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Report of the CSD on its first session (E/CN.17/1993/ 3/Rev.1)
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I. MATTERS CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL OR BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION

B. Decision calling for action by the Council

2. The following decision adopted by the Commission calls for action by the Economic and Social Council:

Multi-year thematic programme of work for the Commission

At its 6th meeting, on 26 February 1993, the Commission on Sustainable Development:

(b) Recommended that the following clusters of chapters of Agenda 21 be considered as the basis for the programme of work:

(v) Roles of major groups (chapters 23-32);

Annex

MULTI-YEAR THEMATIC PROGRAMME OF WORK OF THE COMMISSION

I. AGENDA 21 CLUSTERS AS RECOMMENDED AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

E. Roles of major groups

1. Preamble to section III on strengthening the role of major groups (chapter 23).

2. Global action for women towards sustainable and equitable development (chapter 24).

3. Children and youth in sustainable development (chapter 25).

4. Recognizing and strengthening the role of indigenous people and their communities (chapter 26).

5. Strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations: partners for sustainable development (chapter 27).

6. Local authorities’ initiatives in support of Agenda 21 (chapter 28).

7. Strengthening the role of workers and their trade unions (chapter 29).

8. Strengthening the role of business and industry (chapter 30).

9. Scientific and technological community (chapter 31).

10. Strengthening the role of farmers (chapter 32).

II. PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF WORK

1994 Session

E. Roles of major groups
Chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32.
Review of sectoral clusters, first phase.

1995 Session

E. Roles of major groups
Chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32.
Review of sectoral clusters, second phase.

1996 Session

E. Roles of major groups
Chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32:
Review of sectoral clusters, third phase.

1997 Session

Overall review and appraisal of Agenda 21 in preparation for the special session of the General Assembly in 1997 envisaged in resolution 47/190.

Issues relating to the future work of the Commission

18. The consideration of contributions from non-governmental organizations should be based on the procedural arrangements for the Commission set out in Economic and Social Council decision 1993/215. The Commission may decide on specific arrangements for holding special informal meetings during its sessions in order to have a direct informal dialogue with representatives of non-governmental organizations and major groups.

26. The Secretariat should take into account the particular clusters of the multi-year thematic programme of work of the Commission and be guided by the following list of issues as regards the information to be included in the analytical reports envisaged in paragraph 28 below:

(b) Institutional mechanisms to address sustainable development issues, including the participation of non-governmental sectors and major groups in those mechanisms;

(m) Other relevant environment and development issues, including those affecting youth, women and other major groups.

28. In order to organize the information provided by Governments, the Secretary-General is requested to prepare, taking into account regional and subregional dimensions, the following analytical reports for future sessions of the Commission:

(b) Thematic reports, corresponding to the Agenda 21 sectoral clusters to be included on the agendas of forthcoming sessions of the Commission, in accordance with its multi-year programme of work. These reports should address the interrelationships between sectoral and cross-sectoral issues, reflecting the integrated nature of environment and development, including its social dimensions, and should include the following information:

(v) Specific problems and constraints encountered by Governments at all levels, including local Agenda 21 activities and activities related to major groups;

38. The Commission stresses the importance of enhancing cooperation between the organs, programmes and organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations and major groups, under relevant United Nations rules of procedure. The Commission expresses support for the convening of inter-agency consultations with major groups, where specifically provided for in
Agenda 21.

39. The Commission invites all international organizations, including international financial institutions, to undertake further measures to fully incorporate the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in their work programmes, and to provide it with further reports on their activities to follow up the Conference, focusing on the clusters of its multi-year thematic programme of work. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the reports requested in section B above will, inter alia:

(b) Identify gaps and opportunities for cooperation, including cooperation with non-governmental organizations and major groups;

50. Recognizing that the Commission has been mandated to review progress concerning the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building for the implementation of Agenda 21, the Commission has decided to prepare for the discussion at its second session through the establishment of an inter-sessional ad hoc open-ended working group, for a trial period of one year, to be composed of Governments that will nominate experts to assist in the task of assessing and suggesting specific measures to support and promote access to and transfer of technology, as indicated in paragraph 34.18 of Agenda 21, in particular subparagraphs (a) and (e), and on the basis of the above, in the development of the policy framework to facilitate, promote and finance technology transfer, particularly in relation to the sectoral clusters under consideration. The Commission calls on its Bureau to coordinate the work of the ad hoc open-ended working group, as well as the inputs from other experts in relevant fields, including non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other major groups. The Commission requests the Secretary-General to provide support, within existing resources, to organize the above-mentioned working group. The Commission will decide on the agenda and procedures for the working group, which will report on its findings to the Commission.

51. In accordance with Economic and Social Council decision 1993/215, the ad hoc working group should have a dialogue and interaction with representatives of non-governmental organizations and major groups, under the relevant rules of procedure, ensuring equitable participation of non-governmental organizations from developed and developing countries and from all regions.

54. The Commission emphasizes the importance of engaging in dialogue and interaction with other relevant intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, including the relevant transnational corporations, and other major groups, to encourage new forms of technology cooperation and partnership in technological areas of particular relevance to developing countries.

64. In accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/215, the ad hoc working group should have a dialogue and interaction with representatives of non-governmental organizations and major groups, under the relevant rules of procedure, ensuring equitable participation of non-governmental organizations from developed and developing countries and from all regions.

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