Sustainable Development: Regional Follow up

 Since the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, the regional commissions have been instrumental in the regional implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPoI) under the framework of the Com-mission on Sustainable Development (CSD). The commissions assist developing countries through capacity building initiatives and holding regional preparatory meetings, ministerial conferences and regional implementation meetings (RIMS) to support the CSD programme of work.  The commissions promote environmental norms and conventions and provide technical assistance through regional advisory services, capacity building work-shops, and projects to assist countries in their respective regions.

In preparation for the fourteenth session of the CSD, each of the commissions organized RIMS for their respective regions which assessed the progress made in the region in implementing sustainable development in the areas of energy for sustainable development, atmosphere, climate change, and industrial development. The review included inputs from Member States, regional and subregional intergovernmental organizations, civil society, and the private sector.

In these meetings countries agreed that more attention should be devoted to development, implementation and transfer of cleaner technologies, and an expansion of alternative sources of energy.

The RIMS reaffirmed that poverty eradication is vital for sustainable development and reiterated the commitment of countries to the JPoI, paying special attention to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Heavily Indebted Poor Countries. The RIMS affirmed that the achievement of the development goals significantly depends on an enabling international environment premised on the development priorities of developing countries and countries in transition that address the fundamental challenges of financing for development, globalization, and market access in the sectors of export of interest to them. The RIMS also underlined that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication require good governance within each country and at the international level, as well as transparency in financial, monetary and trading systems.

The ECE forum was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 15 to16 December 2005. The region is mainly concerned with increasing the availability of energy services and reducing energy-related environmental and health problems, particularly due to air pollution and climate change. It was agreed at the meeting that energy efficiency and savings are important areas where countries can make progress. The region takes a lead role in enhancing research and development of energy technologies and sharing them with other countries. The RIM for Latin America and the Caribbean was held in Santiago, Chile, from 19 to 20 January 2006. A major challenge is that Latin America has been unable to counterbalance the rising trend in energy consumption caused by economic growth. ECLAC seeks to link the environ-mental impact with social and economic problems. The ECA meeting on regional implementation was held in Addis Abba, Ethiopia in October 2005. Participants at this meeting agreed that socio-economic development in African countries was “critically impaired” due to limited production and con-sumption of energy and the vulnerability of the countries in the region to climate change. At the RIM of the ESCWA region, which was held in Cairo, Egypt, from 13 to 15 November 2005, Arab leaders and ministers of energy and environment, agreed to develop region-wide energy sector efficien-cy. The Asia and the Pacific RIM, which was held in Bangkok, Thai-land, from 19 to 20 January 2006, highlighted the vulnerability of Pacific island states to climate change. The region has experienced the highest growth rate in the world and is confronting the escalating fuel prices and highest air pollution. The RIM outcomes were reflected in Regional Discussion sessions at the 14th Session of the CSD in May 2006. These consultations entailed an exchange of views between member states, regional institutions, and major groups.