Summary, Proposals and New Initiatives of the Interactive Discussion with Major Groups
Monday 26 February, 11:30am -1:00 pm  
Conference Room 4

1. Summary

An Interactive Discussion with major groups was held on Monday 26 February, during which representatives of each of the nine major groups presented their Priorities for Action in energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change.

The Secretary-General’s Report on energy for sustainable development supports major groups’ priorities on mitigating the impacts of indoor air pollution on women and children, integrating gender considerations into national energy budgets and training programs, and linking access to energy for women with income generating opportunities. Increased support for research and development of low-cost renewable energy technologies is essential to ensure a sustainable energy future. However, diverging views persist on the issue of whether nuclear energy is a viable sustainable energy option, and on the effectiveness of market-based energy policies that emphasize competitiveness.

The impacts of industrial development and continued fossil fuel dependency are the main source of air pollution and climate change. Impacts of climate change are especially evident for indigenous peoples who live in small island states and in the Arctic region. Local efforts are underway in many places to develop renewable energy resources and address the threat of climate change through low-cost adaptation measures.

Governments must demonstrate a model for leadership and inclusive governance in the four issue areas. At CSD-15, they should fulfill their commitment to increase participation and representation of women and youth delegates in the CSD, and emphasize the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

2. Proposals

To further expedite implementation in energy for sustainable development, major groups proposed that the international community could:
•Actively involve local communities, particularly women, in the design, promotion and use of energy resources and technologies
•Ensure that national poverty reduction strategies and sustainable development plans address the need for women’s access to energy
•Incorporate gender disaggregated data in designing and implementing energy policies and programs
•Develop instruments and measures to encourage and support small- and medium-sized bioenergy enterprises and encourage competitive domestic energy economies
•Take steps to ensure that more qualified women are trained and hired for policy-making positions
•Phase out subsidies to fossil fuel and nuclear industries and redirect them to energy efficiency funding, including access to energy for the poor
•Resist privatizing utilities that should be accessed by poor and vulnerable groups
•Redirect the IFIs and their funds to sustainable energy, including strengthened micro-financing
•Agree on a clear, universally recognized definition for sustainable energy
•Enhance public and private investment for clean and carbon-free energy technologies
•Increase support for small-scale renewable energy projects

To further expedite implementation in industrial development, major groups proposed that the international community could:
•Emphasize corporate accountability and social responsibility
•Promote clean production technologies
•Link sustainable production and consumption to health issues
•Address the threat of HIV/AIDS in impeding progress on climate change and poverty eradication, especially in Africa, through the establishment of a high-level working group at the G-8 Summit in June

To further expedite implementation in air pollution/atmosphere, major groups proposed that the international community could:
•Prioritize air pollution for health reasons
•Internalize costs of unsustainable transportation and use fiscal policy to promote public transportation, fuel efficiency, and multiple user initiatives
•Develop indoor clean air policies for cooking and heating, and adequate technologies for garbage incineration

To further expedite implementation in climate change, major groups proposed that the international community could:
•Increase sponsorship for South-South cooperation in development of early warning systems for climate change
•Increase support for long-term observation systems for climate change and climate change-related research, especially at the regional level
•Support the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and additional international actions to control greenhouse gas emissions and their effects
•Avoid transferring costs for mitigation of climate change to developing countries through CDM projects
•Conduct gender impact analyses to identify gender-specific mitigation and adaptation needs
•Engage women, youth, farmers and workers in climate change decision making and take advantage of their particular skills in natural resource management and conflict prevention
•Support farmer-driven initiatives to mitigate climate change and improve sustainable farm management practices

3. New Initiatives

•Local Authorities noted the creation of the Cities Alliance (with UN Habitat, UNEP, World Bank) to develop sustainable cities and scale-up successful approaches to poverty reduction.

•The scientific and technological communities highlighted the creation of an international science panel, and the organization of an International Conference on Engineering for Sustainable Energy in Developing Countries, to take place 15-18 August 2007 in Brazil.

•Indigenous communities fighting for the maintenance of customary traditional land use are addressing the problems of climate-destabilizing land clearance, fossil fuel extraction, commercial logging, industrialized intensive agriculture and long-distance food transport.
 

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