UN Economic and Social Development
Division for Sustainable Development

CSD-13

Message from the Chair: H.E. Dr. John W. Ashe
Antigua and Barbuda

From Stockholm in 1972, to Rio in 1992, and finally to Johannesburg in 2002, the global community has embarked on a three decade journey aimed at furthering progress towards broad global sustainable development objectives. During the course of this thirty year period, a manifold range of sustainable development issues have been discussed,debated, deliberated and negotiated, with the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002, serving as critical call for action.

In the post-WSSD era, the global community knows what the obstacles and constraints are, but now the question is whether we can summon the political will and requisite means to implement decisions and undertake the practical measures required to tackle these obstacles and constraints.

The new work programme for the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), based on two-year cycles with a clear set of thematic issues, provides the global community with a unique opportunity to focus in-depth attention on specific issues. Building on the outcomes of the twelfth session of CSD’s (CSD-12) focus on water, sanitation and human settlements, the thirteenth session of CSD (CSD-13) will strive to be forward looking and action oriented.

CSD-13, which will take place in New York, from 11 to 22 April 2005, will function as the “policy” session of the first-two year “implementation cycle,” with a focus on water, sanitation and human settlements. The session is expected to take policy decisions on practical measures and options to expedite implementation. Beginning with this cycle and continuing with every cycle in the Commission’s new multi-year programme of work, CSD-13 will tackle the thematic issues in conjunction with the cross-cutting issues, as agreed at CSD-11.

At the CSD-12 Review session, we undertook an in-depth examination of the obstacles and constraints encountered at the local, national, regional and international levels to meet commitments related to water, sanitation and human settlements. These challenges included the need for creating a more enabling international environment, developing Integrated Water Resources Management and efficiency plans by 2005, raising the profile of sanitation and ensuring security of tenure for the poor, to name but a few.

CSD-13 should not, therefore, be a session to revisit principles or concepts or to redefine the problems and challenges. The task of CSD-13 will be to map out a framework of policy options and actions to tackle these constraints and obstacles.

The importance of the work of CSD-13 cannot be overestimated. The policy options and actions Governments are expected to agree on at CSD-13 will underpin our common endeavours in the coming years to meet the Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation targets and commitments in water, sanitation and human settlements. To facilitate the work of CSD-13, member Governments will meet in February 2005 at an intergovernmental preparatory meeting in New York for interactive discussions on a possible framework of policy options and actions. In addition to the outcome of CSD-12, the Secretary-General’s reports and regional contributions will be important inputs to the interactive discussions. As Chair of CSD-13, I will prepare a text based on these discussions which will capture the various proposals and suggestions for action that are likely to emerge from the intergovernmental preparatory meeting. The text will be made available in six official languages for consideration at CSD-13.

In April 2005, member Governments will meet at CSD-13. There will be two weeks of arduous - but inspired and imaginative, I hope - work focusing on more specific policy actions to speed up implementation.

As Chairman of CSD-13, I will do my very best, in close collaboration with my colleagues on the Bureau and with assistance from the Secretariat, to guide CSD-13 to a successful conclusion. I am convinced that member Governments, Major Groups and other stakeholders will be likewise committed to the outcome of CSD-13. Let us work with a concerted effort to set out a framework of options and actions that Governments, Major Groups and other stakeholders can be proud of. It is they who will own this framework. They will implement the actions and they will be monitoring the progress in implementation.

CSD-12 has achieved a great deal in both the innovations in its meeting formats and organisation of work. I intend to carry on this spirit of reform and innovation and encourage a broad participation of Major Groups in the work of CSD-13. I will urge the secretariat to continue to organise, in collaboration with Regional Commissions, regional discussions at CSD-13. There should also be a Partnerships Fair and a Learning Centre, but with a focus that is geared to the task of CSD-13.

I will consult with the Bureau on the specific modalities of organisation of work and keep delegations informed of the decisions and recommendations of the Bureau. I will also encourage Bureau members to regularly brief their respective constituents. The preparation of CSD-13 will be consultative, participatory and transparent.

Let us keep in our mind the gravity of the challenge facing the world today - 1.1 billion of our fellow citizens are without safe drinking water; 2.2 billion without basic sanitation; and close to 1 billion living in slum settlements. These are not merely data. They represent the harsh reality of hundreds of millions of people struggling daily for a decent living.

We can make their lives better – if we work together in partnerships and if we are committed to taking pro-poor policy measures. I urge Ministers of finance, development co-operation and environment, as well as those with responsibilities for water, public health, housing and urban development, to attend CSD-13. Working together, we can make an impact.