World Summit on Sustainable Development: Daily Highlights

Johannesburg, South Africa (26 August-4 September 2002)

Friday 30 August

Important announcement on partnership initiatives continue. Yesterday afternoon, The United States announced that they would be highlighting five initiatives, a "Water for the Poor Initiative that will invest $970 million over three years, a "Clean Energy Initiative," that will invest $43 in 2003 to increase energy efficiency and reduce air pollution; and initiative aimed at cutting hunger in Africa, an investment of $90 million in 2003; $53 million over the next four years for a Congo Basin Forest Partnerships; and a reaffirmation of the $1.2 billion in 2003 for fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
In announcing the initiatives, US Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky said "These partnerships," she said, "are key elements in the new approach to development that President Bush embraced with other national leader at the Monterrey Conference in March." She added, "Hold us accountable for the initiatives we identify and for their successful implementation. At the same time hold all governments-in developed and developing countries alike-accountable for implementing concrete actions to improve the lives of all our citizens. We owe this and future generations nothing less.
The World Resources Institute announced an initiative, backed by eight countries and the World Bank, aimed at supporting transparent, equitable and accountable decision-making for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
UNDP announced that it would launch the Global Village Energy Partnership, a ten-year implementation-based programme to catalyze country commitments to village energy programmes and guide policies and investment.
The launch of an African Energy initiative was launched today between South Africa's utility company, Eskom, and several financing institutions to expand energy services to areas in neighboring countries.
Also, the World Health Organization presented "Healthy Environment for Children: A Global Alliance of Children's Health and Environment," which will focus on issues as the quality of water and air, sanitation, insect and animal carriers, chemical hazards and passive smoking."
In the negotiations, some issues, such as outstanding targets and timetables, are being sent to a group of ministers for resolution. 49 paragraphs have been finalized in the negotiations and there are still several tough issues that are yet to be resolved, such as trade subsidies, globalization issues, and a target for providing proper sanitation.
Another area that still require resolution is in energy. Gustavo Ainchil, Councellor for the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations explained that negotiations were continuing on setting a target for promoting renewable energy as a part of the energy mix, an issue that was not a North South issue, but cut across various regions and negotiating groups. Also, there was still disagreement on a timetable for phasing out subsidies for fossil fuels, and whether the Summit should encourage the launch of action programmes-on a centralized basis-for energy, or whether efforts should be more decentralized.