A summary of SPAC negotiations at CSD 11
May 2003
Sustainable production and consumption received a relatively insignificant amount of attention at CSD 11, being highlighted as either a cross-cutting issue or overarching framework by NGOs and some governments in both informal discussions and negotiations. The close of the session, however, brought a mixed message; while SPAC remains in the annex as a cross-cutting issue for the next decade, these is scant mention of the concept in the final report directing the Bureau how to proceed with future CSDs.
MISSING... PRESUMED DEAD?
Sustainable Production and Consumption, one of the three overarching objectives of the Sustainable Development is conspicuous by its absence in the outcome report of the CSD 11 titled "Agenda 21 and JPOI Implementation Track". SPAC finds a nominal mention in the Preamble of the decision, which recites JPOI language. It is also mentioned in the Annex as a cross cutting issue that will be considered through the thematic cluster each cycle.
The 10-year framework of programmes on SPAC is a probable theme that may receive attention during the 2010-2011 cycle of the CSD. However, there is no mention of SPAC is the substantive portion of the text that deals with the future programme, organization and methods of work of the CSD.
A TUG OF WAR! - SPAC DURING NEGOTIATIONS
Advocates of a coherent implementation plan, which would pay attention to integrating the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, received a sharp setback in the draft decision submitted by the Chairperson. The decision, which was supposed to mirror the summary of the high level ministerial segment held that poverty eradication would be the overriding theme of all the implementation cycles identified in the Multi Year Programme of work (Para. 9 of the draft decision), thus, sweeping away negotiations conducted only a few months ago in Johannesburg.
The negotiations around the text revealed two opposing factions. This proposal was opposed by many major groups who felt that an exclusive focus on poverty eradication would focus attention away from the special and differentiated responsibilities of developed countries. The EU maintained that the work programme should cover all the overarching objectives of sustainable development (i.e. poverty eradication, elimination of unsustainable production and consumption patters and managing the natural resource base) as well as other priorities like corporate and social responsibilities. The G77/ China on the other hand proposed that the entire introductory paragraph be deleted, or replaced with the exact language from the JPOI.
The compromise reached for the final text was that the paragraph about the overarching themes was removed from the main body of the decision and placed in the Preamble.
SPAC AT THE INTERACTIVE MINISTERIAL ROUND TABLE
The interactive ministerial round tables at CSD lived up to their title with NGOs and other major groups receiving several opportunities to air their views. The NGO spokesperson highlighted the importance of policy coherence and stated that unsustainable patterns of sustainable production and consumption was one of the main obstacles to poverty eradication. She also highlighted the 2005 deadline for national governments to draft and implement National Strategies for Sustainable Development, and suggested that the same deadline apply to formulating the 10-year framework of programs on sustainable production and consumption.
Government responsibility in formulating and implementing these strategies was stressed. This should be accompanied by NGO action in monitoring and evaluating government action.
WATER, SANITATION AND SETTLEMENTS
CSD 11 has chosen water, sanitation and human settlements to be the thematic clusters that will be considered during the 1st CSD cycle between 2004-2005. This cluster will be considered along with the cross cutting issues of poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, protecting the natural resource base, gender, education, etc. The list of thematic clusters and cross cutting issues can be found at the Annex of the CSD's draft resolution. The Annex is titled the Multi Year Program of work of the CSD.
The organization of the Annex was a matter of considerable controversy at the CSD. The draft decision brought out by the Chairperson at the end of the first week suggested that "water" should be the single theme for the first cycle. The theme was to be addressed along with related clusters of issues and crosscutting issues. During negotiations, G77/China proposed that several issues be clustered together to allow quick consideration of all the issues identified at Agenda 21 and the JPOI. The US, Korea and Switzerland all supported the Chair's draft and the need for a single focused approach. The EU called for a compromise between comprehensiveness and focus. The matter was referred to a contact group that came up with a final text on the last day of the CSD 11.