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2nd Implementation Cycle - Review Session
1-12 May 2006
New York

CSD-14

First Bureau Meeting
29 September 2005
Note of the Meeting

  1. The first meeting of the Bureau of the fourteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14) took place on 29 September 2005. The Chairman of CSD-14, H.E. Mr. Aleksi Aleksishvili, chaired the meeting. The following Vice-Chairs attended the meeting: Mr. Azanaw T. Abreha, Vice-Chair (Ethiopia); Mr. Javad Amin-Mansour, Vice- Chair (Iran); Mr. Adrian Fernández Bramauntz, Vice-Chair (Mexico); and Mr. Yvo de Boer, Vice-Chair (the Netherlands). The meeting was also attended by the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DSD/DESA), staff from DSD/DESA and officials from the Permanent Mission of Georgia, the Permanent Mission of Mexico and the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands.

Introduction by the Chair and Bureau members

  1. Chair Aleksishvili started the meeting by welcoming all Bureau members to the first Bureau meeting. As the first Minister of Finance elected to the chairmanship of CSD, Chair Aleksishvili stated that he would do his best to mobilize the participation of fellow Finance Ministers in CSD-14, as well as Ministers with portfolios for energy, economic growth, industry and international development cooperation. He pointed out that sustainable development is not just about environment. It is also about economic growth, development and prosperity. CSD-14 should have a real impact on the ground to advance implementation.
  2. Chair Aleksishvili highlighted the inter-linkages of the thematic cluster of issues for CSD- 14/15 and the need for avoiding compartmentalizing the issues and putting them in silo. He drew attention to the fact that over 2 billion people do not have access to modern energy services and the urgent need for tackling the access issue head-on. He stressed the development aspects of industry and the need for fostering economic growth in developing countries through broad-based industrial development that creates jobs, including through small- and medium-sized enterprises.
  3. He further pointed out that his focus would be on identifying problems and barriers, finding out what has been done successfully to overcome them, and disseminating best practices and success stories. He invited Bureau members to consult member States in their respective regions to identify countries that have made progress and to make available to the Secretariat cast studies and lessons learned so that a Matrix could be developed at the end of CSD-14, showing specific lessons learned and leaders in implementation.
  4. Chair Aleksishvili emphasized the crucial importance of increasing financing and investment in addressing the challenges ahead. He intended to engage international financial institutions and the private sector in the work of CSD.
  5. The Vice-Chairs expressed their support for the Chair’s emphasis on the three pillars of sustainable development and on the integrated approach to the review of the thematic cluster. They also agreed that as a Review Session CSD-14 should focus on identifying barriers and lessons learned and not engage in negotiations.
  6. Bureau members pointed out that CSD-14 is meeting at an important juncture. An estimated $16 trillion will be needed for investment in the world energy systems in the next twenty-five 2 years and this will have huge impacts on air quality and climate change, as there will be opportunities for investing in cleaner technologies. It was also pointed out that there already exist cost-effective measures to bring about changes in energy efficiency, air quality and climate change. Also highlighted was the importance of addressing climate change and promoting industrial development in Africa.

Preparations for CSD-14

  1. The Bureau held a preliminary round of discussions on the organisation of work of CSD -14, including the organization of the High-level Segment. The Bureau emphasized the importance of channelling the results of regional implementation meetings (RIMs) to CSD-14 and the contributions of UN agencies and Major Groups. The Bureau noted that CSD-11 decisions provided clear guidelines on the specific modalities for the organization of work of CSD sessions.
  2. The Secretariat provided a background note on key activities scheduled to take place during CSD-14, including interactive thematic discussions, regional discussion sessions, SIDS review, High-level Segment and Partnerships Fair and Learning Centre.
  3. The Secretariat also briefed the Bureau on the current status of documentation for CSD-14, the preparations for the five regional implementation meetings (RIMs), and steps taken to facilitate the contributions of Major Groups in the preparation for CSD-14, as well as the planning for Partnerships Fair, Learning Centre and Side-events.
  4. The Bureau was further informed of the traditional meeting between the Bureau and the Major Groups’ Organizing Partners prior to CSD-14 and the enhanced participation of Major Groups in CSD activities.
  5. With regard to documentation, it was noted that organizations of the UN system and Major Groups have both been invited to contribute to the preparation of Secretary-General’s reports. The Secretariat has already received inputs from UN agencies, international organizations and Major Groups. National reports and case studies have also been submitted to the Secretariat and are available on the CSD website.
  6. The Bureau decided to continue its consideration of the organisation of work of CSD-14 at its next meeting; in the meantime, Bureau members will consult with their respective regional groupings and invite their inputs. The Secretariat will prepare options for the organization of work of CSD-14 for consideration by the Bureau at its next meeting.
  7. The Chair emphasized the importance of agreeing on a framework for the organization of work expeditiously with a view to allowing Governments and stakeholders to start their preparations in a timely manner and of build ing on the successes of CSD-12/13 while continuing to improve and refine the methods of work of CSD-14.

Future Bureau meetings

  1. The Bureau decided to hold its next meeting on 11-12 December, to be followed by a third meeting in February 2006, a fourth in April 2006 and a fifth one right before the start of CSD-14.