The Outcome of the Arab Regional Preparatory Process for Rio+20

Roula Majdalani, DirectorSustainable Development and Productivity Division

25 November 2011

BACKGROUND TO THE UNCSD

THE PREPARATORY PROCESS

REFLECTING ON THE PROCESS

THE RECOMMENDATIONS

REFLECTING ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS

Outline

Regional Preparatory Process for Rio+20

Background to the UNCSD

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

The Decision to hold the UNCSD (Rio+20) in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is based on the Dec 2009 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/236.

Objectives:

• To secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development;

• To assess progress and implementation gaps in summit outcomes on sustainable Development implementation;

• To address new and emerging challenges.

Themes: • Institutional framework for sustainable development;• A green economy in the context of sustainable

development and poverty eradication.

UNCSD will mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UNCED, also known as the “Earth Summit” ;

UNCED’s main outcomes were:

– Rio Declaration on Environment and Development – Agenda 21– and the Statement of Forest Principles.

CCD (Convention to Combat Desertification) UNFCCC (United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change) CBD (Convention on Biodiversity)

Brief History of UN Environmental Conferences

The 10th anniversary of Agenda 21 was

marked in Johannesburg at the World

Summit on sustainable Development (WSSD)

(26 Aug-4 Sept 2002) with the adoption

of two major documents:

– Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) – Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development

Brief History of UN Environmental Conferences

Institutions (Intergovernmental)

•Joint Technical Secretariat of JCEDAR (ESCWA, LAS and UNEP) that advises the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE)

•Arab Ministerial Council of Electricity (AMCE)

•Arab Ministerial Water Council (AMWC)

Initiatives

•The Sustainable Development Initiative in the Arab Region

•Regional Initiative for the Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Socio-Economic Vulnerability in the Arab Region

•Regional Programme for Trade & Environment Committees

Selected Regional Institutions and initiatives on SD in the Arab Region

Resolution 64/236 of the General Assembly of the United Nations, dated 24 December 2009, on the preparatory process for the UNCSD

In the context of its mandate to lead regional preparation for Rio+20, ESCWA has been closely cooperating with:

• The League of Arab States (LAS) and• The United Nations Environment Programme/Regional Office for

West Asia (UNEP/ROWA),

Partnerships for RIO+20 Regional Preparations

Regional Preparatory Process for Rio+20

The Preparatory process for Rio+20

UN entities: UNIDO, ILO, IFC, WB, FAO, IFAD, UNDP, etc.

Government Ministries: Ministries of Environment, Ministries of Industry, Ministries of Agriculture, Ministries of Planning and Finance

Civil Society: ANND (Arab Network for NGOs development) , RAED (Arab Network for Environment and Development)

Main Organizers:ESCWA , UNEP/ROWA and LAS

LAS organizations: ACSAD, AIDMO, AOAD, AAEA, ARADO, etc.

Building partnerships

What did it involve?

4 Regional Studies and Reports

(Green Economy, Institutions for Sustainable Development…)

3 Civil Society Consultations during October 2011

(in cooperation with UNEP, ANND and RAED)

12 Meetings/Seminars/Conferences from December 2010 until October 2011

(Green Industries, Trade and Environment, Green Finance…)

Regional Preparations for Rio+20

Trade & Environment

(Beirut)

Green Finance(Beirut)

Green Industry(Beirut)

Civil Society(Dubai, Beirut)

Private Sector (Beirut)

Water(Zaragoza)

Energy & SCP(Cairo)

Green Jobs(Syria)

Regional Institutions for

SD(Jeddah)

UN Regional Organizations (RCM-Beirut)

National Consultations (KSA, Syria,

Jordan)

Arab Regional Preparatory

Meeting for Rio+20 (Cairo, 16-17 Oct)

A Consultative & Multi-Sectoral Process aimed at Integrating Sustainable Development in the Arab Region

Regional Consultations for Rio+20: Activity title Venue and Date Expected Goals

Regional Workshop on Trade and Environment: Developing the EGS Sector in the Arab Region for Transformation into GE

Beirut, 15-16 Dec 2010

Discuss the basic concepts of a GE and the contribution that EGS can give to the achievement of such an economy

3rd Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Arab Region: Paving the Path to GE in the Arab Region

Cairo, 26-27 Jan 2011

Showcase best practices, review progress and exchange views on the needs and priorities of the region to promote the shift to SCP and the transition to a GE

Side Event to 15th RCM Meeting: UN-LAS Consultation Beirut, 2 June 2011

Discuss potential regional cooperation for Rio +20

1st Meeting of the Arab Working Group on Clean Fuel and Vehicles

Cairo, 7-8 June 2011

CAMRE and UNEP/ROWA led. Draw-up a regional strategy and roadmap for clean fuels and vehicles

Green Jobs Workshop Beirut 28-29 July 2011

Awareness on Green Jobs in Lebanon by ESCWA, ILO, UNDP

Regional Preparatory Meeting for Rio+20: Economic Policies Supporting the Transition to a GE in the Arab Region

Beirut, 20-21 July 2011

Discuss GE policies with policy makers in ministries of finance

Voluntary Sustainable Standards Workshop Beirut, 27 Sept 2011

Raise awareness and discuss VSS in agriculture for SD

Green Industry Conference Beirut, 28-30 Sept 2011

Consultation on issues affecting regional industry in a green economy

Workshop on Institution for Sustainable Development Jeddah, 3-4 Oct 2011

Consultation about IFSD reform at the global and regional level

Civil society consultation meeting on Rio+20 Beirut,Dubai, Cairo Oct 2011

Consultation with Civil Society on Rio+20

16th meeting of the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) for Arab States

Beirut, 25-26 Nov 2011

Proposals and Follow-up from 15th RCM Meeting Side Event

Joint Background Paper on Greeneconomy (LAS-ESCWA-UNEP) -submitted to CAMRE Session (December2010)

Regional Report on the Green Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication (ESCWA)

Progress Report on the Implementation of Arab Initiative for Sustainable Development (LAS)

Regional Review of Institutions for Sustainable Development in the Arab Region (ESCWA)

Regional Reporting

Events Dates RemarksArab Regional Preparatory Conference (PrepCom)

16-17 Oct 2011Cairo

• Discussion of regional reports• Arab Declaration• Regional Initiative – tbc

JCEDAR 13th Session 18-20 Oct 2011Cairo

• Review of outputs of the Arab Regional PrepCom

2nd Inter-Sessional Meeting 15-16 Dec 2011New York

• Discussion of the outputs of the 1st Intersessional Meeting

CAMRE 23rd Session 21-22 Dec 2010Cairo

• Declaration – confirms political will

• Arab ministerial initiative - tbc

3rd Inter-Sessional Meeting 5-7 Mar 2012New York

• Discussion of the outputs of the 2nd Intersessional Meeting

PrepCom III 28-30 May 2012 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Final meeting • Draft negotiations text

UNCSD (Rio+20) 20-22 Jun 2012 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Global Conference• Roadmap and a toolkit for

transition for a green economy - tbc

Milestones at regional and Global levels

Regional Preparatory Process for Rio+20

Reflecting on the process

• A Regional consultative process involving different cities (Beirut, Cairo, Jeddah…) and regional organizations (LAS, AIDMO)

• An highly inclusive process benefiting from the involvement of institutional and civil stakeholders

• Added value brought by the 3 civil society consultation that drove the attention on different issues…but need to ensure their concerns will be reflected in Rio final outcome

• Serious political engagement by the Arab countries during the meeting, the studies reviews and the Arab Prep Com

A Regional Process, different actors

Over 130 participants, including representatives of governments, international and regional organizations, and Major Groups,

On Sunday, 16 October: assessing the progress to date and gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development; identifying new and emerging issues affecting progress towards sustainable development in the region; and the institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD).

On Monday, 17 October: green economy opportunities and challenges facing the region in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, securing renewed political commitment for sustainable development.

A small drafting group convened in the afternoon to discuss recommendations from the conference, which were then presented to the plenary for consideration.

After lengthy discussions, the recommendations were approved.

The Arab Prep Com, Cairo 16-17 October 2011

Regional Preparatory Process for Rio+20

Recommendations

Recommendations

Reaffirming the principles set in the Rio Declaration in 1992, honoringcommitments towards developing countries (provision of adequate funding,transfer of technology and capacity building)

New and emerging challenges: “Emerging social and political transformationsin the region provide an opportunity to reconsider development priorities…amongstthem, climate change…financial crises…population growth and urbanization”

Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development: “should address thethree dimensions of sustainable development and should not either result inimposing any additional burdens…not use environmental considerations asbarriers…strengthen and establish national councils for sustainabledevelopment…enhancing coordination among international, regional and nationalframeworks…”

The Green Economy: “…no agreed upon definition of the greeneconomy…achieving sustainable development and not a substitute for it…gradualtransition to a green economy according to the socio-economic characteristics…notpretext to create trade barriers…not precondition for providing financial support…”

Recommendations (ct’d)Need to work with Governments to ensure the development of the SDAgenda: “…the Arab countries affirm their commitment to implement "TheSustainable Development Initiative in the Arab Region" adopted by the 2004 ArabSummit…”

Collaborate with the Civil Society to be able to get to the people and notmake them feel SD as a top down approach: “Supporting the participation ofwomen, youth, people with special needs, as well as the private sector, civil societyorganizations and stakeholders, in development and the decision making process”

SD to be unpacked and made meaningful to partners and beneficiaries by stillkeeping the holistic view

Explore the potential of a Green Economy “well adapted” to the region

The necessity to work on messaging and awareness

Harmonizing Regional Positions – importance of assisting ArabGovernments to formulate common positions and perspectives on issues forexamination at Rio+20: “Stressing the importance of promoting and strengtheningregional integration as a necessary factor in achieving sustainable development”

Regional Preparatory Process for Rio+20

Reflecting on the Recommendations

• The Recommendations reflected a clear intention of negotiating as developing countries part of the G77

• “ Reaffirming the need for a balanced approach to achievingsustainable development and for promoting linkages and interactionamong the three economic, social and environmental pillars…”

• “Reaffirming Principle VII of the Rio Declaration on the common, butdifferentiated responsibilities and Principle XXIII of the Rio Declarationthat the environment and natural resources of people underoppression, domination and occupation shall be protected…”

• “Stressing further the need to achieve development with dueconsideration to justice among citizens to achieve the aspirations ofpeoples in terms of human dignity, employment, social cohesion andharmony, and to combat poverty, hunger and diseases…”

• “…call on the developed countries to fulfill their commitments,especially towards the developing countries”

Overall Tone

Regional Preparatory Process for Rio+20

• Adherence to original Rio principles to confirm full commitment fromthe Arab States: “Stressing the need to accept the Rio principles withoutprejudice and rejecting any attempt to renegotiation them…Emphasizing theimportance of implementing the outcomes of the United Nations summit andconferences on sustainable development”

• The Arab States reaffirmed in Cairo the need of achieving a realSustainable Development involving the 3 pillars: “Stressing the need tostrengthen and integrate the three economic, social and environmental pillarsof the sustainable development”

• Common need to proceed on their Regional integration: “Stressing theimportance of promoting and strengthening regional integration as anecessary factor in achieving sustainable development”

Strong points

• Resistance to mention Governance and Democracy in the recommendations reflects a lack of “consensus” about including these elements in the sustainable development debates

• Considering the social and political changes occurring in the Arab Region, a stronger reference to Democracy would have strengthened the Arab position vis a vis the international community

Weak points

Regional Preparatory Process for Rio+20

Missing or problematic points

• Green Economy still represents a big question mark…

• Missing reference to a transition towards a low carbon economy, as a consequence of the unsolved debate experienced in the Arab Region, it reflects the difference between Gulf Countries and the other States

• The debate on Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development at the Global level still to be clarified

• The drafting of an Arab Declaration or Initiative on Sustainable Development will be discussed in CAMRE

Regional Preparatory Process for Rio+20

Way forward to ensure SD Agenda developed in the Region

Scaling up and consolidate work at the national level to prepare the region for Rio+20

Possible role for RCM ?

• Establish a task force to work on sustainable development goals for the Arab region

• Create a joint task force to deliver guidance note on Rio+20 for the RCM meeting in November 2012.

Thank You!

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