soil; a land degradation neutral On SDGs and means of implementation, the facilitator saidworld or zero net rate of land degradation; specific Initiatives; negotiations had been productive and that more direct and simpleand an intergovernmental panel on science. formulations of text were needed. He reported that a proposal for The chemicals splinter group agreed ad referendum on a a process to develop the SDGs is being prepared, a section onparagraph on continued enhanced coordination and cooperation finance has been finalized, and one paragraph has been agreed adamong the chemicals and waste conventions and with the referendum in the technology section.Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management Co-Chair Ashe expressed concern on the pace of discussions(SAICM). The group could not reach compromises on issues and the quantity of text still not agreed.including references to long-term funding for SAICM; reducing WORKING GROUP IIlandfilling significantly by 2030; the decision by the tenth Co-Chair Kim opened the meeting of the evening WorkingConference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Ban Group and stated that, while the splinter groups have not madeAmendment; cooperation on transboundary air pollution; phasing good progress, the mood has been positive. He urged delegates toout hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs); and a decision following up the move faster. The facilitator on green economy reported that oneUNEP Consultative Process on Financing Options for Chemicals paragraph was ready to be agreed ad referendum. The facilitatorand Waste. on IFSD reported that four paragraphs were ready to be agreed IFSD: On sustainability management (paragraph 91) in ad referendum, while others are part of a compromise packageUN facilities and operations, delegates continued working on and are not yet cleared.text to reflect cost-effectiveness, along with accountability. On Nikhil Seth, DSD, announced that the following splinterregional frameworks (paragraph 92), delegates agreed to replace groups would meet on Thursday: green economy; Sections I and“global policies” with “sustainable development policies.” On II; IFSD; SDGs and MOI; SCP, water and climate; disaster risksustainable development strategies at all levels (paragraph 93), reduction and jobs; small island developing States and regions;delegates added text on “effective analysis and assessment of oceans; gender, education, health, cities, transport and mining;information,” and deleted a reference to “effective national and poverty, food security, mountains, biodiversity and forests.monitoring and assessment capacity at the appropriate levels.”The paragraph was agreed ad referendum. IN THE CORRIDORS On paragraph 93 ter, about access to information, public Some ended the first day of Rio+20 suggesting that the futureparticipation and justice, some delegates suggested the text we want may be a long time coming if the pace of negotiationsshould refer to issues more broadly than “environmental doesn’t pick up at the final PrepCom. During a meeting withmatters.” The facilitator requested that those with different the conference organizers, NGOs were reported to have beenviews to consult informally, and to consider this text in relation vocal in their expression of concern about slow progress,to paragraph 37, which has similar language relating to Major given the lackluster performance of negotiators at the informalGroups and stakeholders. negotiations. With prompts to complete their work by Friday A group of developing countries proposed text (paragraph 97 sounding increasingly hollow, some participants have indicatedbis) on establishing an international mechanism under the UNGA they have already begun to bracket their weekend plans to hit theto promote, implement and monitor concrete actions for bridging beaches.the technology gap. Delegates expressed concern about possible While delegations and NGOs mentioned that, for the mostoverlaps with the work of existing organizations, including part, they are impressed by the RioCentro facilities, there hasUNIDO and UNCTAD. Delegates agreed ad referendum to been some puzzlement to find that a commitment to make theparagraph 71 on strengthening UN system-wide coherence and conference paperless has not been matched by the provision ofcoordination, with the addition of text on “enhancing reporting sufficient numbers of power outlets for laptops and tablets alongcoherence.” with reliable internet coverage on the “Rio+20 wifi” network.

Sustainable Development Policy & PracƟce hƩp://uncsd.iisd.org/ A knowledge management project carried out by the International Institute for Sustainable Development Reporting Services (IISD RS) in collaboration with the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) This knowledgebase tracks international activities preparing for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). It features: •News on UN and intergovernmental activities (publications, meetings, statements, projects) related to the UNCSD. The posts are researched andproduced by IISD’s team of thematic experts, resulting in all original content, and they are searchable by several categories.•A clickable world map, enabling searches of the latest sustainable development news by region. •A calendar of upcoming UNCSD-related events, along with an automatically updating iCal application, through which the event data can be downloaded to your own calendar. New posts to the knowledgebase are circulated via the UNCSD Update, which isdistributed exclusively through the UNCSD-L listserve. UNCSD-L is a companion project managed by IISD RS. This community listserve offers participants an opportunity to post announcements regarding publications and meetings.To receive the UNCSD Update and to subscribe to the UNCSD-L community listserve: http://uncsd.iisd.org/about-the-uncsd-l-mailing-list/ To subscribe to the iCal of UNCSD-related events: http://uncsd.iisd.org/icalendar/ Sustainable Development Policy & Practice is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the European Union (EU)

IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin- 13 June

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