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Introduction to Sustainable Development :the International Process and Main Actors

Jacqueline Aloisi de LarderelFormer UNEP Assistant Executive Director

BudapestOctober 12, 2004

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MAIN POINTS PRESENTED

Why do we need sustainable development?

How did the concept and responses developed?

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD

• globalization, with increasingly faster communications

• growing population

• growing consumption and production worldwide

• more inequities between and within countries

environmental impacts social impacts tensions

Why do we need sustainable development?

Resulting in

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

• emission of greenhouses gases, air pollution

• water scarcity and water pollution

• loss of biodiversity (fisheries, forests…)

• soil degradation

• wide contamination by toxic chemicals

•…

Why do we need sustainable development?

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SOCIAL ISSUES

• 2,8 billon people live on less than 2 dollars per day

• 1/3 of world population does not have access to energy

• 20% of world population depends on water supply not meeting WHO standards

• 60% of world poorest population live in ecologically vulnerable areas

• …

Why do we need sustainable development?

8 Based on World3 model and figure 8.1 of "Beyond the Limits", D.H. Meadows, D. L. Meadows, and J. Randers 1992; Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction VT.

A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE ?

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1900 2000 2100

population

resources

food

industrial output

pollution

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT : A LONG TERM ISSUE

Why do we need sustainable development?

Political leaders term of office

Corporate investment payback period

Life of an electricity generating plant

Life of a child born today

Influence of CO2 on climate

1900 21002002 2050

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT : A LONG TERM ISSUE

Why do we need sustainable development?

1900 21002002 2050

If we go on with current production and consumption patterns,Two planets needed by 2050

Based on "Beyond the Limits", D.H. Meadows, D. L. Meadows, and J. Randers 1992; Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction VT.

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OUR FOOTPRINTS

Why do we need sustainable development?

Total Footprint *

Biocapacity* Deficit *

World 2.4 1.9 -0.5

China 1.6 1.0 -0.6

Hungary 3.3 1.9 -1.4

Germany 5.2 1.8 -3.4

Italy 4.1 1.1 -3

USA 9.8 5.4 -4.4

Brazil 2.3 6.0 +3.7

* Expressed in Global hectares per capita

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THE 3 PILLARS OF Sustainable Development:

Why do we need sustainable development?

Economic (financial capital)

Environmental (natural capital)

Social (human capital)

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We all live in a paradox :

Why do we need sustainable development?

I want to have a fashion car , to use the latest electronic equipment and the

fashionable gadgets…

We would like to stop poverty ,

violence, pollution…

HENCE THE NEED TO PROPOSE WORKABLE SOLUTIONS

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MAIN POINTS PRESENTED

Why do we need sustainable development?

• How did the concept and responses developed?

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE :THE INTERNATIONAL WORK (1)

• 1970: the first „Earth Day” on the 22. April, 1970.

• 1970: United Nations (UN) start „The man and the biosphere”

• 1972: The Club of Rome (est. 1968) „Limits of growth” book

• 1972: UN Conference on man and the environment, Stockholm• adoption of a declaration (26

• creation of UNEP (UN Environment Programme)

• 1975: Helsinki: The Conf. Security and Co-operation in Europe

• 1979: Geneva: I. Europeen Conf. on Environmental Protection• Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) (->1983)

How did the concept and responses developed?

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AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE :THE INTERNATIONAL WORK (2)

• 1985: Helsinki: acception of limits on SO2 emission

• 1985: Vienna: Adoption of the Vienna convention on the protection of the ozone layer

• 1987: Publication of the Brundtland report “our common future”• First definition of Sustainable Development: development that meets the needs

of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

• 1987: Adoption of the Montreal Protocol on the Ozone Layer

• 1988: Sofia Convention on limiting NOX (nitrogen-oxide, NO, NO2, N2O) emission

• 1989 : Basel Convention on hazardous waste

How did the concept and responses developed?

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AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE :THE INTERNATIONAL WORK (3)

• 1992: RIO DE JANEIRO: UN Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED)(Earth Summit), Rio de Janeiro.

Participants: UN 172/178, (761 NGO officer, ~8000 NGO officer) Adoption of:

• The conventions on climate change and biodiversity

• The forestry principles

• „27 Rio Principles” of sustainable development (art 25 states “peace, development and environment protection are interdependent and cannot be seen in isolation of each other”)

• Agenda 21 (=tasks for the 21st century)

• Creation of the CSD (Commission of Sustainable Development)• 1992: Establishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

• 1997: Kyoto: Convention on emissions of greenhouse gases• (CO2, CH4, N2O, CFC –freon, water vapor, trop. ozone)• e.g. -20% for CO2 in ten years 1990->2000

• Kyoto: non-ratified by USA, Russia, China (min. 55% needed!)

• -> 2004 finally Russia has ratified, so >55% of the world emission is in• 2005. 02.16. Kyoto Convention came into force (without USA!)

How did the concept and responses developed?

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AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE :THE INTERNATIONAL WORK (4)• 1997 Kyoto: developed countries decided that 0.7% of their GDP -> to the non-

developed countries to help them introducing environmental protection technologies

• 2000: Launch of the UN Global Compact by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan• 2001: Convention on POP’s (Air Quality, International efforts to address

persistent organic pollutants5 years after Kyoto: results of Agenda 21 are poor ->

• 2002: Johannesburg: World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). Adoption of:

• a „declaration of sustainable development”

• a „Plan of implementation”, with targets and time tables, dealing with poverty, water and sanitation, sustainable production and consumption, energy, chemicals, management of the resource base…

• more than 220 partnerships between key actors to implement various projects

• -50% decrease in number of people living without healthy drinking water and under daily income of 1 US $

• environmental politics together with social politics

How did the concept and responses developed?

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AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE :THE INTERNATIONAL WORK (5)

• major activity: monitoring and enforce Kyoto Convention

• 2003: At Commission of Sustainable Development (CSD), definition of the process to monitor implementation of the WSSD commitments

• 2004 finally Russia has ratified Kyoto Convention, so >55% of the world emission is in the ratifying countries

• 2005.02.16. Kyoto Convention came into force (without USA)

How did the concept and responses developed?

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FROM ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION…… ……..TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

•Dilution

•Treatment

•Recycling

•Cleaner and safer production :• Production processes

• Products

•Life cycle economy

Development of environmental management tools such as ISO 14000 series

How did the concept and responses developed?

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INCREASING DEMAND COMING FROM :

•Consumers

•Employees

• Investors, finance sector

• General Public

How did the concept and responses developed?

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MAIN POINTS PRESENTED

Why do we need sustainable development?

How did the concept and responses developed? • Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 1- GOVERNMENTS

•Legislation and regulation (adoption and enforcement)

•Economic incentives (changes in existing subsidy systems, taxes, polluter payer fees…)

• Integration of SD consideration in all government activities (including for example energy, transport, export credit agencies, procurement…)

• Institution /capacity building

•Education

•Demonstration by example

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 2- LOCAL AUTHORITIES

•Developing local plans of action

•Environmentally sound management of local services ( transport, public buildings, waste , water…)

•Public awareness raising

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 3– INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS

Developing Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSR)

• Develop and implement an environmental and sustainability policy, involving CEO and members of the board

• Assess efficiency and pollution reduction potentials, and set quantifiable targets and goals for environmental performance

• Abide by legislation and regulations

• Implement codes of conduct and environmental management tools

• Innovate in cleaner and safer processes and products

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 3– INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS (2)

• Train staff

• Develop dialogue with neighbours and NGOs

• Develop partnerships

• Monitor environmental and sustainability performance against a set of defined criteria

• Report publicly annually (using the Global Report Initiative Framework GRI)

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 4- NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs)

•Contribute to constructive dialogue

•Contribute to partnerships

•Raise awareness of the public on sustainability issues

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 5- INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (1)

• Provide a platform for dialogue and exchange of experiences (between governments, and also with industry and NGOs)

• Facilitate the adoption of international environmental regulations and standards

• Facilitate the adoption of voluntary codes

• Promote technology transfer

• Assist in capacity building in developing countries

• Support sustainable development projects in developing countries

Operate at subregional, regional or global level

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 6- INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (2)

• EU• OECD• UN system:

• UNEP (UN Environment Programme)

• UNDP (UN Development Programme)

• UNIDO (UN Industrial Development Organization)

• ILO (UN’s International Labour Organization - The UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights

• WHO (World Health Organization)

• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

• Global Compact (2000

• DESA(secretariat of CSD)

• Regional Economic Commissions

• International Finance Institutions • World Bank,

• IMF

• Development banks (BERD, ADB, World Bank…)

• WTO ( World Trade Organization )

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 6- INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (3)

What is the UN Global Compact?The Global Compact is a framework for businesses that are committed to

aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of:

Human rights:1. to support human rights activities at workplace, 2. Do not contribute to any activity that diminish human rights

Labour:3. right of assembly4. no hard labor / no penal servitude,5. against child work,6. no discriminative movements on application / employment

Environment:7. theory of precaution,8. starting env. prot. activity,9. introducing env. ptor. technologiyes

Anti-corruption:10.no corruption of any level

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 6- INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (4)

UN Global CompactMainstream the ten principles in business activities around the worldCatalyse actions in support of broader UN goals, such as the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs)To achieve these objectives, the Global Compact offers facilitation and

engagement through several mechanisms: Policy Dialogues, Learning, Country/Regional Networks, and Partnership Projects.

The Global Compact is not a regulatory instrument – it does not “police”, enforce or measure the behavior or actions of companies. Rather, the Global Compact relies on public accountability, transparency and the enlightened self-interest of companies, labour and civil society to initiate and share substantive action in pursuing the principles upon which the Global Compact is based.

The Global Compact is a network. At its core are the Global Compact Office and six UN agencies:

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations Environment Programme UNEP International Labour Organization ILO United Nations Development Programme UNDP United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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MAIN ACTORS : 6- INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (4)

UN Global Compact (cont.)

The Global Compact involves all the relevant social actors:

governments, who defined the principles on which the initiative is based;

companies, whose actions it seeks to influence;

labour, in whose hands the concrete process of global production takes place;

civil society organizations, representing the wider community of stakeholders;

and The United Nations, the world's only truly global political forum, as an authoritative convener and facilitator.

Who are the main Actors, and what are their role?

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NO OTHER CHOICE THAN SUSTAINABILITY

“We know the problems. We know the solutions. Together, as one world,

we must find the will to deliver them”

Tony Blair, Prime Minister, at WSSD2002

CONCLUSION