Rio+20 seminar

April 13, 2023 environmentalpillar.ie 1

RIO+20UN Conference on

Sustainable Development

Michael Ewing, Coordinator of the Environmental Pillar.

• Introduction- The urgency of the crises facing us• What is really meant by Sustainable Development?• What Ireland should bring to the

table

Contents


Our society is entirely dependent on a clean and healthy environment. Our economic system, which is an invention of our society, must reflect this fact. We can adapt our economic system and our society model, but if we push the environment much further it will be unable to provide us with the many services that we need for our survival: clean waters; a stable atmosphere; productive soils; and a healthy biodiversity. All of these natural services are in decline globally.

Introduction 1


Add to this is the following:• The capacity to produce oil peaked in 2006 whilst demand for energy continues to grow. (International Energy Agency April 2011.)• Food prices are rising rapidly, driven by the price of oil and the impact of climate change (Tom Arnold - Concern Worldwide, June 2011)• The oceans are rapidly being depleted. (UNEP 2011)• Industry is fast running out of raw materials (Neil O’Leary - Ion Equity June 2011)• Fresh-water supply world-wide is in crisis (Tom Arnold - Concern Worldwide, June2011)

Introduction 2


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World Population

April 13, 2023 environmentalpillar.ie


Species on the verge of mass extinction


“The continuing success of human society depends fundamentally on the preservation of the overall productivity, health and long term sustainability of the eco-systems and environmental services that underpin and supply many of the most basic components of human welfare such as healthy soils, flourishing biodiversity, clean waters and a stable atmosphere


The Three Pillars of Sustainable Development 1992

"The economy is, in the first instance, a subsystem of human society ... which is itself, in the second instance, a subsystem of the totality of life on Earth (the biosphere). And no subsystem can expand beyond the capacity of the total system of which it is a part". For this reason the next diagram, known as the Russian Doll model, shows economy as a component of society, both bounded by, and dependent upon, the environment.


We are part of the environment


The Real Picture


“ No subsystem can expand beyond the capacity of the total system of which it is a part”

- Jonathon Porritt


There are 40 chapters in the Agenda 21, the visionary agreement that came from Rio 1992, divided into four main sections.

Section I: Social and Economic Dimensions which deals with combating poverty, changing consumption patterns, promoting

health, change population and sustainable settlement Section II: Conservation and Management of Resources for Development Includes Atmospheric protection combating deforestation, protecting fragile

environments, conservation of biological diversity (biodiversity) and control of pollution

Section III: Strengthening the Role of Major Groups Includes the roles of children and youth, women, NGOs, local authorities,

business and workers. Section IV: Means of Implementation Implementation includes science, technology transfer, education, international

institutions and financial mechanisms.

What Ever Happened to Agenda 21?


Making choices while we still can!


‘THE BELIEF that private financial markets can solve all our problems

is the witchcraft of our age.”

The bill for ignoring nature’s services may not be affordable if we don’t start paying now, says ‘total capitalist’ and environmentalist Pavan Sukhdev, a leading figure in the formulation of Deutsche Bank’s global markets strategy in Asia from the 1990s. (August 2011)


Environmental Pillar input into Rio+20

Full submission at http://environmentalpillar.ie/2011/09/27/625/

• What is this Green Economy?• Essential parts of the Green Economy• International Governance• Governance in Ireland

http://environmentalpillar.ie/2011/09/27/625/

http://environmentalpillar.ie/2011/09/27/625/


Green Economy

• A green economy can be seen as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. Our existing economic model and our current focus on it will not deliver a green economy.

• The definition of a green economy proposed by the UNEP and supported by the European Commission does not represent a significant departure from the current economic model which is driven by the over-consumption of scarce natural resources.

• In a green economy market prices must adequately reflect environmental costs, and fiscal policy must shift taxation from work to resource consumption.


Green Economy

• A truly sustainable ‘green economy’ functions within the limits of the planet, and ensures a fair distribution of resources among all countries and social groups - as well as between men and women.

• We need an economy that provides incentives for zero-waste, low-carbon economies that enhance and restore the natural environment, while also providing new ‘green’ livelihoods, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for women as well as men.


Essential Parts of a Green Economy

• New Indicators for well-being• Internalisation of external costs• Planetary boundaries• Sufficiency Instruments (caps on resource use)• Precautionary Principle• Independent Technology Assessment• Financial Transaction Tax


International Governance For Sustainability

• Establishment of a UN ombudsman for future generations

• International Court for the Environment• International Sustainable Development Council• Reform of International Monetary Fund and World

Bank, regional development banks, and other bodies such as the World Trade Organisation

• Regional Conventions based on Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration 1992


Principle 10 (P.10), of the ‘Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992’,

states:

“Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided”.


Ridder, Mostert, Wolters, (2005) Harmonising Collaborative Planning (HarmoniCOP);


Access to Justice“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread”. Anatole France (1844-1924)


Governance in Ireland

• Ratify and fully implement the Aarhus Convention

• Climate Change Act with legally enforceable targets

• Amend the Constitution to provide for the right to a clean and healthy environment

• Incorporate the principles of SD into the National Reform Programme ( implementing the Europe 2020 Strategy)


Governance in Ireland II

• Amended NESDO Act to rename the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) as the National Sustainable Development Council

• An inclusive, visionary National Sustainable Development Strategy with measurable targets for all Government Departments

• Support for the Development of SD Indicators• Enforcement of Environmental Law • Citizen Monitoring and Enforcement


Governance in Ireland III

• Support for the Biodiversity Forum• Ramsar Committee - Wetlands• Local Agenda 21– Include Environment in the TORs of CDBs– Empower Community Forums– Renew and implement Local Agenda 21 Plans– Appoint and support Local Agenda 21 Officers


Thank YouGo Raibh Maith Agaibh

www.environmentalpillar.ie

http://www.environmentalpillar.ie/

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