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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The Congress and the Administration make up the basic decision making structure at the federal level. Federal Agencies involved in implementing programs legislated by Congress include the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and others. Major groups play an important role in developing and implementing numerous wide-ranging programs aimed at alleviating poverty in the US.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
In order to provide a safety net for disadvantaged, elderly and disabled persons in American society, the federal government administers a range of social insurance and social assistance programmes, including Medicare, unemployment insurance, worker's compensation, and temporary disability insurance. Also included is an array of "income support programmes" such as supplemental security income (SSI), aid to families with dependent children (AFDC), Medicaid, food stamps, low-income home energy assistance programmes, public housing, special nutritional programmes and general assistance. In 1995, federal expenditures on key social programmes such as OASDI, Medicare, Medicaid, Food stamps, AFDC, and SSI amounted to over $740 billion.
Federally-administered social programmes were not developed all at once to fulfil a specific agenda of national need. Rather, they are derived from a range of legislation passed over the years to help meet the needs of particular groups of citizens at particular times. At the federal level, there are several programmes, including those related to job training, that are aimed at helping train income disadvantaged individuals. In August 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which will virtually revamp many elements of key programmes, including the AFDC and SSI. Further debate on the implementation of this legislation will likely continue in the President's second Administration.
In addition to federal efforts, there is a wide range of poverty alleviation programmes by States, religious and charitable institutions, businesses and local communities. By and large, these non-federal government efforts play an essential role in helping to assist individuals and groups affected by poverty in the US.
Status
US poverty thresholds are set to determine whether a person or family is eligible for assistance under a particular federal programme. The poverty threshold is established each year by increasing the previous year's threshold according to the change in the Consumer Price Index. The original poverty threshold was devised in the 1960s and was equal to three times the amount of money needed to buy the least expensive "nutritionally adequate" diet.
Economic Prosperity and Equity are Goal #2 and Goal #3 respectively of the President's Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD). By economic prosperity, the PCSD means to "sustain a healthy US economy that grows sufficiently to create meaningful jobs, reduce poverty, and provide the opportunity for a high quality of life for all in an increasingly competitive world." Measuring economic prosperity will be facilitated via a variety of yardsticks, including:
Equity is defined as to "ensure that all Americans are afforded justice and have the opportunity to achieve economic, environmental, and social well-being." Equity is measured via income trends, environmental equity (environmental justice) and social equity.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
As part of its strategy to foster broad-based economic growth in developing countries, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to expanding access and opportunity for the poor and ensuring disadvantaged people have access to resources and technologies. USAID works with local governments and institutions to make regulatory, legal and institutional environments more equitable. USAID efforts in this regard include
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This information is based on the United States of America's submission to the 5th
Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April
1997
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The US Bureau of the Census, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the US Department of Labor, the National Institute of Health's Center for Population Research and the Immigration and Naturalization Service are most directly concerned with demographic issues. USAID, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Education manage and operate programmes related to comprehensive population stabilization efforts. An interagency working group composed of representatives of the US Department of State, National Security Council, USAID, CDC, US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), HHS, Department of Labor, Treasury Department, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Department of Commerce, US Bureau of Census and the Office of the Vice President coordinate population, environment, and development policies.
The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) within HHS provides resources and policy advice on population, family planning, reproductive health, and adolescent pregnancy issues.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The US does not have an official population policy, in part because population density
is low in the United States and large regions of the country are sparsely populated. (The
US also has no specific policies to modify the spatial distribution of the population.) In
addition, there is little public consensus about either the need for population-based
policies, or their nature. According to the US National Report to the International
Conference on Population and Development (April 1994), much of the need for family
planning in the United States can be met with current contraceptive methods. However, the
development of new methods will expand individuals' choices and improve options for
families.
Women retain a key role in each of the major US domestic and international agencies concerned with population and sustainable development, and constitute more than 50% of the staff of some units with management responsibilities in these areas. Women constituted more than 50% of the US delegation to the ICPD. A number of steps have been taken to involve women at all levels in programmes supported by USAID.
Most family planning interventions are conducted by NGOs such as Planned Parenthood. In preparation for the International Conference on Population and Development, public meetings were held throughout the US to facilitate the participation of NGOs and individuals. In Cairo, governmental and non-governmental participants collaborated together to draft an Action Programme that encompasses quality family planning and reproductive health services, women's empowerment, involvement of men in gender-specific issues, expanded access to education and health care services, and the reduction of wasteful resource consumption.
Programmes and Projects
The Office of Population Affairs administers two grant programmes under the "Public Health Service Act"
(Public Law 91-572) under Title X, known as the national Family Planning Programme, and
Title XX, known as the Adolescent Family Life Programme.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
In fiscal year 1993, the United States spent approximately $25 million on the
development of new contraceptive methods. A total of $144 million was spent on all aspects
of population research.
Cooperation
US population assistance has been provided through both bilateral and multilateral channels under the Foreign Assistance Act. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is the principal organization responsible for carrying out US population assistance programmes. The US works multilaterally through the UNFPA which supports family planning and reproductive, maternal and child health programmes in about 60 countries, many of which do not receive direct assistance from the US. The Summit of the Americas, The International Research and Training Programme, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are other examples of bilateral and multilateral programmes. The US-Japan Common Agenda is an initiative which began in July 1993 and includes the following goals
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This information is based on the United States of America's submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April 1997
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
Decision-making on federal policy and programmes on human health issues is arrived at through the deliberations of the Congress in consultation with the Administration. Key federal agencies involved include Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Food and Drug Administration and others. Major groups play an active role in debate on health care issues at the federal, state & local levels.
The President's Council on Sustainable Development (PCSD) maintains that one of its primary objectives is to ensure that every person enjoys the benefits of clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment at home, at work and at play. The PCSD seeks to decrease the number of people who live in areas that fail to meet air quality standards; limit the number of persons whose drinking water fails to meet national safe drinking water standards; reduce toxic emissions and decrease the incidence of diseases and deaths that are related to environmental exposures.
The National Commission on AIDS was established by public law "for the purpose of
promoting the development of a national consensus on policy concerning AIDS and of
studying and making recommendations for a consistent national policy." President
Clinton has named a national AIDS Policy Coordinator to facilitate implementation of
federal AIDS control programmes.
Decision-Making: Legislation
and Regulations
For a broad national goal like reducing smoking, the US has adopted a combination of
measures, including regulating smoking in public places and increasing taxes on tobacco.
Decision-Making: Strategies,
Policies and Plans
The Health People 2000 Plan, developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services since UNCED, links national health objectives through three goals:
HIV infection and AIDS is a national priority for disease prevention, as diseases related to personal behaviours have become critical components of health and mortality indicators.
Policy has shifted from discouraging contraception on the basis of age and marital status to promoting it to all who do not have access to services.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information is available.
According to the US National Report to the International Conference on Population and Development (April 1994), in the early 1990s, one-tenth of the non-elderly were covered by Medicaid, a federal insurance programme for the poor, and 9.5 million children (15 percent) and 17 percent of all non-elderly people were without any health insurance. The major federal programmes serving children and pregnant women are Medicaid, the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Programme, the Special Supplemental Food Programme for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Community and Migrant Health Center Programme. Funding from several public programmes support family planning services.
Status
In recognition of current trends, the Department of Health and Human Services has set a goal for the year 2000 to "increase to at least 90 percent the proportion of sexually active, unmarried people aged 19 and younger who use contraception."
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
National expenditures for health care reached an estimated $900 billion in 1993, which,
on a per capita basis, is equivalent to $3,500 per person per year. The government's share
of this spending was almost 44 percent of the total in 1991, and is projected to exceed 50
percent by the end of the decade. Therefore, containing health care costs while increasing
the number of beneficiaries equitably is a major goal of the PCSD. By the end of 1993, the
federal government had spent approximately $17 billion in the fight against HIV infection.
One in ten of non-elderly Americans is covered by Medicaid, a federal insurance
programme.
The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Programme which supports the direct delivery of
services in public health care settings receives funding from states which contribute $3
in matching funds for every $4 in federal funds received.
Cooperation
The United States plays an active role in both regional and international health organizations, including WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO). The US also provides multilateral and bilateral assistance to promote and protect human health under the Foreign Assistance Act. USAID is the principal US Agency responsible for carrying out these programmes. In addition, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) also support international health programmes. USAID provides bilateral assistance for health programmes in almost 50 countries. Closely linked with population and family planning programmes, USAID's health efforts are focused on three strategic areas: reducing child mortality by expanding access to and improving the quality of basic preventative services and supporting research for the development of new and better child health technologies; reducing maternal mortality through increased use of family planning, improving maternal health and safe delivery, and improved management of obstetrical complications; and reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections, especially HIV/AIDS by focusing primarily on prevention of transmission of other sexually transmitted infections, increased information and increased availability and use of condoms.
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This information is based on the United States of America's submission to the 5th
Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April
1997
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Environmental Education is a full member of the National Coordinating Body for Sustainable Development and is responsible for environmental education activities.
The National Environmental Education Advisory Council provides the Administrator of EPA with independent advice on how the Agency implements the National Environmental Education Act. The Council serves as an important communication mechanism which links the federal government with educators around the country.
Although the EPA is not directly involved in a national strategy on education, it has been involved with the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Education and Training (NSTC/CET).
According to the President's Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Task Force on Public Linkage, Dialogue and Education "an educated public is our most powerful resource to meet the challenges created by increasing environmental, economic and social demands." Recognizing the importance of education, the Council created this Task Force to serve as the vehicle through which the work of the Council is accessible to the public for information, review and comment. In addition to information dissemination on sustainable development, the PCSD and its activities, the Public Linkage Task Force promotes dialogue and outreach between the PCSD and community networks. Through its efforts, the Task Force hopes to foster national understanding of sustainable development.
The EPA encourages partnerships, mobilizes resources, provides information and assesses
the needs of different population groups. It also works with United Nations agencies and
organizations to provide guidance on policy development and technical assistance to
benefit developing countries
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies,
Policies and Plans
The national strategy on education is prepared by the Department of Education and includes such programmes as Goals 2000 and School to Work. Although there is no single network for either schools or universities, there are many examples of national programmes at both levels. At the primary school level, school curricula have already been reviewed and revised, and at the secondary school level, the revision of school curricula is being undertaken currently to address environment and development as a cross cutting issue. There are no plans to revise school curricula in vocational schools. The topics of environmental health, safe drinking water, sanitation, food, ecosystems, recycling and energy saving are taught on an ad hoc basis at all school levels.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
The National Environmental Education Advisory Council, consultative body of the Department of Education, is comprised of eleven individuals who are appointed by the Administrator of the EPA. Women, NGOs, Local Authorities, Business and Industry and the Scientific and Technical Communities are members of the Council.
To meet its mandate, the Task Force seeks to engage the business, environmental, labor, civil rights, educational and religious communities in the PCSD process. The Task Force is identifying and creating outreach opportunities for the Council through the use of print, audio and visual media, as well as via satellite.
Programmes and Projects
There are many in-service programmes available to teachers and other environmental education professionals through state education agencies, the federal government, NGOs, non-profit education and professional associations, the academic community, and tribal government agencies. Training takes place in both informal and non-formal settings. The EPA sponsors a variety of teacher-training programmes through the Environmental Education Division. On the other hand, there is very little pre-service training available to environmental educators beyond single courses.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The US has been involved in several awareness raising programmes and activities aimed at the population at large (Earth Day, industry supported campaigns, Ad Council, Programme KAB, Arbor Day, GLOBE Programme, Discovery Channel, National Geographic programmes, CNN, ZooQ, As it Happens, water clean-up programmes, etc.).
Information
Regarding the use of tools for environmental education, printed material is often used at the primary school level, the university level, and occasionally in secondary schools. Audio visual tools are often used in primary and secondary school and at the university level. In vocational schools, audio visual materials are used occasionally.
Once key communications networks are identified, they can be used to disseminate a variety of information pieces, including a newly developed Spanish/English brochure highlighting the work of the Council and Task forces.
The Biodiversity and Ecosystems Network (BENI) was launched in October 1994 to utilize
electronic communication networks to foster collaboration among partners in ecosystem
management.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
The EPA is currently working in conjunction with UNEP in the area of air quality monitoring with INFOTERRA.
Over 90 countries have expressed interest in becoming involved in
the GLOBE programme and , as of mid-1994, 14 nations had agreed to collaborate with the US
on this initiative.
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This information is based on the United States of America's submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April 1997
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
Federal policy on housing is administered
by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Decision-Making: Legislation
and Regulations
Most decisions related to land use are made at the local level, as in the case of Washington State, home to Seattle, one of the country's fastest growing metropolitan areas. In 1990, Washington passed the Growth Management Act, which is designed to provide incentives for well-planned growth. The legislation has led to broad-based citizen participation. Sustainable Seattle, a non-profit organization of citizens, initiated a process to evaluate the city's livability and environmental health via its project on indicators.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Federal policy on housing is based on programmes enacted by the Congress and administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). However, virtually the entire housing development process land acquisition, construction, sale and financing is market driven. Typically, zoning regulations for housing are developed and administered at local levels, with little or no federal involvement.
The US has no specific policies to modify the spatial distribution of the population.
Decision-Making: Major
Groups involvement
Using a broad and open process, the group led the community in identifying social, economic and environmental indicators and conducted research to measure Seattle's environmental progress or deterioration.
Programmes and Projects
HUD administers mortgage programmes to help families become homeowners. HUD also fosters construction of new housing and renovation of existing rental housing and provides aid for low-income families who cannot afford their rent. HUD enacts programmes to prevent housing discrimination, and encourages a strong private sector housing industry. HUD also cooperates with state and local authorities, as well as local non-governmental groups, to address problems posed by homelessness in many urban areas throughout the country.
HUD maintains a number of programmes, including the Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities programme. This latter programme seeks to empower local citizens to become more involved in their communities and aware of environmental technology benefits that result from attracting new business and industries to depressed areas. HUD also has a Land Use Systems Technology programme which involves research and technical aspects of urban development, land use, open space, environmental protection and other contexts of development. In addition, HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development has a Sustainable Communities Development System aimed at providing overall policy and technical purview of technologies affecting all dimensions of the ecological, land, natural resources, industrial, and development aspects of urbanization.
Status
The American population has become largely urban and increasingly suburban and exurban. Cities across the country have seen population grow in the suburbs and beyond, rather than in city centers. In addition, large-scale migration during the 1970s and 1980s shifted the regional distribution of the population from the North and Midwest to the South and West. Growth management has thus become an important concern for urban planners, particularly since fiscal resources have become increasingly constrained. Local governments are being more assertive in requiring developers of new housing or business facilities to bear the costs of providing streets, utilities, and other services. Local governments are also developing or revising regulations that determine where new buildings can be constructed, and how many people they may shelter.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
The US played an active role in Habitat II. USAID's urban programming approaches promote the principles of sustainable human settlements development agreed to at Habitat II. These principles include:
USAID programmes are aimed at:
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This information is based on the United States of America's submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April 1997
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