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CSD-18 Guidelines for Participation

CSD-18
New York, 3-14 May 2010

CSD Guidelines

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The CSD Secretariat invites your organization to contribute to the eighteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-18), which will take place from 3-14 May 2010 at UN Headquarters in New York.

The CSD Secretariat has compiled these Guidelines for Major Groups to facilitate your contributions to the review process and participation in the CSD-18 review session, including its Regional Implementation Meetings (RIMs). We have included chapters that outline the reporting process for the review year, provide important deadlines for written submissions, and include essential information for your participation in the RIMs and in the CSD-18 meeting itself. The two-year cycle of CSD-18 and CSD-19 will focus on fostering the implementation of sustainable development in the areas of transport, chemicals, waste management, mining, and the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns.

Also, in September 2010, the United Nations will hold a High-Level Review session on progress in the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI) for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), five years after its adoption. National, sub-regional and regional preparations will precede the two-day High-Level Special Session of the General Assembly in New York, and major groups are invited to participate. We have included in these Guidelines some information on how your organization can contribute.

Since the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, major groups have played an important role in the CSD as it focuses on implementation of agreed commitments. CSD-18 and CSD-19 will again provide various opportunities for major groups to contribute case studies and best practices, provide data and information on your projects in the field, identify challenges and obstacles to implementation, and engage in interactive dialogues with government officials and other participants, including with Ministers during the high-level segment.

Maintaining and enhancing the established participatory tradition of the CSD requires continued commitment by all parties. Your active engagement in the work of the Commission enriches the debate and influences the outcomes. We therefore invite you to begin preparing for CSD-18, and stand ready to work with you in the preparatory process and to facilitate your organization’s active participation in this year’s meetings.

1. Introduction to CSD-18

1.1 Themes, Cross-cutting Issues, Timeline

The eighteenth session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-18) will meet at UN Headquarters in New York from 3-14 May 2010.

As the first year of the CSD-18/CSD-19 implementation cycle, CSD-18 will review progress in the following areas:

Cycle Thematic cluster Cross-cutting issues
2010/11 Poverty eradication, Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development, Sustainable development in a globalizing world, Health and sustainable development, Sustainable development of SIDS, Sustainable development for Africa, Other regional initiatives, Means of implementation, Institutional framework for sustainable development, Gender equality, and Education

1.2. Timeline of Important Milestone Dates and Deadlines

  • August
    17: Deadline for submission of major groups’ inputs to Secretary-General’s Reports
  • September
    8-9: Marrakesh Process Task Force leaders (Helsinki)
    12: SCP Expert Group Meeting (Manila)
    17-18: Latin American 5th regional meeting on SCP (Cartagena)
    25: First CSD-18 Bureau meeting
    28-29: Arab countries Regional SCP meeting (venue tbd)
  • October
    4-6: Western Asia RIM
    15: Deadline for submission major groups’ inputs to Secretary-General’s Report on MSI +5
    26-30: Africa RIM
  • November
    17-18: Latin America and the Caribbean RIM
    30: Deadline for submission of Major Groups’ Discussion Papers and inputs to SIDS review papers
    30 November-1 December: Asia and the Pacific RIM
    Date tbd: European and North America Expert Group Meeting on SCP
  • December
    1-2: Europe and North America RIM
  • January
    30: Finalization of SG Reports
    Date: tbc MSI+5 Regional meeting: Caribbean Region (Grenada)
  • February
    8-10: MSI+5 Regional meeting: Pacific region (Vanuatu)
  • March
    9-12: MSI+5 Regional meeting: AIMS Region (Maldives)
  • May
    3-14: CSD-18
For more details refer to our calendar by clicking here

1.3 Framework for the Organization of Work

This information will be made available as soon as the CSD-18 Bureau finalizes its discussions on this topic.

1.4 CSD-17 Bureau

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