July 18, 2002
Environment:
Key Issues Left Unresolved at Session for World Summit on Sustainable Development
Government representatives met in Bali, Indonesia, from May 26 - June 7 in a last-ditch effort to finalize an agenda and actions to be agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), but could not complete their work. Significant controversies remained at the conclusion of those deliberations in the areas of trade, investment, overseas development assistance and governance.
The standing of the so-called “precautionary principle” and potential targets and timetables associated with ongoing work also remain to be agreed. Earlier proposals for the development of an international framework on corporate accountability have been removed, and the procedures and criteria for voluntary initiatives have been defined to allow flexibility and diversity.
The WSSD will be held on August 26 - September 6, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Heads of state are expected to attend to mark the tenth anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit. WSSD seeks to improve implementation of sustainable development policy in its economic, social and environmental aspects, and set direction for United Nations work in a wide range of issue areas, including energy, health, freshwater, agriculture and biodiversity.
USCIB Environment Committee Chair, George Carpenter (Procter & Gamble) attended the deliberations, as did Norine Kennedy (USCIB). Lynn Schloesser (Eastman Chemical) served as private sector advisor on the U.S. government delegation. USCIB representatives met regularly with governmental delegation representatives to express business support for market-based approaches promoting economic development and environmental stewardship, and that permit business to contribute to international cooperation to advance sustainable development.
USCIB will be represented at WSSD as part of the International Chamber of Commerce delegation, and will take part in activities under the Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) initiative, a joint effort of ICC and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. BASD will convene a WSSD Business Forum on September 1, a CEO-level symposium to showcase multistakeholder partnerships for sustainable development.
More information is available on the BASD website
Staff contacts: Norine Kennedy and Adam Greene
More about USCIB’s Environment Committee
