Integrated Decision-making: Decisions of the GA and CSD

Johannesburg Plan of Implementation 

XI. Institutional framework for sustainable development

H. Strengthening institutional frameworks for sustainable development at the national level

162. States should:

(b) Take immediate steps to make progress in the formulation and elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development and begin their implementation by 2005. To this end, as appropriate, strategies should be supported through international cooperation, taking into account the special needs of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries. Such strategies, which, where applicable, could be formulated as poverty reduction strategies that integrate economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development, should be pursued in accordance with each country's national priorities.

163. Each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development, and the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized. All countries should promote sustainable development at the national level by, inter alia, enacting and enforcing clear and effective laws that support sustainable development. All countries should strengthen governmental institutions, including by providing necessary infrastructure and by promoting transparency, accountability and fair administrative and judicial institutions.

164. All countries should also promote public participation, including through measures that provide access to information regarding legislation, regulations, activities, policies and programmes. They should also foster full public participation in sustainable development policy formulation and implementation. Women should be able to participate fully and equally in policy formulation and decision-making.

166. Support efforts by all countries, particularly developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, to enhance national institutional arrangements for sustainable development, including at the local level. That could include promoting cross-sectoral approaches in the formulation of strategies and plans for sustainable development, such as, where applicable, poverty reduction strategies, aid coordination, encouraging participatory approaches and enhancing policy analysis, management capacity and implementation capacity, including mainstreaming a gender perspective in all those activities.

Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21

24. Sustainable development strategies are important mechanisms for enhancing and linking national capacity so as to bring together priorities in social, economic and environmental policies.   Hence, special attention must be given to the fulfillment of commitments in the areas set out below, in the framework of an integrated approach towards development, consisting of mutually reinforcing measures to sustain economic growth, as well as to promote social development and environmental protection.   Achieving sustainable development cannot be carried out without greater integration at all policy-making levels and at operational levels, including the lowest administrative levels possible.   Economic sectors, such as industry, agriculture, energy, transport and tourism, must take responsibility for the impact of their activities on human well-being and the physical environment.   In the context of good governance, properly constructed strategies can enhance prospects for economic growth and employment and at the same time protect the environment.   All sectors of society should be involved in their development and implementation, as follows:

(a) By the year 2002, the formulation and elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development that reflect the contributions and responsibilities of all interested parties should be completed in all countries, with assistance provided, as appropriate, through international cooperation, taking into account the special needs of the least developed countries.   The efforts of developing countries in effectively implementing national strategies should be supported.   Countries that already have national strategies should continue their efforts to enhance and effectively implement them.   Assessment of progress achieved and exchange of experience among Governments should be promoted.  Local Agenda 21 and other local sustainable development programmes, including youth activities, should be actively encouraged;

(b) In integrating economic, social and environmental objectives, it is important that a broad package of policy instruments, including regulation, economic instruments, internalization of environmental costs in market prices, environmental and social impact analysis, and information dissemination, be worked out in the light of country-specific conditions to ensure that integrated approaches are effective and cost-efficient.   TO this end, a transparent and participatory process should be promoted.  This will require the involvement of national legislative assemblies, as well as all actors of civil society, including youth and indigenous people and their communities, to complement the efforts of Governments for sustainable development.  In particular, the empowerment and the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of society, including participation in the decision-making process, are central to all efforts to achieve such development;

(c) The implementation of policies among at sustainable development, including those contained in chapter 3 (Combating poverty) and in chapter 29 (Strengthening the role of workers and their trade unions) of Agenda 21, may enhance the opportunities for job creation, thus helping to achieve the fundamental goal of eradicating poverty.

Report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on the Fourth Session (18 April-3 May 1996)

Decision 4/4. Integrating environment and development in decision-making*

1. The Commission on Sustainable Development, having examined the report of the Secretary-General on integrating environment and development in decision- making (E/CN.17/1996/11 and Add.1), notes the progress made at the national level in providing a framework that integrates economic, social and environmental policies.

2. The Commission recognizes that responsibility for bringing about changes aiming at integrating environment and development in decision-making lies with national Governments, and encourages Governments to establish national mechanisms, where appropriate, and to develop an integrated approach and participatory strategies for sustainable development, including economic, social and environmental aspects of growth.

3. The Commission requests organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant organizations to support the efforts of Governments to integrate environment and development in decision-making by, inter alia, strengthening coordination and exchange of information on "best practices" relating to sustainable development strategies.

4. The Commission calls on organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in cooperation with Governments and, as appropriate, major group organizations, to place a high priority on actions aimed at supporting national coordination and planning activities related to the implementation of Agenda 21; consistent guidelines for national execution of projects and programmes should be provided to support this process.

5. The Commission calls on Governments to review, as appropriate, their national legislation in the light of the integrated nature of sustainable development and the need to implement international legal agreements and conventions. It requests the international community to continue and strengthen support for developing the capacities of developing countries for this purpose.

6. The Commission, having noted the work on integrated environmental and economic accounting being undertaken by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Secretariat, organizations of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, and calls upon them, inter alia, to continue the work in this area, particularly with regard to methodological development and technical cooperation.

7. The Commission recalls the importance of integrated environmental and economic accounting for sustainable development, and encourages Governments to undertaken further national activities in this area.

Commission on Sustainable Development, 3rd Session
New York, 11-28 April 1995

Report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on the Third Session (11-28 April 1995)

2. Integrating environment and development in decision-making

13. The Commission, having examined the report of the Secretary-General on integrating environment and development in decision-making (E/CN.17/1995/19), noted the need for a framework at the national level for integrating economic, social and environmental issues and for bringing together sectoral plans in a more comprehensive manner. The Commission calls on Governments to continue their efforts to establish, where appropriate, national mechanisms and to develop integrated, participatory strategies for sustainable development.

14. The Commission welcomes paragraph 11 of the report and emphasizes the importance of the steps taken by the Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development to assist Governments in the elaboration of national environmental and sustainable development strategies and plans and to develop frameworks in which sectoral plans can be accommodated. It urges all organizations of the United Nations system, in cooperation with Governments, to participate, as relevant, in the ongoing programme, and calls upon non-governmental organizations to contribute to this process to the fullest extent possible.

15. The Commission welcomes offers for hosting international conferences on promoting sustainable development in order to promote regional and multilateral cooperation on sustainable development. In this context, the Commission welcomes the convening of the Third Ministerial Conference, "Environment for Europe", to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1995. The Commission also welcomes the initiative of the Government of Belarus for the possible convening of an international conference of the countries with economies in transition on promoting sustainable development. The Commission encourages interested Governments and relevant subregional, regional and other interested organizations to place, inter alia, the Pan-European Environment Action Programme for Central and Eastern Europe within the broader framework of sustainable development, taking due account of the need for the full integration of countries in transition from centrally planned to market economies, as well as all other countries, into the world economy, which is essential to sustainable development.

16. The Commission requests the organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant organizations to organize, within existing resources, regional workshops to explore, discuss and further develop methodological approaches to integration based upon, for example, work being done in environmental economics, valuation, natural resource accounting and integrated economic and environmental accounting.

17. The Commission underlines the importance of integrated environmental and economic accounting for sustainable development and encourages Governments to undertake further national activities in this area.

18. The Commission takes note of the work in integrated economic and environmental accounting being undertaken by the Statistical Division of the United Nations Secretariat, organizations of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations and calls upon them, inter alia, to further this work, particularly with regard to promoting the implementation of national programmes and strengthening technical cooperation in this area.